GIFT IDEAS

Available at Fabrications

Pyrrha Jewellery - Handmade and sustainable modern heirlooms all handcrafted at their zero carbon studio in Vancouver. Inspired by antique wax seals, their sustainably handcrafted talismans are rich in symbolism and hold deep personal meaning for those who wear them. 125 Kenneth St, Downtown Duncan. Open Monday - Saturday 10-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm. www.foreverfab.com

Buckerfield’s: Metis Artist

Garden Gloves Goatskin gardening gloves featuring prints designed by Kaija Heitland, a member of the Cowichan Valley Métis Nation. These beautiful gloves are durable, lightweight, soft, and breathable and feature a lightly padded palm and hooded leather fingertips to protect nails. 5410 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan 250-748-8171

Chemainus Health Food Store - Individually hand crafted by the women of Sakhi Kunj, each unique laptop bag, backpack or cosmetic case creates empowerment for women in India by providing access to materials, training, and career potential through the creation of beautiful textile products. Handcrafted from repurposed fabrics gathered from various sources such as discarded temple cloth and Indian sarees, each one of these bags is unique and lovingly stitched by the women of Sakhi Kunj. 9738 Willow St, Chemainus. Open MandaySaturday, 10am - 5pm. Closed Sundays.

SALT SPRING ISLAND

Where the Cowichan Valley meets the Salish Sea!

Give Mom what she really wants! A night off from cooking and the dishes. Gift certificates available for a catered family meal. Barnes & Maracle Food Specialists bring everything needed for a very special 3 or 4 course meal including dishes and the wine pairings! Gift mom the joy of a meal in her home with family on whatever day she chooses. To arrange a gift certificate please call 250 710-1058 barnesandmaracle@ gmail.com

Large Park • Trails • Seaside Walk • Awesome Destination Gallery/Gift Shop • Hardy Plant Nursery • Variety of Campsites

Mid Week Islanders Special

MONDAY – WEDNESDAY

Stay 2 nights get a 3rd night free

To Reserve call Tyson, our camp host 250-537-4346 gardenfaire@saltspring.com www.gardenfaire.ca

HARMONY WELLNESS EVOLUTION

An Evolutionary Approach to Your Health and Happiness

Deborah Carruthers BA, BSW, MA

Counsellor and Wellness

Practitioner

To book a session or view upcoming events and workshops, please visit: www.harmonywellnessevolution.com

250-715-1773

360 Duncan St #103, Duncan

A Fresh Start ~ Mind Body

Energy Tools and RemedieS

Treat yourself and your Mom to a Bach Flower Remedy consultation to discover remedies that soothe your emotional body to create calm and balance. By honouring how we feel and being curious about our emotions, natural remedies can be revealed that help us navigate our difficult emotions and unblock stored trauma. Discover who you really are! Gift Certificates available. By appointment Diana Anu Pink @ afreshstart@shaw.ca / 250 597-2102

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift that combines adventure, history, and breathtaking scenery? Look no further than a 3-hour tour on the Tall Ship Providence, the oldest working vessel in BC waters (built in 1903). Departing from Mill Bay Marina or Port Sidney Marina, tours are offered every other weekend this summer. So why not surprise your Mom with a gift that she will never forget? Learn more at - www.mbmg. ca/tallships

Sessions of Reflexology & Reiki Make The Best Mother’s Day Gift! Want your Mother to feel relaxed and pampered? Get her a gift certificate or book her a relaxing and healing session of Reflexology & Reiki

From Stephanie Cerins. Sessions are affordable because there is a sliding donation scale for all pocket books! 250-732-4599, 9279 Poplar Rd. Chemainus.

Make Memorable Gifts

Celebrate Veganand NGIoptions availabletoo!

wildlife lover? Take your mom on a Half Day Whale and Wildlife Adventure on Mother’s Day departing from Cowichan Bay or Parksville and save 20% on your booking! Please contact us to learn more or book your seats for Mother’s Day. Maybe you’ll even meet Big Mama, one of our local Humpback Whales who’s brought 6 calves to our waters since 1997! Ocean

Ecoventures Call to book 250 748-3800 www.oceanecoventures.com

Soul Escape Spa If I think of the unconditional love of a mother, I have to say experiencing a Reiki Energy healing session comes the closest. It is comparable to “bathing in pure love”so tender, so settling, yet powerful enough to melt away tension, and everything that is in the way of healing on all levels.

109-2673

Beverly St (Thriftys Plaza) Book one for mom today!

Meadow Wren Flower

Farm Give the best gift of all this Mother’s Day and support Mother Earth by adding pollinator plants to your garden! Includes 30 minute home garden consultation and customized plant list. Receive 15% off installation if you wish to take it a step further and implement the pollinator plan. $95. Contact meadowwrenflowerfarm@ gmail.com or visit www. meadowwrenflowerfarm.com

Pickles Pantry Tomato Jam

Roma Tomatoes with a teensy touch of spice this jam is not just for charcuterie boards! Switch it out for ketchup, eat it with eggs, or with a bag of chips. Pair it with Chicken Pâté, with Burnt Honey and Apple Order at www.picklespantry.ca.

Open Monday to Saturday 7:30am-5pm - Closed Sundays

e Neroli Age Corrective Facial with complimentary Enzyme Peel

Prepare your skin for the decadent facial with an enzyme peel that will deeply exfoliate and improve the appearance of ne lines and uneven skin, then this divinely-scented facial will utilize exotic neroli and monoi oils, hydrating coconut and strengthening bamboo to visibly improve the appearance of wrinkles and ne lines Suitable for all skin types. 1 Hour $105

Monday-Friday 9-5pm

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays – Closed 109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza)

250 748-2056 www.soulescape.ca

Alchemy Fashions at Chemainus Health Food Store

Eachyear, BC designer Trish Hinders travels to India, where she creates Alchemy Fashions. Trish is ever-inspired by the people, culture and spirit of India.

Alchemy started in 1992 when she purchased 20 dresses from a small shop in a village in Rajasthan, India. Trish found a way to support her passion for travel and adventure by selling her clothes at summer festivals, and returning to India each Fall. As the years progressed, her collection became more detailed and refined. While she is not formally trained in fashion design, Trish perfected her patterns through years of practice. Her designs are easy-fitting and versatile (dress it up or down), and she hopes to offer something for everyone.

As soon as she arrives in India, Trish travels to the colourful fabric markets. Here she selects her rayons and men’s cotton shirt fabrics.

Next, in the deserts of Rajasthan, she custom designs cotton prints and exquisite blockprints, all made from organic cotton. Then she spends several days going through thousands of saris to pick out the most beautiful ones for her recycled sari collection (scarves, skirts & kimonos!).

Alchemy Fashions are fairly and ethically made!

Trish has been working with the same small, familyrun businesses in India for over a decade. Their businesses have grown together based on a foundation respect, trust and friendship.

Trish works closely with her pattern makers, tailors, finishers on her annual visit to India. She pays fair, living wages to her workers, often double what other companies pay, and ensures they have bright, safe work environments, regular hours, breaks and holidays.

Trish also creates an organic cotton leisure-wear collection called Flying Heart. In this line, you will find ultra-soft and comfortable tops, tees, boleros & skirts. These are timeless pieces that you will want to wear every day!

Check out Alchemy’s extensive Spring/Summer Collection at Chemainus Health Food Store, located at 938 Willow Street in Chemainus.

Mother Earth

that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” –Robin Wall Kimmerer.

With Mother’s Day approaching, I find myself thinking of this quote from one of my favourite books “Braiding Sweetgrass.” Just as Mother Earth has provided for countless generations, we have a collective responsibility to care for her in return.

Celebrations of Mother Earth have been around for thousands of years. Many ancient religions refer to the personification of

Earth as a goddess, who is to be honoured and respected. In Greek mythology, she is Gaia. In ancient Roman religion, she is Terra. In Hinduism, she is Prithvi – which translates to “the Vast One.” For the Quechua speaking peoples of the Andes, she is Pachamama. These communities, and many others around the globe, have recognized the importance of honouring our Mother Earth.

In recent centuries, with the exponential growth of capitalism, we’ve seen a fracturing of the ancient human connection to the earth. Profits have taken precedence over both people and planet. With rising emissions, warming oceans, and depleting coral reefs, it can be hard to remember a time when we honoured the earth.

Omnipresent clear cuts, dry river basins, and scorched earth can lead us to believe that we are on a path to destruction. But I maintain hope. I have hope that, together, we can restore our duty to care for Mother Earth. Organizations in the Cowichan Valley have shown the great work that can be done through collaboration.

The Cowichan Watershed Board and the Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable have blazed trails for community led governance and stewardship. Cowichan Tribes and their partners developed the first ever Water Sustainability Plan for the Koksilah Watershed. The Mill Bay Conservation Society has helped thousands of salmon traverse man-made barriers, allowing them to spawn safely in Shawnigan Creek. The Cowichan Green Community has promoted environmental sustainability by growing and supporting local food systems. These local organizations give me hope that our connection to the earth is not lost.

This Mother’s Day we should recognize the important work being done to protect and honour our Mother Earth. We should remember our collective responsibility to steward the land and waters that give us life. Through our actions, we must demonstrate our reciprocal love for the earth.

MOTHERS DAY - NEW SPRING FASHIONS

LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHT!

7 Nights a Week Dinner Service 5pm - Close Sat Lunch /Sun Brunch 11 am - 2 pm Appy Hour Fridays at 4-5pm Appy Hour Saturdays & Sundays 3-5pm

MOTHER’S DAY FEATURE MENU

Sunday, May 14 4 courses $70 I Wine Pairing $25 no

–Joel Peck Executive Chef –Patrick Dique

Waiting For Big Mama

Humpback whales are known for their impressive size, stunning songs, and majestic movements in the water. Among these magnificent creatures, there is one particular humpback that has caught the attention of researchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike: Big Mama BCY 0324.

whales returning to Hawaii in the spring.

STARTER

CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS lemon, toasted pecans, asiago

2nd COURSE

SCALLOP & PEA RISOTTO parmesan, basil sprouts

3rd COURSE

PAN SEARED HALIBUT lyonnaise fingerling potato, grilled asparagus, cauliflower puree, lemon caper beurre noisette reservations recommended taxes and gratuities are not included

4th COURSE

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE mascarpone mousse, fresh & macerated strawberries white chocolate shavings, whipped cream

1701 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay Reservations (250) 748-3714 www.themastheadrestaurant.com

Big Mama, as she is affectionately known, is a female humpback whale who has become famous for the number of calves she has brought to the Salish Sea. Big Mama was one of the first humpback whales to repopulate the Salish Sea after the whaling era and has been feeding here regularly since 1997. Since 1997 Big Mama has brought 6 calves to feed in the Salish Sea from her mating and calving grounds in Hawaii.

Humpback whales are known for their remarkable longdistance migrations, and one of the most notable is the journey that takes them from their breeding grounds in Hawaii to the feeding grounds in the waters of British Columbia. Every year, humpback whales make the journey of approximately 3,000 miles, taking them from the warm waters of the Pacific to the cooler, nutrient-rich waters of the north. This migration typically takes place in the late fall and early winter, with the

During their journey, the humpback whales face many challenges, including navigating through strong currents and avoiding predators. However, the whales are well adapted to these conditions, and their migration is a vital part of their life cycle. In the waters of British Columbia, the humpback whales feed on a variety of prey, including krill, plankton, and small fish. This allows them to build up the fat reserves they need for the long journey back to Hawaii, where they will mate and give birth before beginning the cycle all over again. The humpback whales’ migration from Hawaii to the waters of British Columbia is an awe-inspiring natural event, and a reminder of the incredible adaptations and endurance of these magnificent creatures.

We are patiently waiting for Big Mama’s spring appearance in the Salish Sea which usually happens within the first week of May. Last year she was first documented on May 2nd travel with a new calf who was identified as a boy on May 4th!

Designs at Arthur Vickers Gallery

My inspirations are endless, and run the gamut from the beauty of the natural world, to the creativity of fashion, and the structural details of architecture. So many things to capture my inner Raven’s eye, and my curiosity helps keep the creative energy abundant. A creative spirit revealed itself early on when I started designing clothes for myself and friends. I pushed the conventional boundaries with the use of bold colours and textiles, and reworking vintage pieces, to give them new life.

I turned to jewelry in my 30’s when a good friend asked me to design a ‘show stopping heirloom’ for her wedding day, and I never looked back.

Now I take my love of vintage by using beautifully embossed antique metals, and adorning them with gemstones and pearls. I never know what will emerge from reworking the antique piece, or how it will evolve.

My favourite creations are the Talisman necklaces that are hand wired with an added medallion, or ‘Ageis’, perhaps a carved animal, or Baroque pearl combined. I also love to design a pair of earrings that make a statement. Nothing says Fabulous! like admiring someone with their head held high rocking shoulder dusters.

Cowichan Bay is home for me. The feeling when I walk through this wonderful seaside village is so comforting, and I love that I am a part of the ‘main street’ by having my works available at the Arthur Vickers Gallery.

To see my pieces on display in such a beautiful space, nestled amongst Arthur’s stunning works is an honour. The Gallery has a warm and welcoming atmosphere for those who discover this Valley gem. Oonagh Designs are available to view by appointment, or by chance at Arthur Vickers Gallery, 1719 Cowichan Bay Road. 250 748-7650.

Musings from Cowichan Bay

AsI sit to write this note, anticipated warm springlike weather is still around the corner and outdoor activities are starting to take hold.

Around our home, which is a small rural property with many rhododendron plants surrounded by tall fir and cedar trees, there is plenty of yard work.

Spring is also the time I begin to set out on my bicycle. While I ride around our community, I notice there are many areas that need a good spring cleaning. Our road networks suffer from the same cold weather winds. Many of the shoulders are covered with forest debris making it a bit of challenge to ride a safe distance from traffic.

I am also amazed at the considerable collection of discarded coffee cups, food containers and far too numerous returnable beverage containers that make their way into our ditches. The view from my bicycle seat has me thinking that a great community initiative would be some targeted neigbourhood and/or park clean-up events.

A clean-up event need not be complicated. Chat with your neigbours, come up with a date and plan, spread the word via a notice on your mailbox or your favourite communication tool, consider a social element like a BBQ lunch and tackle putting away a winter’s worth of debris in a fun community event that builds pride in your neigbourhood. It is a great way to get to know your neigbours better and build a communication network, which often comes in handy for future outreach needs. The same is true with the business communities. I have begun to chat with the merchant community in Cowichan Bay Village to see if a similar clean-up day can be tackled. I hope to connect with merchants in Koksilah Village to explore possibilities. By the time you read this April and Earth Day will be long gone. Let’s usher in May not only with spring flowers, but also cleaner neighbourhoods.

I welcome your feedback, your ideas and an invitation to join your neighbours in a clean-up activity. Let’s keep it simple and let’s get started!