January 2017 Issue 98 by Cowichan Valley Voice

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JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 98 NEW YOU NEW HEALTH I MINDFULNESS I ANNUAL FORECASTS I CHEESE PAIRING

Announcing the

Dynamic Transformation Group 1. Do you notice that you drag yourself around through life, hoping for something better? 2. Do you find yourself getting bogged down from tragedies from your past? 3. Do you want to experience more joy, happiness and contentment in your life? 4. Do you wish sometimes that there was a formula or “recipe” for becoming, being and staying happy, despite the circumstances in life? Course fee is $600 + GST for 6 weeks and is limited to a maximum of 8 participants, with no refunds after the ﬁrst session.

The Dynamic Transformation Group may help Course begins in the evening, Thursday, January 26th, 2017. Register early to insure a spot.

For Further Information or to register please call: 250-709-9494.

www.explorecowichan.ca

Issue 98 January 2017 Published by Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Editors Sheila & Richard Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Proofreader Distribution Diana Pink Mike Andringa Advertising Enquiries Please Contact Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Next Ad Deadline January 15 16 for FEBRUARY ISSUE 99 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire. COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next DEADLINE JAN 12 for FEB 2017 Issue 99 Please send event all on ONE line in this order: Date, Event Title, Time, Location, Cost Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES Paula Masyk, Jenny Garlini, Linda Holford, Margit Nellemann, Larissa Bouvier, Rachel Allen, Elia B Zanon, Laura Westwick, Sarah Sinray, Jennifer Shelley, Diane Brussell, Alison Etter, David Krieger, Tamu Miles, Keith Simmonds, Catherine Macey, Ingrid Ball, Christine Brown, Heather Stannard, Yaz Yamaguchi, Simon Young, David Coulson, Jennifer Yee Fairweather, Guillermo Ferrero, Heather Lauzon, Melissa Brown, Clemens Rettich, Reed Gary, Pat Amos, Ilse Sarady, Debbie Wood, Michelle Atterby, David Suzuki, The Wonderful Staff at The Community Farm Store and The Lovely Georgia Nicols. We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions, however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query e-mail with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available. Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville

Happy 2017!

Valley Voice is looking forward to promoting your business to over 30,000 loyal readers monthly. Contact Adrienne Richards adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for a 2017 rate card and to discuss what promotional opportunities we have for you through the Cowichan Valley Voice.

OUR COMMUNITY Baby, It’s Cold Outside 5 January Events 6-7 Month Thirteen 11 The Medford Singers 16 Small Town. Big Health Choices 24 The Little Church on the Corner 27 Learning Technology in the New Year 28 Why Business for Business Networks? 52 Community Farm Store 58-59 Local Business Directory 60-61 January Events 62 Georgia Nicols Annual Forecasts Introduction to 2017 Annual Forecasts by Georgia Nicols 35 TAries (March 21 - April 19) 36 Taurus (April 20-May 20) 37 Gemini (May 21-June 20) 38 Cancer (June 21-July 22) 39 Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) 40 Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) 41 Libra (Sept.23-Oct.22) 42 Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) 43 Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) 44 Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) 45 Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) 46 Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) 47 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK Perfect Cheese Pairings 8 The Big Cheese 9 Juice Yourself To Health 12 Vancouver Island Bigleaf Maple Syrup 14 FARM, HOME & GARDEN Inwood Creek Farm – Sow Happy10 Choosing The Right Seed For Your Garden 22 Futureproofing Your Home 34 Maintenance Pays Dividends 53 Optimized Wood Fire 54 LOCAL ARTS Oliver 20 Goodbye and Thank You from Ingrid of Ingrid’s Yarn 26 Talking Arts Photographer Guillermo Ferrero 49 BODY, MIND & HEALTH Mindfulness 17 How to Sit 29 Mount Washington 30 New Year, New Health, New You 32 Yoga For Wellness 48 Are Your Feelings Your Own? 50 Everytime YouHave A Thought,Your Brain Changes 52 2017 - Begin Your Mindfulness Practice 57 CHILDREN & FAMILY Mindfulness for Youth and You 18 Evergreen School Open House 19 Wolf Cowichan 21 BEAUTY The Relationship Between Proper Hydration And Great Skin 13 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Lighten Your Air Quality Impact 55 A New Start…Lucky Dogs 59 David Suzuki 63

Valley Voice Magazine -Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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Food items- Canned itemstomato sauce, soup, fruit, chili, stew, pasta, vegetables

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

ast month giving was at the front of everyone’s mind. Shopping centres were bustling. Food banks, churches, service organizations, and many others worked tirelessly in our community, fundraising, cooking and assembling hampers and meals to people in need. The spirit of the season moved us. What happens after the holidays have passed and January arrives? January is a very challenging month for people in need. The weather is cold, and our most vulnerable community members are still in need of food, shelter, and resources. There are still many ways for us to give. I spoke to several agencies in the Cowichan Valley to ask them how things usually went for them after the holidays. I was told that the amazing generosity of our communities amply filled our food banks sometimes providing food until spring. Some places were looking for donations of specific food items that are always in short supply. Many agencies were most in need of non-food items, especially warm winter clothing. If you are looking for ways to help, the following items were specifically mentioned:

Kids lunch items- pudding cups, fruit cups, juice boxes Other food items-breakfast cereal, jam, powdered milk, meal replacements (Ensure or similar), juice (1 litre or smaller), mac and cheese, Side Kicks, pet food, fresh fruits and vegetables. Clothing items- Hats, coats,

sweaters, mitts, gloves, shoes, boots, blankets Underwear (new), and socks are especially needed.

Toiletry items- Toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, dish soap, laundry soap, razors, can-openers, candles, phone chargers, tarps, flashlights, batteries, towels, washcloths, bathroom tissue. Cash- Monetary donations are

ideal as they allow organizations to buy exactly what they need as required.

Time- Volunteers to sort, launder, process and distribute items are needed in many places. Special skills such as haircutting, mending, and knitting. According to our local food banks, we are part of an exceptionally giving community. The temperatures may drop, but the warmth can continue. For more info on how to help contact Warmland House 250-715-1132 www. cowichanvalley.cmha. bc.ca. Submitted by Paula Masyk, Cowichan Green Community

HAPPY 2017! We are open in January and here to help you with the new healthy goals you are thinking about! BIG selection of natural gifts, cosmetics, eco clothing, organic food and more!

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 930-530 • Sun 12-4 Closed Stat holidays

Ebony & Pearls Exhibit JD STEVENSON Gallery 9768 Willow St. Chemainus runs to January 31st.

GanTan New Years Ceremony Nichiren Peace Center txt for info. Discovery Service, 10 AM Nichiren Buddha Center, #4 - 3906 Johnny Bear Rd. Duncan 250. 710. 7594 Free

Cardino Shoes Sale begins! 165 Craig St, Duncan 10am-5:30pm

Meditation Tuesdays 7 PM Nichiren Buddha Center, #4 - 3906 Johnny Bear Rd. Duncan 250. 710. 7594 By Donation Also:10/17/24/31

or BYO Free or by donation www.karinlewisdrum.com

Sacred Chant Circle @ Rivendell Yurt 7:00-8:00pm We will chant Sanskrit Mantras, connecting with the healing power of sound. for info contact Sadie sdbartram@gmail.com

Adults and teens! Colouring and Tea w/ artist ViVi, 2-4pm, Volume One Bookstore, 149 Kenneth St., Duncan, FREE Please pre register 250-748-1533

Sunday Jazz Craig Henderson (vocals/piano),Bill Kent (bass),Gordon Henderson(guitar) 2pm Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave $15 Free Chakra Yoga Class @ Rivendell Yurt 6:30-8:00pm Set your intention for the New Year sdbartram@gmail.com

Introduction to Essential Oils 5.30-7pm Scoops Natural Foods, Whippletree Junction $15 (to cover cost of samples) (778) 422-3310

Community Acupuncture Wednesdays w/Frauke McCashin, RAc, 5-8pm#10344 Queens Road, Duncan 250-710-3581 $15-$45 also11/18/25

Prospect Sponsor Information Session; Cowichan Intercultural Society 205 - 394 Duncan St Duncan; www.cis-iwc.org; Register at relationships@cis-iwc.org or 250.748.3112

Meditation Wednesdays 9 AM Nichiren Buddha Center, # 4- 3906 Johnny Bear Rd. Duncan 250. 710. 7594 By Donation Also: 11/18/25/31

Sonia Furstenau BC Green Campaign - Meet & Greet, Craig St Brew Pub 6:30 9pm www.soniabcgreens.ca

Heavy with the Scent of Flowers: Watercolors by Cheryl Hitchcock” Excellent Frameworks - Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 28 Station St Duncan, www.excellentframeworks.ca Runs January 5-28, Community Acupuncture Thursdays w/ Frauke McCashin 12-3 pm RAc, #103-44 Queens Road, Duncan 250-710-3581 $15-$45 also12/19/26 Meditation Thursdays 7 PM Nichiren Buddha Center, #4 - 3906 Johnny Bear Rd. Duncan 250. 710. 7594 By Donation Also: 12/19/26/31

Introduction to Rally Obedience w/ Bev Maahs KPACTP, Chemainus Dog Training every Saturday 6 weeks 10:4511:45am small dogs and 12 - 1pm (over 50lbs) $180 250 597 7958 Embodying The Beat Drum Circle Celebration w/ Karin Lewis 7 - 8:30pm The HUB, 2375 Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Station Beginner friendly Drums to share

Beatlemania The Deaf Aids 7 pm River Rock Bar & Grill, Ramada Inn, Duncan

The Medford Singers Present “Sing We and Chant It” 2 pm, St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, 70 Cowichan Rd West, Lake Cowichan, $17 adv tickets through choir members $20 door/children 12 and under FREE

The Medford Singers Present “Sing We and Chant It”, 2 pm, Duncan United Church, Duncan, $17 adv tickets Volume One $20 door/children 12 and under FREE Sunday Jazz Vocalist Susannah Adams, Miguelito Valdez (trumpet), Sean Drabitt (bass) 2pm Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave $15 Chemainus Classical Concerts:Pianist Elias-Axel Pettersson”Power and Whimsy” 2pm St. Michael’s Church Chemainus $20/$5 Adv$17 250-748-8383

Chakra Yoga Class 8 week session begins @ Rivendell Yurt 6:308:00pm Deepen into your yoga practice through developing your awareness of the energy centres in your body. pre-register sdbartram@gmail.com/250-748-2089

Making Sauerkraut with Andrea 5.30 to 7pm Scoops Natural Foods, Whippletree Junction $65 Includes take home sauerkraut (778) 422-3310

Living Mindfully (for women), 7 -8:30 pm Sol Centre 5380 Trans Canada Hwy$150 /6 weeks Mindful movement, nutrition, momentary awareness breakthroughcounselling.ca Healthy weight loss- increased energy 5:30-7pm Scoops Natural Foods, Whippletree Junction $25 includes tasty treats (778) 422-3310

ShoDai Chant One Hour 7 PM Nichiren Buddha Center #4 - 3906 Johnny Bear Rd. Duncan 250 710 7594 By Donation Ingrid’s Yarn last day to use gift certificates and credit notes! 133 Craig St, Duncan

20-22

Cowichan Musical Society production of Oliver! 7:30 pm /2pm matinee, Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2567 James St, Duncan, $35 general, $25 student/seniors. www. cowichanmusicalsociety.bc.ca

Sunday Jazz Iain Duncan(sax),Tony Genge (keys),Rob Cheramy (guitar), Jon Miller(drums 2pm Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave $15

JOIN THE UNITED EATERS & DRINKERS OF MILL BAY

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN VIP PASSES TO SUNFEST 2017! Every ﬁve times you dine at Bridgemans Bistro between Jan 1-Mar 31 2017 gives you an entry in the draw! Fill up as many cards as you like...the more you ﬁll up, the greater your chances are. FREE to join!

MILL BAY MARINA • 740 HANDY RD • 778-356-3568 www.bridgemans.ca

OPEN MON - FRI 11:30am / SAT & SUN 10am

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

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Open House at Evergreen Independent School Come explore the unique educational environment. 68PM 3515 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill 250 7432433 Anxiety and Depression: Riding the Roller Coaster (for women), 7 pm to 9 pm at the Sol Centre 5380 Trans Canada Hwy. $200 for 8 weeks. Nervous system regulation. www.breakthroughcounselling.ca/events

Open House at Evergreen Independent School Come explore the unique educational environment 10 AM.-12:00 3515 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill 2507432433

Chapel 1843 Tzouhalem Rd. Duncan Doors 2pm/Show2:30pm Tix $15 adults/$5 kids, $30 for families at the door or online eventbrite.ca Scoops January Sale 15% off groceries (excluding dairy) 11am-3pm Whippletree Junction A Broadway Musical Evening will offer music, appetizers, and treats w/ song Duncan United Church 246 Ingram Street, Duncan Georgia’s Belly Dancing Extravaganza 8pm Duncan Garage Showroom $20

6-week Mindfulness Workshop for Inner Calm 6:30pm-8:30pm 170 Craig St, Duncan $190www. enlivencounselling.com

Cowichan Pipes & Drums Robert Burns Dinner Duncan Ramada, TCHwy Duncan Doors 5pm/ 6:10 pm start Adults $45 under 16yrs $25 Contact Joel Baile jo3@ shaw.ca

Dynamic Transformation Group 6 week coaching course begins. To register 250-709-9494 Sonia Furstenau BC Green Campaign Burger & Beer Night, Bridgeman’s Bistro - 6:30 - 9pm www.soniabcgreens.ca

Victoria’s The Bad w/special guests will be playing a good old rock n’ roll show Providence Farm Chapel 1843 Tzouhalem Rd. Duncan Doors 7pm/Show 7:30 All ages! Tix $15 adults/ $10 students, available at the door or online eventbrite.ca

Rick Scott - award winning children’s matinee, Providence Farm

Andrew Janusson(guitar),John Lee(bass/keys),Hans Verhoeven (drums) 2pm Crofton Pub 1534 Joan Ave $15 Making The Leap: A Public Discussion on the Leap Manifesto. 1:30pm at the Duncan United Church Hall, 246 Ingram St., Duncan. Free.CofCevent@gmail.com

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS JANUARY 8 • 2PM

Vocals/piano Craig Henderson, Bill Kent (bass) and Gordon Henderson (guitar)

JANUARY 15 • 2PM

Vocalist Susannah Adams, Miguelito Valdez (trumpet), Sean Drabitt (bass)

JANUARY 22 • 2PM

Iain Duncan (sax), Tony Genge (keys), Rob Cheramy (guitar), Jon Miller (drums)

JANUARY 29• 2PM

Andrew Janusson (guitar), John Lee (bass/keys), Hans Verhoeven (drums)

5:30-7:30 Duncan Public Library Join us for an open and animated conversation about Death and Dying while enjoying cake and coffee Deathcafe.com

1534 Joan Avenue Crofton All shows are $15 at the door.

VINOTECA AT ZANATTA

PERFECT CHEESE PAIRINGS Pinot Noir Rocky Creek Winery

Join us for Lunch Wed - Sun. Dinner on the Weekends. Brunch on Sundays. Event Shuttle Available through

vinoteca.ca

5039 Marshall Rd, Duncan I 250 709 2279

Our Pinot is very similar to a burgundian-style pinot. It has been slightly oaked in French Oak. Good aromas with hints of spiciness. It has the cherry tones and slight plum but also hints of cloves and pepper. Wonderful pairing with the texture of this cheese as well as the spice associated with it. Adding citrus notes to the plate will balance out the wine nicely. Also pairs perfectly with salmon..

Quill White 2014 Blue Grouse Estate Winery Bright and lively, this blend of Vancouver Island and Okanagan grapes gives you Jasmine, dry straw and a bit of smokiness on the nose, with fresh acidity on the palate. The wine exhibits flavours of melon, honey, white peach and a few floral notes.

PEPPER CHĂ&#x2C6;VRE ISLAND G IN R P NY SALT S OMPA C E S E CHE

his artisan pepper chĂ¨vre is topped with whole red and green peppercorns, while its sides are coated with ground pepper. This spicy cheese makes an excellent addition to a cheese plate, and goes especially well with either smoked tuna or salmon on rye bread and a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Ingredients: Cheese (pasteurised goat milk, bacterial culture, sea salt, rennet), pink, green, and black peppercorns.

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

The Big Cheese

here are two parts to Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese. Chef Brad Boisvert is the man behind the meat while Leah is the mastermind behind the cheese. The Big Cheese, a monthly cheese program initiated by co owner Leah Boisvert has been offered through their shop for the last few years with membership growing monthly. “The aim is expose new cheese from around the world to our customers as well as education on food and beverage paring.” smiles Leah. Chef Brad Boisvert’s love of cheese began early in his culinary career. At a young age he worked in gourmet delicatessens in New York and spent time in Europe while getting his formal education as a chef from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). His experiences over last 40 years have exposed him to hundreds of cheeses from around the world. With Brad behind the meat and Leah behind the cheese, Cure offers gourmands a true food pairing experience. Their art is knowing and understanding flavours and textures that go together. The Big Cheese is a monthly

club that offers members a specialty cheese and house made condiment pairing to enjoy. Additional info on flavour profile, pairing and history of the cheese is also included. How it works: On the 15th of every month the cheese and condiment are ready for pickup. Memberships are mostly annual, but interested foodies can sign on to try it out for a few months at a time. Cheese featured in the club are chosen for many different factors. “Mostly either because we think it has a great story or fantastic taste or sometimes the condiment choice drives the pairing.” shares Leah “ Imported Grey Owl, Quebec goat soft ash rind, Beemster (one of Brad’s Favourites) 18 month aged gouda. Alfred Le fermier cows milk - a firm yummy cheese that Leah loves. Sardo a cheese from Argentina yes Argentina who knew? Local Little Qualicum Blue Clair, or Beddis Blue form Moon Struck. Gotta have the blues especially in the winter….”

AN EXCELLENT LUNCH STOP

FEATURING COWICHAN VALLEY WINES & ISLAND CRAFT BEERS

DAYLINERCAFE.COM CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAYS

Recipes are often provided, but the cheese is suggested more for pairings. Recommendations for wine, beer, cider, cocktails or non-alcoholic beverages are also offered dependant on the cheese and the condiment of the month. To join The Big Cheese come in to Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese located on the lower level of Valley View Centre in Cobble Hill or call 250 929 2873 for more information.

Gift Baskets Gift Certificates Meat & Cheese Platters Cocktail Supplies Gourmet Foods

arcia Herchal and Roman Kononowicz of Inwood Creek farms have been farming in the Cowichan Valley for 15 years. The pigs’ free range on three acres of land on Menzies Road, which adds to the quality of life they live, and transfers into the high grade of meat produced. That being said, running a family

farm is not for the faint of heart. Waking up early, rain or shine to make sure the animals have everything that they need is a nonnegotiable part of a farm business. “It really is a wonderful thing to be able to farm in the Cowichan Valley,” explains Marcia. “The road we live on is unique because

we have a variety of farmers nearby producing a variety of products who are ready and willing to support one another in their practices.” One of the biggest challenges with farming, however, is that in order to make ends meet and support the farm, other off-farm work must be done. Marcia reflects, “It would be wonderful if local farmers who specialize in what they do were fully supported so they could totally immerse themselves in what they love.” When a pig lives out its life at Inwood Creek, it has the freedom to root and forage in large fenced areas that can be moved around. Though it is hard to part with their well cared-for animals, Marcia explains, “It makes all the difference to hear people come back saying, ‘It was the best pork I’ve ever had!’” Inwood Creek prides itself on offering customers meat from individual pigs knowing it ensures quality across the board, as well as making sure the whole animal is used with the integrity it deserves. Small-scale farming allows Marcia and Roman to ensure their

Inwood Creek Farm – Sow Happy freezers are full to feed their own family, which is an economic and convenient way to eat. It also gives them great satisfaction to share their surplus with others. “I feel the need to feed other people, and to be able to produce extra meat to share feels good,” says Marcia. Inwood Creek sells their delicious bacon and three varieties of sausage via word of mouth, the Cow-op.ca online farmers’ market, and other online sites. Support your local farmers, and eat well because of it. Visit www.cow-op.ca today! Submitted by Larissa Bouvier

• Buying and Selling • Service you can count on! • Free home evaluation

SOLD LISTING

FAIZAL CHARANIA

ACTIVE LISTING Lot 41 Youbou Rd 1.6 acre lakeview lot $159,000

2 acre hobby farm bought for a nice family

• Residential • Agri Business • Strata I www.fuzzyrealtor.com I (250)748-5000 10

Month Thirteen

ne year after residents began welcoming in the Cowichan Valley, as part of a national resettlement movement, we would like to thank the hundreds of members of our community who individually and collectively have contributed to sponsoring and welcoming refugees to the Warmland. In one year, over 80 Syrian refugees have resettled in our valley, and more are to come. As the Canadian Council for Refugees recently stated, “the generosity of the public has been humbling. Whether it is high school students preparing welcome baskets, seniors knitting hats and scarves, individuals donating time and money to privately sponsor refugees, neighbours taking newly arrived children to hockey practice, or people, businesses, unions, faith and cultural communities, and social groups offering all manner of support, Canadians have shown once again that we are at our best when we reach out to welcome our future fellow citizens.” This sentiment couldn’t be any more applicable to the generosity expressed from members of the Cowichan community during the past twelve months. Numerous private sponsorship groups, religious groups, school groups, families and individuals have come together to offer their support in a variety of ways – from volunteering countless hours in support of refugee families to ensuring that we have

sufficient donations to cover the many needs of these newcomers. If it wasn’t for the individual and collective generosity of these members of our community, this resettlement effort would not be as successful as it has been.

Our work is not over yet. Federal funding to government sponsored Syrian refugees runs out after one year, and for many of the families in the Cowichan Valley, that date is imminent. Support is still needed to ensure the most successful outcomes possible for these families. The Cowichan Intercultural Society continues to welcome financial donations, volunteers who would like to support refugees and immigrants, and we continue to solicit specific donations for these families through our membership.

We look forward to seeing you at the farm in 2017

EVERY SUNDAY

11AM -3PM

(no market Jan 29)

5881 Genoa Bay Rd Duncan, V9L 5Y5

Are you interested in learning more about what it takes to become a sponsor, or are you interested in learning more about the sponsorship process in general? On Thursday, January 12th, the Cowichan Intercultural Society will be hosting a one-hour Prospective Sponsor Workshop/Info Session, from 5:30-6:30pm in our office (Suite 205, 394 Duncan Street – the Cowichan Professional Building). Over three decades ago, CIS was born as a response to the Vietnamese refugee crisis. Now, another generation of Canadians, including former refugees, are opening their arms to embrace diversity, inclusion, and to enrich their own lives, by welcoming Syrian refugees to the Cowichan Valley. On behalf of all of us involved in settlement services, and on behalf of our refugee clients, we’d like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU! For more info call 250 748 3112.

Eat, Drink and Support Local

All organic! Cold-Pressed Juices + Juice Cleanses + Smoothies + Elixirs + Raw Food + Bulletproof Coffee

What is your New Year’s resolution? Whether it’s to lose weight, get in shape, or to start eating healthy, an Organic Glow Juice Cleanse is a great way to accelerate your health goals.

Call, come in, or book online at www.glowjuicery.ca. 250 597 2595 3-5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan

Mention this ad for a 2017 New Year’s special!

SUPER FOOD SMOOTHIES

magine, for a moment, yourself with greater health. What do you look like? Stable energy and a healthy body weight? Are you resilient against sickness and have clear skin? Do you have strength, flexibility and balance? Can you imagine yourself with a quality of radiance, a state of high vibration that resonates outward? When we give reverence to our food and treat it as our medicine and our fuel, not just as a way to satiate our tasted buds, health begins to change. Symptoms go away. The body heals and begins to function at a higher level. Drinking living juices, both as a regular part of the diet and in high doses during juice cleanses, is an effective way to improve your health . It’s such a simple thing to do juice yourself to health. Begin with only organic and non-gmo fruits and vegetables, and use a coldpressed juicer. Generally, you want a higher percentage of vegetables than fruits, to keep the sugar levels down. Apples, pears and watermelon are great fruits to combine with carrots, cucumber, celery, beets, greens etc. Adding in herbs like mint or parsley creates unique flavour elements. Detoxification. Going on a juice cleanse is a safe and easy way to ‘lighten the load’ and reduce toxins from our bodies. When we fast from food and consume only organic, living juices (and water), we switch into a ‘detox mode’ where

Juice Yourself To Health our bodies take the energy normally used for digestion and put it towards clearing out the clutter. The juices are loaded with enzymes, vitamins and minerals, as well as being highly alkaline to the body’s pH. The nourishment of the juices goes straight to healing the body, and releasing toxins that have been stored in fat cells. Juice Cleanses: For a first time cleanse, try 1-3 days of drinking 7 juices per day and as much water as you want. After having done a few short cleanses, you may be ready to try one week. Let go of the ‘no pain - no gain ‘ attitude. Be gentle. Juicing is about loving yourself and honouring your body. Maintenance. After a higher level of health has been reached through a series of cleanses, continuing to drink 2 juices per day keeps you functioning at peak performance and radiating a healthy glow. Visit Glow Juicery in Duncan to find delicious cold-pressed juices and to get all the information you need to get started on a juice cleanse.

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Rachel Allen uses Reiki, Tellington TTouch, Animal Communication to help others find balance beingsinbalance.ca

The Relationship Between Proper Hydration And Great Skin

kin hydration is the amount of fluid present in the body at a cellular level. Proper skin health requires maintaining hydration at both the intra-cellular (inside cells) and extra- cellular (outside cells). With much of the body made up of water, proper hydration and fluid levels are necessary for healthy cell and organ function. Hydration keeps skin soft, pliable and elastic. The water content in skin is essential in performing its protective functions. Hydrated skin looks firmer, more supple, maintains thickness and is less wrinkled. The most basic way to hydrate skin cells is to drink plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables high in fluid content and anti-oxidants. Eating foods high in Omega 3’s such as nuts, fish oils and berries improves the overall cell health by strengthening cell walls. Herbal teas designed with ingredients that enhance cell moiture are a great choice. Go for a walk or spend some time outdoors in our beautiful misty coastal outdoors – your skin will

drink in the moisture and reward you with hydrated skin. Great skin starts with good health and is enhanced with good skin care practices... natural hydrators, emollients and humectants working synergistically - gentle cleansing, hydration boosting serums and quality moisturizers will help keep skin looking and feeling its healthy best. Practices that can rob your skin and cells of hydration are very hot showers and baths, washing with harsh soaps, using alcohol based toners and astringents, excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and prolonged exposure to dry environments. Beautiful skin requires committment, developing a routine or ritual of properly caring for your skin will pay off in a fresher, smoother, more radiant complexion.

Christine Brown is the founder and formulator at Lise Brown Cosmetics at 25 Canada Avenue in Duncan

CHANGE YOUR LIFE & HEALTH FOR 2017! TURN YOUR BODY INTO A NATURAL FAT BURNING MACHINE • Learn the science of losing weight and,keeping it off • Improve your health and increase your energy. • Learn about cleansing step by step • Instructions on how to cleanse and detoxify

Did you know?

The 7 channels of elimination are Liver, Colon, Kidneys, Blood, Skin, Lungs, Lymphatic system. Cleansing stimulates these 7 channels of elimination and improves liver function and overall bowel function. Come into the store and find out more!

Lynn’s

VITAMIN GALLERY

HEALTH FOOD STORE Village Green Mall, 4-180 Central Avenue, Duncan

250 748 4421 www.lynnsvitamingallery.com

Elia Zanon, Manna Farm tapping trees for her CSA members.

Vancouver Island Bigleaf Maple Syrup

t may come as a surprise to many, but we can make delicious maple syrup right here on Vancouver Island. With distinct differences from the familiar eastern maple syrup we all enjoy, western Bigleaf Maple syrup is a real specialty. Maple syrup is made by

boiling the sap of maple trees until it reaches a sugar content of 66.5%. The sap of eastern Sugar Maples contain 3-4% sugar, while western Bigleaf Maples contain only 1-2%. This means we boil twice as long to reach 66.5%, resulting in a dark, deep flavoured syrup relative to its eastern counterpart. I’ve come

to love this more flavourful syrup for all my sugar needs from pancake breakfasts to baking to salad dressing and drink making. Our first tapping season, we put in approximately 100 taps in January (a late start) and made about 20 litres of beautiful syrup by the end of February. We set up our sugar bush using the classical tapping method, meaning we simply set taps that flowed directly into individual buckets. And we boiled the sap on our homemade evaporator consisting of steam pans over a wood fire. Boiling took what felt like endless hours which we anticipated but we did not account for how difficult collection would be as we worked with flooded and uneven terrain and very heavy six gallon buckets. It was a fascinating experience and wonderful season of learning. This year while we work with a new, bigger sugar bush we are looking forward to making some improvements. Firstly, we are fortunate to have ideally sloped terrain allowing us to set up a gravity system thus easing collection. Sap will flow with gravity by way of a downward sloped tubing system into a giant cistern located right beside our sugar shack, saving us many hours of heavy

evaporator

lifting. Secondly, we’ll be building more evaporators to minimize the many sleepless nights we spent boiling last season. We will be putting in a minimum of 200 taps and hope to get in a longer season this year, overall increasing our syrup production. At this time, we are not only waiting on supplies for our new gravity system but we’re also waiting for some warmer weather as sap flows as things defrost. For a share of Manna Farm’s Bigleaf Maple syrup become a year round member of our full diet, free choice CSA.

Elia operates Manna Farm, providing a year-round, full diet, free choice CSA eliabzanon@hotmail.com.

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

The Medford Singers

c i j e f m f c r

The Medford Singers

he Medford Singers is a mixed-voice community choir which was started over 25 years ago by Bev Medford, who is remembered by many as not only a beloved singer, pianist and music teacher, but also a good friend of the Cowichan Valley performing arts community. From the humble beginnings of a ladies trio and then expanding to a sextet, the Medford Singers officially formed in 1991. Today, the choir has grown to just under 40 members who range in age from teens to mid-90’s.

Zak Stolk Violin Maker

25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition.

Making, repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed Instruments. 250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com

Although Bev passed away in 2009, her enthusiasm and love for music live on through the musicianship and good humour of current conductor, Simon Leung. Simon has carried on Bev’s tradition of bringing energy and fun to a varied and ever-changing repertoire of great music. As a testament to this tradition, the Medfords still have a number

of its original founding members in the choir to this day. To help usher in the new year, the Medford Singers will be presenting its winter concerts on Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15, 2017 (both at 2:00 pm), in Lake Cowichan and Duncan, respectively. The program, entitled “Sing We and Chant It”, will include a mix of both classical and contemporary pieces, and will feature soloist Annette Lampson and accompanist Michael Gaudet. Light refreshments will also be served immediately following the performances. Tickets may be obtained in advance ($17) at Volume One Books in Duncan or through choir members. Tickets at the door are $20 each, with children 12 and under free. New members always welcome - contact Laura Westwick at 250-510-1986 Submitted by Laura Westwick

“Building furniture while building lives”

Wo o d w o r k s

rom pens to kitchens, the Providence Farm woodworking program is eager to design and craft a one of a kind piece for your home or office. We use a blend of traditional and modern building techniques to meet our high quality standards, so that your furniture can be enjoyed for generations. Our commissions directly fund therapeutic programming, providing our participants with materials, tools and machinery, and high quality artisanal instruction.

Contact: woodwork@providence.bc.ca 250-746-4204 ext.27

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

B s s c w i e p l T t d g s b o o b

W t e b

indfulness generally refers to the ‘practice and capacity of being fully engaged in this moment without any judgment of what is present, either in consciousness or in form’. There are also many mindful practices which stem from Buddhism, including compassion, generosity and reverence for life. Being mindful, or present, is a starting point to becoming more self- aware. Most people tend to carry on with their daily activities without much awareness of what is going on in their thoughts and emotions. Thoughts are very powerful and unchecked, can lead to anxiety and depression. Thought cycles, or habitual thinking, can precipitate a downward spiral of worry, regret, guilt, fear, panic or a complete shut down of emotions. Without being aware of what is going on inside, we are at the mercy of whatever emotional wind is blowing. What tends to happen then is that whatever thought cycle or emotion we find ourselves in, we blame on some outside situation

or another person’s behavior. When we do this, we can feel stuck or paralyzed, caught in the whirlwind. When we take a step back, and objectively look at our thoughts and begin to see the relationship between our thoughts and emotions, we can see that our inner experience is actually within our control. We choose in each moment what thoughts and emotions to pay attention to. It a choice whether or not we want to blame or judge someone for our experience. In the end, it is all a choice. Mindfulness has a full range of benefits. People who practice mindfulness tend to be less anxious, less depressed, and have higher self-esteem, more vitality and overall more life happiness. Greater clarity, and a greater ability to focus are also common results. Couples who practice mindfulness also have been shown to be more satisfied with their relationship. ‘Sign me up’, you say. But exactly how does one begin? How do you learn to be fully present in the moment? I believe that a great starting point

Mindfulness is curiosity and a strong desire to learn about oneself: one’s desires, motivations, beliefs and concepts. Mindfulness Meditation is also a great beginning step. “If we examine ourselves every day with mindfulness and mental alertness, checking our thoughts, motivations, and their manifestations in external behavior, a possibility for change and self-improvement can open within us.” —The Dalai Lama

If you would like to discover the tools and skills to develop new ways of being with life’s challenges, Living Mindfully: a course for women starts on Wednesday January 18 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the new Sol Centre in Duncan. Practices include daily exercises to stay more present through movement, nutrition and mindful practice. Alison Etter – Counsellor, Tricia Pearson – Nutritionist and Pnina Benjamini – Yoga Instructor. For more information or to register, call 250-324-3040 or www.breakthroughcounselling. ca/events. $150 for 6 weeks.

Soul Healing for Women Starting in January 2017 at the new Sol Centre in Duncan Call 250-324-3040 or www.breakthroughcounselling.ca/events for more information or to register

Anxiety and Depression: Riding the Roller Coaster

This course for women starts Monday January 23 at the new Sol Centre in Duncan 7 - 9 pm $200.00 for 8 weeks This course will teach you the physiology of the nervous system and how thoughts, emotions, diet and exercise affect its balance and regulation. You will learn how to regulate the system using techniques such as tapping, mindfulness and meditation to help counter the wide mood swings of anxiety (the nervous system stuck on ‘on’) and depression (stuck on ‘off’). Group discussion, buddy support, home assignments, and daily journaling will help to anchor new approaches into everyday practice.

Living Mindfully This course for women starts Wednesday January 18 at the new Sol Center in Duncan 7 – 8:30 pm. Practices include mindful movement, nutrition and momentary awareness. $150 for 6 weeks. Mindfulness has a full range of beneﬁts. People who practice mindfulness tend to be less anxious, less depressed, and have higher self-esteem, more vitality and overall more life happiness. Greater clarity, and a greater ability to focus are also common results.

Sarah Sinray is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She values compassion, humility, and keeping up-to-date. enlivencounselling.com

ur emotions give life colour. They guide, inspire, and bring meaning. When they are in balance, they give rise to wisdom and vitality. However, when they are out of balance, they can also overwhelm us, cloud our perception, and run the show. They have the power to enliven us or bully us. How many of us were ever taught about how to manage our emotions as children at school? Take a moment to imagine what it would have been like if you had been given explicit training in how to regulate your emotions when they became overwhelming in high school. Richard Davidson, who has been studying the brain for 30 years has said, “well-being is fundamentally no different than learning to play the cello.” What harmful scenarios and suffering might you have been able to avoid?

word, but what is it exactly? Jon Kabat-Zinn, the originator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, defines mindfulness as “paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.” It is coming out of automatic pilot mode, being lost in thought, and experiencing the present moment fully. A common metaphor is that our usual state of mind is like fog and mindfulness is like a street lamp, illuminating the way to clarity. The MBSR program was first delivered in chronic pain clinics in hospitals in 1979. Today, approximately 300 of the top hospitals and clinics around the world have adopted the program and one third of family doctors in the UK prescribe mindfulness to their patients. Recent years have seen mindfulness spread to government, sports teams, military, corporations, prisons, and schools.

Image courtesy Tom Parker

Mindfulness Can Change Brain Structure We used to think that we were born with a certain number of neurons and the connections between them were fixed for life and dwindled in number over our lifetime. However, with the discovery of neuroplasticity towards the end of the 20th century, we now understand that we can continue to form connections between neurons and grow new neurons throughout our lifespans.

Sarah Sinray, MSc., RCC

Recent research into the neuroscience of mindfulness has made some fascinating discoveries as to what mindfulness is doing to the brain. In people who underwent the MBSR 8-week program, studies found that certain structures of the brain thickened, even in people who had never meditated before. The areas that thickened are involved in attention, perspective taking, and empathy. There was a decrease in the size of the amygdala, the threat detector in the brain. A change that indicates individuals experienced less anxiety and stress.

Professional, down-to-earth, evidence-based counselling

This encouraging research suggests we can train the mind to change the brain.

6-week Mindfulness Meditation for Inner Calm Workshop Jan. 25 - Mar. 1st | 6:30-8:30pm. See website for more details.

Mindfulness for Youth Over the past 10 years, the MindUP and Mindful Schools programs, which train teachers to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lessons, have reached 750,000 students worldwide.

The good news is that it’s never too late to learn. And more good news: some youth are finally being taught this skill through mindfulness instruction in school today. What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness has become a buzz

Some examples of formal practice include: feeling the sensations of breathing in the body and bringing the attention back any time it wanders, just feeling the sensations in the feet in a walking meditation, or scanning the awareness down the body. Informal practice can be brought to any everyday activity like eating an apple as if it were the first time or washing the dishes while feeling the hot

www.enlivencounselling.com | 250-668-4847 JODIE MCDONALD, MSW RSW 250-580-2252 jodie@livingandbreathing.ca

water on our hands as the object of our attention. Mindfulness emphasizes casting our awareness in a way that is kind and accepting of what we experience. By stepping back and observing our internal experience, we find a capacity to respond rather than react.

IBP INTEGRATIVE BODY PSYCHOTHERAPISTS COUNSELLING AND HEALING BREATHWORK

Mindfulness for Youth and You In addition, the Vancouver Children’s Hospital has developed the Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents (MARS-A) program for youth experiencing anxiety, depression, and chronic health conditions. In 2013, studies were published that found that youth who underwent mindfulness programs were kinder to other students, had reduced levels of stress, depression, symptoms of ADHD, and improved attention and levels of well-being. Does your child’s school include mindfulness in its curriculum? Mindfulness for You I teach a weekly drop-in mindfulness class in Maple Bay on Tuesday evenings from 7pm-8pm. In a recent class, a lovely 80-year-old woman told me that although she didn’t take a mindfulness course until several years ago, it’s been extremely valuable to her. No matter your age, it’s never too late to learn. Beginning January 25th, I will be teaching an in-depth 6-week mindfulness workshop in Duncan. The workshop will focus on using mindfulness to find balance, wisdom, and self-compassion in the face of our emotions. In addition, I am collecting interest to teach the MARS-A adolescent mindfulness program that will begin in the Spring.

SYBILLE WEBB, MEd 250-715-6957 sybillewebb@shaw.ca

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Evergreen Independent School

camping trip to enjoy with your family annually. Please come and bring your questions about how EIS can be a fit for your child and family!

On January 23 we will provide an interactive time with the early learning teachers, Principal, and Evergreen parents, as well as classroom tours.

Evergreen School Open House

ou are invited to join us for our annual Open House at Evergreen Independent School. The Open House is an opportunity for families to explore the unique educational environment provided to each student at Evergreen. Come onto the school grounds and enter our community! The Principal, teachers, staff, and families are all dedicated to making the experience at Evergreen successful academically and socially for every student. Quality, well-rounded education balanced with problem-solving and mutual respect is the emphasis of what is offered at EIS. There are many special events, field trips, and even a

The January 24 event will also be interactive but will be held during school hours. This provides insight to the daily school environment and the small class sizes. We look forward to meeting you there! Open House January 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 3515 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill

Sunrise Waldorf School Preschool & Kindergarten OPEN HOUSE

Where children soar through play and imagination. Come and meet the teachers, learn about our programs, and explore our classrooms.

Art Credit - Jasmeen Olya Arts A morning in the Kindergarten

Saturday March 4 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday March 25 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

A morning in the Preschool Saturday March 11 10:00 am - 12:00

After School in the Kindergarten

Wednesday April 26th - 2:00 - 3:00 pm Tuesday May 16th - 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Space is limited - Please RSVP to admissions@sunrisewaldorfschool / www.sunrisewaldorfschool.org / 250.743.7253

Oliver! Musical Theatre for the Whole Family, and Then Some are few family outings I remember from my childhood Tas here fondly and distinctly as going

From Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist came the musical Oliver! The play is based on his novel, which was his successful effort to educate the middle and upper classes of nineteenth century England to the plight of the poor. His stories touched Queen Victoria and the culture he lived in sufficiently to institute England’s first child labor laws. The novel represents not only an anthropological documentary of England in the early 1800s but an act of sociological/political activism.

As a child, the musicals that had children in the cast were especially exciting.

While the musical rendition is a bit more light-hearted, embellished with joyful, contagious songs, it is no less poignant. Much of the script is taken verbatim from the novel.

to see a musical performed live on stage. I consider myself lucky, though at the time it was something that I took for granted. Many friends still credit my mother for enriching their childhood by bringing them with our family to see their first musical, and many more through the second hand exposure at our house, through the records, the references and being cast into song and dance numbers.

Open Weekdays 7AM - 4PM Weekends 8AM - 4PM All proﬁts made at Cedrick’s Coffee House in Crofton will be used to support education, healthcare, medical services and clean drinking water for thousands of children facing challenging conditions through the Kids International Development Society

50% discount on the ﬁrst month of training. Classes every Wednesday

Join Brett Holland for classes at the Sol Centre Duncan

Ph: 250 920 8818

WWW.GOLDENSHIELDQIGONG.CA

This January there is a massive production of Oliver being staged at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Gregg Perry of The Cowichan Musical Society, (also known as The South Island Musical Theatre Society), a non-profit organization whose mission it is to keep the tradition of musical theatre alive and accessible to our community. The production is heaped with children as well as adults. What is especially meaningful is that there are 17 sets of various family constellations amidst the cast; grandparents, parents, children, (and/or teenagers), couples, siblings, including our whole family of four! The lead, Dominic who plays Oliver, plays the grandson of his own father, Charlie, in the role of Mr. Brownlow.

I am grateful for the Cowichan Musical Society, and all the dedicated volunteers. Staging productions like this are a huge undertaking and it is a service they present to the entire community. It has been a wonderful experience for us as a family to be involved thus far, and we have still yet to perform! The show dates are January 20, 21 and 22nd at the Cowichan Valley Performing Arts Center. Bring the whole family, and then some!

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Diane Brussell M.A., R.C.C. of Lettuce Lotus Productions is teacher, and and facilitator of self expressive groups.

Wolf Cowichan - A Local Nature Program For Youth, Famillies & Adults

pending quality time in the natural world is what many of us love most about living in the Cowichan Valley. The depth and breadth of skills, knowledge and experience to be gained is never ending. For those at the beginning of this journey and new to the region’s indigenous elders who have lifetimes of stories and experience to share, we at WOLF Cowichan wish to create a forum and community where we can learn and share experiences together. The natural world provides everything that we need to live, and working together in community brings joy to that living. Learning the skills needed, both philosophical and physical, to enter and explore the relationship between ourselves and the plants and animals, rocks and water, weather and all aspects of the world through all our senses is what we love most in our Cowichan programs. Through tracking the stories of the earth through interpreting signs and mysteries, to providing ourselves with shelter, water, fire and food through our knowledge and skills of the gifts of nature, all our adventures are fun, educational and enriching. Between our new home location in Cowichan Bay at “Crowe and Appel” and Hwiemtun’s (Fred Roland) “Sacred Cedar Centre” off Boys Rd, and the Cowichan estuary and river in between we have opportunities to bring

communities together through a love of the natural world and exploration of so much that there is to learn. With Hwiemtuns help, we can explore the cultural perspectives and honour the connection of indigenous people to the land and the healing and respect that is a necessary part of the journey. Programs are designed for any level of experience and are about learning together and not “downloading knowledge”. The young child joining us for their day can be the greatest teacher! We follow principles of learning taught to us by indigenous communities that follow natural styles and rhythms and are playful and fun. With each age group we work with different passions and interests and with adults try to access the childlike wonder that we all have inside whilst utilizing our full deductive capabilities and knowledge and experience. We respect all contributions and allow learning and adventuring to be fun and safe.

• Restaurant • Deli • CAFÉ • Grocery •

1751 Cowichan Bay Road 250 748 0020 croweandappel.ca

Offering fresh seafood, gluten free and paleo friendly menu of soups, broths, pies, jumbo sushi rolls, salads and salad rolls.always wild, pastured and organic. Saturday Night Dinners with live music celebration starting January 14 Sunday Brunch with wilderness skills for all the family starting January 15

NEW Winter Hours Thursday through Sunday 11am-5:30pm Youth Programs will run Mondays and Fridays each week. Mondays will be at the ‘Sacred Cedar Centre’ in Duncan where we will focus on outdoor skills and adventures. Fridays we will be at ‘Crowe and Appel’ location in Cowichan Bay where we will focus on exploration of the bay and estuary, and learn survival, food preparation and preservation skills. Two groups are offered for ages 7-10 and ages 11-14. The programs run concurrently with part of the day spent together and part spent on different skills, projects and activities

LET US KNOW IT’S YOUR FIRST VISIT FOR 10% OFF YOUR MEAL Adult and Family program will run Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays we will start the day with tracking adventures and games in the Cowichan Estuary. Each Saturday evening we will have a live music celebration and dinner at the ‘Crowe and Appel’. Sundays we will offer brunch and outdoor and survival skills programs in Cowichan Bay.. All interested and passionate outdoor enthusiasts are welcome. Call 250 732 1175 to sign up or for more information. Submitted by David Krieger

WOLF Cowichan will be offering nature education, wilderness skills and regenerative living programs for youth, adults and families starting January 30. The semester runs to summer 2017. Students can join for one or two days a week. Payment options include full funding through Crowe and Appel ‘box program’ sales so that all interested students can join.

v y y o i

L s t c w w p d t d

Choosing The Right Seed For Your Garden Tamu Miles, Novelist, blogger, and employee at Dinter Nursery

ach year garden enthusiasts are faced with a myriad of choices when it comes to seed catalogues. If you’ve ever Googled “seed catalogues” you know what I mean. And because today’s gardeners are more discerning when choosing what to grow, with more choosing organic, non GMO, heirloom, and untreated seed, a few tips might help to ensure your seed to harvest experience is healthy and bountiful. Here on Vancouver Island the hardiness zones range from a 5a Zone right through to a 9a. In other words, the island is quite diverse. Here in the Cowichan region we sit more between 7a and 8a.

As such, it’s best to choose seed that has been acclimatized to this area. Plants will be healthier, grow stronger, and yield more. To check out an online, interactive hardiness map, go to: www.planthardiness.gc.ca

Seed that has been shipped from the U.S. or Eastern Canada has been selected for completely different climate and seasonal considerations. Though these seeds may have a high germination rate, they may not always perform through to harvest as well as they could. This has to do with how many days it takes for the plant to mature from seed. For example, a tomato can take up to 90 days to reach harvest, whereas spinach takes 50 days. Waltham squash takes 110 days, and Sugar Ann snap peas mature in 56. The longer a plant takes to mature, the earlier it needs to be seeded and the more it will require warmer air and soil temperatures to thrive. So if you start your own tomatoes from seed, West Coast Seeds recommends that you do so indoors 8 to 10 weeks before soil temperatures reach 12 degrees Celcius and transplant them into a bed with a cold frame after all chance of frost has passed. This is because soil temperatures under 12 degrees Celsius can damage the plant, or at the

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

W n t i w w w g a t y o s r c c

O t t a f O b v d w d v w t

very least stunt its growth. If you don’t cover your tomato, you also run a higher risk of disease, botrytis, and bug infestations. Locally grown and harvested seed will have resistance to these factors, and will in many cases not be as sensitive to our wet coastal climate. However, with all seed it is important pay special attention to the days to maturity number on the package or in the catalogue description. When we take into account the number of days it takes a plant to reach maturity, we see that it is important to plan what will need to be seeded indoors, what will need cold frames when transplanted out into the garden, and how differing light and water needs will affect the layout and placement of your plants. There are many online resources you can use, such as West Coast Seeds’ regionalized, online planting charts at www.westcoastseeds. com. Other things you may want to think about are whether or not the seed is certified organic, and whether or not it is coming from heirloom varieties. Organic gardening has several benefits, such as higher vitamin and mineral content, disease and pest resistance, weed competitiveness, and drought resistance. Heirloom varieties are open pollinated, will reproduce themselves through seed, and will grow

true to type. Once you have thought about all of this and decided what vegetables and annuals you would like to grow this year, the next step is choosing the company you would like to purchase from. Here are a few local, and other, suggestions to get you started: West Coast Seeds was established in 1983 by Mary Ballon, a nursing instructor at the University of British Columbia. This Vancouver company offers over 800 varieties of untreated, organic, and non GMO, non GEO, hybrid, and heirloom seed. Though the company changed hands in 2014 they remain committed to sourcing and distributing top quality seed that has not been treated with insecticides, fungicides, or other chemicals. Salt Spring Seeds, founded 30 years ago by Dan Jason, grows all of its own seed and sells only from its most recent harvest. All seeds are untreated, open-pollinated, and non GMO. In his latest book, The Power of Pulses, Jason emphasizes the need to feed the world through “clean food and water instead of continuing to play havoc with the health and well-being of ourselves and all the earth’s creatures”. William Dam Seed is an Ontario based company that was founded in the 40s. All

“Live the Island Dream” Nick Brown

Realtor/Associate Broker Pemberton Holmes 23 Queens Rd, Duncan, BC 250-710-3732 nickbrownrealestate@shaw.ca

seed is untreated, but not necessarily organic. William Dam sources its seed from growers all over the globe and remains committed to sustainable agriculture. “At William Dam Seeds we believe that we all can make a difference in the world. Whether it be in improving the world with sustainable agriculture, disaster relief work and community building in developing countries, by growing a row for the local food bank, or educating the next generation of gardeners,” William Dam Jr., current president. Baker Creek Seeds was founded in 1998 by Jere Gettle. Based in Missouri, the company boasts the largest selection of non GMO and heirloom varieties in the U.S. If you are cultivating large crops, this is a company worth looking into. They offer greater volume than most other suppliers and see themselves as a tool to promote and preserve European and Asian agriculture and culinary heritage. Baker Creek supplies free seeds to many of the world’s poorest countries, as well as to school gardens and other educational projects within the U.S.

JANUARY,

Choose Your Seeds

www.dinternursery.ca

KNOW BEFORE YOU SOW

FREE 2017 Catalogues Now Available

full of tips on successful west coast gardening. We have everything you need to start your seeds! • Seed Starter Soil • Peat Pots • Cell Packs • Assorted Heat Domes and Trays • Specialty Lights and Heating Mats • Markers • Pop Up Greenhouses • Organic & Heritage Seeds • Bare Root Fruit Trees • Plus all gardeners tools and more!

Serving local gardeners since 1973

250 748 2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

Small Town. Big Health Choices.

hile Downtown Duncan is well known for great shopping and restaurants, did you know that a large number of our businesses are health practitioners? Here’s a list of the incredibly extensive services that can be found all within a few square blocks:

• Medical doctors • Dentists • Physiotherapists • Midwives • Counsellors • Acupuncturists • Chiropractors • Athletic therapists • Naturopaths • Optometrists • Massage Therapists • Orthodontist

Christy Greenwood Sessions Image Kelly Hays

Need a check-up? Dozens of medical doctors and specialists operate (no pun intended) out of our downtown core – GP’s, Ob-Gyn’s, Pediatricians and more can be found at various clinics and medical offices. Need a prescription? Boasting 4 full service pharmacies within our downtown core close to medical offices, take advantage of the expert and friendly advice at the following pharmacies: • Ingram Pharmacy - 149 Ingram St. • Island Pharmacy 192 Kenneth St. • Mann’s Pharmacy 325 Jubilee St. • Pharmasave - 285 Craig St. Need immunized? Margaret Moss Health Unit at 675 Canada Ave. offers infant, child, and adult

immunizations, as well as flu clinics, pre-natal classes, Smart Sex youth clinics as well as many other worthwhile programs. Need tests? Life Labs at 149 Ingram St. offers a wide variety of clinical tests and has convenient opening hours of 7:30am – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday. Need a hand with Home Care? There are 2 Home Care businesses downtown; We Care Home Health Services at 149 Ingram and Unique Home Health Care at 121 Station both offer a range of services between them

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

including Dementia Care, RN Foot Care, Meal Prep, Companionship, Hourly Care, Hospice, 24-Hour Care and Live-in Service. Need dental work? From general dentistry to orthodontics to endodontics – everything you need to maintain good oral health and a brilliant smile is close at hand. What other kinds of practitioners are there? Different modalities such as Qi Gong, Rolfing, Hellerwork, Somatics, Craniosacral Therapy, Integrative Bodywork, Yoga Therapy, and Reflexology are all on offer at various offices throughout the downtown core. What about pet health?

Denise D’Fantis Cowichan Valley Acupuncture

Dr. Daisey Kent, preparing personalized herbal medicine.

Even your furry friends can be taken care of downtown at Duncan Animal Hospital, where with several Veterinarians, Veterinary Assistants and registered veterinary technologists on staff, your pets are sure to be their healthiest. Downtown Duncan may be small, but it offers big choices in healthcare. Visit the DDBIA (Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area) office at 203-111 Station Street to pick up a Professional Services brochure listing with all practitioner names and addresses. Downtown Duncan…just what the Doctor (and dozens of other healthcare providers) ordered.

Heavy with the Scent of Flowers Watercolours by Cheryl Hitchcock January 5th to 28th Luscious, richly saturated watercolours that offer a glimpse of the artist’s vision of elegance of the botanical world. Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 28 Station St., Downtown Duncan www.excellentframeworks.ca 250 746 7112

lmost 16 years ago, I made a huge leap of faith and started Ingrid’s Yarn in a little shop on the corner of Station and Craig Streets in downtown Duncan. Although I loved yarn, knitting and crochet, I didn’t have any retail experience and faced a huge learning curve. With the support and encouragement of Valley yarn lovers, my downtown neighbours and the Duncan BIA, the shop has grown and prospered.

Ingrid Ball

Goodbye and Thank You

from Ingrid of Ingrid’s Yarn

Before Call for January class dates

After

NEW

• Skin Care Services • Esthetics Services • Natural Sugaring Hair Removal • Onsite Gel Nail Artist • Facial Bar

LOCATION! DOWNTOWN

DUNCAN

250 510 8700

#105 80 Station Street - Please use Craig St entrance

Downtown Duncan is so much more than a group of locally owned and operated shops and services – it is an intrinsic part of the community. We host free public events such as the recent Christmas Kickoff and support many local organizations and causes. A few years ago, we were given the tagline “Heart of Cowichan” and today I would say “Small Town, Big Heart”. But I’ve now reached another stage in my life and have made the bittersweet decision to retire at the end of January 2017. Although I will really miss the many customers (friends) that I’ve met, I’m looking forward to travelling with my husband, spending more time with our extended family and volunteering

with community groups and organizations. As a bonus, I can enjoy everything Downtown has to offer as a customer and personally enjoy the events. I can even watch the Summerfest Parade! Annie and I are looking forward to seeing you in January. There will be a huge yarn sale throughout the month along with prize draws and giveaways. My most sincere thanks to the many customers who have supported the shop over the years and have also taught me so many valuable lessons about yarn, crafting and life in general. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Duncan United Church

Ingrid‛s Yarn After 16 years as part of the Valley ﬁber community, I will be retiring at the end of January, 2017. Meeting so many wonderful people and becoming involved in community activities has been the best part of the yarn shop experience and I’d like to thank everyone for your friendship and support.

Retirement Sale

The Little Church on the Corner Minister Keith Simmonds, Duncan United Church

“I

t’s so big in here, I had no idea!” Perhaps the number one comment heard from people touring the Duncan United Church. Almost cottage-like in appearance on the outside, the church contains a number of halls and meeting rooms, topped off with a very busy kitchen. Over 7000 meals are served at Duncan United, every year. “I can feel the change in atmosphere as soon as I enter the space.” Perhaps having been home to a church since 1893 (the original building was torn down and rebuilt in 1941) has imbued the space with love, laughter and life. Some believe the hundreds of thousands of prayers poured out here have created a ‘thin space’ where human souls are nestled in divine love. It certainly feels that way. “You do so much in our community.” Trying to emulate Francis of Assisi, who once said “Teach the Gospel always, using words only if absolutely necessary,” folk who attend and

serve others here have adopted a Mission Statement straight out of the Prophet Micah. “Seek Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with your God.” Besides regular worship and spiritual engagement, the church houses dinners for the hungry; 12 step programs; a thrift shop; Third Duncan Scouts; community concerts; care giver support groups; Friday morning coffee; Yoga classes; a Seniors exercise group; community film and conversation nights; homeless support programs; a parish nurse; pastoral counselling and a community justice outreach program. Hundreds of people from all walks of life enter the doors and give or receive support through, by, or with the church. Linda Evans, the first person seen by most who come says, “People are here for all kinds of reasons, spiritual, physical, emotional and educational. They come to eat, pray, love and learn. We try to help.” Duncan United raises funds for its programs on an ongoing basis. On January 28th, 2017 a Broadway Musical Evening will offer music,

Giveaways & Prizes

Please come in to use gift certiﬁcates and credit notes by Jan. 20, 2017

133 Craig St. • 250-709-9699 • ingridsyarn@shaw.ca www.facebook.com/IngridsYarnandNeedlework

appetizers, and treats to the accompaniment of local singers loosely stitched together in a story line presenting their talents and favourite Broadway ballads.

Learning Technology in the New Year

oung or old, new digital devices were likely received throughout the Valley in December! Get the most out of your technology by first defining how you want to use your new digital toys; then plan to get the most out of what they have to offer. New tech often means having to make a learning leap to tackle the new operating system! Don’t let the features overwhelm you instead, connect with a friend or instructor who will help you adjust your old learning patterns to new features and modern interface - including changes to menus, mouse actions, and the addition of touch screens.

Rob’s Lighthouse Eatery & Art Gallery Fresh, friendly, affordable and pet-friendly! OpenED Daily 8am-6pm Heated patio or take out

*Award Winning Chowder* Grilled Seasoned Fish & Chicken Great Burgers, Fries, Wraps & More!

Tablets are continuing to be popular with seniors as they seem less daunting than a full computer. Apples, Windows, Samsung or a plethora of other tablets offer quick access to the internet, ease of communicating through email, text, or voice/video over internet through Skype or FaceTime. Once the basic processes of connecting to the internet, updating the device, and managing apps is mastered, then these devices

can be useful for work, play, and communication. Courses are offered locally through your community centres and local tech trainers to help you with daily communication, optimizing your use of the camera, finding an app that meets your special interest needs from knitting to creating digital books, or sharing your day with family members. Today’s technology can involve very active learning with ages 8 and up. Learning to build robots and tackle challenge courses is just one form of active learning. Kids also have the opportunity to create their own animations, games and apps through robust block coding programs such as Scratch JR and Scratch, timeline HTML5 programs such as Hippani, and even Apple’s Swift programming. Check out the local club opportunities for students to work together to learn the basics of the programs and then design and program their own projects! Submitted by Heather Stannard

Dine In on our heated patio or Take Out! Cowichan Bay

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

itting is a part of our everyday life. We sit to eat, read, drive, etc. The internet has extended our collective number of sitting hours greatly.

3. Proper posture. The spine

There are several things we can do to protect against injuries:

needs to be relaxed, in the neutral position. The body should align with a vertical axis line running from the center of the top of the head, straight down. Imagine the line as a string holding you up from the top of your head. Now, tilt your pelvis slightly forward to create the arch that the lower back has naturally. (Be careful: if you feel strain in the lower back, you are over-tilting the pelvis. This will cause tightening of the lower back and hip flexors.) The navel needs to be pulled in, and the abdomen area should be kept slightly tightened, to provide support for your back. The hip flexors stay relaxed. For the upper back, lift the chest up, pull the shoulders REALIGN YOUR BODY back, then down. • better balance • increase ﬂexibility Finally, the neck is to be pulled • improve posture • re alignment back with the chin gently • eliminate chronic pain and more tucked in. Now, for the final touch up, NEW YEAR, NEW YOU SPECIAL let the invisible axis string 50 % OFF FIRST SINGLE SESSION FOR NEW CLIENTS pull you up slightly. Be sure BRETT HOLLAND I 250.920.8818 the body remains relaxed throughout, with the exception of a slightly tightened •Release trapped emotions and ﬁnd health and happiness abdomen.

1. First on the list must be to

4. For your work space: you

2. One change we can make

eyes should be level with the top eighth of the computer screen, to avoid constant tilt of the head.

How to Sit

Unfortunately, our bodies are not well designed for sitting for extended periods of time. Frequent, prolonged sitting can cause injuries – such as lower back pain due to tightened hip flexors, and neck and shoulder tension due to a hunched back. Though the best way to avoid these injuries is avoid long sitting, life leaves us with no option sometimes.

avoid long sitting as much as possible.

immediately and easily is to get up from the chair frequently. The body starts to stiffen after 20 minutes of sitting. We need to stand up for at least 1 minute, move and stretch. Gentle spinal rotation, flexion, and extension are great. As for stretching, good target areas are the chest, biceps, sides of the trunk, hip flexors, and the back of the knees. These are areas that stay folded in the sitting position, and typically tighten up. While you’re standing, might as well shake your arms, forearms and hands, to get relief from tension.

ISLAND ROLFING

•Take down your heart - wall and welcome in your hopes and might realize the need to adjust dreams •Achieve self-conﬁdencePioneering reﬂex inhibition and heights of your furniture and equipment. For example, your integration work

5. Consider also different set-

up for your work space. Some people do well on a stability ball, and more and more people are finding a standing desk very beneficial.

Call or Email

First appointment free!

David Yaeger

Certiﬁed Emotion Code Practitioner 250-597-3686 davidyaeger650@gmail.com

Now, you are ready to sit. Remember always, the less sitting the better. Get up frequently. Yaz Yamaguchi practices shiatsu and craniosacral therapy in Duncan.

FACIALS, PEDICURES, MANICURES, WAXING, TINTING

Upstairs at 3515 Cobble Hill Rd • 250-715-7935

www.contoursaesthetics.com

ust a two and a half Shiloh and Tiller hour drive from getting ready for the Cowichan Valley jumps and rails to the base, Mount Washington Alpine Resort is our island destination for winter family fun. Offering over 1700 acres of terrain for alpine and nordic enthusiasts. Five lifts (2 high speed, 2 fixed grip quads, 1 triple chair) are here to take you up the mountain for a variety of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs through beautiful parents with young children or temperate rainforest laden with adults who are not yet ready for snow. For the more adventurous, the lifts. All learning is inspired there are multiple treed runs against the mountain backdrop of for all levels, two terrain parks beautiful Strathcona Park. - The Stomping Ground for intermediate to advanced and the One of the best winter months Easy Acres Terrain Park for kids of the year - January offers and beginners. many half price opportunities for Islanders to come visit. If New to mountain culture or just you are a beginner, plan to come thinking about it? Four state mid week January 9-13, when of the art magic carpet tunnels Discover packages (discover transport learners up the Easy packages include Easy Acres Acres run keeping everyone ticket, rentals and a lesson) in warm and dry. A dream for snowboarding or skiing are half

Mount Washington Family Fun in the Snow

Float effortlessly on the surface of 1000L of water saturated with 1200 lbs of Epsom salts heated to 94.5 degrees. Experience life without sensation and distractions in this unique light and soundproof environment. 662 Herald St. I Victoria, BC I V8W 1S7 I 778 433 3166 I hello@ﬂoathousevictoria.com I ﬂoathousevictoria.com

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

access to unlimited rentals and unlimited daytime lifts throughout the season. Because they learned both, the Graduate allows them the freedom to choose what they want to do that day. On opening weekend they chose snowboards to be the same as mum and dad. But the next trip up they chose skis to manoeuvre the treed runs better and to go faster down the runs.

Old House Hotel, Courtenay

price. A week later, January 16 -20 offers full day lift tickets at 50% off. Check out the specials at www.mountwashington.ca. Returning visitors will see lots of new upgrades at the resort. Our new favourite spot to meet is the Eagle View Bistro serving a delicious selection of baked goods, hot drinks and specialty lunch items. Modern, cozy with big windows facing the mountain, it is a great place to begin or end your day. In the Experience Centres, a new partnership with Rossignol has resulted in over 2 million dollars of new gear. Guests now have access to the best snowboards, skis and boots available when renting which means a better experience on the snow, whether on the cross-country trails or on the alpine ski runs. For more advanced enthusiasts the Rossignol Demo Centre, located at the base of the Eagle Chairlift offers a fleet of demo skis and boards to test on the hill. If your kids are young and new to mountain culture a Rookie pass is your guarantee to sucess. This pass offers your children unlimited rentals, afternoon lessons in both sking and snowboarding, and season lift passes - what does all this mean? No limits to learning and afternoons free for you. Rookie Year enabled our kids to learn both skiing and snowboarding having completed all their levels in each sport, they are now looking forward to specialty lessons in the mini Terrain Park to keep progressing. This year our boys are “Graduates” the next pass after completing the Rookie Year. The Graduate Pass gives them

Though we love to stay in the Alpine Village with friends and the dog, our new favourite accommodation is the Old House Hotel in Courtenay. This great spot is just 1/2 an hour from the hill and certainly one of the best places to stay on Vancouver Island. Family friendly, dog friendly with the loveliest staff around we just can’t get enough of this place. It has become part of our family winters, almost equal to the hill. Clean, cozy and full of warmth the biggest treat is the year-round outdoor pool. Warm, clean and saline there’s nothing better after a great day on the hill then to venture poolside in a plush robe to plunge into the warm water. For soakers there are 2 hot tubs onsite, one outdoors by the pool and one indoors to enjoy. Old House offers some great value Stay & Ski packages which include discounted lift tickets, and accommodations when booked together. www.oldhousevillage.com Besides saving money on the packages, our pet friendly suite with kitchen always ensures the kids eat exactly what they want. In January, the Comox Valley hosts Winterfest, January 13-29. This festival offers lots of family fun including outdoor skating, big screen movies, arts, food specials, music, even a contest for the dog! Just another reason to get outside this winter. See you on the hill! Submitted by Sheila Badman

osing weight and getting in shape can be challenging, especially with all the demands life places on us. We have to excel in the workplace, have time to support our kids and their numerous activities, trek from store to store sourcing all those healthy ingredients, to then spend hours creating tasty, healthy family meals, and at some point squeeze in an hour or two at the gym every day. No wonder we fall into bed at night exhausted! Changing a lifetime of habits takes time, practice and support. That’s why so many people, successful in many

New Year, New Health, New You other areas in their lives, may fail to achieve the results they’re truly seeking:many of us have experience of countless fad diets and unused gym memberships. There’s so much confusing nutrition information out there: High carb, low carb, high protein, low fat, high fat, Paleo, intermittent fasting, calorie counting, weightloss shakes, etc… Add to that, how on earth should you exercise? High intensity interval training, low impact aerobics, weight training, cross training, boot camps, yoga: it’s enough to make your head spin! There is a simpler way to regain a healthy lifestyle, without adding to your stress and lack of time. There are

Duncan residents just like you who have achieved it, and you can learn from them. Derik Sheers, Store Manager of Save On Foods, Duncan, works demanding 12 hour days, yet he has found a way to create balance. In doing so, Derik has learnt to reduce his stress, move better, feel better, and lose over 20 pounds of fat while building lean muscle tissue. Derik achieved this in a relatively short time, when he joined local fitness club, Monkey Bar Gym. With a direct focus on lifestyle change through proper education, functional fitness training, and nutrition coaching, the team at Monkey Bar Gym (MBG) makes it fun, and easy, to lose weight and keep it off for good, regardless of age, gender or current fitness level.

Changing a lifetime of habits takes time, practice and support. Simon Young, fitness specialist Monkey Bar Gym Derik recalls, “I knew that I had to make a commitment to being healthy, and if I wanted to see any change I was going to need help”. “ I didn’t know what to do, nor was I confident that I had the discipline to stick with doing it on my own. The accountability kept me consistent, and every workout was designed intentionally to get me to the next level.

Upon starting his program at MBG,

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Derik continues, “My initial encounter with the Monkey Bar Gym team was one of their educational grocery store tours. They love what we do at Save On Foods, and wanted to share it with their clients, teaching them how to meet all their grocery store needs under one roof, saving time, money and stress.” Derik Sheers, Store Manager, Save On Foods

The program was delivered in an easy to understand, supportive, encouraging environment, so I could continue to apply these principles to my lifestyle for the rest of my life”. “I lost 23 pounds in less than 3 months, working with the fitness experts at MBG, who supported my participation in their 60 day challenge program. Paying that forward, the knowledge and tools they equipped me with have helped me to realize how I can help serve our Save On Foods customers better, too. For example, our supplements section is second to none, with high quality, fad-free nutritional products, at the keenest prices locally.” “Our produce is of the highest quality, offers real value for money, and is locally sourced wherever possible. That’s very important to me and my team, supporting the people who live and work in this valley. In fact, that’s one of the things that drew me to Monkey Bar Gym; they strongly believe in local too.”

“From there it was actually members of my team at the store who encouraged me to attend, with Clint Carruthers, fresh produce manager, the number one instigator. In fact, there are several of my staff who are members, and it’s great that we can share in our fitness experience. It really helps to build a level of support and camaraderie that crosses over into the workplace.” Kathleen Neilson, the coowner of Monkey Bar Gym, says “the design of the program allows for safe, functional movement with maximum metabolic effect (fat burning) in the minimum amount of time. When combined with eating natural, whole foods the way we were meant to as a

Simon Young Co Owner Monkey Bar Gym

species, the result is a body transformation that lasts a lifetime. “With just three, forty minute workouts per week, you can achieve a lean, strong, painfree body.”, says Neilson. “Many of the clients MBGVI serves are living proof of that”.

gym is the clients. They are amazing. MBG clients range from 8 to 80, of all shapes, sizes and abilities, yet one aspect unifies them: every day they create an up-beat, supportive atmosphere, encouraging each other, and having fun along the way. They ROCK!”

“Our program meets you where you are at. In the gym we have no mirrors, no machines, no expectations. Our program is designed to work for both novice and seasoned exerciser, with allowance for individual requirements through inexperience, injury or lack of mobility.”

The exercise professionals at Monkey Bar Gym provide you with a proven path for achieving results, and they equip you with the ability and knowledge to achieve and maintain your new body for the rest of your life. You’ll meet great people, like Derik, too.

Simon Young, co-owner of Monkey Bar Gym, adds: “The best thing about our

Kathleen Neilson Co Owner Monkey Bar Gym

Losing weight and getting in shape doesn’t have to be a struggle with no end in sight. At Monkey Bar Gym Vancouver Island you’ll receive proper education, nutrition counseling, and strength training that will help you achieve the results you’ve been looking for. To discover how Monkey Bar Gym programs work, and how it can work for you, call 250-815-0158, email info@mbgvi.ca, or visit www.MBGVI.ca.

David Coulson is a local certified Built Green design builder. He has a staff of 25 that have built throughout the Island for over 20 years.

DESIGNING

GREEN H

appy New Year to all! I thought instead of ranting on about resolutions and all, we would review some of the articles on home upgrades and add a few updated thoughts as we enter this next pivotal year of exponential change. It’s been 10 years since the advent of the IPhone. This amazing tool has changed our lives and way of being beyond even the dreams of the late Steve Jobs. We now have apps that can remotely control and/or communicate with literally everything and every device we have in the home . You may wish to choose the simple life (apparently the IPhone was designed to simplify our lives) and stay with your

on/off switch and mechanical controls. This is not to say we should ignore some basic principles though as we move forward that will have dramatic effects on your cost of living and overall comfort. Let’s start with heating. Yes we still burn a lot of wood. But in the future, this practice will likely be banned or curtailed in urban areas. Pellets, remanufactured wood waste and even biomass ‘may’ continue in some form so we need to think about home design, overall house size and the chimneys and vents and storage required for these fuels. And the availability and of course cost. We are still lucky on the island to have access to many wood processing facilities that can readily supply these alternatives to split firewood and with the seemingly growing agro community, perhaps the advent of biomass bricks of some kind from our farms. The sizes of homes may begin to decrease as we find affordability an issue. Smaller family sizes and smaller available properties

FUTUREPROOFING YOUR HOME will also affect heating choices. An open floor plan with a centrally located heat source is ideal of course but the tall internal chimney required can be expensive when choosing wood so plan accordingly. These chimneys are sold by the inch so that gives you an idea of costs associated. Hydronic systems ( in floor heating), which are taking off once again should be planned for in the early stage of building by insulating under the concrete slab of your basement or main floors and installing Pex piping to allow for virtually any allowable fuel source down the road. This is truly future proofing as your system may run on gas today (or wood) and move to solar, air or geo sources as the technology becomes available and perhaps government incentives are offered. The thermal mass of a concrete slab is like an electric blanket to walk on. Heat is distributed everywhere and lasts for hours after its turned off. The newer infrared radiant ceiling panel systems that heat ALL the objects and surfaces in the home are a clean and affordable after market add-on system of heating that is easily controlled and efficient to operate. With all these and other systems, the new Smart or IPhone can talk and program them so your home can be shut down if you find yourself away (delayed flights, family crisis, boss won’t let you go home) or turned on at the right time so your arrival home is greeted with warmth. We now have smart refrigerators and stoves that can be adjusted

or preset and the oven is waiting with dinner defrosted and ready to eat just as you arrive. For all you neophytes, this does sound simple doesn’t it? Maybe get your grandchildren to lend a hand. And let’s not forget remote controlled lighting for security and convenience when you arrive home during these dark wintry times. And once you have established a bit of pattern in your daily life, let the new Nest controls follow your habits and preset your heating system for you and ‘learn’ along with you. Another important part of your home to ‘pre-pipe’ is your attic. The CVRD and many regions legislated builders to add two pipes 2” round to be installed in the walls from the attic to the utility room to allow for solar heated water to be added later. Needless to say, very few homeowners have taken this addition on but if you were wise, add a third pipe which will handle the solar electric panels (photovoltaic) offered by the Viridian Energy Co-operative here in Duncan. Now you are ready for either sustainable systems depending on which one offers the best efficiency down the road. And changing and servicing of the panels as they exponentially increase in efficiency, will be quick and affordable. And lastly, make sure you orient your home correctly to get as much passive heat you can. Never mind you are not parallel to the road and your garage looks funny. Chances are it does anyways.

arrived! This means that 2017 will be the year that Canada will be seen as desirable and affluent by everyone in the world. (Many reasons leap to mind.) Life will be easier for Canada this year because Jupiter represents abundance, joy, good fortune and leisure. In October, Jupiter will move into Canada’s “money house” indicating a year of increased wealth throughout 2018.

Introduction to 2017 Annual Forecasts by Georgia Nicols

anada was born on July 1, 1867, shortly after noon. You might not know this but just like people, countries also have charts. According to astrology, Canada is Sun in Cancer with Libra Rising. The rising sign depends on the time of day of birth; and Libra Rising means one is loathe to rock the boat. Libra Rising is Teflon -- always accommodating and polite. Polite! Sound familiar? Yes, our “nice guy” image in the world is legit. Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, once every 12 years, Jupiter, the planet of good fortune visits Libra for a whole year. And ta da! That year has

Canada’s chart also shows that at some point during 20152018, there will be a “change of residence.” Well, it is curious that the Trudeau family has never moved into the Prime Minister’s residence at 22 Sussex Drive due to renovations. They are living across the street at Rideau Cottage. The chart of Canada also shows that for the first time in its existence, power struggles about real estate have been creating upheavals since 2012. This radical influence will continue until 2032. Yes, we are in a changing world. Nevertheless, we are lucky Canadians this year. We can be happy for our good fortune and joy; and happy to know that our country will be even richer next year!

YOGA FOR WELLNESS

s I write this article, the heavy snow fall has made my commute to work feel tense and dangerous. I focus on softening my jaw, and grounding my pelvis while driving, yet can feel the inherent gripping sensation deep in my core.

The seated position in the car is the perfect position for the deep stabilizer muscles to grip in the face of stress. I focus on my breath and notice my body doing its best to keep me alert and safe on the road. I reflect on the many people I treat who spend a great deal of time sitting or driving (for work.) The common patterns of tension seem to be the same; pelvic instability, low back pain, hip pain, SI pain, jaw pain and headaches, otherwise tension and stress. Whether you sit, drive or feel tired and exhausted, anytime is a good time to consider psoas care and wellness.

pelvis, attaching to the inner aspect of our femur (thigh bones). In most cases, it isn’t likely that this muscle needs any strengthening or stretching, it needs loving kindness.

When thinking of Psoas care of wellness, we can think of: nurturing, resting, grounding, supporting. Legs on a Chair

Soothing the Psoas

This pose is good for: Low back pain, hip pain, SIsacroilliac pain, fatigue, digestive challenges, headaches, ankle recovery. Imagine this pose as a direct message to your psoas muscles saying “You can rest now. I’ve got you. The strap offers support to the inner thigh bones. “You can relax now, I’m supporting you.”

The Ilio-psoas is one of the strongest and most powerful muscles in the body, and is connected to our most primal need for survival. This deep and powerful muscle runs along the sides of the spine from just under the respiratory diaphragm, (one on each side of the spine), traveling down through the

Bring yourself close to a chair with a seat a good height to have you legs fit on it when lying down. Have a yoga strap or belt handy, and a pillow to support your head. Come onto your back, with your head and neck supported by a pillow. Bring the loop of the yoga strap around your upper/mid thigh bones,

Lindsay Campa is a Registered Massage Therapist and member of the Forest Yogini Collective. She looks forward to re-opening her practice in Duncan next month at the Matraea Centre. thehealingbody.ca

YOGA with Lilian Bianchi

Honouring

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

Lilian Bianchi has been teaching Yoga since 1982, in Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and in the Cowichan Valley for the past 20 years.

WINTER SESSION loosely for now. Bring your legs to 90 degree position and place them on the chair or stool. Allow the back of your pelvis to settle onto the floor beneath you. Feel the back of both sides of the pelvic bones, feel the centre of the sacrum settle. Now begin to tighten the strap so that the thigh bones are ‘snugging’ in towards one another. This should feel like support rather than tension. Notice the muscles at the sides of the neck, sides of the face, front of the neck. See if you can soften the inner/lower rib cage. Find your breath. Hands can come onto belly, or tops of pelvis, wherever feels natural and soft. Can you

January 9 - March 30 • Beginners, Intermediate, Ongoing levels

• Gentle Yoga • Restorative Yoga • Yoga on Chairs • Breathing and Meditation Special Workshop: February 12 Partner Yoga Lilian is an honorary member of the International Federation of Yoga. Morning and Evening classes held at Namaste Yoga Studio and other locations in Duncan.

250-746-0327

www.namasteyoga.ca begin to sense the grounding nature of the pelvis, the contents in and around the pelvis? See if you can soften the tops of the feet and ankles. May the belly and breath be soft. Namaste.

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

Storm watching

Madrona Wall, Nanoose Bay

Guillermo Ferrero Photography guillermo.ferrero @gmail.com http://photo.baires.ca/

am originally from Argentina and studied photography theory, lab work and worked in the fashion, interior design and sports photography industry. My dad inspired me to see the world through a camera lens and capture feelings. He gave me my first camera when I was 10 and shooting photos become a passion since then. Although I take photos and own a lot of photography equipment, I don’t consider myself a professional photographer. Every day I see the work of other photographers and I tell myself that I still have a lot to learn to become one. Photography is a passion to me and I love the fact that I can do photography without borders. I have a tendency to shoot landscapes, and that applies to the underwater world as well. I like wide angle lenses; however I can easily snap my 70-200 and have a lot of fun with it. There is art anywhere, no matter what lens you have in your camera. I have shot portraits, interior design, sports, landscape, macro,

Ladysmith

underwater and anything that comes in between and I really love the challenge of shooting, regardless of the subject. My favorite film speed used to be Kodachrome 25 but today most people ask me what that is since the digital world emerged. My default setting is always 100 iso and I recognize that I have a hard time changing it to something faster. Today’s cameras are so good, that grain is not noticeable in most FX cameras up to 800 iso. My Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 is always in my camera as my default lens, and most times I default to f5.6 as I find that gives me the depth of field I love for most wide-angle shoots with great detail. I’m not afraid to use that lens wide open as well since the optics are superb. I used to spend hours in the lab

Talking Arts Photographer Guillermo Ferrero getting the “right” colour back in the film days, but today I have found a new passion in post processing where I can apply some of the old lab techniques by moving a few Adobe Lightroom sliders. I find post processing fascinating and I love the fact that photographers today need to be master “lab” technicians as well to get the shot they want.

Ladysmith Camera Club presents “Photographing with Intent”, with professional photographer Guillermo Ferrero. January 24, 7pm Non-members $5 drop-in fee www.LadysmithCameraClub.com All images above; Guillermo Ferrero

For full design/build service, give us a call

p 250.746.5372 • coulsondesign@shaw.ca • www.davidcoulsondesign.com

p 49

Heather Lauzon Intuitive Energy Healer Clinical Hypnotherapist Quantum Touch Practitioner

ave you or a loved one H struggled with unexplainable mood swings, anxiety, chronic fatigue or pain? Find it difficult being in crowds of people? Are you physically and emotionally affected by the news or violent movies? If the answer is yes, it is most likely that you are an empath.

Several years ago I recall being told about empaths. It is amazing how that information erased years of discomfort, brought clarity and helped me identify with who I am. I had spent a greater part of my life searching to understand “what was wrong with me”. I battled with what was described as depression, anxiety and chronic pain for over 30years. Over 90% of my clients are unknowing empaths. They arrive overloaded and burdened with the weight of the world on their shoulders, many of them broken and exhausted, some struggling with addictions or their own list of “dis-eases”. Not aware of the tools available within to support and heal themselves. An empath is aware of the emotional & energetic experiences of a person/animal/ place. It is an innate ability from within that is developed and operating without any conscious intention or desire. This awareness is not a conscious desire and this outside energy often becomes the empaths

Common Traits of An Empath - Feeling that you don’t belong - Find being around others to be very draining or overwhelming - Find watching the news or violent programs painful - Often Tired - Unexplainable mood swings - You know information without having to be told - Acute awareness of the energy/feeling/ atmosphere of a room - Animals are naturally drawn to you - You prefer being in nature - Difficulty focusing - Fluctuating weight experience. Empaths are compassionate, creative, heart centered people who find themselves helping others regardless of the personal cost. Boundaries for empaths are generally non-existent and they often describe themselves as walking sponges. What they become aware of in others often becomes part of them. Everything is energy that means every word, thought or emotion you have is a form of energy, of a specific vibration. That energy then becomes part of your energetic and physical makeup. Understanding that our own thoughts and emotions are ever changing. Now imagine

INTUITIVE HEALER • Certified Clinical

Hypnotherapist • Certified Quantum Touch Practitioner

HEATHER LAUZON

250-732-1405

www.emeraldhealingplace.com

Are Your Feelings Your Own? want to know what she is doing what it would be like to feel that to be positively glowing and of another person or multiple energetically buzzing again! At people. Often the thoughts and one time she did not believe all feelings that empaths experience of this was possible. She has are not authentically theirs. This reconnected with herself, through energy often becomes part of their physical and energetic make her sessions at Emerald Healing Place. up. This would perhaps explain why many empaths find themselves feeling A Few Survival Tips For Empaths exhausted and emotionally • Most important is self care and unstable after repeating boundaries! this each day.

• Grounding yourself and

Client Story - Unknowing clearing your energy field daily. Empath- Fibromyalgia Depression A female in her forties found Emerald Healing Place is a safe herself guided to Emerald haven where empaths come to Healing Place. She is a wife, heal, to find quiet solace and mother, sister and friend. She discover the gifts and tools that spent years seeking answers as are written on the blueprint of to why she struggled each day their souls. Being an empath emotionally and physically. myself, I have personally She had no energy, she battled experienced what it is like to have depression, chronic fatigue and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. my energy field compromised She was taking five different and consumed by the feelings meds - antidepressant, and emotions of those around antidepressant amplifier, nerve me. I have experienced the direct suppressant, sleeping pills, pain effects that the energetic body has meds and yet she continued to to the physical body. In those find each day a monumental experiences combined with my challenge. training, I have developed a set of skills and protcols to help the By investing in herself and empaths survive and thrive in moving through her healing our modern world. Starting next journey she now has the tools to month on every 2nd Wednesday thrive as an empath. She is off all medications and is virtually from 7:30-8:30, I will be hosting pain free. an Empath Support Group at She understands how years of the Sol Centre in Duncan, BC. being an unknowing empath Please contact me via heather@ contributed to her debilitating emeraldhealingplace.com to emotional and physical state. confirm your attendance as Her friends now are commenting space is limited. There will be a on how she is no longer “a minimal fee per person to help walking zombie” and notice pay expenses. she is full of life again! They www.emeraldhealing place.com

Dynamic Pathways

Faye Stefan MA, RCC, DHHP Registered Clinical Counsellor and Certiﬁed Homeopathic Practitioner

Path to Wellness: Combining counselling with homeopathy for your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs utilizing Heilkunst Sequential Timeline Therapy.

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t s

ward off disaster etc. Our brain has a negativity bias. Even in less stressful times, our mind tends to focus on a problem to solve, things that need to be done, or mistakes that we have made, rather then the positive moments that have occurred throughout the day. Un-balanced focus on problems contributes to negative emotions, and hazes over the positive experiences of the day.

Everytime You Have A Thought, Your Brain Changes very time you have a thought your brain E changes! How can this be

possible? This famous saying, Scientists say that the brain from psychologist, Donald has a “negativity bias. Rick Hebb pretty much sums it up, Hanson says “our brain “Neurons that fire together, wire is like Velcro for negative together”. With each thought, experiences, but teflon for a synaptic connection is formed positive ones”. The unfortunate or strengthened. Our brain cells, and unfair result is that negative “neurons” have microscopic experiences get captured in space between them, called a emotional memory instead “synapse”. One neuron releases of positive ones, gradually a chemical or “neurotransmitter” darkening your outlook, mood, into the synapse and the and sense of self. next neuron absorbs the Changing this negative thought neurotransmitter, this is how pattern takes conscious they talk to each other. This effort and daily positive process is known as “neuronal focus and gratitude. With firing”, creating a connection enough repetition messages between the two neurons. become automatic, through When neurons communicate strengthening the brains frequently, the synaptic neuronal circuitry we can connection between the two strengthen the positive that neurons strengthens, and allows is involved in happiness and communication to become more wellbeing. efficient. Messages traveling the same pathway in the brain Good News over and over become faster Well the good news is our and more efficient. That is why brains can change and we can we practice things like hitting a use self-directed brain change golf ball or riding a bike, with to make this happen! To make enough repetition, the brain goes this happen and make our brains on automatic pilot. velcro for the good or positive daily stuff in life, here are 4 Sounds good right? simple steps to help this process. Well the problem is over millions of years of evolution, 1. Let positive facts become human beings have been positive experiences, if you do hardwired to focus on the something that you are proud negative to ensure survival, of, or have accomplished

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something, or if someone is nice to you, or gives you a compliment, allow yourself to feel good about it. 2. Savour the positive experience for 20-30 seconds to let it soak in. Articulate the moment in your mind, take in the visual, and form a mental snapshot. Also notice any sounds, smells or physical or mental reactions you have, such as smiling, a sense of calm, how your body feels and so fourth. Take the time to let it fill your body, and become as strong as possible. 3. Intend and feel the positive experience is soaking into you. This positive experience is becoming a part of you! 4. Write it down! If you are a journal writer you can write down your positive experiences that you noticed through out the day and remember how you felt. Express what you are grateful for.

Danse Oriental Teaching Middle Eastern Dances and Dances from along the Silk Road. NEW CLASSES!

Danse Oriental dance studio is moving to YUM YUM YOGA STUDIO in Cowichan Bay.

Thursdays 6pm – 7pm

Cost: 90.00/sesssion 3 – 6 week dance sessions Session 1 Jan 12– February 16 Belly Dance – an introduction to the oldest dance Session 2 March 2 - April 6 Belly Dance – dancing with props and veils Session 3 April 20 – May 25 Belly Dance – Dancing with feeling

Try to take in the 3 Workshop Classes: Folk “good” several times dances from along the Silk Road a day. A single time January 21 Iranian Scarf Dance won’t make much difference, but over February 18 Basket Dance time, you will be March 25 Bandari Dance weaving resources Time 10 am -12pm Cost: 30.00 into the fabric of your brain and miragedanse@shaw.ca yourself. A brain that imprints positive 250-746-1077 emotions becomes more resilient and better and the more happiness can bounce back more quickly and joy you will feel in your from negative experiences and life! disappointments. Also, focusing on positive emotions lowers Take 20-30 seconds right now the body’s stress hormones, to remember a good thought which lessens the negative or experience from today and physiological effects of stress. begin reinforcing your positive How you use your mind neural pathways. Why not give sculpts your brain, kind of like it a try! building muscles in the body. Melissa Brown, If you have a lot of neurons Certified Hellerwork firing together for positive Structural Integration experiences, that will build new practitioner,Massage neural structures. The more you Practitioner nd take in the “good”, the more Somatic Counseller. your brain will change for the 250-661-1687

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Why Business for Business Networks?

magine the power of 15 to 30 business owners getting together every week to share challenges, celebrate successes, and test ideas. Do you sense how powerful those conversations would be for every business owner in the room? That happens every week at Business for Business Networks groups up and down the island. And one of the most effective and supportive is Business for Business Cowichan. Every week these business owners get together to share their stories, solve problems, and share referrals that grow business. In the experience of some of the most respected business consultants in North America, there is no more effective way to grow a business. Half ‘master mind’ and half referral networking, these groups are made up of one business owner per industry (real estate agents, lawyers, bakers, accountants, HVAC contractors, financial advisors...) meeting for 90 minutes for coffee and conversation. The meeting starts with each member or guest taking a minute to introduce their businesses. After a short break to refill

Business for Business Members Lyn Bull, Silverside Farm & Winery (Membership Director), Susan Quackenbush, Cheers Cowichan Tours (Secretary), Dan Johnson, Pemberton Holmes Residental Real Estate (Chair), Mark Collins, Mac 5 Web Design & Marketing, Anna Kouwenberg, The Cake Creative, Tina Short, A Memorable Canadian Made Gift, Dave Shortill, Insurance, Savings, Financial Advice, Kathy Howes, 360 Comfort Systems, Tony Fleming, Island Savings Insurance, Janice Winfrey, Sands Funeral Chapel, Alex Palmer, Palmer Leslie Chartered Accountants, Greg Clifford, Invis Mortgage, Ed Williams, Pemberton Holmes Commercial/Investment Sales & Leasing

coffees and connect one-onone, the round-table ‘master mind’ conversation begins. Members suggest topics, the group picks one, and the conversation starts. The last 15 minutes is for referrals and thank-yous. Business for Business Networks is a growing small business support and networking organization with growing benefits for its members. An online community, a growing website to support each business, discounts from business organizations, small business training programs, and other values are added monthly. Want to learn more or visit Business for Business Networks Cowichan as a guest? Drop us a line at info@ bforbnetworks.com! Submitted by Clemens Rettich

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something that should be looked at every year. With proper maintenance, heating and air conditioning systems run less often, run more efficiently, provide better home comfort and provide safe indoor air quality. Annual and semiannual maintenance

Maintaining your heating and cooling system is not just a good idea, it keeps that warranty on your system valid and it can actually save you money. With the investment of a precision tune-up, all aspects of your furnace, air handler, and/or condensing unit (the thing outside) will be inspected assessed and reported. This helps in keeping an eye on whether some parts are weak and in need of replacing or if they can wait till next year. One of the most important categories on the checklist is the airflow components. Air is the lifeblood of a heating and cooling system. If your system is being starved of air by a forgotten filter, plugged heat exchanger, a fan with excessive buildup on the impeller or improper fan speed, the system is running very inefficiently and the lifespan is being drastically decreased. It is recommended that your air conditioner be looked at in the spring and your heating system be looked at in the fall to avoid

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e as average homeowners don’t pay much attention to the systems in our homes that provide us with the comfort that we deserve until we are no longer comfortable. Think about it, we don’t pay notice when we are comfortable but we really notice when we are uncomfortable. I’ve never leaned over to my wife while resting on the couch and said “I’m very comfortable with the air quality and temperature right now”. This doesn’t happen. We do, however, take notice the furnace isn’t blowing hot air, the A/C isn’t blowing cold or the air is humid and stuffy or full of allergens. System performance and efficiency along with air comfort and quality is

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Sands Funeral Chapel

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breakdowns during peak periods when it you may have to wait an appointment.

What to do if your furnace or heat pump isn’t working continued on page 54

continued from page 53

accidental that is causing the issue. Here are some things to check before calling: Is there a power switch for the furnace or heat pump that may have been accidentally turned off? (This is a common problem) Check to make sure the thermostat is on the HEAT setting and the set point is higher than the room temperature Check to make sure the thermostat has fresh batteries Check the furnace air filter and make sure that air can flow through it freely Check for a breaker for the heat pump and/or furnace in the breaker panel that may be off or tripped If you’ve checked over these items or still need assistance, it may be time to call the service company. Protect your investment Just like cars and trucks need oil changes and other work at different intervals, our home comfort systems need to be looked after too. Your home heating and cooling system is one of the biggest investments in a home so it only makes sense to give it

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the same maintenance care you would for a new vehicle. As mentioned earlier, this also keeps the warranty that comes with the equipment valid. We as consumers have paid for this warranty, why not keep it active. Visit our Showroom 1059C Canada Avenue, Duncan 250-597-2683 www.360comfortsystems.com Reed Gary, Owner 360 Comfort Systems Inc. Proudly Providing Comfort with Integrity

250 715 6174

ith all the propaganda of late touting the ‘cleanliness’ of LNG... I feel impelled to help shed some light on the matter. When we factor in all Masonry heater with warm bench by Amos the embodied Hearthworks, Image Pat Amos energy involved in manifesting a unit of into thermal energy. Whether thermal energy in our homes we store that energy in pre(eg, the processing, storage and combustion form or posttransportation of fuel), the carbon combustion form before delivery footprint of LNG is 3 times that into the living space depends of an optimized wood (bioupon the nature of the fuel mass) fire. When we include the source. When the stove/dwelling ‘externalities’ of environmental is not capable of post-combustion degradations associated with heat storage, LNG offers greater fracking that ratio widens. convenience because it is a highly concentrated fuel supply But wait: Isn’t wood-fire that can be efficiently combusted polluting? at variable rates. However, Given all the smouldering wood when the stove/dwelling has stoves here in the valley, one enough thermal storage capacity has to wonder... But the truth to absorb a brief burst of intense is, wood smoke (gas) is only heat, and then slowly release it polluting when it wanders up into the dwelling over the next into the atmosphere. When the 12 to 24 hours, wood-fire can smoke/gasses are instead directed reach its full potential. Stoves into a hot flame path (over 600c) such as masonry heaters with with proper mixing conditions, earthen mass bodies are able to combustion efficiency is well decouple heat generation from over 85% - very close to that of delivery, and thereby always burn LNG. at optimal (high) temperatures. When only a little heat is desired But if I fire my stove full blast (eg to take the chill off a spring won’t my house over-heat? morning) a smaller load of fuel is Not if we store the heat before burned but it still burns hot. gradually delivering it. Back in the days when our houses were The question of optimal heatinguninsulated or made of logs or fuel efficiency is therefore a sod, metal box wood-stoves matter of when and in what worked well enough so long as form we opt to store the energy. they were being fired hot. But When our intent is to reduce our the better insulated our dwellings home-heating carbon footprint, have become, the less heat we wood-burning appliances with need at any given time. When a optimized combustion and mass stove (or dwelling) does not have storage capacity are by far the enough heat storage capacity most efficient way to go. the fire must be slowed down. Newer metal box stoves with And what about LNG? reburn chambers fare well under Well, upon closer examination... ideal conditions, but even they it is not all it’s fracked up to be. will smoulder when the fuel is damp or the operator forgets Pat Amos is a to crank up the air supply after wilderness guide reloading. and natural builder.

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the province.

A New Year, A New Chance to Improve Air Quality Together Understanding the impacts of burning can help us make better choices to protect our air quality and health. Instead of burning the Christmas tree after the holidays, bring small (less than 3” diameter stem) trees to any CVRD Recycling Centre for free yard and garden waste drop-off. Bigger trees are accepted in the CVRD’s Clean Wood Waste bin for a small fee. Another option is to bring your tree to one of the many annual tree chipping fundraising events. For example, check out the BC Forest Discovery Centre or the Ladysmith Fire Department chipping events.

Lighten Your Air Quality Impact

n our valley, setting fire to Christmas trees after the holidays is not an uncommon way to get rid of them. However, burning Christmas trees and other wood waste creates harmful smoke pollution. There are smarter and less damaging alternatives. Why is Burning Damaging? Smoke from backyard burning and wood heating appliances is a major contributor to the Cowichan Valley’s air quality problem. According to the BC Lung Association, communities within our valley rank among the 20 worst in British Columbia for PM2.5. PM2.5 is fine particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter. Because of its small size, PM2.5 can bypass our bodies’ natural defenses, and travel deep into our lungs. It then causes structural damage and chemical changes that lead to a range of lung and heart diseases. Data from Island Health indicates that hospital admissions rates for children with respiratory diseases averaged 70% higher in our valley than in other places in

Replace Smoky Old Woodstove Every winter, our valley sees an increase in PM2.5 due to increased home heating with wood. Starting early 2017, the CVRD will offer new rebates under the Woodstove Exchange Program. The program provides rebates towards exchanging old, uncertified woodstoves (pre-1994) for new and cleaner home heating appliances. New this year is that heat pumps have been added to the pool of approved appliances that can replace old wood stoves. The program details are

ENVIRONMENTALLY BETTER THAN BURNING!

s are down! y when the chip We’re eco-friendl

VICE CHIPPING SER

Storm Clean Up Minor Tree Limbing Complete Clean Up & Haul Away Services We Chip up to 6” in diameter and 12”slabs

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still in the works but make sure to keep your eye on cleartheaircowichan.ca website

to learn when rebates become available. Ilse Sarady, Environmental Technologist at the CVRD.

AMOS (H)EARTHWORKS masonry heaters, rocket stoves and ovens cob, adobe, light-clay natural building education, workshops and consulting facebook:partick.amos.140/photos_albums

250 748 2089 55

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he first thing I learned when I started my naturopathic training was the Laws of Nature. Using the acronym NEW START we can help our pets live a long and healthy life. A new year is a time for new choices, new ideas, and new beginnings. • Nutrition. Our pets need to be fed fresh, species appropriate foods. We know not to feed a guinea pig steak; we should know not to feed our dogs and cats (carnivores) corn, wheat, or soy. •Exercise. The powerful internal cleansing lymphatic system only works when a body moves. Your pets need adequate exercise every day to keep the toxins moving out of the body. • Water. We are fortunate in most of the Cowichan Valley to have clean unadulterated water to drink to our hearts content. If your pets are aging, place water bowls throughout the house to encourage easy hydration.

Start the new year with a clean home and workplace.

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• Sunshine. Needed for the body to make Vitamin D, your pets need to get outside everyday for a dose of the healing power of our Sun. Warm and comforting, even a sunbeam on the floor is luxurious. • Temperance. An old timey word for moderation. Too much of anything can create an unbalance and cause immune supressing stress. • Air. Fresh and flowing, our pets need to be breathing clean air free of chemical “fresheners” and smoke. • Rest. The need for sleep and rest changes with age and activity levels. Fortunately, our

A New Start…

Lucky Dogs... pets are good taking rest when they need it. It is your job to make sure that your pet is not bothered by children or other animals when they are trying to get the healing rest they need. Let sleeping dogs lie… • Trust. This could be trusting your universe, your higher power, or trusting your dog’s choices. Over time I have learned to trust my dog’s choices and they are smarter than I would have ever thought. I see many people that don’t trust their dogs and many dogs that don’t trust their people. It is sad and it is fixable. A new year is a good time to take a class together, (agility is excellent at building trust) and build that bond you and your dog want and deserve. A new year is a time for new starts. Making small, manageable changes can make your pets stronger and healthier this year than ever before. Starting with the basics of the Laws of Nature is a great start, indeed. Debbie Wood is a certified Small Animal Naturopath and can be reached at 250597-7DOG.

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here is a global call for us all to awaken. The time is now and if we commit to the practice we will discover the true nature of our heart and mind. We will discover wisdom, compassion, loving kindness, and goodwill, leading to liberation. So what is Mindfulness Practice? How does one begin it, sustain it and benefit from it?

Life and Leadership Coaching… Inspired by Horses

2017 - Begin Your Mindfulness Practice

There are four paths to establish Mindfulness. Discovery is the first step. Contemplate the body, awareness of sensations, discomforts, and tensions. Contemplate feelings as they arise and notice what experience triggers particular feelings. Contemplate the thoughts running through the mind in association to external experiences and finally bring your attention to dhammas, the categories of experience leading to INsight of oneself. Simply observe all categories, recognizing where you cling and grasp. Gently release, relax and rest in the moment. To begin your practice, sit in comfort with soft eyes and a simple object of awareness: mindful breathing. As you breathe in notice the natural rise of the abdomen and when you breathe out notice the fall. Allow the experience to be natural, attentive to the movement. Invite the different feelings, sensations and thoughts to come and go with your focused attention, become the witness. This practice does take discipline and ardency, so be gentle with yourself.

Mindfulness practice can be done anywhere, anytime. It is a gift to yourself. It is a gift to those around you. Whether sitting, walking, or eating, the practice of paying attention with awareness will have profound effects. Are you willing to give this gift to yourself 5 minutes a day, 10 or 20 minutes? Be creative, form a family practice around mealtimes, before bed, first thing in the morning or take five minutes during your work day. Consider attending a mindfulness workshop, walk in nature, spend time with animals. Horses are wonderful teachers as they live moment to moment in present awareness. The benefits of mindfulness practice provides a guard from instant reactions, and habits of past conditioning, that may cause regret and harm towards oneself or another. A moment of pausing, and breathing with focused attention can change the outcome of situations is significant ways. Mindfulness generates a warm feeling and tenderness towards oneself in the face of challenge and adversity, realizing that all things are impermanent. The practice is simple, but not easy.

• Experiential Learning with Horses • Corporate and Personal Programming • Developing Horsemanship Skills • Centered Riding Lessons • Equine Behaviour Consulting • Mindfulness Retreats • Youth and Adults

www.spiritgate.ca michelle@spiritgate.ca 250 737 1484

The greatest gift we have to give is that of our own self transformation ~ embrace the beautiful silence.

Michelle Atterby facilitates experiential learning and horsemanship programs for youth and adults www.spiritgate.ca

2017 the Buddhist “Year of Many Treasures”, may the year bring you the same

Review and plan your Annual Retreats, go to www.VIRetreats.com/2017Retreats

Meditation Tues/Thurs. 7 PM - Wed. 9 AM - Txt.&Ph. 250.710.7594

Nichiren Peace Center, a Buddhist Community

Valley Voice Magazine - Your Monthly Guide to Living in the Cowichan Valley

DIRECTORY OF LOCAL SERVICES

Valley Voice Magazine readers directory a great way to discover local services and businesses. 2 sizes of ad space are available to suit every business message and budget. Affordable, stylish and straight to the point.

Directory Size A - 1 logo + 10-15 word listing COLOUR 1x $62, 6x $52, 12x $42 BW 1x $51, 6X$41, 12x $31 Directory Size B - 1 logo + 1 image + 30-50 words COLOUR 1x $121 6x $111, 12x $105 BW 1x $90, 6X$81, 12x $71

Contact Adrienne Richards for more info 250 510 6596 or by phone to adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Deadline January 12 for February 2017 Issue 99 Accounting Services

Beauty Services

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Alternative Accounting for Small Business Bookkeeping from $76. Personal Service

• Remove unwanted hair from face and body

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Computers Repair

Childrens Music Programs

Engaging & Entertaining weekly program for parents & children 6 months - 4 years. Drop Ins welcome!

www.jumpintomusic.ca 778.835.4541

Concrete • Polished Concrete • Placement & Finishing

250 884 1658

Counselling

Anxiety, Depression,Trauma, Chronic Stress, Self-Esteem, Life Transitions Alison Etter RPC, RTC, MEd 250-324-3040 www.breakthroughcounselling.ca

• Decorative Concrete • Leveling and Repair

Call For A Free Quote

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Education and Tutoring MID-BRAIN ACTIVATION

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More than a Meat Shop

Robin Gale 250 732 5859

Farms and Food

Gluten Free/Organic Pasta’s, Organic Meat, Homemade Sausage, International Foods. The Duncan Butcher 430 Trans Canada Hwy 250 748 -6377 Framing and Local Art

Choose us to promote your business and services. Over 30,000 readers! Contact Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for a HOLIDAY 2016 Rate Card. Fences & Roofing

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Enabling your body to heal itself, naturally. TO FEEL BALANCED AND CENTRED

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Landscaping

Help Wanted

Experienced day cook needed 2-3 days a week for bistro lunches. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please send resume to: gailirwin@shaw.ca Horoscope

Landscape Design & Build

Introducing practices in landscape design and build incorporating the “Seven Principles of Xeriscape” Contact Mike Leslie @ (250) 246-0281 • www.ecobalancecontracting.ca

Natural Beauty

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Pet Care Spacious suites, pickup and drop-off service, kitty cams

Cowichan’s Exclusive Boarding Resort for Cats

That Cat Hotel 250-749-3728 www.ThatCatHotel.ca PUPPY Extended Stays or Just A Day PATCH Lots of Love & Attention On a Fenced Acreage Your Dog’s Best Friend while you are Away.

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Chemainus Dog Training and Walking

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Happy New Year 2017

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Artist Cheryl Hitchcock Langley artist, Cheryl Hitchcock has brought Excellent Frameworks Gallery a large variety of her luscious, richly saturated watercolors that offer a glimpse of her vision of elegance of the botanical sort. Stop by the gallery in January to enjoy “Heavy with the Scent of Flowers: Watercolors by Cheryl Hitchcock” January 5-28, Excellent Frameworks - Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery, 28 Station St Duncan, 250-746-7112 www.excellentframeworks.ca

Drum Circle Embodying The Beat A Drum Circle Celebration with Karin Lewis. It may be cold outside but the energizing rhythms of a community drum circle are great for warming

ww.matraea.com 62

chilly hands and lifting spirits! Come join the fun and play a joyful beat to welcome in the New Year! All Welcome! Carefully facilitated to engage our innate sense of rhythm while we play together as one. Saturday January 7th, 7pm - 8:30pm The HUB @ 2375 Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Station By donation - 60% proceeds to the HUB Project Beginner friendly - Drums and percussion instruments to share or BYO karinlewisdrum@gmail.com

BOOM Multimedia Performance BOOM is an explosive multimedia performance by Rick Miller that chronologically documents the music, culture and politics of the Baby Boom generation. Beatlemania, Trudeaumania, Vietnam, the moon landing – these incredible stories spiral into an incredible one-man performance taking us through 25 turbulent years of events that shaped the postWorld War II phenomenon. Friday, January 13, Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Adult $36 / Student $25 / eyeGO $5 www.cowichanpac.ca

Agricultural Land Leasing Info Session

showcases works by European and Russian composers, including Mendelssohn’s soaring Rondo Capriccioso, Ravel’s floating Sonatine, Blumenfeld’s eloquent LH Etude, Berg’s passionate Sonata, and Franck’s monumental Prelude, Choral et Fugue. January 15, Chemainus Classical Concerts: Pianist Elias-Axel Pettersson “Power and Whimsy”, 2pm, St Michael’s Church, Chemainus $20/$5 Adv$17 250-748-8383

Adult Colouring

Classical Pianist Hailed for his “breathtaking virtuosity,” Swedish-American pianist Elias-Axel Pettersson

A cozy afternoon of colouring and tea with artist Vivi de Graff at Volume One Bookstore. Share techniques and take home a coloured artwork. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2-4 pm. 149 Kenneth Street, Duncan. Adult event (teens welcome). Free. Pre-register at volume1@islandnet.com, FB or 250-748-1533.

The Cowichan Green Community

Embracing wellness, family and community

170 Craig St. Duncan, B.C. 1 844 MATRAEA (628 7232) www.matcentre.ca

is hosting an interactive information session for land owners interested in leasing out their own agricultural land and for farmers or prospective farmers/producers seeking to lease land for agricultural purposes. The workshop is designed to provide guidance and information about lease considerations, managing the risks and understanding property tax and income tax implications. Presented by Chris Henderson; Chartered Accountant & Howard Joynt; Professional Agrologist. Saturday, January 14, 8:30Am1PM $30+GST, Lunch Provided 360 Duncan St, Duncan, BC 250-748-8506 larissa@ cowichangreencommunity.org

january events

Acupuncture Birth Shop Counselling Massage Midwifery Naturopathy Tax Accounting LIFT Resource Centre

Find us at 306 Duncan St. nestled bet ween the Duncan Garage and Rayʻs Antiques, One of a kind, Clothing, Accessories and gifts for the whole family. Each piece is handcrafted with love by artists from around the corner and across BC. For more info or to register call 778-455-4888

Reconciliation requires recognizing rights-based fishing Fishing is as emblematic to Canada as ice hockey. It’s also a way of life with a long tradition in coastal Indigenous communities. But since European contact, it’s been all but eliminated as an economic development opportunity for them. As Canada struggles to come to terms with reconciliation, court cases are helping define what Indigenous rights and title mean in day-to-day life. If the federal government is serious about its commitment to a new and respectful relationship with Indigenous peoples, it should set the tone through policies that address historic injustices, such as in commercial fishing practices. It’s been seven years since the court recognized the Nuu-chahnulth’s right to fish for a living. Despite losing two appeals and being given years to work through the court’s ruling, Canada has yet to negotiate or put in place court-mandated fishing plans. These Vancouver Island communities are tired of waiting. In September, hereditary chiefs dismissed Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s regional director-general from a meeting, telling her not to return until Canada is ready to implement the five nations’ right to catch and sell fish. This and one other court ruling acknowledge an Aboriginal right to commercial fisheries beyond already established food, social and ceremonial fisheries.

Nuu-chah-nulth rights to sell fish apply to any fish species in the territory except geoduck. The right can be restricted for valid conservation reasons, as the Nations’ fishing plans reflect. But while Canada’s courts recognize rights-based fisheries, those rights are not respected. The federal fisheries department approved minimal harvests of gooseneck barnacles and chinook salmon, but turned down everything else the Nuu-chahnulth proposed. The court case examined the Nuu-chah-nulth’s pre-contact way of life alongside current West Coast fishery regulations. Fishing and fisheries resources trading were recognized as a practices integral to the distinctive cultures of pre-contact society. The Nuu-chah-nulth were acknowledged as a fishing people who depended almost entirely on ocean and river resources for food and economic trade. Over the past 20 years, many commercial fisheries in Canada have become more ecologically sound, yet economic benefits rarely go to communities living near the resources. Selling marine resources is an important community development opportunity for Indigenous peoples who face erosion of traditional fishing culture alongside limited job opportunities. A 23-kilogram halibut, for example, fetches about $500. It doesn’t take many to make a huge economic difference for these small communities. But about 80 per cent of the halibut industry’s annual allocation is not fished by those who actually own the quota. Seventy per cent of the halibut’s value goes to the leaseholder, with only 30 per cent for the fishing operation. Most of the price to harvesters bypasses coastal communities, often ending up outside of Canada. Canada’s fisheries policies benefit industrial operations over Aboriginal rights-based fisheries.

While redeveloping Aboriginal commercial fisheries alongside existing fisheries won’t be easy, it’s the next evolution. Halibut, salmon, crab, prawn, sablefish and herring catches, of particular interest to the Nuu-chah-nulth, are fully allocated. But the Nuu-chah-nulth were the first to have a commercial fishery and the court found it was unfairly taken from them. So it must be restored. Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission called on all of society to embrace reconciliation, which is guided by the tenets of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Article 20 says, “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development, and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities.” Despite mixed support from federal and provincial governments for UNDRIP, the

commission emphasized its importance for reconciliation to succeed. Indigenous peoples have been denied their share of marine resources for too long, watching as commercial and recreational fisheries profit from resources on their waters while their boats sit idle. For cultures built on sharing and selling those resources, it’s a bitter pill and a threat to cultural survival. It’s time for a new relationship built on co-management and equitable division of ocean resources, guided by a shared commitment to ocean conservation. Reconciliation in action would mean restoring the rights of the Nuu-chah-nulth and other Indigenous peoples to fish for a living. David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation senior communications specialist Theresa Beer. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

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