FALL
September 14, 2020
families westcoast
FROM OUR TO YOURS
I can still remember my first day of high school, slipping into my brand new back-to-school outfit, brushing my brace-covered teeth and smiling into the mirror nervously as I applied my clear lip gloss. I was so nervous about navigating my way through a new school, worried about finding my classes, where my locker would be, and if I’d make new friends.
This year, as my oldest daughter faces her first day of high school, I’m saddened by the shift she’ll see as she enters her new school. Because on top of the nervousness she’ll experience around starting this new stage in life, she’ll have to deal with the added stresses of doing so during a pandemic. For her, high school won’t just mean new hallways, classrooms, teachers, and friends, but new protocols, face masks, and concerns that I never had to experience. And my other kids, who will be entering grade 1 and grade 5 will be facing the same changes as well.
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Contributors
Alyssa Bauman
Bianca Bujan
Jen Murtagh
Connie Peters
Krystle Sivorot
Andrea Vance
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For both our children and ourselves, the uncertainty around returning to school can cause a lot of anxiety. To help ease anxiety in kids, we asked Krystle Sivorot of Harbourside Family Counselling to share a few tips with us on how to help our kids cope with back-to-school anxiety.
And it’s not just the parents and kids who are struggling with the looming changes, teachers, too are faced with challenges as they attempt to adjust to a “new normal” in the classroom. To get a better sense of the teachers’ perspective, we spoke to four teachers who shared their personal experiences as they simultaneously opened up their classrooms while continuing to teach online, and how that impacted their own lives and professional responsibilities.
Because back-to-school means back to the tedious lunch-making routine, Alyssa Bauman of Nourished.ca shares some easy-to-make lunch and snack recipes to keep our kids healthy and fuelled up as they head into fall. And for those of you who will be looking for a little weekend escape, we share some of BC’s best biking trails. Plus, how to prep for a new puppy, what you need to know about adding an electric vehicle as your main family car, and more.
Wishing you all a safe and stress-free September,
Editor
w ith your smme!
HOW TO EASE BACK TO SCHOOL
DURING A PANDEMIC
7 tips to help calm back-to-school anxiety for your kids
by Krystle Sivorot, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Harbourside Family Counselling
Going back to school after summer break can bring up all kinds of uncertainty in any given year, let alone during a pandemic. Not only will kids be asking questions like, “Who’s going to be in my class this year?” but they will also have a slew of COVID-19 related questions.
Walking into unfamiliar and unpredictable territory can be stressful for most adults, and for children it can often lead to high feelings of anxiety. This can take on many different forms and look different for everyone. Often it can look like extra irritability, emotional and behavioural regression, clingy behaviour, asking a lot of questions, and sometimes withdrawing completely.
As parents and caregivers, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed yourself these days. Here are a few things to consider to help you and your child ease some of the back-to-school anxiety:
Get as much information as possible
Synergetic Play Therapy founder, Lisa Dion often mentions one of the biggest perceived threats to the brain is “the unknown” and the stories that get created in your child’s mind as they relate to it. One way to ease tension around this is to help your child find out as much as possible before the first day of school. How many people are going to be in the class? What are the COVID-19 protocols? Find out as much information about going back to school and keep yourself and your child informed.
Get your routine down
In preparation for back-to-school mornings, you might want to help support yourself and your kids by getting a sense of what your routine is going to look like. Making things predictable and helping kids understand what’s happening next provides a huge support. Setting up visual calendars and talking through expectations usually helps calm some nerves. If you’re really into it, maybe even do a test run before the first day of school.
Give space for your child to share
Making space for your child is important for them to be able to open up to you and share how they really feel. It’s important to take their sentiments seriously and listen before jumping in to offer solutions. When talking to your kids about their uncertainties and nervous feelings, remember to normalize all the feelings that might be coming up! We’re living in surreal times and their responses are valid.
Ask your child what they think is the scariest part about going back to school
Helping your child identify what the biggest challenge for them is will help give you both an understanding of what is causing the anxiety. Also, when you can identify what the most scary part is, it’s a reminder that not all parts of going back to school are scary.
Talk to your child about what they already know. Sure, there’s a lot of new
changes happening in the classroom and there’s probably a lot that your child already knows. Usually anxiety keeps us focusing on what we don’t know. Help remind your child about what they know will be predictable.
Help set up a plan
There are probably some “what if” questions coming up for your child and often parents might respond with, “everything will be OK”. However, we can’t say for sure we know that to be true. Instead of sitting in fear based wonder, help your child come up with a plan that makes sense. Help them feel empowered to be able to do something with your help if what they fear is to happen.
Find ways to breathe and move together
Your child needs your help to co-regulate and calm their nervous system. What do you like to do together that helps support this? Maybe it’s a dance party in the kitchen, running up and down stairs, or singing your favourite tune.
Check in with yourself
How are you doing right now and what’s helping you? Remember that honouring and taking care of your needs is also important for our young ones and their growth. You are modeling to them how to self-regulate and learn how to take care of themselves through challenging times.
Krystle Sivorot is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with Harbourside Family Counselling. Her practice supports children, youth, and adults struggling with emotional challenges and encourages cultivating the wisdom of the body and mind. Krystle looks at supporting the whole family system to find new ways of deepening the relationship to self and others in the community. Krystle’s practice uses breath, movement, and mindfulness to deepen a connection to the body as a resource for wellbeing and nurturing joy.
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Teachers share their experiences and concerns as they prepare to return to the classroom
by Bianca Bujan
After a long stretch of uncertainty, it was recently announced that students would be returning to school full time in September here in BC, with a learning environment that would look a little different than before. According to the new plan, younger students will be placed in “learning groups” (cohorts) to allow for some social interaction while hopefully limiting the potential for widespread transmission, while high school students face a possible staggering of classes to limit the number of teachers, classrooms, and peers they come into contact with on a daily basis.
While the new plans have left some parents feeling a sense of relief knowing that their children will finally be returning to the classroom and interacting with their friends and teachers, others are feeling nervous about what this will mean for the safety of their families as our province continues to push through the pandemic, and feel uncertain as to how the new learning environment will impact their own lives and family schedules.
For teachers, anxiety is high as well. After a trial month of juggling part-time in-classroom learning with navigating new virtual learning programs to accommodate those students who opted to learn from home, teachers were stretched thin, often working increased hours while addressing frustrations from parents, and trying to adjust to the “new normal” of teaching during COVID-19.
To get a better sense of the teachers’ perspective, we spoke to four teachers who shared their personal experiences as they simultaneously opened up their classrooms while continuing to teach online, and how that impacted their own lives and professional responsibilities. Here’s what they had to say - in their own words.
Please note: due to employment contracts, we’ve agreed to keep the teachers’ names anonymous.
Q1
How was the transition to virtual learning/teaching for you? What were some challenges you faced?
“Trying to get families set up online was a huge challenge. Several of my students did not have devices to work on and it took a couple weeks for the district to provide devices. Trying to explain how to log in and set up an account to an 8-9 year old is very challenging and many of my students come from families who do not speak English, so it was really up to me and the support teachers to make this happen.
I also struggled with working from home, the barrier between work/ home life was obviously eradicated and this meant that students and colleagues thought they could contact me at any time of day. Putting those boundaries in place was very challenging and took a huge amount of energy and effort.”
- Grade 3/4 Teacher, Coquitlam
“One of the main challenges with the transition for me was prioritizing what material to cover. The advice from our District leadership was to focus on numeracy and literacy. However, there is so much essential content in Science and Socials at this grade level (for example, the human body and human rights) that it seemed wrong to just skip it.”
- Grade 6 Teacher, Surrey
“Imagine being asked to completely transform the way you do your job with no training and minimal resources in one week. The biggest challenge of remote teaching was that it highlighted the inequality of society. Performance was often more a measure of privilege and accessibility than learning. Remote learning put students in the position of having to manage their own time and responsibilities. I had students who were working to support their families, caring for siblings, dealing with their own mental health challenges, in unsafe homes and then being expected to teach themselves.”
- Grade 12 Academic Teacher, Surrey
“Some of the larger challenges from my end was supporting teachers, students and parents in their tech learning, and quickly figuring out classroom management online - very different than in person."
- Grade 5 Teacher, Catholic Independent School, Vancouver
Q2
How did you find the transition to in-class learning in June?
“Very frustrating. I don’t feel that my school was given enough time to prepare or put measures in place. I have extreme scent/chemical allergies and these were never addressed, I would go home most days with a huge headache or difficulty seeing straight due to the exposure to increased chemicals. I was unable to get a medical leave and this resulted in me asking that my room not be cleaned as often as it was supposed to.”
- Grade 3/4 Teacher, Coquitlam
“ I was SO happy to be back in the classroom. I had just 8 of my 28 students and it felt so good to be working in person with a group of students.”
- Grade 6 Teacher, Surrey
“The bigger challenge was keeping the online learning students engaged. Some were getting online fatigue, others were already in summer mode - which happens when they are in school, but keeping someone interested in independent projects when they are not in front of you is extremely difficult - or you were hearing of parents just “giving up on school” which was also a challenging feeling when you were working really hard to keep students engaged.”
- Grade 5 Teacher, Catholic Independent School, Vancouver
“It felt like a slap in the face from the provincial government. It felt like an experiment to try out protocols at the expense of teacher's health and safety. The burden of logistics fell onto districts and schools. I personally feel my administration did an incredible job with minimal resources. They had to create an equitable schedule and determine logistics for our school. My highschool is one of the biggest in the province but very few students actually returned in June so many of the protocols remained untested.”
- Grade 12 Academic Teacher, Surrey
How did you find juggling both in-class and online learning?
“The way I managed it was that on the one day a week I was in class with students I did not connect with my online learners. Our daily class meetings were cancelled and I was less likely to reply to their emails. They knew they could message me for support, but many waited until one of the four days I didn't have in person students to reach out to me. Each Sunday night my teaching partner and I would send out a list of assignments (some optional) for the week. The 8 who attended in person finished the majority of the week's school work in the one day they attended. This highlights how little material I was able to cover with online learning.”
- Grade 6 Teacher, Surrey
“To be fully honest, the online students suffered a lot through this. My energy was depleted by June and I was unable to creatively find ways to keep them engaged.”
- Grade 3/4 Teacher, Coquitlam
“Very difficult. The students in school had a clear goal of understanding that this was an opportunity to practice what to do if the same scenario appeared in the fall. Students at home who saw (I sometimes invited kids to view the class in a zoom stream) what was happening, or heard from friends, were having mixed feelings. There were the kids who wanted to come to school, but couldn’t because their parents didn’t feel comfortable with it yet, or they were staying home to protect some of the more susceptible members of their families. Trying to find something that both groups could be interested in or get behind was nearly impossible because their focuses were split.”
- Grade 5 Teacher, Catholic Independent School, Vancouver
“Workload was the biggest challenge for many teachers who had to provide in-class and remote teaching at the same time. This in-equitably burdened some teachers particularly elementary, Learning Support, secondary Math and special education teachers. These teachers were expected to be in-class during the work day but also provide the same remote teaching program to all students.”
- Grade 12 Academic Teacher, Surrey
Q4What is one thing you think could be done better in September that was a challenge in June?
“Communication with parents about the expectations that are being placed on teachers - my online parents still expected me to be available all the time. My in person parents wanted the room cleaned all the time and their child to be having fun and learning. Put these with the expectations by the district and I would need 3+ people to do my job on any given day.”
- Grade 3/4 Teacher, Coquitlam
“With mandatory attendance for students we will have to figure out how to safely move full classes around the school. If I only have 8 students lined up in the hallways, and the whole school has only 25% attendance, moving kids to music class or outside to play was easy. It will be different with full attendance and we will need to create safe routines for moving in the building.”
- Grade 6 Teacher, Surrey
“Have everyone come in to the school to learn the protocols and understand how to be "socially respectful" with others so we can remain healthy and safe.”
-Grade 5 Teacher, Catholic Independent School, Vancouver
“In-service training in preferred online platforms needs to be provided to teachers. More definitive expectations of workload need to be outlined and respected. Schools should not be seen as childcare. There is still a global pandemic and the health and safety of teachers needs to be considered seriously.”
- Grade 12 Academic Teacher, Surrey
LUNCH PREP:
by Alyssa Bauman, Nourished.ca
BAKE THESE BARS AND BITES FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
For some, going back to school is an absolute welcome, while for others, it is filled with concern. Whatever you decide to do for school, one thing is a constant—we all want our kids fuelled up and ready to learn—be it at home or at school.
From back to school lunches, to quick and easy brain breaks, to after school snacks, we have rounded up some of our favourite, tried and true recipes to keep your family healthy, thriving and focused. As September approaches, be sure to add these lunch recipes to your back-to-school shopping lists.
CACAO PUFFED QUINOA BARS
These tasty nutritional powerhouses tick all the boxes in the macronutrient stakes. This recipe includes healthy fats: coconut oil; protein and complex carbs: hemp, quinoa; antioxidant: cacao and cranberries; and for taste: chocolate. These are a great packable treat for an after school snack (just skip the nuts).
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons coconut butter
1/2 cup raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)
1 tblsp hemp seeds
2 tblsp maple syrup
DIRECTIONS:
Pinch of salt
1 cup puffed quinoa (see below)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup shelled pistachios or walnuts (omit or sub pumpkin seeds for school-friendly version)
Puffing quinoa lightens up quinoa’s hearty consistency without changing the nutritional profile. Simply pour quinoa into a large dry pot. Heat and stir for about 5-6 minutes. Melt coconut oil and coconut butter in a saucepan. Sift and stir in the raw cacao powder and blend in the maple syrup, hemp seeds, salt, puffed quinoa, cranberries and pistachios. Grease and line loaf pan. Pour the mixture into the pan and chill in the fridge overnight until set (overnight). Cut into snack-size bites, or heartier bars at approximately 1/2 inch thick.
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH BITES
Enjoy this yummy cookie dough batter without the processed foods, refined sugars, raw eggs and chemicals. These protein-packed fibre bites were so popular, my oldest enlisted the crew to make yet another batch.
INGREDIENTS:
1-2 tblsp hemp seeds
2 tblsp chia seeds
3 cups rolled oats
1.5 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tblsp vanilla Extract
DIRECTIONS:
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cups coconut shreds
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Optional extras: Ground flax seeds, cranberries, goji berries
Mix chia in half a cup of water and set aside. Split your oats in half. Process one half into flour. Pour the other half of the whole oats in a bowl. Mix flour and whole rolled oats. Add in all other dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients. Add to the dry bowl. Mix well. Hands work and little hands love this. Put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Remove from the fridge and start rolling about a tablespoon of dough forming into lil golf balls. Again, little hands love this. Place on a tray and set in the fridge again for at least 10 minutes so they set. Store in the fridge in airtight containers separated by parchment paper.
TURKEY/QUINOA MEATBALLS
Powered by protein and vegetables, these super easy bites are a big hit in our house. Quinoa doubles the protein while reducing meat consumption. This is easy to pack into lunches to go, or double the recipe and make a big batch and stock your freezer for busy weeknights to come.
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb organic ground turkey
1/4 cup cooked quinoa
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions (scallions) minced
1/2 medium carrot, grated and chopped finely
1 tsp grated ginger
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350F.
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried cilantro
Dash of chinese 5 spice
Couple dashes of soy sauce (low sodium or Bragg's)
Juice of 1-2 medium limes
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine the turkey and quinoa in a large bowl. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty - food always tastes better with some added love.
Now add green onion, carrots, herbs, ginger, lime juice and salt and pepper. Stir everything together with your hands until you can easily roll them into little balls. Roll out your turkey mixture into whatever size meatballs you like (I made mine almost bite size) for easy protein snacks.
Turkey quinoa meatballs ready to be baked.
Place your meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 10 - 20 minutes, depending on the size, until they are no longer pink in the middle.
QUINOA BAKED CHICKEN FINGERS
This kid-friendly favourite is gluten free, high in fibre and protein, and the chia adds a nice Omega punch. The kids love it and it makes an easy grab-and-go lunch. When you have the time, do yourself a favour and double this easy recipe and freeze some for later. It’s also a great habit to get into making a large pot of quinoa to be used all week.
INGREDIENTS:
4 organic skinless boneless chicken breasts, sliced into 3-inch long tenders
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 cups cooked red or white quinoa
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350F.
1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs
like Mary's or brown rice crumbs
1/4 cup ground chia
2 eggs
2 tablespoons olive oil
Spread out the quinoa on a piece of wax paper or aluminum foil. Mix chia and gluten free crumbs together and spread over the quinoa. Squeeze together until the moisture of the quinoa is absorbed. Place the eggs in a shallow bowl. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, garlic powder, pepper and paprika.
Dip the chicken in the egg and then into the quinoa mixture, turn over and coat. Place onto a baking cheat. Brush with olive oil and bake at 350F until translucent thru and crispy, about 20 minutes.
5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GOING ON MATERNITY LEAVE
by Jen Murtagh, Certified Leadership Coach
Five quick tips to help you navigate the shift
I’ve worked with hundreds of women over the course of my 20-year career, and one of the biggest challenges they’ve faced has been navigating maternity leave. They’ve struggled with questions such as, When should I tell my employer? How should I tell them? What will happen to my role? and How do I move from being a “career woman” to a “mom”. I can admit, I had a major identity shift when I went on my first maternity leave. I felt lonely, isolated, unsupported and totally cut off from work.
I learned so much from my first maternity leave that when I went on my second, I made adjustments and brave decisions based on what I wanted to do, rather than what I felt I “should” do. To help you navigate the shift, here are five quick tips based on my own learnings:
1. Don't start planning your exit before you get pregnant
Many women choose to hold themselves back because they are considering getting pregnant. They opt out of applying for jobs, decline or choose not to ask for promotions, pull back at work, and start to step out before they even get pregnant. If you are eager to keep building your career then I would encourage you to not take your foot off the gas.
There is a chance it may actually take you more time than you anticipate before you actually get pregnant. Research will also show that women on average lose two to three years of promotability once they announce they are pregnant. It is a rarity that employers promote a woman who is pregnant. Depending on how much time you take off, you also lose promotability while you are off on maternity leave, and finally, when you return, it’s unlikely that you will be promoted during your first 6-9 months back.
2. Don't apologize for getting pregnant
I’ve worked with and mentored women who have told me that they felt bad about getting pregnant because the timing wasn’t right for work, or they had just taken on a new project and felt they were letting their employer down. Please do not apologize for getting pregnant - ever. This is a time in your life when you are creating life and need to relinquish any and all guilt about the impact that might have on your work. Your boss and company will figure it out, and you can help support that process too by thoughtfully considering how you want to transition from your role.
3. Have a plan when you announce that you are pregnant
I got pregnant three months into being hired as an Executive Director where my predecessor had been in place for 30 years! I didn’t feel bad about it although the timing was far from ideal. When I announced my pregnancy I came to my board chair with my recommendations. I handed over a two page framework that outlined when I was planning on going on maternity leave, my recommendations on what could work in my absence, and when I planned on returning. I also included my requests as to how involved I wanted to be while I was on maternity leave.
By demonstrating that you have thoughtfully considered some solutions that may work while you are off, you are showing that you care about your position and the company at large. I offered to train my replacement before I went on maternity leave and volunteered to be part of the interview process. Ultimately, it is up to your employer how they transition your role but it never hurts to show you care enough to suggest a framework that may help while you are off.
4. Consider how you want to onboard upon your return
Some organizations have formal onboarding plans in place for women who are coming back from maternity leave, but most do not. Depending on how long you take for your maternity leave, the company, your position, the leadership, and the culture could have had significant changes while you were gone. Walking in on day one with no prior knowledge on what has happened while you have been off can be overwhelming, so I suggest reaching out to your direct report 4-6 weeks in advance of returning. This is completely up to you but in my experience and in working with women it has helped boost their confidence when returning. Many women I know have requested to be included in team meetings via conference calls or have simply had a meeting with their boss in advance of coming back to ensure they understood what they were walking back into.
Being on maternity leave seemed to slow my brain down. I remember endless days of talking in the third person and telling my babies “Mommy is doing this and mommy is doing that”. Having to transition from baby talk back to strategy discussions within a day was a big challenge. Never mind the hormones, a continued lack of sleep and the new routine of dropping my daughter off at daycare crying presented new challenges for me. As you go on maternity leave, I encourage you to think about how you want to transition back, and what may work best for you.
5. Research childcare options before maternity leave
One of the most challenging things about going back to work is finding childcare that you feel good about. Waitlists can be long, especially if you live in the city. I have spoken to a lot of women who leave this too long and then have to extend their maternity leave because they couldn’t find a suitable childcare option.
Begin researching childcare in the area you live in before you go on maternity leave and add your name to a variety of waitlists as soon as possible.
Jen Murtagh coaches female leaders to live + lead bravely so they can create meaningful impact and design a life they love (without burning out in the process). Find her on social @jenmurtaghcoaching and at www.jenmurtagh.com
CAN AN
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
BE YOUR MAIN FAMILY CAR?
by Connie Peters
First off, I think we need to clear the myth that you need a special outlet to own a plug-in EV (electric vehicle). You don't. You can plug in an EV into your household outlet, which most people have inside their garage, or on the side of the house. If you're in a parking garage situation, you'll need to check your complex to see if you can use the outlets in the garage or if there is one close enough to your parking spot.
You may want to consider updating your home with a Level 2 charger if you're buying a fully electric car. Some people are lucky enough to have Level 2 charging stations at their place of work and only need to charge during the time they're at the office.
This being said, I think the bottom line about whether or not an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle can fit your lifestyle is having a look at the resources and logistics around you. Is your city EV friendly with local stations? Ask your friends who may already have an EV in your community about their experiences, or do some local research before deciding if an EV is right for you.
We’re lucky here in BC to have the infrastructure in place with plenty of charging stations available to charge at grocery stores, malls, offices and hotels for travelling. If you’re considering an electric vehicle as your main family car, here are some things to consider.
GET TO KNOW YOUR EVS
There are a few different types of electric vehicles - plug-in hybrid electric, and pure battery-electric, so know the difference when you shop. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) electric has a gas-powered back-up. A battery-electric (BEV or EV) has just the battery.
HOW WILL YOU CHARGE YOUR CAR?
Charging times can vary depending on things like temperature, your current level of battery charge, and your battery capacity. You have three options to choose from when it comes to charging:
HOUSEHOLD
Your typical 110v outlet works to charge a car. It's slower than other levels, but it works. We own a Tesla and my husband charges at home or at the office on a Level 2. We have only used Supercharging when travelling to the Okanagan, and even those are available in many BC towns and cities.
LEVEL 2
208v/240v charging can be installed at home or you can use them at local stations, just check plugshare.com for stations near you. Plug-in hybrid vehicles take 1-4 hours to be fully charged on Level 2. Battery EVs take 4-8 hours to be fully charged (from 0 to 100%) on Level 2. Many stations are free to use or just require a BC Hydro account.
DC FAST CHARGING
DC Fast Charging stations (not including Tesla Supercharging) are slowly being offered for a charge as they are significantly more costly to build and set up. They charge a fee for charging but can charge up to 80% of a battery charge in approximately 20 minutes. Across North America, these are becoming more common at fuel stations.
There are plenty of mobile apps that will help you locate your nearest charging station.
WILL IT FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?
Here are some ways to determine if an EV is a fit for your family:
WE'RE JUST DRIVING AROUND THE CITY
An electric car is ideal for city driving and commuting, but planning road trips gets a little more complicated. For example, a trip to the Okanagan from the Lower Mainland will require two fast charging stops along the way for most routes and cars.
If you are a one-vehicle household but will take occasional longer road trips, you can always rent something for your trip if you have range anxiety, but charging stations are becoming more commonplace and new ones are continually popping up.
I HAVE A HIGH-SPEED CHARGER UP THE STREET
Check plugshare.com to see where your local Level 2 charging stations are located. Depending on your city, you may be surprised how readily available they are. If you're considering a Tesla, those are different charging stations, so search for Superchargers in your area to see how accessible it would be for you to use one. Teslas can also use regular local Level 2 charging stations with an adapter.
THE RANGE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT
I've heard it on social media and from friends, people want longer range, they're worried about cold winters affecting charging and range (it does) and taking a simple road trip to the cabin.
Maybe a PHEV is the solution for you - you can get some models in a PHEV (plug-in electric) version with a backup gas motor with up to about a 850km range. Keep in mind that these only have a small battery range, meaning if you're doing longer trips you'll need to pay for gas, but you have the benefit of the overall range. The battery-only range averages about 42km depending on the car.
WILL IT SAVE YOU MONEY?
Who doesn't want to save money? The cost of charging an electric vehicle versus using gas fuel is approximately half!
YOU'LL GET REBATES
Yes, that means you'll save even more money. In BC, you are eligible for Provincial and Federal rebates. In Canada, there is a $5,000 federal rebate plus a $3,000 BC Provincial rebate depending on the model and price of the EV you’re buying. Plus, in BC you may apply for a rebate to install a Level 2 charger in your home. Check out https://goelectricbc. gov.bc.ca/#rebates for more information.
REGENERATIVE BRAKING HELPS CHARGE YOUR BATTERY WHILE YOU DRIVE
When you apply the brakes, you capture the kinetic energy of deceleration to charge your battery on the go. Plus, steering wheelmounted paddles in some models allow you to adjust regenerative braking levels meaning if you use the paddle while slowing, you are charging more.
Travelling downhill also recharges your battery while driving. On our drive to Kelowna recently, the battery in our Tesla was charging and extending its range while we were driving the downhill slope of the Coquihalla connector.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL MAINTENANCE EXPENSES
You may have heard, "no oil changes, no service appointments", but the truth is, you'll still need to replace your tires every few years and have other regular maintenance costs like checkups with your manufacturer.
Electric vehicles do cost more than gas, because of the technology, but over the long term cost less in the overall maintenance and charging versus gas.
PREPPING FOR A PUPPY!
Tips on adding a furry friend to your family
by Bianca Bujan
There’s no doubt that children love puppies, and it can be easy to give in to their sweet little pleas to add a furry friend to the family, especially while we’re spending more time at home. But just like the decision to have a child should be very well thought out, so should be the decision to adopt a pet. Cuddles and kisses aside, you need to be prepared for the sleepless nights, nibbled-on shoes, and late-night walks, too. Many people rush into adopting a pet without thinking about the longterm impact that their decision will have on the life of that pet - and themselves, so to help you determine if adding a furry friend to your family is the right decision, we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to prepare for your potential puppy.
1. Do your research
Different breeds have different needs, personality traits, and health concerns. While you may swoon over certain sorts of puppies, make sure you know what to expect before you add that puppy to your plans. Here in North America, dog breeds are separated into 7 general categories: sporting dogs (Labradors, Golden Retrievers), hounds (Daschunds, Foxhounds), working dogs (Boxers, Great Danes), terriers (Jack Russell, Scottish), toy dogs (Chihuahuas, Pugs), herding dogs (German Shepherds, Collies), and companion dogs (Poodles, Bulldogs), and it’s important to understand each breed before you make your pick. Research online, ask friends who have had the same breed, and make sure you know what you’re getting into before you make your final decision.
2. Consider fostering first
The BC SPCA and other rescue organizations offer the opportunity to foster pets, bringing the pet into your home and providing them with the socialization and love they need as they recover from illnesses or injuries, or wait to find their forever homes. This is a great way to help pets in need, and test your family’s ability to care for a pet before you make the lifelong commitment.
3. Adopt, don’t shop
While there are definitely some reputable breeders out there, there are also so many dogs in care that are looking for their forever homes, and many of those dogs’ lives end in euthanization if they’re not adopted. Consider taking in a dog that is slightly older, and enjoy the benefits of adopting from a shelter, such as many rescued dogs are already socialized and house trained, easing the earlier challenges that you may face when adding a puppy to your family.
4. Invest in puppy classes
You’ll want to make sure that your puppy learns how to socialize appropriately with other dogs and people, and listens to you when out in public, so puppy classes are a must. Before you bring your puppy home, look into the reputable puppy classes available in your area, and find out the teaching technique used by the instructors, the ideal entry age for the puppy classes, and the equipment you’ll need to get started.
From day one, make sure that everyone in the family is involved in feeding, walking, training, and rewarding your puppy. While there will usually be one primary person that the dog will attach to early on, you’ll want the puppy to know and trust every member in your family and develop a healthy bond with them from the beginning.
6.
Be prepared to carry the load
While children are often the ones who push for a puppy, be aware that they will quickly lose interest, especially as your dog grows bigger and older. While it’s important to keep kids engaged in the process of raising a puppy, know that you’ll end up carrying the load - walking, picking up the poop, bathing, feeding, and caring for that pup for years to come. Many dogs live for 10-13 years, are you ready to care for them for that long?
7. Always scoop the poop
Picking up poop may be gross but it’s something you’ll have to do for as long as you have your pup. Be prepared with a large supply of doggy poo bags, and if you can, opt for the compostable kind so that you keep the planet healthy while also keeping your neighbourhood clean.
8. Vet your vet
Before adding a puppy to your family, research a good vet in your area. Like choosing a family doctor, be sure to pick someone who will take good care of your pet and listen to your concerns. If you can, ask for referrals, and enquire about the vet’s approach to pets and medicine. Look for somewhere closer to home, choose someone who’s friendly and approachable, and make sure that your chosen vet fits within your budget, too.
9. Don’t skimp on shots
Not only do regular vaccines keep your pet healthy, but many dog daycares and boarding facilities require updated vaccination records before caring for your pet. Your puppy will need a round of shots early on, updates around one year, and then regular boosters and updates regularly throughout their lives. Be sure you know the costs ahead of time so there are no surprises.
10.
Be equipped with the right equipment
Besides dog food, there’s a list of equipment you’ll need to raise a pup. From leashes, crates, and treats, to grooming tools, dog beds, and chew toys, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need before bringing puppy home.
BC's best
Bike trips
by Andrea Vance
The benefits of cycling are undeniable, and it’s one sport that all ages can do together. During the pandemic, bicycle sales went through the roof as families went outside to exercise, socialize and explore. Taking your bikes along for a family holiday is a great family experience that allows you to put away the devices, tour around our amazing province, and see some incredible sights. The bike is the perfect holiday accessory!
Here’s our picks for three great bike trips in BC for your family.
Myra Canyon Trestles (Kelowna)
One of the most scenic and exciting bike rides in BC, these 18 trestles and two tunnels were built between 1912 and 1914. Part of the Kettle Valley Railway this section is a must-do with spectacular scenery and history. You can bike easily in many directions for hours or even days, and camp or lodge along the way.
Spend the night: Glamp it up at Chute Lake Lodge where you can jump on the KVR right in front of the property and ride trails all the way to the trestles.
While you’re there: Check out Myra Canyon Adventure Park, or one of the many Okanagan Lake beaches.
Whistler Valley Trail (Whistler)
Biking options are endless here. With over 200 biking trails, families of every level can find their adventure. One favourite is the Lost Lake trails where kids will find a little challenge and fun on and off the paths. The Valley Trail system is excellent to get around from lake to lake and to connect from the main village to Creekside and other areas.
Spend the night: Camp or glamp at Riverside Campground for easy access to all the trails. Stay at the Tantalus Resort Lodge where they have bike storage, bike washing and even a bike tuning station. Don’t forget your swimsuit for the pool and hot tub!
While you’re there: Golfing is big in Whistler and there are options for lake activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and river floating.
Vedder River Rotary Trail (Chilliwack)
Four trails make up this 20km loop that’s great for kids and parents. Biking through a Great Blue Heron reserve, over and under bridges, and along the Vedder River makes for a ride that will suit everyone’s interests. With only 20m of elevation throughout the trail, it’s an easy gravel route fit for all ages.
Spend the night: Camp at the Vedder River Campground or stay overnight at the family and pet friendly Vedder River Inn.
While you’re there: Check out Webster Landing Skate Park.