Nanaimo Best of the City 2011 by Nanaimo Bulletin

RESTAURANTS SHOPPING RECREATION ENTERTAINMENT KIDS’ STUFF SERVICE AND MORE

Nanaimo

BEST

SINKING TO NEW DEPTHS Area has world-renowned sights for divers.

STREET APPEAL Downtown Commercial Street gaining reputation.

CLEAN LIVING Protection Island house sets ‘green’ standard.

PUT IT IN PARK Live-in caretakers have ideal workplace.

2011

Dive into our

10TH ANNUAL

OF THE CITY

celebration of Nanaimo News Bulletin readers’ favourite things

1 in Performance and Service

VANDERLEEK ROOFING “A VANDERLEEK ROOF IS A NO LEAK ROOF”

ROOFING SPECIALISTS van der Leek – Serving the Island Over the Past 22 Years

My personal Thanks for your support over the years. – Gary van der Leek PHONE

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2 Best of the City

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sales@vanderleekrooﬁng.com Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Our best foot forward Welcome to the special, 10th anniversary edition of our annual Best of the City publication. Looking back over the past decade, Nanaimo has come a long way. We’ve grown in terms of population, but we’ve also grown in terms of substance. We’ve continued steadily down the path to becoming a diverse, well-rounded city. We’ve seen new infrastructure additions and enhancements to existing facilities that make us even more of a destination for tourists both from abroad and from within our own province. Our downtown main street was recently recognized as best in Canada. We’ve had business growth and development that strengthen our economic position and social developments and investments that improve the overall health and well-being of our community. We’ve increased our parkland and recreation opportunities and capitalized on our unique natural geography, ensuring our citizens and visitors have a pristine playground at our doorstep. There’s a lot to be proud of, and no reason to think we’re not the best. Mitch Wright News Bulletin managing editor

SPECIAL EDITION

“We wanted to build a house that represents the way we think about the environment, which is that it needs to be looked after.”

CONTENTS Survey winners ~ Food

4 Survey winners ~ Service

Favoured swims

5 Brewed to perfection

14 Summer is for fun

Phone: 250-753-3707 / editor@nanaimobulletin.com A division of Black Press Ltd. 777 Poplar St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 2H7

Nanaimo Numerology

Survey winners ~ Shopping

Nanaimo Numerology

26 28

Survey winners ~ Recreation/Kids 18 7

Put it in park

New twists on the Nanaimo Bar

Coal era closures

Survey winners ~ Night life

Artists pushing boundaries

Youth movement

Street appeal

23 Winning tradition

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ST OF THE CI BE E

THANK YOU!

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

Winners in the 10th annual Nanaimo News Bulletin Best of the City supplement were chosen by Nanaimo readers. These votes were then tabulated and ranked in order to determine the top three ﬁnalists. Black Press, parent company of the Nanaimo News Bulletin, has sole copyright over any written material or image in this publication.

Sinking to new depths

Publisher: Maurice Donn Editor: Mitch Wright Special Edition Production: Nanaimo News Bulletin Production Department Sales Manager: Sean McCue

250-758-0138

L E A D E R S I N L I G H T I N G

NANAIMO Best of the City 3

1. Zougla Restaurant 2. Wesley St. Café 3. Keg Steakhouse & Bar

1. Gina’s Mexican Café 2. Wellington Pub 3. Longwood Brew Pub

Best breakfasts

Best pasta

1. Ricky’s All Day Grill 2. White Spot Restaurants 3. Tania’s Restaurant

1. Milano’s Ristorante 2. Boston Pizza 3. New York Style Pizza & Pasta

Best lunches

Best sushi

1. Delicado’s 2. Huong Lan Restaurant 3. Montana’s Cookhouse

1. Blue Ginger Restaurant 2. Firehouse Grill 3. Nori Japanese Restaurant

Best pizza

1. Pirate Chips 2. Trollers Fish & Chips 3. Fox and Hounds

1. Mambo Gourmet Pizza 2. Pizza Hut 3. New York Style Pizza & Pasta

Best hamburgers

Best pies

1. Mrs. Riches Club Café 2. White Spot Restaurants 3. Wendy’s Restaurants

1. Nanaimo Bakery & Confectionery Ltd. 2. Columbia Bakery Ltd. 3. Thrifty Foods

Best fast food

Best seafood

1. Wendy’s Restaurants 2. Subway 3. A&W Restaurants

1. Sea Drift Fish Market 2. Nauticals 3. Keg Steakhouse & Bar

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4 Best of the City

Best bakery

Best family restaurant

1. Nanaimo Bakery & Confectionery Ltd. 2. Columbia Bakery Ltd. 3. Mon Petit Choux

1. White Spot Restaurants 2. Montana’s Cookhouse 3. Ricky’s All Day Grill

Best deli

Best patio restaurant

1. Thrifty Foods 2. Nellie’s Dutch Deli 3. Quality Foods

1. Earls Restaurant 2. Cactus Club Café 3. Dinghy Dock Marine Pub & Bistro

Best steak

Best desserts

1. Keg Steakhouse & Bar 2. Bold Knight Restaurant 3. Cactus Club Café

1. Dairy Queen 2. The Modern Café 3. Moxie’s Bar & Grill

Best Sunday buffet / brunch

Best french fries

1. Longwood Brew Pub 2. ABC Country Restaurant 3. Ricky’s All Day Grill

1. Pirate Chips 2. McDonald’s 3. New York Fries

Best vegetarian food 1. Thirsty Camel Café 2. Delicado’s 3. Carrot on the Run

Best restaurant (Overall) 1. Mrs. Riches Club Café 2. Huong Lan Restaurant 3. Cactus Club Café

Thank you Nanaimo!

ST OF THE CI BE E

BEST kids d RESTAURaNT

Best Breakfasts Best Family Restaurant 10 years in a row 7 years

ST OF THE CI BE E

3 2011

2011

Best Family m RESTAURANT

1. Asteras Greek Taverna 2. Zougla Restaurant 3. Alexandra’s Bistro

ST OF THE CI BE E

1. Harewood Arms Pub 2. Piper’s Pub 3. Wellington Pub

2011

Best Breakfasts

Best Mediterranean food

ST OF THE CI BE E

Best fish & chips

Best chicken wings

Best nachos

1. Blue Ginger Restaurant 2. Huong Lan Restaurant 3. Hong Kong House Restaurant

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

Best romantic restaurant

Best Asian Food

1. Acme Food Co Ltd. 2. Diner’s Rendezvous 3. Modern Café

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FOOD

Best martini

Survey winners .....

Best sunday n brunch Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Locals’ favourites

Favoured swims

Leonard Krog, NDP MLA for Nanaimo

Piper’s Lagoon is Krog’s favourite spot to take a dip, although his political duties leave him with little time for swimming these days. “I always feel refreshed after a swim in the salt water,” he said. “It’s like a free mineral bath. And it’s just such a beautiful spot.” Swimming out on the ocean side of the park, Krog said people can see across the Georgia Strait to the Lower Mainland, watch ferries pass by in the distance and look down to downtown Nanaimo and Gabriola Island. He also likes the spot because in the early 1970s, it was saved from development and preserved as a park for all to enjoy.

he hot summer rays are beating down on your head, you’ve got a film of sweat permanently covering your entire body, your car is a sauna and it’s only 10 a.m. Exercising is out of the question unless it’s to take a refreshing dip in the water. Where to go? With Nanaimo’s large collection of freshwater lakes, the Nanaimo River and the ocean on hand, there are numerous options for people, said Mark Drysdale, executive director of Tourism Nanaimo. Staff at Tourism Nanaimo refer people to several popular swimming holes. Westwood Lake

With its warm, sandy beaches and family-friendly amenities, this park is a popular destination. “There’s good parking, there’s washrooms, the ice cream truck is there usually all summer long, there’s picnic grounds,” said Drysdale. While only about a 10-minute drive from the city centre, Westwood Lake’s location, up the hill from the city and surrounded by forest with the mountain as a backdrop, makes one feel farther away from civilization. The roped-off swimming beaches have lifeguards posted during the summer. Other features include a sixkilometre running and walking trail circumnavigating the lake, hiking and mountain biking trails going up the ridge behind the lake and a ramp to launch non-motorized boats. Long Lake

About 10 minutes up the Island highway from the Departure Bay ferry terminal, Loudon Park at Long Lake has many of the same features as Westwood Lake – parking, although not nearly as much, a designated, roped-off swimming area, some picnic tables, a small, sandy beach and washrooms. People can swim out to two floating docks at the edges of the designated

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Diana Johnstone, Nanaimo city councillor

A former swim instructor, Johnstone can’t limit herself to one favourite swim spot – she’s got three. “My favourite No. 1 swimming place is the Nanaimo River in the safe areas,” she said. “There’s some wonderful deep holes you can swim in which are clean, crystal clear and beautiful.” Johnstone also likes to swim off the rocks at Westwood Lake and Kanaka Bay on Newcastle Island is another favourite – she brings her snorkelling equipment and checks out all the flora and fauna when the tide is in. “So, ocean, lake and river for me,” she said. “We’re so fortunate in Nanaimo to have so many places to swim.” Jamie Brennan, school trustee

swimming area and because the lake is long and shallow, it heats up fast in the summer. Drysdale said the area is popular with kayakers and tanners and the lake also has a public boat launch for motorized and non-motorized vessels. Nanaimo River

The Nanaimo River is the spot to go if you really want to cool off, said Drysdale. The spring-fed river is crystal clear, clean and refreshing. “The water is always cool there,” said Drysdale. Tourism Nanaimo staff refer people to a swimming area by the Cedar bridge, he said. There’s no washrooms, picnic tables or parking – people park on the side of the road and trudge down. There are other areas along the river that people go to swim, but Drysdale does not recommend them to people because the

river currents can be dangerous and even fatal – there is almost one death per year at this river.

Kanaka Bay on Newcastle Island is Brennan’s favourite spot. “If you catch it at the right time, when the tides come over the sand, the water is incredibly warm,” he said. “There’s just a myriad of things to look at.” Because you have to take a ferry to get to this beach, Brennan said it can be quiet. “Often you’re there on your own with your family,” he said.

Colliery Dam

Like Westwood Lake, this park has plenty of hiking trails to make a day out of a swimming trip and is surrounded by forest, but it’s usually less busy, said Drysdale. “The water actually does warm up pretty nicely there,” he said. One popular swimming spot is the park at the lower dam, with washrooms and picnic benches nearby and a floating dock to swim out to. Blueback Road Beach

This is rumoured to be Nanaimo’s best kept secret, said Drysdale. At the end of Blueback Road in north Nanaimo is a parking lot and a whole bunch of stairs that lead down to the beach. The beach has a beautiful view across the Georgia Strait and depending on when you go, you could have the beach to yourself, he added. Departure Bay

For people interested in ocean swimming, this is one of the go-to areas, said Drysdale. This area can warm up a bit more than

other ocean beaches because the water is fairly shallow and it’s a bit protected, he said. There’s a sandy beach to relax on and people can watch the ferries, which berth in the terminal to the south, steam by. Another popular salt water swimming area can be found at Piper’s Lagoon to the north of Departure Bay. Nanaimo Aquatic Centre/Beban Park/Bowen Park

While fresh water might be more refreshing in the summer, there are also the city’s pools, said Drysdale. The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre has three water slides, a water playground, a lazy river and wave machine. Beban Pool and the aquatic centre both have showers and changerooms, as well as fitness classes. The outdoor pool at Bowen Park is fun for kids, said Drysdale. Jenn McGarrigle reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

Best of the City 5

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ST OF THE CI BE E

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‘Italian Soul In The Heart Of Nanaimo’ Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Region sinking to new depths Photos courtesy Aaron Bell www.undersea.ca

Whether you’re interested in artificial reefs or sea life ranging from sea star as big as a truck tire to the strange looking wolf eel, the Nanaimo area has some worldrenowned sights for scuba divers.

he big draw in recent years is Nanaimo’s three artificial reefs – the H.M.C.S. Cape Breton and H.M.C.S. Saskatchewan near Snake Island and the Rivtow Lion in Departure Bay, said Ed Singer, owner of Sundown Diving. “Our main market in the summer is not Canadians – it’s international,” he said. “A lot of areas don’t have these artificial wrecks. Canada is pretty well known around the world for its diving.” But Nanaimo and the Island as a whole is a major dive destination for more reasons than just the artificial reefs, added Singer. He said the waters around Nanaimo are home to hundreds of different species of brilliantly coloured starfish, anenomes and nudibranchs. Different kinds of seaweed and kelps carpet the ocean floor and an array of animals greet lucky divers – from octopuses to

rockfish to wolf eels, which are elongated fish that can grow to two metres long or bigger. Seals can be spotted – and sometimes curious ones come right up to you – as divers descend or ascend the rock wall at Snake Island. There are also many popular shore dives, which eliminate the need for tourists or locals to hire or own a boat, said Singer. Shirley White, co-owner of Nanaimo Dive Outfitters, said many people are blown away by the diverse life that can be seen simply hopping into the water from Nanaimo beaches. “We’re really lucky here,” she said. “I was totally amazed at how big the sea life here was compared to some of the stuff in warmer waters. I didn’t know there was so much life down there. Some of the Sun Stars down there almost look like there’s a light bulb in them.” People come from all over Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, the United

States and Canada to dive in Nanaimo, said White. There’s also a sizeable population of local divers, she added. After all, having all of this in your backyard makes a quick evening dive possible. It’s quiet and weightless under water and troubles of the day fade away as you watch the abundant marine flora and fauna move about and interact. “Just grab your tank after work, head out and hop in the water,” she said. “It is cold water. We wear a lot of equipment and that’s not necessarily for everybody.” For those who don’t want to scuba dive or who want to bring the family on a marine adventure, Sundown Diving takes people snorkelling with the seals at Snake Island. Jenn McGarrigle reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

Artificial reefs HMCS Saskatchewan

A destroyer escort commissioned in 1963, the Saskatchewan was sunk in June 1997 off the western side of Snake Island. The Saskatchewan rests in about 40 metres of water and is upright with a list to the port side. Numerous diver access holes were cut into the vessel before it was sunk. HMCS Cape Breton

This Second World War-era naval vessel was sunk near Snake Island in 2001. The Cape Breton sank upright with a slight list to starboard in about 43 metres of water close to the Saskatchewan. It is recognized as the world’s second largest artificial reef, next to the Speigel Grove in Florida. Rivtow Lion

A former deep sea rescue tug launched in 1940, the Rivtow Lion became Nanaimo’s third artificial reef in February 2005. Certain areas of the vessel were sealed shut before the boat was sunk just off Newcastle Island in Departure Bay and her main deck sits at about 18 metres below the water. The wreck was sunk in a sheltered location so as to be a safe alternative to diving the bigger, exposed wrecks. Other dives

There are numerous other popular dives in the area, including a number of vessels that sank around the turn of the last century. Sources: www.divingbc.com and www.sundowndiving.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Best of the City 7

12 new twists on the

Nanaimo Bar T

he Nanaimo Bar is unapologetically sweet and about as subtle in your mouth as an Empire Days fireworks display. Consider its original recipe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a cup of coconut, a dollop more than a cup of butter, a solid two cups of icing sugar, vanilla custard powder, graham wafer crumbs, four ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and, well, you get the idea. This cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature snack is sure to send your cholesterol and insulin levels skyrocketing, but no public event where treats are served in this town is complete without a tray of this delectable dessert and connoisseurs whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to curb their enthusiasm know just a conservative nip will unleash a cacophony of chocolate and coconut upon the shores of the palate, followed by a voluminous rush of vanilla. Because one can never have too much of a good thing, this cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chefs, restauranteurs and bartenders have tinkered with this dessertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DNA, splicing a gene here and cross-breeding in a trait there to spawn a host of

mutations that claim culinary lineage to the original, but take radically different forms to slip past the defences of fresh legions of hosts. One can taste this townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tinkerings along the Nanaimo Bar Trail. Laid down by Destination Nanaimo, it plays no favourites, luring pilgrims with a list of coffee houses, bakeries and restaurants that mint the bar from recipes clinging to convention and other establishments that trampled tradition like Picasso and proudly boast of the Frankenstein-ian offspring of their work. Chelsea Barr, Destination Nanaimo spokeswoman, compiled the list of local bar minters, put their co-ordinates on a map and created the Nanaimo Bar Trail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just another activity for folks to do downtown, other ideas for people who have visitors coming in, for people coming in on the cruise ships,â&#x20AC;? Barr said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just sort of a funky thing to promote the Nanaimo Bar.â&#x20AC;? Pamphlets came out in June and are available at Tourism Nanaimo kiosks, parks, recreation and culture facilities and at businesses listed in the pamphlet.

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Survey winners .....

NIGHT LIFE

Medina Mayes, opposite page, of A Wee Cupcakery, shows off the Nanaimo Bar Cupcake, while the Pirate Chips pirate displays the deep-fried Nanaimo Bar with ice cream.

Best sports bar 1. Old City Station Pub 2. Wellington Pub 3. Piper’s Pub

Best place to dance 1. Queens Hotel 2. Level Two 3. Spice Lounge

Best place for live bands 1. The Queens Hotel 2. The Cambie Hostel 3. The Port Theatre

Best pub 1. Longwood Brew Pub 2. Wellington Pub 3. Black Bear Pub Ltd.

Best live theatre 1. The Port Theatre 2. The Bailey Studio 3. The Nanaimo Theatre Group

Chris Bush photos@nanaimobulletin.com

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Barr said a downloadable version of the pamphlet on the City of Nanaimo’s website is in the works. Another way to get started on a Nanaimo Bar pilgrimage is to make a quick visit to Tourism Nanaimo’s website at www.tourismnanaimo.com/content/nanaimo-bar, where people can chart their path to the Nanaimo Bar Cupcake at A Wee Cupcakery and the Nanaimo Bar Ice Cream Sundae at Jakecob’s Ice Cream Parlour. The health-conscious can go wheat-free and organic at one of Nanaimo’s farmer’s markets, dive headlong into a feeding frenzy with deep-fried version of the bar from Pirate Chips. Those in search of the farthest flung derivation of the bar can sip a Nanaimo Bar martini at the Modern Cafe.

Nanaimo Museum has even compiled a history of the Nanaimo Bar to go with its mouth-watering, but inedible display. A true eater with a competitive bent can consume his or her way through downtown and the Old City Quarter. Pilgrims can set off on their sojourns from any of several points downtown, but will likely want to start from the waterfront or Commercial Street so they can burn calories as they climb Fitzwilliam Street before hoofing a few kilometres out to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at the Departure Bay ferry terminal for some Nanaimo Bar Fudge. More clandestine operations are in the works. Barr said one of Nanaimo’s downtown coffee houses is cooking up a Nanaimo Bar latté recipe and a Commercial Street restaurant is working on its own top secret variation of the bar. So the next time you’re at a party trying to savour your slice of Nanaimo Bar before its melting chocolate slips through your fingers and onto your best shirt, let the flavour linger a little longer to consider how this dessert is not just bringing Nanaimo international recognition, but has become a currency to be bartered in the arena of international sports and politics. B.C. Premier Christy Clark put it on the line when the Stanley Cup final began in Vancouver, announcing the terms of a wager with Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick. Clark promised to wear a Bruins jersey after a Boston win and send Boston a selection of Nanaimo Bars and B.C smoked salmon.

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www.mrsriches.ca Best of the City 9

Youth movement

Chris Bush photos@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo has more than its share of innovative and talented citizens. Most are well-established in their fields of endeavor, but new talent is always on the rise and much of that is springing from young people born and raised here. Those young stars include the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce’s three Junior Citizen of the Year Sterling Award finalists.

so if I’m going to be involved in anything it might as well stay here,” Hrenyk said. She is also involved in Link Crew, a mentorship program for students newly arrived from various elementary schools. Link Crew leaders unite them into groups and integrate them into Wellington Secondary School through orientations and group activities. “They get to know kids from other schools instead of just staying in their elementary school cliques, so to speak,” Hrenyk said. “It’s a good program.” Global Watch is similar to student council, but focuses on charity work. “We just had our Global Watch fair,” Hrenyk said. “We run events for the

school to get students involved in activities outside of school. We meet once a week. Sometimes we have speakers in to talk about issues in our community because we have a high poverty rate, but also in the world.” Outside of basketball, her favourite activity is helping organize student council events. “Last year we did a gym riot,” she said. “When I was in Grade 8 I actually participated in it, so running it last year was really fun being on the other side of it.”

Hrenyk plans to study business administration at the University of Victoria and hopefully do an overseas co-op through the university’s international business program. “What I want to do is manage people,” Hrenyk said. “Jordyn is the get-things-done person,” said John Mandziuk, the Wellington teacher who nominated her for the Sterling Awards. “She will push herself to do more than anybody I’ve ever known and she’ll get other people to do more than they ever thought they were capable of doing.”

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ORDYN HRENYK, 18, won this year’s Junior Citizen of the Year Sterling Award and will graduate from Wellington Secondary School in June. Hrenyk is involved in Global Watch, student council, the grad committee, senior yearbook, is captain of the Wellington Wildcats senior girl’s basketball team, coaches and referees, and volunteers for charity events. Hrenyk’s competitive nature allows her to go after and get what she wants, but she has focused much of her activities within her school. “The work I’m involved in directly benefits everyone around me – people I know, people I’m close to benefit from it –

#1 Commercial Nanaimo 250-753-2447 Tuesday, June 28, 2011

ILBIR PARMAR, 17, is one of Nanaimo District Secondary School’s shining stars of 2011. Parmar graduates this year and plans to become a physician because the profession allows her a wide range of avenues to help people. Parmar is an executive on the student council, helps coach soccer and has helped organize various charity fundraisers at school. Her favourite was Help Humanity with a Splash that raised $400 by letting students toss water balloons at teachers for donations, but ultimately deteriorated into one big water fight. Parmar said she is motivated by seeing efforts of fellow students who she sees working to help better their school and community. She also finds motivation through

Sikhism, her religion, which she came to after she found its teachings aligned with her beliefs. “If everyone could come together, everything could be better,” she said. “When people start things together, that’s when they lead to bigger things and that’s when movements and changes happen to better the environment or better social causes. So, remaining involved in you community and trying to help create a difference will help better the world in some minor way or a big way.” Parmar’s biology teacher, Mary Anne van der Voort Maarschalk, describes her as a student with an interesting sense of humour and a strong moral compass. “She’s a wonderful role model for the other students and very empathetic and understanding,” said van der Voort Maarschalk.

MMA SEWARD, 18, will graduate from Woodlands Secondary School this year. Seward has been involved in the student council since Grade 9 and is copresident of this year’s student council. She is heavily involved with sports and the school’s environmental club and is a student mentor to students entering Grade 8 from elementary school. This year environmental club members created and posted graphics throughout the school to get students to save energy by turning off lights and electrical devices. They also raised awareness to environmental issues such as the Alberta tar sands. “We’re currently applying for a grant right now to get $1,000 to try and fix up the school,” Seward said. “We want to get seals for the doors, so we lose less air and stuff like that.” She also helped raise money with the student council for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which battles AIDS in Africa. Seward also took part in the Empty Bowl Project, creating pottery bowls to sell to raise money for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. “I really like planning fun things for the school to do, like the pep rallies and the dances and stuff that makes everybody else happy,” said Seward. “And then those also raise money for organizations, so two positives, I guess.” Seward has played in basketball, volleyball and soccer and competed in track and field each year since Grade 8. She plays soccer outside of school as well. Her favourite subjects are biology and English. Seward wants to attend University of

Victoria to study environmental sciences and wants to pursue a degree in architecture after that. Woodlands Secondary School principal Dave Stupich nominated Seward to the Sterling Awards. ‘She’s a leader among her peers, so she kind of hits all the spots that students of that nature should,” Stupich said. “She does well academically, yet she spends tremendous amounts of time working outside the classroom working on aspects all through the school. She’s always got a smile on her face – always positive, so she’s a good candidate.”

Thank You Again Nanaimo

From argyle leggings to zip-ups.

ST OF THE CI BE E

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2011

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

ST OF THE CI BE E

1 2011

2011

Best Massages 6 YEARS RUNNING

Country Club Centre

250-758-6822

www.brezesalonandspa.com

Thank you Nanaimo for choosing Woodgrove Centre as “the best place to shop.”

ST OF THE CI BE E

Best BEAUTY SALON 2 Years running

... because of your loyalty and support, the Breze Team has once again been voted #1. It is ALWAYS a pleasure to have you as our guest and we all look forward to seeing you soon.

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WE’VE GOT IT ALL.

Best ESTHETICIANS 4 YEARS RUNNING

woodgrovecentre.com Become a fan.

Island living. Island style.

Best of the City 11

NESVOG MEATS

THANKS FOR VOTING US #1

in Terminal Park Mall Selling BC Beef - Free Range - Grass Fed. No hormones added.

FARM FED CHICKEN!

R OK D SM

BEST PIZZA

OPEN LATE

250-753-6667

16 Victoria Crescent

www.mambogourmetpizza.com

DOWNTOWN NANAIMO

â&#x20AC;˘ F R E S H SA S IE

ALL FRESH MEAT

M J E R E AT CO K

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S BA EAT M AG E S

2011

U D A F â&#x20AC;˘ LI C C O I L C O N â&#x20AC;˘K LO A R O â&#x20AC;˘

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Special thank you to all our customers and to our staff who make our business a success. #2-1533 Estevan Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Y3 (250) 753-4248

Thank You Nanaimo... for voting us one of the best!

12 Best of the City

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ST OF THE CI BE E

VOTED #3

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Survey winners .....

SERVICE Best place to get a tattoo

Best electrical contractor

1. Black and Blue Tattoo 2. Tranceformations Tattoo & Body Piercing 3. Desire Tattoo

1. DenMar Electric Ltd. 2. Mazzei Electric 3. Houle Electric Ltd.

Best travel agency

Best financial planner

1. Around the World Travel Services Ltd. 2. Flight Centre 3. Marlin Travel

1. Wes Belloch 2. Darren Pederson 3. RBC Royal Bank

Best catering business

Best beauty salon

1. 24 Carrot Catering 2. Mrs. Riches Club Café 3. Heaven Scent Catering

1. Rich 1 Beauty Salon & School 2. Breze Salon & Day Spa 3. Regis Salon

Best estheticians

Best massages

1. Breze Salon & Day Spa 2. Evergreen Spa & Salon at Origin at Longwood 3. Rich 1 Beauty Salon & School

1. Evergreen Spa & Salon at Origin at Longwood 2. Breze Salon & Day Spa 3. Atlas Chiropractic & Body Balance

Best insurance agency

Best tanning salon

1. BCAA Insurance Agency 2. Coast Capital Insurance 3. Hub International Barton Insurance Brokers

1. Spanish Sol Tanning Studio 2. Solisa Tanning Salon 3. Coco Cabana Tanning & Esthetics

Thank you Nanaimo for choosing

Canada’s #1 weight loss company

Best auto servicing

Best bankIng institution

1. Canadian Tire 2. Budget Brake & Muffler 3. Kal Tire

1. TD Canada Trust 2. RBC Royal Bank 3. Coastal Community Credit Union

Best optical store

Best fitness centre

1. Iris Optical 2. Maycock Eyecare 3. Highview Optical

1. VI Fitness Co-Ed & For Women 2. Nanaimo Athletic Club 3. Northridge Health Performance Centre

Best marine supplier

Best roofing company

1. The Harbour Chandler 2. West Marine 3. Gone Fishin’

1. Blake Erickson Roofing 2. Done Right Roofing 3. Vanderleek Roofing Services

Best plumbing & heating 1. Marshall Plumbing Ltd. 2. Archie Johnstone Plumbing & Heating 3. Norm’s Mobile Service Ltd.

How the winners won

est of the City winners are selected by you, the readers, every spring through a survey published for two weeks in early May in the News Bulletin and online at www.nanaimobulletin. com. Votes are compiled and tabulated by our staff, with the winners notified in early June, prior to this annual publication going to press. If you’ve got a category you think should be included in next year’s survey, please let us know via e-mail to editor@nanaimobulletin.com. And if there’s a business you think deserves to be among our winners or finalists, be sure to vote in next year’s survey.

Best carpet cleaners 1. Citrus-O Carpet Care Inc. 2. Terry’s Carpet Cleaning 3. Belfor Property Restoration

Best appliance repair shop 1. Barron’s Home Appliance Centre 2. Aztec Appliances Ltd. 3. Solar Electric Repairs (1981) Ltd.

Best gas bar 1. Mid Island Co-op 2. Real Canadian Superstore 3. Chevron

THANK YOU NANAIMO For Voting Us Best Mediterranean

Elaine of Nanaimo lost 62 pounds

54 inches!

“Our Clients are the Best!” REAL FOOD | PERSONAL COACHING | NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

250-390-0677

herbalmagic.ca

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

250.716.0451

2011

Tel.

1 - 6332 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada’s #1 choice for proven weight loss

OLD CITY QUARTER 347 WESLEY STREET NANAIMO

ST OF THE CI BE E

Find us on Facebook

AND ... Thank you for all your support since we opened. We couldn’t do it without you! We look forward to seeing familiar and new faces this year and doing our best to ensure a great dining experience. TH

...and has been maintaining for more than 2 years!

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Best of the City 13

“Vancouver Island is the hub of craft breweries. We brewers are a very, very tight brotherhood and the philosophy is everybody’s got to make good beer.”

Brewed to perfection

ou probably don’t need to know how barley is augered from a silo to the milling room. You may not care about the grist-to-wort conversion, or the chemistry behind fermentation. It probably doesn’t matter, either, that it’s a tedious but important step to retain the vitamins, nutrients and minerals so when it’s served, it’s cold, crisp, clear and healthy. All you want to know is that when you’re done playing on the beach, or have finished building the fence, or just want to kick back in the hammock and listen to the ball game, the beer you crack open is going to hit the spot. Fortunately in Nanaimo, we are blessed with two craft breweries who do all the hard work so we can be refreshed with a chilled, foam-topped pint of goodness on those hot summer days. Nanaimo’s latest craft brewery, Wolf Breweries, is the new dog in town. Taking over the operations of the former Fat Cat Brewery, Corinne Findlater and Jennifer Lewis were looking for a challenge and a business they could re-invent when they purchased the company last December. With products like their Wood Cutter Dark, Golden Honey Ale, Black Tail and Red Brick, Findlater and Lewis are getting away from the goofy cartoon characters employed by their predecessor while tapping into the soul of the Island.

14 Best of the City

“By rebranding it as Wolf we wanted to make it our own because the previous brand really had nothing to do with us,” said Findlater. “We decided on Wolf because we both like the wilderness, there’s sort of a West Coast appeal. It was time for a new look and a lot of our customers have said they really like it.” While Wolf Breweries is just getting up and running, Nanaimo icon Longwood Brew Pub, complete with its more than 40 recipes of beer, has been providing its customers with the freshest, healthiest ingredients money can buy for the past 12 years. As a result its go-to products like Czech Pilsner, Longwood Ale and Weizenbock have won numerous awards, keeping customers returning time and time again to drink brew master Harley Smith’s work. What’s Longwood’s secret? “Real beer, real ale,” said Barry BARRY LADELL Ladell, Longwood’s owner. “Real ale is ale that has not been filtered, it’s a complete carbohydrate with vitamins, nutrients and minerals, and it’s healthy for your body to ingest in moderation. And it’s an accent to a flavour profile of a quality of life.” Ladell said only craft breweries can create a real ale that has not been filtered, and with beer customers becoming more educated on the products, demand has risen.

Corinne Findlater of Wolf Breweries, formerly Fat Cat Brewery, displays a few of the company’s offerings.

“We adhere to the 115 or so styles of beer that are available. So an expatriate from south England can walk in and say ‘oh my God, that’s a great extra special bitter,’ because they’ve been drinking it all their life. Our success is based on consistency and constancy.” It’s also based on all Vancouver Island craft breweries creating a good product and working together, even though they compete for market share. When Wolf ’s bottling machine broke, Findlater and Lewis made a call to Longwood’s Smith to ask for advice. “They’ve helped us a lot,” said Findlater. “It’s not what you’d think. It’s competitive so you’d think everybody would be fighting each other but everybody has been willing to help. We had a problem and Harley walked us through it and even gave us tips on cleaning procedures and products.” Ladell said working together ensures that Vancouver Island craft breweries remain the best in the country. “Vancouver Island is the hub of craft breweries,” he said. “We brewers are a very, very tight brotherhood and the philosophy is everybody’s got to make good beer. So we’re out there to support the process of making good beer because all you need is one person to make bad beer and then the general public starts to become a little wary.” Findlater said as Wolf grows it plans to become a strong corporate citizen in Nanaimo. Longwood has already accomplished that, most notably by supporting the Cops For Cancer Tour de Rock by feeding the riders as they pass through town. For the rest of us, some of the country’s best craft beers are made right here in Nanaimo and can be found just around the corner, which is worth raising a pint to. Toby Gorman reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

– Nanaimo – numerology

87,464

$4.5 million

2011 population projection based on B.C. Statistics, in Nanaimo economic development office Community Profile report of August 2010. The population estimate for the entire Regional District of Nanaimo, which extends from Cassidy north to Bowser, is estimated at 154,227.

No.

Asking price for Jesse Island, a private oasis in Departure Bay on the market since 2009. Original asking price for the 3.6-hectare island, which includes all city services except sewer, a four-bedroom, fivebathroom home complete with library and two-car garage, deep water moorage, and the island’s own small herd of goats, was $7 million.

Ranking awarded to Commercial Street in downtown Nanaimo, in the ‘Best Streets’ category of a national contest organized by the Canadian Institute of Planners. For a full story, please see page 23.

Grammy awards won by Diana Krall, the world-renowned Nanaimo-born jazz musician, who has also accumulated 10 Grammy nominations, as well as eight Juno awards and 13 nominations. Compiled by Mitch Wright, editor@nanaimobulletin.com

RICK FAGANELLO

RICK ROACH

M DE MA EB BY Y TO OY YO OTA A. CU CUST STO ST TOM OMIZED IZED IZ E BY YO OU. U

DALLAS ORR

SIMON KITCHEN

AARON ANDERSON

RICHARD CHARLEY

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETI N

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2010

INTRODUCING SCION.

ST OF THE CI BE E

Vancouver Island’s ONLY SCION DEALERSHIP!

We’ve Expanded To Serve You Better!

BEST PLACE TO BUY A USED VEHICLE

KLAUS ALAIN

DOUG McINULTY

SEAN STEWART

LOCAL

250-758-9103 www.nanaimotoyota.com MIKE LALANDE

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

SHIFFON PRINCE

KEN TAYLOR

REID HUGH

DAVE MUNDY

2555 Bowen Road, Nanaimo Best of the City 15

Survey winners ..... 1. Sport Chek 2. ReAction Sports 3. Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters

Best pet supply store

Best store for ladies wear

Best furniture store

Best store to buy books

1. Bosley’s Pet Food Plus 2. PetSmart 3. Paws N Jaws

1. Sears Canada Inc. 2. Quintessential Accessories 3. Ricki’s

1. The Brick 2. Flying Fish Kitchen & Gift 3. La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries

1. Chapters 2. Costco Wholesale 3. Coles

Best place to get tires

Best customer service

Best housewares/linen store

Best store to buy tools

1. Kal Tire 2. Cedar Tire 3. Canadian Tire

1. Wal-Mart 2. Thrifty Foods 3. Flying Fish Kitchen & Gift

1. Homesense 2. Flying Fish Kitchen & Gift 3. The Bay

1. The Home Depot Canada 2. Canadian Tire 3. Midland Tools

Best tile store

Best outdoor garden centre

Best place to buy meat

Best flower shop

1. Cornerstone Tile 2. City Tile Ltd. 3. The Home Depot Canada

1. Art Knapp Plantland 2. Long Lake Nurseries Ltd. 3. Diana’s Garden Centre & Florist

1. Pipers Meats 2. Nesvog Meats 3. Costco Wholesale

1. Turley’s Florist 2. Thrifty Foods 3. Balloons & Bears

Best second hand store

Best vitamin/health food store

Best place to buy produce

Best lingerie shop

1. Value Village 2. The Salvation Army 3. Funk Your Fashion

1. Charlie Brown’s Health Foods Ltd. 2. Island Natural Markets 3. GNC General Nutrition Centres

1. Thrifty Foods 2. Save-On-Foods 3. Quality Foods

1. La Senza 2. La Vie En Rose 3. My Undies

Best place to buy used vehicle

Best paint store

Best shoe store

Best bike shop

1. Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln 2. Galaxy Motors Ltd. 3. Bouman Motors

1. Cloverdale Paint 2. The Home Depot Canada 3. General Paint

1. Aldo Shoes Inc. 2. Shoe Warehouse 3. Sport Chek

1. Arrowsmith Bikes 2. Pacific Rim Bicycle 3. Oak Bay Bikes

Best music store

Best lighting store

Best building supplies store

Best place to buy seafood

1. HMV Canada 2. Harbour City Music 3. Music Maxx

1. McLaren Lighting 2. The Home Depot Canada 3. Canadian Tire

1. The Home Depot Canada 2. Slegg Lumber 3. Rona

1. Sea Drift Fish Market 2. Thrifty Foods 3. Costco Wholesale

NANA IMO NEWS BU LLETIN

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1 2008

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ST OF THE CI BE E

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2005

ST OF THE CI BE E

751-8238

NANA IMO NEWS BU LLETIN

6900 North Island Highway, Nanaimo

ST OF THE CI BE E

2002

Longwood Station, 5769 Turner Rd.

From Service Manager Michael Langermantel to everyone who voted us #1 ten years in a row!

1 TY

NEW MENU COMING SOON!

THANK YOU NANAIMO!

2003

Our signature sushi as a dine-in Customer Appreciation Special for the Month Of July!

ST OF THE CI BE E

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OFF

1 TY

2006

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COME AND SEE WHY WE HAVE BEEN VOTED BEST SUSHI 5 YEARS IN A ROW!

ST OF THE CI BE E

NANA IMO NEWS BU LLETIN

2007

16 Best of the City

ST OF THE CI BE E

2009

2011

VOTED BEST ASIAN FOOD 9 YEARS IN A ROW!

ST OF THE CI BE E

1 2010

BEST 1 eUsTOt SERVICE BAAUTO ASIAN FOOD ST OF THE CI BE E

1 2011

FO 10 YEARS FOR STRAIGHT!”

We appreciate your support

“PROUD TO BE #1

ST OF THE CI BE E

Thank You, Nanaimo!

ST OF THE CI BE E

Best sporting goods store

1. Wine Kitz 2. Brew Brothers 3. Art of Brewing

SHOPPING

Best wine-making store

(Dickinson Crossing)

250-390-1400

Toll Free 1-800-255-6250

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Thank you Nanaimo!

Oceanside Campground and RV Nanaimo, Vancouver Island

...Today’s Parent Magazine calls it one of the 25 best campgrounds in Canada and one of the 2 best campgrounds in B.C.!

ST OF THE CI BE E

300 beautiful sites on 53 natural waterfront acres...

1 2011

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

Where camping includes this WiFi gourmet coffee deck Go ahead- pamper yourself... ...the only thing we overlook is the waterfront!

Best o Best off tthe he C City ity S Since ince 2 2002 002 13 Locations to Serve You! NANAIMO: WOODGROVE CROSSING - BOWEN ROAD - BROOKS LANDING VICTORIA CRESCENT - CRANBERRY AVENUE - HAREWOOD - HAMMOND BAY CONVENIENCE STORE PARKSVILLE - DOWNTOWN PARKSVILLE - WHISKEY CREEK LADYSMITH - SALT SPRING ISLAND - GABRIOLA

LivingForest.com 250.755.1755 Turn at the new Rona at Maki Road and follow ½ km to our gate

T hank You Nanaimo for your Votes! Here’s what our

Birthday Party customers are saying:

Want a great social activity for your organization or staff? Give bowling a try! We can offer “Bingo Bowling,” and “Fun Games.” 5 Pin Bowling is a great family recreation. Our regular (weekly) bowlers range from 6 years to 95 years.

~ “Our hostess was fantastic!! Made it so wonderful and easy! Thank You.” - E.W. ~ “The service was excellent. Thank You, thank you, thank you.” - J.W. ~ “It was awesome - host was great with kids. We had to do nothing!” - M.B. ~ “The party was excellent! We appreciated how organized it was - the attention to the small details were so thoughtful!” - S.A. ~ “Our host was amazing! Great party! Fun was had by all.” - S.M. ~ “This was a great experience, very relaxing. I’m surprised to not have to do anything. We will be back in the future!” - K.G.

Kids Bowl Free!

We have be en helping N anaimo have FUN s in c e 1956! Brechin Lane s would like to than Nanaimo by offering kids k 2 GAMES F everyday of th REE e Summer! Parents go to www.kidsb owlfree.co m /b rechinlane to sign up s their kids, then from June 1 - Se pt 4, kids u age 15 can p to bowl 2 gam es PER DA for free - ju Y st pay for s hoe rental.

BRECHIN LANES 1870 70 E. Wellington Rd.

250-753-2341 www.brechinlanes.ca

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Best of the City 17

Survey winners ..... 1. Peoples Jewellers 2. Bastion Jewellers 3. Ben Moss Jewellers 3. Paris Jewellers

RECREATION KIDS

Best floor covering store

Best people-watching spot

Best jewellery store

1. The Home Depot Canada 2. Cornerstone Tile 3. End of the Roll Carpet & Vinyl Discount Centres

1. Harbourfront Walkway 2. Swy-a-lana Lagoon 3. Woodgrove Centre

Best place to watch birds 1. Buttertubs Marsh 2. Morrell Sanctuary 3. Neck Point

Best art gallery 1. Nanaimo Art Gallery 2. Gallery 223 3. Artfitterz 3. Yellow Bird Arts Gallery

Best place to walk your dog

Best store for men’s wear 1. Sears Canada 2. Moore’s Clothing For Men 3. Lucid Records & Clothing

1. Westwood Lake 2. Harbourfront Walkway 3. Neck Point

Best romantic parking spot

Best sewing/notions store 1. Fabricland 2. Snip & Stitch Sewing Centre 3. Serge n Sew

Best place to shop 1. Woodgrove Centre 2. Downtown 3. Costco Wholesale

1. Departure Bay 2. Pipers Lagoon 3. Westwood Lake

Best place for kayaking 1. Newscastle Island 2. Long Lake 3. Westwood Lake

Best place for a picnic 1. Newcastle Island 2. Pipers Lagoon 3. Neck Point

Best place to swim outdoors 1. Westwood Lake 2. Nanaimo River 3. Long Lake

Best place to walk, jog or hike 1. Westwood Lake 2. Harbourfront Walkway 3. Neck Point

Best place to meet for coffee 1. Starbucks Coffee Co. 2. The Buzz Coffee House 3. Tim Hortons

Best place to mountain bike 1. Mount Benson 2. Doumont Road 3. Westwood Lake

Best daycare centre 1. Katie’s Korner Child Care Centre 2. Nanaimo Early Learning Centre 3. Boys n Girls Club Nanaimo (BGCCVI)

Best kids’ restaurant 1. Ricky’s All Day Grill 2. Mrs. Riches Club Café 3. Montana’s Cookhouse

Best toy store 1. Toys “R” Us 2. Kool & Child 3. Wal-Mart

Best kids clothing store 1. The Gap Kids 2. Children’s Place 3. Pumpkin Pie Kids Wear

Best place for birthday parties 1. Jumping Jiminy’s 2. Cyber City Adventures 3. Brechin Lanes

Best local campground

Best playground

1. Living Forest Oceanside Campground 2. Brannen Lake Campsites 3. Nanaimo Lakes Campground

1. Beban Park 2. Oliver Woods Community Centre 3. Swy-a-lana Lagoon

Thank You! Nellie’s Dutch Deli

wants to thank all of our customers who voted for us in “Best of the City”.

Thank You Nanaimo!

ST OF THE CI BE E

Survey winners .....

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

2011

Left to right: Lisa holding a Meat & Cheese Platter; Marnie showing the Savory Pies; Karen holding a Dessert Platter.

Best Deli 2 Years Running

Let us do your Lunch Catering • Homemade Sandwiches, Soups, Dessert & Salad • Dutch, Danish & German Cheese

• Largest Selection of Licorice in Town • Gourmet Pies • Deli Meats

BEST DAYCARE

We the owners Leeann & William Billman would like to thank all our families and supporters for voting us “BEST DAYCARE IN NANAIMO” two years running. Also a big thank-you to all of our present and past amazing staff who develop programs, love and teach your children each day. Visit our website at www.KatieskornerChildcare.com and Facebook Page.

2249 Northﬁeld Center 3 months - 6 years, Prep for French Immersion

617 Millstone Ave Center

Nellie’s Deli Store Hours: Monday to Friday 9-5:30 • Saturday 10-5 #500-2980 Island Hwy., Nanaimo, B.C.

(250) 729-7044 ROCK CITY CENTRE (behind Earl’s) 18 Best of the City

250-585-1289 250-754-1289

30 months - 6 years

840 Townsite IT Center

250-754-1282

3 months - 36 months

510 Millstone Ave

250-714-4555

Brechin Elementary, After-School program Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Best of the City 19

L E U F T S THE MO T CROSSOVER EFFICIEN CANADA. AWD IN

7 People Come Standard With Every Vehicle Purchase • Sales • Service • Parts • Clean-up • Customer Loyalty Program “Coffee is always on!” 4100 Wellington Road • Nanaimo, BC

250.756.7766 1-888-400-7766

Best of the City

Best Massages

2 2011

2011

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

Thank you Nanaimo for voting us as

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETIN

ST OF THE CI BE E

www.nanaimosuzuki.com

Best Estheticians

Evergreen Spa & Salon

250-751-7755 or email appointments@evergreenspa.ca www.evergreenspa.ca

Longwood Station

Brannen Lake

fo rd Ro ad

Turner Road

Hammond Bay Road

Ru th er

To book an appointment call

Woodgrove Centre

Uplands Drive orth yN Hw nd Isla rive Metral D

at Origin at Longwood 6205 Oliver Road (at Uplands)

Nanaimo Parkway

O TO PE PU T N BL HE IC !

Nanaimo’s Best Full-Service Spa

oad er R Oliv

Upla nds Driv e Nanaimo North Town Centre

Long Lake

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE 20 Best of the City

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORTTM

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O M I NA w!

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Street appeal Nanaimo was originally known as the Hub City for its street design resembling the spokes of a wheel. Streets including Fitzwilliam, Albert, Franklyn, Campbell, Wentworth and Victoria Crescent ran out from the centre of the city, attached, if not physically but in spirit, to the axle of the downtown – Commercial Street.

ince the discovery of coal in 1852, the completion of the Bastion, and the renaming of the city from its original Colvile Town moniker, Commercial Street has played a prominent role in Nanaimo’s history. Described as the spine or heart of the city, it was – as the name suggests – the commercial centre of Nanaimo, with hotels, bars, theatres, stores and industry dotting the landscape. Commercial Street has not only evolved over the years, but survived everything from fires to tough times in the 1990s when businesses couldn’t get out of downtown fast enough. Rich in heritage, yet revitalized in the face of suburban development, Commercial Street placed first in the Great

Streets category in a national contest hosted by the Canadian Institute of Planners. Required criteria for each street nominated included memorable or unique character, promotion of social and economic activities, employing of visually interesting architecture, accessibility by different modes of transportation, and reflection of culture, history and landscape. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan said the honour can be

attributed to years of revitalization and co-operation between the city and business owners downtown to breathe life back into Commercial Street. “As we revitalize downtown to make it livable and more attractive for people to come back, both business and shoppers, this speaks to the fact we’re obviously going in the right direction,” he said. Continued on 24

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“An older gentleman once described Commercial Street to me as just a little street where old friends meet.”

went to the butcher, you wanted flowers, you went to the florist. There was no one store than sold everything. That’s why everybody got to know everyone else.” Retired in 1993, Hirst saw the decaying of downtown, saying it started when the two big anchor stores – Eatons and Fletcher’s – left. “It got to a point people were nervous about coming down there. There were some pretty scary characters about,” he said. “But, it’s improved, and I can see it evolving into a people-street, a boutique-style block.” Hirst’s prediction is not far off as the city and Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association continue to work hard to revitalize not only Commercial Street, but the entire downtown.

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here was a time in Nanaimo’s history that all directions led to downtown and Commercial Street. Whether it was for business or social aspects, Commercial Street was the place to be. “An older gentleman once described Commercial Street to me as just a little street where old friends meet,” said Glenn Hirst, 88, who grew up in Nanaimo and spent 43 years working at Fletcher’s at 22 Commercial St. “I started working after school in 1938 and everybody would come downtown. They wouldn’t necessarily be buying, but would come to meet everyone.”

Commercial Street was the place to shop, to attend dances or watch parades. “You have to remember there was only about 7,000 people then,” said Hirst. “It was mostly miners in town at that time and they came from little villages in England that had the same type of situation – a small commercial area where everybody would go.” Commercial Street was also the place where all the kids went for jobs when they got out of school. “It was a very viable, busy little place. All the merchants were extremely co-operative with each other,” said Hirst. “The people in Nanaimo knew everybody and shopped the local stores down there. And if you wanted bread, you went to the bakery, you wanted meat, you

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Heritage central

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Commercial Street’s success. “It’s the passion of the property owners and the businesses down here. That’s the heart of it,” she said. “You could stop in any business along Commercial Street and they have a huge passion for the success of this area.” Hostetter said even the design of the street leads to its success. “One of the things that makes it so special is it is a walkable street,” she said. “Standing at the Coast Realty building and looking down the street, or standing at the bottom of Commercial Street and looking up, it just feels like a place you want to wander.” Chris Hamlyn news@nanaimobulletin.com

The east side of the street was changed forever in the mid-2000s with the construction of the Port of Nanaimo Centre, including the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, but steps were made to make sure the building fit in with the look and feel of downtown. Shari Molchan, DNBIA president, said Commercial Street winning the Great Streets contest can only help the revitalization. “When you say downtown, the first thing people think of is Commercial Street. It’s the hub of Nanaimo,” she said. “People come down here, see all the places to eat, the things to do and they are floored.” A lot like the merchant co-operation of years gone by, Corry Hostetter, DNBIA general manager, said it’s the business people of today who are the secret behind

Nanaimo’s Commercial Street is home to the highest concentration of the city’s heritage and historical buildings. They include: ◆ JEAN BURNS BUILDING, 6 Commercial St. Built in 1955, it is a good example of international-style architecture. ◆ NASH HARDWARE, 19 Commercial St. Built in 1909, the building received an Art Deco-style facelift in 1945. ◆ CALDWELL BLOCK, 35 Commercial St. Built in 1908, the building, despite alterations, maintains its character and reinforces the Edwardian-era appearance of the west side of Commercial Street. ◆ HALL BLOCK, 37-45 Commercial St. Built in 1925, the block is a simple, symmetrical and well-proportioned example of an inter-war period building. ◆ ROGERS BLOCK, 83-87 Commercial St. Built in 1913, the block is a good example of a vernacular Edwardian-era commercial building. ◆ HIRST BLOCK (later Dakin Block, 93-99 Commercial St. Built in 1911, the block is a superior example of the Edwardian-era commercial building style in Nanaimo. ◆ ASHLAR LODGE MASONIC TEMPLE, 101 Commercial St. Built in 1923, the building is an excellent example of the Classical Period Revival architectural style. ◆ GUSOLA BLOCK, 120 Commercial St. Built in 1937, the building clearly exhibits a late Art Deco-style influence. ◆ PARKIN BLOCK, 143-155 Commercial St. Built in 1922, the block is a good example of the type of vernacular commercial building built in Nanaimo after the First World War. ◆ A.R. JOHNSTON & CO. GROCERS, 172-174 Commercial St. Built in 1898, the block is one of the few pre-1900 buildings still standing in Nanaimo. ◆ MODERN CAFÉ, 221 Commercial St. Built in 1910 in the Classical Period Revival style, the Modern was significantly altered in the 1950s. ◆ FREE PRESS BUILDING, 223 Commercial St. Originally built in 1853 in a Victoria Italianate style, the building was significantly altered in 1956 as a result of an earlier fire. Source: City of Nanaimo community heritage register

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Nanaimo North Town Centre 250-756-4111 Best of the City 25

– Nanaimo – numerology

Person actually finished and cleaned the plate of the sixpound ‘Mountain Burger’ (a one-pound patty with bacon, egg, cheese, half a head of lettuce, onions, pickles and a whole tomato) at Mrs. Riches Club Café since it was introduced in the late 1980s. Last year the restaurant added a second generation to the collosal menu attraction, the 10-pound K2 Mountain Burger (pictured).

588

Hectares of parkland in Nanaimo, including 100 kilometres of trails, 65 playgrounds and 22 sports fields.

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Commercial & Residential

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• Refrigeration • Heating & Air Conditioning • Heat Pumps • Plumbing • Sheet Metal

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“Best of the City Award Winner Since 2006”

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Compiled by Mitch Wright, editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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Different mayors the city has had since Mark Bate first held the office in 1875. Frank Ney occupied city hall’s top job the longest, from 1968-84, and ’86-’90.

24/7 Emergency Service Available

2006

Individuals or teams have been inducted into the Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame, housed at the Nanaimo Museum, since it began recognizing sporting achievements in 2008.

Stops on the new Nanaimo Bar Trail, which features different variations on the iconic treat. For more on the trail, please see page 8.

Chickens or ducks permitted on one-acre (0.4 hectares) properties, under a recently revised City of Nanaimo bylaw. Four birds are allowed on properties less than 450 square metres. Roosters are not permitted under the bylaw.

Parksville

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26 Best of the City

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Clean living

Nancy MacKin expected to learn a few things along the way during the construction of her family’s LEED platinum certified home on Protection Island. Finding the answer to ‘How many doors can you fit into a Toyota Prius?’ ended up being one of them.

hen you go to the greatest lengths possible to build a home with the least amount of impact on the landscape and environment, one is bound to have a few adventures. “Most people answer two doors is the most, but I got seven doors in there. There was barely room for me to sit in the driver’s seat but I did it,” said MacKin. Finding seven reclaimed but stylish interior doors (at $20 apiece) was just the tip of the iceberg for the project, but MacKin, an architect and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional, wanted to build a cozy family house with the least amount of impact on the environment as she could. “I was inspired by the idea of building something that was completely ecological and used as few new materials as possible,” said MacKin. “My son was also part of the inspiration. He is in fisheries and aquaculture at [Vancouver Island University] and he’s also interested in the environment, so the house sort of symbolizes that commitment to the future.”

nothing wrong with good record keeping so I don’t regret the time spent,” said MacKin. The 1,190 square-foot house was inspired by First Nations design with a monoslope roof and simple box-like structure. Inside, the house features three bedrooms and three bathrooms – comfortable enough for MacKin, her husband, son and parents to live in when they’re all on Protection. To coincide with Protection Island’s heritage, the house also has a nautical flavour that includes compact forms and spaces, a sail-like canopy over the entrance and re-used ship parts like portholes used for mirrors. The house was completed in November and took six months to build. Virtually every part of the house has been reclaimed. Along with the doors, the floors and all of the finishings have been reused, and inside the walls is insulation rated at R30, well above current code. MacKin said many of the items were found at local demolition sales and in some cases were pulled right out of the original structure. “We sort of cobbled it all together from things we could find but the end result is really great,” she said. The house uses a hybrid hot water tank which uses heat from its surroundings to heat the water, and the house itself is heated by a heat pump in conjunction with innovative radiant heating panels. The water system features a grey water reclamation

“We wanted to build a house that represents the way we think about the environment, which is that it needs to be looked after.” LEED platinum is the highest attainable certification for the internationally recognized standard, and there are only a handful of homes that meet it in British Columbia. To obtain platinum, virtually every aspect of the design, systems and structure must be as ecologically friendly as possible, and exact records must be kept to submit to the LEED committee. “There is an amazing amount of record keeping required, everything needs to be documented. But there is

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

system that captures used water from the kitchen and shower and sends it as black water to the toilets before it is flushed away. Toxic glue and paint was avoided to make the air inside the house as clean and fresh as possible while reducing stress on the environment. As efficient as it is on the inside, there are also efficiencies on the exterior. MacKin said she was very careful to leave as much of the indigenous landscaping as possible untouched, including rare trillium and western yew vegetation. Native and established plants require less watering, but when watering is required it comes from a rainwater tank. “We wanted to build a house that represents the way we think about the environment, which is that it needs to be looked after,” said MacKin. “And everything that we do contributes to that, even if it’s using less water on a household level it still helps the environment in the long run.” To obtain a LEED platinum level, a building needs to score at least 80 points out of 100 on elements such as water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, improved indoor and outdoor environment quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Toby Gorman reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com Photo courtesy Yellow Camera Photography

Best of the City 27

Summer is for fun

... and Nanaimo knows how to make it happen

Nanaimoites know how to party. The summer months are filled with festivals and events supporting charities, celebrating the diverse arts scene, honouring the city’s history or just some downright silly fun for a good cause.

anaimo Mayor John Ruttan said the events showcase the cultural richness of the community and its spirit of giving. The numerous summer events in the Harbour City also attract tourists and heighten the profile of the city. “It adds a local flavour and that’s very important,” he said. “It adds colour and character to the community.” Events such as the Silly Boat Regatta, the main fundraiser for the Child Development Centre; the Saveon-Foods Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival, which raises money for cancer; and Nanaimo Marine Festival and the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race, which recognizes Nanaimo’s marine history and features tubbers from around the world, fill the summer months with fun and entertainment. In July, boaters armed with duct tape, ingenuity and enthusiasm brave the waters off Maffeo Sutton Park in

questionable vessels. Some sink a few metres from shore, others spring leaks and a select few sail to victory. The regatta encourages people to dress in zany costumes, construct vessels for races in heats and raises money for the CDC. Dino Tsembelis, CDC resource development coordinator, said the regatta is a community event unique

to Nanaimo. It includes music, performances and free family activities Tsembelis said all the summer festivals, including the regatta, bring more tourism and business to Nanaimo. Canada Day is celebrated across the nation and dragon boat festivals are held across the province but there’s only one Silly Boat Regatta, said Tsembelis.

We are honoured to have been voted one of the Best Banking and Financial Plannin ng Institutions in Nanaimo for the fourth year in a row.

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We applaud our eemployees and thank you for recognizing their commitment to providing “Advice you can Bank on.”

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Summer events July 8-10 Save-On-Foods Dragon Boat Festival July 17 Silly Boat Regatta July 21-24 Great International World Championship Bathtub Race and Nanaimo Marine Festival Aug. 19-21 Vancouver Island Exhibition Aug. 26-28 Summertime Blues Festival

On the other end of the boating spectrum the vessels in the Great International Championship Bathtub Race are sleek and fast. Thanks to the race, Nanaimo is known as the bathtubbing capital of world and hosts participants from across the globe. The event has grown over the years from a motley crew of racers in constructed crafts to regulated racers with motor-class restrictions. The festivities include the Sail Past on Wheel Fun Parade and Nanaimo Marine Festival, which features entertainment and family activities. The annual fireworks display draws crowds to Maffeo Sutton Park to watch the orchestra of light reflect in the harbour waters. The Save-On-Foods Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival attracts participants from across North America for a weekend of

competition and celebration to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer. The event is held in Maffeo Sutton Park and organized by the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival Society, which donates proceeds to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation to purchase or improve equipment or the diagnostic treatment process for breast cancer patients. Ruttan said the numerous festivals in Nanaimo wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of countless volunteers. “I encourage every Nanaimo resident to get out there and find out what is going on in the city,” said Ruttan. Rachel Stern reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

Nanaimo’s party goes beyond summer Nanaimo’s festivals aren’t confined to the summer months – the city is alive with celebrations all year long. The year kicks off with sweetness as people enjoy toffee on snow during the Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable. People can listen to French-Canadian music, participate in cultural activities and taste traditional FrenchCanadian fare. On the May long weekend, people line the streets to watch the Empire Days parade. The weekend begins each year with the annual crowning of the May Queen and ends with a brilliant fireworks display over the harbour. In August, fair rides, barn animals and family events fill the Vancouver Island Exhibition fairgrounds at Beban Park annually for the organization’s country fair. As the year moves into the fall the Pumpkin Festival draws a crowd every October. Children enjoy scooping the guts out of pumpkins and trying to create an award winning jack-o’-lantern. Also each fall, food connoisseurs get a mouthful of scrumptious eats during the Bite of Nanaimo Festival, which features local cuisine. The year ends with the Festival of Trees, hosted by Vancouver Island University, featuring decorated trees, wreaths and other holiday decorations that are auctioned off to raise money for student scholarships, bursaries and awards. For more information on events in Nanaimo, please contact Tourism Nanaimo at 250-756-0106 or go to www.tourismnanaimo. com.

Come enjoy your Summer Days and Summer Nights on ST OF THE CI BE E

Earls Patio

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for voting us one of the

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“What amazes me is it’s this wilderness park just on the edge of the city. It’s just an amazingly beautiful place.”

Rob Kolompar and his wife Jane, left, are the full-time caretakers of Neck Point Park, while Carl Evans and Lois Brammer, below, look after Westwood Lake Park.

Put it in pARK Caretakers know all parks’ secrets

Forget the corner office. There are no better workplaces in Nanaimo than Westwood Lake Park and Neck Point Park.

arl Evans and Lois Brammer at Westwood and Rob Kolompar at Neck Point are full-time, live-in park caretakers for the City of Nanaimo’s parks, recreation and culture department. The two wilderness parks are, probably, tied for Best of the City, and it’s where Evans, Brammer and Kolompar get to spend almost all their time. Kolompar loves the ocean views from Neck Point and Keel Cove, and he also likes to spend time on the walkway by the old boathouse. “It’s just marvellous,” he said. “It’s very beautiful.” He’s been living at Neck Point for seven years – he used to be caretaker of the 1.3-hectare parcel of private land that the city purchased in 2009 to expand the park. “That’s when the city asked if I wanted to continue doing what I was doing, but on a bigger basis. I said sure, I’d love it.” By now, he must know more of the park’s secrets than anyone. Volunteers come and clean the trails, he said, so his duties involve opening and closing the gates, keeping the washroom supplies stocked up, and generally keeping an eye on things. When he talked to the Bulletin earlier this spring, for example, he was waiting for someone to come attend to a dead sea lion that had washed up on the beach. Most of the wildlife is more pleasant to look at – there are eagles, hummingbirds, deer and otters that call the park home, and orcas that like to visit. The seas surrounding the point are filled with salmon, as anglers well know. Others come to Neck Point to enjoy the vistas, walk or jog on the trail network, or take advantage of the four distinct beaches. In the summer, said Kolompar, there are weddings almost every weekend. “I enjoy my work. It’s quite nice, the people are all really nice that come here; we don’t really have much for vandalism or anything like that,” he said. “I think this is one of the 30 Best of the City

nicest places that we have in Nanaimo.” Westwood Lake is another, to be sure. Evans enjoys walking up the bluffs overlooking the lake, while Brammer likes to head down to the fishing dock. “I go out there in the early mornings when nobody’s around and be by myself with the fish,” she said. “I really love that.” When the caretakers open the gates at six o’clock, there

are usually a few cars waiting. Most often there is a fisherman and some joggers in the queue at that time of day. As the sun gets higher in the sky, Nanaimoites might come to picnic, swim, or get out on the trail loop. Brammer said earlier this spring she took a cell phone photo for a father and his young son who had reeled in a keeper-sized trout and were pretty happy about it. “His son had just caught his first fish; it was such a great family-oriented experience,” she said. Evans and Brammer, who are married, just started the job in April. They are longtime “friends of the park,” Brammer said, who were delighted to be chosen as the new caretakers. They are responsible for the beach area, parking lots and washrooms, and the parks board handles upkeep of the trails. They might have been selected because of their experience – 30 years ago, they lived in Vancouver’s Stanley Park where Brammer operated concession stands. “This is a very different park, obviously,” said Evans. “What amazes me is it’s this wilderness park just on the edge of the city. It’s just an amazingly beautiful place.” It’s a rainforest just 10 minutes from downtown, Brammer said. “In the rain, the rain doesn’t come right down to you because of the boughs of the trees, and in the hot sun, it doesn’t get you. It’s just really, really beautiful. It’s like a cathedral.” Greg Sakaki sports@nanaimobulletin.com

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Best of the City 31

Some familiar faces of

Best

George Mavrikos Milano’s Ristoranté Best Pasta

Terry Marshall Marshall Plumbing Ltd Best Plumbing & Heating Contractor

Barry Ladell Longwood Brew Pub Best Pub and Best Sunday Brunch

Graham Higgins The Brick Best Furniture Store

Michael Langermantel Canadian Tire Best Auto Service

Larry Lim Blue Ginger Best Asian Food & Best Sushi

Judi Ducommun Evergreen Spa & Salon at Origin at Longwood Best Massages

Deborah Soderstrom manager Cloverdale Paint Inc. Best Paint Store

Brian Adam - Owner Ricky’s All Day Grill Best Kids Restaurant, Best Breakfasts

Donna Brown - Manager Fabricland Best Sewing/Notions Store

Merv Piper - Owner Pipers Meats Best Place to Buy Meat

Thomas Gemma - Manage Sears Best Store for Ladies’ Wear & Men’s Wear

of the

City

Thomas Jaeger - Owner Nanaimo Bakery & Confectionary Ltd. Best Pies, Best Bakery

Alex Teare and Melissa Hamilton 24 Carrot Catering Best Catering

Ann Marie Eddrup Steve Marshall Ford Best Place to buy a Used Car

Mary Anne Molcan Manager, Optician Iris Best Optical Store

Sharon Vander Putten Manager Peoples Jewellers Best Jewellery Store

Mark Fenwick Woodgrove Centre Best Place to Shop

Jamie Leckenby - Manager Toys R Us Best Toy Store

Sharon Bennett - Manager Home Sense Best Housewares & Linen Store

Craig Finnigan Owner, Manager McLaren Lighting Best Lighting Store

Zeni Maartman Sales Centre Asst. Mgr. BCAA Best Insurance Agency

Bruce Halliday General Manager The Port Theatre Best Live Theatre

Lisa Salewski & A’liza Spencer Sport Chek Best Sporting Goods Store

Erin McAuley - Manager La Senza Best Lingerie Store

Rick Bayko and Chris Turnbull DenMar Electric Best Electrical Contractor

Janet Edwards General Manager Chapters Best Book Store

Russell Crowe Manager HMV Best Music Store

Danielle Cossey Manager ALDO Best Shoe Store

Lynne Barclay & Kevin Young - Owners Wine Kitz Best Wine Making

Jennifer Moyou General Manager White Spot - North Nanaimo Best Family Restaurant

Erin Robinson Bosley’s Pet Food Plus Best Pet Supply Store

Ken Baird - Manager Walmart Best in Customer Service

Nick Brandstaetter General Manager White Spot - Terminal Ave. Best Family Restaurant

Dan Zapotichny Thrifty Foods Best Deli

Delaine Rangno - Owner Spanish Sol Best Tanning Salon

Hollis Connelly - Manager Wendy’s Best Fast Food

Keith Barron - Owner Barrons Home Appliance Centre Best Appliance Repair

Julie Shannon - Owner Breze Best Estheticians

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Joe Trivett - Manager Dairy Queen Best Desserts

Ravi Dhaliwal - Manager Kal Tire Best Place to Get Tires

Susan Urban Mid Island Co-op Best Gas Bar

Frank Vassilopoulos Owner Zougla Best Romantic Restaurant

Tim & Pat Van Hest Art Knapp Plantland Best Outdoor Garden Centre

Jerry Jaggers Thrifty Foods Best Place to Buy Produce

Dave Lee - Manager Cornerstone Tile Best Tile Store

Clinton King - Manager Earls Best Patio Restaurant

Scott Littlejohn - Marketing co-ordinator Living Forest Campsite Best Place to Camp

Angela Negrin - Owner Pirate Chips Best French Fries and Fish & Chips

Bob Wilson Branch Manager TD Canada Trust Best Banking Institution

Marianne Turley Turley’s Florist Best Flower Shop

Ilan Goldenblatt - Owner Thirsty Camel Best Vegetarian Food

Maria Roumanos, Nathan Philip & Damien McCrossin Asteras Restaurant Best Mediteranean

Tracy Forsythe - Manager & Diana Pearson Delicados Best Lunches

Sharon Logan - Manager Iris Optical Best Optical

Paige Foster - Owner Jumping Jiminy’s Best Place for Birthday Parties

Jaclynn Gereluk General Manager GAP Kids Best Kids Clothing Store

Ed Poli - Manager Nanaimo Art Gallery Best Art Gallery

oan Seefried - Asst. Manager The Home Depot est in Home Building, Floor Covering, Tools.

Fresh city Logan White - Manager Charlie Brown’s Best Health Food Store

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Mel Langeler Value Village Best Place to Buy 2nd Hand Clothes

Leeann & Billy Billman Katie’s Korner Best Daycare

Nanaimo has an abundance of opportunities to get fresh, locally grown products at several different farmer’s markets, and more community gardens sprouting up thanks to the Young Professionals of Nanaimo. For more information and food links, go to the Vancouver Island Food Network’s website at www.vifood.info.

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emnants remain in places like Morden Mine – the most complete head frame and tipple on the Island – and in the unmarked mine shafts still open to the old tunnels. Bruce Fairbrother spent his working life in the mines across B.C. and Alberta and since moving to Nanaimo has been involved in closing old mine shafts with Ed Taje, regional director of mining operations in Victoria. “There’s quite a few openings around Nanaimo that they have to close,” Fairbrother said. Old mine shafts can be quite dangerous, with lack of oxygen and toxic gasses like methane and carbon monoxide often present. No one should attempt to enter a mineshaft unless qualified with the proper equipment. “That’s a big, big no,” said Fairbrother. “People don’t realize it.”

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It’s been almost 60 years since coal was king, but the remnants of Nanaimo’s mining era remain today. Mines stretched underground from downtown Nanaimo to Newcastle Island. Miners honeycombed the ground beneath Wellington and Extension and dug up the earth in South Wellington. It was often deadly work and hundreds of miners gave their lives to stoke the fires of economy and industry in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Bruce Fairbrother, left, a retired fire boss, and Ed Taje, coast area senior inspector of mines and underground coal specialist, are closing up old mine shafts in and around Nanaimo.

Heading into a mine shaft, Fairbrother is constantly testing the air for gas and carries a safety lamp which measures oxygen deficiency. “When I say get the hell out of here, you do it very fast,” he said. Fairbrother started mining at age 18 and worked underground in the Crowsnest Pass in Alberta and Campbell River. “The underground, I just loved it,” he said. Nanaimo’s underground coal mines closed before Fairbrother was old enough to work in them, but stories remain of workers descending to depths in steel cages. In 1918, 16 miners died when the cable snapped on their cage, which plummeted 150 feet to the mine shaft floor.

Miner Robert MacArthur’s pocket watch, which stopped at the exact time of the accident, was recovered and is now on display at the Nanaimo Museum. The underground mines usually had a gradual slope for miners to walk to depth or a vehicle of some sort to take them to the work site, Fairbrother said. Working several metres underground never bothered him, he said. “Nothing like that ever affected me,” Fairbrother said. Fairbrother worked his way up to fire boss, which was the shift supervisor. Back in the day, it was the supervisor’s job to set off explosive charges, hence the name fire boss. Although no blame was placed on anyone in particular, the worst explosion in Nanaimo’s history was attributed

to a poorly prepared and planted charge that ignited gases in the Esplanade No. 1 Mine, near the bottom of Milton Street. The blast killed 148 men in 1877. “Most of those accidents are man-made,” Fairbrother said. “They happen when you take shortcuts.” Nanaimo blues musician David Gogo wrote the song She’s Breakin’ Through about the 1915 South Wellington mine accident that claimed the life of his great grandfather and 18 other men. The miners, using maps from different companies and not to scale, punched through into a flooded mine, sending torrents of water into their mine and drowning the miners trapped underground. Although modern mining is much safer, Fairbrother saw his share of accidents, from roof collapses to explosions. “I lost people underground,” he said. Coal mines are opening again on Vancouver Island, but it’s unlikely the Nanaimo mines will see renewed life as they produce a different type of coal than what is used today. Nanaimo coal was used for burning in steam engines, while today coal is used in steel fabrication. Only a few underground coal mines still operate in Canada as most companies moved to open-pit style of coal extraction. Each year, the provincial government closes more open mine shafts in Nanaimo. Fairbrother and Taje were last at work in February closing openings on Spruston Road. “There were about four openings that we had to close up there,” Fairbrother said. For more information on Nanaimo’s coal mining history, please visit the Nanaimo Museum, where a replica coal mine exhibit contains information on the mines, the workers and the labour disputes that shaped the city’s history. Melissa Fryer arts@nanaimobulletin.com

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Artists pushing their boundaries Nanaimo’s arts scene is a diverse tapestry of styles and influences from the traditional to the edgy. There’s a reason Nanaimo was chosen as a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2008, one of only four Canadian cities. Every day new artists are emerging in the community and making their mark on the art world.

n the last few years burlesque dancers, fire spinners, tattoo artists, body painters and others have been forging new roads in the community and sharing their inspirations, vision or message with the public. For burlesque dancer Sarah Dickinson, a.k.a. Luscious Lottabottom, with the Naughty and Spice Burlesque Troupe, the transformation from a traditional arts scene to a diverse one is a sign Nanaimo is becoming a younger city. “Nanaimo has been a very traditional city for a long time. In the last five to 10 years the more alternative art forms have come down from Victoria and Vancouver,” said Dickinson. “It’s exciting to see because not everybody

burlesque is stripping, but that’s not what’s it’s about. There are tease and reveal moments, but there is always a story behind it that goes with the routine. “No. 1, burlesque is about loving who you are and the body you are in and allowing other people to love you the way you are, not 10 pounds from now or two babies ago,” said Dickinson. She said it sends a message that people are beautiful and sexy in all shapes and sizes. Shocking the audience is high on a burlesque performer’s list, especially at the end of a routine. “People need to come out and see it. It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s not your average, everyday entertainment and I would encourage everybody in Nanaimo to check out all the different art forms because it opens your eyes to a whole other world and whole other kind of creativity.”

ST OF THE CI BE E

T hank you Nanaimo!

is necessarily interested in classical music or sculptors or paintings.” Her canvas is the stage. And the burlesque world is growing in Nanaimo with troupes forming and independent burlesque dancers making the city their home and performance destination. Dickinson’s inspiration for her performances comes from three role models Bette Midler, Queen Latifah and Lady Monster – another burlesque performer. “They’re my big heroes,” she said, adding she loves their confidence and pride in being plus-sized women. Dickinson said burlesque is an art form that traditionally has dancing skits but encompasses other forms as well. It includes comedy, circus skills, satire, fire spinning, acrobatics and the classic burlesque staple of tease and reveal. She said some people have preconceived notions that

NA NEWS BNAIMO ULLETI N

2011

“I like that I don’t get treated like a customer, I’m treated like family!”

“We love that the staff greet us by name and with a ssmile everytime we come in.”

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“People need to come out and see it. It’s a lot of fun. It’s not your average, everyday entertainment.It opens your eyes to a whole other world and whole other kind of creativity. For renowned tattoo artist Steve Moore, the canvas of flesh brings a fulfilling, personal side to his artwork. His passion for drawing started as a child. He doesn’t remember when it began – it was just something that was always part of his life. He tried his hands at other mediums but the challenge of creating art on human skin drew him to become a tattoo artist. “Tattooing is really fulfilling because you work with someone directly and you aren’t just working on something to put out there to buy,” said Moore. Tattooing is meditative for the artist. It requires concentration – you can’t make a mistake, it’s not something that can be easily erased. Moore said tattooing encompasses many skills because a person has to have drawing and painting skills but also a bit of sculptural skills. For example, with a tattoo on an arm, a person has to take into account how the arm moves and how it will be viewed from different angles. Moore has clients apply from around the world for his work. He said in the past several years tattoo artists have been blurring the lines and making their art form more acceptable. In the past tattoo art has been seen by some as a “lowbrow art form” or a “trade skill”, said Moore. Rachel Stern reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

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Best of the City 37

Somewhere in the city, Nanaimo is winning

ockey, as one might expect, is most popular with sports fans, with crowds of up to 2,500 taking in Nanaimo Clippers junior A games at Beban Park’s Frank Crane Arena. The Clippers won the B.C. Hockey League championship in 2007 and made it back to the final in 2008, but after earlier playoff exits the last three winters, the club brought in a new coach and general manager and is raising expectations for the 2011-12 season. Local youngsters have also done their part to raise banners at local hockey rinks – four Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association teams won Island championships this past winter. One team in Nanaimo that has certainly

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Dover Bay Dolphins senior boys’ basketball team captured the Island championship this winter on an improbable buzzerbeater, and the squad has made a trip to provincials almost an annual tradition. Some of Nanaimo’s newest champions are the Hornets senior women’s rugby players, who won a Div. 2 B.C. crown this spring and are on their way up to Div. 1. In truth, there are too many champions and winners to list them all. Nanaimo can claim memorable victories at bike tracks, bowling alleys, boxing rings, curling rinks, golf courses, gymnastics centres, softball diamonds and swimming pools. So it’s pretty much a certainty that right now, somewhere in the city, Nanaimo is winning.

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runners-up this past spring. The Nanaimo Coal Miners senior men were provincial champions in 2005 and runners-up last summer. Perhaps last year’s most dramatic championship victory of all came on the soccer pitch in the fall, when Vancouver Island University’s men’s soccer team won the national championship in a shootout in Edmonton. The win would be just the start of perhaps the most successful season of college sports ever in Nanaimo, as VIU’s men’s golf team and men’s basketball team also won B.C. championships. The women’s volleyball team might have added a national title to the trophy case, but were denied by a controversial call in the goldmedal match. All VIU’s teams are expected to be contenders again in 2011-12. The city’s high school gyms have hosted some big games and big wins, too. The

built a reputation of excellence is the V.I. Raiders. The Canadian Junior Football League club will try to extend a streak of five straight B.C. championships, and it won national titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Younger football players have also scored huge wins on the gridiron of late. The John Barsby Bulldogs AA varsity team won the provincial championship this past fall and the Nanaimo Redmen midget team won a league championship in 2009. Lacrosse has a storied history in Nanaimo. Though local teams have had a tough time matching the city’s greatest lacrosse achievement ever, the 1956 Mann Cup championship, players aren’t afraid to dream big. Fans of the Timbermen senior A, senior B, junior A and junior B squads are all expecting solid playoff runs and the city’s junior women are looking to repeat as provincial champions. The senior A team plays out of Frank Crane Arena while the rest play at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. The ball parks, especially Serauxmen Stadium, are fields of dreams in Nanaimo. The Pirates are an elite team in the B.C. Premier Baseball League, a circuit that boasts major league draft picks every year. Nanaimo’s college team, the Vancouver Island Baseball Institute Mariners, are perennial contenders, having won the national title in 2010 and finishing as

Nanaimo’s sports scene is full of champions and championship contenders. Nearly every sport and game imaginable is represented in the Harbour City, and athletes here excel.

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Valid from now until July 31, 2011. Valid after 4pm for dine-in only at the participating restaurants listed above. Minimum purchase of $25.00 per couple or $12.50 per single diner. Maximum discount $5.00. Not to be combined with any other promotional offer. No cash value. Limit one coupon per couple per visit.

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NO DOWN PAYMENT

VERACRUZ GL FWD. DELIVERY & DESTINATION INCLUDED.

TM The Hyundai names, logos, product names, feature names, images and slogans are trademarks owned by Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. â&#x20AC; Finance offers available O.A.C. from Hyundai Financial Services based on a new 2011 Accent L Sport 3 Dr 5-speed/Elantra Touring L 5-speed/2011 Tucson L 5-speed/2011 Santa Fe 2.4L GL 6-speed/2011 Veracruz GL FWD with an annual finance rate of 0%/0%/0%/0%/0% for 84/84/72/84/84 months. Bi-weekly payment is $83/$91/$140/$142/$189. No down payment is required. Finance offers include Delivery and Destination of $1,495/$1,495/$1,760/$1,760/$1,760. Registration, insurance, PPSA, license fees and all applicable taxes are excluded. Delivery and destination charge includes freight, P.D.E., dealer admin fees and a full tank of gas. Financing example: 2011 Accent L 3 Dr 5-speed for $15,094 at 0% per annum equals $179.69 per month for 84 months for a total obligation of $15,094. Cash price is $15,094. Example price includes Delivery and Destination of $1,495. Registration, insurance, PPSA, license fees and all applicable taxes are excluded. â&#x20AC;ĄPurchase or lease a 2011 Accent/2011 Elantra Touring/2011 Sonata/2011 Tucson/2011 Santa Fe/2011 Veracruz model during June 2011 and you will receive a preferred price Petro-Canada Gas Card valid for $0.30 per litre savings on each litre of gas up to a total of 1,000/1,000/1,000/1,200/1,200/1,200 Litres. Based on Energuide combined fuel consumption rating for the 2011 Accent L 3 Dr 5-speed (6.7L/100km)/2011 Elantra Touring L 5-speed (7.7L/100km)/2011 Sonata GL 6-speed (7.8L/100km)/2011 Tuscon L 5-speed (8.9L/100km)/2011 Santa Fe 2.4L GL 6-speed (9.0L/100km)/2011 Veracruz GL FWD (10.8L/100km) at 15,200km/year [yearly average driving distance (Transport Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Provincial Light Vehicle Fleet Statistics, 2008)]. This card is valid only at participating Petro-Canada retail locations (and other approved North Atlantic Petroleum locations in Newfoundland). This card has no expiry date. Petro-Canada is a trademark of SUNCOR ENERGY INC. used under license. Petro-Canada is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of this promotion. Eligibility for the card is subject to conditions and exclusions. Offer not available on 2011 Elantra, 2011 Genesis Coupe, 2011 Genesis Sedan, and 2011 Equus models. Ę&#x2C6;Fuel consumption for 2011 Accent 3Dr (HWY 5.7L/100KM; City 7.3L/100KM)/2011 Elantra Touring L Auto (HWY 6.5L/100KM; City 8.7L)/2011 Santa Fe 2.4L 6-Speed Automatic FWD (City 10.4L/100KM; HWY 7.2L/100KM)/2011 Tucson L (HWY 6.5L/100KM; City 9.1L/100KM)/2011 Veracruz GL FWD (HWY 8.5L/100KM; City 12.7L/100KM) are based on EnerGuide fuel consumption ratings. Actual fuel efficiency may vary based on driving conditions and the addition of certain vehicle accessories. Fuel economy figures are used for comparison purposes only. ÎŠPurchase or lease any 2011 Accent 3 Door L Sport and receive a price adjustment of $1,200. Certain conditions apply. â&#x20AC; â&#x20AC;ĄÎŠOffers available for a limited time and subject to change or cancellation without notice. See dealer for complete details. Dealer may sell for less. Inventory is limited, dealer order may be required. â&#x2C6;&#x17E;Based on the December 2010 AIAMC report. Ď&#x20AC;Based on the April 2011 AIAMC report. Ç&#x2122;Based on projected sales figures incorporated into Table 28 of the United States Environmental Protection Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2010 Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends report. This comparison is limited to the top 14 highest-volume manufacturers in the U.S. based on the 2010 model-year fleet. BluetoothÂŽ word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Hyundai is under license. â&#x2C6;&#x2020;See your dealer for eligible vehicles and full details of the Graduate Rebate Program. â&#x2014;&#x160;Accent 7 year/120,000 km warranty consists of 5 year/100,000km Comprehensive Limited Warranty coverage and an additional 2 year/20,000km coverage under the Hyundai Protection Plan. Hyundaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comprehensive Limited Warranty coverage covers most vehicle components against defects in workmanship under normal use and maintenance conditions. Coverage under the Hyundai Protection Plan is subject to terms and conditions. Please contact your local dealer for all details. â&#x20AC; â&#x20AC; Hyundaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comprehensive Limited Warranty coverage covers most vehicle components against defects in workmanship under normal use and maintenance conditions.

RIGHT NOW GET

0 84

MONTHS FINANCING FOR UP TO

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0% â&#x20AC;

8*5) 08/ *5

2011 SANTA FE 2011 TUCSON

EUROPEAN INSPIRED 5-DOOR

ACCENT L SPORT 3DR 5-SPEED. DELIVERY & DESTINATION INCLUDED. BI-WEEKLY PAYMENT

FINANCING FOR 84 MONTHS

GL Sport model shown

NO DOWN PAYMENT

0% â&#x20AC;

83 $

2011 ACCENT L SPORT 3DR

7 t 46/300' t '0( -*()54 t " ALLOY WHEELS t 41035-TUNED SUSPENSION

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GLS Sport model shown

91 $

08/ *5

YEAR / 120,000 KM WARRANTY â&#x2014;&#x160;

2011 ACCENT CLEAROUT NO CHARGE $1,200 7"-6&ÎŠ

UPGRADE

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