Yam magazine May/Jun 2024

CITY ISSUE

PATIO PRIMER

• Stylish out door spaces

• Perfect pizza parties

GULF ISLANDS CAMP & PADDLE

Rediscovering a sense of adventure HOW TO BE A FRIEND (And why it matters)

Terry Calveley

Anna Sterloff

Michael Tourigny

Lisa Williams Logan Wilson

Samantha Jensson Sean Farrell Shaelyn Mattix

Robyn Wildman

Peter Crichton Kirsten MacLeod

Harley Shim

Dean Innes Glynis MacLeod

D’Arcy Harris Brayden Klein

Maclaren

Danyliw Myrtha Deschamps

Mavrikos

Beth Hayhurst

Andy Stephenson

Jacob Garrett

Terry Calveley Anna Sterloff

Michael Tourigny

Lisa Williams

Wilson

Samantha Jensson

Shaelyn Mattix

Robyn Wildman

Peter Crichton

Harley Shim

Dean Innes

D’Arcy Harris

Maxwell

Grace Shin Brian Danyliw

Myrtha Deschamps Niko Mavrikos

Beth Hayhurst

Andy Stephenson

Jacob Garrett

INTRODUCTORY PRICE*

$2,200 +GST

Supplied and installed

Mattress not included

Regular cost $2,800 +GST

*Introductory price ends May 31st, 2024

MODERN

BENEFITS

• More liveable space

• Make small spaces BIG!

• Easy and safe to use

• Great downsizing solution

• Modern timeless style

FEATURES

• Strong plywood construction

• Durable laminate finish

• Multiple options include LED lighting, side cabinets, birch veneer finish and custom cabinet surrounds.

50

I’ll Be There For You

Friends make us happier and healthier. Here’s how to be a good one. By Melissa Gignac

56

Paddling in Paradise

Rediscovering a sense of adventure on a Gulf Islands kayak trip. By Susan Hollis

CITY ISSUE

20

Dreamy Day Trips

Hit the highways and byways and explore these 25 cool finds from Sooke to Duncan to Swartz Bay.

By YAM Staff

40

Patio Prep

It’s where you’ll spend most of your summer. Here’s how to get your patio ready for the hot days ahead.

By Joanne Sasvari

MAY/JUN 2024

10

13

EDITOR’S LETTER

HERE + NOW

Get ready for the May long weekend with summer-ready gear. Plus: a social city patio, self-care for warmer days and an artful exhibit at the AGGV.

18

IN PERSON

Jimbo brings the fabulous home from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. By

David Lennam

34

LIFE AT HOME

A couple creates a haven for entertaining in a sophisticated condo with a spectacular view. By Danielle Pope

44 STYLE WATCH

Cool layers, natural textures, earthy hues — easy, breezy looks for summer in the city. Styled by Janine Metcalfe

63

FOOD+DRINK

Join us on a tasty tour of Victoria’s historic Chinatown, where you can nosh on noodles, binge on bao and discover a fascinating past. Plus: Make the most of your backyard pizza oven; enjoy rosé your way; cruise the Island Highway for croissants; catch up on all the latest news and trends. By Cinda Chavich and Joanne Sasvari

80 SCENE

The symphony’s romantic requiem for Schumann. Plus: Culture Calendar. By David Lennam

82 PERSPECTIVE

Illuminating the past — one purple prism at a time. By Joanne Sasvari

Robyn Wildman

Top rated in Customer Service

Why work with Robyn?

Why work with Robyn?

Robyn Wildman

Multiple MLS ® Award Winner

Robyn Wildman

“Robyn was wonderful. She did a thorough study of the market and updated her impressions as the market was changing. She was a good counsellor when many decisions needed to be weighed. She helped me set goals and achieve them prior to listing, she had great staging ideas and supplies, and she has been helpful through the final stretch prior to closing. She really made this process fun.” — L.A.

Robyn Wildman

Canada’s Most Livable City

Top rated in Customer Service Multiple MLS® Award Winner

Top rated in Customer Service

Top rated in Customer Service Multiple MLS® Award Winner

Why work with Robyn?

Why work with Robyn?

“I can honestly say, having purchased & sold many homes, this sale & purchase was the smoothest transaction I ever had. Robyn’s knowledge of the market, expertise, & customer service skills are readily apparent. Her customer service approach cannot be surpassed. In the future, she will be the only agent we would use. An absolute pleasure to deal with.”

“I can honestly say, having purchased & sold many homes, this sale & purchase was the smoothest transaction I ever had. Robyn’s knowledge of the market, expertise, & customer service skills are readily apparent. Her customer service approach cannot be surpassed. In the future, she will be the only agent we would use. An absolute pleasure to deal with.” - J.V. For world-class marketing and personal attention when buying or selling

“I can honestly say, having purchased & sold many homes, this sale & purchase was the smoothest transaction I ever had. Robyn’s knowledge of the market, expertise, & customer service skills are readily apparent. Her customer service approach cannot be surpassed. In the future, she will be the only agent we would use. An absolute pleasure to deal with.”

IWhy work with Robyn?

t seems everyone agrees: Victoria is a lovely place to visit and an even better place to live.

“I can honestly say, having purchased & sold many homes, this sale & purchase was the smoothest transaction I ever had. Robyn’s knowledge of the market, expertise, & customer service skills are readily apparent. Her customer service approach cannot be surpassed. In the future, she will be the only agent we would use. An absolute pleasure to deal with.”

As we were putting together YAM’s annual City Issue, we couldn’t help but think: Just what is it that we love so much about Victoria?

If you ask the folks at Condé Nast Traveler, which named Victoria the world’s best city in its 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, our restaurant and nightlife scene is “something to be celebrated,” while the city “embraces adventure” and “draws outdoorsy types.” Meanwhile, the Globe and Mail, which deemed Victoria “the most livable city in Canada” last November, noted that it has all the big-city amenities of venues, dining options and events along with access to nature, incredible bike infrastructure, a mild sunny climate and a dreamy seaside way of life.

J.V.

All true, but it’s also so much more than that.

Where kindness is not considered weakness, where eccentricity is embraced, where live music is still a thing, where startups actually thrive and supporting local is simply a way of life.

I sometimes joke with friends who live in other cities that Victoria is a bubble, a place where people still read — and buy! — books and help perfect strangers just because. Where kindness is not considered weakness, where eccentricity is embraced, where live music is still a thing, where startups actually thrive and supporting local is simply a way of life. Yeah, yeah, they say — and then they come visit and see how beautiful the city is, with its lush gardens and friendly, low-rise architecture that hasn’t been replaced by soulless towers. I can see them wondering how they, too, could one day make the move over here.

BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE CALL

But Victoria isn’t one thing, or even one place. Greater Victoria embraces 13 communities, each with its own personality and vibrant cultural life, spread along a breathtakingly beautiful coastline from Sooke to Swartz Bay. Where downtown Victoria charms with its historic Chinatown and postcard-perfect Inner Harbour, just beyond its borders lie bountiful farms and farm markets, welcoming restaurants, family-run wineries, thrilling outdoor adventures and quirky surprises around every bend in the road.

It sounds a little smug to say Victoria has got it all, but it kinda does.

rwildman@sothebysrealty.ca

Of course, Victoria isn’t perfect. No community is. But when you’re walking along Dallas Road on a sunny spring day, or sitting on a patio enjoying local oysters and beer, or browsing through a Little Free Library on a pretty, tree-lined street — well, it’s pretty darn close.

Joanne Sasvari, Editor-in-Chief editor@yammagazine.com

A HIPPER HIGHBALL

The highball has been the drink of the moment for more than a moment now. After all, it’s tasty, refreshing and oh-so-easy to make (just spirit and mixer in a tall glass with ice). But it can also be a little boring. Not this one, though. Over at the chic new pan-European Rudi, housemade root beer is mixed with Lucid absinthe for a lusciously herbal and licorice-y libation, a perfect sipper as we ease into summer. You’re welcome.

— Leonardo Da Vinci

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos, Georgina Camilleri

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joanne Sasvari

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant

ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Caroline Segonnes

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Deana Brown, Will Gillis, Cynthia Hanischuk, Brenda Knapik

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Rebecca Juetten

DIGITAL MARKETING

CO-ORDINATOR Claire Villaraza

MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR Lauren Ingle

STAFF WRITER Liam Razzell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cinda Chavich, Melissa Gignac, Susan Hollis, David Lennam, Danielle Pope

PROOFREADER Lionel Wild

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Dave Heath

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 14, 40, 42, 43, 50, 52, 64, 65, 72, 73, 74; Pexels p. 17; Stocksy p. 63, 76

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@yammagazine.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@yammagazine.com

SUBSCRIBE TO YAM subscriptions@yammagazine.com

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@yammagazine.com

ONLINE yammagazine.com

INSTAGRAM @yam_magazine

FACEBOOK YAMmagazine X YAMmagazine

ON THE COVER Easy & Breezy Style Watch, page 44

Published by PAGE ONE PUBLISHING 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca

Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Page One Publishing Inc. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement, and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not the publisher. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in all or part, in any form — printed or electronic — without the express permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #41295544

ADVERTISE IN YAM MAGAZINE

YAM is Victoria’s lifestyle magazine, connecting readers to the distinctive lifestyle and authentic luxury of the West Coast. For advertising info, please call 250-595-7243 or email sales@yammagazine.com.

Printed in British Columbia by Mitchell Press.

Photo by Jeffrey Bosdet

HERE + NOW

BOOM! IT’S PATIO SEASON

An old parking lot surrounded by glass, steel and concrete towers in the heart of fast-growing Harris Green may not seem like the most obvious place for a California-inspired patio restaurant. But that didn’t stop Christian Barnard and Patrick Lynch. In 2022, they opened Boomtown Burritos and Beer Garden, three tiers of laid-back, stylishly landscaped outdoor space on Yates Street where they would serve proper pints (all from B.C., mostly local) as well as Mexican-inspired food and killer Margaritas. It swiftly became one of the city’s most popular patios despite — or perhaps because of — its urban setting. More than that, it has become a gathering place for a community that needed one, a welcoming space for the neighbours, kids, dogs and all.

THE LONG WEEKEND EDIT

Call it Victoria Day, May Two-Four or simply the May Long, here’s what you need to make the most of the (unofficial) first weekend of summer.

BBQ TOOLS

A SPATULA

But not just any spatula. The handle should be heat-proof and long enough to protect your arms from burns, and the spatula itself needs to be sturdy and big enough to lift a steak or small roast. Consider a fish turner like the large Hell’s Handle one by Mercer Culinary, available online.

1

Before you light up the grill, be sure you have the right tools to make grilling a pleasure rather than a hassle. Don’t fall for fancy high-tech gimmicks — after all, we were cooking over flames long before anyone created a BBQ fork with built-in flashlight — or expensive gift sets that may look nice, but rarely work all that well. What you need are sturdy, wellmade, functional tools for specific tasks — like these five.

TONGS

2

You don’t need to spend a lot on tongs, but you do need to find a nice, long pair with a wide enough spread, a scalloped head that can pick up dainty items like asparagus spears and a spring that has some resistance, but not so much that your hands get tired.

INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER

We love the simplicity and convenience of the ThermoPop digital thermometer, which gives you super-fast, superaccurate readings on a backlit, auto-rotating, easy-to-read screen. Plus it comes in a rainbow of sunshine-y colours, all at a budget-friendly price.

GRILL-GRATE BRUSH

To get the baked-on gunk off your grill, you need a brush with thick, heavyduty wire bristles that won’t bend during tough tasks. Coiled brushes are better than the kind with bristles inserted into a wooden or plastic head, but if you are concerned about bristles breaking and ending up in food, consider a wooden scraper instead.

GRILLING GLOVES

Anyone who’s ever burned themselves right through a pair of supposedly heat-proof gloves knows that the right pair can make all the differences. Competition BBQ pros insist on suede or split-leather welding gloves, which offer better protection than Nomex, silicone or any woven fabric, and better dexterity than oven mitts. Look for a pair that come quite high up on your arms, and have a thick leather exterior and cotton lining.

5

1) Hell’s Handle fish turner; 2) Weber precision grill tongs; 3) ThermoPop digital thermometer; 4) Weber wood grill scraper; 5) Vermont Castings grilling gloves

A GREAT COOLER

Whether you are sailing on a boat this long weekend, picnicking in a park or just hanging in the backyard with your best buddies, you will want something to keep your bevvies as chill as you are. You need a cooler. Question is, what kind of cooler do you need? Here are three we have our eye on.

The stylish one: We love the preppy chic of classic L.L. Bean tote bags, so we’re happy to toss their Noreaster insulated tote over our shoulder for all our weekend adventures. It won’t keep ice frozen for all that long, but it’s handy for hauling sandwiches to a picnic or tomatoes home from the farmers’ market.

The wheelly luxe one: YETI is famous for producing coolers that are spendy, true, but worth the big bucks for being tough enough to withstand bear attacks while also looking cool and boasting the best insulation on the market. The Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler does all that while also making it easy to lug loads and loads of beer from boat to truck to campsite to patio.

The party-hardy one: Coleman’s 70-quart 316-Series Marine Cooler can hold up to 100 cans of your favourite sipper and keep ice frozen for days and days, yet is still light enough to be manageable, at least over short distances, at a price tag that won’t make you feel faint. It’s a versatile and good value choice for your next backyard bash.

A COZY THROW

In Victoria, even the warmest days can end in cool nights, especially if you are anywhere near the water. Keep your guests (and yourself) cozy with a basket of lightweight blankets or shawls for tossing around chilly shoulders. Fleece is fine and your cashmere pashminas fabulously fancy, but we especially love these organic cotton waffle throws from Resthouse Sleep, so pretty and practical in West Coastinspired colours.

Self Care for Sunny Days

Prep your body and face for warm-weather dressing.

There’s nothing like those first warm, sunny days of the year, when you emerge from winter’s layers, a dull, dry, slightly unkempt version of your better self. Before slipping into summer’s body-baring sundresses, shorts and sandals, take time for a little self-care to make the transition beautiful, starting with these three smart moves.

FACE IT

Slough off what’s left of winter’s dull pallor with a facial or, at the very least, a face mask that exfoliates and rehydrates. A good facial whisks away accumulated dead skin cells, unclogs pores, removes built-up oil and dirt, moisturizes dry dermal layers, and generally leaves you with a brighter, smoother, wellhydrated complexion.

STEP IT UP

After hibernating in boots and sneakers these past few months, your feet may be looking — and feeling — a little bit gnarly. Prep for sandal season with a pedicure that shapes your nails, buffs your calluses, soothes your cracked heels, moisturizes your flaky shins and generally makes your toes curl in pleasure.

Also pleasing, both for fingers and toes? Today’s top-trending polishes and lacquers in nature-inspired greeny-grey sage.

SWEAT IT OUT

If you’ve been spending a little too much time sitting in front of your computer or TV, you may be feeling a bit sluggish and a lot achy. Work out the knots of too many hours bent over a keyboard with a massage or a trip to the sauna — or both!

Saunas especially have many proven benefits, from releasing “feel-good” endorphins to improving circulation, reducing blood pressure and boosting muscle function. Handily, Victoria is undergoing something of a boomlet in saunas, including HAVN Saunas, Ritual Nordic Spa and the Wildwood Spas at Bilston Creek Farm. We can’t think of a more beautiful way to prepare for the summer days ahead.

OPI nail lacquer in $elf Made

Canada, Curated

Two exciting exhibitions at the AGGV make Victoria an essential stop for art lovers this summer.

If you love Emily Carr, Frederick Varley, Lawren Harris and the other greats of Canadian art, right now Victoria might just be the very best place to see their evocative works.

“It’s going to be a very special summer for us if you are interested in big-name Canadian artists,” says Steven McNeil, chief curator and director of collections and exhibitions for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

The gallery has just hauled some of its most precious treasures out of the vault for the thrilling, five-year-long exhibition A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections.

Among them are works by Indigenous and Canadian artists from the 19th century to the present, including Victoria’s own Sophie Pemberton and Emily Carr. Carr especially is shown “in the company of her contemporaries,” including the Group of Seven artists. “People travel from all over the world because of Emily Carr, and it’s right to have some of [her paintings] out,” McNeil says, adding that a rotating selection of works from the 1960s to today “will be a nice way to showcase recent acquisitions and works by living artists.”

The exhibition also features some 400 pieces curated by Dr. Heng Wu from the AGGV’s collection of Asian art, the biggest and finest in Western Canada. Among them: mostly Chinese

and Japanese ceramics, paintings, prints and works in precious materials.

What connects this “real breadth of objects” is thoughtful storytelling. As McNeil says: “We wanted to make sure that, because these are historical objects, that we tell their stories through a contemporary lens, from our present moment in time.”

But that’s not all. At the end of June, the gallery will feature Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art, a travelling exhibition curated by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and showcasing works by the country’s most important historical and contemporary artists, including “big, big works” by Kent Monkman and Brian Jungen.

“I’m really excited to bring out the treasures, old and new,” McNeil says. “We have amazing, in-depth historical collections at the AGGV.” aggv.ca

Win this perfect-for-your-patio piece from Canadian Tire.

One lucky winner will take home this elegant CANVAS Southampton adjustable, wheeled lounger from Canadian Tire.

Designed to last season after season, it has a sturdy, sustainable eucalyptus frame, breathable Weather-net material and hard-wearing, rust-proof hardware. It is esthetically pleasing and comfortable, too, with an adjustable backrest and built-in wooden table that can be attached to either side for your book, sunglasses and/or drinks.

The Southampton lounger is simple to assemble, easy to move (thanks to the integrated wheels) and convenient to care for — all you need is a little soap and water.

Perfect for poolside or patio lounging, this prize has a retail value of $449.99.

To enter, visit yammagazine.com or scan the QR code. Contest closes June 21, 2024. Good luck!

Contest Alert!

Emily Carr, Light Swooping Through, 1938-39, oil on canvas

A GOOD READ

Plot your literary escape with these three new madeand set-in-B.C. mystery novels.

A Meditation on Murder

by

Susan Juby (HarperCollins)

The best-selling Nanaimo novelist brings her Buddhist-nun-butlerdetective Helen Thorpe back to help a wannabe influencer get her life in order — and solve a couple of murders in the process — while digitally detoxing at a Merritt-area ranch. Both hilarious and thought-provoking.

Lightning Strikes the Silence by Iona Whishaw (TouchWood Editions)

The latest mystery featuring Kootenay gumshoe Lane Winslow begins with a bang, then follows the connections — and lingering prejudices — that link a mysteriously mute Japanese girl, a jewelry heist, nefarious mining interests and, of course, murder. Forthcoming May 7.

Ocean Drive by Sam

Wiebe (Harbour Publishing)

In this standalone novel set in Vancouver’s suburbs, Wiebe investigates what happens when a killer is paroled and a small-town cop goes up against a looming gang war, big development and long-buried secrets. A masterful and compelling new work.

Send in the Clown

After winning RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Jimbo is ready to take on the world, one fabulous character at a time.

By David Lennam

There are clowns. And there are clowns

Let’s sort them.

Happy: Ronald McDonald.

Sad: Pagliacci.

Grouchy: Krusty.

Scary: Pennywise.

Dangerous: John Wayne Gacy.

Then there are drag clowns. And the world’s most famous is Victoria’s own Jimbo.

Since winning Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars last summer, the name Jimbo is echoed down cobblestone streets in tiny Irish villages, joyfully announced in Bali beachfront bars and shrieked in North American living rooms full of teens.

“I literally have friends around the world,” Jimbo tells me, confidently, but without any sense of hubris. “I can walk into a café in Mexico and hear, ‘Omigod, Jimbo’s here. Sit down with me.’ Wherever there are gay people or fans of drag or Drag Race, there are people that know me. It’s so fun.”

Fun is what makes Jimbo tick. And winds up everyone who watches or gets to hang out. Infectious fun is Jimbo’s superpower.

He says people just like seeing someone who lives authentically, “someone taking chances and someone sharing what brings them true joy. A lot of people say that they feel, maybe their own sense of, ‘Oh, I can be a little bit weirder,’ or ‘Oh, I’m not so weird after all.’ ”

When you get past the impossibly cartoonish body and the supercharged flamboyance of his live-wire characters (like Joan Rivers, Shirley Temple or Casper the Baloney Ghost), Jimbo is just like Clark Kent — mild mannered. Or seemingly so when he’s being James Insell, costume and production designer, entrepreneur, community builder, the Jimbo of the he/him pronouns (his drag characters are she/her) and the soft-spoken manner. Almost shyly quiet.

“A lot of people say that,” he says laughing, “Like, ‘Oh, you’re way more chill,’ or ‘I thought you were going to be a bitch.’ ”

Confidantes, those in the inner circle, friends — OK, really, anyone who knows Jimbo — they all say two things. One, that he’s just a lovely person, who nourishes other artists, involves pals in his ventures and sets up opportunities for those around him.

And two, that his mind’s constantly ticking. Even when he’s giving all his attention to, say, an interview, he’s probably concocting another character, another bit, another way to present on stage or screen.

“I’m non-stop, go, go, go all the time,” says Jimbo. “I’ve basically been on tour, all around the world for three years, around the world three times. I love chaos, I love travel and work and performance.”

Performance really began when the now-41-year-old arrived in Victoria from London, Ontario, 16 years ago and, with then-partner musician Hank Pine, dove into the local arts scene, notably with Britt Small and the comedy cabaret series Atomic Vaudeville. Jimbo learned clowning from Small, and his sets and costumes were integral to projects that sprang out of AV, such as Ride The Cyclone and Rocky Horror

promoted by P.T. Barnum, would undoubtedly be known as The Weirdest Show on Earth.

Jimbo calls it a chance to take all the work, relationships and community built in Victoria over the past several years and make a splash, telling big stories the way he wants to.

“I’m coming back to my people and I’m saying, ‘Let’s do this together. Let’s show the world what we can do out of Victoria with this amazing collective.’ ”

Jimbo’s been called the best physical comedian Drag Race has ever seen. And that brings a smile to Small’s face.

She noticed his utter shamelessness on Day 1 of clowning class.

“There’s an audacity there and incredibly hard work. It’s remarkable just how much work it takes and Jimbo just puts his head down,” Small says.

Jimbo has acknowledged that working with Small boosted his courage and confidence to come out as gay. And look where it led — winning, basically, the Olympics of drag and creating a solid brand with House of Jimbo.

“I was very insecure and very shy and afraid of being outed and being too gay so it wasn’t really until I moved to Victoria and started working with [the duet] Hank & Lily and with Britt that I started to perform and be on stage.”

The $200,000 prize for winning Drag Race has funded Jimbo’s Drag Circus World Tour (on the road since February and in Victoria in June), billed as a fantastic, freakish tightrope-act of oddities, glamour and unpredictability that, if

“So this is kind of taking some of that stuff that people loved and fell in love with through the [TV] show and then giving it to them through a new lens, maybe introducing people to a bit of theatre, if maybe they haven’t seen theatre before, and also kind of extending the stories or the characters or the ideas introduced in the show and kind of bringing them to life and giving them a background.”

His teacher Small likes to tell Jimbo that all clowns are conduits. It’s not necessarily about the performers, it’s about the audience. And serving the community, “and trying to change the world through art and joy,” Jimbo says.

“That’s one of the biggest gifts ever is to be able to have this incredible opportunity and I’m coming back to my people and I’m saying, ‘Let’s do this together. Let’s show the world what we can do out of Victoria with this amazing collective.’ ”

And for an encore?

The put-on-hold House of Jimbo TV series based in his must-be-seen-to-be-believed, costume-filled Chinatown loft.

More from his line of fashion.

And, oh yeah, Madonna called. Something about getting together on tour.

“That could happen. Fingers crossed,” says Jimbo. Stay tuned.

Jimbo’s Drag Circus performs at Victoria’s Royal Theatre on June 12 and 13. rmts.bc.ca.

Dreamy Day Trips

25 THINGS THAT PUT THE ‘GREAT’ IN GREATER VICTORIA.

By YAM Staff | Illustrations by Janice Hildybrant

It’s a sunny morning with nothing planned, the hours ahead wide open with possibility, a perfect day to toss a cooler and a pair of hiking boots in the car, then hit the highway for an adventure. We’re so lucky in Victoria. Just a short drive from downtown, we have beaches, hiking trails, charming communities, funky museums and galleries, bountiful farms and world-class wineries, many of them within the 13 communities that comprise Greater Victoria. So here at YAM, we set ourselves a challenge: to discover as many cool things as we could within an hour’s drive of downtown. Here are our 25 favourites, from Shirley to Duncan to Swartz Bay. Consider this your essential day-trip planning guide for summer and beyond.

WEST

Sooke & Metchosin

1. BEACHES. SO MANY BEACHES

Head west on Highway 14, the section of the Pacific Marine Circle Route that runs alongside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and you are never far from a beach. Some are wild and rugged, some sandy and serene; all have stunning views across the strait to the Olympic Peninsula. The most epic are just past Sooke, including French, China (illustrated here), Mystic and Sombrio beaches, but even before that there are plenty of beautiful places to dip your toes in the sea.

2. WALKING THE WHIFFIN SPIT

This narrow, curving peninsula between Sooke Harbour and Juan de Fuca Strait features an easy and scenic 2.7-kilometre walk with plenty of small beaches, side trails, wildlife and viewpoints along the way. It’s ideal for dog walkers, nature enthusiasts and, well, just about anyone. Plus, later this summer, the famous Sooke Harbour House, an inn and restaurant that overlooks the spit, is scheduled to reopen after a major makeover, with celebrated chef Melissa Craig at the helm.

4. LIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

3. BLISS OUT AT BILSTON CREEK FARM

This lovely lavender farm in Metchosin is one of the most historic on the Island — in 1851, it became one of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s first registered settlements — and heritage apple trees still dot the property. Today it’s better known for its markets, crafting classes and other special events, as well as luxurious handmade body-care and other products. Swing by for a steam in a Wildwood Sauna, toast some marshmallows over a firepit in the orchard and take home a jar of lavender honey.

6. COOL COFFEE SHOPS

Technically, the hamlet of Shirley/Sheringham is just over an hour away, but it’s worth the extra few minutes to join the steady stream of drivers stopping in at Shirley Delicious, a funky little A-frame on the edge of the rainforest. They’re here for the marvelous muffins, irresistible overstuffed sandwiches, warm hospitality and, of course, the java. But those in search of caffeine and calories can also find them at Mom’s Café in Sooke, an old-school diner dishing up comfort food and perfect pies (think: banana cream or cherry cheese), and at the friendly My-Chosen in Metchosin, where the generous cookhouse breakfasts are served with a side of kitsch.

5. GO WILD FOR WILD MOUNTAIN

Like many people, during COVID, chef Oliver Kienast perfected his pizza dough recipe. But he also built a massive brick pizza oven to bake it in. Of course he did. The talented chef of Wild Mountain Food + Drink in Sooke, YAM’s 2023 Restaurant of the Year, is meticulous about every detail, cooking not with the seasons but the microseasons, transforming ingredients from neighbouring farmers into perfect deliciousness. Meanwhile, somm Brooke Fader has assembled a terrific, largely local drinks selection to make you even happier.

You can’t help but notice the massive, red-and-white, cast-ironand-glass dome beached outside the Sooke Region Museum. Eye-catching, yes, but it also tells a fascinating and terrible tale. Built in 1910, its powerful lens once cast light for nearly 80 kilometres from a lighthouse on Triangle Island off Cape Scott. This was the northern tip of the West Coast Lifesaving Trail, better known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, which extends from Cape Scott along the Island’s west coast to Tillamook Bay in Oregon. Wind, rain, powerful currents and pounding waves have dashed some 2,000 ships to pieces along this rocky coast, the only hope for those aboard a solitary beam of light.

NORTHWEST

Langford

7. IN FOR THE GIN AT SHERINGHAM

Back in 2015, in the tiny community of Shirley/Sheringham, Jason and Alayne MacIsaac decided to make a gin flavoured with local kelp. Little did they expect that their Seaside Gin would sweep national and international awards and move them from a still in their garage to a vast modern facility in Langford. Drop by their gorgeous tasting room to sample their lineup — which now includes four gins, award-winning akvavit and several liqueurs — and get a taste of whatever they are brewing up next.

9. CHECK OUT NIAGARA FALLS

No, not that Niagara Falls — although it’s almost as high as the famous one back east. This is just one of several waterfalls in Goldstream Park, a 1,180-acre wilderness area that features more than 160 campsites as well as dozens of trails, abundant wildlife and a whole forest of flowers, shrubs and trees, including 600-year-old Douglas fir. Our favourite time to go? In fall, when thousands of visitors line the riverside trails and observation platforms to watch the annual chum salmon spawning run — and the bald eagles that show up to snack on them.

10. BOWL AT LANGFORD LANES

This 10-pin bowling alley, like Starlight Stadium, is part of Langford’s massive City Centre Park, which also comprises an ice arena, minigolf, indoor PlayZone and other recreational facilities. Bright, fun and designed to accommodate bowlers of all ages and abilities, Langford Lanes features 20 lanes where you can aim for a strike, a spare or just have yourself a good time throwing things around.

11. BRUNCH AT HOUSE OF BOATENG

Before you hit Langford’s many, many big box stores or hiking trails, fortify yourself with one of the best brunches in a region that’s famous for them. At his lovely little café, chef Castro Boateng dishes up bennies, bowls, waffles and a terrific Mimosa. We especially love the African bowl that offers a nod to his Ghanaian heritage: jollof rice, chicken sausage, scrambled eggs, pickled veg, all drizzled with a chili and smoked shrimp aioli.

8. CHEER ON PACIFIC FC

On a warm summer night, there’s nowhere we’d rather be than at Starlight Stadium watching Victoria’s own Canadian Premier League footie club in action. Every seat in the joint is close to the pitch, making it even more exciting — those players move fast — but almost as much fun is watching the crowd, which is always boisterous with young kids and fans cheering in a multitude of languages. Order a hot dog, pick up some purple-and-teal team kit and join in the fun.

12. STEP BACK IN TIME AT FORT RODD HILL

Over on the Colwood side of the Esquimalt Harbour, Fort Rodd Hill was an active artillery fortress on active duty from 1895 to 1956; nearby Fisgard Lighthouse was the first on Canada’s West Coast, commissioned in 1860. They are now a National Historic Site, where the whole family can explore the past, learn from costumed interpreters, stay overnight in an oTENTik or just enjoy the view from the Parks Canada red Adirondack chairs.

Cowichan Valley

13. THE WINE IS FINE

Follow the winding roads that wind through Canada’s most charming wine region, where about a dozen small, mostly independent wineries pour fresh, cool-climate varieties like Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The Cowichan Valley became an official sub-geographical indication in 2020, one of lush beauty, relatively mild climate and friendly food and wine festivals. Be sure to try the valley’s proprietary Prosecco-style sparkling wine, Charme de L’île, in the lovely region whose name means “the warm lands.”

14. A (VERY) FAST TRACK

If you love to drive really, really fast — or if you just want to drive better — then get yourself in gear and get over to the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit. It’s a place to really let the horses run with like-minded gearheads. The course offers professional training, trackside support, defensive driving and drivers’ education with a planned off-road track in the works, but it also has 19 corners and 11.5-percent elevation changes to really get your motor running.

15. A MUSEUM LIKE NO OTHER

Writer, photographer, TV star, naturalist, big game outfitter, champion water polo player, renowned expert on Western Canadian ethnocentric folk art forms — Jim Shockey has had an extraordinary life, so it’s little wonder that the museum he created in Maple Bay is equally extraordinary. The walls, halls, rooms and cabinets of his 17,000-square-foot Hand of Man Museum are jam-packed with everything from Siberian wedding blankets to North American fishing lures, African camel bags, woolly mammoth skeletons and taxidermied critters, the collection of a life well and adventurously lived.

16. ONE SCONE TO RULE THEM ALL

Greater Victoria has no shortage of scones; this is, after all, a community where hotels and restaurants still unironically serve a full afternoon tea. But where so many scones are heavy, leaden, bland and/or doughy, the ones at the new Hank’s Cowichan in Duncan are transformative — they’re flaky, even buttery, without quite tipping into biscuit territory. Try the cheddar and chive if you like your scones on the savoury side, or whatever flavour is on the menu that day.

17. WALK THIS WAY ...

The Cowichan Valley features two unique and (literally) elevated walks to check out. The 113-year-old Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestles along the 122-kilometre-long Cowichan Valley Trail, soaring 44 spectacular metres above the salmonbearing Koksilah River and offering 187 metres of pathway for walkers, cyclists and equestrians. Less historic, but just as impressive, is the three-yearold Malahat SkyWalk, a spiral structure that rises 250 metres above Finlayson Arm, offering breathtaking views of Mount Baker, the Saanich Peninsula and islands in two countries. Take the Spiral Slide on the way down for an extra burst of adrenalin.

Photograph captured atop PKOLS (Mount Douglas).

EAST

Saanich Peninsula

18. EMBRACE YOUR INNER CHILD AT THE BUTCHART GARDENS

There are many, many good reasons to stop in at The Butchart Gardens, especially in May and June when the Himalayan blue poppies are blooming and the rose garden is unfurling into fragrant blossom. But at any time at all we love to go and ride the vintage Rose Carousel. It’s the only carousel on the Island and features 30 handcrafted animals, including bears, horses, ostriches, zebras and a whale. Plus a portion of proceeds are donated to local children’s charities so we can feel even better about being a kid all over again.

19. BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!

Charming Sidney-by-the-Sea is chock-a-block with welcoming boutiques selling everything from gourmet cheese to sassy espadrilles to vintage finds. But our favourites might just be the handful of independent bookstores of Canada’s only Book Town. Established 40 years ago by Christine and Clive Tanner (whose beloved Beacon Books recently closed), it is where you will find Galleon Books and Antiques, Tanner’s Books, The Children’s Bookshop and The Haunted Bookshop. They all specialize in the kind of volumes you’re unlikely to find at any big-box retailer, and make it well worth the journey up the peninsula.

20. HOME FOR A NEST

In skinny little Tod Inlet, just south of Brentwood Bay, you will find a truly unique subdivision: a neighbourhood of houses built for nesting purple martins. It’s all part of an initiative that started in 2002 to improve the dwindling numbers of these large swallows (which aren’t actually purple at all). In 1985, only five nesting pairs were left; today there are nearly 1,000 thanks to nest boxes like the ones built on the century-old concrete pilings in Tod Inlet Marine Park.

21. AN ARTFUL STOP

A lovely way to spend an afternoon is to pedal an e-bike along the Lochside Regional Trail from Swartz Bay to Victoria. Even lovelier? Stopping at Mattick’s Farm for a snack and perhaps some art to go. Some 80 years ago, this was a flower and vegetable farm; today it’s a pretty little retail mall where you can find The Gallery at Mattick’s Farm, which carries paintings, ceramics, jewelry and more by Canadian artists and artisans, many of them local. And they’ll ship locally for free so you don’t have to stuff a sculpture in your pannier.

22. A TASTE OF ITALY AT GIGI’S

Meander a little farther down winding Cordova Bay Road and you’ll come to the shiny new Haro development and Victoria’s best place to load up on all things deliciously Italian. Gigi’s Italian & Specialty Foods is a sleek, modern space filled with great gift ideas and gourmet foods, including spices, olive oils, vinegars, preserves, sauces, candies, cured meats, cheeses, pizza dough, paninis and dozens and dozens of different types of pasta — as well as everything you need to make pizza and pasta from scratch at home. Buon appetito!

Noon - 5:30 pm, Sun May 26

Victoria's Historic Chinatown

Fun for the whole family and free to enjoy.

A vibrant celebration of culture, heritage, and community spirit

23. CRABBING OFF THE SIDNEY PIER

For a relatively small community, Sidneyby-the-Sea (pop. 12,000) is bustling with things to do — biking, kayaking, whale watching, strolling along the seawall, hitting the weekly farmer’s market, shopping in the cute boutiques, dining in the terrific restaurants. But one of the best is to spend an afternoon crabbing off the pier, a meditative act for young and old that lets you enjoy the gorgeous view across the Haro Strait and bring home dinner. (Just remember to get a B.C. Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence first.) Too squeamish to catch your own? Pop into the nearby fish market and check out the catch of the day.

24. GROOVY GOUGÈRES

Keep going past the ferry terminal, past where you even think there’s a road, deep into Canoe Cove, and you will find the most charming little bakery and restaurant, the Fox & Monocle Café. A passion project for pastry chef Tracie Zahavich and chef Ross Bowles, who bring Michelin-starred experience to all they do, it is by day the place to go for perfect babka buns and cream puffs and, in the evening, for French-inspired, locally flavoured dinners, best begun with the gorgeously cheesy pastries known as gougères.

25. FARM-FRESH EXPERIENCES

You may not realize it as you zip along busy Pat Bay Highway to the ferry terminal, but the Saanich Peninsula is farm country, criss-crossed with side roads leading to homey markets, honour farm stands, family-run wineries, heritage orchards and other rural experiences. Among them, we especially love the terrific deals at Dan’s Farm & Country Market, the sweet berries at Michell’s Farm Market, the charming chicken paintings by Catherine McLeod at Roost Farm Winery, Bakery and Bistro, the daily New York-style pizzas at Fickle Fig Farm Market and the animal connection programs for the little ones at Bear N Bee Therapeutic Farm.

Bring a cooler and your sense of adventure, and celebrate the bucolic riches of this place we’re so lucky to call home.

HUNGRY HEARTS

Victoria’s premier culinary showdown and gala fundraiser for Our Place Society

On September 21st, eight of the region’s top chefs will join Our Place at the beautiful Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort for the 10th annual Hungry Hearts gala.

An exciting culinary competition to create the most heartfelt dishes, Hungry Hearts celebrates Victoria’s culinary excellence and caring culture.

Funds raised by Hungry Hearts are instrumental in helping Our Place provide care, opportunity and hope to people struggling with poverty, addiction and homelessness in Greater Victoria. This 10th annual Hungry Hearts is a milestone event and pivotal opportunity to break the cycle of addiction for the women of Vancouver Island. Our Place is poised to open the first

Women’s Recovery Program on Vancouver Island. This ground-breaking initiative is slated to open in Fall of 2024 at their New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community. It will be the sole long-term recovery program for women on the Island.

“We have seen life saving and life changing results from the men’s recovery program at New Roads,” explains Director of Philanthropy, Janice Kalin. “We are hungry to provide the same care and opportunity to the women of Vancouver Island.”

All proceeds raised at Hungry Hearts 2024 will directly support Our Place’s Therapeutic Recovery Community, enabling them to provide urgently needed support to the most vulnerable people in society — women battling addiction.

Not just an incredible culinary event, but a heartfelt gathering of community and business leaders. Hungry Hearts spotlights stories of compassion, inspiration and hope.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is proud to remain the Presenting Sponsor of Hungry Hearts for all 10 years of the event. Sponsors like PwC lead the community in their commitment to helping Our Place serve the most vulnerable people in society.

A delicious night out, with heart, Hungry Hearts features elevated cuisine from eight top chefs, complimentary drinks, live music, grand auction and meaningful networking opportunities.

Savour the date and secure your tickets today at: www.ourplacesociety.com

SHINE FINANCIAL GROUP

Your financial partner in times of change

Shine Financial Group is a unique wealth management firm that specializes in working with women during and after times of transition, specifically divorce and widowhood. Led by portfolio manager

Charlotte Paul, Shine’s approach is built upon understanding, strong relationships and trust; they see each client relationship as a partnership. The foundation of this approach comes from Charlotte’s personal experience navigating through major life transitions — including the death of a partner — which has given her a unique understanding of the fears, emotions and challenges women face at these critical times. Her mission is to help women establish independence and financial wellbeing with empathy and compassion, so they can feel confident and knowledgeable with their financial path.

After a major life change, such as a divorce or death, suddenly having to deal with estates, insurance, investment accounts and day-today financials seemingly all at once can be

overwhelming. Charlotte takes a multi-step approach to her clients’ financial health that meets them where they are on an emotional level first, and pairs that with where they need to get to financially. This approach of planning what to tackle first, second and beyond will help with the decision making process and make things feel much more manageable and less stressful overall.

Charlotte Paul, CIM Associate Portfolio Manager Assante Capital Management Ltd.

Taking the time to listen and understand circumstances, goals and aspirations serves as the basis from which Charlotte and her team develop a personalized financial roadmap that addresses both long- and short-term needs for clients and their families. Shine Financial Group recognizes that financial wealth is not just measured by numbers but in

the tangible achievements of the goals set by their clients. Over the years, they have helped countless women navigate financial challenges, capitalize on opportunities and achieve their financial goals. From growing wealth to preserving assets for future generations, Shine Financial Group has a track record of delivering results.

Unlike many other firms, Shine takes on a ‘no-pressure’ attitude and wants to work with those interested in a two-way relationship with their financial advisor.

Are you curious about finding out where you stand in terms of meeting your financial goals? Make an investment in yourself and call or email Shine Financial Group to book your complimentary goals assessment. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

AUSCA DENTAL

Shattering the Stereotype

For many, the mere thought of a dental appointment can evoke a wave of anxiety. It’s a narrative many of us are familiar with — dental anxieties that stem from past negative experiences or simply the fear of the unknown.

Introducing AUSCA Dental, where Dr. Braden Zoon and Dr. Denysse Zoon are on a mission to redefine the dental experience. It’s not just about fixing teeth; it’s about changing perceptions and breaking down barriers to create a welcoming, comfortable environment for every patient who walks through their doors. Their clinic is environmentally conscious, featuring advancements such as a living wall for purifying air and hospital-grade HEPA air filtration to ensure a clean environment.

AUSCA Dental proudly presents the concept of “Dentistry Evolved” — a philosophy that seamlessly merges advanced technology with a compassionate touch. From the moment patients arrive, they are greeted with an atmosphere designed to calm nerves and soothe anxieties. Their modern facilities reflect their commitment to excellence, boasting advanced technology such as their digital X-rays, a next-generation cone-beam computed tomography machine and intraoral scanners. This technology not only streamlines procedures but also minimizes discomfort. Do you struggle with tooth sensitivity? No problem! They use the EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) system for a more comfortable dental cleaning. Whether it’s a routine cleaning or more

complex dental treatment, patients can trust they are receiving top-tier care.

“Everyone was very kind and professional at Ausca Dental. The equipment is very modern and it was evident that great care was taken to make a patient feel at ease. Dr. Braden Zoon was very skilled and my filling replacement was completed very quickly and pain free.” — Brad J.

If the idea of visiting the dentist fills you with unease, allow AUSCA Dental to introduce you to a different side of dentistry — one that is gentle, compassionate and dedicated to your comfort. Take that important step toward a healthier smile and book your appointment today. New patients and emergencies are always welcome. Same day appointments are available. Call 250-419-8484 to book.

thoughtful is

LIFE AT HOME

By Danielle Pope | Photos by Jeffrey Bosdet

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

A two-storey penthouse with spectacular views goes from blank slate to soirée central.

When Kayla and Adam moved into their luxury penthouse overlooking downtown, they were awed by the vantage point: 180-degree views of the city, the distant Olympic mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

It didn’t matter that their only furniture, for months, was a pair of camping chairs placed strategically by the windows in their otherwise empty 3,500-square-foot loft. They didn’t want to commit to the wrong motif, after all — but the scene was comical.

“We wanted it to look nice, but we could not even decide on the kitchen table,” says Kayla.

The newlywed couple was united on that front.

“We knew, pretty quickly, we would need help with even the basic things,” says Adam.

A ONE-OF-A-KIND

FIND

It wasn’t long before the pair reached out to Iván Meade, principal designer and founder of Meade Design Group. They wanted to turn their new home into a space where they would feel proud to hold social soirées above the city — and one where they could relax, just the two of them, away from their hectic professional lives.

The view from this downtown condo was spectacular, but the giant columns posed a design challenge. Iván Meade’s team introduced layers of texture — for instance, in the blue velvet accent chair and custom fabric sectional, both by Rove Concepts — and made the most of the room’s height with the Bocci 100.11 chandelier.

“IT’S NOT YOUR TYPICAL WEST COAST CONDO — WE WANTED SOMETHING MORE SOPHISTICATED.”

Meade recalls his first visit: The views were the best he’d ever seen in Victoria. The two-storey penthouse was a one-of-a-kind find. Yet five massive columns overtook the living space and an almost-hidden fireplace under a stairwell created a confusing distraction from the focal point of the view.

“It was actually a very awkward space,” says Meade. “It had remarkable views, almost all windows, but no walls to hang art and a fireplace under the stairs, which made no sense.”

While Meade was thrilled with the available space, creating style sans walls demanded some creativity. The space needed to reflect the youthful energy of the couple and the modern vibrancy of downtown, while also offering a reprieve from it.

Meade opted for an eclectic palette: custom and European pieces, a classic black-and-white scheme and dramatic pops of colour. Sweeping low, organic forms encourage movement in the space, with an aim to offset the rigidity of the building’s more industrial, rectilinear elements.

Gathering areas were a priority throughout the home, with coves for the couple to enjoy a visit with guests while experiencing the vista. Two custom light installations draw attention upwards,

Above: Stone becomes a grounding feature in this high-rise design, with the marble side table from CB2 and feature coffee table from Eichholtz.

Right: The twin leather lounge chairs by CB2, offset with textural pillows from Maxwell Fabrics, create a chic and cozy conversational nook.

and suspended furnishings inspire conversation. The curved sofa by Rove Concepts is a feature of the room, capitalizing on the premium view.

“The furniture has to work with the scale of the home so it doesn’t feel so empty,” says Meade, noting most pieces are large and low. “The curved sofa and the art was really important in this type of project. It’s not your typical West Coast condo — we wanted something more sophisticated.”

The greatest shift of the reno was the feature wall divider Meade conceptualized to add calming stabilization to the room and counter the “fishbowl” effect of being almost surrounded by windows. The millwork and inset fireplace add a romantic touch for the couple to enjoy. The wall also holds space for a huge, 60-by-60-inch, custom piece by Victoria artist Natalie Brake. The artwork was commissioned specifically for the couple, and introduces bold colour to the home while giving onlookers a captivating view away from the natural ones.

The artful entryway features a sculptural yellow credenza by Inés Benavides beneath an art series by Victor Vasarely, a leader of the 20thcentury Op-art movement.

To create a luxurious touch, Meade added velvet fabrics, natural woods and stone sculptures. He also drafted the traditional dining area into the living zone and created a dining nook by the kitchen to seat a modest

“We never would have thought, ourselves, of moving the location of the table. It’s so much more functional,” says Kayla. “When we have friends over, the layout really carries people through different parts of the living area — you’re in the living space for appetizers, at the dining table for the main. It turned our home into this natural flow, and the side tables and stools can move around, too, so it has extra flexibility,

Despite their stunning social setting, the couple says they are still settling in. Their bedroom — ironically — is little more than a mattress on the floor. It’s the next spot for

“The millworker who built the wall panels, Jordan Cassidy, said everything should look like it has always been here — but also adds depth to the space,” says Adam. “That’s really what our home has become. It all belongs.”

While the current setup leaves no hint of the original camping chairs, Kayla confesses that, as much as she loves their furniture now, she sometimes misses the nostalgia. No surprise: Their favourite place is still where

“Iván designed everything looking out, right down to mirror reflections, so that even if you’re facing somewhere else you still catch glimpses of the view,” says Adam. “Everything looks great, but it’s also very comfortable. There were so many pieces I would never have considered in a furniture store — like our couch — but, in our home, it fits perfectly and it’s where I sit all the time.”

The kitchen and dining areas are designed for easy entertaining. Sliding glass doors close off the clutter of prep work in the kitchen.

Utopia mini pendants by Kelly Wearstler illuminate gatherings at the island. In the far corner, a Rock Table by MDF Italia accommodates a modest number of guests.

PROJECT SUPPORT

Interior design: Meade Design Group

Contractor: Mathieu Lord

Electrical:

David Joseph, Cedarhill Electric

Millwork:

Jordan Cassidy, Cassidy Woodcraft & Design

Sophia Pastras Client Care & Marketing Coordinator (unlicensed)

Laura Roberts Operations Manager

Saira Reynolds* Sales Representative

Sonya Conn Sales Representative

Miles Lyndan Sales Representative

PATIO PREP

10 steps to getting your favourite outdoor space ready for the best summer ever.

By Joanne Sasvari

Whether your patio is a vast, sweeping veranda overlooking the Salish Sea or a tiny balcony overlooking a parking lot, chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time on it this summer. That means you’ll want to make it functional, comfortable and beautiful. But if it’s been neglected for a while, or even just over the winter months, it probably needs a little work to make it, well, work. Here’s a 10-step plan for creating your perfect summer patio.

1. CLEAN, PAINT, REPAIR

Before you can get to the fun of decorating, you’ll need to tackle the not-somuch-fun of cleaning up. Even if you keep your patio in good nick, wind, rain, sun, heat, cold and even pollen will take their toll. Start by cleaning off the dead leaves, cobwebs and any other debris, then scrub any grimy surfaces — you may need to hire someone to power-wash if things are especially dire — and launder any furniture, cushions and/ or fabrics. Once your patio is clean, assess to see if there’s any damage, then get to work patching and painting.

2. DESIGN IT FOR THE LIFE YOU LIVE

Your patio is where you relax with a good book, work on that challenging project, host your famous Canada Day dinner party and enjoy a quiet breakfast with the family. So no matter how small it is, your patio should have a comfy area for lounging and a table and chairs for dining or working. If possible, design it in zones — an outdoor bar can be a space-saving area for socializing, for instance, while privacy barriers can create separate “rooms.”

3. KEEP IT SHADY, COOL AND DRY

You could design the prettiest patio ever, but no one’s going to use it if it’s battered by relentless sun or rain. The easiest way to fend off the elements is to pop open an umbrella, either the kind of upright market umbrella that fits through a hole in a table or an offset one cantilevered over your seating area. But umbrellas have their limitations — they can get blown around in high winds, for instance, and don’t always cover the area fully. Luckily, there are loads of other options as well, including both permanent and temporary structures. Among them: shade sails, awnings, retractable canopies, pergolas and gazebos, with or without curtains. If budget and building restrictions are no obstacle, you can also build a roof over your space and install outdoor ceiling fans, drapery and lighting. Also: If you want to use your patio year round, consider investing in a portable electric or propane heater.

4. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FURNITURE

When it comes to deciding how to furnish your patio, you will need to consider style, size, colour, budget and what you actually want your furniture to do. Do you want a cushioned sectional sofa to sprawl out on, cottage-country-approved Adirondack chairs to relax in or a farmhouse-style long table with bistro chairs to gather around? Maybe the sun-soaked mid-century chic of an Acapulco chair is more your thing, or a rustic bench that can be tucked away when it’s not needed.

6. GET COOKING

Be brutally honest about the limitations of your patio and what you plan to use it for — you may dream of hosting romantic, Provençal-style dinners all summer, but if you never actually do it, buying a long table and all those chairs is a waste of money and space.

Patio furniture can vary wildly from the flimsy, moulded plastic chairs you’ll find at a big box store to designer-approved pieces in luxe natural materials that may last a lifetime, but can cost thousands of dollars and require serious maintenance. One choice that falls somewhere in the middle in terms of style, durability and cost is the C.R. Plastics line of North American-made recycled-plastic chairs, tables and loungers that come in a rainbow of summer-approved hues.

5. LET THERE BE LIGHT

Well-placed lighting can create a welcoming ambience, but more importantly, it makes your outdoor space safer and more functional. Many umbrellas, pergolas, gazebos and other sun shelters come with LED lighting built right in. You can install wall sconces or, if you have a roof over your patio, ceiling lights, even a chandelier. You can also hang fairy lights or arrange portable lanterns or flameless candles wherever needed. Just keep in mind that, given the severe fire risk we’ve seen these past few summers, it’s best to avoid anything with live flame.

When the weather is sultry, who wants to turn on the stove? Better to fire up the grill and dine outside on your beautiful patio. A fully equipped outdoor kitchen is great if you have the time, room, budget and energy to build one. Even if you don’t, a grill is a crucial addition to your outdoor living space, along with a surface for food prep and serving. (Opt for an electric grill if you are in an apartment, and avoid using charcoal on wooden decks.) You should also add a cooler or fridge for beverages and perishables, bins for waste, tools for cooking and serveware that won’t break if dropped, such as today’s gorgeous melamine dishes and acrylic glasses.

7. ACCESSORIZE WITH FLAIR

Even if you play it safe and invest in quality furniture in neutral colours and timeless styles, you can still have fun decorating with vibrant accessories and even switch them up year after year. Among them: bright, cheerful, weatherresistant cushions, outdoor rugs, tablecloths and decorative tchotchkes. Consider creating a focal point with a firepit (gas or propane if you live in the CRD) and/or putting up a privacy barrier that you can paint in fun colours or use to display wall art. And don’t forget to have some cozy throws on hand for guests to snuggle up in if the weather gets chilly.

Larkin Melamine Dinnerware Collection, Pottery Barn

C.R. Plastics Harvest Collection

NOMA outdoor LED Solar Accent wallmounted deck lights

9. ADD SOME GREENERY

A few pots of growing things will make your patio look pretty and right in step with the biophilia trend. Plants can also add lovely fragrance, attract pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies, and, in the case of citronella, lemon balm, lavender or peppermint, even repel mosquitoes and flies. Besides, every cook needs a few containers of culinary herbs like basil, mint, parsley, chives, sage, rosemary and thyme.

10. PREPARE FOR NEXT SEASON

8. DON’T FORGET THE TUNES!

Music not only sets the tone for any gathering, it disguises noise from traffic or your annoying neighbours. And there’s no need to wire in a fancy sound system — you can just opt for high-quality portable outdoor speakers that easily connect by Bluetooth to your mobile phone.

Nobody wants to think about fall when summer hasn’t even arrived, but having a plan now will help reduce the hassle at the end of the season. Invest in covers for your patio furniture and bins for the rest of your outdoor gear, and find a place to store it all. Come fall, clean the grill (so it doesn’t attract rodents when it’s not in use), powerwash and, if needed, stain the deck, and look for end-of-season deals if you need to replace anything.

When next summer rolls around, your patio will be ready — and so will you.

@bagheera_boutique_victoria bagheeravictoria.ca

Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth speaker

Easy & Breezy

Summer in the city means easygoing looks that take you from work to play to a sauna in the harbour. It’s all about cool layers, natural textures, earthy hues — and a vibe that is as relaxed as it is sophisticated.

for Anything

Fashion Stylist: Janine Metcalfe

Photographer: Jeffrey Bosdet

Ready

Ginger woven linen tiered dress and sleeveless top, both by Velvet, and Vienna long cardigan in caramel by Line, all available at Bernstein & Gold. Rebecca buckle leather sandal by Shoe the Bear, available at Bernstein & Gold. Palma Fedora by Lack Of Color, available at Moden Boutique.

Down to Earth Tones

Tania top and trousers in Seasand by NÜ Denmark, Piet ivory-and-gold earrings by Iskin Sisters and leather tote by preneLOVE, all available at Moden Boutique.

Chill in the City

Brisa knit top by Shaina Mote, Cambria hemp pant by Jungmaven and Mei linen house dress by Sunday Morning, all available at Open House. Frayed-edge raffia hat by Tilley, available at Adventure Clothing.

Tulum tote by Lu & Elle and Rebecca buckle leather sandals by Shoe the Bear (seen on the cover), both available at Bernstein & Gold.

Pattern of Perfection

Ron print dress by Lauren Vidal and Walnut woven pants by Renuar, available at Adventure Clothing.

Piet ivory-and-gold earrings by Iskin Sisters, available at Moden Boutique. Shell sandals by Beatrice Valenzuela, available at Open House.

Leafy Greens

White tank, leaf-print shorts, knit sweater and scarf all by Luisa Cerano, all available at Bagheera Boutique.

Model: Sharleen/Key Model Management

Hair and makeup: Anya Ellis/Lizbell Agency

Hair products from Aveda

Makeup from Sappho New Paradigm

Shot on location at HAVN Saunas

Gold to Go Goldie Scrunch Onesie by Bad Moon, available at badmoonsuits.com.

Friends share our jokes, feed the cat while we’re away and help us live longer, happier lives. Here’s how to make sure that you’re there for them, too.

By Melissa Gignac

I’ll Be There for You

How much easier life would be if, like the ’90s sitcoms Friends and Seinfeld, adulthood was populated by a tight circle of friends constantly bursting through our doors (do New York apartment buildings not have front door buzzers?), our lives inextricably intertwined. The expectation of full, breezy social lives we grew up watching on TV has, for many, not matched our reality, particularly in a culture that prioritizes business before buddies.

“Over the last few centuries, we have increasingly sacrificed community for work and convenience,” the psychologist Marisa G. Franco writes in her bestselling 2022 book Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — And Keep — Friends. “We live in a society in which it is acceptable to cancel plans with friends for work, but never vice versa. One in which giving up a promotion to have free time for the people you love is wasted potential.” In essence, we are working ourselves into isolation.

Some might argue that family is enough, but as Franco notes, friendships are different from familial and intimate partner relationships. They are not shackled to the expectations and hopes our parents may have for us, the responsibility we bear our children or the “insurmountable expectation of being someone’s everything” that can mire spousal relations. “Platonic love lies at the lowest rung of the hierarchy our culture places on love,” Franco adds. “But I’ve learned it’s a devastating loss to all of us if we dispose of it there.”

In other words: We can survive without friends, but without them we can not truly thrive. But it takes effort to make and keep friends. Here’s how to do it — and why it’s so important.

HOW TO BE A GOOD FRIEND

Friendships take many forms. There are friends whose daily texts or propensity for a welltimed meme provide life-affirming levity, friends with whom we share time only when engaged in a particular interest or activity, and friends that, due to distance or circumstance, we rarely see or speak to, but who would be the first to offer an organ if the need arose.

Regardless of the type of friendship, it’s imperative that we show up authentically — and accept our friends for who they are, too. Franco says: “Authenticity nurtures friendship because humans are social beings, which means that when we’re authentic, we unleash our nature of empathy and compassion.” Authenticity also empowers vulnerability — it is when we are willing to be vulnerable that we open ourselves to being accepted and loved exactly as we are, without guards.

Like all relationships, friendships require maintenance, and it’s often the little things, not the grand gestures, that make the biggest impact. Think about the things that might be affecting your friends, positive and negative, and check in with them. A call to ask about a new job, a loved one’s health issue or how they’re handling a newly empty nest lets our friends know they are on our minds, and that we want them to share their lives with us.

Offering traditional and holistic slow beauty rituals to our community since 2005. Organic Skincare Ayurvedic Treatments Therapeutic Massage • Vegan Nailcare

714 View Street 250-385-6676 sapphiredayspa.com sapphiredayspa

Business Starts Here.

The Business Hub at the Victoria Conference Centre Open M – F, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 720 Douglas Street 250.361.0629 | bizhub@victoria.ca victoria.ca/bizhub

Beyond making a call, showing up for what’s important to our friends is an act of solidarity. It’s important, though, to remember that we don’t all have the same goals. Weddings and baby showers might be peak pride for some, while for others career, academic achievements or checking destinations off the travel bucket list are cause for celebration. Life landmarks, celebratory events and rough patches are different for everyone, and recognizing and celebrating your friends’ priorities, as well as supporting them through losses, shows that you’re measuring their milestones by their own metric of importance, not yours.

Random acts of thoughtfulness are as appreciated in platonic relationships as they are in romantic ones. Buy (and mail!) that card that reminds you of an inside joke, send flowers “just because” or schedule an “I miss your face” coffee date.

And, on occasion, be willing to be inconvenienced. It helps to reframe the ask — view a request to drive your friend to the airport or ferry as an opportunity for one-onone conversation rather than a demand of your time. Even better, offer to drive.

WHY IT MATTERS

Marla Paul, author of The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore, suggests that, “Whatever reason pals are scarce, the impact is the same. It’s like missing an essential nutrient. Without friends, problems weigh more and pleasures yield less joy. It’s a palpable void.”

Having a strong support network doesn’t just make life’s successes more joyful and challenges more navigable. It can also affect our health, both physical and mental. “Psychologists theorize that our relationships, like oxygen, food and water, are necessary for us to function,” Franco notes. “When stripped of them, we cannot thrive, which explains why friendships have powerful influences on mental and physical health.”

Random acts of thoughtfulness are as appreciated in platonic relationships as they are in romantic ones.

Small acts of kindness and compassion let people we love know how much we value them and keep our relationships alive. And it matters — friendships make our lives not only more enjoyable, but can help us live longer. It’s vital that we put in the effort to make them flourish.

For those facing major health issues like heart disease or cancer — or dealing with the loss of a spouse — the emotional support offered by close friends and confidantes actually decreases risk of death. When we’re facing a stressful situation, talking to a friend literally lowers our blood pressure, slows our heart rate and calms down cortisol.

Studies have also shown that having someone to confide in is the strongest factor for preventing depression — and that the biggest difference between happy and unhappy people is their level of social connection.

We know that friendships are vital, but when life gets busy, they’re often the relationships from which we’re first to disengage. They are not weighted by the same obligation as family or partnerships and are, unfortunately, easier to deprioritize. With shifting demands on our time and energy, how do we determine what our friendships should look like, and ensure that we’re putting in as much as we’re asking back?

As a certain theme song once put it, being a good friend might actually be pretty simple: “I’ll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour). I’ll be there for you (like I’ve been there before). I’ll be there for you (‘cause you’re there for me, too).”

C O U R T R O O M C A S E :

How to Make a Friend

Perhaps you’re in a new city, a new job or a new stage of life. For whatever reason, you might be feeling a lack of friends and confidantes. But how does one go about finding new friends when you’re an adult and “Hey, do you want to play?” doesn’t hit quite the same as it did on the playground? Here are seven ways to meet new people and maybe even discover a kindred spirit.

1.

Get started online with local Facebook and MeetUp groups targeting people who share your interests and values. Then, when you’re ready to connect IRL, check out community centres, professional associations and the characters who populate your block.

2.

Are you a hobbyist? No matter how niche, there’s someone who shares your passion. Whether it’s classic cars, rocks and gems, or vintage vinyl that floats your boat, you’re bound to bond with like-minded enthusiasts at local meetups.

3.

Work from home starting to feel like where (do) friends hide? Try joining — or starting — a weekly coffee group for professional peers, attend CreativeMornings (free monthly lectures designed for creative communities) or bookmark co-working space and professional association web pages for social and networking events.

4.

If you’re outdoorsy, hiking, birding and local environmental stewardship groups are great places to meet fellow nature enthusiasts. Or sign up for one of Surfrider’s monthly beach cleanups to spend a few hours fostering connections while spiffing up our shorelines.

5. Perhaps you have a yearning to learn. Local recreation centres offer far more than fitness — friendships can be forged in classes that cover cooking, art and languages, or via naturalist groups that explore local parks. Classes, rather than workshops, offer the advantage of the “mere exposure effect” by which we come to like someone merely by being exposed to them repeatedly.

6.

Tear down fences. Well, not literally. Take the initiative to invite your friendliest neighbours for a casual coffee or cocktail. Not only might you make a mate, but you could also find yourself with a safety net when the cat needs to be fed or you’re freaking out that you forgot to turn off the oven.

7. Revisit your Rolodex. It may seem obvious, but the friends you already have are a rich resource. The people in their circles are prevetted and by sharing a mutual friend you already have something in common. And, of course, it’s never too late to reconnect with old friends, too.

thoughtful is

Paddling in Paradise

A kayak trip through Gulf Islands National Park Reserve offers a chance to connect with nature — and your inner adventurer.

By Susan Hollis | Photos by Dave Heath

How many adventures are almost unhad, tangled as they get in the demands of adult life? More than my younger self would have ever guessed. Back then, deciding to head off at the last minute was a constant, often with only the vaguest of plans in place and always with that one girlfriend who was up for something out of the ordinary.

For me, that person is Andrea Miller, my bestever adventure buddy, who I met when we both worked at a small weekly newspaper in Nelson. Together we’ve skied into the West Kootenay mountains at night in search of remote, natural hot springs someone mentioned at the pub. We’ve pitched tents on the bank of a river without considering what an unexpected heavy rainfall could do to the waterline overnight. We hitchhiked from Puerto Vallarta to La Ticla, Mexico, when we were far too old to blame youth for our optimistic (read: sketchy) decision-making.

The most times I’ve almost died have been with her, and the memories are indelible.

So when Andrea called up last August and asked if I wanted to hop in a kayak and go camping on a small island in the Salish Sea I immediately said no. I didn’t have childcare, and my well-run domestic empire would fall apart without me. (It wouldn’t, but these are the stories we tell ourselves at a certain stage of life.) But Andrea is nothing if not persistent. She kept reaching out, texting me little bits of encouragement and reminding me of the old days when we did that stuff all the time. I finally relented. How could I say no?

The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is an easy, protected and justadventurous-enough beautiful paddle amongst 15 islands and countless islets set in the pristine waters of Haro Strait.

LEARNING EN ROUTE

That’s how I ended up standing on the dock at the Port Sidney Marina on a bluebird August day in 2023, feeling like the proverbial fish out of water while our guide calmly helped us pack the boats. Learning to sea kayak during an expedition, rather than beforehand, felt like a bad idea. What if the wind picked up and blew us to Japan? What if a whale wanted to play with us? I knew so little about kayaking in general that the mission ahead felt daunting, even if the plan seemed relatively simple. We would hop in the kayaks and paddle north into the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, weaving between Kolb and Harlock islands, past Goudge Island and across the tip of Coal Island before pausing to carefully time our passage across the very active BC Ferries route near Swartz Bay. I had never been in an ocean kayak, or any kayak for that matter, for longer

than five minutes. Canoes, rafts, tubes and paddleboards, yes, but this type of boat was new. Andrea, the marketing director for Destination Castlegar, is a certified whitewater paddleboard instructor who co-owns a riverside paddle shop called Endless Adventure in Crescent Valley, B.C. She spends more time on water than most, and even has a waterfall named after her. Joining us were her friend (and now mine) Kristy Jahn-Smith and photographer Dave Heath. They had all driven from the Kootenay region to take on a series of water-based adventures to info-gather, document and connect with trip operators for Andrea’s new tourism initiative, Paddle BC, a website dedicated to helping people safely enjoy lakes, rivers and ocean across the province.

Jahn-Smith is a tourism specialist who sits with Andrea on the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Board — that is to say, she also does

What if the wind picked up and blew us to Japan? What if a whale wanted to play with us? I knew so little about kayaking in general that the mission ahead felt daunting, even if the plan seemed relatively simple.

Writer Susan Hollis (in the foreground, above) and her friend Andrea Miller set out on a bluebird day for a kayaking adventure to Portland Island.

a lot of fun stuff in the wilderness on the reg. Heath is a prolific Kootenay-based adventure photographer and longtime sailor who I’ve known for years through the Nelson media community. Like all longtime sailors, he knows everything about everything when it comes to travelling by sea. Within minutes of landing on the dock, he had strapped his camera gear to his kayak and a cheerful Mexican grass hat to his head and was singing funny a capella love songs from his boat before we had even left the marina.

I love the ocean, but am aware of how little I really know about being on it. It turns out that decades of staring from shore do absolutely nothing to up one’s general knowledge of boating. That’s where it was really handy to have guide Amber Champion for the day. She would take us over to Portland Island and leave us on our own for the night and the return paddle home.

Champion is, along with Alison Moorwood, the co-owner of Blue Dog Kayaking, which runs day trips, guided tours, workshops and clinics out of the Port Sidney and Mill Bay marinas, plus off-season instructional expeditions in Belize. She was the first woman (and youngest person) to complete the Sea Kayaking Curriculum at Paddle Canada, the country’s national association for recreational paddling. An even-keeled, highly trained and certified oceankayaking expert with eight years of professional kayaking and instruction under her belt, Champion seems to thrive on getting people like me safely out on the water.

The paddlers break for lunch on Portland Island, once inhabited by Hawaiian farmers.

She assured me that, between the calm ocean forecast and the steadfastness of the ocean kayak’s design, we had nothing to do but look forward to an excellent passage.

NAVIGATING NEW CURRENTS

Most of us Islanders have stood broadside the ferry as it leaves Swartz Bay, staring at the wild, tree-covered croppings rising out of the Salish Sea. Green and still, the 15 islands and numerous islets in the Gulf Island National Park Reserve feel ancient and right, a good place to live if the world hadn’t spun through colonization and industrial revolution and forever reshaped how humans inhabit the Earth, both for the region’s Coast Salish people and for the settlers who followed. The WSÁNEĆ — Coast Salish Salt Water People — have lived off, from and around these islands for thousands of years. It’s a rich place to be, even if only for a night or two spent tucked into a fir-strewn bluff overlooking sandy beaches where buried clams send streams of seawater jetting hip-high in comical blasts at low tide.

Our destination, Portland Island, is located around five kilometres from the Port Sidney Marina, accessible only by private boat. It was on Andrea’s bucket list, as most of her extensive water experience has taken place on rivers and lakes in inland British Columbia. For her, the ocean has its own unique draw.

“I love the challenge of reading rivers — it requires focus, stability and power. There is a beginning and an end to the journey that comes with the appreciation of conquering,” Andrea told me. “Ocean paddling is new and exciting for me. Navigating the ocean currents with an abundance of marine life has me curious. It seems limitless, but also intimidating, which presents an opportunity to push my skills and evolve my knowledge.”

Portland Island was formerly known as (and is still occasionally referred to

Light and manoeuvrable though they are, the sea kayaks can also carry a surprising amount of gear.

as) Princess Margaret Island, due to a brief diplomatic gifting of the land in 1958 from the Province to the late Queen’s sister, who gifted it back some nine years later to establish a marine park. Prior to all the Commonwealth hullabaloo, the island was home to Hawaiian settlers, who planted orchards and relied on agriculture reaped from its fertile soils through the 1800s. It, along with surrounding islands, was an integral part of Indigenous lands that stretch for hundreds of kilometres along the Pacific Northwest coastline.

Today, as part of a national reserve, Portland has three backcountry campgrounds — Shell Beach, Princess Bay and Arbutus Point — with 24 sites in total linked by a six-and-a-halfkilometre hiking trail that takes a leisurely three hours to complete. Portland’s campsites are considered “primitive” in that they have no freshwater source, but offer decent outhouses and an old-school cash-in-box honour system for payment. Parks Canada employees arrive by boat daily to keep an eye on things. It feels very nostalgic compared to other campsites I’ve been to in recent years, where portable solar panels charging laptops and cellphones have become the norm.

REVIVED, REFRESHED, RE-ENERGIZED

During our two-and-a-half-hour paddle, I learned that ocean kayaking requires little more than a goal within a reasonable distance and an inclination to take one’s time. According to Champion, the biggest threat to safety is motor boats (particularly those coming up from the south whose pilots may not be familiar with the region or be more lax with boating protocols). The only time we paddled to an arm-aching end was a 25-minute segment when we crossed the ferry route — the rest was a leisurely pace in boats designed to move lightly and quickly across the surface of the ocean.

After a lunch break on Portland Island’s

southern Shell Beach, we followed the island’s edge west until we landed at the north-facing Arbutus Point, setting up camp at two grassy sites between the edge of the woods and the ocean. We unpacked our gear — enough fresh water for four adults, sleeping bags, food, one small tent for me (the rest slept in hammocks under the stars) and our small personal packs. (The thing about kayak camping is that while you can only take what fits in the boat, ocean kayaks are surprisingly large, with open cavities in front and back that can hold a good assortment of necessities.)

Other campers in our area included three older gentlemen who had been fishing and

award-winning jewellery designers and makers since 1972 950 Fort Street Victoria BC | 250-383-3414 | www.idar.com | @idarjewellers

The paddlers enjoy the sunset — and later the star-strewn night sky — from a handy hammock.

Arabesque Ring Collection

camping there for ages and happily shared their coffee cream, and a father who boated in with his 11-year-old son. After a hike around the island for sunset, we settled in for an evening that stayed sultry and warm, the quiet chatter from other campers barely discernible, Salt Spring and Pender islands rising in the not-too-far-off distance.

Following a sound sleep, our group scattered along the shore to unfold stiff limbs into sandy yoga stretches and a few morning meditations. The campsite was quiet and all who had slept there were respectful of the mood. We spent the rest of the day exploring the island’s beaches and hiking parts of the trail we hoped would lead to

the overgrown orchards planted so improbably by Hawaiian settlers some 200 years ago.

By the afternoon, we had packed up and turned our kayaks back toward Sidney, revived, refreshed and planning a longer stay with more island-hopping the following summer.

“The most common feedback we’ve received is about how relaxing people find a good paddle — more of a calm paddle — and how balanced they feel after a nice weekend away by the ocean,” says Champion. “Something about being close to the ocean and hearing the waves lap along the shoreline, how their bodies begin to regulate with daylight and how energized they feel going back into their lives.

“Research shows blue spaces are as important as green spaces,” she adds.

“Especially the ocean. It has the ability to regulate our nervous system, making us happier and more able to handle unforeseen challenges in our lives. With that said, it is important to get basic training if you’re planning on exploring without a guide or trained professional.”

While our perfect, calm and sunny paddle to Portland and back didn’t create an expert paddler of me (yet), it did open up a mode of travel that requires very little effort, money or even muscle. It also gave me a new way to access some of B.C.’s less populated island campgrounds. And while Andrea and I didn’t face any near-death experiences this time around, I will no longer hesitate when she calls up for our next adventure. I’ll even hope to find a slice of our old selves out there, pushing us just a little further outside of comfortable.

PLAN YOUR OWN TRIP

British Columbia boasts 25,000 kilometres of coastline, more than 20,000 lakes of all sizes and innumerable rivers and tributaries. Paddle BC is an online resource for paddling activities that include kayaking, rafting, paddleboarding, canoeing and kayak fishing. Find recommended trips, waterways and experiences including articles, interactive maps, videos and stories to safely help plan your own water-based B.C. adventure. paddlebc.ca

Food + Drink

IN SEASON

Roll Out the Basil Barrel

We’ve been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. We’ve been good, listening to the advice of our gardener friends and counting the minutes to Victoria Day. When the long weekend finally arrives, and the danger of frosty nights is over, we can finally plant our basil in the garden.

Basil is a tender and fragrant annual herb that loves full sun and lots of heat. You can start it indoors, but be sure to keep it there until summer arrives. Once it does, we love to plant a big barrel or two of sweet Genovese, spicy Thai and mild dark purple basil and pluck its leaves all summer long for pastas, salads and cocktails. We also like to plant it next to the tomatoes and peppers, because it makes them taste and grow better.

Besides, basil repels mosquitoes, which would make us like it even more, if that was actually possible. Consider it the best and truest taste of summer.

Food + Drink

TASTES+TRENDS

FRESH FLAVOURS

What’s deliciously new in Victoria’s food scene.

WWHEN NOTHING WILL DO BUT CAKE

Sweet treats for all your spring celebrations.

hether you’re planning a birthday party, a wedding or a celebration for Mother’s Day, cake is always part of the plan. Here are some cool ideas for places to have your cake or just share it with someone you love.

GOODSIDE PASTRY HOUSE

For beautiful mousse cakes — think mascarpone mousse layered with coffeesoaked joconde on a crispy hazelnut feuilletine base — GoodSide is our go-to pâtisserie. They also offer absolutely gorgeous little domed entremets (cakes encased in mousse, enrobed with glaze and topped with fine decorations) for one or two to share. goodsidepastryhouse.ca

OOH LA LA

This long-time favourite spot is known for its cupcakes and cakes, including their signature layer cakes (such as red velvet or salted caramel) as well as seasonal bakes and all manner of creative bespoke cakes for celebrations, even vegan and gluten-free options. oohlalacupcakes.ca

RUTH & DEAN

This little café in Estevan Village is the place to stop for a slice of the cake of the day. They don’t make custom cakes to order, but walk-in customers can often find today’s cake in the cooler to take home. ruthanddean.com

NORTHERN BARS

This is the nifty Nanaimo bar in a box, a Vancouver-made treat that turns a family favourite dessert into stylish little bites. Packaged like a beautiful box of chocolates, they’re perfect as host gifts, party favours or a present for yourself. northernbars.ca

CAKE CARDS

When you can’t be there to deliver a cake for someone’s birthday, you can mail an InstaCake Card instead. Sarah Neal makes InstaCake Cards in Lantzville (just outside Nanaimo) — greeting cards with a little cake mix and pop-up microwaveable cup in each one. They send it all for you, including a custom message of your choice. instacakecards.com/shop

By Cinda Chavich

EAT THIS: Handmade Noodles

H ave you tried the handmade noodles at the new JiangYun Noodle House?

It’s a little restaurant on Fort Street featuring just a few dishes — big bowls of noodles in signature sauces and broths, with roast chicken, grilled pork, slow-cooked beef or vegetarian variations. Made from scratch — some even dramatically pulled by hand — these are true artisan Asian noodle dishes, including classics like the Taiwanese beef noodle soup, with tender braised beef in a rich and aromatic beef broth that’s pure comfort.

The owners use the tagline, “A Little Paradise by a Group of Dreamers with Love and Care,” and we couldn’t agree more!

FOR EVEN MORE NOODLES:

Go for the wide variety of Asian soups and other dishes at Ox King Noodles, featuring their own noodles, made fresh daily for their special braised brisket noodle soup as well as Szechuan beef noodles, dan dan noodles and ramen.

Try the chewy, hand-pulled noodles at I Kyu Noodles in Chinatown (we suggest the Zhajiangmian with ground pork bean sauce or Shanghai noodle soup).

Or go to Little Yunnan for their specialty Over the Bridge noodles, a regional dish from Yunnan province in China, served with a buffet of traditional accompaniments.

Coffee Mascarpone Mousse cake from GoodSide Pastry House

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

Bring your cooler and get shopping for local farm produce.

May brings a bounty of flowers and spring vegetables — and they are all featured at local farm markets that reopen outdoors this month for your meandering and shopping pleasure.

Spend a Saturday morning meeting the growers and food vendors at the Moss Street Market as they move outdoors from their indoor winter space to encircle Sir James Douglas elementary in Fairfield (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

It’s not the only option, though — Saturday is a big outdoor farm market day across the South Island. In downtown Victoria, there’s the James Bay Market (9 a.m to 3 p.m.) and, in Langford, the Goldstream Farmers Market in Veterans Memorial Park (10 a.m. to 2 p.m).

Further afield, other Saturday morning markets include the Sooke Country Market, the North Saanich Farm Market and the Peninsula Country Market at the Saanich Fairgrounds.

Or take a drive out to the Cowichan Valley for the Duncan Farmers’ Market, a big outdoor market held every Saturday morning year round (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

The Metchosin Farmers’ Market, meanwhile, runs every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October.

Mid-week, head to one of the two weekly Esquimalt Farmers Markets: Mondays at Esquimalt Gorge Park and Thursdays at Memorial Park (4:30 to 7:30 p.m.).

Some local markets are summertimeonly affairs: the Oaklands Sunset Market, in July and August; the Oak Bay Night Market, June to September; or the Sidney Street Market, June through August.

To confirm opening dates, times and locations for the farmers’ market near you, visit bcfarmersmarkettrail.com

By Cinda Chavich

Taste Your Way Through Chinatown

SAVOUR THE HISTORIC AND MODERN CHARMS OF THIS IMPORTANT NEIGHBOURHOOD, AND A WORLD OF GOOD EATS TO GO WITH.

Victoria has its share of historic high streets, but few are as evocative as Fisgard Street in the heart of Chinatown.

Its 19th-century structures are home to modern restaurants and retailers today, but were once bustling with Chinese commerce — the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the only one in North America to retain much of its original streetscape.

Look up as you stop for a bowl of noodles at Bao or wait in line for a steak dinner at Brasserie L’Ecole. Both restaurants are

located in historic structures, one built to house an early Chinese clan society, the other for the Chinese Empire Reform Association, founded here to champion democratic ideals in China.

Climb the stairs to the top of the Yen Wo Society building next door to visit the country’s oldest Chinese temple or marvel at the massive Lim Dat building spanning the entire 1800-block of Government Street. Once a rice mill, it’s now home to the edgy end dive restaurant and neighbouring Torch Song Café

Imagine chickens and ducks in the courtyard off narrow Fan Tan Alley, now hidden behind chic Ugly Duckling Dining & Provisions, where the chef’s innovative tasting menus are inspired by its historic locale.

At its peak — between 1885 and 1911 — Chinatown covered eight city blocks and was home to thousands of Chinese residents, many of whom arrived to search for gold and work building the national railway.

And there’s still history around every corner.

Masami Teramachi is a local artist who produces charming hand-drawn neighbourhood maps like this handy guide to Victoria’s historic Chinatown. For more, follow her on Instagram @walk_with_masami.

EVOLUTION AND LANDMARKS

Chinatown has had its ups and downs since Chinese immigrants first landed here in 1858, among the 30,000 migrants lured by the Fraser River Gold Rush. Victoria was Canada’s western seaport and the population ballooned overnight, the city’s Chinese community soon the largest and most prosperous in Canada.

Chinese-owned businesses along Fisgard and Cormorant (now Pandora) streets served the Asian community, whether butchers, grocers, barber shops, tailors and restaurants, or opium factories, gambling dens and brothels. It was a lively place, with Chinese theatres, schools, temples and several clan societies (tongs) to help newcomers.

By 1885 there were 15 such charitable groups and some remain, like the Hook Sing Tong and its circa-1911 building on Herald Street, a spectacular stained-glass dome crowning its meeting room.

The Victoria Chinese Public School, with its tiered pagoda roof, was built in response to racial segregation of Chinese students. It still houses the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, formed in 1884 to advocate for disenfranchised Chinese residents. More recently, it has been a driving force behind the modern revitalization of Chinatown.

Chinatown declined after the Second World War, but a restoration project, beginning in the 1970s and continuing today, turned what

“Chinatown is more popular than it’s been for decades — with no empty storefronts as in many other Chinatowns. It’s become a more relevant place for everybody.”

Chinese Victoria: A Long and Difficult Journey detailing 165 years of Chinese settlement with meticulous research and more than 800 historical photographs.

Even as it evolves with new diversity, he says Chinatown’s Asian character endures.

“Chinatown is alive and it’s wonderful,” says Adams, who also leads Chinatown walks with his Discover the Past tour company and sits on the board of the new Victoria Chinese Museum, located in Fan Tan Alley.

“Chinatown is more popular than it’s been for decades — with no empty storefronts as in many other Chinatowns. It’s become a more relevant place for everybody.”

SIGNIFICANTLY ELIMINATE ACNE IN THREE, QUICK 30-MINUTE TREATMENT SESSIONS

FOR MILD, MODERATE, AND CYSTIC ANCE

Food + Drink

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

DINING OUT

Off the Eaten Track also does walking tours in and around Chinatown, its Hip and Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Tour now focusing on the area’s multicultural flavour.

Owner Bonnie Todd acknowledges there are now fewer Chinese stops on the walk, but there are others celebrating Thai, Indian, Mexican, Japanese and Filipino heritage, whether traditional tortillas at MAiiZ Nixtamal, handmade Thai dumplings at Dumpling Drop or purple ube-filled Filipino pastries at Friends & Family Bake

All are set in historic buildings that have been part of this Chinese enclave for more than a century.

“In the ’80s, Chinatown was mostly a tourist attraction, but now it’s attracting locals,” says Todd. “Back in the day, it was old-school trinket shops. Now it’s fine dining, wine bars, bakeries and funky coffee shops — the cool, hip people have moved in.”

But the authentic Asian charm of Chinatown remains, too. There are three Chinese groceries, with fresh vegetables spilling out onto Government and Fisgard streets, and shelves filled with imported foods.

Wah Lai Yuen is a beloved bakery café, a place for warm BBQ pork buns, breakfast congee and seafood hot pots. Adams says his favourite wor wonton soup is found at the Fan Tan Cafe, under its distinctive neon sign across the street, and there is daily dim sum lunch at Golden City and Don Mee restaurants, the latter a longtime landmark and still delivering its stacked bamboo steamers on carts circulating among the tables.

Little Yunnan, a restaurant run by a family that recently arrived from Yunnan province, is famous for its Over the Bridge Noodles, while Silk Road Tea offers a variety of rare teas imported from China.

At the end of Fisgard, the circa-1898 brick building facing Store Street is now home to Eva Schnitzelhaus and Korean Chubby Dumpling, but once housed one of Chinatown’s busy rice mills.

Workers at that mill may have stopped for the glazed duck and BBQ pork hanging in the window at Loy Sing, a meat market that has been in business for more than 130 years, the longest continuously running Chinese store in North America. Loy Sing is now for sale as the owners hope to retire, but community members are actively seeking another Chinese family to continue its historic legacy.

JEFFREY BOSDET/YAM MAGAZINE

Above: For nearly 40 years, Fan Tan Cafe has been dishing out popular dishes like this fan-favourite wor wonton soup.

Left: For a comforting bowl of breakfast congee, Wah Lai Yuen is the place to go.

WALKABOUT THROUGH HISTORY

Victoria’s Chinatown is a National Historic Site, with more 19th-century structures than any other Chinese neighbourhood on the continent.

The colourful Gate of Harmonious Interest welcomes all into the enclave, with glowing red lanterns hanging over Fisgard Street at night, tufted pine trees clipped like giant bonsai and a riot of cherry blossoms in spring.

Beyond this main street, you can explore Herald, Pandora and even Market Square, once bisected by a stream that formed the Chinatown boundary and sustained early Chinese market gardens.

Imagine the 13 opium factories that operated legally here until 1908, the aroma of opium cooking — a bit like boiled potatoes — in the air, while admiring the colourful murals of early family life in Chinatown on a parking garage wall. Find the five-toed Red Dragon looking skyward on a street corner and the symbols of longevity etched into the pavement.

Walk the narrow alleys between red brick buildings — Dragon Alley, Theatre Alley and Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada — where opium and gambling dens were hidden from police raids by heavy metal doors and secret passwords, and now hide trendy townhouses.

When you venture into this corner of the city, whether for dim sum lunch or fine dining, take time to imagine what came before.

It’s all part of the complex history of this colourful neighbourhood and Victoria’s Chinese cultural heritage.

Off the Eaten Track Tours, led by Bonnie Todd, introduce visitors and locals alike to the multicultural tastes of Chinatown.

AT HOME Food + Drink

The Patio Pizzeria

By Cinda Chavich

HOW TO MAKE A PIE LIKE A PROPER PIZZAIOLO IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

The hottest outdoor kitchen accessory this summer is the pizza oven. Contractors can build you an elaborate outdoor kitchen or you can keep it simple with a portable oven small enough to take to the beach. Whichever you choose, here’s what you need to know to create your own patio pizzeria.

BACKYARD BASICS

Options for ovens abound. If you have a budget of $5,000 to $20,000, companies like Canada Outdoor Kitchens can supply wood- or gas-fired Italian pizza ovens from Fontana or Alfa. Coast Appliance has the luxury Alfresco natural gas pizza oven or you can opt for a Wood Stone hearth oven made in Washington state, the kind used at FARO at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

Wicker Land Patio sells Fontana Forni ovens, too, but they also offer a selection of small, portable ovens from Ooni for a more modest budget of $400 to $1,000-plus. They come in a version fired by hardwood pellets, charcoal, gas or propane; Ooni also makes an electric pizza oven to use indoors or out.

But check with your local municipality before you decide to invest in a wood-burning oven.

In the District of Saanich, for example, burning wood in an outdoor firepit, fireplace, pizza oven or chiminea is not allowed, so any outdoor pizza oven must be natural gas or propane fired. And even where wood-fired cooking appliances are allowed, most cannot be used if there are any fire bans in place.

A wood-fired oven adds smoky flavour to

anything cooked in it, but gas and propane are cleaner and easier to control. In any case, the heat source doesn’t matter as much as the location of the heat in relation to the pizza, and the quality of the oven floor. You’ll want to make sure the base of the oven is stone or firebrick, and the domed interior is well insulated to maintain the heat when cooking multiple pies.

Besides, making great pizza is all about high heat and that’s what these ovens promise, with temperatures of 950°F (500°C) to fire a pizza in just 90 seconds (compared with a regular home oven, which maxes out at 550°F and will cook a pizza in eight to 10 minutes).

Also: A pizza peel is essential to manoeuvre your pizza in and out of the hot oven. A handheld infrared thermometer is also useful.

The popular, patiosized Ooni pizza oven produces perfect pies in minutes.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

Local chefs love their wood-fired pizza ovens. There’s a massive stone oven on the patio at Wild Mountain in Sooke, used for both pizzas and roasting meats, and an outdoor oven at Charmer Pizza, operated by the team from Pilgrimme, on Galiano Island.

At Fry’s Bakery, chef Derek Laframboise is in charge of making pizza in the wood-fired bread oven every Sunday. Like the breads, the pizza is made with Fry’s own freshly milled flours and rye sourdough starter.

“When making pizza, you should take time,” says Laframboise. He recommends using a sourdough starter or pre-fermented sponge (called biga in Italy or poolish in France) rather than yeast to start the dough. Then do a “bulk ferment” for at least 24 (and up to 72) hours in the refrigerator to develop the best flavours. “The peak flavour is at Day 3.”

It’s a skill to properly shape and stretch the dough by hand to make great pizza, something that also takes time to master. There are lots of experts to follow online for detailed recipes and videos, from pizza guru Anthony Falco to bread/ pizza queen Nancy Silverton.

As with bread, there’s a learning curve to making perfect pizza and you can really go down a rabbit hole with pizza dough recipes — some pizzaiolos like “00” flour or semolina, even whole grains, in the mix, and some add a splash of olive oil or a touch of honey.

But you can always skip it all and just pick up fresh pizza dough from Ottavio or 900 Degrees Wood-Fired Pizzeria.

ANATOMY OF A PIE

Strictly speaking, a pizza is a savoury pie, a disc of flattened dough topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and any number of other Italian ingredients, from salami and prosciutto to artichokes and olives. Some pizzaiolos veer off into white sauces, pesto and even shrimp and arugula, but less is always more for an authentic Italian pizza.

As the pizza crossed the pond from its original Neapolitan home, it morphed from the traditional thin crust with minimal toppings to deep dish Chicago-style pies, chewy Greek pizzas, popular on the Prairies, or loaded square Detroitstyle pizza and the latest trend, thick, chewy “grandma-style” pan pizza.

Today, the array of melty mashups reflects modern tastes and can be controversial for purists — whether the age-old battle about pineapple with ham, or the weird tradition of

dipping pizza in ranch dressing. Does vegan cheez, cauliflower, butter chicken, blue cheese and beef, or potato and bacon belong on pizza? It’s totally up to you.

But I like to take my cues from the Neapolitan tradition — and local experts at Pizzeria Prima Strada, FARO and Seal Point Pizza — pies with quality Italian toppings on a light, charred and chewy crust, the kind a backyard pizza oven can help you perfect at home.

A Mangiafuoco stainless steel, wood-fired pizza oven.

AT HOME Food + Drink

TOP THIS:

Poolish Pizza

After several experiments with a variety of recipes, I settled on this hybrid of a few. You’ll need to start a day in advance to make the poolish starter (a.k.a. pre-ferment). The dough can be used the same day it’s made, but for more flavour, ferment dough for two to three days in the refrigerator.

POOLISH:

• 1 ½ cups (200 g) flour (I used 1 cup “00” with ½ cup rye flour)

• ¾ cup (200 g) warm water

• Good pinch of instant yeast

Combine all ingredients well in a medium-sized bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm spot for 12 to 15 hours, until bubbly and airy.

PIZZA DOUGH:

• Poolish (above)

• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose or bread flour (I used locally milled Red Fife.)

• 1 ½ tsp salt

• ½ cup cold water

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

After the poolish is bubbly, tip it into the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook, and add the remaining ingredients. Knead on medium low speed for 5 to 8 minutes — the dough will form a nice ball. Divide dough into three balls, 300 g each. Place them on a tray and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to rise for 2 hours, or place in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Return to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.

When you’re ready to cook, preheat the pizza oven and have all your topping ingredients ready before stretching and forming the pizza crusts.

To shape the crust: Pat each ball into a flat disc on a floured surface (parchment helps transfer it to peel and stone), then press your fingers down around the circumference to make the outer ridge. Press inside this ring with your fingertips to flatten and begin stretching the crust, turning the disc over to stretch from the

5 CREATIVE COMBOS

1 Ricotta with caramelized onions, roasted grapes and honey

2 Fresh goat cheese and shallots, baked, then topped with smoked salmon and dill

3 Fresh mozzarella with prosciutto, black olives, sautéed mushrooms and Parmesan

4 Thinly sliced potatoes, olive oil, slivered onions and rosemary

5 Tikka sauce with paneer, red onions, peppers and cilantro

other side. Then pick it up and rotate quickly, like a steering wheel, to let the weight of the dough stretch the dough, while maintaining a thicker edge.

Place the dough on a floured peel before the final stretch.

Top each pizza with tomato sauce, cheese and other toppings, then bake until golden brown and bubbly (about 8 minutes at 550°F or 2 minutes at 700°F to 800°F). Makes 3 medium (12-inch) pizzas.

TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT PIZZA DOUGH

Start with a high-gluten flour such as Italian “00” or bread flour.

Make a starter known as a pre-ferment, biga or poolish to start your dough rather than using yeast alone. This creates more flavour and aroma without the acidic notes of natural leavening methods — and also reduces the amount of yeast by half, making it more digestible.

Aim for a fairly wet, sticky dough — experts prefer a hydration rate of 63 to 65 per cent water (up to 70 per cent if you are skilled at handling the dough).

Classic Pizza Sauce

Here’s a recipe for basic tomato sauce from Ooni. You’ll find it, along with other ideas, on their website (ca.ooni.com).

• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 garlic clo or more to taste

• Handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped

• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Place the oil in a pan over medium heat. When warm, add the garlic and cook until softened, but not brown (not more than a minute).

Pour the can of plum tomatoes into a bowl and use a masher or fork to break them apart and crush them down. Pour the tomatoes into the pan. Add all the remaining ingredients, then simmer on low heat for 45 minutes, or until the flavour has deepened and the sauce has thickened slightly. Adjust seasoning to taste. This sauce can be used straight away, or placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to a week, ready to be used as required. It also freezes well.

Makes enough sauce for 8 medium (12-inch) pizzas.

A long, slow ferment vastly improves both flavour and texture of your pizza crust. Knead dough well by hand or using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, then place in a tightly covered container (or bowl covered with plastic wrap) and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours before baking.

For a deep dish pizza, press dough into a cast iron skillet and bake in a 400°F oven for about 30 minutes. Never use a rolling pin to make a pizza crust — it will push out all the air bubbles and you’ll end up with a flat, cracker-like crust.

ESTATE PLANNING

Wills and Powers of Attorney

REAL ESTATE

Support for Buyers, Sellers, and Borrowers

NOTARIZATIONS

Canada, USA, and International Documents

Beverly’s empathy and respect for her clients make all the difference.

Coupled with her education, a Master’s Degree in Applied Legal Studies, and experience, having directly served over 15,000 people, Beverly Carter is so much more than just any woman with a stamp.

Earning your stamp of approval.

Beverly Carter, Notary Public,* Sole Proprietor Victoria Helmink, Notary Public,* Associate *Professional Members of Society of Notaries Public of BC

By Joanne Sasvari

Rosé, You Say? Yes, Way! WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER WINES, THINK PINK.

Rosé is the most easygoing of wines. Pretty, versatile and food friendly, it’s an ideal patio sipper and apéritif. It is one of the few wines that really pairs well with a charcuterie board. It goes nicely with seafood, salads, barbecue, even eggs, making it a great brunch wine. And besides, that colour just says warmer weather, doesn’t it?

Now, you might think rosé is sweet and fruity, but don’t be fooled. What you probably remember is California white Zinfandel, a.k.a. “blush,” or perhaps Mateus Rosé, the sweet pink Portuguese fizz that came with a certain reputation back in the 1970s: “If you want to seduce, buy Mateus.” White Zin, thankfully, has largely disappeared (though if it’s your jam you can still find a 1.5-litre bottle of Gallo for less than $20 at BC Liquor Stores) while Mateus has made a surprising comeback among a new generation of wine drinkers.

The rosé we love is quite different. It can be still or sparkling, and is often bright, crisp and relatively low in alcohol. Some rosés are quite fruity, even off-dry, but most are very dry with subtle flavours of berries, citrus, tree fruits, even rhubarb.

Rosé is made around the world, in a variety of different styles. And there is a rosé for everyone, including zesty Italian rosato, fullbodied Tavel from the Rhône Valley, light-as-a-whisper Provence rosé and sun-kissed pink bubbles from the Okanagan Valley. We even have a number of bright, juicy rosés from right here on Vancouver Island (see Five to Try).

In recent years, rosé has taken off in popularity, and a flood of pink will soon be hitting liquor-store shelves. We can hardly wait.

ROSÉ STYLES

Quality rosé wines are made in one of four different ways:

Limited skin maceration:

This is the most popular way to make rosé — red grapes are crushed and the juice left in contact with skins for six to 48 hours, before being drawn off and fermented. The longer the maceration, the darker the colour and richer the flavour. A huge range of styles are made in this way.

Direct press:

Where limited skin maceration is made like a red wine, direct press is how a white wine would be made. Red grapes are pressed right away, but traces of pigment from the skins remain in the juice to produce the palest of pinks, a colour the French call “onion skin.” These also tend to be light and citrusy in style (think: Provençal rosés).

Saignée:

The “bleeding” method actually produces two wines — a concentrated red and, from some of the juice “bled” from the tank, a rosé. It’s an economical way to make the most of the harvest, but if the winemaker considers the rosés secondary to the reds, it can produce wines of variable quality. At their best, these rosés are likely to be richer in style.

Blending:

You might think red plus white equals rosé, but it rarely does. In fact, blending post-fermentation is generally prohibited in Europe except in the case of Champagne, but is a bit more acceptable in the New World. These wines can vary wildly in style.

5 TO TRY

Is there any surer sign that summer is on its way than the release of the new-season rosés?

Averill Creek Vineyard Joue Rosé, Cowichan Valley: This unusual — dare we say, flat-out eccentric — blend of Marechal Foch, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris creates a wine that is powerful, earthy, a little bit savoury, a little bit floral and bright with red fruit flavours.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery Rosé, Cowichan Valley: Gamay Noir is rare to find on the Island and that’s too bad — it creates a lively, juicy wine with notes of citrus, pomegranate and delicate white flowers.

Enrico Winery Red Dragon Rosé, Cowichan Valley: This Pinot-based rosé keeps picking up awards, including the top prize for rosé at the 2023 National Wine Awards of Canada. Clean, crisp, bursting with summer strawberry flavour.

Sea Star Vineyard Blanc de Noir, Pender Island: Pinot Noir is the base for this dry, zesty, Provence-style wine that is fresh and bright with strawberry, cranberry and rhubarb notes.

Unsworth Vineyards Rosé, Cowichan Valley: Made from 100-per-cent Pinot Noir, this light, dry rosé is vibrant with flavours of wild strawberries, cranberries, rhubarb and red apple.

Niche Women’s Tours are for women who wish to travel independently but prefer

Cathy Scott, Chief Exploration Officer

By Joanne Sasvari

The Croissant Coastline

IF YOU LOVE LAMINATED PASTRIES, VANCOUVER ISLAND BAKERIES HAVE ALL THE BUTTERY DELICIOUSNESS YOU COULD DESIRE.

I’d happily hop a plane and travel to France for a good croissant, one that isn’t pale, stodgy and bland or hollow inside and dry as dust. But as it turns out, I don’t have to, because Vancouver Island’s east coast is abundant with bakers producing gorgeously rich, buttery, burnished gold and shatteringly flaky laminated pastries, from Campbell River to Swartz Bay and right here in Victoria.

In baking, “lamination” is the process of folding and rolling butter into dough over and over again to create super-thin layers. These layers of butter and dough give croissants their distinctive honeycomb interior structure and flaky exterior texture and, of course, that beautiful buttery flavour. Laminated pastries include puff pastry (and the countless things you can make with it), croissants, pains au chocolat, danishes and the sublime kouign-amann, a Breton delight made with salted butter and additional laminated layers of sugar that, through some magical alchemy, result in a custardy centre, crispy top and crunchy caramel bottom.

This type of bake is also sometimes known as “viennoiserie,” a nod to its longago Austrian origins; neither bread nor pâtisserie, but a buttery bridge between the two.

Butter really is the key to lamination. True, croissants also get loft from yeast and a slow, three-day fermentation, but the butter gives them flavour and texture as well as rise. That butter should be what the French call “plus gras,” at least 82 per cent

butterfat and as high as 90 per cent. Tragically for Canadian bakers, our butter is only a lean, watery 80 per cent (one exception being Churn 84 from Ontario’s Stirling Creamery, if you can find it). As a result, serious bakeries often import high-fat butters from France or New Zealand.

In recent years, bakers have busted up all the traditional rules of what a “croissant” actually is. In 2013 a New York City pastry chef named Dominique Ansel created the “cronut,” a round of laminated dough that he deep-fried, filled and frosted like a jelly doughnut. (Time magazine named it the best invention of the year, and we can’t disagree with that.) That same year, an Australian baker named Kate Reid created the cruffin, a hybrid of muffin and croissant, and nothing has been the same since.

Where croissants were traditionally, as the name would suggest, crescent-shaped, now you can find them in the form of pinwheels, squiggles, knots, baguettes, spirals and cubes. You can also find them filled with frangipane, citrus curd or jelly; frosted with ganache, buttercream or meringue; and garnished with sprinkles, chopped nuts, edible flowers, cocoa nibs or whatever you desire.

Hungry yet? Well, here are seven places mostly along the Island Highway where you can find a proper croissant and its many variations.

FREYJA: THE CROISSANT STORY, CAMPBELL RIVER

It’s worth the drive up Island — seriously — just to experience the amazing array of croissant shapes, styles and flavours here. We’re talking croissants filled with raspberry jam and coated in Valrhona raspberry chocolate, or filled with lemon curd and topped with a puff of toasted meringue, or formed into a cube and filled with passion fruit ganache, or made into a cruffin filled with salted caramel. There are also danishes, roulés and savoury bakes, a lovely little eat-in area and rumours they’re opening a second location in Courtenay.

Emese (left) and Géza Tóth-Harasztos moved from Budapest to Campbell River to open a croissant paradise known as Freyja.

HONEY GROVE BAKERY, COURTENAY

This bakery is all about slow-fermented, small-batch bakes handmade with certified organic Canadian flour. They have a finely curated selection of croissants and croissantbased treats — like the cinnamon roll made with croissant dough and topped with creamcheese frosting — but we especially love the frozen take-and-bake croissants and pains au chocolat. Note that they are tucked away in an industrial area, but their products can be found all over town, including at the Comox Valley

CUMBERLAND VILLAGE BAKERY,

This bakery has been around for over 100 years, and the bakers here still make everything from scratch just as they always have. Their menus are delightfully up on the latest trends, though. They are most famous for their glazed doughnuts, but also produce terrific butter and savoury croissants and perfectly delightful danishes. Mostly, though, we can’t resist the cruffin, a swirl of crunchy deliciousness.

HANK’S COWICHAN, DUNCAN

Once you get yourself over the Malahat Highway, you deserve a treat. And Hank’s is right there on the highway as you enter Duncan, with a big case filled with scratch-made pastries including plain, chocolate and almond croissants. We are especially tempted by the daily specials that might include pain au raisin, savoury croissants or fruit-filled danishes.

CRUST BAKERY, VICTORIA

Since 2013, Crust has been tantalizing Victoria’s tastebuds with beautifully crafted and creatively flavoured treats. Among them: cronuts, cruffins, danishes, savoury croissants, cinnamon-and-raisin swirls, a “cinnamon and caramel pastry” that is really a kouign-amann and various puff pastrybased pastries, all made with real butter and slow-fermented dough. Flavours might include passionfruit, toffee-poached apple, raspberry, lychee and rosewater, blueberry and vanilla, chai pumpkin or whatever tempts the bakers that day.

GOODSIDE PASTRY HOUSE, VICTORIA

For the butteriest croissants on the Island, look no further than this four-year-old bakery founded by a pair of pastry chefs. They combine traditional French techniques with modern twists and West Coast-inspired flavours, and that means while you will almost always find their luxuriously large classic croissants, pains au chocolat and almond double bakes in the bakery case, you will also discover irresistible seasonal changeups like, say, a blood orange and poppyseed croissant or sausage and pepper danish.

FOX & MONOCLE CAFE, CANOE COVE

The owners bring Michelin-starred experience to this pretty little bakery-café near the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, offering baked goods during the day and French-inspired dinners at night. They produce a proper croissant, but beware that it’s only available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll find classic plain croissants, of course, but also look for whatever flavour they are serving that day, and enjoy it in the marinaside ambience.

The right fuel can transform a meeting into a brainstorming session and a simple lunch into a catalyst for innovation.

Alibi Catering offers catered office breakfasts and lunches. Promote sustained energy and creativity with our vibrant salads and other delicious, protein-packed delights.

REQUIEM FOR A COMPOSER

Victoria Symphony ends its multi-year look at the Romantic composer Robert Schumann (inset) on a note of mystery and intrigue.

By David Lennam

When maestro Christian Kluxen (above) lifts his baton on May 12 to conclude the three-year project Being Robert Schumann, he will be conducting not a piece by Schumann himself, but one by another German Romantic composer.

A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms seems fitting as a coda to this series co-produced by both the Victoria and Vancouver symphonies. In January, it all seemed to have reached its natural conclusion with Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer’s Adieu Robert Schumann

But Brahms was essential in Schumann’s tragic life, for reasons that remain unsubstantiated and more than a little mysterious. Kluxen, conductor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, has his theories, presented with a bit of a nod and a wink.

Schumann was likely bisexual, and many believe the much younger Brahms was his lover. Others think there was a love triangle between Brahms, Schumann and Schumann’s pianist wife, Clara.

the same reason that Robert’s compositional legacy was greatly controlled by Clara. She erased all trace.”

There was a lot to erase.

Syphilis, adultery, bisexuality, a virtuoso wife, eight children, genius, hallucinations, madness, attempted suicide, being institutionalized … Schumann’s life is the stuff of today’s reality TV.

So says Kluxen, maybe only half joking. Schumann died at age 46 in a mental hospital, leaving behind many unanswered questions about his personal affairs and music.

“It’s interesting how Schumann was able to push his mental health problems into creativity,” Kluxen notes. The composer was superhumanly productive during his lengthy manic periods, suggesting that the way we frame mental health problems today fails to address their potential for inventiveness.

“Why is none of this historically documented?” asks Kluxen. “Well, maybe for

“It’s not just a disability, and now we always see it as a negative, but it can also be a driving force towards something, even though it’s not comfortable.”

Kluxen first tackled the Brahms Requiem — which will feature vocalists and the Vox Humana Chamber Choir— last November and was blown away by the perfection of the music.

“In some ways I think it’s a bit underrated … It’s a human requiem and if there’s anything that we wanted to show with this series, it is how [Schumann] was really human and fraught with the same problems that everyone else has.”

A German Requiem is not a requiem for the dead, notes the conductor, it is a requiem speaking to the ones left behind, trying to give hope.

Brahms, he adds, really admired Schumann, even quoting his mentor in his Third Symphony, “and had maybe the closest relationship to him of all.” They lived in the same house together for a period and, after Brahms left, Schumann attempted suicide.

The Brahms might be as much a requiem for Schumann as it is for all humanity.

“He didn’t write it intentionally with Schumann in mind, but some people say that he did, partly,” says Kluxen. “I cannot really believe if Brahms wrote this if he would not, at some point, think about the important people in his life that he had lost, amongst them Robert Schumann.”

Victoria Symphony Orchestra presents Being Robert Schumann Finale — Brahms’s A German Requiem, May 12 at the Royal Theatre. rmts.bc.ca

Johannes Brahms

KEVIN LIGHT

CULTURE CALENDAR

Fun times in May and June, from baseball to ballet

The Lehman Trilogy

Until May 19, The Belfry Theatre

This epic story of global capitalism follows the Lehman brothers, Heyam, Mendel and Mayer, as they journey from 1844 Bavaria to follow the American dream, rising from shopkeepers to bankers, from obscurity to prominence, travelling through historic events and generations of ethical dilemmas. Winner of the 2022 Tony Award for best play. belfry.bc.ca

Mary Poppins

May 3 to 12, McPherson Playhouse

You won’t need a spoonful of sugar to enjoy this charming musical based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film. When the troubled Banks family loses yet another nanny, Mary Poppins appears on their doorstep to work her magic and make them value each other again. The play’s unforgettable songs and breathtaking dance numbers will enchant the whole family. rmts.bc.ca

Victoria Symphony presents Jim Witter: It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me

May 4 to 5, Royal Theatre

If you’re in the mood for a melody, you’ll be singing along and dancing in the aisles as pianist Jim Witter and his band play you a memory or two from the music of Billy Joel and Elton John. This is part of the symphony’s Pops series led by conductor Sean O’Loughlin. rmts.bc.ca

Mark Normand

Ya Don’t Say Tour

May 10, Royal Theatre

Jerry Seinfeld called him the “best young up and coming comic,” and he’s appeared on Netflix’s Season 3 of The Standups, Conan, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and two Comedy Central specials. Mark Normand is prolific and funny, and couldn’t we all use a good laugh right about now? rmts.bc.ca

David Sedaris

May 13, Royal Theatre

Speaking of funny … David Sedaris is perhaps North America’s pre-eminent humour writer, a master of satire and incisive social critique, and a hilarious speaker. His books, including his most recent collection of essays, 2022’s HappyGo-Lucky, and 2024’s illustrated monster book, Pretty Ugly, will be on sale in the lobby, and Sedaris will be signing them for patrons after the show. rmts.bc.ca

Murray McLauchlan

May 13, McPherson Playhouse

Singer, songwriter, winner of 11 Juno Awards, member of the Order of Canada, national treasure. With a new album out (the critically acclaimed Hourglass), Murray McLauchlan is on the road again, bringing his unique folk style to town. Expect a mix of new and old, including standards like “Farmer’s Song,” “Down by the Henry Moore,” “Whispering Rain” and “Sweeping the Spotlight,” from true Canadian royalty. rmts.bc.ca

TEDx Victoria: It’s Up to Us

May 15, McPherson Playhouse

In need of inspiration? This full day of speakers and ideas should fill your bucket — it’s all about bringing community together to help understand, explore and motivate change in Greater Victoria. rmts.bc.ca, tedxvictoria.ca

2024 Stars on Ice Tour

May 16, Save-On Foods Memorial Centre

Marvel at the toe jumps, triple Axels and camel spins when some of the world’s greatest skaters — past, present and future — hit the ice for Canada’s premier figure-skating show. The allstar lineup includes a host of world champions, national winners and Olympic medallists, among them Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, Keegan Messing and Madeline Schizas. Plus this year’s show sees the return of the iconic Kurt Browning as director and choreographer. sofmc.com

Ballet Victoria presents Swan Lake

May 17 to 18, Royal Theatre

The dark romance of Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet follows Prince Siegfried’s love for maidenturned-white-swan, Odette, as it is tested by evil sorcerer Rothbart and his black-swan enchantress, Odile. Swan Lake has long been one of the most popular of classic ballets; now artistic and executive director Paul Destrooper brings new complexity and choreography to this spellbinding performance. rmts.bc.ca

Strange Advance

May 24, Mary Winspear Centre

No need to travel worlds away — catch Vancouver’s 1980s-era hit synth-pop group in Sidney instead. The Juno-nominated, multigold-record band has a new CD out and is joined by Tim Hill, formerly of Skinny Puppy, so fans will def not want to miss this live show! marywinspear.ca

Jann Arden & Rick Mercer: The Will They or Won’t They Tour

May 26, McPherson Playhouse

Two of Canada’s most famous and outspoken personalities — pop icon, author, actor and horse-welfare advocate Jann Arden; television personality, political satirist, author and taunter of Americans Rick Mercer — join forces for a free-wheeling, unscripted, unrehearsed, unrestrained and undoubtedly hilarious discussion. rmts.bc.ca

Victoria HarbourCats Home Opener

June 7, Royal Athletic Park

And … they’re home! Victoria’s boys of summer play their first home game of a new baseball season against the Wenatchee AppleSox from Washington state. Best excuse we can think of for spending a sunny afternoon enjoying BBQ’d Pepperonis and beer. harbourcats.com

Jimbo’s Drag Circus World Tour

June 12 to 13, Royal Theatre

Victoria’s own fabulous queen, famous from RuPaul’s Drag Race, makes his hometown the last stop on his weird world tour featuring outrageous characters, OTT costumes and naughty adult humour (see our story on page 18). Note that VIP seats are available and include a meet-and-greet with the star before the show. dragfans.com, rmts.bc.ca

TD Victoria International Jazz Fest

June 21 to 30, various locations

Mark your calendar for “10 hot days and nights of the coolest music in town,” produced by the Victoria Jazz Society. Among the performances: opening night’s unmissable act, the four-time Grammy Award-winning Booker T. Jones (June 21, Royal Theatre), and Ziggy Alberts, the Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist, who returns to Victoria for his debut at JazzFest (June 23, Royal Theatre) after last summer’s sizzling sold-out show. jazzvictoria.ca

Rick Mercer and Jann Arden

The Past, Illuminated

By Joanne Sasvari | Photo by John Adams

We tend to move through the world oblivious to it, our eyes firmly fixed on our destination or, too often, on a tiny screen in our hand. Focused on our daily distractions, we don’t register the changing streetscape, the faces we pass every day, the traces of history hidden in plain sight.

And one of the most illuminating glimpses into the past is right under our feet.

Known as sidewalk prisms, vault lights or, in the U.K., pavement lights, these thick, heavy-duty, clear glass lenses were set into sidewalks back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to shed sunlight on the underground

spaces below. (They turned purple as the manganese used in glass from 1900 to 1914 oxidized with contact to sunlight.) During the day, a soft amethyst light would filter down; at night, when lights were turned on below, a lavender glow would hover above the sidewalk, both beautiful and a little spooky.

The first sidewalk prisms were installed in mid-19th-century London, inspired by the deck lights used on ships. They quickly spread across Europe, the Americas, Australia and right here in Victoria, which once had hundreds of thousands of vault lights. The 11,000 or so that remain have been heritage

registered since 1990, but sadly, many are broken or filled with concrete. Despite the city’s efforts to preserve and restore them, finding the specialty glass (not to mention the budget) has proven somewhat challenging.

But tear your eyes away from that screen and look closely. You can still find these purpletinted windows on history, mostly around the Yarrow Building on Broad, Broughton and Fort streets, but in other locations, too, on Douglas, Johnson, Blanshard and, outside the downtown core, at North Park and Quadra streets. Just tread softly; you’re treading on the dreams of the past.

Arriving this summer with an advanced approach to technology and sustainability, the Volvo EX30 is our first small, premium, fully electric SUV. Engineered to help protect the people on the inside, as well as the world around it, EX30 comes with all the safety and quality you’d expect from a Volvo car. And with a range up to 442 km, it’s perfect for Vancouver Island adventures.

Introducing a simpler way to purchase: Visit Volvo Cars Victoria to learn more about our virtual sales experience and One Price Promise.

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham.

Photo: Alexander Diaz