Dog-centric designers choose chatty qathet

I MADE THE MOVE

I’m Toby Jaxon and this is my husband Vid and our 14-year-old red heeler, Ginja, and ‘Tazz’, who we’ve just picked up in Alberta at my uncle’s farm. Vid (short for David) is a recently retired electrician/technical designer. I am an artist, but in college I trained as a draftsperson and eventually an Auto- CAD instructor. I have worked across the country at architectural and engineering firms in Prince George, Edmonton and Toronto but my love of the West Coast eventually took me to Vancouver where I pursued a more creative career in commercial interior design.

We moved to Squamish in the mid 90s and I started a small firm that specializes in design, art, commissioned landscapes, dog portraits, and curating, and I instruct large-format painting classes.

TECHNICAL, CREATIVE, AND INNOVATIVE: Vid, Toby, Ginja and Tazz are having FOMO here because there’s so much to do.

Why did you choose to move to qathet?

Toby Jaxon • Moving to qathet was an easy choice. It’s all about the lifestyle. We have a large lot where we can grow fruit/veggies, we own an affordable home in a safe neighbourhood and spend time taking advantage of the local lush landscape, abundant freshwater and ocean access.

When? Where from?

Toby Jaxon • We moved last summer, mid 2021 and mid pandemic, from Squamish. And yes, there seems to be quite a few ‘Squamigrants’ here now which helps to make us feel at home in this new region.

What surprised you once you moved?

Toby Jaxon • We have been pleasantly surprised at how friendly everyone is — it is so refreshing to be living in an area that has a slower pace where people smile, say “Hi” and even stop to chat.

What made you decide to move to qathet?

Toby Jaxon • For Vid it was the climate and for me it was the culture, but we both love exploring the beach, paddling, hiking and biking. In qathet there’s an abundance of it all! Vid got to the point where physically he needed to retire. I am continuing to work remotely as the curator of the Foyer Gallery in the Squamish Public Library and then I go back to Squamish every few months – enjoying the scenic ferry travel as perks to my commute. As well, I get to regularly visit friends and our adult son, Parker.

Where is your favourite place in qathet?

Toby Jaxon • It’s hard to pick just one because we both have a huge love of nature. Our property has a big backyard with a fish pond so we do a lot of puttering with daily walks to Cranberry Lake, but we are also happy to paddle over to Savary or hike up to Tin Hat. I’m working on a new painting series that features arbutus trees. I have no lack of inspiration!

How did you first hear about qathet?

Toby Jaxon • Back in the late eighties my parents retired to a waterfront property in Selma Park just south of Sechelt. I was working in Toronto at that time, but came to the coast on holidays and eventually moved to Vancouver and bought property on Keats Island. Over the years Vid and I have been lucky to be invited to join in on many sailing and kayaking trips around the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound.

What aspect of your previous community do you think would benefit qathet?

Toby Jaxon • It’s pretty hard to move mountains but maybe a closer ski resort?

What challenges did you face in trying to make a life for yourself here?

Toby Jaxon • The biggest challenges that we continue to face are that there are too many things to do. Especially me, I have a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) so I want to do everything. I am realizing that I need to start to slow down and the Sunshine Coast does have a magical way of making you do that!

If you were mayor, what would you do?

Toby Jaxon • Neither Vid nor I would want that job, but I would look at how the district can be more effective and efficient and get on that road maintenance! I’ve heard a bit of chatter from long-time locals that there are a lot of potholes that need repairing?!

What is your greatest extravagance?

Toby Jaxon • For the first time we splurged on professional movers and hired ‘Ellis Moving and Storage’ to transport our belongings to this place of paradise!

Which superpower would you most like to have?

Toby Jaxon • I feel like I already have super-human spatial awareness but I’d love to have the ability to just wiggle my nose (like Samantha on Bewitched – and yes, I’m dating myself) and then our house would be immaculate! …and then I could clean up climate change, world hunger and global conflict.