september/october 2018
delivering a new build
From prefabricated and modular to tiny homes
12 Ride on
How cycling is eclipsing golf as the new community sport
towns under
$500K
Island life Trading in the city for a Gulf Island lifestyle
Investment options
Last impression The rewards of Port Renfrew
DOWNTOWN KELOWNA CONDOMINIUMS ZONED FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, COMING SUMMER 2018
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This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering can only be made after filing a disclosure statement. E. & O. E.
Of course you can buy happiness
When buying or selling homes on the Sunshine Coast. Crosbymoore.com | 778 458 2080
ECHO RIDGE
Wilden‘s New Hillside Neighbourhood A quiet pocket of land with direct access to natural areas and beautiful lake-view trails. Echo Ridge offers a wide array of single family lots. Choose from 30 new Okanagan Modern home designs or use them as an inspiration for customizing your dream home. 10 minutes from downtown Kelowna, 15 minutes from the airport, 5 minutes from Glenmore amenities. Walk to the future Wilden Market Square.
Wilden Sales: Brent Couves · Lisa Dalcin 250.762.2906 · sales@wilden.ca Wilden Presentation Centre 1454 Rocky Point Drive · Kelowna, BC Open daily 1-5 pm, except Friday
NATURE INSPIRED LIVING
OPENING THE NEXT CHAPTER
Spread over the hillside along Okanagan Lake, just a 10-minute drive from downtown Kelowna, lies Wilden, the largest master-planned community in the Okanagan Valley. Protecting and preserving the spectacular natural setting is integral to the master plan. This commitment to responsible development ensures Wilden residents are surrounded by green space and savour the joy of balanced living. Today and as a legacy for future generations.
www.wilden.ca
EXPERIENCE THE PRINCETON AREA Only 3 hours from Vancouver - you’ll discover the Princeton area: an affordable and friendly community, whether you’re looking for retirement, recreation, or just a change of pace. The area offers an active lifestyle of hiking, golfing, fishing, X-country skiing, mountain biking, boating, quading or snowmobiling, not to mention some spectacular lakes (Otter Lake, below). A true hidden jewel at the gateway to the Okanagan.
LEE MOWRY
Century 21 Horizon West Realty 224 Bridge St. Princeton, BC V0X 1W0 Office: 250.295.6977 | Fax: 1.888.493.6163
WWW.PRINCETONBC.COM
D i s c o v e r y
D r e a m
H o m e s . c o m
D i s c o v e r t h e e n d l e s s p o s s i b i l i t i e s . . .
1.866.395.5647
1.877.823.5639
802.445.3007
Central/East
West Coast
North/East USA
TABLE OF CONTENTS September/October 2018
LEFT Modular homes built by KABIN. RIGHT Cycling the Myra Canyon Trestle Bridge on Kettle Valley Railway. Photo courtesy of Destination BC/ Grant Harder
Up Front
Departments
10 Editor’s Letter
22 Sooner Rather than Later: Selling and Buying at the Right Time
12 Dispatches
24 Open for Business: What Your Business Can Look Like in a
16 12 Towns Under $500,000 20 Cool Eateries
Small Community
28 Back to Nature: The Appeal of Wood-fired Hot Tubs 31 A Different Type of Investment: Rental Property is an Option 50 Ride On: Cycling Eclipses Golf
Feature: Delivering a New Build 36 Introduction 38 Prefabricated Packaged Homes
60 B.C. Farmers’ Markets Connect Communities,
Strengthen Economies
62 In Praise of Air Commutes: Trading in the Traffic Snarls for a
40 Log and Timber Homes
42 Modular Homes
64 Travel Arc: Getting from Large Centres to Smaller Communities
46 Tiny Homes 48 Specialty Designs
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56 Island Life: Trading in the City for a Gulf Island Lifestyle
Right Sizing
September/October 2018
Quick Flight
66 Last Impression: Port Renfrew
W H Y R I V E R S I D E P E N T I C TO N ?
It’s the right amount of urban, without the speculation tax.
35 modernist townhomes in downtown Penticton’s prime riverside district. R E G I S T E R TO DAY F O R P R I O R I T Y U P DAT E S
riversidepenticton.com 236 422 1332 | info @ riversidepenticton.com
( K E L O W N A ) C O R P . This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering can only be made by way of disclosure statement. E.&O.E. Rendering is conceptual. Any specifications in this depiction may change at the developer ’s sole discretion without notice.
AZURA MANAGEMENT
This is city living in wine country. Your place is Riverside.
Publisher, Founder
Steve Dietrich
Editor
Lynn Mitges
Designer
Amélie Légaré
Online Design
John Magill
Copy Editor
Lisa Manfield
Digital Media Manager Jessica Bingham Writers Robin Brunet, Gail Johnson, Michelle Hopkins, Tracey Rayson, Kirsten Rodenhizer, Steve Threndyle Cover Image A mountain biker on a trail on Mount Conkle overlooking Summerland. Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Where we live has to be just right; whether it’s size, type of home or location. The right solution may be a gorgeous log home, or a prefab home that can be constructed in a few weeks. Perhaps it’s a tiny home on wheels, or even a home constructed in a shipping container. Our feature in this issue explores all of these options, including shipping-container homes that are sleek, utilitarian and settled next to, on top of or at right angles to each other. In fact, the city of Hamilton, Ont., has its first container home this year, which features six shipping containers stacked two-by-two and painted candy-apple red. And while many Canadian cities are slow to get onboard with this trend, it is going to happen. In B.C., Squamish city staff is exploring how to proceed with tiny housing, whether the units are on wheels or set on foundations. And while zoning issues and city services need to be determined, officials are embracing the idea that different forms of housing can not only provide affordable options, but also inject a unique sense of style into the community. Elsewhere, Hummingbird Homes pioneered Canada’s first tiny-house community—Bluegrass Meadows Micro Village—which opened in Terrace, B.C., in 2015. And in the U.S., one jurisdiction has fully embraced the trend: the small community of Salida in Colorado, about three hours from Denver, voted in 2016 to allow 200 tiny homes secured onto foundations. It is the largest tiny home community in the U.S. So, to the local governments and municipalities that have yet to green-light these new forms of housing within conventional housing communities, may we suggest you try to keep up? After all, these prefab homes show that we are constrained only by our imaginations. Lynn Mitges Editor
Advertising Sales VP Sales Steve Dietrich, sdietrich@rightsizingmedia.com, 604-787-4603 Sales Manager Harry deHaas, Harry@rightsizingmedia.com, 250-681-1696 Account Manager Tibor Antal, tibor@rightsizingmedia.com, 604-762-7812 Head Office 187 Rondoval Crescent, North Vancouver, BC, V7N 2W6. 604-787-4603 Accounting Inquiries Iva Dietrich, Iva@rightsizingmedia.com Letters to the editor info@rightsizingmedia.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Subscriptions rightsizingmedia.com/magazine/subscribe Distribution To The Globe and Mail subscribers within Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Calgary, Air Canada Lounges, select realtor and brokerage offices, select newsstands. To distribute Right Sizing magazine in larger quantities within your location please call 604-787-4603. Printer tc – Transcontinental, Canada.
Right Sizing magazine, established 2018. The magazine will be published six times per year by Publimedia Communications Inc., established 1996. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, or the staff. All editorial is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The publisher is not responsible for any liability associated with any editorial or products and services offered by any advertiser. Editorial submissions will be considered, please send them to the publisher. Copyright © 2018 Publimedia Communications Inc. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The publisher and printer will not be responsible for any typographical errors, mistakes, misprints, spot colouring or any misinformation provided by advertisers Website www.RightSizingMedia.com
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This is not an offering for sale and such an offering can only be made after filing a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.
Dispatches By Kirsten Rodenhizer
Rocking the globe: Tumbler Ridge
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Peace Country residents are lucky enough to live alongside a park with a world-class pedigree. Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark is one of only three such sites in North America—places where the geological backstory is so distinctive, it’s designated as important to the entire planet. The 8,000-square-foot park sits on the eastern slopes of the Hart Ranges in the Rockies. Within its boundaries, peaks soar to more than 2,000 metres above sea level and some 78 trails tempt hikers, ATVers and mountain bikers. The park is also a fossil treasure trove, with rock-written history stretching back 60 million years and including Cretaceous dinosaur tracks, a Cretaceous dinosaur bone bed and Triassic marine and reptile fossils—with a Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and Peace Region Paleontology Research Centre onsite. The UNESCO Global Geopark in Tumbler Ridge is rock-written history stretching back 60 million years. Photo courtesy Destination BC
Fresh farms: Cawston
Gibsons residents love their craft taps—even when it comes to olive oil. Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Co. offers more than 60 oils and balsamic vinegars on tap, and free to taste, at its Gower Point Road location. Fiona Pinnell and Matt Lunny launched the shop five years ago, after travelling in Italy and learning about artisanal olive-oil production. Along with flavour-infused oils and vinegars, the duo import Ultra Premium-certified olive oils (meeting strict requirements for taste, scent, production method and more) from Italy and around the world. “The big thing with us is the combination of quality and traceability,” says Pinnell.
Rob and Holly Holland left Vancouver last year to start a farm in the Similkameen Valley, and they haven’t looked back. “We’d always talked about doing something like this, and the opportunity arose so we jumped at it,” says Rob, formerly a chef with Tap and Barrel. He wanted space to grow crops, and Holly wanted space to start a daycare. They found both—for less than the price of bachelor condo in Vancouver—on a three-hectare property in Cawston. The community of 1,000, dubbed the Organic Capital of Canada, is attracting a new generation of young families and farmers who are sowing a closer connection to the land. In its first year, the Hollands’ farm, Hands & Hearts Acres, grew pesticide-free tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, spinach, beets, carrots and more. They sell their wares at local markets, as well as from a produce stand on the farm. They also offer a subscription box program—20 weeks of fresh veggies, fruit and herbs delivered to local doorsteps during harvest season.
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Olive oil on tap: Gibsons
Photo courtesy of Hands & Hearts Acres Photo courtesy of Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Co.
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Sign of a time: Nanaimo There’s many a tale about how Jingle Pot Road got its name. The Nanaimo route stretches about 11 kilometres northwest, starting at Wakesiah Avenue, which is downtown. Most trace its provenance to a turn-of-the-century coal operation in the area, nicknamed Jingle Pot Mine. But how did the mine come by such a strange nickname? Some say the moniker described the sound of coins clinking into tin banks on payday. Others contend it referred to pots of stones that workers would jingle to signal they wanted hoisting up. Or, as local-history author Jan Peterson noted in her 2017 book, Mark Bate: Nanaimo’s First Mayor, it may have come about one day after a miner remarked as he brought coal buckets to the surface: “Someday there may be jingles in these pots.” Whatever the truth, the mine is long gone. The catchy name stuck around.
Star bright: Prince George
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In Northern B.C., cities are few and far between and levels of light pollution— that pesky haze from artificial lighting that impedes stargazing—are low. To find the darkest pockets, get yourself to an unpopulated area such as West Lake Provincial Park, Purden Lake Provincial Park or Bear Lake, says Dayton Pollard, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada—Prince George Centre. “Generally any place you would go camping is [dark enough],” he says. Even better: the centre’s observatory, about 20 kilometres south of city lights, is one of the largest and best-equipped in Canada, with a 0.6-metre Cassegrain, a 20-centimetre Celestron and Newtonian telescopes. It hosts public open houses Friday nights in fall and spring.
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Photo courtesy of Ian C. Baird
Foraged feasts: Duncan Chanterelle, porcini, pine: the Cowichan Valley is one of the best places in the world to hunt these and other wild mushrooms, thanks to the region’s dense swaths of temperate rainforest. Local chef, cookbook author and mycologist Bill Jones, who runs Deerholme Farm near Duncan, holds fall workshops on foraging for fungi. “I give people the tools to find them anywhere,” he says. The farm also offers two foraging weekends that include a second day of cooking classes. Dishes depend on Jones’ mood, but past creations have included risotto with pine mushrooms, and chanterelle, bacon and potato salad.
Photos courtesy of Deerholme Farm
September/October 2018
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Driven Sane: Commute times outside Vancouver One perk of fleeing the city for parts less populated? Shorter commute times. Here’s how long, in minutes, the average commuter spends in a car to get from home to work across B.C. Source: Statistics Canada 2016 Census
>> Vancouver 29.7
Quesnel 18.5
Squamish 27.1
Vernon 18.3
Abbotsford 26.1
Cranbrook 18.1
Chilliwack 24.5
Penticton 16.3
Kelowna 19.8
Powell River 16.0
Kamloops 19.4
Salmon Arm 15.6
Nanaimo 19.3
Terrace 15.1
Courtenay 18.9
Prince Rupert 11.6
Nelson 18.9
Okanagan: Sipping season As any oenophile knows, wine is a year-round enjoyment—not just those delicious rosés in summer. So all throughout October there are weekly events—just check out the Okanagan Wine Festivals website (thewinefestivals.com). Signature events include the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards and reception Sept. 27 in Kelowna; the Young Chefs event Oct. 4 in Kelowna where 12 apprentice chefs create unique small-plate offerings that are paired with wines; and the Cropped events in Penticton on Oct. 5 and 6—touted as the grand finale to the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.
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Langford: Team work A new program at Bear Mountain in Langford on Vancouver Island brings together members of the National Mountain Bike Team for year-round, high-performance training. The team usually has a prep camp before the beginning of the season in Bear Mountain, which coincides with the first Canada Cup. Canadian Mountain Bike head coach Dan Proulx says Bear Mountain’s weather, technical terrain and daily training environment will help riders prepare for international competition. Bear Mountain includes two golf courses, a fitness centre, a hotel, bicycling trails and a large area devoted to housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and condos. — Staff
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The Canadian Mountain Bike Team trains at Bear Mountain, B.C. Photo courtesy Cycling Canada/Kevin Light
From Nov. 23 to 25, the Winter in Wine Country event takes shape in Oliver/Osoyoos wine country. In 2017, more than 20 wineries opened their doors for tours where participants could sample wine and nibble snacks. Last year’s gathering featured musical performances, the Festival of Trees, in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, plus events to explore the region’s burgeoning and award-winning wine industry. Watch the website oliverosoyoos.com for this year’s schedule. — Staff
Photo courtesy of thewinefestivals.com
Th Cottag e exem es is BC’s Vpt from ac Home ation Tax
Custom Lakefront Homes & World Class Amenities Retire to beautiful Osoyoos Lake. Over 200 homes sold! The word is out that The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake is the best year-round new home community in the Okanagan Valley. The Cottages includes a community centre with a gym, two pools and hot tubs as well as our private sandy beach and boat slips, there’s something for everyone. With over 200 homes sold, the remaining opportunities won’t last long.
With eight different home plans to choose from ranging in size from our modest 1,300 sf meadow homes to the exclusive 3,000 sf Meritage plan, there really is the perfect home for you. We have several unique homes under construction and all homes can be customized to suite your needs. Please contact our sales team at 1.855.742.5555 or visit our website for a full tour.
Visit our Display Homes » 2450 Radio Tower Road, Oliver, BC See website for open hours.
1.855.742.5555 osoyooscottages.com
Blind Bay Shuswap Lake is renowned for golfing, hiking in nearby provincial parks and lots of water activities. Recent Listing: This rancher has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two-bedroom in-law suite, and is close to the lake, golf, marinas and a shopping centre. $429,000
Merritt Located in the Nicola Valley south of Kamloops, Merritt is known as the Country Music Capital of Canada and home to the Rockin’ River Musicfest. Recent Listing: This rancher-style, 2,538-square-foot home features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, in-ground swimming pool and a funky open-concept kitchen with cherry-red appliances—plus a family room downstairs. $489,000
Princeton Princeton’s lakes, trails and beaches are attracting newcomers who embrace cross-country skiing, mountain biking and kayaking—to name just a few outdoor pursuits. Rich in the history of the 1860 Blackfoot Gold Rush, Princeton also offers three ghost towns to explore. Recent Listing: Beautiful six-bedroom, four-bathroom log home right next to Manning Park. Over 3,500 square feet with a self-contained suite that’s suitable for rental. $438,300
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Osoyoos The town offers artisan stores, trendy spas and plenty of dining. Boating, fishing, hiking and swimming are just a few of the reasons Osoyoos is known for fun in the sun. Recent Listing: A resort-style 1,085-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo features lake views, an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant on the premises. The suite is fully furnished. $449,000
12 Towns Under $500,000 By Jessica Bingham
Across the province, numerous options are on offer from coastal communities to a river-view float home For direct links to all listings go to rightsizingmedia.com/500
Fairmont Hot Springs This resort community is located in southeast B.C., nestled right between the Rockies and the Purcell mountain range, and is home to Canada’s largest natural mineral hot springs. Recent Listing: This completely renovated four-bedroom, three-bathroom home sits right on the golf course. The home has 3,198 square feet and features an open living area, plus a fully finished basement with a sauna. Perfectly situated for golf in the summer and skiing in the winter. $479,000.
Castlegar From its vantage point at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers, Castlegar offers an abundance of hiking trails, fishing, climbing, golfing and backcountry skiing. Recent Listing: This three-bedroom, three-bathroom contemporary home with sunken living room and custom kitchen also features a large patio with an outdoor fireplace/oven and a legal one-bedroom suite. There’s an oversized garage that accommodates larger vehicles and the concrete driveway has room for an RV or boat. $479,900
Cranbrook Surrounded by mountains and lakes, Cranbrook is an adventure playground with golfing, hiking and fishing—all a short distance from this lovely city. Recent Listing: A four-bedroom, four-bathroom 3,581-squarefoot house features a custom kitchen, vaulted ceilings and a gas fireplace, plus a hot tub on the patio deck, which backs onto the golf course. $499,900
September/October 2018
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Keats Island This small island just west of Bowen Island has sev-
Sechelt
eral beaches and is blanketed with forests.
Located on the Sunshine Coast just
The island is accessible by a foot-passenger
north of Metro Vancouver, this small
ferry from the Langdale ferry terminal and by
seaside community is surrounded
water taxi from Gibsons and Horseshoe Bay.
by the Coast Mountains and is
Recent Listings: Only a short walk to the
known for its for sunny weather and
beach, two legal lots with ocean views are
vibrant arts community.
for sale: one lot contains a three-bedroom
Recent Listing: Built in 2018 and
Pan-Abode cottage with a workshop; and
located in the new Edgewater
the other houses two storage sheds and an
waterfront development, this
insulated tent in which to park the Ford 250
three-bedroom, three-bathroom
XLT that comes with the property. $445,000
townhouse offers 1,270 square feet of living space. $489,900.
Port Alberni Located on the west coast of Vancouver
Richmond
Island at the head of Alberni Inlet, Port
Thinking of being a bit more creative, as
Alberni has stunning views from almost
in living in a float home? This Richmond
every angle. Recent Listing: Situated
home is close to Vancouver, close to
at the end of a cul-de-sac on half an
the airport and home to farms and the
acre at Sproat Lake, this four-bedroom,
quaint community of Steveston. Recent Listing: This 1,982-square-foot,
two-bathroom home features 2,132 square feet of living space including a
three-bedroom-plus-den home on a concrete float features oak floor-
600-square-foot patio. $449,900
ing, a sprinkler system and moorage options. The large south-facing deck has a wonderful river view. $399,000
Spirit Bay Spirit Bay is located on the southern point of Vancouver Island— south of Metchosin—where colourful seaside homes mark this quaint community. An option to build a custom home: The Astoria is a 646-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage with a wraparound deck. The design features nine-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring and double-glazed windows. Priced between $400,000 and $500,000 depending on finishings.
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Photo courtesy Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island
INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO COOL EATERIES Farm-to-table creations featured on numerous B.C. menus By Gail Johnson
Among the hundreds of lush Comox Valley farms growing everything from blueberries to pumpkins, one eatery that stands out for its local fare is Locals at the historic Old House in Courtenay. Built in 1938 as a private residence for a prominent family, and situated among the Mile of Flowers—a volunteer-based community project that has resulted in thousands of flowers planted along Cliffe Avenue alongside the Courtenay River—the heritage building is considered a rare example of the arts-and-crafts style of architecture that flourished during the town’s post-war growth. Located in this renovated home, Locals features original wood throughout, a river-rock fireplace, First Nations art and an outdoor patio with heaters and a retractable roof. The restaurant focuses on “food from the heart of the Island” and celebrates fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and more from nearby farms and fields. Look for growers and producers such as Island Bison, Grains Bakery + Bistro, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, Prontissima Pasta and Middle Mountain Mead.
only in pemberton Pemberton is famous for its potatoes. This spectacularly sunny spot north of Whistler grows nearly 30 varieties, including Yukon Gold, Russian Blue, White Rose and Eramosa. So it makes sense that this community would be the base of the only certified organic-potato distillery in the world. Using hand-operated, copper-pot stills, Pemberton Distillery produces potato vodka, whisky, gin, absinthe, schnapps, brandy and liqueurs through natural mash and fermentation processes in small batches. “Pemby,” as it’s affectionately known, is also home to Mile One Eating House, which takes comfort food to a new level. There are burgers, sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs, salads and several types of poutine, plus mac and cheese all featuring premium B.C. ingredients, including Cache Creek Natural Beef, Fraser Valley smoked bacon, Little Qualicum and Natural Pastures cheese, Yarrow Meadows duck, wild sockeye salmon, Pacific albacore tuna and garden-fresh onions braised in local beer, which is sourced from regional purveyors, as is the wine on offer. The only warning? Don’t ask for fries. There’s no deep-fryer here; rather, the potato wedges are roasted, giving the prized local veggie the respect it deserves.
To get a sense of the culinary savvy and style at this rustic yet elegant spot, consider the Locals Mixed Grill, which features Seaview Game Farm venison loin, house-made artisanal sausage and Sterling Silver beef medallion served on whipped potatoes with truffle oil, smoked pork belly and foraged mushroom sauce. Or try the West Coast Seafood Tower, replete with smoked sockeye lox, giant Pacific octopus, Dungeness crab meat and marinated prawn tails accompanied by mustard aïoli and caper berries. Mile One, Pemberton, B.C. Photo by Amelie Legare
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island provenance
From Europe and Asia to Vernon
Nestled among rolling hills between Nanaimo and Victoria in the Cowichan Valley, Cobble Hill draws golfers, mountain bikers, hikers and, increasingly, wine lovers. The area’s Vigneti Zanatta Winery was Vancouver Island’s first estate winery and the first to specialize in Champagne-style wines. After Cobble Hill came Glenterra and Unsworth vineyards, among others. Also joining the brigade is Emandare Vineyard, whose proprietors— Mike and Robin Nierychlo—live by the mantra “wine is grown, not made.” Designated as Certified Naturally Grown, their wines are 100 per cent estate grown and dry-farmed on 3.4 hectares. Emandare’s 2017 Rosé is crisp and citrusy with hints of cherry and pear, while its hand-harvested 2016 Pinot Noir has a velvety texture and dusty floral notes.
LEFT Photo courtesy Bamboo Beach Fusion Grille in Vernon RIGHT Photo courtesy Bella Stella Cheese, Vernon
If this region of the Island is considered a haven for oenophiles, it also attracts foodies, with scores of top-notch places to eat. Pizzeria Prima Strada brings a taste of Italy to Cobble Hill with its authentic, wood-fired pies. As it celebrates a decade in business, the restaurant (which also has locations in Victoria) makes multiple products in house: dough, sausages, meatballs, pepperoni and chili oil among them, as well as dolci-like gelato, sorbetto and tiramisu. The menu extends beyond pizza, with antipasti to be enjoyed as part of the country’s strong aperitivo culture, such as marinated mixed olives, bruschetta, polenta and focaccia. With a slice of thin-crust pizza in hand and so many wineries nearby, you might fool yourself into thinking you’re in Tuscany.
Vernon is an outdoor lover’s playground, located within a short drive to three lakes—including Okanagan Lake—and Silver Star Ski Resort. What may come as a surprise is that the area is also the source of some of the finest organic cheese in the province. Bella Stella Cheese is based in the village of Lumby, 26 kilometres east of Vernon on the edge of the Monashee Mountains. Igor Ruffa, a native of Ticino, the southern Italian-influenced region of Switzerland, and his German-born wife, Irma, named their cheese-making business after the edelweiss flower (called stella alpina in Italian). They imported equipment from Switzerland to their B.C. home, along with traditional Swiss-Italian recipes. Using certified organic whole milk from a nearby farm’s grass-fed Jersey cows, they make several varieties, including formaggella, which is luscious like Brie, and a buttery Monashee Gold. Flavours from the other side of the globe can also be found in Vernon, where Bamboo Beach Fusion Grille offers an Asian influence. Japanese-born chef and co-owner Yuki—who goes by a singular moniker—gives diners the option of creating their own temaki sushi, choosing from among spicy tuna, scallops, salmon, teriyaki chicken, Korean beef and shrimp or yam tempura. Vegetarians have varied and toothsome options, from organic Japanese mushrooms in a miso-basil sauce served over tofu, to a grilled Portobello sandwich with jalapeno Havarti. Where the menu really shines is with its sustainable seafood selections: Ocean Wise ling cod is pan-fried and accompanied by curried shrimp, zucchini and tomato; Thai Selva prawns are nestled atop organic greens; grilled Alaskan black cod is served with a yuzu-soy sauce; and, in a salad, raw albacore tuna is mixed with smoked salmon, tobiko, seaweed, avocado and crispy wontons in a spicy yuzu-sesame dressing.
Photo courtesy Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island
September/October 2018
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Enjoying the calm waters and a slow pace of life on the Sechelt Inlet. Photo by EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock.com
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER After selling and moving to the Sunshine Coast, the only question these couples ask themselves is why they waited so long By Michelle Hopkins
Ken and Michelle Skjerpen have no problem listing the numerous reasons why leaving Yaletown for Sechelt was the best decision they ever made—they only wish they had done it sooner. For these baby boomers, the traffic congestion, noise, cost of living and the general stress of city living was starting to compromise their overall health and sense of well-being. “We are so much happier and less stressed… we always ask ourselves why we didn’t do it sooner,” says Ken, who still commutes to the Lower Mainland a few days a week. “It was always our dream to move to the Sunshine Coast but we kept putting it off.”
crashing,” says Michelle. “People here are so laid back and friendly, I couldn’t be happier.” Retirees Peter and Iris Hill couldn’t agree more with the Skjerpens. The couple left their hectic lives in Burnaby for the “carefree lifestyle on the Sunshine Coast.”
“It’s a beautiful life. Had we known how great it was, we would have done the move much sooner.” — Iris Hill “We had been thinking about leaving the city for a couple of years, but I needed a period of adjustment after retiring,” says Peter.
Finally, after debating the pros and cons for a few years, in 2017 the couple traded their 1,850-square-foot condo for a 4,700-squarefoot home overlooking the Sechelt Inlet.
“It’s a beautiful life,” adds Iris. “Had we known how great it was, we would have done the move much sooner.”
“I have the windows open every night and rather than listen to traffic and city noise, I hear the birds chirping and the waves
They sold their 4,800-square-foot family home and bought a large home in Selma Park in east Sechelt and still put money in the bank.
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“We have eye-popping views of the forest on one side of us and on the other, we look straight out to the ocean,” says Peter. Stephen Phillips, a longtime realtor in the Lower Mainland, hears these sentiments echoed over and over again. “I have two clients who didn’t listen to their grown children years ago when they told them to sell their big homes and move to a smaller community,” says Phillips. “These clients, who are now in their seventies and eighties, are kicking themselves for not having done the move sooner. They simply don’t have the physical energy they once did to do the things they love.” Phillips adds: “A lot of baby boomers are telling me that they don’t want to replicate what their parents did, which was to wait far too long to downsize when they should have done it when they had the drive and energy,” he says. “They want to do it sooner to really enjoy life and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.”
South Okanagan’s South Okanagan’s Most Desirable Homes Most Desirable Homes
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Desert Oliver, - named living the Wine Capital of Canada, combines the best of Golf golf Course, resort and adultBC residential under the Southern Okanagan sun. best golf resort and adult residential living under the Southern Okanagan sun. TWO of & THREE BEDROOM / TWO BATHROOM / 2 CAR GARAGE GOLF VILLAS INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP AT NK’MIP CANYON DESERT GOLF COURSE TWO & THREE BEDROOM / TWO BATHROOM / 2 CAR GARAGE GOLF VILLAS INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP AT NK’MIP CANYON DESERT GOLF COURSE
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS If you’re looking to buy a business, help is at hand By Gail Johnson
Sarah Albertson was born and raised in Vancouver and has a fierce attachment to the city. She got to a point, however, where she was feeling disconnected from the beautiful but increasingly dense and pricey place, pressed for time and stretched for money, and like a slave to long days made longer by commuting. In 2016, Albertson and her partner, who have a nine-year-old daughter, sold their home and moved to Nelson. For the first time, she has also become a business owner. Albertson teamed up with a new friend there who had been running her own company offering sewing classes. Together, the two are growing the Nelson Stitch Lab, adding a retail area to its heritage-building space—all with an eye to transforming the shop into a creative studio and community hub. “I could have never gotten it off the ground had I stayed in Vancouver,” Albertson says. “It’s a real gamble, but it’s really fun, and I’m really excited about it,” says Albertson. “Small towns aren’t what they used to be. People say there are no jobs, but that’s not necessarily the case.” With so many people leaving Vancouver for a simpler lifestyle in a smaller place, there are more opportunities to go into business to help shape a new life. Albertson points to Community Futures B.C.—an organization funded by Western Economic Development Canada—as a vital resource for people who, like her, dream of running their own business but basically have no clue where to start. The organization has 34 offices in rural areas of the province and a mandate to help entrepreneurs reach their goals through training, advice and business support services. “There are viable businesses in Nelson where the owners are simply retiring,” Al-
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Photo courtesy Nelson Stitch Lab
bertson says. “There are great businesses and everyone in town wants them to continue on, and they’re looking for a buyer.” Terry Van Horn is the executive director of the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation, which provides economic development services in the region, which includes Rossland, Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale and other areas. It features business opportunities on its Imagine Kootenay website, and the organization’s goal is to develop a “creative, dynamic and competitive business environment that fosters economic growth.” Based in Trail, Van Horn says Lower Columbia region is being rebranded as Metal Tech Alley, as it is home to world’s largest integrated lead-zinc smelter, a digital-fabrication lab, the globe’s only lithium-ion-battery recycling facility, a large regional hospital, broadband infrastructure and daily flights to Vancouver, all surrounded by mountains and lakes along the Canada-U.S. border. “These are exciting times; we’re seeing a
really vibrant community right now,” Van Horn says. “A lot of people don’t even consider buying a business, but there are a lot of them under $50,000.” For those contemplating buying a business, there are buyer-beware caveats. Paul Hartanto, financial planner with Coast Capital Savings in the Township of Langley’s Brookswood area, suggests a few steps to consider: •
Have the business’ financials professionally audited and review lease agreements.
•
Evaluate whether you can realistically grow revenue and profit, and factor in a likely increase in expenses.
•
Determine who the competition is now and who may be the competition in the future.
•
Establish the break-even point in terms of years when business profits reach the point of offsetting the cost of purchasing the business.
Escape the Lower Mainland’s lack of affordable housing, limited commercial space and long work commute.
Conveniently located between Kelowna, Kamloops and Vancouver Affordable local Real Estate ideal for home owners and property investors Comfortable climate of mild winters with little snowfall and warm, dry, sunny summers CURRENT PROJECTS IN MERRITT INCLUDE: •
Firehall Expansion
•
Nicola Valley Hospital Expansion
•
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Campus Expansion
•
Construction of the Merritt Green Energy Project
•
Two Brand New Hotels
•
Oh and we have cheaper gas than Vancouver!
To learn more, contact Will George, City of Merritt Manager of Economic Development to hear why Merritt might be the right move for you. Direct Line: (250) 378-8619 Email: wgeorge@merritt.ca Website: www.merritt.ca
Welcome to Cranbrook As the largest urban centre in southeastern B.C., Cranbrook is kind of a big deal. We don’t want to brag, but over the years, we have created one of the safest, happiest and healthiest communities in Canada by hitting important metrics for location, lifestyle, labour and connectivity, Cranbrook offers an enviable advantage to those looking for new opportunities for both lifestyle and business. Just saying...
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250-489-1519
ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT BY:
www.legacylookout.ca This is not to be considered an exhaustive list of specifications or design and is subject to change at any time. The developer reserves the right to make modifications and changes to building design, specification, features, and floor plans. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made with a Disclosure Statement. E & O.E.
DESIRABLE QUALITY OF LIFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVENIENT PROXIMITY TO LARGE CENTRES & PROVINCIAL & U.S. BORDERS SKILLED LABOUR FORCE STABLE YET DIVERSE BUSINESS CLIMATE
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DOWNLOAD OUR COMMUNITY PROFILE PDF AT WWW.CKDI.CA September/October 2018
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BACK TO NATURE There’s a renewed interest in off-the-grid wood-fired hot tubs By Michelle Hopkins
When Colleen Dragan and her husband bought their cabin on Gambier Island more than a decade ago, one of the must-haves was a hot tub in which to relax and enjoy their fabulous views of Howe Sound and the surrounding Coast Mountains. With no electricity in their area of the island, a tub heated by wood was the ideal choice. “We are on solar power—and have a generator—but an electric hot tub was not an option,” explains Dragan, who spends summers with her family at the Gambier property. In addition to the appeal of wood-fired heating, Dragan loves the look and feel of the tub. “I really like that it feels natural, not like plastic,” she says. The aluminum tub, which fits five comfortably, is wrapped inside and out with 100-percent indigenous Western red cedar that is rot-resistant. The classically simple design blends in beautifully with the landscape and is easy to use. “It doesn’t take long to heat and uses the amount of wood you would use in your fireplace. It doesn’t take much more wood to keep it going,” she adds. The only downside Dragan has experienced is that the tub can overheat if you’re not accustomed to using it. “That’s a problem for us because we have to be careful with water use, so we can’t really just add cold water if it overheats,” she says. Sales of wood-fired hot tubs are on the rise thanks to the low upfront and operational costs and their off-the-grid appeal, says Doug Brubaker, president of Forest Lumber and Cooperage in Sooke, B.C. “We have seen growth of between 50 and 60 percent in sales of our cedar hot tubs over the last few years,” says Brubaker, whose company has been selling Western red cedar wood-fired hot tubs since 1976. “Largely, these tubs are purchased by people with recreational prop28
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A wood-fired hot tub from Alumi-Tubs suits off-the-grid needs. Photo courtesy www.out-there.ca
erties and people living outside of large urban centres. Besides selling well across North America, they are popular in France, the U.K. and Australia.” Some red cedar tubs rely on a submersible aluminum stove to heat the water. “The stove is surrounded by water except for the loading door for the firewood,” explains Brubaker. “Any dry, seasoned wood works well and produces nearly no smoke. A four-seater takes roughly two to three hours to heat. We tell people to check every 45 minutes or so and if it’s cooling down, load it up with wood.” And that woodsy scent also attracts enthusiasts. Anyone who’s sat in one of these wood-fired tubs knows that it’s very peaceful because there is no noise from jets. “Cedar hot tubs exude a pleasant, natural aroma when hot or wet,” says Brubaker. These hot tubs also seem to provide an opportunity for users to slow down and commune with nature, say Eric and Wendy Hottz, owners of Sechelt’s Alumi-Tubs Inc. “There’s something about these tubs that naturally makes one de-stress and chill out,” says Wendy.
WOOD-FIRED VERSUS ELECTRIC
For years, the Hottzs spent their summers on Thormanby Island on the Sunshine Coast. Because the remote island was off the grid, Eric Hottz decided to build a wood-fired hot tub, which he constructed out of marine-grade aluminum and wrapped in locally sourced cedar. “Eric built it out of aluminum so that it would never leak,” says Wendy. “That was 18 years ago and it’s still like new. People started asking Eric to build one for them and in that first year we sold four.”
•
In most cases, a quality cedar hot tub will cost less than a comparable model made of acrylic or fibreglass-reinforced plastic that has the same features.
•
A conventional tub will start to deteriorate after seven to eight years, while a cedar wood-fired tub can last between 20 and 25 years.
•
A handcrafted cedar tub takes about six weeks to deliver. A traditional hot tub is typically stocked in stores or by dealers and often is available right away.
•
Installation of wood-fired tubs varies from some models that are pre-assembled to those that are completely assembled in about four hours. A conventional hot tub may take up to eight hours to assemble.
•
The heating process for an electric heated tub is shorter compared to a wood-fired tub although a wood-fired tub costs less to operate and is quieter.
•
Although wood is a renewable resource, critics argue the smoke contributes to air pollution.
•
Wood-fired tubs can get much hotter than electric tubs. Users must be cautious as temperatures over 40C can pose health risks.
“There’s something about these tubs that naturally makes one de-stress and chill out.” — Wendy Hottz The Hottzs now sell these pre-assembled tubs to customers across Canada, in the U.S. and as far away as Switzerland. Most wood-fired tubs are well insulated so they retain the heat. “The following day, it will only take an hour to heat,” Wendy adds. “They are also very clean. You only have to empty and refill it using saltwater or freshwater.” — with files from Lynn Mitges
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The City of Langford, next to Victoria, offers reasonably priced housing. Photo courtesy City of Langford
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF INVESTMENT Many properties can provide a tidy income, but be prepared to do the homework By Robin Brunet In the West Coast housing market where the trajectory of prices knows no bounds, rare is the individual who hasn’t thought about making money by becoming a landlord. Indeed, thousands of Canadians rely on rental properties to provide primary or secondary incomes, or as a way to fund their retirement. And as is the case with regular homebuyers, one of the best ways for income property owners to get the biggest bang for their buck is to buy real estate in smaller towns or suburbs.
populated. I’m looking at buying at least two or three properties in regions I think will soon take off, and I make my decisions by monitoring long-term trends of where people are migrating to.”
“Properties in small B.C. cities and towns will do nothing but increase in value as they become more populated.” – Marty Morrison
Steve Arneson, co-founder (with partner Randy Molland) of Victoria-based The REInvestors Ltd., which was launched in 2016 to educate people wanting to learn about real estate as an investment, says: “We spent $450,000 on property in Langford just two years ago and already it’s worth $650,000.”
Based on this research, Morrison regards Kelowna “as still one of the best places in which to invest, especially west Kelowna— although that window of opportunity is rapidly closing.”
Marty Morrison, a North Vancouver-based accountant who began investing in income properties 28 years ago, says: “Properties in small B.C. cities and towns will do nothing but increase in value as they become more
Arneson and Molland have built a portfolio consisting mainly of single-family units, augmented by a five-unit apartment outside of Victoria and an apartment building in Edmonton (the latter a partnership proj-
ect). “We’ve also been successful enough to be able to currently develop two six-unit complexes in Duncan,” says Molland. “If we can sell those units for a good price we will, but if the market shifts we’ll rent. The point is we have to be nimble in what we do because we’re betting on what will happen several years from now.” While it’s a no-brainer for would-be income property owners to focus on properties in smaller, more affordable towns rather than in urban centres, Arneson stresses that “every region in B.C. seems to be hot, from Powell River and Port Alice to Vancouver and Victoria. But definitely, if you can find a 10-unit apartment in a smaller city it’ll be less expensive for you. It’s just that apartments are difficult to find. “There are no two ways about it: you really have to study each regional market. And you have to know as much as possible about investing in income properties overall, because education—not market fluctuations—will decide your success or failure in this field.” September/October 2018
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As much as he tries to determine areas of future growth, Morrison says good timing is the essential factor in deciding one’s success. “For example, we bought a property in Palm Springs when the dollar exchange was in our favour, fixed it up and now it’s worth substantially more than what we paid.” Morrison adds that would-be income property investors should also be prepared to undertake the drudgery associated with being a landlord and thoroughly vet prospective tenants. “You will get calls at two a.m. concerning burst water pipes and other problems and it’ll be your responsibility to fix them,” he says. “And as anyone in this business can attest, tenants can be a nightmare if not thoroughly checked beforehand. My first income property was in a lower economic neighbourhood of Surrey and we had the police at the door several times, unfortunately.” Canada’s well-known income-property expert Scott McGillivray outlines some of the most common types of income properties for new investors on his blog. “Secondary suites are a great way to get started in the real estate investment business mainly because you don’t have to purchase a second property in order to become a landlord,” he writes. McGillivray also cites student rentals as “the backbone of my real-estate investing career” because university and college towns are constantly lacking in this type of housing, which bodes well for continued investment in Kelowna, whose University of British Columbia campus is expanding. But even with these entry-level propositions, McGillivray warns that to be successful, “a lot of research and a lot of number crunching” will be required. In addition to getting as much education as possible about income properties, Arneson and Molland say investors should follow three operating principles. “Plan multiple exit strategies for your properties,” notes the former. “Also, build off a cash flow rather than trying to speculate what the property appreciation will be.” And, Molland says, “use realistic numbers when calculating appreciation. We go by an appreciation of three per cent because that’s the national average, even though on Vancouver Island the rate has been four to five per cent. That way we never overestimate how much we’ll earn and are frequently pleased by the outcome.” 32
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DO THE MATH Rental-property investments can yield a good return, but investors caution that there are always unexpected costs What kind of return on your investment can you achieve in the income property realm? Steve Arneson, co-founder of Victoria-based The REInvestors Ltd., cites a few examples, and explains why taking advantage of attractive prices when they are available is all-important. He says: “In the Cowichan Valley area today, you can purchase a parcel of land for approximately $400,000. If you use a $250-per-square-foot cost to build a six-plex structure with an average unit size of about 1,500 square feet, that equals $2,250,000—or $2,650,00 with the land cost. “If the average sale price of these units is $450,000 (totalling $2,700,000), that doesn’t leave much margin for the project or for unexpected costs, and there are always unexpected costs.” But Arneson shows how dramatically different earnings can be by going back to 2016. “Just two years ago, you could have picked up the same parcel of land for $250,000, which would give you a bigger buffer. Alternatively, you could build at a lower cost: a $25-per-squarefoot reduction could amount to another $225,000 of buffer. And if these units sell for even 10-per-cent more, that could give you another $270,000.” As for single-family housing income opportunities, Arneson cites Duncan and a typical single-family dwelling that can be purchased for about $450,000. “A three-bedroom upstairs with a two-bedroom basement suite that is in good condition in a good area could rent for $3,100 per month,” he says. “Putting 20 per cent down, with a 3.2-per-cent rate and 30-year amortization, your mortgage expense would be about $1,550 per month, leaving $1,550 to cover expenses. These expenses include the basics, such as taxes and insurance, but you always have to include repair and maintenance costs, local vacancy rates, turnover expenses, and city fees.
Vancouverite Marty Morrison’s investment property in Kelowna
“We often see an expense rate of about 30 per cent of gross rental income in residential areas. So 30 per cent of gross ($3,100) is $930, and that leaves you with $620 for property management or positive cash flow, if you manage the property yourself.” For Marty Morrison’s property in Palm Springs, Homeownership Association (HOA) fees are $8,000, property taxes are $2,300 yearly, utilities are $900 per year and repairs average $1,500 annually. He says: “We rent out the property for an average of $3,200 monthly and as long as we can rent it out for four or five months, we can cover my costs. By covering the costs and by timing the purchase in a down market, we are mainly looking for capital appreciation in the property.” Morrison’s investment, including upgrades, was about $130,000 and “the property is probably worth $200,000 now.” As for a Kelowna property that Morrison owns, he says he paid $900,000 when he bought it in 2017 and rents the home for $2,400 a month. There is a ground-level, two-bedroom suite that Morrison uses and he says the bonus is that he can use the suite whenever he chooses to and the rental income covers the yearly costs for the property. “To have a tenant who covers those costs and the property still provides me with a beautiful suite with 180-degree views of the lake and hillsides—that was the main purpose of this investment.” Property upkeep costs are about $14,000 per year, including property management, maintenance, insurance, utilities and property taxes. — Staff
Okanagan Good Life Most people see the sunshine, the lake, the vineyards, ski resorts and the golf courses, but Kelowna’s economy has diversified from agriculture and tourism into health care, post-secondary education and high technology. If you want a quieter, more
market info Population: 200,000 Average home price: $605,685
New listings in 28 Days: 825 Median Days on Market: 55 Quarterly change: 0%+
rural life, then nearby Peachland and Lake Country are just a short drive away. Lovely, modern rancher/walkout Sales volumes and average prices had risen significantly in the
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Original
Celebrating 70 Years of Building Family Memories Together
delivering a new build Want a newly built home within a matter of months? It’s no surprise prefab and factory-built housing is growing in popularity among B.C. buyers By Katya Holloway
P
erhaps your dream home is a water-view property with lofty interiors that stretch outdoors. Or maybe it’s a tiny forest retreat, or contemporary single-family home with vaulted ceilings, complete with a large backyard and deck that beckon for lazy afternoons in reclining chairs. Gone are the traffic jams and endless to-do lists. But wait—cue the record scratch—what if your dream home hasn’t yet been built? Or,
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more likely, what if it’s out of your price range? Factory-built housing may be the answer. Today, a buyer can order a home, tweak design elements to their tastes and have it installed in as little as three months. The only difference from on-site, frame-construction houses is that these are built in a factory and shipped to the building location. By being built indoors, there are no delays due to weather, and components are fabri-
cated to size. Today’s designs are highly energy-efficient and costs can range from entry level to luxury. Designs span everything from custom prefabricated and stylish modular homes, to prefab log homes, tiny homes and even upcycled shipping container homes. Confused? Right Sizing investigates the options so you can decide which will be the home of your dreams.
Prefab home photo courtesy of Pacific Homes
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prefabricated packaged homes Customization and fixed costs
Prefab home photo courtesy of BC Timberframe
Rudy deBest has seen some impressive sights during his career as an international pilot. But today, the view he admires most is through the expansive windows of his newly built oceanfront home. The West Coast-style house on Hornby Island, with a large covered deck overlooking the water, was fully customized to fit the landscape while maximizing the outdoors. deBest and his wife Jacqueline worked with a design team to finesse the layout multiple times in order to ensure it was precisely what they wanted. To look at this home today, one would never guess that it is a prefabricated home with many parts built in a factory. The entire process took about three months from the initial order to its delivery. Piecing it together onsite took about six weeks. “It fit together like a glove,” says deBest. “Absolutely, I would recommend using prefabricated components. The process was very smooth and I’m very impressed with the quality of the product that was delivered.”
deBest selected Pacific Homes, a Vancouver Island-based company that sells prefabricated panelized home kits to customers worldwide. “I always thought the best way to build a house is to get it built in a factory and get it shipped, rather than stick building. The cost of materials may look expensive, but you save so much in labour and time,” he says. The beauty of a prefab home, says Grant McKinnon, co-owner of Pacific Homes, is that the home is designed on a computer, making it possible for easy adjustments to make the house fit even the most difficult of properties. “A lot of people are interested in the quality and the engineering that goes behind it,” says McKinnon. “We can take plans that seem impossible and make them work. If we lay the whole thing out on the computer, we can see the errors, and just pick away at the design.”
The couple and their white Labrador, Boomer, moved to Hornby after selling their home in Chilliwack. deBest was looking at retirement and wanted a newly built home with zero maintenance.
This process appeals to home buyers in isolated markets such as the Gulf Islands, the Yukon and places with a short building window. The speed of assembling the pre-built pieces ensures construction workers are “not out in the rain, hammering nails” for months on end, says McKinnon.
“We wanted oceanfront with a good view, temperate climate and less snow than Chilliwack. We looked around the coast and found a piece of property we liked and decided to go for it,” says deBest.
When the home arrives at your property, the pieces are numbered and it’s much like Lego to piece it together. Buyers of prefabricated homes have the option of constructing it themselves or—most often—hiring a local contractor to do the finishing.
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ENERGY-EFFICIENT, QUALITY ENVIRONMENT One of the benefits of prefabricated homes is that the thick walls are extremely energy-efficient, which means a reduction in heating and cooling costs. Squamish-based British Columbia Timberframe specializes in healthy homes, including those that achieve Passive House certification. It manufactures custom timber-frame home designs that use coastal Douglas Fir. Its partner company, Factor Building Panels, is a prefabricated wall- and roof-panel company that—together with Timberframe—can provide the entire home package from natural building materials, including wood and recycled glass. “What we’re proud of is we’re building European-style homes with energy efficiency and healthy home environments,” says co-owner Kelvin Mooney. “All you need to do is find a piece of land and we’ll design it and build it for you.” The design is created in-house and built with a 3D model on a computer, which allows for alterations. The process takes six to eight weeks, and because all the parts are prefabricated in the shop, time on the building site is minimal. The end result is a beautiful home with exposed timber, energy-efficient and quality air circulation. “The customer wants a beautiful dream home—that’s what they come to us for,” says co-owner Marnie Lett. “The esthetic is probably first and foremost. That represents the dream and if we can attach to that the factor of health, then I find this is beyond what customers are even thinking of right now. When they get those first gas and electricity bills, it’s such a thrill. The dream comes full circle at that point.”
Photo courtesy of Pacific Homes
FACTBOX WHAT IS A PREFABRICATED PACKAGE HOME? It’s a custom home with all the materials needed to build the structure of your home, including the exterior cladding, roofing materials, flashings, trusses, walls framed with insulation, windows and doors. The components are shipped directly to your property, where a local contractor can assemble them within a matter of days or weeks. Cost range: From $60 per square foot for exterior shell, or anywhere from $165 to $350+ per square foot for a complete house, including all interiors, depending on finishes. Freight costs may be extra. Time to build: Anywhere from six weeks to eight months. Size: Any size requested.
A prefab timber frame home. Photo courtesy of Discovery Dream Homes
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lOG AND TIMBER HOMES Living the Canadian dream
Solid West Coast red cedar prefab log home photo courtesy of Pan-Abode International
A log house, for many, represents the Canadian dream. Whether it’s nestled among towering cedars in the midst of a forest, or perched at the edge of a freshwater lake, these homes are an iconic fixture in B.C. From cozy cabins to luxurious log homes, sizes and styles can vary greatly. One option that simplifies the building process is going with a prefab log-home package. An example of a company that specializes in such kits is Surrey-based Pan-Abode, which sells homes around the world. Its specialty is custom log homes built with Western red cedar, which is common only to North America’s Pacific Northwest. This particularly resilient wood, which is often used in totem poles, can survive 80-plus years of West Coast moisture. Rauvin Manhas, president of Pan-Abode, says the prefab process involves working with the customer to design their custom home. “Once the design is finalized, and they’ve got exactly what they want, we custom manufacture that package so all the log
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walls get trimmed, manufactured and itemized with stickers so you know which log goes to which wall. All of the components come pre-cut, ready to go,” says Manhas. From that point, homeowners can either build it themselves or hire a contractor to piece it together. Another example is Discovery Dream Homes, which manufactures components for custom log and timber homes. Houses are shipped around the world. A home is designed from scratch by working with the client. It’s created in a 3D environment so the customer can view it on a computer. After the design process, the pieces are manufactured—logs for a log house are pre-cut—and are numbered and packaged together for shipping. “If you’ve always wanted a log cabin, this is a way to bring that dream to reality,” says Ray King, owner of Discovery Dream Homes. “We can fit to the customer’s budget and give them that ‘wow’ factor and the look that they want.”
FACTBOX WHAT IS A PREFAB LOG HOME PACKAGE? A business works with you to design your custom home, which is cut and manufactured in a factory, with all items numbered, itemized and shipped to your location. From there, it’s a matter of piecing it together. Cost range: Kits can cost from $90 to $150 per square foot for materials. With assistance from a builder, the home build can range from $250 to $400 per square foot, depending on the company and designs. Time to build: Anywhere from eight weeks to six months, depending on the company and design. Size: No size limitation. Structure size can range from dog houses to destination resorts.
modular homes
Modern designs up the esthetics ante
Don’t let the word “modular” put you off. Once associated with mobile—or trailer park—homes, today’s designs are contemporary and stylish, with prices ranging from extremely affordable to ultra-luxurious.
and the price was great,” says Carolynn. “Every detail is nice: there are lights under the eaves, the kitchen has lights under the countertops, it has three bedrooms and a big walk-in closet.”
Modular designs span everything from tiny cabins to luxuriously large, single-family homes. At the top end of the market is Karoleena Homes, owned by Kamloops-based Horizon North.
B.C. buyers are catching on, too, snapping them up as fast as they roll off the production line.
These are not the mobile homes of 1970s trailer-park vintage. The only difference between modular and conventional housing is that one is built in a factory, says Mark Huchulak, president and CEO of Jandel Homes, an Alberta-based company that recently expanded to B.C.
“Our Karoleena product is quite frankly in the luxury range with high-end finishing and contemporary design,” says Joseph Kiss, senior vice-president of modular solutions at Horizon North.
The old stigma is fading as new generations jump on the opportunity to buy a newly built home that’s attractive, energy-efficient and with a faster building process than a traditional home. When Carolynn and Irvin Kelly started shopping around for a new property in Osoyoos, the couple was disappointed to find the local housing stock in their price range was old and shabby. Instead, they decided to buy an acre of land and shop around for a house. They stepped inside a modular show home in Penticton and liked it so much, they bought it right off the lot. “I walked into the modular and it was, wow, it was beautiful— 42
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“Modular is a construction method, not a type of house. We use the same lumber, we use the same building codes. The only difference is that they are being built indoors. I can walk down these new subdivisions where there are modular and stick-build homes and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference,” says Huchulak. “One thing I always say is: ‘Would you get on an airplane that has been built on the side of a runway? Or would you rather it be built in a factory?’ When houses are built in a factory, precision is very high.”
“We have a number of standard designs, which range from laneway or tiny homes all the way up to 3,000 square feet plus. Our designs are West Coast or mountain contemporary, with mid-grade to high-end finishes.” Once the home is on the foundation, it’s sold like typical real estate and your average citizen would not know it was a modular build. “When you’re in the finished product, it’s indistinguishable from homes built conventionally,” says Kiss. “It’s a full turnkey approach with no cost uncertainty and no
High-end modular homes photos courtesy of Karoleena Homes (above and top right)
Moderately priced modular home photo courtesy of Jandel Homes
Contemporary modular home photo courtesy of KABIN
time uncertainty. The homes are built in a factory environment, so there is no impact or delays from weather.”
FACTBOX WHAT IS A MODULAR HOME?
Time is a major factor for most buyers, he adds.
Modular homes are constructed in a factory and shipped to their destination fully complete inside. A crane lifts the modules onto the foundation and secures them together. They are built with factory precision and adhere to Canadian building codes.
“If you get your house six to nine months quicker, how much is that worth? The main drivers for many of our clients are cost certainty, schedule and location in terms of minimal disruption to neighbours. Also, the reason we have people calling Karoleena is the esthetics. That’s one of the biggest drivers. There’s really nothing else like it on the market,” says Kiss.
Cost range: As little as $125 per square foot up to $350 per square foot for high end (they typically cost less than houses built on-site due to efficiencies from building the units indoors). Time to build: Eight to 24 weeks, depending on the company and designs. Size: Everything from small cabins to single-family homes. The size depends on the number of modular sections desired.
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ABOVE An example of modular home delivery. BELOW Manufacturing process.
FIXED COSTS PREVENT STICKER SHOCK As much as they loved living in Vancouver, Patrick and Suki Belbin had grown sick and tired of renting. The young professionals—a teacher and nurse—decided to move to the Okanagan in search of a more affordable lifestyle. They settled in Penticton and purchased a single-family home on a large lot. Today, their mortgage is equivalent to what they were paying in rent for an East Vancouver basement suite. If their story sounds familiar, it’s because this couple’s migration is part of a growing B.C. trend. As a result, smaller communities are developing a fresh energy. The couple, who now have two children (ages one and three), recently decided to add a carriage house complete with a two-bedroom suite to their property. “When we bought the place in Penticton, I wanted a big yard for kids to play and we wanted something that had potential,” says Patrick. “It’s an old house and we wanted to add a carriage house so that our family could visit for longer stays. Also, we can rent it out to pay for itself.” They worked with Penticton-based Radec Group on the Cape Codstyle design and—using a combination of factory-built panels and traditional stick-framing—the house was ready to go within a matter of months. One of the big selling points of a factory-built housing company, adds Patrick, is the fact that the price they quote is the final price you are charged. 44
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“Having the project done as a cost-certain model was definitely important to us. It’s like if you have a plumber coming to your house to fix your hot water heater. He might say it’s $600 to $700 over the phone, and then you get a bill for $1,200. With Radec, the numbers were what they said the numbers would be. The time is tighter and the numbers are tighter. I like that model.” As for their decision to move to the Okanagan, Patrick confesses he does miss Vancouver sometimes, but that Penticton is “perfect for my family, perfect for our financial situation.” “It’s amazing how the demographic has changed so quickly here,” he says. “I have other friends who used to live in Vancouver and are now in Penticton. It’s a family town all of a sudden—lots of kids.”
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tiny homes
Photos of Mint Tiny Homes courtesy of James Alfred Photography
Great things come in small packages In today’s crazy housing market, the thought of purchasing an entire home for $50,000 sounds much like winning the lottery. That home, however, will be tiny. Extremely tiny.
Gambling lives in her 220-square-foot home full time. Other owners buy them as vacation homes, guest houses, ski cabins, artist studios and rental suites.
“The attraction is the lifestyle in Terrace. There’s world-class fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, beautiful hiking, lots of activities,” says Allsopp.
It’s a trade-off a growing number of potential homeowners are willing to take. Not only are these diminutive dwellings an opportunity to own a house without a hefty mortgage, but they provide a way of life that involves downsizing your space, simplifying your lifestyle and enjoying the freedom that a home on wheels provides.
Demand is “huge,” in B.C., says Shannon Loeber, West Coast sales manager of Hummingbird Micro Homes, which is based in Fernie, B.C. Everyone wants to see what it looks and feels like inside a tiny home and almost everyone... is amazed at how much room there actually is in the home.
Hummingbird is now looking at other sites in the Okanagan and in the Kootenays in which to build more communities.
When Samantha Gambling completed grad school at the University of B.C. (UBC), she wanted to find a stable home in Vancouver. “I started work in the non-profit field and was looking for a secure home that would shelter me from the extreme housing market, renovictions and having to move, not to mention having to pay 80 per cent of my income on rent,” she says. “Tiny housing also falls in line with my philosophical beliefs involving ecological sustainability.” 46
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“We’d like to build a few more villages,” says Allsopp. “This would give people great options of where to put their tiny homes, alongside other like-minded people.”
Ted Allsopp, owner of Hummingbird Micro Homes, says most buyers are “people wanting to be able to enjoy the freedom that smaller living brings: less expenses, less cleaning and fewer mortgage payments.”
SMALL HOUSING SUMMIT
Hummingbird pioneered Canada’s first tiny-house village, located in Terrace. Residents can rent a tiny home or roll on in with their existing house and rent a serviced pad by the month. Bluegrass Meadows Micro Village includes laundry facilities, water, sewage and snow removal.
The first of its kind in Canada, this one-day conference and evening networking event will explore small housing and its role in densifying single-family neighbourhoods. For more details, visit smallhousingbc.org/summit.
Nov. 17 at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, 1088 Burrard St., Vancouver
WHERE CAN I PARK MY TINY HOME? While building her tiny house, Samantha Gambling realized she didn’t have anywhere to park it. While people were supportive of her plight, municipal regulations within Metro Vancouver restricted her from renting space on someone’s yard. In fact, few municipalities throughout B.C. allow for tiny homes within their zoning bylaws. Fed up with battling red tape, Gambling and Anastasia Koutalianos co-founded the BC Tiny House Collective. Their goal is to try to get tiny houses recognized as viable housing stock. Efforts have included conducting research in partnership with UBC and other institutions, public outreach and speaking with municipal governments.
FACTBOX HOW TINY IS IT? A tiny home is a fully functional unit totalling fewer than 500 square feet with all the amenities of a typical home, including a kitchen, bathroom and bed. It is either on wheels or has a temporary foundation. Cost range: A typical house is around $50,000 but larger sizes can be upwards of $115,000. Time to build: Eight to 10 weeks. Size: A tiny home typically has around 200 square feet of livable space, although it can range from 100 to 500 square feet.
In an ideal world, homeowners could offer rental space in their backyards to tiny-home owners as laneway alternatives. Outside of city centres, tiny house villages—like those now popping up in Terrace and the Sunshine Valley—offer a more affordable lifestyle or holiday option. “We really want to create a space for tiny houses in B.C.,” says Koutalianos. “Tiny homes are not the solution to the housing crisis (within city centres), but they offer an affordable model for home ownership and play a valuable part in diversifying neighbourhoods.” Gambling and Koutalianos say places including Vancouver, North Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Squamish, Haida Gwaii and others are showing interest—and the conversations continue.
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SPECIALTY DESIGNS Homes that spark conversations
Demand for Edmonton-based Honomobo pre-manufactured homes has been steadily increasing. Photo courtesy Honomobo
From upcycled container homes to stylish surf huts, clever designs and unique building materials are adding a wow factor to neighbourhoods near you. Edmonton-based Honomobo, which has been selling pre-manufactured shipping container homes for the past two years, says demand has been growing steadily throughout B.C., Alberta and California. Homes range from 273 to 1,530 square feet and are shipped to their destination as modern plug-and-play houses. Because these homes are constructed in a factory, they arrive on site 95 per cent complete, minimizing most disturbances to the neighbourhood, says sales manager Mark Kohlen. “The homes are all built with recycled containers, which otherwise would be thrown away. They’re very efficient, solar ready, and the structurally insulated panels are impervious to water and fire,” says Kohlen.
Honomobo has two types of homes: the H series, which are built with shipping containers, and the M series, which are built with a steel frame and structurally insulated panels (SIP). They range in cost from $110,000 to $340,000, excluding freight and installation costs. They also have a pop-up bar that sells for $25,000. The industrial esthetic is certainly a conversation starter, says Alexander Renowitzky, marketing manager of Richmond-based Container West. “It does have a specific look that is appealing,” he says. “It also has immense use when it comes to moving locations. For one, you can bring it to the location pretty much finished.” Another talking point is Vancouver-based Backcountry Hut Company’s prefab kits. Think stylish huts or a surf shack that can be assembled with a team of four friends in just days, IKEA-style.
WATCH THIS (POP-UP) SPACE ExpanDwell Homes is creating a prototype for a pop-up house that will expand from its transportable size into a cabin with a cathedral ceiling and large windows. This way, you can take your cabin with you wherever you travel. Owner Meagan Strong says she is designing it now and hopes to have it on the market next year. “The plan for the pop-up house is to be similar in weight to an RV for ease of transportation, but will offer a larger—and less claustrophobia-inducing—living space thanks to its open layout, large windows and to the unique way it expands,” says Strong. Coming soon.
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RIDE ON
Golf is slowly being eclipsed by cyclists embracing single-track trails, bike parks and road riding By Steven Threndyle
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Cycling. It’s the new golf. Golf is still a favoured pastime for many second homeowners, but that new face peeking out from behind recreational property advertisements has traded in a golf bag for a carbon-fibre, dual-suspension mountain bike, or even a battery powered e-bike. A bike can replace—or supplement—a gym membership and provide a wonderful social network of like-minded friends. And the best thing is that all you need to do is click open the garage door and start pedalling. Western Canada’s mountain towns are as famous for their buff single-track and bucolic back roads as they are for double-black-diamond ski runs. While routes like the Trans Canada and Highway 97
through the Okanagan are to be avoided, there are deserted secondary roads with decent pavement, swooping turns, challenging climbs and dramatic descents. Former railway lines in the Okanagan (Kettle Valley Railway and southern Vancouver Island’s Galloping Goose Trail) have been converted to car-free, multi-use routes that are easy to pedal even if you haven’t ridden a bike since you were a teenager. Whether you’re a novice cyclist merely looking for a bike rental to tool around Victoria’s Inner Harbour, or a hardcore competitor training for the BC Bike Race, take the time to stop for spare tubes or to replace a lost pair of gloves at any one of B.C.’s independent and locally owned bike shops. Chances are good that the staff can point you to trails that even Trailforks (the indispensable mobile-phone app) hasn’t picked up on yet.
Vernon, Silver Star, Predator Ridge Riding in the sage coloured foothills near Vernon, 45 minutes north of Kelowna, is top notch, thanks to the North Okanagan Cycling Society. There are expansive cross-country trails close to Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park south of town. Trail-building activity has picked up in both Kalamalka Lake and Ellison Provincial Park and Silver Star Mountain was one of the first ski resorts to embrace mountain biking and hosted major national competitions in the mid-1980s along with the late, great 24 Hours of Adrenalin endurance event. In 2005, Silver Star embraced the high-speed world of downhill mountain biking, using its Comet high-speed lift to access dozens of kilometres of new trails, including the outrageously enjoyable Super Star, an ego-stroking descent where you just want to go faster and faster. The trail that has everyone excited, however, is a new one that starts in a most unlikely place. Proving that perhaps cycling is indeed the new golf, Predator Ridge Golf Resort engaged the trail-building talents of Cam Sorensen, architect of many of the trails at the Silver Star Mountain Resort bike park, to create the four-kilometre Granite Trail, connecting the golf course with an extensive trail network in neighbouring Ellison Provincial Park. Built to take advantage of natural features like smooth granite outcrops and open slopes with outstanding views across Okanagan Lake, Sorensen constructed Granite Trail using the principles of flow. Instead of skidding and making deep ruts by riding straight down the mountain side, bikers swoop smoothly through banked corners, gentle rollers and even the odd uphill grade to keep them honest. Granite Trail is perfect for intermediate riders who probably find many of the other Predator trails a mite tame. The bike pathways leading from the golf course flow through fragrant stands of Ponderosa pine and are suitable for families and casual cyclists. More serious road riders will point their steeds east toward Highway 97 and Kalamalka Lake or head for Commonage Road, a back route into Vernon.
Photo courtesy of Predator Ridge
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Whistler In the same way that high-speed quad chairlifts transformed the ski runs at Whistler Blackcomb so, too, has its mountain biking park. No longer do you need to grunt and sweat up several thousand vertical feet; just wheel your bike onto the chairlift, get off at the top and let gravity do the work. Vail Resorts is busy developing dozens of kilometres of new trail at the Creekside base on Whistler Mountain that will further cement the town’s reputation at the fat-tire forefront. While the bike park grabs the ink in the mountain bike media, cyclists looking for more of a purist experience will want to tackle Comfortably Numb and Lord of the Squirrels, two of the longest, most challenging rides anywhere in the world. There’s a healthy road biking scene here in Whistler as well, though given the fact that most routes include the Sea to Sky Highway, you might want to get an early start in order to beat the traffic or head for the West Side Road that borders Alta Lake. Gentler, less stressful riding awaits north of Pemberton and along the West Side Road that borders Alta Lake. For casual riders, the Valley Trail is an easy way to take in a lot of scenery in a short period of time. Galloping Goose Trail on Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy of Destination BC/ Reuben Krabbe
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Kamloops, Sun Peaks Since the mid-1990s, the Kamloops mountain-biking scene has been featured in videos, magazines and splattered all over social media. This kind of mountain biking has become known as freeriding—descending and climbing the wide-open countryside where trails follow the contours of the land and create that magical flowing that riders from around the world are beginning to discover. The number of pro riders who have called Kamloops home at some point is truly astounding—everyone from freeride pioneers such as Brett Tippie and Olympian Catharine Pendrel, to dirt jumpers like Matt Hunter. Most of Kamloop’s best riding takes place right inside the city limits. Tune up your bike-handling skills at The Ranch bike park or tackle single-track in Kenna Cartwright Park. Caffeinate your ride with a stop at the Bicycle Café on Valleyview Drive. And 45 minutes north of Kamloops, Sun Peaks Resort features a bike park that has hosted numerous provincial and national downhill competitions. In August, the entire mountain is ablaze in a riot of colour as the dozens of varieties of wildflowers bloom. Road riders will discover the well-paved roads for training, including the route from Heffley Creek to Sun Peaks, the Trans-Canada Highway west of town that follows Kamloops Lake out past Tobiano Golf and Country Club, and the Highway 97 route from Kamloops to Merritt. Experienced road riders can tackle Highway 97, which runs from Kamloops all the way to Vernon. Lord of the Squirrel is Whistler’s new popular alpine trail. Photo by Justa Jeskova
Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands Considering a move to Vancouver Island? Make sure you pack along (or rent) a bicycle to explore thousands of miles of backroads, paved city routes (around Victoria) and perhaps the finest single-track mountain biking found anywhere on the planet. Easily reached by ferry from Victoria, the Gulf Islands are a favoured destination for what might be called credit-card touring where you pack a few essentials into a handlebar bag or backpack and discover secret beaches, local arts and crafts and a wine and culinary scene that will have you stopping at a local realtor’s office to see what the recreational property market is like. (The Cowichan Valley near Duncan and Ladysmith is similarly endowed with fine riding and eclectic shops and roadside attractions). In Cumberland, mountain biking trails have even helped revive the local economy. Volunteers have hand-cut hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike trails suitable for riders of just about any ability level. And as word got around, young people from Calgary and Vancouver started purchasing property and relocating to this former coal-mining town. Photo courtesy Tourism Kamloops/Sean Jenkins
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Squamish Mountain biking and slower family-oriented casual cycling are both popular in this ruggedly picturesque town at the head of Howe Sound. Volunteer trail builders have created some of the best single-track trails anywhere in the province. Three primary trail networks are located a short distance from downtown in the trendy Crumpit Woods subdivision, up at Quest University in Garibaldi Highlands and up in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Kelowna B.C.’s fourth-largest urban centre has some really fine riding, regardless of ability level. Bike pathways perfect for families of all ages wind along the Lake Okanagan waterfront and Kelowna’s newly rejuvenated downtown. The Mission Creek Greenway is a true locals’ secret; a wide, car-free, 18-kilometre trail that runs from the shores of Okanagan Lake all the way up to the base of uniquely shaped Layer Cake Mountain. On weekends, hundreds of local riders wind their way through the hills of southeast Kelowna on a network of paved secondary roads. Care to sip some Sauvignon or Shiraz while you ride? Lakeshore Boulevard passes three excellent wineries. As for mountain bikers, the sky’s the limit. Some of the most scenic riding is through charred remains of the 2003 Okanagan fire in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park. Fifteen years later, second-growth evergreens are already two metres high in some places.
Riders enjoying the view as much as the granite slabs in Squamish, BC. Photo by Ben Haggar
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Squamish has attracted hundreds of young families in the past decade, drawn by cheaper house prices than elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, as well as easy trail access. The dyke trails along the banks of the Squamish and Mamquam Rivers are ideal for towing toddlers in trailers or trail-a-bikes, and for kids making their very first independent cycling forays.
One enterprising couple made the move from Vancouver to bucolic Salt Spring Island—and they’ve never looked back
ISLAND LIFE Buying and selling at opportune times afforded this Salt Spring couple a lifestyle with work, play and travel By Steven Threndyle
There was a time when retirement planning was fairly straightforward: sell the house, downsize to an apartment and then join fellow Canadian snowbirds in Arizona or Florida for the worst part of winter. After four or five decades of working, don’t we all deserve an escape from sub-zero temperatures or months of rain? As it is, baby boomers (and even some GenXers) are redefining retirement in ways that defy easy stereotypes. What you find when you interview newly retired baby boomers is that everyone’s story is different. For better or worse, family and employment situations and circumstances 56
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are increasingly complicated. Family assets might be remortgaged or sold for a variety of reasons. Self-employed entrepreneurs might face significant challenges in letting go of their business, while others might have depleted their savings due to job losses or family emergencies. The good news is that if you happened to buy on a dip in residential real estate at pretty much any time from 1988 to 2010, your primary residence has done very, very well for you and should enable a retirement lifestyle that permits travel to exotic countries, plus purchasing Sun Belt, Mexican or Hawaiian vacation properties and even a
condo—if you’re lucky—in a neighbourhood close to your adult children. Since selling their home in West Vancouver five years ago, Peter and Jayne Lloyd-Jones have embarked on a few adventures, which is hardly surprising given that their tourism marketing and media relations firm was at one time called Spectacular Adventures. In summer of 1992, Peter and Jayne emigrated from the United Kingdom to Canada and, after a brief hiatus in Vancouver, bought property in Whistler just as it was beginning its meteoric rise as a top-ranked international destination resort. Part of that acclaim
Peter and Jayne Lloyd-Jones purchased this B&B—Hedgerow House—near Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island
was due to the buzz generated by the opening of the Chateau Whistler by Fairmont (formerly Canadian Pacific) Hotels and Resorts. Jayne used her finely honed PR skills to become the first media relations manager at the newly opened Chateau Whistler. The couple lost no time in honing their entrepreneurial skills by partnering with another family (realtor Maggi Thornhill) to own and operate Moguls, a cappuccino and quickie breakfast to-go cafe ideally situated in the established main village. Jayne made media contacts while Peter steamed lattes and then the couple decided to start their own media relations and tourism marketing firm. “We knew that if we wanted to establish an A-list of clients that we would have to move to Vancouver,” Jayne says. They sold their Whistler home and bought a 2,800-squarefoot home in West Vancouver—a mere fraction of the size of the monster homes being built there now—which had to include a home office as well as accommodate their two children.
ing and taking transit, and no longer needing to spend weekends on yard work or home-maintenance projects,” Jayne says, “There was something very freeing about moving into a smaller space. I can really see why younger families want to be close to downtown.” But greater adventures were on the horizon. Peter says: “I think there’s a much more gradual transition into a different lifestyle than before. It’s not just about doing nothing and idle leisure.” Taking advantage of their extensive travel-industry experience, they began looking throughout B.C. for a bed-and-breakfast property to purchase. (For those who fantasize about such a lifestyle, the next part is critical.)
make a bed-and-breakfast out of it when it should be the other way around. We really tried to take emotion out of the purchase.” They put an offer on a B&B—Hedgerow House—near Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island. “We very much liked the idea of island life because it’s slower and you can really get to know the people in your community. We felt that Salt Spring offered all the benefits we were looking for in terms of being far away yet close to the city if we needed to get there. For guests, Salt Spring is easy to get to via ferry from Vancouver, Victoria or Seattle. From a personal perspective, it allowed our children to visit regularly versus being farther away in the depths of the B.C. Interior.”
I think there’s a much more gradual transition into a different lifestyle than before. It’s not just about doing nothing and idle leisure. — Peter Lloyd-Jones
Once their kids moved out of the family home, the Lloyd-Joneses did what all of those retirement brochures say you should do: they downsized into a 700-square-foot apartment in Vancouver’s trendy Yaletown and leased office space to run their PR firm a few blocks away in Gastown.
“Spectacular Ink was very much a deskbound business,” Jayne says. “We wanted a bed and breakfast so that we could get away from our desks and into the garden and kitchen and yoga studio. They say that sitting is the new smoking and there’s something to be said for getting your hands dirty in the garden every day. We both longed for the kind of job where you do a combination of physical labour, such as gardening, and interacting with interesting people.”
“We didn’t make quite as much money as we might have if we’d hung on for a year or two longer; that’s when West Van real estate really took off,” Peter says. “We essentially became yuppies, like back in the ‘80s—living and working downtown, walk-
Jayne says: “We searched for quite some time because we wanted something that offered separate accommodation for the owners and that had an operational track record. I think a lot of people find their socalled dream home and then think they’ll
The deal closed quickly and the Lloyd-Joneses were in business two weeks after taking possession. Now in its fifth season of operation, the Lloyd-Joneses have made significant upgrades to the original B&B and have made a concerted effort at environmental sustainability by installing solar panels for hot water, a rooftop rainwater collection system and planting more drought-resistant plants. Like the other southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring lies in an arid belt that extends to the Olympic Mountain range in Washington State. The B&B even has an EV charger in case you roll up to the lodge in an electric vehicle. All of the bedding and sheets are freshly line-dried by the sea breezes and abundant Salt Spring sunshine. September/October 2018
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Peter and Jayne Lloyd-Jones (pictured below) shutter Hedgerow House in winter and travel. Photos courtesy Peter and Jayne Lloyd-Jones
A focus on health and wellness is another feature of a stay at Hedgerow House. Jayne was a yoga instructor long before it became mandatory to wear trendy clothing to attend class, and she teaches both scheduled and custom classes throughout the week—indoors and out. “I’ve had quite a few yoga teachers come over with their students as well,” she says. In keeping with the wellness theme, Hedgerow House also offers rejuvenating spa treatments (including massages and facials), an infra-red sauna and a jetted hot tub. What Peter and Jayne are perhaps most proud of, however, is what Peter calls their dedication to Salt Spring’s “one-mile diet.” “You’ve heard of the 100-mile diet?” he says. “In high season, literally all of the ingredients we use in our three-course breakfasts come from a one-mile radius of Hedgerow House. Many of the ingredients are grown in our own garden, while others are sourced from the farmer’s market down in Ganges Harbour or nearby farms and trusted producers.” Specialties include homemade granola, apple juice and ciders pressed on
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the island (not on-site), asparagus risotto and heirloom tomato tart. While the climate is famously benign for Canada, the Lloyd-Joneses shutter Hedgerow House in the winter months so that they can fulfill their own travelling dreams. Peter says: “Last winter, we were in Australia and New Zealand and southeast Asia. The winter before that, we were in Bali and Sri Lanka. And the winter before that we were in India and Europe. We have friends here on Salt Spring and elsewhere who have places in Palm Springs and other sun destinations, but we prefer the flexibility that running the business gives us.” One unintended consequence has been the fact that many of their guests are similarly smitten by Salt Spring. Peter says: “Hedgerow House has become a bit of a landing pad for folks who are wondering where they might settle once they retire. Many of our guests are from Toronto or Vancouver or Calgary, and after a few days here on the island, you’ll see them come back after a day and they’ll have been talking to a real estate agent. We’ve become good friends
with quite a few people who subsequently decided to move here, which nicely completes the circle for us as business owners.” It takes a strong marriage to navigate the many challenges of running a B&B and a successful PR firm. The Lloyd-Joneses have an almost telepathic sense of shared destiny that served them well in their social and business endeavours. “In the end, we’re probably working harder than we did when we were living in West Vancouver, but it’s a different, more rewarding lifestyle,” says Peter.
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B.C. FARMERS’ MARKETS CONNECT COMMUNITIES, STRENGTHEN ECONOMIES Life in smaller centres has a fresh touch By Tracey Rayson In cities and smaller centres across British Columbia, more than 147 farmers’ markets, which are represented by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), are revving up local commerce and social interaction, supporting small-scale agriculture, and getting more nutritious food onto the plates of residents—all essential ingredients that make up a healthy community.
“Money spent in the community stays in the community as vendors purchase goods and services, hire local staff and
says Heather O’Hara, executive director of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. “Whether regionally or at the local level, you’ll get the freshest food, interesting prepared foods, and different kinds of in-season crops based on a particular area, so you’re really getting a flavour and a taste of what a region or community is all about, for instance, something on Vancouver Island versus the Kootenays.” The great strength of farmers’ markets is the intentional aggregation of local food production, as well as incubating and supporting local businesses.
programs.” — Bev Wiens
“There’s a lot of prepared foods that go on to be wildly successful businesses that started and incubated at the farmers’ market,” reveals O’Hara.
“Farmers’ markets typically represent an alternative economy, a place where diversified, small-scale farming can be viable,”
Holy Crap artisanal organic cereal is one such business that was founded by Brian and Corin Mullins from Sechelt, B.C. They sold their first 10 bags of cereal at the Sechelt
contribute to the tax base, in addition to supporting social
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Farmers’ Market in May 2009. Made in Gibsons, B.C., today Holy Crap has become a multi-million dollar company selling to more than 600 retailers. The social and economic benefits that help to strengthen a community’s local identity cannot be overlooked. The Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market (KFCM), for example, serves as a regional economic anchor and neighbourhood destination for residents to participate in collective action toward boosting social networking and enhancing civic engagement. “KFCM’s long-established outdoor market, across from Orchard Park Mall, creates a vibrant central city hub,” says Bev Wiens, KFCM president. “Our new Sunday satellite market on St. Paul Street adds to the pedestrian atmosphere in the rapidly growing residential neighbourhood of the downtown area.” The success of B.C.’s farmers’ markets helps foster and connect urban and rural
OPEN FOR BUSINESS B.C. farmers’ markets are open well into fall—and some remain open year round Here are a few to explore:
Jong’s Vegetable Garden. Photo Sherri King/Kamloops Farmers’ Market
CARIBOO CHILCOTIN COAST
THOMPSON OKANAGAN
Quesnel Farmers’ Market (Oct. 14)
Armstrong Farmers’ Market (Oct. 28) Barriere Farmers’ Market (Oct. 26)
Photo courtesy Kamloops Farmers’ Market
economies, catalyze neighbourhood development, enhance real estate values and keep money in the local neighbourhood. “Money spent in the community stays in the community as vendors purchase goods and services, hire local staff and contribute to the tax base, in addition to supporting social programs,” says Wiens. “Providing access to fresh local food and unique crafts adds to the attractiveness of the community as a desirable place to live.” Most farmers’ markets operate not just in the summer months, but well into October, too. Be sure to visit the BC Farmers’ Market Trail (bcfarmersmarkettrail.com) launched by BCAFM to help you find your local farmers’ market. “It is heavy on digital engagement, with videos to tell the story of community markets and the farmers within it,” says O’Hara.
KOOTENAY ROCKIES
Clearwater Farmers’ Market (Oct. 7)
Cranbrook Farmer’s Market (Oct. 7)
Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market (Oct. 28)
Creston Valley Farmers’ Market (Oct. 14)
Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market (Oct. 28)
Grand Forks Farmers’ Market (Oct. 31)
Lytton Two Rivers Farmers’ Market (Oct. 27)
Nakusp Farmers’ Market (Oct. 7)
Merritt: Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market (Oct. 7)
Nelson: Cottonwood Community Market (Oct. 31)
Penticton Farmers’ Market (Oct. 28)
Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market (Oct. 21)
Salmon Arm All Organic Framers’ Market (Nov. 8)
Rossland Mountain Market (Oct. 5)
Salmon Arm/Shuswap Farm & Craft Market
Trail’s IncrEDIBLE Farmer’s Market (Oct. 7)
(Oct. 5) Sorrento Village Farmers’ Market (Oct.7)
NORTHERN B.C.
Vernon Farmers’ Market (Oct. 30)
Dawson Creek Farmers’ Market (year round) Haida Gwaii: Queen Charlotte Farmers’ Market (year round)
VANCOUVER ISLAND/ GULF ISLANDS
Hazelton Farmers’ Market (Oct. 1)
Courtenay: Comox Valley Farmers’ Market
Prince George Farmers’ Market (year-round)
(Oct. 14)
Smithers: BV Farmers’ Market (Oct. 7)
Duncan Farmers’ Market (year-round)
Terrace: Skeena Valley Farmers’ Market (Oct. 28)
Nanaimo: Island Roots Market Co-op (yearround)
SEA TO SKY
North Saanich Farm Market (Oct. 6)
Lillooet Farmers’ Market (Oct. 6)
Pender Island Farmers’ Market (Oct. 7)
Pemberton Farmers’ Market (Oct.26)
Port Alberni Farmers’ Market (year-round)
Squamish Farmers’ Market (Oct. 28)
Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market (year-round)
Whistler Farmers’ Market (Oct. 8)
Salt Spring Farmers’ Market (Oct. 31) Sooke Country Market (Oct. 7)
SUNSHINE COAST
Victoria: Metchosin Farmers’ Market
Gibsons Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market (Oct. 6)
(Oct 29)
Roberts Creek Farm Gate Market (year-round)
Victoria: Moss Street Market (Oct. 28). September/October 2018
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The float plane terminal in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour has regularly scheduled flights going to numerous coastal communities. Photo courtesy of Harbour Air
IN PRAISE OF AIR COMMUTES Trading in traffic snarls for a quick flight means these commuters have more free time By Gail Johnson Chris Gray spent decades watching the neighbourhood he loved— North Vancouver—get busier as traffic throughout the Lower Mainland grew increasingly worse. Tired of spending so much daily time stuck in his car, he made the move to Vancouver Island’s Mill Bay last year. Now his commute is different. Gray, owner of Perimeter Drainage and Mini Bins, travels to Vancouver for business about once a week via floatplane. Rather than stare at the bumper of the car in front of him while getting to and from work, he gazes over the Strait of Georgia from 3,000 metres above as the North Shore mountains and the Lions Gate Bridge come into view before the plane touches down in Burrard Inlet. “It’s a lifestyle change,” Gray says. “Some days [on the mainland] I would spend five hours in my car. Now I have a half-hour commute.” A regular with Harbour Air Seaplanes (which also owns SaltSpring Air and Whistler Air), Gray is able to board the small DHC-2 Beaver aircraft in Maple Bay, which is a short drive from his home. At the terminal, he grabs a free newspaper, coffee and a pastry, and will often catch up on administrative work and e-mails on his laptop. He’s 62
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in downtown Vancouver faster than the amount of time it would have taken him to drive to the Nanaimo ferry terminal. “I can jump on a plane and I maximize my time,” he adds. “Sometimes I’ll get to the terminal early because it’s such a great atmosphere; it’s a great place to work. It’s just a fantastic commute.”
“It’s a lifestyle change. “Some days… I would spend five hours in my car. Now I have a halfhour commute.” —Chris Gray With recreational property at Lake Cowichan, Steve Lee is a North Shore resident who commutes from spring to late fall. He travels from Maple Bay to downtown Vancouver every week for work and is able to have full weekends at his waterfront cabin. “On Mondays, the plane leaves at 7:30 a.m. and I’m at work by 8:15,” says Lee, whose office is in Vancouver’s financial district. “It makes being on the Island so easy. The only thing that could make it better would be if the planes landed on Cowichan Lake.”
Anyone who has a body of water between them and Metro Vancouver— and who must travel regularly or even occasionally for work—knows the options: floatplane, helicopter or ferry. For many, a short flight is preferable to a ferry ride that may involve waiting in line and also carry the risk of missing a sailing. There are advantages to travelling with the ferry service, of course; most notably, it’s less expensive than flying. Gray, however, manages to make the journey as economical as possible, because he typically flies standby—and uses Harbour Air’s Turbo Tickets—or travels mid-day, when fares are cheaper. Regular commuters find that the amount of time they save from travelling by air more than makes up for the increased travel expenses. If you’re travelling solo on some flights at certain times of the year, the ticket cost isn’t that much more than that of a car and driver on B.C. Ferries.
FLIGHT PATH •
Harbour Air Seaplanes is the largest all-seaplane company in the world. Its fleet includes made-in-Canada de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Turbine Single Otters and DCH-6 Twin Otters and operates out of Vancouver International Airport as well as Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Whistler, Tofino and Seattle. Its DHC-2 Beaver aircraft are used mainly for Gulf Islands and Sechelt routes.
•
Seair Seaplanes is on the Fraser River at the Vancouver International Seaplane Base, near the south terminal of the Vancouver International Airport. It offers daily flights from this location to Nanaimo and six Gulf Islands, including Pender and Galiano. It also flies from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo with up to 12 scheduled flights a day. Its flagship craft are Cessna 208 Caravans, single-engine turboprop planes that are the fastest seaplanes in Canada. With de Havilland Turbine Beavers, de Havilland Beavers, and Cessna 185s, the company can accommodate groups of up to 76 passengers.
•
Helijet launched Canada’s first scheduled helicopter service in 1986 and the company flies regularly from Vancouver Harbour and the Vancouver International Airport to Victoria and Nanaimo, with additional operations in Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii. Free parking is available at its terminals, and kids aged 12 and under fly free with a paid adult.
“The only thing that could make it better would be if the planes landed on Cowichan Lake.” — Steve Lee Donna O’Connor flies from Salt Spring Island to Vancouver about once a month for work. She says travelling by seaplane rather than by ferry allows her to accomplish more in a day. “It’s more efficient time-wise,” she says, adding that she’s always on the lookout for seat sales. “I save about three hours’ commute time. I love the time savings and it’s fun to feel like a jet-setter.” There are downsides to flying, aside from the cost. Luggage restrictions, for one: smaller aircraft generally don’t permit carry-on bags (purses or briefcases need to be stored in the back). And on occasion due to cargo loads, seaplane passengers may have their luggage on another flight. However, passengers are able in advance to arrange to transport everything from pets to bikes. Then there are delays or cancellations due to the weather. Ferries can face similar challenges but are typically more reliable when storms or snow threaten.
BY THE NUMBERS Prices vary by month, day of the week and time of day but a oneway flight from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo for one adult is approximately $109 with Seair; $108 with Harbour Air; and $129 with Helijet. All three offer various discounts and last-minute or web fares. At press time, the fare for a car travelling to Nanaimo from Horseshoe Bay on B.C. Ferries was $57.50, with the driver cost adding $17.20 for a total of $74.70. Photo courtesy of Seair
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BOARDING CALL
Whistler
Moving to a smaller community often means that you want to get back to the Lower Mainland, or head to smaller cities to see friends and families. Larger centres in B.C. can accommodate multiple daily flights, as depicted in the map.
Cambell River
Sechelt Vancouver
Tofino
Please refer to the airlines directly as flight schedules are subject to change. Flights are with main carriers unless otherwise specified.
Nanaimo Saltspring
Victoria
By Michelle Hopkins Fort St John
Map of BC Smithers
Prince Rupert
Terrace Prince George
Edmonton
Williams Lake
Calgary
Port Hardy
Kamloops Cambell River
Kelowna
Comox
Penticton
Vancouver Nanaimo
Victoria
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Abbotsford
Castlegar Trail
Cranbrook
WESTJET WESTJET ENCORE WESTJET LINK VICTORIA TO Kelowna, 2 times daily (Encore) Vancouver, 5 times daily (Encore) Calgary, 5 times daily (WestJet/Encore) Edmonton, 5 times daily (WestJet/Encore)
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES VANCOUVER TO Campbell River, 4 times daily
FORT ST. JOHN TO Vancouver, 4 times daily (Jazz) PENTICTON TO Vancouver, 4 times daily (Express/Jazz) COMOX VALLEY TO
Comox, 4 times daily
Vancouver, 5 times daily
Cranbrook, 2 times daily
Calgary, 1 flight daily
Masset, once daily Port Hardy, 2 times daily
PRINCE GEORGE TO Vancouver, 5 times daily
Trail, 2 times daily NANAIMO TO Vancouver, once daily (Encore) Calgary, 3 times daily (Encore)
Williams Lake, 3 times daily
KELOWNA TO
Campbell River, once daily
Calgary, 4 times daily
Victoria, 5 times daily
Edmonton, 2 times daily Vancouver, 9 times daily
KELOWNA TO
Powell River, 5 times daily
Vancouver, 8 times daily (Encore)
Port Hardy, once daily
SMITHERS TO
Victoria, 2 times daily (Encore)
Kelowna, once daily
Vancouver, 3 times daily from May to
Calgary, 9 times daily (WestJet/Encore)
November; 2 times daily from November
Edmonton, 7 times daily (WestJet/Encore)
to May (Jazz)
ABBOTSFORD TO Calgary, 5 times daily (WestJet/Encore) KAMLOOPS TO Vancouver, 3 times daily (Encore) PENTICTON TO Calgary, 2 times daily (Encore) CRANBROOK TO Calgary, 3 times daily (Link)
AIR CANADA/AIR CANADA EXPRESS/ ROUGE /JAZZ VICTORIA TO Vancouver, 13 times daily (Express/Rouge) Calgary, 4 times daily (Express/Rouge) Edmonton, 2 times daily (Express/Rouge)
PRINCE GEORGE TO
CASTLEGAR TO
Vancouver, 5 times daily (Encore)
Vancouver, once daily (Jazz)
Calgary, once daily (Link)
Calgary, once daily (Jazz)
FORT ST. JOHN TO
NANAIMO TO
Vancouver, 2 times daily (Encore)
Vancouver, 7 times daily (Jazz)
Calgary, 2 times daily (Enfore)
Vancouver, once daily Sun. to Fri. (Jazz) Calgary, once daily Monday to Friday
TERRACE TO
CASTLEGAR TO Vancouver, 4 times daily (Jazz) Calgary, 3 times daily (Jazz) KAMLOOPS TO Vancouver, 4 times daily Calgary, 3 times daily ABBOTSFORD TO Calgary, twice weekly. Check the airline as the schedule changes (Rouge) COMOX TO Vancouver, once daily Calgary, once daily CRANBROOK TO Calgary, 4 times daily Vancouver, 3 times daily
(Jazz)
Vancouver, 2 times daily (Encore) PRINCE RUPERT TO COMOX VALLEY TO
Vancouver, 3 times daily
Fernie has no airport but offers charter service from Cranbrook’s airport.
Vancouver, once daily (Encore) Calgary, 3 times daily (WestJet/Encore)
TERRACE/KITIMAT TO
Edmonton, once daily (WestJet)
Vancouver, 4 times daily
Valemount’s airstrip can only accommodate small jets and heli transfers.
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Port Renfrew’s stunning location on Vancouver Island is home to one of Canada’s natural forest wonders. Photo courtesy of TJ Watt
LAST IMPRESSION: PORT RENFREW From mystic to gnarly, former logging town remains a forest wonder By Leslie Anthony It’s raining in the rainforest. Not unusual around the town of Port Renfrew, except that drought has beset this area of southern Vancouver Island for months. Hard against the angry Pacific, the oncedry forest through which we track now throbs like neon after two days of heavy downpour. Toni Chalk—owner and operator of Rain Forest Tours and guide on this hike to Mystic Beach—is impressed with the transformation. Mystic lies in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, northern terminus of the eponymous marine trail that also links China, Sombrio and Botanical beaches. A 45-minute boot through the trees, over a bridge and down to the sea, Mystic features white sand, a walkthrough rock arch and curtain waterfalls. On the final descent we pass towering Sitka spruce: remnants of the old-growth forest that once occupied this entire coast. Campers’ colourful tents are backed by a dun bluff whose layers testify to this strand’s complex history: sandstone from when it was beach at the height of the Pleistocene glaciation; conglomerate from when the melting ice put it under water. Tides and rain chase us back to the car and we enjoy heater salvation en route to Avatar Grove, one of Canada’s natural forest wonders. 66
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Avatar is old, but knowledge of it recent—much like the tourism renaissance roiling the sleepy environs of Port Renfrew, which is a former logging outpost hosting its own rising tide of restaurants, pubs and accommodations. Wild Renfrew, for instance, features gorgeous wood oceanfront-view chalets that hug Snuggery Cove pier, where a weekly supply ship once docked until the area was connected by road to Victoria in the 1950s. At the pier’s foot sits Renfrew Pub, with nautical charm, signature meals and adventurous spirit(s)—particularly if you’re into the burgeoning craft-brew scene. But all that’s for later as Chalk pilots us up a logging road to join Avatar’s discoverer, TJ Watt, who leads us into the arbours while explaining how his Ancient Forest Alliance has built boardwalks and steps to protect the roots and the forest floor that bursts with moss, fungi, salal and huckleberry. The walkways also allow visitors to wander among ancient hemlocks and cedars of 400 years or more. A short climb above the road stands a cedar fondly referenced as “Canada’s gnarliest tree” for the many knobby growths on its lower trunk. Step for step, tree for tree, Avatar Grove is a genuine wow. Together with the beaches and forests of the Juan de Fuca Trail, a visage of West Coast nature reclaimed. Logging may be its past, but trees are still Port Renfrew’s future.
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