Seaside Magazine February 2022 Issue

SEA SIDE M A G A Z I N E

YOUR SAANICH PENINSULA VOICE

Tasty Valentine's Treats from the Heart

PENINSULA VOICES Lucille Proulx Living Life to its Fullest

INSIDE OUT FINDING A FAMILY DOCTOR GOING GREEN ONE MAGIC INGREDIENT SMART HOMES ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

FEBRUARY

2022

Get Out for a Winter

Waterfall Hike SEASIDE ARTS SCENE

A Journey Through Jazz

Jack Barker

Lori Ann Sutherland

Willy Dunford*

Mary Secord-Fisher

Tom Fisher

Winnie Wu

Ingrid Jarisz*

Emily Coulter

You are at the

Ralph Meuser

Maryan Van Stolk*

Mona Palfreyman

Steffen Hagen

of everything we do.

Let us help you find your perfect home in 2022.

* PREC * PREC = personal = personal realreal estate estate corporation corporation

Love...

turns your daily routine into something special.

Find out how we can make your daily routine special too, with consistent quality, award-winning home support services customized to fit your schedule and personal needs.

With flexible hours 24/7, we help you live life on your terms!

Give y someo ourself or ne specia you love a l Va Day tr lentine's now fo eat - call r yo consul ur FREE tation !

info@oakbayseniorcare.ca info@VictoriaSeniorCare.ca 778-433-4784 or 250-589-0010 NEW LOCATION

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OWNER / PUBLISHER SUE HODGSON 250.516.6489 sue@seasidemagazine.ca

EDITOR IN CHIEF ALLISON SMITH 250.813.1745 allison@seasidemagazine.ca

TOP STORIES 12

FROM THE KITCHEN Please, Have Another: Baked Chocolate Doughnuts

34

OFF THE VINE Shaking Things Up in the Wine World

15

INSIDE OUT No Family Doctor: What Do I Do?

38

ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY OF BC Breakfast to Remember

21

ÁLEEN E Living Within One's Land

60

BEHIND THE SCENES Piecing Together an Annual Favourite

CREATIVE DIRECTOR LEAH-ANNE MACLEOD leahanne@seasidemagazine.ca

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DEBORAH ROGERS deborah@seasidemagazine.ca

SALES ACCOUNT MANAGER STEVEN HALEY-BROWNING 250.217.4022 steve@seasidemagazine.ca

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JANIS JEAN hello@janisjean.com AMANDA CRIBDON amanda@amandacribdon.com

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS Ron Balske, Jo Barnes, Brooklyn Cribdon, Nicholas Fairbank, Tabatha Golat, Sherrin Griffin, Heidi Hackman, Janice Henshaw, Jesse Holth, Janis Jean, Glenn C. Jim, Tina Kelly, Paula Kully, Ambrose Marsh, Colleen McNamee, Sheila Molloy, Karen Morgan, Cynthia Philp, Deborah Rogers, Joan Saunders, Marita Schauch, Claudette Sells, Stephanie Staples, Tania Tomaszewska, Anna Trelford

P.O. BOX 2173, SIDNEY, B.C. V8L 3S6 news@seasidemagazine.ca To find Seaside Magazine near you, visit www.seasidemagazine.ca/get/ Get Seaside direct to your door; email news@seasidemagazine.ca for subscription details Seaside Magazine is printed 12 times a year by Mitchell Press. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Reproduction requests may be made to the editor or publisher via the above means. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the publisher and editor. Staff of the magazine cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

We acknowledge and thank the W̱SÁNEĆ people on whose traditional territory we live and work.

Contents FEBRUARY 2022

EVERY MONTH 8 First Word 10 Letters 12 From the Kitchen 15 Inside Out 18 Living Off the Land 21 ÁLEṈENEȻ NEW! 22 In Fashion 25 Out for a … Winter Waterfall Walk

29

Screen Scene NEW!

30 33 34 37 43 44 49 55 56

Peninsula Voices Trade Student Spotlight Off the Vine The Golden Years The Natural Path Arts Scene Going Green Seaside Book Club New & Noteworthy

59 60 63 67 69 74 78 79 79

Impromptu Behind the Scenes Seaside Homes West Coast Gardener Globehopping Take Note Last Word Word Jumble Sudoku

ON THE COVER photo by Janis Jean Photography Table of Contents photo by Janis Jean Photography

ANY TIME. ANY WHERE.

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Seal Table

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FEBRUARY 2022 YOUR SAANICH PENINSULA VOICE

Contributors

JO BARNES PAGES 18, 44 & 74

BROOKLYN CRIBDON PAGE 38

JANICE HENSHAW PAGE 63

The theme of resilience repeatedly came up in my conversations with people this month. A writer reflects it in her books.

A farmer demonstrates it in his outreach to other farmers. Both of them teach me a key ingredient to living life well lies in our ability to adapt to change.

Whether it's directly or indirectly, Alzheimer's and Dementia affects more of us than you think. Raising awareness for how to support each other is key to our growth, health and well-being as a community. The more we know and the more we aid one another, the better off we are.

This month I really enjoyed researching smart homes. It's a whole new industry that is expanding at warp speed. Embracing the future and all its marvels can be exciting or scary, or both! But one thing is for sure: staying up near the front is more fun than tagging along behind!

SHEILA MOLLOY PAGE 25

AMBROSE MARSH and KAREN MORGAN PAGE 15

CYNTHIA PHILP PAGE 67

Moving to the balmy Peninsula from Winnipeg originally could be why I am particularly enthusiastic about winter here. Watching as the creek in my neighbourhood began cascading faster with the snow melt inspired me to chase more waterfalls, despite the popular hiphop song from the 90s telling me not to.

Ambrose and Karen have over 50 years of caring about (and in Ambrose's case, caring for) the health of the Saanich Peninsula. Over the years, our community has fought for – and won – better healthcare. We have supported those fights and care deeply about healthcare in the community and at SPH.

The winter months are difficult for avid gardeners like me. Once my seed orders have been placed and before my seedlings are started, I fill my windowsills with tiny but glorious gardens.

Because a succulent in a shot glass just might be what gets me through a dreary February day.

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FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 7

First Word

from the

Publisher

Sue Hodgson

Hug your mom, your dad, your sister, brother, grandpa, grandma … all your extended family, and tell them how much you love them.

After hearing about Grant Gilbertson's sudden accident last month, I was quickly reminded how precious life is. Sometimes certain circumstances just hit you differently than others, and this one hit me hard. I didn't know the family but I know Coreen and Peter Zubersky, owners of the Peninsula Panthers, and these kids were their family. Knowing how much each and every player means to them, I broke down in tears when I heard the news. With two young adult children myself paving their way in life, I phoned them right away, whether I got them on the phone or not … and told them how much I love them.

My daughter wrote this poem when she was young, and I thought it might be fitting for this issue: There is a place in your heart And I know that it is love That love that I bring Will always come back It will always be with you Wherever you go My love will always be beside me You have your love Wherever you go Up high or down low Or wherever you go This issue is dedicated to the family of Grant Gilbertson.

e d i s a Se Sue

Photo by Janis Jean Photography. Clothing provided and styled by Style Coast. For more, visit www.stylecoast.ca.

DON BELLAMY

info@donbellamy.com

DAN JURICIC

dan@juricicteam.com

jeffbryan@shaw.ca

JEFF BRYAN

islandrealestategirl@gmail.com

DENISE GALLUP

LINDSAY BORSCHNECK lindsay@lb-realestate.ca

DEBBIE GRAY

BILL TOZER

BROOKE MILLER

RON PHILLIPS

KAREN DINNIE-SMYTH

btozer@icloud.com

brookemiller@shaw.ca

ronsoffice@shaw.ca

sagegray@shaw.ca

kdinnie-smyth@shaw.ca

CRAIG WALTERS craig@craigwalters.net

LETTERS Seaside Magazine welcomes your feedback! Send letters to the editor via allison@seasidemagazine.ca or post your comments on our Facebook wall!

Letters may be edited for space and content.

I enjoyed Anne Miller's article featuring Dr. John

Does your community project need funds?

We can help!

Accepting grant applications now for projects that benefit Saanich Peninsula residents.

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Love Lives Here

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10

Sa ve

Colonist and read most of the issues that come my way. While some information and advertising are definitely more specifically geared to those in Sidney, this Saanich resident enjoys the Seaside Magazine every time. Keep up the good work! ~ Trudy Trotter

~ Judy Jillings-Scott

February 28, 2022

SENIORS’ DAY

Hello Seaside Staff. I receive your magazine in the Times

Thank you for producing such an excellent magazine!

Application deadline

The last Thursday of every month is

Pollack in the recent Seaside ("Meet Your Neighbours," January 2022). Having had several experiences with at home euthanasia, I totally support how comforting and respectful this is.

Thank you for the excellent article. ~ Pat Humphrey

e ric e r p ndis a l u a reg erch m

Thank you for a great Seaside to start the year. The centrefold is amazing for our Shoreline Medical and its contribution to the community, but also the article on McTavish Academy of Art ("Behind the Scenes," January 2022) for their amazing contribution as well. ~ Beverly Lewis First of all I would like to commend Seaside Magazine for their excellent articles and the information they provide to all citizens in communities around Sidney and on the Peninsula.

I have a concern about the way in which seniors are portrayed in the most recent issue of Seaside ("The Golden Years," January 2022).

Seniors are adults that have only one thing in common, and that is more birthdays! They are as diverse as any other age group, with differences in lifestyles, lifelong education, perceptions, beliefs, shelter choices, cultural interests, and many, many more.

In the article, Sherrin Griffin is suggesting that seniors are a homogeneous group, and all come to this time with equanimity and grace. In writing articles about seniors, we must advocate for an understanding of older adults as they really are: diverse, autonomous and unique members of our communities. We should not pivot to an ageist approach. ~ Respectfully, Geri Hinton DStJ

Dear Sherrin Griffin, I like your list of things seniors have

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10 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

up their sleeves ("The Golden Years, January 2022), and I'd add one more: sense of humour without fear of "making a fool" of themselves, such as some people have in the younger years. There's been a place throughout history for the "wise fool" in most cultures. ~ S. B. Julian

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F R O M T H E K I TC H E N

by Joan Saunders | photos by Amanda Cribdon Photography

Please, Have Another …

I am a big fan of both The Great British Baking Show and The Great Canadian Baking Show. My son and I like to watch the series and hurl comments at the television such as: "Why are you using that flavour? The judges never like it!" Or: "That recipe could go terribly wrong." But I am always impressed with what the contestants can do and their stunning creations. I definitely have baking envy.

Some of the categories, like cookies, cakes and pies, I generally think I could do OK in. But in others, like patisserie, I'm sure I would be left with oozy globs of dough that look nothing like what they're supposed to. And then there's doughnuts, which have often shown up on the shows. Baked doughnuts were on my list of recipes to experiment with as I have a great love for these treats but hadn't explored any options until last fall, when I finally made the attempt.

I tried a recipe for pumpkin doughnuts that I combined with a vanilla chai glaze and it had me saying "I would bake doughnuts again."

For Valentine's Day, I figure that baking chocolate doughnuts definitely expresses a lot of love. I make the smaller ones, as then if you have two it doesn't feel excessive. It's a psychological ploy that works well with doughnuts (and many other goodies). They're really pretty, taste fabulous and others will be impressed with the fact that you created such a scrumptious Valentine's treat.

If you make these with kids, you can also have fun decorating them. Everything becomes celebratory if you add sprinkles on top. What I appreciate about baking doughnuts is that they're not difficult; the only step that caused me some worry the first time I made them was that you need to make sure you don't put too much in each divot in the pan. Otherwise you won't end up with a doughnut, but rather a little cupcakelike creation. I'm not saying they won't taste as good (they will!) but they definitely won't look like they're supposed to.

So, if the judges from either of the baking shows appear on my doorstep and demand doughnuts, they're getting moist, chocolate, gooey baked ones with sprinkles on top. And yes, they can even have two.

12 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

Baked Chocolate Doughnuts 1 cup flour ¼ cup cocoa powder ½ tsp baking soda ⅛ tsp salt ½ cup buttermilk ½ cup sugar 1 egg 2 tbsp butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla

Chocolate glaze: 1 cup icing sugar 3 tbsp cocoa powder ½ tsp vanilla 3-4 tbsp milk (or as desired, for thickness of glaze)

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a doughnut pan with non-stick cooking spray, then set aside.

In bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt.

In a different bowl, mix together buttermilk, sugar, egg, butter, vanilla until well blended.

Add the wet mix to the dry ingredients; mix until combined.

Spoon the batter into the doughnut pan, making sure to fill them only about half to two-thirds full. Smooth out the batter if needed.

Bake for 8-9 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the doughnut comes out clean. Don't overbake or they'll be a bit dry.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. Remove them carefully from the pan. This makes 12 small doughnuts. If making regular size, it will make about 8 doughnuts (depending on how full you fill the pan). Bigger ones need to cook a bit longer, about 10-12 minutes; check as needed.

Glaze: In another bowl, mix together icing sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, milk. If you're worried about lumps, sift dry mix first into bowl, then add vanilla, milk. If glaze is too thick, add 1 more tbsp of milk at a time until it gets to the consistency you prefer.

Dip tops of doughnuts into glaze (I do this when they're still a bit warm); put back on wire rack to harden. If putting on sprinkles, add before glaze hardens. If you want glaze drizzle, make a contrasting glaze; use spoon or piping bag to put glaze on in decorative lines. If doing this, let the chocolate glaze harden first so the two colours of glaze don't meld together. Doughnuts are best eaten the same day but can be stored in an airtight container for a couple of days.

Recipe combined and adapted from: www.livewellbakeoften.com/baked-chocolate-donuts/ prettysimplesweet.com/baked-chocolate-donuts/ The Great British Bake Off: Sweet Bread & Buns, Linda Collister FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 13

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INSIDE OUT

by Dr. Ambrose Marsh, Shoreline Medical Society Board Member, and Karen Morgan, Shoreline Medical Society Interim Executive Director

No Family Doctor: What Do I Do?

Long ago, a small group of people realized that the doctors here were all of the same generation and would retire from family practice in the next 10 years. This was before any crisis was seen coming, and it took a lot of work before their concerns were taken seriously.

Fast forward to 2022. The small group is larger and has created a charity – Shoreline Medical Society. Because of Shoreline Medical, almost 11,000 people have found a family doctor in the last five years.

But if you don't have a family doctor, none of this really matters, does it?

We understand a little of your situation: after heart surgery, Ambrose, who didn't have a family doctor, saw first-hand the challenges of getting follow-up care (but he had some friends in the business, and is aware his situation isn't comparable to everyone's).

We hope we can provide some support.

SO, if you don't have a doctor: 1. Sign up on the provincial waitlist for our community. Here's the link: https:// www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry/saanichpeninsula. If you were on Shoreline's waitlist, you should have been contacted to transfer to this list, and maintained your spot. If you are unsure, sign up, or call 811 to check. Shoreline staff and physicians felt that moving to the provincial waitlist would result in a fairer process.

2. At Shoreline, we are aware of the lack of access to longitudinal primary care and with 10,000 people without a family doctor, we

know it's a challenge to get care through our Walk-in Clinic. If you have a minor ailment, please call the nurse hotline (811) first. If you need a prescription renewal, please contact the Shoreline walk-in clinic by phone (in-person appointments are are only available on a select basis). When calling, please understand that Shoreline is the LAST walk-in clinic on the Peninsula, and we don't have adequate resources to manage all of the community's needs. The day's available appointments are often taken within five minutes of opening, and our answering machine does not take messages, because of a shortage of staff to return them.

3. If you feel that your ailment is something serious, please go to SPH's Emergency Room. It's busy, but the best place for you.

4. If you are healthy, please take care of yourself! This is always good advice, but particularly now.

Things are challenging now, but we ask that you please try to be courteous to staff. This IS a crisis, and everyone at Shoreline is working very hard to help.

Shoreline Medical Society was created for, and is governed by community members. We want everyone in this community to have a family doctor, and we're working as hard (and fast!) as we can to make this possible. If you have a question or concern, please email news@seasidemagazine.ca. The editor will forward your message on to us, and we'll respond as promptly as possible.

Taking care of your heart matters even more during this pandemic Skipping appointments or not being as diligent with your cardiac care plan in the short-term can lead to long-term health issues, including heart attack, stroke and heart damage.

It can also put you at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.

1.

Follow guidelines to minimise risk factors: www.heartandstroke.ca

2. Continue with scheduled medical appointments and your Doctor’s recommended health plan.

3. A heart attack, stroke or cardiac

arrest is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Call 9-1-1.

your community, your health 250-656-2948 sphf.ca

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 15

What's Happening Prelude to a Kiss

The Music of Ella Fitzgerald Thursday, February 10

Under the creative direction of the National Stage Company of Canada comes an exclusive new concert featuring the music of the legendary ELLA FITZGERALD. PRELUDE TO A KISS, blends together an unforgettable evening of popular jazz standards and ballads made famous by the multi–Grammy Award-winning 'first lady of song', Ella Fitzgerald.

Set against a stunning background, PRELUDE TO A KISS fills the stage with iconic music that paints an intimate portrait of the woman, the artist, and the American legend she became. With incredible lead vocals by international awardnominated recording artist and actress, LEINA DEBOER, accompanied by celebrated Canadian pianist, MORRISSEY DUNN of Halifax, Nova Scotia, this stirring new concert is an event not to be missed.

Featuring classic hits like 'Summertime', 'The Man That Got Away', 'Blue Skies', 'Get Happy', 'Night and Day' and 'Over the Rainbow', among countless others, PRELUDE TO A KISS will undoubtedly transport you back to an era when jazz was the dominant form of popular music and could be heard emanating from radio stations and concert halls around the world.

PRELUDE TO A KISS is not just a musical concert, but a sentimental journey that embodies a level of glamour, storytelling, and showmanship that will thrill audiences of all ages. We welcome you to join us this February for this exclusive Northern American tour.

Barracuda - Heart Tribute Friday, February 11

Barracuda the Essential tribute to Heart hail from Vancouver B.C. the same place where Heart finalized their lineup. Led by 4 octave powerhouse vocalist D.L. Car who has been described as an Ann Wilson purist. Sarah Moon from Portland, OR has the talent and looks to pull off the role of Nancy Wilson.

Barracuda have performed over 250 shows in the past 10 years including Canada Day Surrey 2017 before 34,000 people and opening for Lou Gramm of Foreigner at the North West Washington Fair.

The list of Heart material covered by Barracuda is extensive and varied from all the hits like Magic Man, Love Alive, Crazy on You, Barracuda, These Dreams, All I Wanna Do and also deeper cuts such as Mistral Wind, White Lighting & Wine and Sing Child Sing. Barracuda have also added various Led Zeppelin classic tunes that the Heart had been playing in nightclubs and schools.

Eagle Eyes - Eagles Tribute Saturday, February 12

‘Eagle Eyes' is a tribute band to the legendary music of the ’EAGLES’. Eagle Eyes has taken great care and dedication recreating the harmonies and capturing the magic of EAGLES studio recordings. Hailing from Southern Vancouver Island, BC, the four members of Eagle Eyes have over 120 years of combined experience as professional touring musicians honing their musical and vocal skills. Eagle Eyes audiences are being captivated by the band’s live performances and natural vocal harmonies, not to mention the music. This bands love for the Eagles songs helps them construct and finesse their ongoing sold-out performances! Crossing over from classic rock to country rock with an extensive repertoire of Eagles hits, Eagle Eyes is a ‘must see’ for all Eagles fans!

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LIVING OFF THE LAND

by Jo Barnes photos by Jen Rashleigh

Sandown Centre: Farming, Food, and Future Sustainability

It is a hub for building connections and growing food locally. It is a Stephanie Jacobs photo courtesy Taylor Roades, the Real Estate Foundation of BC

place to create a living community right down to the soil … quite literally.

For over a year now at Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture, Peninsula residents have been working together to tend the land, grow food, enhance biodiversity and restore ecological systems. This has all been accomplished through many programs including a new Sandown Soil Lab. "We've seen a great response from the community to Sandown," shares Jen Rashleigh. "The idea behind the Sandown Soil Lab is there is science behind the soil. Soil is a living community of microorganisms. Soil is sacred."

The Soil Lab is a three-year project made possible through funding by VanCity. It is led by Brooke Hayes, a biochemist, who formerly worked with the Ministry of Agriculture. She is currently working on her PhD at the University of Victoria and focusing on soil science.

"It is fantastic to have Brooke on board," says Jen. "She will be training us and also volunteers in making soil extracts for use on site."

Healthy soil has a balance between bacteria and fungi. The ratio between these items impacts the health of the soil and organisms that grow in it.

The work of the Soil Lab includes soil testing, creating and application of soil extracts to enhance the soil and cultivate better produce.

"We can custom blend an extract to boost soil to what you want it to be," says Jen. "It can change the microorganisms in the soil."

The Soil Lab is just one of many components contributing to the overall objective of Sandown which is to develop, care for and use the Sandown lands for food production, biodiversity and education.

During 2021, programs to foster new growers, restore the Sandown environment and educate the community about food production all generated a healthy response. Community members came out to "Sandown Saturdays," learned about local ecology and history, met some of the new growers at Sandown and reconnected with the land.

"It was great to see community connection during Covid," says Jen. "We have a great group of folks, and they work well together. We'll be meeting regularly through a variety of different programs in the new year."

For information about how to get involved at Sandown, visit www.sandowncentre.com.

A priority at Sandown is fostering a new wave of growers through its Farmpreneur Program. There was a very positive response from the community, and seven applicants were selected to farm their own leased plot of land. The crops of these enthusiastic growers ranged from flax to berries and herbs for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The farming

interests were very diverse. After a successful first year, these new Farmpreneurs head into 2022 with continued support from Sandown but with a new focus.

"The first year was paying attention to horticulture and to the land," comments Jen. "The second year is focused on getting produce to market and business planning."

The "Grow Your Own Food" course kicked off last year with a healthy response from Peninsula residents who learned valuable lessons on food production. In 2022, Stephanie Jacobs of Fireweed Farms will design the course.

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"It will be a comprehensive home gardening course that will run weekly from March to October and will teach people how to build and maintain a vegetable garden," comments Stephanie. "The many reasons why we should be gardening like food security and community building will be interwoven throughout the course."

Right now the temperatures have dropped; the rain and snow have arrived. It is winter and time for taking stock and planning. Prior to now, however, there has been a hive of activity taking place at the 83acre Sandown site. As well as maintaining an intricate infrastructure of greenhouses and cold storage, soil conditioning and irrigation, invasive species removal, planting and water testing took place. Longtime residents of the area will recall the old racetrack which existed on these grounds. It took a lot of work to reclaim the former parking lot and make it suitable for agriculture.

"We had rock picking parties!" exclaims Jen. "The rocks were repurposed for French drains (trench with perforated pipe)."

Sandown, at its heart, is a place where the desire is to heal and feed the land so it can feed us. It is a new year, a fresh start, and with a pandemic still at our heels, the importance of health and food production remains vital.

"I believe it will be another year ahead where local food systems will shine!" remarks Jen. Food security affects all of us in the community. Sandown offers opportunities to grow food and to cultivate and care for the very land we walk on for the health of our community and the future.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 19

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Connecting to Melville Park and conveniently located across from the ocean, Tsehum Marina, tennis courts and waterfront walkway. Choose Melville Parkside as your future home and experience active and inspired living, surrounded by natural beauty with all the charm of a small community.

www.melvilleparkside.ca Terry Stockus, Personal Real Estate Corporation 250.656.0911 | 250.588.7933 Terry.stockus@holmesrealty.com | www.terrystockus.com Kent Roden, Real Estate Consultant 250.656.0911 | kent@holmesrealty.com

ÁLEṈENEȻ

by Glenn C. Jim

Living Within One's Land ÍY ȻEĆIL HÁLE (good day all). Today I want to share a story about my late elder friend George.

I first met him when I was a young child on my beach in Pat Bay. I liked him right away. I eventually came to know him as a fisherman, a crabber and shrimper, a clam-digger, a plant harvester and someone that followed our traditional resource teachings. George was an amazing individual; many knew him as a hard drinking and rough scrapper which was probably true to a degree, but I want to share another side to his story.

George grew up and lived his entire life in Tseycum (1942 to 2015). Throughout George's life, he would freely share his environmental and traditional knowledge. George grew up learning and understanding Mother Nature's cycles from his late father Sandy, another well-known local fisherman for much of the last century.

George, no matter how difficult his life, still followed his teachings.

In George's latter years, health and diminishing resources impacted his lifestyle. Decreasing salmon stocks, environmental pollution and increased population all impacted George's livelihood. Due to the above-mentioned factors, our beaches were closed to harvesting and remain closed after more than 30 years. This meant the harvesters could not dig clams for food and, in George's case, commercially for the local restaurants and wholesalers. He was now only able to dig clams as bait for the crab fisherman.

I use George as an example because when one understands the way he harvested and gathered, it always followed the same pattern: 1) he understood his environment; 2) he had knowledge of it; and 3) he understood that if he wanted to continue to utilize the resources, he

2485 Beacon Ave | 250-655-7118

had to manage himself as well as the resource.

Twenty years ago, if you drove by Tseycum and saw the lone figure out digging clams, it was probably George. He would start digging at the beginning of each new tide; summer tides were during the day and winter tides were deep into the cold nights. This didn't stop him. George would start his digging in a left-to-right pattern, always moving as the tide moved. It followed him in, or he would follow it out. In this way he was able to methodically cover the entire beach over a period of tides.

But George wasn't just digging up clams: he was improving the health of his beach by aerating the beach substrate. Also, by removing the larger clams, he created more space for the smaller clams to grow.

He was taking care of and monitoring his beach, so it stayed healthy and productive.

Remember, ÁLEṈENEȻ means "homeland, village, where one comes from," or "one's place, one's land." George's story talks of ÁLEṈENEȻ and adaptation in contemporary times. In recent years within our ṮEṮÁĆES (Gulf Islands), knowledge of the ancient practise of creating clam beds have come to the forefront. This process was the act of building long, small rock walls close to and below low-tide lines.

Over generations of time, the beach above the rock walls would fill with sediment and create more suitable habitat for various types of clams.

To finish off, we all can contribute to the greater process of living within our ÁLEṈENEȻ. My late friend George's example of being able to know, understand, and adapt his beach helped him live within that environment in a much better way.

HÍ,SW̱ḴE HÁLE SIÁM

SALE in progress!

Or window-shop our galleries at

2493 B Beacon Ave | 250-655-0372

www.badenbadenboutiques.com FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 21

I N FA S H I O N

by Ron Balske, Style Coast with model Leslie Denko photos by Janis Jean Photography

One Coat, Three Looks!

When buying a coat for life on the West Coast, waterproof and breathable are a must to keep you warm, dry and confident in our wet, cold and windy conditions. New highly-advanced fabrics are engineered to meet the most demanding requirements. For added warmth, softness and light comfort you can choose Primaloft R insulation made from post-consumer recycled materials. But beyond the technicalities, a good coat can take you through all fashion requirements.

Whether helping out with the kids at soccer or taking your dog for a walk, the Helly Hansen Boyne Parka is great for chilly, in-between seasons like fall and spring. It has a longer silhouette, and pile fleece hood for extra warmth.

Do a Little Shopping

Stepping Out for the Evening

Start by throwing on your favourite T-shirt or sweatshirt.

Pull on comfy Charlie B cotton stretch pants and a pair of Olukai Peheu casual shoes. Don't forget your Kavu slingbag and your Boyne Parka on your way out.

Have fun shopping.

Habitat makes a great travel dress that is perfect for most dinner occasions. Accessorize with a flirty black felt hat by Sunday Afternoons and a trendy scarf. Kick up your heels in a pair of stylish boots. Top it all off with the parka and your look is complete!

Work or Play Layered over a Royal Robbins all season merino wool turtleneck, which is odour resistant and quick drying.

Slide into a pair of Lois pants.

Accessorize with a Buff knitted & fleece, beanie and neck warmer. Step into your favourite pair of waterproof boots and go enjoy your walk.

22 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

SEASIDE talks with Anna Trelford, Victoria Airport Fire Department Firefighter/ Acting Captain and acrylic artist, about what's

in FASHION …

On your bedside table? A pottery lamp and my phone charger. In the kitchen? New but retro-looking appliances, white SMEG toaster and my collection of pottery water jugs. When you want a night out? Beers and appetizers with my husband (and friends: Darla and Mark or Thelma and Pat) at Surly Mermaid. On your playlist? Workout playlist: 90's old school rap; painting playlist: Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Doors, Dave Matthews, Queen, Led Zepplin and Swollen Members.

On your luxury wish list? a dappled dachshund, 34' Beneteau Swift Trawler and the red house across the bay from Browning Harbour on Pender Island.

On your feet? If outside gardening: retired leather fire boots; for inside: wool socks made by my husband's coworker. When adding sparkle to your outfit? My favourite piece – a Bandon Oregon fire glass (town burnt in 1936) necklace. In your closet? A vintage leather coat, Neon Buddha pants and lots of boots … Haix steel-toed, Blundstones, Mizz Mooz …

I could go on! In your makeup bag? Not a lot because I don't often wear makeup but Mirabella mascara, Lise Watier eyeliner, Smash Box matte-tone eyeshadows and Burt's Bees tinted lip balm. In your bathroom cabinet? An array of smellerific body creams: homemade ones from friends and craft fairs, and some from The Body Shop and Aveda. In haircare? Matrix "So Silver" conditioner … I stopped colouring my hair 2.5 years ago and want to highlight my natural whites.

In home décor? Log House cozy.

When it comes to your go-to "uniform?" Mavi jeans, Black Sheep T-shirt, boots of the day and my green Arcteryx coat.

On your skin? Acca Kappa White Moss body lotion.

When you want to smell irresistible? Alfred Sung "She." On your Netflix queue? We don't watch much TV, but Schitt's Creek was hilarious. When you need more than a clutch? My handmade "Jovee" backpack.

When you want to throw fashion out the window and be all about comfort? Acrylic paint-covered white terry housecoat (just at home). When you don't care how much it costs? Something blingy and shiny at Dog's Breath Antiques. On your walls? Mostly my paintings because I suck at marketing my art but also a Chris Doman (my highschool art teacher) original.

photos by Janis Jean Photography

Photos by Janisphoto Jean of Photography grandkids by Kayla Weech

WITH

Peter Dolezal

Financial Markets Outlook - 2022

Before attempting to divine the future performance of financial markets, it is useful to consider recent history.

Peter Dolezal is a semi-retired Sidney resident. He offers INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES to individuals, couples and companies.

To date, he has assisted more than 275 clients across Canada, principally in Greater Victoria and the Lower Mainland.

No Financial Products to Sell Leads to Truly Independent Advice.

REGISTER SOON

Peter’s Winter Seminar: “Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement” Wednesdays, 10:30 – Noon February 2, 9 and 16 Contact Panorama Rec Centre at 250.656.7271

Author of

The Smart Canadian WealthBuilder

(Third Edition) Included in the curriculum of several Canadian Colleges.

Two years ago, COVID-19 impacted lives globally. Almost overnight, financial markets crashed worldwide ‒ in North America, by some 35%. Interest rates collapsed, economic stimulus via numerous support programs became a priority for governments, and Central Banks implemented Quantitative Easing policies as never before ‒ effectively printing billions in digital currencies.

Economic activity ground to a halt as shutdowns were imposed. A catastrophic Bear Market seemed inevitable. Investors were rattled; many panicked and sold equity holdings. Market pessimism was the order of the day.

Yet, despite this horrendous scenario, markets had, within a few months, not only fully recovered, but also resumed their Bull market trajectory. The market collapse of Spring 2020 was so short-lived that it qualified merely as a severe correction ‒ not lasting long enough to become a Bear Market. Instead, the Bull market entered its record 11th year.

2021 unfolded with great optimism as new vaccines promised an early victory over the virus. Unfortunately, manufacturing and distribution chains were thrown into turmoil as lockdown conditions resulted in consumers focusing their spending more on material goods, rather than travel and dining out.

Supply shortages spiked inflation to decades-long highs. Debt-to-GDP ratios rose to record levels. Yet, with only modest, short-lived corrections, financial markets still roared ahead.

What does this history tell us? Once again, it emphasizes the folly of relying on market predictions for the future.

In both 2020 and 2021, markets defied all logic ‒ undeterred by what would normally be considered catastrophic impacts.

Lesson learned? Any attempt to read the tea leaves for 2022 is highly likely a mug’s game.

Regardless, it does not stop us from making that attempt!

Bear Markets are almost always triggered by recessions. With North American and World economies generally still operating at well below capacity, GDP should continue to grow, thus minimizing the risk of a recession. At the same time, Central Banks can not ignore inflation. Should inflation prove to be more than just a temporary reaction to supply chain disruptions, interest rates will need to rise, hopefully gradually, to avoid triggering a recession.

Over the past decade, Canadian financial markets have almost always underperformed the U.S. and Global 100 Indexes. With the CDN TSX Price/Earnings ratio now at approximately its historical average, and U.S. markets at about double historical levels, Canadian markets now appear to represent better value.

Vaccination levels in Canada are already at high levels and increasing daily. This fact, in combination with the super-fast spread of the Omicron virus, leads us to hope that by Spring, infections will plummet, allowing life, business, and the economy to return to more normal levels of activity.

Despite these positive indicators, it would be foolish to think that markets can continue on their sizzling trajectory of the past two years.

While there seems no compelling reason for a broad-based market collapse, periodic corrections are inevitable, and much more modest value increases are likely in 2022.

As always, investors with low-cost, geographically-diversified, income-generating holdings, and an Equity/Fixed Income allocation suitable for their level of risk tolerance, are best-positioned. Regardless of periodic market downturns, this strategy has repeatedly been proven to deliver solid Portfolio performance over the long term.

For personal financial consulting services, contact pdolezal@shaw.ca or visit www.dolezalconsultants.ca for Client Testimonials and more

O U T F O R A … W I N T E R WAT E R FA L L WA L K

by Sheila Molloy | photos by Sheila Molloy & Stephanie Staples

Cascade Trail and Durrance Lake Trail Increased water cascading is a bonus of the Saanich Peninsula's combination of snow and warm temperatures.

We took two short walks in the northern part of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park to find beautiful water cascades. Access to both trails is via West Saanich Road, onto Wallace Drive and then onto Willis Point Road.

Details First walk: Cascade Trail Start at McKenzie Bight access parking lot. From Willis Point Road, turn left at the sign, onto Ross Durrance Road and to the snow-covered parking lot about 200 metres to your left.

Access the trail via the Timberman Trail from Ross-Durrance Road just 100 metres down from the parking lot. Timberman is easy to follow and has distant views in the winter on both sides of the trail.

After crossing the wooden bridge, go right at the junction and follow the Cascade Trail which will start to descend very steeply. The conditions of the snow and ice are a deciding factor on how much water cascade you will want to chase.

The water at the bridge is already a great view of the creek as it begins its descent. As you make your way down, the cascade gets larger and more impressive until the largest drop which is the cascading waterfall of Pease Creek. Turn back at any point to complete your walk.

Second walk: Durrance Lake Trail Located in Mount Work Regional Park, this easy trail loops around Durrance Lake. Follow the directions above to Willis Point Road.

Turn right on Durrance Close and to the park entrance.

The trail starts from the end of parking lot. Head left on the well-groomed path, which is icy, slushy or wet depending on the temperature but is flat so it's a relatively easy walk with good footwear.

Follow the path to the end of the lake where you will continue straight on a narrow path (rather than veer right and follow the lake loop). The narrow path gradually slopes down and parallels the rushing water from the lake down Durrance Creek.

The path will end at a private property line. Turn around and head back up the path for great views of the fast-flowing falls and then back onto the wide path to return to the parking lot.

Things to Note There are toilets at both locations.

Trekking poles and footwear with a good grip or ice grips are very helpful.

Parking lots for both walks may have uncleared snow but there is parking along Willis Point Road.

Both walks together took us less than two hours at an average pace.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 25

I N

2 O K B O

T S

R E C E

I

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G

H

$75

discover sweet dreams in Sidney UNWIND IN THE COMFORTS OF SIDNEY'S COASTAL CHARM THIS FEBRUARY

Situated at the shore of the Salish Sea, Sidney's historic and vibrant downtown district is the heart of the Saanich Peninsula. Locally owned storefronts, coffee shops, eateries, and more offer the perfect reason to visit.

The small-town town feel, multitude of incredible accommodations, and unforgettable waterways views are at your doorstep — no car required. Sidney offers something for everyone (pups included).

Through February, book a minimum two-night stay at a participating hotel, and you'll receive a $75 VISA gift card. Visit a nearby restaurant, try a new activity, or put it towards your travel costs! Restrictions Apply.

Please note that businesses are operating with enhanced safety measures in place, including limiting group sizes, increased cleaning regimens and more. Please check directly with the business for their COVID-19 protocols.

Visit EXPLORESIDNEY.CA/SWEETDREAMS to find out more, including participating hotels, terms, and conditions.

© Sidney Business Improvement Area Society

SCREEN SCENE

by Tabatha Golat

Martyn Stimpson CPA, CGA, LPA

MODERN LOVE: AN ANTHOLOGY SERIES ABOUT REAL-LIFE ROMANCES Love is in the air this month, and what better way to indulge than with a clever series devoted to it? This month's recommended viewing, Modern Love, is a (sometimes) heartwarming showcase of different versions of love – be it romantic, platonic, paternal or otherwise.

Produced by John Carney (Sing Street, Once) in collaboration with Amazon Studios, this two-season series explores love in all its forms.

Modern Love (Amazon Prime) is an anthology series inspired by The New York Times weekly column of the same name. Each episode is based on a publicly submitted essay describing real-life romances.

Some are wholesome, some messy; most are complicated. From romantic to familial, or the deep emotional bonds of friendship, the series portrays modern love in a time of busy work weeks, online connections, complicated dating rules, and even confronts the challenge of a romantic spark during a global pandemic.

Season one of Modern Love starts with the charmingly simple "When The Doorman is Your Main Man," a platonic love letter between a single New Yorker and her doorman. From there, the eight-part series explores the complexities of dating when divorced (He Looked Like a Dad. It Was Just Dinner, Right?), mental health (Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am), and everything in between.

Each 30-minute episode features a new cast, starring big names like Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel, Tina Fey, and a particularly on-the-nose performance in Season 2 starring Kit Harington.

Get your tissues ready for Season 2, Episode 1: "On a Serpentine Road, With the Top Down." Minnie Driver stars as a doctor on her second marriage, processing the loss of her late husband while struggling to keep his beloved clunker of a car on the road. A farewell drive in the car offers a sentimental conversation between Driver and her deceased husband, providing closure and challenging viewers not to cry. Not every episode is a slam dunk, but the diverse subject matter is bound to strike an emotional chord with its audience and share different relationship perspectives. While some episodes offer the romantic version of love, others showcase how heartbreaking and complicated it can be. Modern Love is the perfect series to casually work your way through, viewing each author's unique perspective of modern-day relationships.

As a die-hard romantic I would be remiss to not share a list of my all-time favourite romantic films. Even if you're not a romance fan, the below list of four beautiful films includes several Oscar-nominated performances and incredible cinematography.

1. Moulin Rouge, 2001, Disney+ 2. 500 Days of Summer, 2009, Hulu 3. Cloud Atlas, 2012, Amazon Prime 4. Before Sunrise, 1995, Crave

You have worked hard for the assets you have. Let our team of professionals help you safeguard both them and your financial future. Stimpson | CPA works primarily with business owners, investors and rental property owners.

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P E N I N S U L A VO I C E S

by Stephanie Staples | photo by Janis Jean Photography

Talking with Lucille Proulx If you think a senior citizen is a person over a certain age, I invite you to spend some time with Director Emeritus of the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy, Lucille Proulx.

I was lucky enough to help her celebrate her 90th birthday at the grand opening of her Art Exhibition "The Woman on the Towel," showing at McTavish Academy of Art until March 8, 2022.

Getting last-minute tasks done on her Apple Watch (geez, I've been afraid it was too technical for me to figure out!), Lucille was doing virtual training years before most of us even knew what Zoom was.

This ball of creative energy shares some of her incredible passion for life, art and helping, and if she doesn't inspire you to live your life out loud, no matter what your age is, I don't know who will!

After having eight children, you started University at 50, went through a divorce at 52, then began a 15-year career in infant and child psychiatry. After that, you moved to Victoria and wrote your first (of many) books at 70 years old (published in multiple languages), you volunteered in Thailand for CUSO at 72 to work with abused children and established an art therapy school in both Thailand and Japan at 75, and last but not least co-founded the Canadian 30 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

International Institute of Art Therapy which trains Art Therapists around the globe. Whew – I'm tired just writing this! What is your inspiration for the ongoing work you do – perhaps can you share a success story?

Humans have always been my inspiration, like my family and the people I work with. When I arrived in Thailand to work at the Centre of Protection of Children's Rights, to train the trainers, I discovered an artist who had been working with the children for several years, and who was a natural art therapist. I also discovered another artist who specialized in working with autistic children with amazing success at improving their quality of life. I wanted to help them become certified art therapists.

They could not afford to come to Canada, and their English was not advanced enough for virtual teaching. They are the ones who inspired me to open the international program of art therapy in Thailand. I returned several times to teach, and in 2016 they were able to graduate as certified art therapists. Oun has gone on to be the manager of CPCR and Khun Pae is writing a book on doing art therapy with autistic children. The school had its second graduation

in 2019, when they honored me with the title of "Grandmother of Art Therapy in Thailand."

Art Heals, Art Saves – I noticed these words in many of your paintings. As a Certified Art Therapist who has helped people all over the world heal from trauma, how has art been a part of your own personal healing journey and why would you encourage others to use art to heal?

"The Woman on the Towel" is an "art heals and art saves" series.

My personal healing journey with art began at 27: giving birth to my fourth child in Newfoundland in 1959, I had a near-death experience. When I recovered I took an adult education art course for my own mental health, and I continued creating art in any spare time as my family life allowed. At night when the babies were in bed I would pull out my ironing board and use it as my art table. "The Woman on the Towel" exhibition was created in 2021 after my cancer diagnosis and mastectomy to help me heal that traumatic experience.

It seems that The Woman on the Towel revealed herself to you – for you, can you share a bit about her?

In November 2020 I was sketching my rock garden on a new white canvas. I did not like the result, so I picked up my old faded garden towel and wiped the board clean, and dropped the towel on the patio.

In the morning I went out and picked up the towel and there was the image of the woman. She immediately inspired me to sketch her, although I did not usually draw large people in my art. In November I brought her indoors, and let her rest during the Christmas break.

Then in January 2021 I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a mastectomy. In March I returned to my studio and completed "The Woman with the Paint Brush" and began the series of 50-plus works now hanging in the gallery.

Can you explain what Art Therapy is and who would benefit?

Everyone can benefit from art therapy. It's a psychoanalytic method of helping people express their inner anxieties with non-verbal and spontaneous art making, supported by a trained art therapist who can engage in talk with the client. Making art has a positive effect on the brain, which allows the client to heal.

Lucille, you stated that you believe your biological clock has been turned back 20 years (I think it's more like 30 actually!); you started piano lessons at 80 (congratulations on accomplishing Vivaldi Spring!), golf and croquet at 89 (who needs a cart!), and are still being invited to keynote at conferences worldwide – what do you think is the "secret" to your success, longevity and perhaps most importantly, your vitality?

I think longevity may be genetic. I have ancestors who lived to 100.

My vitality may be due to the fact that I am Métis from my mother's lineage. I am creative, positive, I am not afraid of a challenge, I like to do something new regularly, something I never dreamed I could. I see many beautiful things in life and I love living.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I'd like to invite people to join me at Silver Threads on Quadra Street where I will be starting an "Art for Anyone'' series in February, as having fun with art is one way to fight this pandemic.

By Appointment salvador-davis.com 250-656-3951

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 31

Peninsula Flavour:

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small 10 / large 14

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and cheese 13

Sea Salt & Pepper Pork Riblets served with

honey garlic dip 12

Tempura Prawns with sweet chili sauce 14 Crispy Fish Tacos tomato, bacon, green onions

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Salads

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Creole Chicken Salad

Clubhouse fresh turkey,

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Turkey Dip fresh turkey,

thousand island single 18 / double 20

grilled or breaded chicken, mixed peppers, tomato, cucumber, green onion, cheese, and mixed greens tossed in a Creole dijon dressing with garlic toast 16 Taco Salad

spicy beef, chicken, or veggie patty. mixed greens, tomato, black olives, green onion, mixed peppers, and cheese. served with salsa and sour cream 17 Cobb Salad

mixed greens topped with fresh turkey, smoked ham, hardboiled egg, cheese, tomato, cucumber and green onion served with garlic toast 16 Caesar Salad

small 7 / large 10 / add shrimp, grilled or crispy chicken +5

bacon, swiss, tomato, lettuce, cranberry, mayo, and thousand island on triple stacked bread of your choice 18 house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce, and swiss on a grilled Portuguese bun with gravy for dipping 18 Reuben corned beef,

Slick Chick

crispy breaded chicken fillet, swiss, lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickle, and honey mustard 18 8 oz chuck burger, smoked ham, cheddar, tomato, lettuce, onion, relish, mayo, and pickle on a large sourdough bun 22

Burgers Skookum

6 oz chuck burger, side bacon, swiss, cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, mayo, and

Belly Buster

sauerkraut, swiss and thousand island dressing on marble rye bread 17

6 oz chuck burger, Red Barn back bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, and red relish single 18 / double 20

Malibu Burger

grilled teriyaki chicken breast, smoked ham, pineapple, swiss, lettuce, tomato, mayo, honey mustard, and a pickle 18

Don't forget Breakfast served daily until 2pm

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T R A D E S T U D E N T S P OT L I G H T

by Heidi Hackman & Colleen McNamee, District Career Coordinators, SD 63 photo by Amanda Cribdon Photography

Tristan Koster:

Igniting His Passion

It is no surprise that Tristan Koster is entering Level 2 of his technical training as an Auto Service Technician before he turns 20. It is also no surprise that his mother Cindy remembered that "Tristan had a love of cars before he could walk and I knew he would turn that passion into a career." At age five, Tristan started working on old cars with his family, clear evidence that a distinct pathway was already starting to take shape!

When he started at Parkland Secondary he took an auto course that ignited his passion for the Auto Service Program. It helped him learn the theoretical aspects of the trade as well as enhance his technical knowledge. In grade 10 Tristan helped a buddy build a Go Kart, welding the custom exhaust system and building the engine.

His entry into the Career Centre was not far off. After meeting Career Teacher Colleen McNamee he was on his way. Colleen created a three-year plan with Tristan that included attending the Auto Foundation/Level 1 program at Camosun College. The dual credit program allows students to earn high school credit while earning their Level 1 certification and, to add even more incentives for Tristan, the school district pays for the tuition!

As part of their application to this program, students need to complete 30 hours in the trade area selected. Tristan's dream was starting to take shape. He began working at Sidney Transmission and Autocare as a "shop kid" and then was signed on as a Youth Apprentice while he was in Grade 11! Tristan is still working there as a valued full-time worker and a part of their team. He has successfully completed the YWIT program and will be presented with his $1,000 scholarship this spring.

Accepted into the Auto Foundation/Level 1 program for his Grade 12 year, Tristan was on his way. A nasty pandemic, putting some students' programs in jeopardy, was not going to interfere with Tristan's future plans. Entering the Camosun program during Covid was not what Tristan had imagined, but Ben Haber, South Island Partnership Coordinator at Camosun, was a fabulous support and became key to his success. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were hands-on days at the college and Tuesdays and Thursdays were online learning days. Tristan is a hands-on learner but with Ben's support he was able to adjust to the schedule and used his perseverance to find new ways of learning. All this during a pandemic is quite an accomplishment.

The Foundation program at Camosun also opened his eyes to other trades and opportunities. Tristan was about to discover another passion: Metal Fabrication. After he finishes his Red Seal in Auto Service Technician he hopes to go back to school again to become a Metal Fabrication Technician as well. No doubt he is beginning the process of becoming a lifelong learner.

Tristan has big dreams for his future and is so thankful he got a jump start on them in high school! His mom hopes more students look into these programs. She is so proud of her son and feels that "being a part of this program during high school kept Tristan motivated and excited to move forward on his future career plans.

At a time when many youths can so easily become distracted and unfocused on what lies ahead for them, knowing he was part of this Apprenticeship Program gave him a drive and enthusiasm that was amazing to watch." His journey was an amazing one to be part of and we are very proud of his accomplishments and how hard he has worked. There will be no stopping Tristan now.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 33

OFF THE VINE

by Tania Tomaszewska

Shaking Things Up in the Wine World There's been a lot of disruption in the wine world recently, locally and globally. Pandemic roller coaster rides, extreme weather events and swings, supply chain challenges, sales channel contractions, shifting consumer demands … it goes on. As with many sectors and life generally, disruption can bring creativity, adaptation, resilience and positive changes which were already long overdue.

We may feel that our wheels really haven't rolled forward that

34 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

much in the past few years. But as wine lovers and consumers, we can see new trends and innovation through the tire spinning. Here are just a few examples.

The Rise of DTC & Consumer Knowledge Pandemic purchasing has played out largely in the online space.

With reduced restaurant activity and people minimizing shopping trips, wine has needed this channel. Throw in enthusiastic armchair travel and people connecting through virtual tastings, and you've got drivers for wine and other drink businesses to up their game and build (or improve) their digital assets, online presence and marketing.

This has resulted in stores and producers improving their virtual shops to show you what they've got and get purchases to your doorstep quickly, local wineries growing their "direct to consumer" (DTC) base, building wine clubs and reminding buyers that they too will deliver straight to you, and somms and other "winepreneurs" starting new online wine clubs which offer curated wine journeys for you to experience at home.

The business imperative of embracing and competing in the digital world has provided consumers the opportunity to access more information about the variety of products on offer, where their vino comes from and its maker's vision and mission. Knowledge is the power to learn, make your own choices and support businesses which resonate with you.

Climate Driven Choices & Conscious Consuming A lot of current market discussion is around how climate shifts and extreme weather events affect the wine industry, including viticulture, winemaking techniques, equipment, transport and packaging. Regenerative farming practises, Bordeaux producers planting heat-loving Iberian varieties, the explosion of English sparkling wine production, efficient water use practises and using cardboard paper wine "bottles" in lieu of heavy glass to reduce the carbon footprint of transport are just a few sample streams of the discussion.

For many, "conscious consuming" is about asking about farming techniques, what's actually in that bottle (or can) or other pieces around sustainability and impact on the planet. Aside from carbon sequestering, there also appears to be increased interest in "mindful" imbibing. "Low alc" or "no alc" products, convenient ready to drink (RTD) beverages with low sugar and/or calories, and smaller portion sizes – hello half-bottles, cans, tetra packs and plastic pouches – are all the rage. How much this will take away from straight wine sales is yet to be seen. There's also been some growth in premium wine sales.

So "less is more" and the "moderation movement" are playing a few different ways.

Dr. Brendan Wallace O.D. | Dr Mike Joljart O.D. Dr. Samantha Bourdeau O.D.

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Regulatory & Policy Change Dealing with some residual Prohibition-era based shackles in B.C.'s liquor regulatory landscape has been a pandemic silver lining. Finally, we sippers now have more options to sit outside on a licensed patio and enjoy a vino, or to support the restaurant and wine industry when purchasing a bottle to take home and enjoy with our take-out order. On the supply side, restaurants can now purchase wine at wholesale pricing (rather than higher hospitality retail pricing which they were required to pay before). This has been a lifeline.

There's still more archaic structure to dismantle here, but adult individuals and businesses are getting more freedom to engage and transact in the beautiful world of wine, drawing on our modern sensibilities and knowledge.

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THE GOLDEN YEARS

by Sherrin Griffin VP, Operations, Sidney SeniorCare

The Metamorphosis of the Common Cane As the body ages, mobility can become a challenge for many of us due to decades of wear and tear on joints, osteoarthritis, loss of balance and/or muscle strength and other possible conditions.

Compromised mobility can affect us not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It is a rude reminder of our frailty as human beings and can chip away at our independence, confidence and pride. The good news is that these days there are many great options to help us move and stay as independent and active as possible. Take, for instance, the common cane, perhaps the most widely-used walking aid for many good reasons.

As we reach our senior years, our balance may start to get shaky and we may require some support and assistance to walk. A cane can help us gain more stability and help support the body's weight, transferring some of the load to the upper body while reducing strain on the legs. Canes are also very affordable, take up little room, are easily portable and pretty non-intrusive, allowing the user to feel more independent and active.

Most canes come in a standard length of 36 inches, but many can be adjusted to the individual user's needs. Please note that canes may not be suitable for those with a weaker upper body and/or with arm/hand issues.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how many different variations of the cane there are now: models that are customized for different body weights, heights, mobility levels and lifestyles; constructed of wood, steel or aluminum alloy; and featuring an incredible array of decorative finishes and accessories such as LED lights, special tips including metal spikes for increased grip on all kinds of terrain, and bags for the cane itself and/or shopping purchases. There are crook handles, T-handles, fritz-style handles and offset handles, while grip options include foam, gel, orthopedic and larger grips for those with bigger hands.

There are some pretty cool and highly effective permutations of the common cane, including: • Bariatric Canes: one of the strongest and most durable "singlepoint" cane options, built to reliably support the pressure applied by a more-than-average-weight senior, no matter the size of the user.

• Quad Canes: a heavier and more stable type of cane with four points of contact at the base rather than just a single point. The quad cane provides more grip than a standard cane, and is ideal for those prone to slipping and/ or those who need something a little sturdier than a traditional cane.

• Stand-Up Canes: suitable for taller-than-average seniors, with many models featuring quad-foot bottoms and double-handle designs, assisting the user to stand up more easily from deep couches, beds or toilets.

• Seat Canes: consist of a single-point or quad bottom, with the benefit of a seat attached. Some seniors need to walk longer distances to get to their

destinations, and may need to take breaks along the way. If they are starting to tire or their legs hurt, they can conveniently pull the seat down from the cane, and then sit and rest for as long as they need to. Please note that there may be weight limitations or other restrictions with this type of cane.

• Folding Canes: more lightweight with the ability to fold up to a compact size, making them a perfect option for seniors who take public transportation or have small vehicles.

• Umbrella Canes: a two-in-one "RainCane," perfect for inclement weather. Some models feature detachable umbrellas while others are one single piece. Some brands are even marketed as self-defense canes.

When looking to purchase a cane, make sure you carefully consider your own unique level of mobility, do your research and take the time to properly test the cane out before you purchase. With the potential to substantially improve your mobility and overall quality of life, your new cane may just become your new best friend.

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Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. – Breakfast to Remember Dementia and Alzheimer's impacts entire communities, but isn't something that is often talked about. Well, we are here to talk about it today. In an interview with the Alzheimer's Society of BC, new CEO Jen Lyle discussed openly and honestly the impacts that the COVID 19 pandemic has had on people living with Dementia, and why the Society's annual Breakfast to Remember event is so important.

Living with Dementia can be quite an isolating experience, including for families and loved ones. Sadly, COVID-19 and the current Omicron variant has only compounded that isolation. With the onset of the pandemic, the Society has had to scale back services and programs. Without services such as adult day programs, inhome and respite care, those living with

Dementia are suffering from a lack of human connection, which is vital to their well-being. The silver lining, however, is that the Alzheimer's Society has been able to offer some support groups and educational workshops digitally. This virtual format has allowed wider accessibility, as well as a level of anonymity for participants.

Lyle says she hopes that in the near future, the Society will be able to offer both inperson and virtual programming as a way to serve people living with Dementia as well as their families, loved ones and caregivers.

The Breakfast to Remember is a key fundraising and awareness event that brings B.C. business and community leaders together to discuss how we can make communities more inclusive, accessible, and supportive for those living with Dementia.

www.premieresuitesvictoria.com 38 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

by Brooklyn Cribdon

Alzheimer's Society of BC CEO Jen Lyle

Similar to improving physical public spaces to serve those with mobility limitations, Jen Lyle hopes that communities can adapt to also serve those living with Dementia and Alzheimer's. Something not many people are aware of is that approximately two thirds of those with Dementia live in the community – not in long-term care homes. Moreover, those who do live in long-term care have suffered from COVID-19 related policies that affect visitation, especially since family members are key players in providing person-centred care. Although the Resident Bill of Rights articulates the right to receive people in your home, social visitation in long-term care is seen as non-essential from a policy standpoint.

Evidence suggests the opposite, however. For instance, Lyle mentioned the increased use of antipsychotic medications, which coincides with compounded isolation and lack of social programming.

While the percentage of seniors experiencing dementia hasn't necessarily changed that much, the population that makes up the senior demographic is growing, leading to an increase of folks who are on the journey with dementia. This means that our

Your donation makes us picture perfect. communities need to be better prepared to help serve them. This is where the Breakfast to Remember comes in to raise awareness with business and community leaders. Past chair of the event, Stasia Hartley (from Bayshore Home Health), says that "for those who attend, the Breakfast to Remember compels people to think and act differently when they realize how present this disease is among us."

2022 marks the ninth year of the Alzheimer's Society of BC's Breakfast to Remember event. Previously hosted in Sidney by Bayshore Home Health, the event moved to a virtual setting in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend continues this year, with a virtual event happening on Thursday, March 3 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Following up from last year's keynote (astronaut Chris Hadfield), this year brings Neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Genova, writer of Still Alice.

The Breakfast to Remember is vital because it not only raises awareness, but it generates critical funds for the Society, which is largely public and donor-funded. For more information about the event, keynote speaker, research, and tickets, visit www.breakfasttoremember.ca.

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Help us replace our aging X-Ray machine.

If you have ever sprained, fractured or broken a limb, or ended up with pneumonia after a bout of influenza, then you have probably been referred for an X-Ray at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

X-Ray machines are one of the most important diagnostic tools in our healthcare system. Our aging machine at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital needs to be replaced, along with renovations to the X-Ray room. A new, fully accessible, state-of-the-art machine will ensure our Medical Imaging department continues to perform its vital role at the heart of our hospital, and work hand-in-hand with our surgical department.

Be part of the picture - donate today!

your community, your health 250-656-2948

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 39

Your

Love

LOCAL …

You are investing in your community by supporting its unique businesses. Appreciate what makes our neighbourhoods different. Our one-of-a-kind shops and services are an inherent part of the distinctive character of our Saanich Peninsula neighbourhoods; that is what brought us here and will keep us here. Stay local and stay connected to the merchants in your community. By supporting them today, you are investing in a unique and sustainable future for the Saanich Peninsula community.

Andre & Bella, Owners, Barber

The Gentlemen's Cave ~ Elegant Barbershop The Gentlemen's Cave ~ Elegant Barbershop was born of a shared passion for barbering, a passion summed up in our slogan: Mastering the Art of being Handsome.

Helping you look your best is what we're all about. We offer attentive, personalized service focused on the details that make a difference – all in a unique and comfortable atmosphere.

Treat yourself to the ultimate in high-end grooming and a truly relaxing experience.

Because in our book, that's what every gentleman deserves.

For a haircut, a beard trim, a hot shave, a colouration or hair replacement, you'll appreciate all the care and attention we put into our craft.

As Oliver Goldsmith once put it: "To make a fine gentleman, several trades are required, but chiefly, a barber."

For those Gentlemen preoccupied by either balding or hair thinning, we offer hair replacement services, an alternative to hair transplant. Book an initial consultation for further informations and verify suitability.

We look forward to welcoming you for a professional barbering experience like no other. ~ Andre, Bella and Emberly

Home - $40/hr Office - $40/hr Final - $50/hr Organizing - $65/hr

Want to let my friends know that I will be closed February 11th to 27th to spend time with my family. Thank you for your lovely support. photo by billiedesign 102-2360 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.656.0011 | muffetandlouisa.com

Book Your Clean at www.keekeeklean.ca

Haircut - Beard & Mustache trim Shaves - Hair Replacement - Colouration

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We are locally owned and passionate about supporting our local growers, economy and the environment.

We are open seven days a week and deliver from Sidney to Sooke and some of the Gulf Islands

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DCC Cabinets

Contemporary paintings by local Sidney Fine Arts “Master” Marion Evamy.

Over 100 stunning paintings are available to view

Local, affordable custom cabinets … right here on the Saanich Peninsula! We offer a full-service shop, from design and manufacturing through to the installation of our exceptional product.

250.412.3472 deepcovecustoms.com 2071 Malaview Ave, Sidney (call for appt.)

www.redartgallery.ca Seaside Cabinetry & Design is a boutique-style cabinet showroom located in downtown Sidney.

Custom Design, Merit Cabinetry, Lifetime Warranty. We have hundreds of styles and colours to choose from.

Showroom Open by Appointment

250.812.4304 9715 First Street, Sidney SeasideCabinetry.ca

Garage Cycle Spin Studio Garage Cycle is a boutique spin studio providing an exhilarating cardio workout inspired by outdoor biking. With small class size, ambient lighting and uplifting music, Cyclers are sure to enjoy a personalized and inspiring ride.

778.873.7881 garagecyclespinstudio.ca info@garagecyclespinstudio.ca

Carefully curated vintage furniture and décor layered with handmade goods.

Live online sales Feb. 3 & 17 at 7pm.

Visit our Facebook page for details.

Tues - Sat 11-5 | Sunday 12-4 Garden Court 105-2360 Beacon Ave 778.351.2773 hansellhalkett.com

Sidney Mattress & More Sidney Mattress & More is a boutique style Mattress and Bed store. Our goal is to provide a good selection of excellent beds and mattresses for all your needs in a pleasant environment in the absence of pressure, sales gimmicks, ridiculous markups and nonsense. We want the experience to be one that leaves you comfortable and smiling.

Our pricing is fair and includes free delivery in the area. We also remove and dispose of your old items.

We feature Restwell's Back Supporter series.

These are made in Surrey B.C., using top quality foams certified not to off-gas and springs that are made by Restwell itself of tempered steel. These beds are built to provide incredible support and comfort, and are built to last with 20 years of warranty at affordable prices. Latex is a popular material in mattresses these days and we have a selection using latex as well as memory foam.

Many of us are moving to smaller spaces. Sidney Mattress & More handles Small Space Solutions including Trundle Beds, Chest Beds and Murphy Beds with novel concepts. If you'd like to dress up your space, we handle upholstered and wood bed frames and headboards. Need pillows sheets or mattress protectors? We have those too!Please come and see us and

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RegenerLife

RegenerLife Mitochondrial Optimization helps reduce the symptoms of perceived stress, such as pain, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability, and reduced quality of life. The natural watermelonflavoured drink mix has a delicious taste, is gently sweetened with stevia, and is suitable for vegetarians.

It is a great choice for adults with age- or health-related declines in mitochondrial function, people who are concerned about their exposure to toxins, and those who want a stimulant-free supplement to help improve strength and power in repetitive bouts of brief, highly intense physical activity.

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T H E N AT U R A L P AT H

by Dr. Marita Schauch, ND Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre

Hypertension:

Understanding Blood Pressure Millions of Canadians have high blood pressure and will have no idea they have it until a cardiovascular episode actually happens. Consequences of elevated blood pressure can include stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) and eye and kidney damage.

There are a number of factors that most experts agree are possible causes: lack of exercise; smoking; a highly processed, high sodium diet with low fibre; excessive alcohol intake; poor stress management and obesity. A natural approach can often work very well to help prevent and treat the underlying causes of hypertension.

Understanding Blood Pressure. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Most physicians use 120/80 as a "normal" reference for blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is two or more readings greater than 140 mmHg systolic (top number) or greater than 90 mmHg diastolic (bottom number).

Blood pressure medications are one of the most widelyprescribed drugs in the world. Many people with mild to moderate high blood pressure can do very well with a combination of lifestyle changes along with herbal and nutritional supplements.

Tips for Reducing Blood Pressure • Minimize consumption of restaurant foods and packaged foods, including canned soups and frozen entrees, which may be high in sodium. Explore ways to enhance food with herbs and spices!

• Moderate alcohol intake and absolutely NO SMOKING! • Reduce or eliminate caffeine – it can constrict the blood vessel walls and may increase blood pressure.

• Increase physical activity. Regular physical activity can help lower your blood pressure and keep your weight under control.

Strive for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

• Manage your stress. Find calming ways to decrease your stress and blood pressure through deep breathing, regular massage therapy, acupuncture, counselling, yoga and meditation.

• Hawthorn berry relaxes blood vessel walls and reduces blood pressure. It is commonly used by physicians in Europe for hypertension and as a cardiovascular tonic.

• Magnesium is an important mineral that works on the smooth muscles in your artery walls, allowing your blood vessels to continue to relax as they should.

• Coenzyme Q10 is one of the top supplements for the

heart and cardiovascular system.

• EPA and DHA found in fish oils are anti-inflammatory and help support the heart and cardiovascular system as well.

• High blood pressure is generally the result of an unbalanced lifestyle.

Choosing a healthier diet, working on stress reduction and the use of complementary therapies are excellent tools to help manage this condition.

Consult with your health care provider before making any changes to your health program. Happy Heart Month!

Now that I’m on my own, how do I manage my financial future?

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FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 43

ARTS SCENE

by Jo Barnes | photo by Amanda Cribdon Photography

John Watts:

A Journey Through Jazz Music can transport us to a moment in time. For one local jazz enthusiast, music not only transports him to the past, but through technology, he is giving others the chance to join him in that journey.

44 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

For a number of months now, Saanich resident John Watts has been offering a jazz podcast called "In a Mellow Tone" for Radio Sidney, and the music is drawn from his personal jazz collection which he has been gathering for over 60 years.

"I provide the source material for the program," shares John. "The tracks are from my collection of about 2,000 albums. I have vinyls, CDs, reel to reel and cassette tapes."

The podcast takes its name from a 1939 song by Duke Ellington.

John is a long-time fan of this jazz icon and opens and closes the podcast each week with this piece. The show plays Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 9 to 10 p.m. Listeners can tune in to the livestream at www.radiosidney.ca/services.

Each segment runs for a two-week period, and all podcast material is then archived so the listener can play it at any time. Audiences have been positive about these broadcasts and responses have come from as far away as Tasmania.

The jazz genre has been a strong musical thread in John's life.

"Since I first began to listen to jazz, I've been hooked, "says John.

"I like the sound. It makes me feel upbeat."

His interest in jazz started in the 1960s. John grew up in Britain, and he recalls the choices in music for listening were limited.

"I lived during post war Britain, and the BBC was the only game in town," comments John. "There were two stations: the Home Service and the Light Programme. The Home Service had news and drama; the Light Programme had light music and comedy."

John recalls the thrill of hearing the sounds of early rock and roll music which quickly gained popularity.

"On the American Forces network, picked up from Germany, I heard Buddy Holly for the first time," he says. "There was Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley and Little Richard. The music had such life in it!"

But it was the rhythms and melodies resonating from the 1960s jazz clubs that ultimately captured John's attention. It prompted him to begin collecting recordings and attend concerts, all of which further confirmed an enjoyment of the genre.

John has been enjoying creating his podcast selections. Initially he organized show presentations according to the artist name and then began to reflect on other themes.

"I have been doing shows presenting artists in alphabetical order.

My first show for example was the letter A, with the second show, the letter B," says John. "Then I began to choose different themes like piano jazz, jazz from New Orleans, or Big Band Jazz."

With such an extensive collection, however, John has his challenges.

"The show is fun to do, but I have far too much to pick from," he shares. "I am trying to choose what is fun and fills the time appropriately, but that can be challenging."

Creating the podcast has given John a chance to add to his knowledge of jazz artists. Through research he discovers fascinating details about their musical abilities, personal background and music achievements.

"I have a piece by American jazz artist Roger Wolfe Kahn," says John. "I didn't know a lot about him and through research discovered that at age 16 he was self taught on 18 instruments!"

Now working on his 17th show, John is looking ahead and hoping to present new themes like guitar jazz, colours of jazz and women in jazz.

While the arrival of the pandemic brought limitations on public interaction, social and sporting events, and the need to stay closer to home, the radio podcast has been a welcome project for John.

"With this project on the go, I have found that being locked down hasn't been anywhere as bad as it might have been," says John.

The process of reviewing and researching material for the show has provided John with the opportunity to revisit his collection and appreciate the artist and artistry all over again.

"I am listening to music I haven't heard in years," shares John.

"There are some pieces I didn't know I had!"

His love of jazz has taken John on a lifelong journey of musical exploration and appreciation. For Radio Sidney listeners, they can hop aboard that musical train and share in John's love and expertise in the world of jazz.

- Pyrrha - Pandora - Brighton - Personal Indulgences

In the Sidney Pier Hotel 2536 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.656.5676

You’ll Dig Our Locally Made Ponchos & Sweaters!

9813 Third Street, Sidney • 778.426.1998

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 45

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U N I Q U E LY PENINSULA Open 7 Days a Week

Customer Appreciation at the Marigold Café

Eat in-house, outdoors on our patio, or take-away.

7900 Lochside Dr Saanichton, BC (Mt. Newton Cross Rd Exit) themarigoldcafevictoria www.themarigoldcafe.com | info@themarigoldcafe.com | 250-544-6359

by Jesse Holth

This is part of a rotating series of articles about some of the Saanich Peninsula's unique shops and services.

Jenny and Ryan, owners of The Marigold Café in Saanichton, are celebrating a milestone anniversary this year: February 23 will mark one full year in business. "We are so grateful to all our loyal customers and all the community support we've received, especially throughout these uncertain times," Jenny explains. "To show our appreciation, we will be offering a free 12-ounce drip coffee on our one-year anniversary, February 23, as a thank you!"

February will also feature some Valentine's Day inspired drinks, including a spicy Mayan Mocha & Hot Chocolate, and a Cinnamon Oat Latté. "We've been working on a winter drink menu that we'll be running through the end of March," says Jenny.

In the coming months, there will be some changes to the menu at The Marigold – keep your eyes open for a couple of fresh new sandwiches and even some additional baked goods. "We're creating the menu ideas right now," explains Ryan, "and by the end of February or early March we'll be changing up our menu."

"We always get such great feedback on the pastries we make inhouse," says Jenny, "so we want to try to expand on that a little bit."

Jenny explains that Ryan has been working on some new types of muffins, which would add to the selection of baked goods on offer.

As the weather starts to warm up, The Marigold will also be introducing takeaway salads – but what kinds will remain a mystery for now. "We're not quite ready to announce those yet," says Ryan.

"But we're very excited, as it's something we haven't done before."

"Coming into our second year, we have a few projects that we're working on," adds Jenny. "We've had a lot of interest in our logo," she explains, "so we're looking to bring in some fun merchandise like hats, travel mugs and T-shirts."

"We're also thinking about offering some of our soups as takehome products," Jenny says, "so you can bring it home frozen and have it whenever you like." They are even considering some baked goods, like cinnamon buns and scones. "The idea is that you'd take them home raw and frozen, and then you can bake them at home – so you can have them fresh without ever leaving the house!"

"With our first-year anniversary, we've really had an opportunity to reflect," says Jenny. "We'd really like to thank everyone for all the support we've received throughout this first year, especially during Covid; we are so grateful to be able to get to know the people in our community. And hopefully we'll be meeting lots of new people over the coming year as well!"

Thank You to everyone for taking our Covid journey seriously and Thank You for your support!

Welcome, Be Smart About Being Healthy and Safe

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From lightweight layers to light-wash denim, we have fresh new finds for Spring in-store & online now.

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This Valentine’s Day Pamper Yourself...

Yourself... ’ or buy a gift certificate for your sweetheart!

Great Team Monthly Promos Certified Green Circle Salon

focushairdesignsidney.com Mondays - by appointment only • Tues - Sat 9-5 • Closed Sundays 102-2557 Beacon Avenue, Sidney • 250.656.8122

THE TIME IS NOW

Life at Amica Beechwood Village is once again its wonderful, normal self. Take walks in the private gardens. Enjoy extraordinary cuisine, anytime. Catch up with loved ones, face-to-face.

Experience exceptional Assisted Living care and support in a premium residence with safe social connections that make life easier, and better, for everyone. Right now.

S C H E D U L E A P R I VAT E T O U R T O DAY To learn more, please call Bonnie or Maria at 250-655-0849 today.

2 31 5 M I L L S R D

A M IC A .C A / BEECH WOODV I LL AGE

GOING GREEN

by Tina Kelly

Cleaning Magic Abracadabra! There is a magical product in the grocery store. You can find it in aisle #7, it costs a measly $2 and comes in fully recyclable paper packaging. But wait – it may also be in tucked away somewhere in your fridge. My bold claim is bestowed upon baking soda.

Commercial baking soda has been around for more than 100 years. Growing up it was a household staple: always on hand. Though it's a common ingredient in various baked goods, in our house it was primarily relegated to fridge deodorizer. The baking soda in my home today has a long and continuously growing list of uses, most of them related to cleaning. Baking soda is accessible, inexpensive and unscented but, perhaps most importantly, it's not caustic or toxic to fish and wildlife, or us.

Before I regale you with tales of baking soda cleaning successes, let me acknowledge that baking soda – or sodium bicarbonate – is not soap and not a substitute for proper personal care to protect us from disease-causing germs.

I use baking soda for very specific tasks or to augment other cleaning methods. I turn to baking soda when I need a product to whiten, deodorize or provide some abrasive action.

When a small container – the contents labeled in black marker – got wet, the ink transferred to my white bathroom counter. I panicked, then applied a paste of baking soda and water, let it sit and gave it a scrub. Magic; all gone! The kitchen counters have also had their share of spills and stains to remove.

Dishes too. When tea or turmeric milk stain mugs, baking soda gets the stain removal job done. Occasionally, a canning lid leaves a ring of rust in the sink. A dab and a scrub with baking soda paste and voilà: the sink sparkles like new. In the shower, clean and whiten shower grout with this same paste.

Back to that well-known use: odour

absorption. Over time, I've tried to move away from plastic reusable containers but a few still linger. Plastic has a tendency to absorb odours and it's tempting to chuck a smelly container straight into the bin, sometimes with food still inside. You can avoid adding to the landfill by cleaning the container and then sprinkling with baking soda. Let it sit, rinse and the container is odour-free and usable once again. When I broached the topic of this article with a friend, she promptly shared how baking soda was her go-to for removing pet odours from carpet and other textiles.

The abrasive action of this fine white

powder is remarkably powerful. No need for a steel or plastic scrubby that could release micro-particles and eventually gets thrown in the garbage. No need for a commercial scouring product, in a plastic bottle, made with chemicals of questionable safety. Baking soda is safe and effective for scrubbing sinks, shower, toilet, and pots and pans. It tackles both soap scum and grease.

Next time you find yourself faced with a cleaning challenge, give baking soda a try and look for the magic.

Note: You can find other green cleaner recipes and tips in the CRD's Clean Green Cookbook (www.crd.bc.ca).

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FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 49

Need help with your HEART HEALTH?

I N G O O D H E A LT H

by Paula Kully

Active Balance Physiotherapy Studio:

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New Patients Welcome • Emergency Treatment Insurance Accepted • IV Sedation Available 250.655.7188 | #215-9764 Fifth St. | sidneycentredental.com 50 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

For the Love of Our Hearts February is the season of love. In Canada, it is Heart Month – a time to bring attention to the importance of heart health. According to the Canadian Government, heart disease affects approximately 2.4 million Canadian adults and is the second leading cause of death in Canada, while the World Health Organization cites cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death worldwide.

Shelley Dumais, Emma Rigsby, Kym Tribe and Cydney Smith at Active Balance Physiotherapy Studio in Sidney can help you with your Cardiovascular Health at any stage in your life. Here is what they have to say: What is Cardiovascular Health?

Cardiovascular health refers to the health of the heart and blood vessels. The cardiovascular system includes the heart, veins, arteries and capillaries. Poor cardiovascular health can result in cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, heart arrhythmias and heart valve problems.

What causes Cardiovascular Disease?

An unhealthy lifestyle can be a significant contributing factor, including habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, poor diet and lack of exercise. You can also have a family history that may contribute to your risk of developing cardiovascular issues.

Which types of exercise are best?

Exercise that increases your heart rate at an aerobic level for a sustained period of time will improve the function of your cardiovascular system. Some great cardiovascular exercises include walking, running, cycling, swimming, circuit training, high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, aquafit and skiing.

What are five reasons why cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise is important?

1. It reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke, artery diseases and high blood pressure.

2. It helps reduce your bad cholesterol.

3. It reduces chronic pain by releasing endorphins.

4. It helps with weight managment.

5. It improves your sleep and your immune system.

How can physiotherapists help you to improve your cardiovascular health?

Donna M. Stewart Audiologist/Owner

hear inc.

Before starting a new exercise routine, it is important to do an Audiology is more than hearing aids. assessment of your body's current level of fitness, range of motion, Donna M. Stewart Audiologist/Owner flexibility, balance and strength. This will help you to develop a Whether your issue is excess earwax, speech processing, dizziness or hearing routine that is safe, prevents injury and is at the appropriate level for loss, give us a call. We’d love to help. your heart fitness. Physiotherapists are trained to assess your body and its current level of fitness, help you to establish health goals and Because we’re privately owned, we work design a cardiovascular exercise program for you. for you, not a hearing aid manufacturer!

How do you know how hard to work when doing cardiovascular/ aerobic exercise?

Saanichton Brentwood Monitor your exertion with The Talk Test (you should be able to Brittani Trapp 778-351-1145 778-426-4876 Doctor of Audiology maintain a conversation when working at an aerobic level).

Endurance-Based Exercise – when doing circuit training do 3 x 15 reps with 30 seconds rest between sets.

2021 06 Hear Inc 2.indd 1 2021-05-17 10:57:46 AM The Heart Rate Equation – you should be working at a level that is 65 to 75% of your maximum heart rate (220 minus your age in years).

How can we track our heart rate during exercise?

You may choose to use an activity tracker such as a FitBit or Apple watch.

Another option is learning to measure your heart rate with your physiotherapist's Now Offering Sedation help and learning what this feels like based on your perceived effort. #104 - 9845 Resthaven Dr, Sidney 250.656.1199 | coastdentalcare.ca Being aware of your heart rate during exercise is essential to a safe and effective routine.

How do you get started with working on the cardiovascular system?

Active Balance Physiotherapy Studio will be hosting a Community Walking Challenge from February 14 to 18. This will encourage participants to get out and move! Participants will track and submit daily steps and those who enter may be in the running to win some great prizes! In addition, we do a virtual exercise class that takes place over Zoom twice per week. This is another fantastic option for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health from the comfort of your home! To sign up or for more information call Active Balance Physiotherapy Studio at 250-208-5942.

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5 Fun Facts About Your Heart • The female heart beats faster than the male heart • Your heart pumps 2000 gallons of blood per day • Your heart beats, on average, 115,000 times per day • The "lub dub" sound of the heart is from the opening and closing of heart valves • Physical activity is the best way to maintain a healthy heart!

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www.saanichphysio.com FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 51

photo by Janis Jean Photography

Fresh Cup Roastery Café: Revitalizing Coffeehouse Culture Fresh Cup Roastery Café has been a staple of the community for over two decades, offering the only micro-roasted coffee on the Saanich Peninsula. With an expansion underway, owner

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Jim Townley explains this was the perfect opportunity to refresh the brand and look towards the future.

"We wanted to be able to provide a fresh new space for our loyal customers," he says. "We started in the year 2000, and when you've been in business for 20 years, you start to think about what you can do differently." One of the reasons for the expansion was to create a safe and welcoming environment during Covid. "We expanded our patio a year and a half ago," Jim explains, "but we had hoped Covid would have eased by now – it hasn't, so we're taking things to the next level."

"It's up to us to provide a safer and updated environment, to allow social distancing while still providing that coffeehouse experience with friends." Jim notes that our socialization has really taken a hit throughout Covid, and it's something we need to reinvest in. "I don't think we even realize what we've lost – going for coffee with friends is such an important part of our social fabric, and we want a space that adapts to that."

Fresh Cup will be making use of additional seating capacity, to refresh the coffeehouse culture and provide a space for people to create and maintain their friendships and business connections.

"We'll have 23 warm, indoor seats instead of eight, which will allow our business to thrive even in the cooler months of November to March," Jim explains. "In total, we'll have just under 50 seats

including the patio, so we'll continue to be a destination for walkers and cyclists in the spring and summer."

Jim hopes the expansion will reinforce the community aspect of Fresh Cup, with its specialty coffee and high-quality organic and single-origin beans making it a real "destination" when the renovations are done. "We've got a live-edge theme throughout the café; it's a very West Coast feel," notes Jim. "When you come and enjoy a coffee, it will be a real calming experience, just what the coast is known for."

There will also be additional space for live music, when Covid restrictions allow for that. "Live music venues on the Saanich Peninsula are few and far between," says Jim. "We're looking forward to giving musicians a place to plug and play for a few hours – we want to reinforce that whole coffeehouse culture."

Some other changes include updated menus, and new take-home offerings: lots of baked goods will be available, and customers will finally have the opportunity to buy Fresh Cup's famous salad dressing. "We've got an amazing salad dressing that people have been asking for over the years," Jim explains. "We're also setting up our operations to improve service for the airport location, which we hope will reopen soon." To fully supply the airport in an efficient manner, they've expanded the kitchen area to accommodate increased capacity; Jim says this will also allow them to provide some catering, which wouldn't have been possible before.

"We've been recognized as the best cup of coffee and roasted beans on the Saanich Peninsula for a number of years, and I think the new environment is going to be in line with that expectation."

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January Book Club

by Deborah Rogers

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

- Emilie Buchwald

Book Club

We are back for our sixth year of the Seaside Magazine book club! At our January meeting we didn't discuss a specific book; instead we had a "book chat" introducing each other to the titles we've been enjoying since we last met. There were 22 of us at the meeting so we came away with a long list of books to add to our "to-read" piles. If you'd like to see what the group recommended then you can find more information on the website (www.seasidemagazine.ca/january-book-club-2/).

What struck me was the variety: fiction and non-fiction and many genres represented. Only two of our readers had the same suggestion: (State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny). Some had listened to audiobooks, which sounds like an efficient way to read whilst doing something else with your hands! Many of the books had been borrowed from our local library, another reminder of how valuable it is to our community.

For those who haven't attended a meeting, or are considering joining our informal club, here is a little information about how it works. We meet 11 times a year (no meeting in December) and currently that meeting is held online using Zoom. Prior to the pandemic, our meetings took place in the Nell Horth room at the Sindey/North Saanich Library. Each month's book for discussion is selected at the end of the previous month's meeting. We try to keep the selections varied, with a mix of Canadian and non-Canadian authors and new and older books.

As often as possible we chose a book that is available as a Book Club set from the library. This means a greater number of readers have the opportunity to borrow the book. Typically we will present two choices and the group votes on which one we will read.

At the meeting we will often split into a number of smaller groups to allow easy discussion, before coming together to share the thoughts of each group. It's informal in the sense that no one is obliged to read/finish/share opinions; we welcome you to come regularly, or just when the book appeals. Last year we had three meetings where the author of the book was able to join us for questions – we'll continue to look for these opportunities.

Our next meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. We'll be discussing Piranesi by Susanne Clarke. Anyone can join the meeting, but you need to be registered to our email list in order to receive the Zoom invite. Sign up on our website: www.seasidemagazine.ca/book-club.

Imagination -

can be fuelled by a good book Every child can love reading, they just need the right story to spark their passion. From board books and early readers to YA and graphic novels, we have a room full of carefully-selected titles for all ages and interests. Ask our kidfriendly, knowledgeable staff what they would recommend for the little reader in your life.

Start their story in The Children’s Bookshop at Tanner’s Books.

Beacon & Fourth in Sidney | 9am to 5pm - 7 days a week 250 656 2345 | tannersbooks.com |

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 55

N E W & N OT E WO R T H Y

by Paula Kully

News, changes, updates, launches? Email pjkully@gmail.com.

PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE Paying it Forward

The Saanich Peninsula Community Foundation is accepting grant applications from nonprofits and registered charities prior to the deadline of February 28, 2022. Grants are open to Peninsula groups, and groups that support Peninsula residents for projects that benefit our community. Find out who is eligible and how to apply on their website: www.sp-cf.ca.

Golden Pears Marion Evamy and Bobb Hamilton, Sidney residents and owners of Red Art Gallery, recently raised $22,500 for the Victoria Women's Transition House through the "Painted Pear Affair" auction. The auction featured 30 beautifully painted concrete pears, created by 30 women artists. The gallery donates 25% of profits from the sale of every painting sold back to the community and has consistently donated tens of thousands of dollars each year for many local charities including the Saanich Peninsula Food Bank. www.redartgallery.ca.

BEAT THE PANDEMIC BLUES Get ready for the 2022 market season!

With the pandemic still looming and uncertain, Westcoast Impressions, the company that organizes the popular Sidney Street Market, has decided to hold both the Sunday Farmer's Market and the Thursday Night Market outdoors at the Mary Winspear Centre this year. Sunday markets run from May 8 to September 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday markets run from June 2 to September 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.sidneystreetmarket.com.

The Doctor is In In response to the challenges created by the pandemic, in particular the impact it has had on many people's mental health, the team at Reach Health Clinic in Sidney has added clinical counselling to their list of services. You can book an appointment online through their website at www.reachhealth.ca/therapists.

WINNING! Star Investors Local Investment Advisor Viola Van de Ruyt has been honoured by her firm, National Bank Financial - Wealth Management with a regional and national award for Social Commitment in 2021.

Likewise, Viola's team member and Senior Investment Associate Annette Quan has been recognized nationally as an Elite Associate.

Congratulations to Viola and Annette!

The Peninsula Rocks The annual Times Colonist Readers Choice Awards recognized many Saanich Peninsula businesses in various categories as winners and finalists. Winners included: Arbutus RV & Marine, Flying Fish Winery, Lifestyle Markets, Woofability, Happy Tails Teeth Cleaning, Bosley's, RBC Royal Bank, Coast Capital Savings, Harbord Insurance, Beacon Law Office, Monk Office, Departures Travel, Brown's the Florist, Mark's, Walk-in Comfort, and Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen Ferry Route.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!

Wish Her a Happy Valentine’s Day with These Beautiful Gold Heart Earrings by Lover’s Tempo

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COMMUNITY BUILDING Planning for the Future The Town of Sidney is expecting to get a look at the first draft of the new Official Community Plan (OCP) at the February 28 Council meeting. The tentative timeline for final approval is June with public engagement scheduled for March, revisions in April and the adoption process taking place in May. The OCP will shape the future of Sidney in years to come and identify future land use within the community.

For public input opportunities, watch the Town's website and social media.

Monthly Giveaway! #loveyourlocal with the monthly Seaside Magazine giveaway box, filled with amazing gifts from our local businesses.

How to Play?

Creative Emergence Caitlin McKenzie, President & CEO confirmed on January 11 that Monk Office purchased Island Blue Art & Framing stores in Victoria and Sidney. Both Monk Office and Island Blue have served the people of the Peninsula well for many years and this merger is a natural fit. Island Blue Print was founded in 1912 and has been locally owned by the Shemilt Family for the past 55 years. Monk Office has committed to keeping the longstanding and respected Island-based Shemilt family legacy alive as they take on Island Blue. Congratulations to Monk Office on their new endeavour and thank you to the Shemilt Family for all you have done for creators and the community over the decades.

Find the image of the box hidden somewhere in this issue.

Visit www.seasidemagazine.ca/SeasideBox

by February 28th to let us know where you found it. *one entry per person, per issue. Each entrant is eligible to win the Seaside box giveaway no more than once per calendar year.

SOME GOODBYES ARE HARD TO SAY Condolences From the Seaside Team In closing, it pains me to write this but we want to send our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Grant Gilbertson and recognize this fine young man who left us too soon. Grant was the forward for the Peninsula Panthers and was only 18 years old when he died in a motor vehicle accident on January 3. To honour and remember him, the community came together at the Panorama Recreation Centre prior to the game between the Peninsula Panthers and the Victoria Cougars on January 7.

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Thanks to December’s Community Partners: RockCoast Confections • muffet & louisa Snowdon House Gourmet & Gifts Woodshed Pizza • Deep Cove Market Author Valerie Green

Congratulations to December’s winner, Tim B!

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ThaddeusMonckton.com | thaddeus@thaddeusmonckton.com FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 57

Dear SPH’s dedicated workers...

To all the wonderful staff at our fabulous Saan Penn. We appreciate you, and think of you every single day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do for our community! - Barb S Thank you for all you do in ensuring our families get the information they need. Working together makes all the difference in long term care especially during these times.

Thank you all for going above & beyond. From our front line workers to yours...we appreciate you.

- Sharon at Sidney All Care Thanks to all the staff at the long term care units at SPH during the COVID outbreak.

Appreciate all you do during this particularly stressful time.

- Corinne M I very much appreciate our local hospital and the staff.

You definitely are Heroes!

Thank you for being there for us - Veronica G You are all stars in my universe.

We couldn't have got through this pandemic without the commitment and courage that has been displayed by all healthcare workers, and we thank you so much for being there! - Carol M

It is not possible for you to know how much you are appreciated.

Words alone mean little. In my heart I am so grateful to every single one of you for the incredible contribution you make to life on the Peninsula.

Big hugs to you all. - Barbara H

Thank you to all the staff at SPH. You are not only our HEROES but you are our special ANGELS who work tirelessly to care for us, provide for us and show compassion, understanding and bravery during these tumultuous times. We salute you! - Judy C

Your care and support of Mom while in hospital was incredible and greatly appreciated.

- Dana N

Thank you for your dedication during times of uncertainty, for your ability to put your patients first, and for providing much needed care and caring for our population on the Peninsula.

- Lorna B

Messages of love from our community So grateful for every one of you who daily & nightly show up to clean and care for the buildings, cook and serve the meals, organize and manage and all the other essential services that keep a hospital running efficiently and for every Nurse and Doctor and other professionals directly supporting the patients. You all deserve a standing ovation!

- Jan W

To all of the Staff who work so hard, and are committed to helping each and every patient for whatever they need. You are special. When I needed you, and my wife was in Palliative, for an extended period of time you were there. - Don B

See all the messages sent to our Saanich Peninsula Hospital workers:

your community, your health 250-656-2948

I hope that all of you know how much of a beacon of hope you have been -- and continue to be -- for anyone who needs medical help. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the care you gave to my mother and the gentleness of her passing that your actions ensured. - Frances K

IMPROMPTU

by Janis Jean Photography

You know those people in your life who make you feel good by just being with them? That's my friend Anna! When given my Seaside assignment for "In Fashion" this month and I learned it was Airport Firefighter (and local artist extraordinaire) Anna Trelford, I was just thrilled.

When I have someone in front of my camera, I do my best to capture their true self, show their authentic personality or tell their story. The photograph here, one of my outtakes with Anna, is her classic true self: fun, creative and full of life. The oceanfront image featured in her In Fashion segment (page 23) is also very Anna. It was captured in front of her home where she gets so much of her artistic inspiration.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 59

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Deborah Rogers | photos byAmanda Cribdon Photography

Piecing Together an Annual Favourite What is it about Lego that makes it so popular? The little Danish plastic building blocks have been around for over 70 years. Today Lego is the largest toy company in the world with movies, games and amusement parks under its brand. But it's those oh-so-simple, yet endlessly creative, interlocking plastic bricks that are my focus as I had the chance to go Behind the Scenes of the annual Lego exhibition at the Sidney Museum.

Around 15 years ago Peter Garnham had the idea to include

60 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

some of his family's Lego in the museum's collection. Since then it's become an annual tradition to host a Lego exhibit in the quiet months of January to March. It might have started small, but the exhibition has quickly become not just a tradition for many families on the Peninsula and beyond, but also the source of the largest numbers of visitors for the museum.

Typically the museum closes for just one day for the mammoth task of setting up the hundreds of Lego models that make up the exhibition. Due to the snow that blanketed Sidney after Christmas, the museum was closed for an extra couple of days, allowing me the chance to witness the great "build" in person!

The newly-named downstairs "Garnham Gallery" will house most of the Lego this year.

I've done my fair share of Lego building over the years, I loved it as a child and my parents still have our old sets for the grandchildren. At my house currently there is Star Wars Lego and Lord of the Rings; space sets, Ninjago, Bionicles, Lego Technic and many, many vehicles, and of course hundreds of the all-important minifigs. These are the little characters that bring the sets to life. I think if I were to tally the amount spent on the Lego that fills my kids' closets I might feel a little sick! But what I know for sure is that Lego has occupied an important place in our lives, providing hours of pleasure, not to mention the fine

BATHROOM & TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

motor skills and creativity that it promotes.

I understand then that Lego has enduring appeal, but I was intrigued to ask Alyssa Gerwing, Sidney Museum's Executive Director, why she thinks the annual exhibit is such a success. She admits to having been a bit perplexed herself when she started her role. But as a museum person, what she witnesses each year makes her very happy, especially in the way that the exhibit creates connections across generations and cultures. She enjoys the conversations that people have, and the very fact that it brings people into the museum who then interact with the staff and the other permanent exhibits.

Setup day is a sort of organized chaos. Tucked away in storage closets is a huge volume of built sets, only a fraction of which are put on display. Themes and a focus are selected and then staff and volunteers help fill the display cabinets with the relevant pieces. Each year there are new additions, and a rotation of the old favourites. One special volunteer is Ray Konrath, known in his neighbourhood (he tells me) as the "Lego Man." Ray plays an integral part, personally purchasing and assembling a large set each year, as well as constructing and rebuilding many of the other displays. This year Ray's stunning contribution is a huge replica of the Titanic. This set cost $800 and is incredibly detailed, including moving crank shafts and propellers. Some of his other major contributions are the ever-popular Star Wars models of the Death Star and the Millenium Falcon.

What else will you find? Well there's Lego through the ages with themes like space and pirates that have been produced and evolved since the 1970s. There's Harry Potter, a new Friends set with Central Perk and Monica's apartment. There's architecture from around the world and new this year a 3D map created in a mosaic style.

I was impressed by the ability of the staff to put this exhibition together without getting distracted by each of the models as they come out of storage. The detail in some of the sets is exquisite.

Make sure you take a look before the end of March. This year you will need to book a time slot (www.sidneymuseum.ca), and any time you visit the museum you can see the affection for the funny, vibrant world of Lego in the enormous new train table display.

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SEASIDE HOMES

by Janice Henshaw

Smart Homes Defined and the Future Imagined Smart Homes Defined. Do you have a "Smart Home?" If not now, then perhaps very soon. By 2023 it is estimated that there will be an astonishing 300 million Smart Homes worldwide, and Smart Home market revenue will top US$141 billion (Source Statista). Demand for these products is fuelled by our love of technology, desire to protect our homes and manage our energy consumption. What exactly is a Smart Home? A Smart Home has technical systems and connected devices installed to make life easier, safer and more convenient for the homeowner. Interactive home security systems are one technology leading the way in this sector. This type of system protects your home by detecting motion inside or out, and some can warn you if a new device joins your Wi-Fi network, i.e., a hacker. Smart devices include door locks, cameras, smoke detectors, glass sensors that detect a broken window, and flood alerts. A companion app typically notifies you of any problem, whether you are away at work or skiing down your favourite black diamond run.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 63

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Wink Hub are examples of Smart Home Systems. A Smart Home System refers to the overall command centre. In other words, they are virtual assistants or smart voice assistants with which you can control multiple devices around your home such as music, climate control, lighting, blinds, HVAC system, security and entertainment. The Amazon Echo is an example of a voice-controlled smart speaker for Alexa. One day soon, light switches, keys and passwords will be retro.

Other popular smart devices include toothbrushes, insulin pumps, blood glucose monitors and air purifiers. Pet cameras can allow you to check in and see which pair of shoes Fido is chewing on, and you can monitor your house at the same time. A video doorbell camera lets you know who is at the door without you having to get off the couch. It can also record footage of who comes to your door when you are away (watch out, porch pirates!). One day, the smart device that I hope to have is a 64 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

robot vacuum and mop (it has a motherboard, lasers, sensors and WiFi!). This self-propelled model guarantees pet waste avoidance (horrible thought!) and automatically empties its dustbin into an allergen-sealed bag. With all that technical wizardry, developing it a bit further and programming it to play with my dog seems a small matter, right?

There might be a smart version for every device that you can think of, or there will be soon. As a caution, though, we must be proactive about cybersecurity in protecting the Internet of Things (IoT) in our homes. A single compromised device can lead to others, thus opening the gate to hackers – and they are out there. Here are three essential tips for amplifying your security: Always create a new password for each Smart Home device – do not use the default password. Ensure your devices update promptly as the manufacturer solves software issues. Purchase well-made devices from manufacturers that treat security as a high-priority issue.

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CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Outdoor Oasis

The Future Imagined. We live in exciting times – what some people call the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so let's check out a morning scenario of the future that may be remarkably close … You are in bed and blue light, your chosen colour, fills your bedroom as the blinds slowly move up to reveal the sunrise. Your favourite song starts playing as you reach a light stage of sleep, so you feel energized as you stretch out on your temperature- and pressure-controlled mattress. The shower is running, and as you get in, you say, "A bit warmer, please." You close your eyes as your favourite lemongrass soap is sprayed softly over your body like a cloud. After a rinse-off, the towel and warm tile floor feel divine, warmed to perfection.

Next, you step on the health scanner, which reminds you to go for a 45-minute walk outside after lunch.

Back in your bedroom, pre-selected clothes for today have popped out of the hidden wall closet. The bed has slotted back into the wall,

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transforming the room into your workspace. After work, it will again transform – into a living room with form-changing furniture and colours. For now, though, your workstation glides out noiselessly in front of a wall-sized virtual reality stage. Once dressed, the smell of freshly ground coffee draws you into the kitchen, where Olivia is cooking a fresh veggie omelet and buttering the toast. She will have everything cleaned up and a healthy lunch ready at noon before she goes into recharge mode. That's when Henry will roll out, clean the floors, and entertain Fido.

As you eat your breakfast, Olivia updates you on the news of the day. Out the window, you watch a drone circle and land, dropping off fresh groceries and a new pair of shoes that you ordered to replace the ones that your puppy chewed. The drone picks up your recyclables before flying away. The weather app has alerted the outside sprinklers in the garden not to go on today as it will rain in the afternoon.

As the sun shines through clouds, it energizes the roof solar panels, and the luminous interior walls decrease in brilliance until they are at their optimum level for work. Dolly Parton is singing that old, old song: "Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living."

You smile ruefully as you walk to your office; the workday for you and a great many others stretches from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week because how else are you going to pay for this 700-squarefoot Smart Home and all its super cool technology? You can't live without it, can you?

66 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

W E ST COAST G A R D E N E R

by Cynthia Philp

Tiny Gardens:

Joy Through the Winter Months As a gardener, I love spring, and my impatience with the weather grows as the dismal days of winter drag on. To keep my sanity, I begin gardening indoors – just tiny projects, designed to fit on a windowsill and bring me joy every time I pass. Windowsill gardens are a beautiful way to surround myself with emerald bits of hope.

The biggest challenge of windowsill gardening is finding the right container that will sit securely on a small ledge. I now look at glassware in an entirely new way. Farmers markets are an excellent hunting ground, as vendors often sell samples of their delights in glassware with a small footprint. Potters too may have jewel-like creations that will do the job. A friend of mine repurposed shot glasses collected as souvenirs from her travels around the world and enjoyed a window ledge filled with memories of exotic locations.

The container you choose will guide what types of planting you can grow. Containers with narrow openings are best suited for rooting cuttings, while wider-mouthed vessels can hold a bit of potting mix, ideal for drought-tolerant succulents.

Cuttings. My favourite windowsill garden is a row of stems taking root, and I've made many gardening friends just by asking for a cutting of one of their beautiful plants.

Geraniums, ivies, philodendron, pothos and many others will do well if you submerge a small stem in water. A few leaves above the water line and a node below will send out fine white tendrils after a few weeks in a bright window. These are water roots, and I wait until the plant has

generated enough of these filaments to support itself out of the water. A geranium slip I cut on December 19 had a thick mesh of a dozen of these rootlets by January 18 – more then enough to support itself in potting soil. Not all cuttings will take root – change the water if it becomes murky and pull out any stems that have decided to rot, rather than root.

Once the cuttings have sent out enough of these tendrils, they can be planted in potting soil. Keep the mix damp, as the plant at this point is supported only by its delicate water roots. Over time, the cutting will establish itself with soil roots and then behave exactly like the parent plant.

Succulents. Succulents root incredibly well in a tiny bit of potting mix. A four-inch pot of sempervivum such as the familiar Hens and Chicks from the garden centre can often be found bursting with "chicks" that will take root if they are gently pulled off the mother plant and tucked into a damp potting mix. The trick with these types of plants is to not give them the opportunity to rot – a damp potting mix in a cool room may spell disaster.

With a little experimenting, I can find what plant does well in each room of my home. I've had great success with a cyclamen corm in the north-facing window of a cool room.

These tiny gardens bring me joy through the winter, as I watch and cheer on their determined path of growth. I make sure to give away or plant out almost all my cuttings over the summer, just to free up space on my windowsill for my next tiny garden adventure.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 67

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G LO B E H O P P I N G

by Claudette Sells

Let's Rhumba:

(A pre-pandemic trip) The band strikes the first chord, and the demonstration dancers begin their salsa performance. The packed audience smiles and sways to the music. We wait patiently for the opportunity to join in. My husband takes my hands and leads me to the dance floor. He raises his hand, signalling me to do an underarm turn, and we proceed with our dance.

My husband Brian and I are avid Latin dancers. We enjoy many different styles of Latin dances including salsa, cha-cha and rhumba.

It was my husband's dream to dance on his 65th birthday to the music of the Buena Vista Social Club in Cuba.

The Club plays authentic Cuban music dating back to 1930. Ry Cooder, an American guitarist, went to Havana in 1996 and recorded an album with the group, which included some of the top Cuban performers of all time. The record was immediately a hit, and the tropical Latin music inspires Latin dancers worldwide.

We planned our two-week trip to Cuba six months before Brian's birthday. Once we arrived, we made reservations for the Buena Vista Social Club performance. Dinner and the performance is CDN$100 and gives you a great seat in the club.

I wore a floral dress with a flaring skirt, and Brian was in his best slacks and a light jacket.

Havana is a major tourist area, and while the buildings are old and run down you will find musicians on the streets, in the restaurants and in the bars. The Buena Vista Social Club performs at the Sociedad Cultural Rosalia de Castro in Havana. The beautiful 19th century carved building is ragged, but the inside, with its high ceiling and wooden floors, gives the room remarkable warmth.

A Hot Havana Night As we entered, we could feel the air of anticipation in the room. The band members took their positions on stage and tuned their instruments. The lead singer came on stage and asked the audience where they were from. People shouted out their countries: "Columbia, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil" and Brian yelled out: "Canada!" As the band played the first few notes of the popular song Chan Chan, I was filled with excitement. We danced the rhumba, and I could see on Brian's face that his dream had come true.

Partway through the evening I had to leave the room briefly, and when I returned Brian was not sitting in his seat. I looked around and finally saw him dancing with two Cuban ladies. As he danced the rhumba with them, he had one lady do an underarm turn to the left, then the other lady did an underarm turn to the right. When the song ended, he looked over and saw that I was back in my seat.

He returned to his seat and said, "The ladies' husbands are in the band. They looked really bored, so I asked them if they would like to rhumba."

When the evening ended, we returned to our hotel and went for a drink in the lounge. Other guests that were at the concert commented that they were overjoyed with the music. Although most of the members of the original Buena Vista Social Club are no longer alive, the next generation is enthusiastic and captures the original passion of Cuban music. I was mesmerized by the music and felt that I had been transported back to 1950.

When we got back home, I asked Brian where he would like to go for his next birthday. He smiled and said: "I want to go back and dance in Havana again."

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 69

West Coast Container Homes: Reducing Carbon Footprints One Container at a Time

by Jesse Holth

With sustainability at the forefront, small-impact living is becoming ever more popular: it's better for the environment, more energy efficient, and easier on your social conscience.

Adam Benning, owner of West Coast Container Homes, had been in the construction business for 25 years when everything changed.

"Even though it was good work, I had moral issues with what I was doing – filling up landfills and creating so much waste," he explains.

"I reached a point in my career where I wanted to do something more meaningful and sustainable." So he started thinking about how to build on a smaller scale, and make use of existing materials.

"I had developed my skillset and was facing this moral dilemma, and I was at a stage in my life where I felt like I could follow my passion – it was a collision of all three. Once I made that decision, there was no turning back," he says.

"We specialize in modular units, especially office pods," Adam explains. "They're a set size but you can customize the interior; it sounds pretty simple, but they're very technical builds and they need to be done right." In colder climates, you need to be particularly conscious of the method of construction – if you don't get it right the first time, you can have issues with thermal bridging. "That's where the metal sweats, as warm air comes into contact with a cold surface; like a can of coke on a hot day," Adam explains. "I wouldn't recommend it as a DIY project," he laughs.

70 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

One of the best things about container homes is that they repurpose something that already exists – at West Coast Container Homes, they're able to go even further. "We find that we can have minimal wastage and maximize each shipping container by cutting a unit into three," Adam says. They can create three office pods out of a single shipping container!

While many developers focus on high-volume projects with lots of square footage – and high profit margins – the team at West Coast Container Homes only builds with a small footprint in mind. "For me, it's not about the money: it's about what feels right," says Adam.

The process isn't that different than a traditional development: first you design, then you price out the design, and then you build. Office pods don't require the same permits as other buildings because they're movable structures, but it still helps to have someone figure out the red tape. "The municipalities haven't made it very user friendly," says Adam. He's hoping that will change as small-impact living becomes more common.

"We can customize office pods with different windows, extra doors, a variety of lighting options, additional deck structures and more; it's all done during the design stage." The sustainability aspect means they're super efficient, more than a regular building, with minimal maintenance, minimal waste, and repurposing a container that already exists. "They're not for everyone, but hopefully for those who

believe in a minimal carbon footprint, this is a perfect way to do that," says Adam. "They will last forever … and look cool too!"

When it comes to housing, Adam hopes that container homes can play a role in providing a multi-layered solution. "Lots of municipalities on the Island are really behind in terms of progressive and sustainable methods of building, especially to deal with the housing crisis." Other than office space, providing garden suites is something West Coast Container Homes wants to see more of in the future. "The inside of our units is comparable to a brand new condo, and they're so energy efficient," says Adam. "We want to show municipalities what's possible."

Some of the structures even have solar panels built onto the roof, so they are completely self-sustaining. "You don't need much heating in the containers, so just a few solar panels on the roof and you're energy independent," Adam explains. "It's all about that good feeling – you're reducing waste and reducing your impact, in a sustainable way."

"Our primary purpose is to provide a moveable room for people who don't have enough space, one that's fully heated and insulated – just like a room in your house, but rugged enough to survive outside and able to be transported easily." Whether you're looking for additional office space or building a garden suite, you can visit www.westcoastcontainerhomes.ca to find out more. out to a wider Photos courtesyReach West Coast Container Homes.

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In Loving Memory: #26 Grant Gilbertson ~ July 25, 2003 – Jan 3, 2022 submitted

We are deeply saddened to

announce the sudden passing of Grant Gilbertson, age 18.

Bright, articulate, passionate about life, not wasting a moment, Grant had an infectious smile, quick wit, a wonderful sense of humour, a prankster. Although much has been made of his hockey accomplishments Grant was so much more, family and friends first. He loved the outdoors, to fish, go hiking with his Mom and dog Luna. He and his brother were best friends devoted to each other, together finding new adventure with friends and family, snowboarding, skim boarding, golf, you name it and he was up for it with a consistent "I can do it" attitude. He had met his girlfriend who was as keen and able to match his energy, eager to join in on the adventures, they were very compatible.

Grant had a strong moral compass, he had exceptionally strong opinions of right and wrong, in his mind it was honesty, fairness, effort, and commitment, his test of character. You would be quick to learn if you failed to measure up to his standards. Grant grew up in Sooke, attended Edward Milne Community High

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School, achieving recognition as an outstanding athlete.

He was the recipient of many achievement awards, scholastic and athletic, some of the athletic performance records he set still stand. Grant was actively involved in the school's hockey academy program and maintained involvement as a volunteer after graduation in 2020.

Grant graduated a year early, as he did not want school to interfere with his life plan.

Grant started playing hockey at the age of five, a member of Sooke Minor Hockey until moving onto the Midget (15 -17 yrs of age) Tier 1 team, with the Juan De Fuca Minor Hockey Association. He completed two years with the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies before signing with the Peninsula Panthers, VIJHL Jr B team the Fall of 2020. He blossomed into one of the team's top offensive players this season. He was a popular player, well liked and respected by teammates and opponents.

Grant was a loving son, a brother, and grandson. He will be missed dearly by his mother Darcie Colegrave, brother Garett Gilbertson, father Ken Gilbertson, grandfather Donald Colegrave, his uncles, aunts, cousins, his many friends, and teammates.

We are very grateful for the overwhelming support from family, friends, the Peninsula Panthers organization, VIJHL, Juan De Fuca Minor Hockey and Sooke Minor Hockey Associations and the close knit hockey community we are blessed to be part of. It is a sincere compliment to Grant, the affection and respect so many people have expressed, truly he will be missed. We could not have asked for, nor planned, a more fitting Tribute and Service for Grant than held January 7 at the Panorama Recreation Centre; our heartfelt thanks to the Peninsula Panthers organization.

Due to current circumstance, at the request of family, no further Memorial or Funeral service will be held.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation via the Go Fund Me link: https://tinyurl.com/ye23pjde.

Via Choralis:

Singing Brings Joy in Difficult Times Via Choralis is proud

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to have been part of the Saanich Peninsula's vibrant arts community for almost a quarter of a century. Since 1998 the choir has brought singers together from all corners of the Peninsula and from all walks of life to sing in weekly rehearsals and to perform for the community.

From research, we know that singing is beneficial for our health.

Furthermore, singing in a group builds a sense of social well-being and "togetherness" from being part of a collective endeavour.

Members of Via Choralis join for different reasons – for some it's the social connection; for others, the music comes first; and for still others their enjoyment comes from the spiritual or transcendental nature of making music together.

Via Choralis (which in Latin means "the choral journey") seeks to bring together adult singers of all backgrounds to travel together musically. Our repertoire is primarily "classical" but we always have a few more contemporary pieces on the programme as well. Currently rehearsing under strict health protocols, masked and distanced, the choir is preparing a concert entitled Together Again! celebrating the return to live choral singing after more than 18 months during the past two years when we could only sing as a virtual choir via the internet.

In the summer of 2021, the choir's president Gordon Shrimpton, classicist and history buff, wrote a poem about the HMS Bellerophon (known to the sailors as Billyruffian), a Royal Navy ship that fought at the Battle of Trafalgar (October 21, 1805). The choir commissioned their conductor Nicholas Fairbank to set the poem to music, and the result was a piece entitled Aboard the Billyruffian, a sea shanty that tells the story of a Welsh lad, Ewan, who joins the Royal Navy, serving as "powder monkey" in battle, carrying canisters of gunpowder to the cannons. The song is filled with the bravado of youth looking forward to battle, but shifts into a more pensive mode when Ewan's best friend is killed, and he starts to think of returning to his home in Wales. This song will be the focus of our upcoming programme.

Government health regulations permitting, a concert at St. Elizabeth's Church in Sidney will be announced for mid-to-late March. We also hope to perform in nursing homes or retirement communities for those who are not able to attend public concerts, provided health rules allow this.

Via Choralis always welcomes new members. Those interested in singing with us should contact the conductor, Nicholas Fairbank, at ad@viachoralis.ca. More information about the choir is on the website at www.viachoralis.ca.

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by Nicholas Fairbank Conductor, Via Choralis

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TA K E N O T E

by Jo Barnes

Peninsula Newcomers Club Luncheon

FEB 10

11:30AM-2PM

Boondocks Bar & Grill

Lego Exhibit

ONGOING FEB 10AM-4PM

Sidney Museum 2423 Beacon Avenue L3, Sidney The popular LEGO Brick Exhibition returns to the local museum! The theme is seafaring vessels to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Anacortes Ferry. The exhibit features hundreds of LEGO sets from the Museum’s own collection as well as kits loaned from local collectors.

Come participate in the “Brick Count” contest. Masks mandatory, for anyone age five and older. See story pg. 60 this issue. www.sidneymuseum.ca

To Fish As Formerly: A Story of Straits Salish Resurgence

ONGOING FEB

Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea 9811 Seaport Place, Sidney This wonderful exhibit shares the story of the SXOLE (Reef Net Fishery) through contemporary art, traditional knowledge and historical documentation. Featured artists include: TEMOSEN Charles Elliott, J’SINTEN Dr. John Elliott, Chris Paul, Dylan Thomas, Sarah Jim, Temoseng (aka Chasz Elliott). www.salishseacentre.org

Choose to Move

STARTING FEBRUARY 3

SHOAL Centre 10030 Resthaven Drive, Sidney An innovative program that motivates seniors to get up, get out, and get active. This is a program based on scientific research that motivates and supports individuals 65 or older to get moving, set and achieve physical activity goals and meet new people in the community! Free. To register call 250-656-5537 or visit www.choosetomove.ca

Seated Chair Line Dancing

FEB 1-22 1:30-2:30PM

Greenglade Community Centre, Room 4 2151 Lannon Way, Sidney A great workout to music for those with mobility issues, using a walker or cane, or, who might be awaiting hip or leg surgery. www.panoramarecreation.ca

74 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

5th Street, Sidney Welcoming women to the Peninsula since 1987! Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Pre-booking required. Guest speaker: Susan Juby, Topic: “Practical Creativity.” Susan will read from one or both of her latest novels due out in March 2022.

For further details: www.peninsulanewcomers.com

Tiny Ballerinas (age 3-5)

FEB 15 – MAR 15 3-3:30PM

McTavish Academy of Art 1720 McTavish Road, North Saanich Uniquely designed for pre-school children, these classes will introduce the fundamentals of ballet movement.

Language of Dance Symbol cards are introduced so that children can make connections between symbols and movement concepts like: levels, shape, direction, and quality. www.mctavishacademy.ca/product/tiny-ballerinas

Make Compost Like An Expert (age 16+)

FEB 17 6-8PM

Instructors: Compost Education Centre Greenglade Community Centre, Room 1 2151 Lannon Way, Sidney Led by instructors from the Compost Education Centre, this workshop will teach participants how to keep soil healthy with nutrient rich compost. Course covers basics about soil, benefits of compost, bin or compost systems and also a great compost recipe. www.panoramarecreation.ca/

Teapot & Lidded Pots (Age 16+)

FEB 19-MAR 19 2:30-5:30PM

Greenglade Community Centre Pottery Studio 2151 Lannon Way, Sidney This series of classes covers how to make a variety of lidded pots. The course is geared towards experienced potters. www.panoramarecreation.ca

Putting Pen to Paper Writing Workshop (Age 16+)

FEB 19 12–4PM

McTavish Academy of Art 1720 McTavish Road, North Saanich Led by professional writer and editor Angela M Cowan, this workshop will begin with writing exercises followed by writing sessions and group sharing. Come be creative in a supportive environment! Please bring a notebook and a pen; any other supplies will be provided. www.mctavishacademy.ca

Repair Café North Saanich

FEB 19 11AM – 2PM

St. John’s United Church 10990 West Saanich Road, North Saanich Do you have a household item that’s broken? Rather than toss it away, bring it the Repair Café and get it repaired! It’s a free meeting place where you can tap into voluntary repairers with skills in sewing, carpentry, and electrical who will help fix your item on the spot. Knife sharpening is also available. Provincial health guidelines and protocols in place including: guest registration, sanitizing, masking, and physical distancing. For details and to volunteer: repaircafenorthsaanich.ca Email: repaircafenorthsaanich@gmail.com

Home Alone Course (age 9-12 years)

FEB 19

9:30AM-12:30PM

Greenglade Community Centre, Room 6 2151 Lannon Way, Sidney This valuable course prepares kids who might be on their own during after-school time or those occasional times when parents might be on a short outing. Topics covered include home and personal safety, emergency situations and dealing with strangers. Programs follow COVID-19 Health and Safety guidelines. www.crd.bc.ca/panorama

Family Vintage, Retro, and Collectible Show & Sale

FEB 20

9:30AM – 4PM EARLYBIRDS 8:30AM - $20

Mary Winspear Centre 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney This family event offers a variety of great items including a large assortment of carefully used books, dinky cars, Meccano, 70s video games, stamps, maps, comic books, postcards, collector cards, gold and silver jewelry, vintage clothing, shoes, bags and collectibles, MCM furniture, lamps and collectibles, First Nations collectibles and Japanese and Thai items. General entrance: $5; children with an adult: free. Proof of second vaccine required for anyone over the age of 12, along with government issued ID for those 19+. www.marywinspear.ca/event/ family-vintage-retro-collectible-showsale

ONGOING

Toastmasters for Seniors (Virtual) Tuesdays | 10-11am

This is a wonderful opportunity, via Zoom platform, for seniors to speak and socialize. For online meeting details, email mastermotivators4671@gmail.com with subject “Seniors Toastmasters”. www.1288.toastmastersclubs.org

Caregivers Connect: BC's Virtual Support Group 2nd & 4th Thursdays | 2-3:30pm

This virtual support group brings people from across the province together twice a month around a mutual experience of caregiving for a family member or friend. This is a time for reassurance, where caregivers can realize they are not alone. Pre-register each week to attend.

Visit www.familycaregiversbc.ca or Call toll free 1-877-520-3267 extension 1.

Sidney Sister Cities Association Virtual Meeting 3rd Thursday

The group remains active during the pandemic!

They are also being joined by members from Anacortes Sister Cities Association and hope to be attending their meetings over the coming months. For information on how to join our virtual meetings, please contact the Secretary at tecarrier2@gmail.com.

Saanich Peninsula Business for Business Network Virtual Meeting Thursdays | 8-9:30am

Mary Winspear Centre

The Saanich Peninsula Chapter of BforB is a peersupport (mastermind) group for local business owners and leaders of professional practices. Guests are welcome, at no charge. For current members and other details at bforbnetworks.com.

For info: westwriter.today@gmail.com.

2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney Presented by the Sidney BIA and Beacon Community Services, this event offers great networking for both local businesses and job seekers. There will be opportunities for professional headshots, assistance with resumés, on-the-spot interviews with employers, networking, and prizes. Masks and vaccinations required.www.sidneybia.ca

Have something for Take Note?

Email takenote@seasidemagazine.ca

Sidney Employment Expo 2022

FEB 24 2-6PM

Peninsula Panthers

Entering the Stretch Drive to the Playoffs

Hockey fans, both young and old, on the Saanich Peninsula are in for a bevy of treats in the shortened month of February. There may be only 28 days in the month, but the action will be non-stop. The Panthers have a stranglehold on 2nd place in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s South Division trailing only the Victoria Cougars. It appears as though the Club will head into Best-of-7 Round 1 of the post-season against the Westshore Wolves and that series looks to be the most hotly contested early going of the playoff s.

There is certainly quite a bit of water that has yet to go under the bridge before the Regular Season comes to a conclusion. #21 Logan Speirs is trying to do something that has never been achieved in the VIJHL, notching at least one point in every single game the Club has played in the Regular Season. The skilled 20-year-old is playing in his final year of Junior Hockey and will be front and centre should the ‘Cats’ press on for a Championship. Panthers Captain Riley Braun continues to break every single Franchise scoring record for the Club. The final tally will need to be counted but he has already scored the most All-Time goals, assists, points and games played and should break the single season scoring record of 114 points currently held by former Club Captain Evan Campbell. Braun looks like he will coast to the finish line as the top scorer in the League this year. Speirs and Braun both broke into the VIJHL on the Club as 16-year-old players and Braun, like Speirs, is playing his final season of Junior Hockey. #7, 19-year-old Matthew Seale has been outstanding game in and game out and the talented defenceman leads the League in scoring from the back end. And 19-year-old Rookie Payton Braun has been in the top five in VIJHL scoring all year long and is the odds-on-favourite to win the Rookie of the Year Award. The Panthers are looking to finish strong as they come around the Clubhouse turn and down the stretch and have a collective goal of capturing a League and British Columbia Championship this time around.

The 2021/22 Regular Season will conclude on Family Day, February 21 with an afternoon game in their home barn at the Panorama. They will wear the special 3rd Jersey for the game (pictured to the right) for a game tabbed as Peninsula Minor Hockey Appreciation. Immediately after the game, PMHA players and fans will be gifted jerseys worn for the game against the visiting Saanich Predators, an afternoon that is one of the special moments during the season. Hours after this game, the post-season will come into clear focus!

76 SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA | FEBRUARY 2022

Photos by Christian J. Stewart Photography

Jr. Hockey Club

Panorama Recreation Centre

FEBRARY

In taking a closer look at the Round 1 match up - Peninsula Panthers vs.

Westshore Wolves - this Best-of-7 is going to prove to be a dogfight. The two Clubs play a very similar game. The teams are right up near the top of the League in terms of skill and speed. The Cats have held an edge in the regular season but all that will go out the window when the puck drops in Round 1. The Panthers’ power play has been dynamic all year long but they will clearly miss Grant Gilbertson who was a mainstay with Speirs, Braun, Braun and Seale. The Club traded for highly-skilled 20-year-old forward Kyle Brown on the deadline and he should add some firepower in this area. But the Wolves have firepower as well, and defence and goaltending will play a key. The Panthers have an experienced back end that is just starting to get healthy again after a couple of significant injuries weeks ago. Ashton Lukan and Brady Kelly are two goaltenders who came into the fold a couple months ago after the Team made moves to address an issue between the pipes and both have been stellar. The Club is looking to make one more impactful addition to the roster. This series will be tight - Cats in 6.

UPCOMING home games Puck drops Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

4 11 18 21

vs. Victoria Cougars vs. Westshore Wolves vs. Kerry Park Islanders vs. Saanich Braves

(2:00 p.m. Monday - Family Day)

PLAYOFFS TO FOLLOW....

@ppanthersvijhl

Visit our website: www.ppanthers.bc.ca

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Celebration of Life - #26 Grant Gilbertson

Peninsula Panthers #26 Grant Gilbertson tragically passed away in a motor vehicle accident in the early evening of January 3, 2022 while he travelled to the Club’s practice. The outpouring of love for the 18-year-old from the community in Greater Victoria and from the Hockey Community on Vancouver Island and beyond, has truly been heartwarming. The Panthers have implemented a #26 helmet sticker in memory of their fallen teammate and this endeavour has most certainly gained momentum. Teams across the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, the entire Peninsula Minor Hockey Association, as well as numerous other Teams have followed suit and will all sport the #26 decal in Grant’s memory.

The Panthers held a 45-minute Memorial Service for Grant Gilbertson prior to their game against the Victoria Cougars on January 7, 2022. The ceremony seemed to touch the hearts of everyone in attendance as well as those who were unable to attend in person and watched a live streaming of the event. The large video screen at the North end of Arena “B” at the Panorama Recreation Centre played a significant role in bringing the memory of Grant to life that evening.

The Club has received condolences from right across the Country over the past two weeks, a testament to the impact the life of Grant Gilbertson had on people, both young and old. Grant’s mother Darcie and his brother Garett were presented with Grant’s white jersey and Garett promptly put it on and wore it throughout the evening. The Team introduced the Grant Gilbertson Memorial - Friendship Award which will be selected each year by the Captain of the Club to be awarded to the player on the team who demonstrates a caring attitude towards his fellow mates. Grant would have liked that, that is who he was. Grant Gilbertson will be forever missed, but never forgotten.

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 77

Last Word

from the

Editorial Director

Deborah Rogers The crazy cold temperatures over the holidays, then heavy snow in the first week of January have had a galvanizing effect on me! I found 2021 a drag: I just couldn't get motivated to plan or put in any effort beyond the bare essentials. But the weather-enforced hibernation was clearly the rest I needed.

Externally nothing much has changed yet in 2022. We still don't know how much longer COVID-19 is going to govern our lives, but right now I feel excited about the year to come. My goals are pretty minimal – increase my running, read widely, write more – but my will is there. I'm ordering books from the library, making run commitments with friends and jotting down story ideas in a new notebook.

I think I spent much of last year focusing on all the things I couldn't do, instead of what I could.

When I read through the articles gathered for this issue of Seaside Magazine I noticed how, despite not being commissioned around a theme, so many tap into my current mindset.

This month I encourage you to take time to allow your mind to wander, and perhaps get inspired by some of the suggestions in these pages. There are new things to do and try in every part of your life. Obvious ones like a new hiking route, or a recipe; but also new concepts like Container Homes, or growing a garden on your windowsill. Expand your knowledge about Smart Homes or Art Therapy. 2022 could be the year you are moved to try Latin dancing, or to join a book club or a choir.

And if you're having a week where it all feels too much, well remember that it's OK to be gentle with yourself too.

Maybe that's the time to take your inspiration from our Screen Scene column and cozy up with a good rom com!

b e D Photo by Janis Jean Photography. Clothing provided and styled by Style Coast. For more, visit www.stylecoast.ca.

WO R D J U M B L E

After the mime saw my mind-boggling trick he was ...

CSHEEPA LUNTIAC

…

CATSETCI MLTSEENE

How to Play: Unscramble each of the clue words. Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them to solve the final message.

Jumble Solutions Answer: Speechless peaches • lunatic • ecstatic • elements

"Mime"

This jumble was created by The Blue Sheet Club, a group of brain injury survivors. The Cridge Centre for the Family's Brain Injury Services provides independent housing with support for survivors of brain injury. Through the development of support groups like The Blue Sheet Club, we strive to provide opportunities for personal development and reintegration in the community. Creating Word Jumbles are a great way to improve cognitive functioning. Plus they're fun too! Enjoy!

SUDOKU

1 6 2 7 9 5 8 4 3

5 3 9 1 4 8 2 7 6

7 9 4 6 5 8 3 2 1

1 8 3 7 2 4 9 5 6

5 2 6 3 9 1 4 8 7

1

9 4 5 1 6 3 2 7 8

7 6 9 8 5 2 7 6 1 4

Middle of the Road Puzzle by websudoku.com

Hardly Simple Puzzle by websudoku.com

8 7 5 2 6 4 3 9 1

3 4 1 5 7 9 6 2 8

KEEP YOUR BRAIN HEALTHY The Alzheimer's Association recommends doing puzzles like Sudoku to strengthen brain cells and the connections between them. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit.

So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Answers found at right.

2 9 6 3 8 1 4 5 7

Puzzle by websudoku.com

7 5 8 4 2 6 1 3 9

7

2

9 2 3 8 1 7 5 6 4

4

3

6 1 4 9 5 3 7 8 2

4 1 3

4 8 7 6 3 2 9 1 5

2

1

8 9 7

8 3 1 2 7 9 5 6 4

Puzzle by websudoku.com

3

9

6 7 2 8 4 5 1 3 9

9 7 3 2 5 3 6 4 2 1 6 7 9 3 2 7 5 9 8 1 2 8 7 5 1 6 7 7 1 6

4

2 5 9 4 8 7 6 1 3

2

3 6 8 9 1 2 7 4 5

4

Hardly Simple 4 1 7 5 3 6 8 9 2

Middle of the Road

FEBRUARY 2022 | SEASIDEMAGAZINE.CA 79

SIDNEY All Care Residence

Here at Sidney All Care Residence, we believe that making lasting friendships in care is integral to our residents’ well being. All departments including Recreation, Care, and Culinary work hard to ensure that your loved one is involved in and gets the most out of our various enjoyable activities, such as our Valentine’s Day Tea, in order to socialize, make connections, and form friendships within our home.

To find out more about our social programs and what to expect when your loved one joins us, please reach out to our Community Relations Manager, Sharon Unsworth at 778.351.2505 or sunsworth@allcarecanada.ca.

Proudly Offering Long Term, Respite and Palliative Care

778.351.2505 • www.allcarecanada.ca • 2269 Mills Rd, Sidney