Seaside Times January 2010 Edition

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“O” my, it’s Twenty Ten I’m not one to do resolutions. I never keep them and then I get down on myself for failing. Being upset with myself isn’t the way I want to start a new year!

This year I’m trying to pick three words and use them as my guidelines for “Twenty Ten.”

As I begin this New Year, I started to think how I was going to pronounce “2010.” Last year, for example, I would say, “January, two thousand and nine” so I tried to say “January, two thousand and ten” and it just didn’t sound right for some reason. Then I tried “January, twenty ten” and it just seemed to flow better. Whew, one thing off my mind!

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Optimism. Most of my life I’ve had many people tell me that I’m a very optimistic person, that I convey a positive outlook and feeling about most things. So it got me thinking about the definition of the word optimism: the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well and a general disposition to expect the best in all things. Well, that describes how I’m feeling about our economy and the magazine this year. I will continue to be optimistic in Twenty Ten! Opportunity is my next word. This

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word has many meanings. It could mean I was presented with an opportunity to succeed or I created an opportunity for success. Here is a definition: a chance for advancement, progress or profit; a favourable circumstance or occasion.

I like that definition so I‘ll continue to look for opportunities to help out my community, relationships and my business.

Overreaction. This last word is the one that I will have to be most diligent about. We are all bombarded with information from the news, media, our friends and families and our businesses.

Definition of overreaction: an excessive or exaggerated reaction; a reaction with inappropriate emotional behavior.

For Twenty Ten, I will take a deep breath, try not to overreact, stay focused on my guidelines and celebrate the start of a new decade. My best wishes to all of you for a Happy New Year.

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Know Your Options When Mortgage Shopping A long-held belief was that the bank was the best place to go when searching out a mortgage. This idea was based on the belief that a bank would give you the best mortgage possible because of your long-term banking relationship with them. The mortgage broker was viewed as the person you saw if you had less-than-stellar credit and your bank had turned you away.

The reality is quite the opposite. Mortgage brokers deal with all clients, from the best credit scores to “slightly bruised” scores. There are many mortgage rates and products available from a variety of lenders, and, as is the case with a medical diagnosis, a second opinion on your mortgage offer is always in your best interest.

sionals (AMPs) of Sidney Mortgage Depot are easily accessible.

These ladies believe that excellent customer service and the best mortgage products go hand in hand. They will make the mortgage process as comfortable and stress free as possible. Professionalism and privacy are the top priority at the Mortgage Depot, and they will find the lowest rates and best mortgage product suited to your individual needs.

Your home can be your biggest asset and is deserving of the utmost attention to make sure you have the most suitable products to maximize your investment.

Where banks are limited to their own rates and products, mortgage brokers provide mortgages from a variety of lenders. This means many options are available, often with access to a bank you may have visited already but with a better rate.

The mortgage broker works for you, not for the lender.

With one application and one check on your credit bureau, a broker can shop your mortgage.

Working with a mortgage broker will help you avoid repeated checks on your credit bureau which could ultimately reduce your credit score. Best of all, the services provided to you by a Mortgage Broker are free, with only a few exceptions.

Situated at 2446 Beacon Avenue in the old “Candy Shop,” you will find over 20 years of mortgage and real estate experience. Locally owned and operated, Mortgage Depot has been arranging mortgages for over 19 years. The Sidney Mortgage Depot is a family-run office with Arlene Modderman, her daughter Sherri Brown and close friend Krista Lawless.

Arlene is known as the Gulf Island specialist with offices in Victoria, Sidney and Salt Spring Island. Krista Lawless and Sherri Brown operate as the Lawless Brown Mortgage Team with offices in Victoria and Sidney. With various convenient locations and an interactive website, the accredited mortgage profes-

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5

Damage Control For â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Drop-Ins!â&#x20AC;? ladies, appetizers on Saturday with the Joneses and the Smiths are having an open house from 12-5. You missed it last year and now you feel you really should go. Through all this you put 1,000 km on the car â&#x20AC;Ś letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just give it a rest!

Finally, January has arrived.

Feel your blood pressure slowly ease down. The car is still in one piece and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so happy you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to ring one more door bell and hand over whatever it was you brought wrapped in green and red tissue paper covered with cellophane.

by Jennifer Bowles No doubt about it, Christmas time is demanding and downright crazy! One party after another; drinks here, cookies and coffee over there, lunching

during December and then, fresh with New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirit, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at your door ready for a good old chat and some New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheer.

So what to do now??

Plan A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hit the floor, muzzle the dog and squirm across your floor like GI Joe away from all the windows and wait for the knocking to stop.

Plan B â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Throw your husband his reindeer sweater and head straight for that door. Hello! Come on in! So great to see you! What a special surprise! We werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doing anything! (Just relaxing â&#x20AC;Ś alone). Surprise indeed.

No, January is time to relax, sit back and say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010!

Plan C â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Go to the door with a case of â&#x20AC;&#x153;sudden laryngitis,â&#x20AC;? throw a little coughing in for good measure and promise to meet up another day.

Hold on, was that the doorbell? Look outside â&#x20AC;Ś oh my my! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daryl and Deborah Drop-In! Oh yes, Ladies and Gentleman, the Drop-Ins come out of the walls in January. They hibernate

Answer? Try Plan B minus the sarcasm. Now, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to sit around your living room eating nothing and drinking up the air. Come on host â&#x20AC;&#x201C; get thinking! Food for

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unexpected guests is that one thing people think is difficult to prepare because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a tizzy, furiously racking your brain to think of what you can come up with! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; really!

Below Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve listed a few last-minute appetizers you can whip together and still save the day. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the number one tip though! Stock up.

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re grocery shopping this Christmas and crackers are on your list? Throw two boxes in the cart.

Passing by the old deli counter and they have a few cheeses marked down? Toss those in too. Nuts, olives, pre-made antipasto, two bags of frozen prawns, a jar of pesto, smoked salmon, cream cheese, a little jar of capers and you are finished. These also work if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just time you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to beat this season.

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So, next time you do your grocery shopping, just remember the Drop-Ins!

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1 cup grated cheddar cheese Large dollop of sour cream Blend with blender; serve with crackers. Time: 4 minutes.

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Splash of white wine

Toss prawns in sautĂŠ pan, with enough pesto to generously coat prawns (and a touch more). Splash a little white wine in the pan and cook until pink.

Pour prawns and sauce in a bowl and serve with baguette OR just on their own. Done.

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Run prawns under cold water until thawed (which takes no time at all).

Do you have a bag of potato chips in the cupboard? Pull them out.

In a blender combine some cream cheese, sour cream, a couple of tablespoons of capers and juice.

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Blend. Spoon onto potato chip, top with a slice of smoked salmon and a sprig of dill (if you have it). From cupboard to table in five minutes max!

Drop-Inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s? Come on In! Happy New Year to All! Email Jennifer Bowles at islanddish@columnist.com.

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7

Making Your Feeding Station Clean and Healthy

by Jennifer Hill Now that the weather has turned a bit colder, the frenzy at my bird feeders has begun in earnest.

Unfortunately, with an increased number of birds there is also an increased risk of disease being spread from visitor to visitor. The following suggestions will make your yard a healthier place for birds: • Clean your bird feeders regularly with soap and water. If there are any signs of mold or fungus growing, the feeder should be taken apart, scrubbed thoroughly, and soaked in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water for at least 10 minutes. Rinse well and ensure that the feeder is dry before refilling.

• Disinfect your hummingbird feeders on a regular basis.

Remember, if the nectar freezes in your hummingbird feeder, there is a risk that your hummingbirds will not make it through the cold winter nights. As mentioned last month, please do not make the mixture too rich as it can be lethal for the hummers (a 1:4 sugar to water ratio is ideal).

• Remove waste that accumulates under the feeder. Excess food mixed with bird droppings can be a breeding ground for Salmonella bacteria. Also remember to keep the birdbath clean. Adding a birdbath protectorant – a natural enzyme that breaks down organic contaminates – will keep your bath clean between fillings. A capful with each fill will greatly decrease

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the need for you to get out your brush and scrub!

• Offer only top-quality food. Food that is dirty or dusty, smells musty, is damp or has mold or fungus growing on it is not acceptable. Do not be tempted to buy cheap, discounted seed. Immature, flat looking sunflower seeds, known as “screenings” or “duds” in the feed industry because they do not contain full seeds, and sunflower seeds that are red in colour because they have been damaged by frost are sometimes sold, to the naïve buyer, in paper bags as “premium” seed.

Only buy seed that is packaged in clear plastic bags or sold in bulk bins so that you can see what you are paying for.

• Put out only what the birds can eat in one or two days during the rainy season. To make sure that seed feeds properly through the tube, give it a shake when refilling. Frozen seed can block the flow of seed in a feeder and even though the feeder may look full, the birds may not be able to get at the food. Ensure that seed is available for the ground feeders if there is snow on the ground. A burlap sack, an inverted garbage can lid or even an old roasting pan can all be used as a makeshift feeder.

• Prevent “overcrowding” (and the possible spread of disease as a result of close contact) by providing sufficient space for the birds to feed. Tube feeders with individual perches are better than platform or hopper style feeders when “pushing” is a problem. Also, ensure that your bird feeder is “safe.” Sharp edges or points can injure birds and lead to infection.

• Store food in rodent-proof containers. If rodent droppings contaminate your seed, discard the food and disinfect the bin and all the scoops with a bleach and water solution.

The Victorian Bird House The Store For Birders & Gardeners 2428 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, B.C. 250-656-5064 • www.thevictorianbirdhouse.com 8

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Happy Birding. Please feel free to contact me if you have a specific problem you would like me to address in a future column.

Jennifer Hill owns The Victorian Bird House. She loves to hear from other avid bird feeders and can be reached at vbh@shaw.ca.

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photo courtesy Doug Brown

Close Encounters of the Black Bear Kind

by Chris Genovali, Executive Director, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

The black bear poked his head around the big cedar stump and we stared at each other for a moment. I was sitting on a fallen limb on the other side of the stump when I heard one of my Raincoast colleagues make a startling sound that I mistook for a hiccup.

When I glanced over at her, another one of our party motioned for me to look the other way. That’s when I saw our curious friend. After our brief encounter he reversed his course and disappeared into the trees.

My colleagues and I had been fixated on the stream below, observing another large male black bear that had been fishing for pink salmon and eventually wandered off into the bush. The bear taking a peek at me from around

the corner of the stump was smaller and wasn’t going to go much further up the valley with the other big bear dominating the choice predation zone.

Two other black bears were active down stream in addition to our curious friend, who was making his way back up stream. When he was virtually parallel with us he turned and headed up the bank. His mouth was open, scenting us, as he nonchalantly climbed up, in very close proximity to where we were sitting. His inquisitiveness satisfied, he continued strolling right by us, undeterred, straight into the forest.

The bear’s goodwill and a rapidly setting sun were signs it was time to take our leave from this captivating little salmon system on the central

coast of British Columbia.

Ursus americanus, the American black bear, occurs only on the North American continent.

According to the Great Bear Almanac, some 500,000 black bears roamed North America at the time of European contact. B.C. has the largest black bear population in Canada at an estimated 120,000 animals.

In most of the states and provinces occupied by black bears, they are treated as game animals and subject to trophy hunting.

The University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web site states that approximately 30,000 black bears are killed annually for trophies in North America.

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The International Bear Association details the appearance of Ursus americanus thusly: “This medium-sized bear is usually black with a brown muzzle, lacks a shoulder hump, and often has a white patch on the chest.

Although black is the predominant colour, chocolate and cinnamon brown colour phases are also common, which often results in people confusing them with brown bears.

“Black bears with white and paleblue coats (known respectively as Kermode and glacier bears) also occur in small numbers. Kerphoto courtesy Larry Travis mode bears are found along the north-central coast of B.C. Black bears have strong, highly curved claws and the profile of the face is convex when compared with the more concave profile of a brown bear.”

photo courtesy Larry Travis

Did You Know?

Black bears vary considerably in size, depending on the quality of food available. Adult male black bears range from about 130 to 190 centimetres (50 to 75 inches) in length and weigh 60 to 300 kilograms (130 to 660 pounds). Males may be anywhere from 20 to 60 percent larger than females. At birth, cubs weigh 225 to 330 grams (seven to 11 ounces).

Black bears can live up to 30 years in the wild but most often live for only about 10 years, primarily as a result of encounters with humans. More than 90 percent of black bear deaths after the age of 18 months are the result of gunshots, trapping, motor vehicle accidents or other interactions with humans.

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11

Change is in the Air at Local Menswear Store Christmas has come and gone, though I hope the whole spirit of Christmas stays with you always. Mind you, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m writing this well before Christmas, doing my best to think â&#x20AC;&#x153;Januaryâ&#x20AC;? and, not being much of a writer, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you can imagine this is a bit of a challenge!

For all of us at the stores, Christmas is important, not just as the busiest time of the year but as the time of year we get to connect and re-connect with so many of our friends

by David Bremner and customers in so short a time. Kim and I have learned, from both the warmth of the season and the warmth of the people, that there is much more to our business than money changing hands.

of two ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wear stores, Erin will return to manage our Sidney store in late February after joining us in Las Vegas for another round of trade shows!

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure Erin will leave her mark on the company, much as Kim did when she joined! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an exciting time for the Bremner family and we have a couple more surprises in the works, so stay tuned! But sorry ladies, no foray into womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear any time soon!

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade show season and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the run up to spring â&#x20AC;Ś the new stock we booked almost a year ago will begin arriving any day now.

We will also be on the lookout for a line to complement the lines we introduced to you very successfully this fall: Claudio Campione (wait until you see all the Campione we have coming for spring!) and Fender, the guitar makersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clothing collection.

From our hearts to yours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thank you, sincerely, for your confidence and trust in including us in your community.

I have my eye on a shirt line that I think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll like â&#x20AC;Ś John Lennon. Pretty much pulls at the heartstrings of so many of us who were brought up with the Beatles! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the line a couple of times now and we like where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep you posted!

Change is in the air, and very soon d.g.bremner & company will change with the return of my daughter Erin. Fresh from two years in Bermuda where she was the buyer and manager

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re walking by the stores in Sidney or Broadmead, please drop in and say â&#x20AC;&#x153;hiâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;Ś and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to fill out a ballot for our Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day draw of a $500 gift certificate!

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Canadian Navy Celebrates 100th Anniversary

by John Webber This year is the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy and Victoria is playing a major part in its celebration with activities including a major international fleet assembly in June.

The Canadian Navy came into existence on May 4th, 1910.

Permission to add the prefix “Royal” was granted by King George V in 1911.

In 1968, the Canadian Navy was merged with Canada’s army and air force to form the Canadian Armed Forces, later the Can-

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adian Forces; the maritime component was named Maritime Command, replacing the title Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

Canada’s Navy’s first major ships in 1910 were the cruisers HMCS Rainbow in Esquimalt and HMCS Niobe in Halifax. It was not until 1914 that the RCN received additional vessels.

The Canadian Navy made a tremendous contribution to the Allied victory during the Second World War. At the end of the war, Canada had the world’s third largest Navy with over 270 naval vessels and 100,000 personnel.

Over 100 RCN ships took part in the Normandy invasion on June 6th, 1944. Today, the Maritime Command has over 35 vessels and 9,000 personnel.

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If today’s Canadian Navy Frigates had enough ammunition, they could have single handedly won the Second World War by destroying every enemy ship, submarine, aircraft and every gun or tank on the shore.

Football fans should note that a Canadian Navy football team won the Grey Cup in 1944 against the Hamilton Flying Wildcats. Later, the Grey Cup became the property of the CFL.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

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The Canadian Navy is planning many events throughout 2010 to mark its history, past, present and future.

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Canada’s Naval History is on display at the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum at HMCS Naden in Esquimalt and the B.C. Maritime Museum on Bastion Square in Victoria.

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13

The few stores that remained open were deluged with telephone orders from customers demanding home delivery. This was plainly an unreasonable expectation. At his Saanich dairy farm, George Rogers was dismayed that for the first time in 29 years he was unable to deliver milk to his Victoria customers.

The previous month had been the coldest January on record since the temperature did not rise above 0° for 24 consecutive days. The demand for coal remained as high during the snowstorm but home delivery was hampered and people were seen walking home lugging sacks of coal on their backs. Others resorted to chopping down trees, tearing fences apart and collecting driftwood to use for heating fuel.

It took several days before life in Victoria returned to normal. Mail delivery resumed the day after the storm but the Peninsula was without mail service for nine days. The V&S train didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resume full service between Sidney and Victoria until February 10 and the Interurban Saanich Archives 1978-003-003 Snowdrifts on Rogers Farm 1916. one day later.

Due to the massive February snowfall, the winter of 1915-16 still holds the record for being Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snowiest with total accumulations of 196 centimetres (77 inches). In comparison, â&#x20AC;&#x153;onlyâ&#x20AC;? 125 centimetres (49 inches) fell over five days in 1996.

To complete the list, Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third snowiest day, accord-

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ing to Heidorn, was on February 14th, 1923 when 50.8 centimetres (20 inches) of snow fell.

Caption for photo, previous page: Saanich Archives 1981019-042 Horse and sleigh, Beacon Hill Park in the snow, early 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

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15

Night of Beauty and Fundraising at The Pier Hotel The second annual Beauty of Giving Gala took place at the Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa November 19th. The luxurious fundraiser, which included music, delicious canapĂŠs and martinis and mini beauty treatments for the guests, saw net proceeds going to the Saanich Peninsula Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palliative Care Unit.

Julie Banister, director of Sales & Marketing, shared the special meaning the event held for her: when her mother had a short courageous battle with cancer and Julie spent 12 days and nights at the Saanich

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Peninsula Hospital, the staff made a big difference. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important to give back, Julie added.

A live auction featured unique items such as Butler for a Day (filled by Kenny Podmore) and Meet my Personal Chef and Culinary Team.

Throughout the evening lots of door prizes were awarded and everyone left with a gift bag.

Local merchants set up shop to offer gift-buying opportunities and guests were treated to beauty and style treatments including eyebrow shaping, mini manicures and

Cool January Sales: Every Wednesday in January receive 40% off any one regularly priced item. Limit one discount per customer per each day of the sale.

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16

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Captions, top left to right: Scharie Wonnenberg, Emerald Sea Whale Watching and Julie Bannister, Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa. The House Dressing Company: Julie Cove, Helen McIntyre, Ingrid Cameron and Carolyn McRae. The ladies of Bliss: Fairone Hillard, owner of the Johnson Street location, Meghan Robertson, manager of the Sidney location and Kristen Allan. Above picture: emcee Tom Watson of the Timebenders and Julie Banister.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,507 â&#x20AC;˘ Š â&#x20AC;˘ All rights reserved

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All month long: 20-50% off on a wide variety of home dĂŠcor accents and Christmas stock. *All discounts and sales exclude PANDORA jewellery*

massages that left everyone feeling very pampered!

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&$02681 Camosun Peninsula

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Your Peninsula Realtors With Connections to Buyers Around the World

Jim Allan

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William Bird

Rene Blais

Roy Coburn

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roy@victoriaacreages.com

Ongoing RE/MAX support for the following programs: • Children’s Miracle Network • First Night on the Peninsula • Sidney Fine Art Show • Raise a Reader

• Sooke Fine Art Show • Dragon Boat Festival • RE/MAX Victoria Idol • Food Bank

• Highland Games • Habitat for Humanity • RE/MAX Tents for Charity Events

Thank you to all our clients of 2009 and here’s to a wonderful 2010!

Karen Dinnie-Smyth

Deborah Gray

Gay Helmsing

Beverley McIvor

Gaye Phillips

Craig Walters

kdinnie-smyth@shaw.ca

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craig@craigwalters.net

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by Linda M. Langwith The guests are gone, the young adults in the family have flown back to work and school and December is but a memory, albeit a warm and glowing one. The house seems so bare without all the Christmas decorations and the tree lies forlornly on its side on the sundeck, waiting to fulfill its destiny as wood chips. We console ourselves that if we ate, drank and spent too much in December it was all for a good cause. But the reckoning for that indulgence comes in January, an austere and self-righteous month.

The secret of surviving January is to be proactive, the favourite buzz word of the lifestyle gurus. Start out by cancelling that silly tradition of making New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolutions. Just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother. No resolutions mean no failures! Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re only going to be broken, so avoid the guilt trip. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you feel better already?

Instead, find cause to celebrate the little and the big things in life, big things like paying off the credit cards, little things like planting that box of daffodil bulbs you bought last September and completely forgot about.

Apart from New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, there are vno statutory holidays in January, which is a real shame, but at least there is January 25th, the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national poet. To celebrate the bard in style on Burns Night we must have haggis. My Scottish mother took the trouble to introduce me to haggis at the tender age of four and I have been a devotee of the dish since then. Some individuals think that haggis is a fourfooted wee furry beastie inhabiting the remotest parts of the Highlands.

Before you smirk, there are those who believe in the existence of the Sasquatch. Point taken? [[[ WIEWMHIXMQIW GE

Haggis, despite what the doubters and scoffers will tell you, is really a big, plump, spicy sausage filled with oatmeal and other things that are really good for you. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother trying to make it yourself. Just head for your local Thriftyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find an abundance of tasty haggis in different sizes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from small to banquet size. The easiest way to cook haggis is to prick it gently in a few places to avoid any major explosions, pop it in a steamer and steam gently.

A rough rule of thumb for the cooking time needed is about one hour for a 500-gram haggis.

Of course, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re cooking from the frozen state it will take longer. A haggis of this size is great for three people as a main course or five to six as a starter.

Traditional accompaniments to the haggis are â&#x20AC;&#x153;neeps and tatties,â&#x20AC;? translated as cooked mashed rutabaga and potatoes, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be your basic everyday mash. Greatness lies in what you add. Peel and slice the turnip and cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and mash, add a splash of maple syrup, a dollop of butter and some freshly ground black pepper. For the potatoes, once they are peeled, cooked and mashed, add butter, cream, chopped green onions and black pepper. Whip until light and f luffy.

When the haggis is done, put it on a platter and cut into thick slices. Puddle your favourite gravy on the dinner plates, put a slice of haggis on top and ring the vegetables around the haggis. Serve with a nice smooth ale like Newcastle Brown.

The extrovert in your party gets to read Burnsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Address to the Haggis,â&#x20AC;? accompanied by the skirl of the pipes. January isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so bad after all! .%29%6=

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Time to Slip Between the Covers … of a Good Book

by Sandy McElroy What has no calories, can make you cry or laugh out loud and can inform or infuriate you? A book can transport the most jaded or wide-eyed traveler on a magical journey, and a winter evening is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a good book.

Thousands of new titles are also readily available on the Peninsula. Dragon Horse is a destination store featuring over 1,000 self-help, spiritual, metaphysical, decorating, gardening and “feel good” book titles.

After the excesses of the holiday season there is a certain amount of comfort and guilt-free enjoyment that comes from taking time with a new book. Perhaps it’s a gift that you have been looking forward to reading or a volume sitting on your beside table waiting to be opened.

Now is the time to indulge in the pleasures of a good read.

Many other shops, including Beacon Books in Sidney and Pages Used Books in Brentwood Bay, also offer a wide selection of used books.

If you’re looking for a hard-tofind book and are more comfortable ordering your books online, there is always www.amazon.ca.

The Vancouver Island Regional Library branch for Sidney and North Saanich provides a wealth of reading material at no charge. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, it’s a very comfortable spot to read the daily papers, check out one of hundreds of magazines or consult reference materials. There are also computer workstations for public use.

Living on the Peninsula, we are lucky to have more bookstores per capita than anywhere else in Canada. With 12 bookstores, Sidney is Canada’s only “Booktown.” If you’re looking for a gently used book, there are several specialty shops to meet your requirements.

Galleon Books and Antiques specializes in non-fiction subjects, including B.C. history, Canadiana, First Nations, military and art. The Haunted Bookshop caters to readers wanting recent paperbacks and scholars seeking out-of-print material, as well as to collectors of rarities.

largest newsstand on Vancouver Island – over 2,000 magazines and 40 newspapers from Canada, the United States and Great Britain.

Both hard and soft cover books, as well as large print editions, talking books and DVDs, are available for checkout.

The library Web site (www.virl. bc.ca) is a treasure trove for computer savvy readers. You can e-mail questions to a librarian or chat online for information.

Tanner’s Books is a full-service bookstore with new releases and bestsellers in over 50 fiction and non-fiction categories. The Travel and Nautical Room, with over 500 maps and nautical charts, travel guides and nautical references, should be your first stop when you’re planning a trip. It also has the

There are also databases available for searching and you can even download eBooks to your computer or iPod. With the short days of January and the wealth of literary resources available on the Peninsula, it’s now the perfect time to pick up a good book and escape the post-holiday letdown feeling.

Happy New Year & Have a Wonderful 2010!

20

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21

The Power of Hawaiian LomiLomi Massage

by Sheila Sloman Just as Shiatsu is to the Japanese, Thai massage is to Thailand and Swedish style is to the northern Europeans, LomiLomi is the signature healing massage of the glorious Hawaiian Islands.

Early Polynesian settlers brought their own methods of healing including massage, and over the centuries this has evolved into what we now know as LomiLomi. Temple style is the more popular LomiLomi technique, however there is also the lesser known Ho’oponopono style, which originated from the island of Kaua’i.

Compared to Temple style, Ho’oponopono is a slower, deeper tissue massage. It focuses on lymph drainage, especially on the back, scalp, neck and legs.

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Hawaiians believe that our bodies store every experience we’ve

ever had, whether positive or negative. Thus, when the body or mind manifests sickness, disease, pain or depression/anxiety, it’s from a cellular memory that we need to

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acknowledge or let go of.

The word “Ho’oponopono” means to release and let go (bring forgiveness and love to a situation, another or oneself) and LomiLomi means to shift in energy. Thus, the massage helps to shift stuck or stagnant energy so it can be released and the body freed. It is extremely healing on all levels: body, mind and spirit.

Ho’oponopono is extremely relaxing, but where blockages occur, it may be sensitive or painful in particular areas and my job is to get that shifted.

It may be necessary to endure some discomfort – mental, emotional and/or physical – during the massage to allow the memories and blocks to come to the surface and then be released.

Sometimes when I’m working on a particular part of a client’s body, memories will surface that have been long forgotten. It is up to you what you do with the memory. Sometimes acknowledgment is all that is necessary, and then it can be released.

Memories are not always negative though! A client I treated recently was a very stressed-out young woman who had a very difficult and abusive childhood. During the session she had a beautiful recollection of when she was four years old, playing with her dolls

in her back garden. It was a time when she felt love and acceptance and had long forgotten that feeling. It made her very emotional, but so grateful to have remembered that moment, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how she left the session; feeling loved and accepted for the first time in over 30 years.

That is the healing power of LomiLomi. I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to have learned traditional LomiLomi. It has only been in the last few decades that LomiLomi been taught to non-Hawaiians.

Natives have been very secretive with their gifts and talents, and were intent on keeping them in their families.

Sadly, with the decline of the Hawaiian bloodline, kahunas have seen the dire need to pass on their traditions to those willing to learn.

I am extremely humbled by the chance to share this beautiful gift with you. I give all credit to God and the Uhane (the Hawaiian Spirit Ancestors) for all transformations and healings that occur. I am only a vessel; a vessel that is extremely grateful to have stumbled upon something so profound. I offer you a little taste of the power of healing, Hawaii style, right here on our own beautiful Vancouver Island!

Sheila Sloman owns and manages the Mystic Dolphin Healing Arts & Wellness Centre in Brentwood Bay, B.C. Call 250652-5753 or 250-589-7807 for more information or drop in to the Centre, at #7-7120 Brentwood Village Square, West Saanich Road, Brentwood Bay, B.C.

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250-656-7271

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23

photo courtesy Bruce Stotesbury, Times Colonist

Therapeutic Horseback Riding for the Disabled: Victoria Association Helping to Enrich Lives

Founded in 1982 to provide therapy for children and adults with disabilities, the Victoria Riding for the Disabled Association (VRDA) is a non-profit organization that has made great strides in the community. It provides therapy for those with cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autism, Spina Bifida, various intellectual challenges and hearing or vision impairment.

On October 3rd, 2009, the VRDA held its annual Ride-a-Thon in Metchosin along the galloping goose trail to

by Valerie Green Roach Cove in an attempt to raise funds through pledges. Similarly, on November 15th, the VRDA held its third annual dinner and silent auction at the Victoria Yacht Club in an attempt to create longterm funding through a horse sponsorship program.

To board, shoe, feed and provide veterinary care for just one of these very special horses costs around $7,500 per year. Sponsorship of any amount helps

towards these costs and all sponsors receive a tax receipt and have their name placed on the donor barn wall.

Therapeutic horseback riding is, however, by no means a new concept; it can be traced back to the time of the ancient Greeks. However, it wasn’t until the two World Wars of the 20th century that finally people began to understand the value of horseback riding as a form of therapy, allowing soldiers with amputated limbs or any form of psychological trauma to regain mobility and confi-

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dence once mounted on a horse. A new kind of freedom was available to those who needed it the most.

Today, the VDRA has over 100 volunteers who help with fundraising events, the donating of materials and provide labour for building projects. These volunteers include high school university and college students and community residents. The programs, which operate from October to June each year, involve qualified instructors and six assistant instructors who are certified by Equine Canada and the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association.

At present there are 10 horses in the program and each rider is given equipment pertinent to their needs and special transfer belts are used in emergencies. Mounting blocks and wheelchair accessible ramps are available to assist riders onto the horses.

The VDRA is run by a volunteer board, a small paid staff and many volunteers, all of whom are dedicated to giving as many people (aged from six to 70 years) as much participation as possible. The childrensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; program makes up to 70 percent of the total riders. New volunteers are always welcome. This incredible program is benefitting the disabled physically, psychologically and socially â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as well as assisting their families who are being helped by sharing their experiences with other families.

Testimonials from those who have experienced the program make for an emotional read: The mother of one boy with numerous challenges with his eyes and heart, plus Perthes disease, states: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To see my son, who â&#x20AC;Ś is in so much daily pain, so full of joy as he rides, has me weeping tears of happiness every week.â&#x20AC;?

Another mother of a boy with cerebral palsy says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I must admit when my sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physiotherapist began to spout off the benefits of horseback riding â&#x20AC;Ś I was skeptical â&#x20AC;Ś but the physical benefits became obvious quite quickly. I highly recommend this program. It really does make a difference.â&#x20AC;?

photo courtesy VRDA

the horses with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;smile which says a thousand words.â&#x20AC;?

Visit the Victoria Riding For the Disabled Association website at http://members.shaw.ca/vrda to see for yourself and to learn more. Classes run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each week, and special events throughout the year are ongoing.

Valerie Green is a local author and historian and can be reached at valerie_green@telus.net.

A Saanichton Institution Looking for a friendly place to stop in Saanichton? How about trying Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shell and Coffee Shop? You might not have been to Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lately (a fixture in Saanichton for 38 years), but things keep changing there!

Another child who cannot speak or sign shows his love for

The family-run Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is so much more than a clean and convenient Shell gas station and fully-stocked convenience store; there is also a great coffee shop on the south side of the building with friendly staff (and some second- and third-generation Spelts) ready to serve you with whatever you hunger for. They happily pour â&#x20AC;&#x153;Direct Fair Tradeâ&#x20AC;? coffee that directly helps the coffee pickers and their families â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roasted right in Saanichton!

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Middle of the Road

Looking for good old-fashioned friendly service to go with some big fresh donuts? Well, they have them at Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re baked fresh daily. But Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coffee Shop is more than coffee and donuts; they also have great food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Did I mention the big muffins, creamy soft ice cream and pie?

Exceedingly Evil

at the corner of Wallace Drive & East Saanich Rd.

[[[ WIEWMHIXMQIW GE

So why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you come on in and see what everyone is talking about and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new since you were here last â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did! .%29%6=

25

A New Year at The Pier

by Lisa Makar, General Manager, The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa T.S. Eliot once said “Last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.”

The New Year is an ideal time for change, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to let our guests know about some organizational changes within our property.

Everyone who works here feels like they are part of a family, and that feeling translates into the excellent service they provide. I’ve been thinking a lot about family lately as I am heading off on maternity leave for my second child. By the time you’re reading this, I will be at home with a new little one. The thought of not coming here every day has been a difficult one to reconcile, even with such an exciting new chapter beginning, but knowing that a fantastic team of individuals will be taking care of everything makes leaving so much easier.

Natalie King, our director of Food & Beverage, will be assuming the role of general manager. Natalie is creative

and entrepreneurial and will do an amazing job of leading the team and ensuring that The Pier continues to be a successful Peninsula business. Julie Banister, director of Spa & Fitness, will be taking over the role of director of Sales & Marketing. Julie came to us with a background in Sales but wanted operational experience in the Spa. We will surely see the impact of her ability to build businesses and strong relationships.

Many of you know Candice Kelly, our Café Georgia manager, and Derek Gosling who manages at the front desk.

Both are energetic young leaders who have proven to excel in providing amazing guest service. Candice will be taking over as Haven Spa manager and Derek will become Café Georgia manager. Our talented Chef Michael Ringland, will be extending his expertise to the “front of house” in the role of director of Food & Beverage. He will surely continue his successes with the support of our fantastic Haro’s Manager, Sibylle Knudsen.

So, next years’ words at The Pier have some incredible new voices. I wish them and all of you all the best in 2010. Happy New Year!

Photo caption, L to R: Natalie King, Sibylle Knudsen, Julie Banister, Derek Gosling and Lisa Makar.

Detoxify from the holidays with our BEAUTY FROM THE INSIDE OUT PACKAGE

pier meeting packages Start your New Year with a detoxifying package.

Our Beauty from the Inside Out package exclusive to Haven Spa, is a rejuvenating sanctuary for inner and outer bliss.

Everything your meeting needs....

A complete package including morning and afternoon coffee, a tasty sandwich lunch and of course, your meeting room rental. Host your next meeting with island comforts. Starting at per person

30

$

Join us for our DE-TOX SEMINAR JANUARY 21, 2010, 6 - 8PM Register early, space is limited.

See our website for details or call 250-655-9797. Cost is $20, redeemable in products

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The January Action Plan

by Wendy Hacking broth and dried apples â&#x20AC;Ś his side: everything good.

What a month! In January the Christmas tree has to be dismantled; the remains of Aunt Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fruitcake, now hardened and crumbly, will be fed to the birds, and everyone who resides in my household knows that the time has come to face the music.

Yes, January means we must find and dust off the dreaded bathroom scale and then do the very last thing in the world we want to do: take off our clothes and stand on that scale. Eventually we sigh, turn on the lights, open our eyes, release our clenched fingers from the edge of the bathroom countertop and look down. Yikes!

I know people, friends even, who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gain weight over the holidays.

They appear at all the potluck suppers, they entertain graciously with fine, rich treats and they sip the spirits of the season. Come January their good black trousers fit just like they did in November. This is not normal.

Normal is wondering just how those trousers shrunk an inch-and-a-half around the waist when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re only now due for the cleaners.

Do we slip? Of course. Three weeks into it my husband craves roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, of which he is a masterful cook.

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even brought up a bottle of the really good wine from the cellar.

We decide to enjoy it all and dessert is a second Yorkshire and gravy.

image; however, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s along for the ride and will sacrifice his non-vetapproved leftovers for the duration.

The advantage of having my husband on board is that we do not have to create a divided pantry which would look like this â&#x20AC;Ś her side: tomato juice, soda water, clear

But we get back on track, back to the carrots and broccoli, rutabaga and cabbage, naked chicken breast and steamed fish. The dog and my husband are already looking sleek, maybe gaunt.

Me? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve placed the bathroom scale on the floor en route between my favourite reading chair and the refrigerator.

And the shortbread? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s joined the fruitcake for those lucky, chubby little birds.

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Normal is finding and placing an unopened 20-kilogram bag of bread flour on the bathroom scale, just to prove itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calibrated high. It is not.

Normal is taking a shortbread cookie out of the freezer, where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ve put them for safety, and slowly allowing that buttery goodness to melt in your mouth just to make you feel better.

Normal is realizing that reparative action must be taken because the vision of having to wear that old flowered muumuu topped by your husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweatshirt and accessorized with wooly grey socks is just too vile to contemplate.

I am normal and my January action plan starts with sharing the muumuu image with my husband (who is one of those non-normal friends mentioned previously) to convince him to join me in my weight loss endeavors.

It works. The dog doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about

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McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s To Close After 90 Years

ȨȽČ&#x2021;Č?É&#x2018;Č?Čľ ȾȾǸ presented by Ballet Jorgen Canada Saturday Feb. 6 ~ 8 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 7 ~ 2 p.m.

Saanich Archives 1989-008-225 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea Rooms, Cordova Bay.

Get swept away by Ballet Jorgen Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhilirating interpretation of this classic tale. Set to Prokofievâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traditional score, the ballet overflows with passion, wit and charm.

After 90 years in business, McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cordova Bay Ltd. will be closing its doors in April of 2010. McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has been in operation since founders George and Ida McMorran started out with a small business in 1919. Through the years and generations involved it has always been a favourite social place in Victoria.

Tickets: Adults $35 Seniors & Students $30 Children 12 and under $15

The McMorran family feels very fortunate to have been able to provide a venue that has been a contributing part of the community for so many years; however they have decided that the time has come for them to move on.

Mary Winspear Centre 250-656-0275 â&#x20AC;˘ marywinspear.ca

McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is very pleased to announce that the Saanich Municipality has made a conditional offer to purchase Lot C 5099 Cordova Bay Rd. This is McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southern most lot on the water which has been retained over the years as Green Space in relationship with the bordering beach access.

The vision of the Saanich Municipal Counsel may be to retain this space for the community as a park-like setting on one of Southern Vancouver Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best beach treasures.

At this time the other two McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s properties on the waterfront and the parking lot across Cordova Bay Road are for sale, preferably as a package for redevelopment though offers on each lot can be negotiated separately. It is hoped that these parcels will again make a positive contribution to the vibrancy of the village core in the Cordova Bay community.

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Local Man Raises Money to Fight Breast Cancer

The final operating day for McMorranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beach House will be Easter Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 4th, 2010. The McMorran family and their fine staff look forward to seeing all their guests during the remaining months ahead.

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On November 20th, Jake Cooper had his head shaved at the Tsartlip Band Office while friends and family watched proudly. Brother Doug Cooper Jr. wielded the clippers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing this for my momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family,â&#x20AC;? said Jake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a big success,â&#x20AC;? he added.

In just one month, Jake raised $983 to fund cancer research.

He donated the money to Carolyn Sampson, who participated in the recent Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

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The Courtnall Celebrity Classic – Not Your Classic Family Story When my sons were playing Peninsula Minor Hockey in the 1980s, Geoff and Russ Courtnall were making headlines in the National Hockey League. To young hockey players, they were proof positive that making it to “the game” from this little corner of the world was an achievable goal.

by Arlene Antonik

ST: Would you say this was the beginning of the healing process?

BC: Yes it was and we began to talk together about raising funds to help those with mental health issues. At about the same time, we heard that the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) was planning to build a new psychiatric emergency services unit adjacent to the Royal Jubilee Hospital – it was a perfect fit.

Hopes and dreams – the stuff of childhood. But childhood took a tragic turn for the three Courtnall brothers, Geoff, Russ and Bruce and their older sister Cheryl when their beloved father and hockey coach, suffering from depression, took his own life in the summer of 1978, leaving the family stunned and bereft.

Bruce, the youngest of the three brothers, spoke recently about the impact of the death of their father and what their lives are like today.

Seaside Times: You were 10 years old when you lost your father. How did you cope?

Bruce Courtnall: It was immediately life changing. My mother had been a stay-at-home mom but she had to go to work to support us, so in a way we lost her too.

ST: In those days, mental illness was something people didn’t talk about.

BC: No, not many people knew what had happened. The facts didn’t really come out until the late ’90s when Geoff was playing with the St. Louis Blues. He was being interviewed

ST: You and your brothers decided you would raise the money to build the new centre. How did you go about doing this?

BC: We decided to put together a weekend event that included a gala dinner and a celebrity golf tournament at the Victoria Golf Club. We held the first “Courtnall Celebrity Classic” in July 2003 and it was such a success we organized a second one the following summer.

ST: Who attended?

BC: We had over 30 celebrities from the movie industry and professional sports at both events including Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock, Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Don Felder of the Eagles, David Foster, Michael Bublé and actors Kiefer Sutherland, Bruce Greenwood and Jason Priestly.

Pat Quinn was there, Mike Vernon and

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Kirk McLean. Wayne Gretzky attended the first Classic and when we held the second one in 2004, Steve Nash came.

ST: How much money was raised?

BC: We were amazed at the response of the community. The two events raised $2 million which covered the construction costs of the psychiatric centre. VIHA and the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation gave us a gift in return when they decided to name it “The Archie Courtnall Centre” in honour of our father.

ST: You and your brothers have turned the loss of your father into help for many afflicted with mental illness.

BC: At the Centre, people are able to get assessed quickly and get the help they need. It’s taken a lot of pressure off the emergency departments at our local hospitals. The doctors and nurses have told us the Centre has saved lives and knowing that is the best feeling in the world.

ST: Will there be a third “Courtnall Celebrity Classic?”

BC: Nothing definite yet, but it’s a

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possibility for sure.

ST: What are you and your brothers doing now? Does hockey still figure in your lives?

BC: We’re all married with children and all coaching kids and giving back to the great game that gave us so much. All our kids are into sports and most play hockey.

Geoff and I live in the Victoria area.

I’m an investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy and Geoff’s been working on a major office building renovation downtown. For the last two seasons, he helped coach the Grizzlies when his son, Justin, played for the team and he’s had offers to coach in the NHL. Russ is living in L.A. with his actress wife Paris, daughter of jazz singer, Sarah Vaughan.

They live at the Sherwood Country Club but Russ still likes to come up and golf the courses here.

ST: Your family’s strengths and achievements are an inspiration. The Courtnall brothers are celebrities in this community for all the right reasons.

Photo captions, previous page: Bruce Courtnall. Brother vs. Brother: Geoff Courtnall on the left playing for the Vancouver Canucks and Russ Courtnall on the right playing for the Dallas Stars. This page, L to R: Bruce, Cliff Newman (stepfather), Russ, Kathy Newman (mom) and Geoff.

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Aries march 21 - april 19 Play it cool until mid month when Mercury resumes forward motion. You will be able to take things to the next level of production or advancement. The new moon eclipse marks this as an important time for dreams to come true.

Libra september 23 - october 22 You will have luck with home or property matters.

You can renovate or move. Either way you will be happy with the outcome. Responsibility increases, but you handle it in better ways.

Family relations improve or you benefit from them.

Taurus april 20 - may 20 You may have to go over territory already covered, but it will be important at this time. Communications and financial arrangements bring everything together in ways you had hoped. Travel or locations affect you or family. Stay the course.

Scorpio october 23 - november 21 A lot of discussion occurs before mid month when you make choices that will affect your future direction or status. Use charm and tact for best results.

Pressure can be turned into energy, fueling your actions to move forward successfully.

Gemini may 21 - june 20 The new moon eclipse puts the spotlight on joint money matters. This also reflects on estates, taxes or funds owed. Conclude negotiations or reach a settlement. Be cautious with investments as the influence of Saturn adds time. Guard secrets.

Sagittarius november 22 - december 21 An important point is reached financially. Look for positive results mid month when you receive additional blessings from the sun, Venus and Jupiter. It can seem like a gift. You would also benefit from selling or reworking deals. Income increases.

Cancer june 21 - july 22 An important turning point is reached with mate or partnership matters. The end result is out of your hands now. Beginnings or endings occur under the influence of the new moon eclipse. Your wishes come about through unusual circumstances.

Capricorn december 22 - january 19 Your star is rising. Your words or actions are impressive and others look up to you. Show your leadership abilities and get in touch with powerful or influential people who will include you in the inner circle. It’s your element.

Leo july 23 - august 22 You want action, but be careful how you go about getting it or motivating others. Be patient until mid month when Mercury moves forward. Plans develop then with ease. Private meetings will buy you time – it’s needed. Just relax.

Aquarius january 20 - february 18 Take the time to gather your forces together. Selfanalysis helps overcome limits or worries. Choices will be crucial to your future direction. Pace yourself. Play a hunch. Relationships need careful handling in order to survive.

Virgo august 23 - september 22 Your intuition will be on target. Events unfold in ways that you had hoped. Don’t worry about the details as there is a larger force at work right now. Your talents and abilities bring luck, opportunity and improved relationships. Enjoy.

Pisces february 19 - march 20 You can see your hopes and wishes coming true.

Contact those with the power or resources to help make it happen. Jupiter moving into your sign on the 17th will make you feel more optimistic about the future. It’s positive.

Read it Online! www.seasidetimes.ca Amazing interactive website; check it out today!

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Cats Are Not Small Dogs

by Dr. Ellen Guttormson This phrase is certainly very true when it comes to the medical treatment of health problems and diseases of cats.

It used to be that veterinary students would gravitate towards the area of practice that interested them the most and those areas were loosely broken down into small animal, equine (horses) or farm animals (cows, pigs, sheep, goats). Those in small communities needed to have a good knowledge of all of these areas as they were in â&#x20AC;&#x153;general practiceâ&#x20AC;? which included all of these species.

The present day veterinary student often limits their area of interest much more tightly and now veterinary specialty practice in small animal surgery, radiology, opthamology or oncology (cancer medicine) is common. We are also seeing even the small animal area being broken down into subgroups such as birds or exotics or feline only.

Feline-only practice is an area that would have been considered very unusual when I first graduated from veterinary school, but there was a fledgling group beginning around that time. The American Association of Feline Practitioners was formed just over 30 years ago and has developed into a diverse group of veterinarians, some of whom have feline-only practices and others who are general small animal veterinarians with a real special interest in cats.

The Feline Practitioners Association hosts two large continuing education conferences in the spring and fall each year. I recently attended the 2009 Fall Conference which took place in Denver.

Why, you might wonder, is it necessary to gather together twice a year to have a large scientific conference pertaining to cats only? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because â&#x20AC;&#x153;cats are not small dogs.â&#x20AC;? They have diseases not even seen in dogs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, virally acquired leukemia and the feline AIDS virus. Not to worry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; while feline AIDS is very similar in many ways to the human virus, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only transmitted between members of the feline family and is not transmissible

to either humans or dogs.

Even when cats have many of the problems also encountered in dogs, they can show different signs and

as: Managing Concurrent Renal and Cardiac Disease, Managing Chronic Pain With Concurrent Disease, Anesthesia and Pain Management in Critically Ill Patients, Updates in The Treatment of Feline Asthma and Updates in Pancreatitis.

These are just a few of the topics presented over the three-and-a-half-day conference. One of the things that comes across time and again is how cats often require treatment and medication regimes that are different from those of dogs.

symptoms and respond differently to treatments and medications. Some of the topics presented at the Feline Practitioners meeting in Denver, the focus of which was Complex Disease Management, included topics such

Just like â&#x20AC;&#x153;dogs are not small humansâ&#x20AC;? and often need different treatments and medications compared to those used in human medicine, â&#x20AC;&#x153;cats are not small dogsâ&#x20AC;? and this is why there are increasing numbers of veterinarians who choose to treat cats only.

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Savvy Seniors Happy With Shared Housing

by Margaret Boyes “This is a wonderful building. It’s clean and quiet and safe,” said a neighbour as I moved into a low-income seniors’ building.

to the mailboxes. In front of the building were chairs and umbrellas used on hot summer days. To the right was a covered smoking area.

In my freshly painted apartment on the second floor, I knew no one from outside would break in. If I yelled my neighbours would definitely hear me.

For all this I was paying $390 a month rent and $20 for hydro. It was truly paradise found.

My bedroom window looked out on a gigantic pine tree and in the months to come I often saw deer nibbling at its branches.

Walking down the hall I saw cheerful pictures of flowers and landscapes on the walls. I passed a large, bright laundry room with clotheshorses.

Downstairs, by the front door, was a lobby with comfy armchairs where people were sipping tea and chatting. I introduced myself and was welcomed profusely. Behind the lobby was a lovely lounge with a piano, huge television and paintings of England on the walls.

On the first Sunday of every month a church service was held there.

Outside were colourful vegetable gardens tended by the residents. Swiss chard, beans, potatoes and rhubarb were left for the taking on a table next

On doing some research I learned that most age-specific housing (and all residential and nursing homes) have some communal features: Non-subsidized retirement communities are usually for people 55 or over, or 62 and over. These are oriented toward an active lifestyle. They may offer golf, tennis, a swimming pool and spa, exercise rooms, clubs and interest groups.

Seniors’ modular home communities have full- and part-time residents.

Some may be “snowbirds” coming for three months or longer. The lots or mobile units are leased to, or owned by residents. In granny flats seniors live in a second unit with a separate entrance, on a single family lot, with another family.

Seniors may live in shared housing with a roommate. Non-profit organiza-

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In Abbeyfield Housing, independent seniors live in a supportive house. This helps people who can’t live alone but don’t need a nursing home and rents may be subsidized. Residents have their own bedroom and sitting room and share two meals prepared by a live-in housekeeper.

Clients have input on every aspect of the home and often sit on the board of the house’s management society.

In senior’s co-housing, individually owned housing units are built around a common open area and common house.

Residents often cooperate in planning the project. Common facilities include a kitchen, dining area, workshops, laundry and guest rooms and there are common dinners. This began in Denmark and today there are hundreds of cohousing communities worldwide.

Continuing care retirement communities give active seniors an independent lifestyle and a private home, regardless of future medical needs. They may require buy-in, or an up-front annuity purchase with monthly payments for services, amenities and needed medical. Multiple levels of care are available without the uncertainty of wondering where you will live.

Photo caption: Dawson Heights, supportive independent housing.

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Congregate communities offer independent living in private apartments. These may be rental or ownership units. Residents may share activities if they choose.

Today almost a quarter of the population lives alone and this increases as the number of people over 60 rises. More and more seniors, however, are choosing shared housing which gives both the privacy and social support needed for a healthy lifestyle.

250-544-6464

34

tions match them based on needs on one side with abilities to provide on the other side.

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Margaret Boyes is a holistic health care marketer. She writes web copy, advertising, direct mail, e-mails, white papers and other communications. You can contact her at 250-370-1573, margboyes@shaw.ca and www.cariboucommunications.ca.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail…

by Robert Alison Cottontail rabbits are hopping all over the Saanich Peninsula, munching on gardens and lawns. These creatures are so tame and trusting that they are commonly seen in urban and rural areas, but they weren’t always here. In fact, they are eastern cottontails and their native haunts are in eastern North America.

They were brought to the West Coast by humans. In 1926 and 1927, some were brought to Washington state and released there for hunting. Soon, they spread to B.C.’s lower mainland. In 1964, a few were set free near Sooke, and now most of Vancouver Island has lots of them. They’re fairly plentiful even as far north as Campbell River and Sayward.

And, no wonder! Each female produces up to 16 young a year; I guess the saying is true! Parts of Victoria and the peninsula d th i l are overrun with rabbits, and the B.C. government considers them to be exotic pests, but many people find them cute, even cuddly – and seemingly inoffensive. However, studies confirm their foraging can damage carrots, beets, peas, beans and some garden plants. The good news is that they never eat squash, cucumbers, potatoes or tomatoes, but the rabbits’ overgrazing can damage lawns and Garry oak meadows.

they can’t see very well at night. This is because their eyes lack a “tapetum,” which would otherwise amplify light.

They have a 360-degree field of vision, but only 30 degrees of good focus directly in front. New studies indicate that cottontails have rudimentary blue-green colour vision.

Ears are a main cottontail asset, and scientists conclude their ears, which have s vast v networks of blood capillaries, are the main site of heat exchange. Ears allow m cottontails to thermoregulate – they keep c cool when it is hot and warm when it is c cold.

There are 13 different species of c cottontail throughout North America. c Cottontails are named for their fluffy white tails which are flashed conspicuw ously when they run off. Expect to find o them in patchy open areas, near fencet rows, gardens or thickets. They often r llocate t their th i fur-lined f li d cup-like nests in flower gardens, and a new batch of young is produced every four to six weeks.

Many people think cottontails are an asset and nice to have around, and where their behaviour is not offensive, that certainly seems to be the case.

Although they endlessly churn out young bunnies, adults are short-lived. Most never live long enough to celebrate their second birthday, and only one in one hundred lives to the ripe old age of three years.

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Nuisance cottontails can often be excluded from small areas, such as flower gardens, by means of one-metre high fencing or metal barriers, both of which should be buried at least 10 centimetres into the ground. Sometimes, pesky cottontails are live-trapped, but then there is the matter of what to do with them. The B.C. government recommends that they not be released someplace else, leaving almost no alternatives.

Cottontails are most active at dawn and dusk, although

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35

Storage, Grinding and All Things Coffee

by Steve Sheppard need to adapt. ‘ Once coffee is roasted it starts to “de-gas,” which is where the CO2 starts to leave the bean along with the aromatic properties, so if you get the coffee into the freezer within a couple of days of roasting you drastically slow down this process.

Welcome to Volume 4 of Smell The Coffee and the first of the New Year!

I don’t know about you, but I had my fair share of coffee over the holidays – some with a bit of extra “cheer.” While attending various open houses over the holiday season I noticed a lot of local food being served (that 100 Mile Diet thing is really catching on). That brings me to our topic this month – “Storage, Grinding and Water.”

First, I need to mention that I received many packages of coffee from friends this Christmas. With all of this coffee on hand now comes the challenge of storing it properly. There are a few common misconceptions about storing coffee and I will clear them up right now.

1) It is OK to freeze coffee if done within a day or two of roasting. I’m not condoning such an act, however, sometimes life gets in the way and we

2) It is NOT OK to put coffee into the freezer, pull it out, take some out of the bag and put it back into the freezer. By doing this, you introduce warm moist air into the bag, thus speeding up the oxidization (staling) process.

The best way to store your beans is in an air-tight container, placed in the coolest cupboard you have – not the one over top of the toaster or steamer !

3) Ground coffee not consumed within 24 hours will be stale by the time you brew it, so don’t even bother storing ground coffee … feed it to the compost or someone you don’t like.

It’s like those bread chunks we make at Christmas for the dressing, the ones that we leave in a bowl on the counter overnight? They are stale and hard as a rock by morning … so goes ground coffee in one day.

Now – grinding. It’s really important that the grind be correct for your type of brewing.

Espresso needs a grind size that ensures a 25- to 30-second shot in your new home espresso machine.

If you’re not getting a long enough shot, tamp a little harder to increase the time it takes for the water to pass through the puck (coffee lingo).

If you’re making stove-top espresso, the grind should be a little finer than that used in a drip coffee maker (cone and flat bottom are the same) and then packed firmly into the filter.

Coffee done via a stove-top percolator can be a medium grind, and when I make coffee in a french press I use a medium to fine grind because I like to use less coffee to get the taste I want.

Having more surface area ensures that you get the flavour extracted from the coffee grinds completely.

The last thing to ensure a great cup of coffee is the water you use. I use bottled water because it doesn’t have chlorine and other things that will affect the overall taste, and most importantly it needs to be boiling to ensure the proper extraction of the flavours.

Most people tend to make resolutions each year as a way of improving their lives. I suggest adding this one to your list: always drink locally roasted coffee, purchased in small quantities, and grind as you go. To that I would add … “Friends don’t let friends drink stale coffee.”

Rick Shumka Realtor, Victoria, BC • Born and raised on the Island, Rick Shumka served as a firefighter for 32 years and is now serving you as a realtor on the Saanich Peninsula and in Victoria • Selling your home is an important decision and Rick’s goal is to make the transition as smooth and worry-free as possible

For current property listings visit rickshumka.com #150 - 805 Cloverdale Ave., Victoria • 250-384-8124 • lfshumka@telus.net 36

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Tread Softly on My Dreams

by Pene Beavan Horton I went to the Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; High School, in Salisbury, Rhodesia, now Harare, Zimbabwe, and left school with a Cambridge University certificate just after the Second World War ended.

The headmistress at the time was Miss Stella Louisa Theresa Blakeway. She swept through the hallways like a blackclad ruler, thin and upright and rather terrifying. Even if you hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done anything wrong, you worried that she might think you had, and the last thing anyone wanted was to be called into her office for a reprimand.

Prefects handed out â&#x20AC;&#x153;black marksâ&#x20AC;? for infringement of the school rules, such as wearing your school hat at an angle instead of square on.

You got black marks if your fingernails were judged not clean enough and if the teachers thought you hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t properly combed your hair before coming to school. I was born

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with flyaway hair so I was terrified of getting a black mark first thing every morning when we lined up for nails and hair inspection. Enough black marks propelled you to Miss SLTBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.

and an impasto technique. Nothing could be further from Miss Buttonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art, but I still believed her opinion. Only when I began selling paintings did I begin to question her judgement.

Sometimes I think how different my life might have been if I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believed Miss Button. I might have gone to the Slade, in London, if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d any belief in my talent â&#x20AC;Ś and who knows where that might have led?

Once married and with children, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think about going to art school any more. But I did go on painting, always with Miss Buttonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion lurking in the back of my brain. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still painting and have a modest number of paintings in homes and offices in Canada, the U.S., Australia and now on the Internet.

I used to wonder which of us was more to blame â&#x20AC;Ś Miss Button for telling me I would never succeed as an artist, or myself for believing her? Now I know I should have had more sense.

Looking back, the vital lesson I learned from my art teacher has nothing to do with art, it has to do with life. When people tread on our dreams, we need to ignore their advice and press on with our plans.

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I was sent to Miss Blakeway because I â&#x20AC;&#x153;doodled on my blotter.â&#x20AC;? She said coldly that I was wasting paper and threatened me with expulsion from school if I continued to waste paper in War Time. A heinous offence.

I only doodled in the margins of my exercise books when I was bored in class, or absentminded. I doodled because I liked to draw.

Our art teacher, Miss Button, was a remarkable watercolourist. She could well have illustrated the glorious capital letters at the start of each chapter of medieval manuscripts.

Where I scribbled, she was meticulous. I even remember what she looked like. She had pale hair drawn back in a bun, a pale, elongated face, pale blue eyes and long pale fingers, daintily holding a brush.

During our end-of-school interview, she told me categorically that I should never think of earning a living as an artist. I would never be good enough â&#x20AC;&#x201C; my scribbles were outlandish and she could see no artistic future for me.

I lived her opinion as a fact for the next 40 years, even while I was teaching myself to draw and to paint with oils.

My style is impressionistic oil painting, mostly with a knife

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How Time Flies …

Well, I know everyone says how time flies, but this is ridiculous! January 12 marks my one-year anniversary at the magazine, and December 1st marked one year since I moved from Vancouver back to the Island.

The last year has brought a lot of changes in my life – some good, some bad – but the one constant has been how much I love my job as editor of Seaside Times.

I feel incredibly lucky to have found a job that I’m so passionate about – a job that I actually look forward to going to every day! Tim Flater, the publisher, and our many wonderful clients and readers have only enhanced my love of the magazine.

Allow me, if you’d be so kind, to revisit some of the thoughts in my first “First Word,” from

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the March 2009 issue: “My goals for the magazine are simple – I want to create something that I’ll be proud of and that my community will value and look forward to reading every month. I know it’s impossible for every article to interest every person, but I hope we fulfill the broadest range of stories possible … most of all I want the magazine to mirror the feeling of our community.”

I know I’ve been successful in achieving at least one of these goals: creating a magazine that I’m proud of every month.

Tim and I are always trying to improve Seaside Times, something that I’m sure is evident to our readers through all the changes the magazine has gone through over the last 10 months!

I think we’ve also achieved my second goal: creating a magazine that my community values and looks forward to reading every month.

You’ve all been so kind and generous with your feedback (most of it good) and that serves the very important purpose of letting me and Tim know whether or not we’re on the right track.

So … what are my goals (or “resolutions,” if you prefer) for the coming year? Honestly, I haven’t given it too much thought yet (forgive me, as I’m writing this it’s only mid-December so I thought I had a while).

I guess I want to make sure that we continue to hold our readers’ and clients’ feedback in high esteem and use these comments to make sure we’re meeting your needs.

If you’ve never written in with feedback please don’t hesitate to email me at editor@seasidetimes.ca or call 250-544-4022 if there’s something you think I should know.

Happy New Year to all of you, and I hope you have a wonderful 2010.

Editor-in-Chief .%29%6=

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WHY ADVERTISE WITH US? High Quality • In-House Design at No Additional Charge Monthly Frequency • Local, Community Focus • Competitive Rates 10,000 copies per month distributed on the Peninsula and Gulf Islands through the and selected locations!

Largest monthly magazine on the Peninsula – readership of 25,000!

For further information, contact Tim Flater at 250-686-1144 or sales@seasidetimes.ca