Seaside Times February 2012 Issue

WEST COAST CULTURE february 2012

"True Love" on the Peninsula

This winter, anything seems possible . . . with Sidney SeniorCare Winter weather brings challenges to getting things done. Whether it be shopping, transportation or any other services that you need assistance with, we are there for you; for support or to lend a helping hand.

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email: sidneyseniorcare@shaw.ca

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Looking forfun!

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2012 - Sidney Days, Summer Sounds, Sidney Sparkles, SailPast and SO much more!

Sponsorship & Volunteer Opportunities Available

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Seaside Times

contents

west coast culture – february 2012 issue features

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Grow, Eat, Love Unexpected opportunities in the Similkameen Valley

46

Restaurant Spotlight 16 Global Flavours, Local Tastes; Exotic Zanzibar CafĂŠ School District 32 Saanich Jumpstarts Student Careers Darcy Rhodes fast tracked to Scansa Construction Ltd.

Columns First Word............................................ 6 Weatherwit...................................... 15 Tweet This!........................................ 19 Island Dish........................................ 22 Forbes & Marshall........................... 24 Smell the Coffee............................. 39 Skin Deep......................................... 41 Last Word......................................... 55

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departments 7................................................. Letters 12................................... Can We Talk?

30......................................... Footprints 35....................................Grey Matters 43.............................. Common Cents 45.................................. Seaside News 49.............................. Veterinary Voice 51.................................. Entertainment 52...........................What's Happening

www.seasidetimes.ca

On the cover: Frann Mac Lean, managing director, Arista Equestrian and "CD." The bond between these two is simply true love.

Photo courtesy Geoff Smith. (see page 12)

first w o rd I love February!

Not only because it’s a special time for "love," but it’s also getting us somewhat closer to summer, my other favourite time of the year.

I’m not sure about everyone else, but when that snow hit in January, I was in lockdown mode.

No transportation for almost three days and, for the most part, I got through it. In fact I got lots of work done, including brainstorming lots of editorial and promotional ideas for this coming year for Seaside Times. Twenty-two years ago when I first got into this business, and had no real intention of becoming a publisher, I read somewhere that publishers could actually play at being God – figuratively speaking, of course. I took that to mean that they, among other things, had absolute control over editorial content, and heaven help anyone

who disagreed. I think that the promise of control is why so many people want to be publishers, but what so many newcomers to the industry don’t realize is that publishing is much more complex than first meets the eye. Planning editorial content by understanding your reader is certainly crucial to your success, and believe me, even I don’t get to play God with that. But what's fun about the process is choosing seemingly unlikely people and topics to profile, and taking the risk that those articles will be well received.

It’s impossible to please everyone, but finding the right mix of content to keep the majority of your readers informed and entertained is always an interesting challenge.

In fact, in this issue, we launch a new column called Common Cents – a local perspective on finance from various experts in the industry. Keep your eyes peeled in March, as we will be debuting our inaugural "Women in Business" issue and launching our "Young Reader's Book Review."

Having fun while we do this is exactly what we hope you’ll experience while reading through Seaside Times. Don’t forget to send us your feedback on this issue – we love to hear from you!

Sue Hodgson, Publisher

women in business

Publishing in our March issue, this supplement will showcase our unique businesses and the women that make them successful.

As part of your advertising package for the Seaside Times woMen in buSineSS issue, you will also have the opportunity to showcase your business by participating in a women in business Panel at the March 2012 yoUnlimited women’s Conference being held at the Mary winspear Centre.

Three businesses will be chosen.

For full details and entry form, visit www.seasidetimes.ca or call 250-516-6489 Submissions will be accepted until February 17th, 2012.

6

SEASIDE TIMES

www.seasidetimes.ca

letters

www.seasidetimes.ca Publisher, Advertising Sales

Seaside Times welcomes your feedback! Send letters to the editor via editor@seasidetimes.ca. Letters may be edited for space and content.

Thanks Seaside Times for a great January edition.

First Class! Special thanks to Forbes for the noble article on dogs which shows us that dogs and all animals are so sweet, funny and intelligent and have feelings – this is why I am a vegan and don’t eat them. And thanks for the extraordinarily fine effort by Valerie on Nellie McClung! Wow, that "conversation" was an outstanding approach to journalism. To honour our past heroes in such a way is brilliant and highly educational.

Betska K-Burr, The Guru Coach™

Sue Hodgson 250.516.6489 sue@seasidetimes.ca

Editor-in-Chief Allison Smith 250.813.1745 editor@seasidetimes.ca

Advertising Sales

✢ ✢ ✢

Lori Swan, Patti Anthony 250.516.6489

This Month’s Contributors Trysh Ashby-Rolls • Liz Ball • Stephanie Bowen Jennifer Bowles • Shelley Breadner • Chris Burdge Dianne Cross • Michael Forbes • Dave Gartley Doreen Marion Gee • Valerie Green Pene Beavan Horton • Tina Kelly • Devon MacKenzie Barry Mathias • Derek Peach • Deborah Reid Steve Sakiyama • Steve Sheppard • Bryan Smith Geoff Smith • Murray Tough • John Webber • Heather Zais Seaside Times magazine is printed 12 times a year in Richmond, British Columbia by Rhino Print Solutions. 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 have watched the Seaside Times grow over the last years and find the articles to be really interesting and informing, the pictures great and even the ads to be vibrant and interesting. My wife and I are very enthusiastic hikers and bikers and enjoy the Peninsula and Greater Victoria area. As you know it is a very special and picturesque place to live. However, I am very confused when I see an ice climber in Colorado on the front cover. Imagine a reader of the "Desert Times" in Tucson looking at the cover of their magazine and seeing a beautiful picture of the waters of Deep Cove. I think the picture of the ice climber in Colorado is spectacular, but not on the cover of Seaside Times. I would rather see a picture of one of the many features offered on the West Coast – celebrate its beauty on the cover of the Seaside Times. Congratulations on publishing a great magazine and I look forward to reading it every month.

Best regards, Randy White, Sidney, B.C. * Publisher's response: I deliberated over the choice of this cover because it wasn't local. However, after reading the story of Margo’s journey and seeing the accompanying photo, it was very tough not to use it as a cover; albeit not local, in my heart it deserved that position. I was curious to see if I would get any comments, and I’m glad I did. It will help me in making cover choices in the future. I would also like to suggest on your own journeys locally, take a few shots here and there; think big, think cover!

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Thank you for all of the work you do in putting the Seaside Times together. I find it is a very interesting magazine and it has local benefits as well as being very helpful in orienting new people or tourists to the community. I also provided a copy to my daughter when she was looking for employment. I love the photos.

Fraser Orr and Chris Paul are two of my sparks and I am always interested in the hard work they do to contribute to the vitality that is the Saanich Peninsula.

Respectfully yours, Mavis Underwood

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

7

Grow, Eat, Love

by Stephanie Bowen

I

t’s the last Penticton Farmer’s Market of the 2011 season, and Justene Wright is exuberant. Every weekday morning for the past six months has found her weeding, irrigating and harvesting vegetables from her fields, sometimes for 10- to 12-hour stretches. Every Saturday morning she has risen at 5:30 a.m. to make the 40-kilometre commute to the city and deftly run her booth at the market. There Justene is a storm of witty banter and friendly advice, educating on the virtues of good food as often as selling her produce.

By noon she is typically so drained that Saturday afternoon consists of quiet time with her family – her only real concession to relaxation each week.

But today is the last day of the season, and Justene and I are going for a celebratory lunch. We’re also talking about what brought a 31-year-old single mother from Calgary to the agricultural hub of the Similkameen Valley.

"I was working as a merchandiser for an organic market in Calgary and I remember thinking how happy the farmers we bought from always seemed," she says. "They had a completely different kind of energy that I craved, and I knew that I wasn’t going to get that in the city."

In 2008 while visiting the Similkameen on a road trip, Justene was given an unexpected opportunity: an older farmer in the valley wishing to retire 8

SEASIDE TIMES

offered to teach her the ins and outs of agriculture.

Justene would rent a home on the property and work four acres, selling whatever crop she yielded.

It was a huge gamble. Not only did she have a good job, a small child and a support network in the city, but smallscale organic farming is the ultimate labour of love – by necessity. Market farmers spend half the year working sunrise to sunset, six or seven days a week. They’re responsible for all aspects of their business, from accounting and marketing to production and sales. Competing with conventional farming techniques is virtually impossible, and few organic farmers make enough to sustain themselves in their busiest months, let alone through the winter.

Farming is not a 9-5 job: it’s an all-encompassing lifestyle.

Flash forward four years and it’s obvious that, despite the challenges, Justene made the right choice. Working with her in the field is akin to watching a professional athlete play their sport: she matches mental focus with physical prowess, picking a row of beans or thinning beets three times as fast as anyone else. She is constantly aware of what needs to happen next, and at the end of the day, when everyone else is dragging their tired bodies into the house, she still has a spring in her step.

She also has one of the busiest – and most colourful – booths at the market and a successful wholesale trade,

www.seasidetimes.ca

both of which have granted a new blessing: Justene and her partner have just purchased their own fiveacre farm, and are busily preparing it for the spring.

“Not everything you love makes for a viable business,” she chuckles, “And I’m worried that the stress of a mortgage might take the joy out of it. There’s a lot to be said for the lifestyle farming allows. I get to see my kid all the time. We eat so well. Being outside all day, working with your body, doing something people have been doing forever … it feels authentic. I feel pretty lucky.”

Still, there are concerns that eat away at her. As the price of land and the average age of farmers in B.C. creep ever upward, she questions the potential for sustainable food production in the province. The Agricultural Land Reserve is slowly diminishing, and the Similkameen

"Being outside all day, working with your body, doing something people have been doing forever … it feels authentic.

I feel pretty lucky." is dotted with hobby farms – small parcels of ALR land typically purchased by retirees, which are rarely used to their maximum growing potential. “When factory farming ends – and it has to – the availability of prepared land and actual food for harvest is going to be dismal. And there’s going to be trouble.”

So for now Justene is focused on maximizing her land.

She has garlic in the ground, cover crop on her fields, and the drive and passion to cultivate a thriving little farm.

Micro-Roasted Freshness …

Your Taste Buds Can Tell !

“In the city I was always looking for something that would make me feel fulfilled. Even with all the risks and all the stress, and I don’t want to jinx myself here, but – I think I’ve found it.”

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We now offer Facial Acupuncture!

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Saanichton: Mt. Newton X Road www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

9

Musings on Saint Valentine's Day

by Barry Mathias According to some historians, the Emperor Claudius II banned young Roman men from marrying, as he felt marriage stopped them being effective soldiers. Valentine was a Christian priest who married them in secret, was discovered and put in jail.

The night before his death on February 14th, he is credited for curing the blind daughter of his jailer, and some claim he sent her a written message: the first "Valentine card."

Whatever the truth, there is no doubt that ancient Romans and Greeks celebrated the festival of Lubercalia, which had strong fertility overtones, around February 14th. With the expectation of approaching spring, this month is often mentioned in connection with the "stirrings" of young men, and it was the medieval Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote that St. Valentine’s Day was " … when every bird cometh there to chose his mate." I wonder if this gave rise to adults’ traditional explanation to

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Call a B.C. Doctor of Optometry to make your appointment today:

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Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tues 8:30-7, Thurs 9-6, Sat 9-2

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In Wales, they celebrate St. Dwynen’s Day, the patron Saint of Welsh Lovers, on January 25th and also recognize February 14th, which might explain why there are so many Welsh people around the world! In Japan, women give men chocolates on this day, and the male recipients are expected to give gifts in return that are three to five times more valuable … give chocolate; get jewelry. In Saudi Arabia, they tried to ban the sale of any items connected with Valentine’s Day, resulting in a huge black market in roses and wrapping paper.

People react differently to this date. The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, had a referendum on February 15th, and was worried about a potential lack of effort on the 14th by his supporters. He advised them to indulge only in " … maybe a little kiss, or something very superficial." And he still remained popular!

Then it’s also time to get a comprehensive eye exam. Eye doctors do more than determine if you see well.They can detect serious eye and health problems that often show no symptoms at the early stages.

Conditions like glaucoma and retinal tears that lead to permanent vision loss, and health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease and even some brain tumours cause vision changes.

If you do have vision changes, they’ll assess the underlying cause.

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children who ask: “Where do babies come from?” as having something to do with birds and bees?

There are many humorous tales connected with this date. A young computer geek, when asked what line he used to win his girlfriend, replied: "I just used a regular 56K modem." An enthusiastic grass cutter wrote on his girlfriend’s front yard: "I lawn for you mower and mower each day." And a workaholic, faced with a mountain of work, wrote: "Roses are red, violets are blue, if I weren’t thinking of you, I’d probably be through." A woman in a fruit and vegetable store was asked to change her sign which read: "Local Honey Dates Nuts."

My favourite story concerns a keen male student who tried to improve his B- grade by sending his teacher a heart-shaped box of chocolates, with the inscription: "Be Mine." She sent back a Valentine card which read: "Thank you, but it’s still BE MINE-US." It’s fascinating how history changes people and actions: the robber Robin Hood becomes a benefactor to the poor; the murderous Vlad the Impaler becomes the literary character Dracula, and Valentine, no longer recognized as a saint by the Catholic church, has become the romantic icon for the world.

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

William Bird

wm.d.bird@shaw.ca

Jeff Bryan

jeffbryan@shaw.ca

Gay Helmsing

ghelmsing@gmail.com

Don Bellamy

info@donaldbellamy.com

Beverley McIvor

bevmcivor@shaw.ca

Roy Coburn

Renee Colonnello

roy@victoriaacreages.com

Kelly Curtis – Mortgage Architects kelly@mortgagedesigners.ca

Gaye Phillips

gayesoffice@shaw.ca

Ross Shortreed

ross@rossshortreed.com

reneecolonnello@remax.net

Sidney Lions Club is raising $70,000 to rebuild the Tulista Park playground to make it safe and accessibile for people of all abilities.

A Memorial Brick Project will help raise funds – contact Don McIvor @ 250-652-6207 for more information.

Rene Blais

renehblais@gmail.com

Debbie Gray

sagegray@shaw.ca

Jack Barker

jack@jackbarker.net

Lisa Dighton

ldighton@shaw.ca

Craig Walters

craig@craigwalters.net

Jim Allan

jimaallan@shaw.ca

ca n we talk? . ......... Publisher Sue Hodgson talks with Frann MacLean, You are a natural business entrepreneur.

What made you move to the Island and leave the more corporate world?

My husband and I discussed moving to the Island during our honeymoon when we spent time in Tofino and Victoria and fell in love with the community and lifestyle. When he was offered a position with the BC Cancer Agency in Victoria, we jumped at the chance and when the opportunity came up to buy a kiwi farm/equestrian centre, it was a dream come true. After 15 years in the corporate world,

I was happy to hang up my high heels and spend time farming and riding. I developed a boarding, leasing and lesson program at our equestrian facility and hosted many clinics, and our kiwi fruit was purchased by Thrifty Foods for retail distribution.

Was it a difficult decision to sell the farm and equestrian facility?

Running a large equestrian facility and farming is a 24/7 job.

When I was expecting my daughter in 2005, I realized that it would be difficult for me to be the best I could be at both jobs, especially given my husband's long hours. As it turned out, a beautiful acreage near Elk Lake came up for sale. We built a riding ring on it, have access to Elk Lake trails and our horses can run freely in pasture all summer. So now I have the best of all worlds – time with my family, access to my horses and a job in the equestrian industry!

You developed a clothing company five years ago out of your basement called Horse ManUwear and it’s now available in over 50 stores across Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand. Where did you get the idea from and how has it gained such popularity?

It was actually one of my partners, Catherine, who came up with the idea of Horse ManUwear. At the time, she and her daughter were spending a lot of time at the barn where their horse was boarded.

Catherine wanted to buy her daughter sweatpants and a hoody for around the barn but couldn’t find anything “horse inspired.” She came up with the idea of printing WHOA on the back of sweatpants, found a clothing wholesaler and had some printed. From there, Catherine came up with the brand name and developed a logo. In 2007, she rented a booth at the Mane Event, a large equestrian trade fair in Chilliwack, and sold out! Requests started coming in from stores wanting to sell Horse ManUwear.

Catherine and I became business partners and I developed our sales and marketing plan. Currently, Horse ManUwear is undergoing a change of direction.

New legislation and a weakening economy have led us to rethink how we market this brand so we did not launch a spring line but hope to be back in the fall.

Managing Director, Arista Equestrian You bought Arista in 2009 with two other very talented women who also have a passion for the horse community. How did you all come together?

You are very committed to your local community and support many local horse clubs, shows and events. What do you see for sponsorship in 2012?

A lot of friendships are developed in barn aisles and the riding ring! Catherine and I met in 2005, during which time her daughter was leasing a horse boarded at my barn. By 2009, Catherine had purchased two of her own horses and she kept them at the same barn where Gail kept her horses.

At the time, Catherine and I had built Horse ManuWear to a point where it was in high demand in Canada. We started to look for a complementary equestrian line to provide some economies of scale, and heard that Arista was for sale. Gail expressed an interest in becoming a partner, so the three of us went to Vancouver to meet with Arista's previous owners. We felt an instant connection to Sharie Loychuk, who founded the brand, and were extremely impressed with what Arista was manufacturing.

The Peninsula is an extremely vibrant horse community and it is our mandate to develop Arista through happy customers, relationship building and sponsorship – starting in our backyard. In 2011, we sponsored local dressage and hunter jumper shows as well as providing year-end prizes to a number of clubs. We hope to expand the program this year and are in discussions with show organizers to create sponsorships and partnerships that help support Island equestrian events.

What makes Arista Equestrian apparel so unique?

There are a lot of equestrian brands in the marketplace, but Arista stands on its own. Our focus, since purchasing Arista in 2009, has been to introduce the most innovative, technical fabrics in the industry so equestrian athletes can move freely and comfortably in the saddle. In a nutshell, we source modern, technical fabrics and use them to create stylish, well fitting garments. There are even several non-equestrian stores who sell it as active wear and are very successful. We have many customers who purchase Arista for rowing, golf, tennis, even dog walking!

Frann MacLean Managing Director Arista Equestrian

How important is it to you that you continue to develop and manufacture all your clothing in Canada?

We currently manufacture Arista in Victoria and Vancouver and believe that this is extremely important to the success of our business. It enables us to be very flexible, responding quickly to special orders and sell through.

On a personal level, I like to chat face-to-face with people and by manufacturing nearby, I can do this. I am also passionate about domestic manufacturing and try my best to make all of my purchases as local as possible.

You’ve recently been listed with Dover Saddlery, a leading multi-channel retailer of equestrian products in the U.S. What does this mean for the company?

This is big news for Arista. Dover Saddlery's reach is substantial, with over one million catalogues distributed annually. Our fourth quarter was very strong last year and we’ve ramped up our projections for 2012 based on the Dover Listing.

Can you give us a glimpse into some of the future plans for Arista?

Frann’s passion for horses began while she was growing up in Saskatchewan. She completed her Commerce Degree in Ontario, and gained expertise in sales and marketing working with global brands across Canada.

Eventually, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to start a marketing consulting firm in Edmonton.

In 2001, she and her husband, Grant, moved to the Island where Frann operated a hobby farm while running their 15-stall equestrian facility.

There is a lot of excitement planned for Arista. We have a stunning line-up of new products launching this spring, including our modern hunter line and many versatile pieces which are suitable for all athletes. We are also in the process of creating a great new website (www.aristaequestrian.com), which we hope will make Arista more accessible to people around the world.

Five years ago, Frann and friend Catherine Murray joined forces to develop the Horse ManUwear brand of casual equestrian clothing.

Then, with local businesswoman Gail Gordon, they purchased Arista Equestrian, moving it from Vancouver to Saanichton. Frann is the Managing Director of both brands and is proud to continue designing and manufacturing high quality clothing in Canada.

I understand your husband is a Medical Oncologist and is currently writing a book. Can you give us a sneak peek?

He has been writing a book that he hopes will help patients and their families make difficult decisions when faced with cancer care. He’s been working on it for some time – maybe by mentioning it in Seaside Times, it will push him to finish it!

Photo courtesy Geoff Smith.

SEASIDE TIMES

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

13

weatherwit

February Weather Forecast

by Steve Sakiyama Adventures in Costco-Land: Cleanup on Aisle 387 My first experience shopping at Costco was, um … interesting. Upon entering I noticed that everybody had massive loads of stuff in their carts. “Preparing for the Apocalypse are we?” To my surprise they responded by nodding vigorously.

“Did I misread the Mayan calendar again?” I mumbled to myself while nervously loading up my cart with things I never needed before.

Get this. All their products are made by a company named “Kirkland” … peanuts, tires, socks and nuclear reactors. “Excuse me, these Kirkland reactors – I know the shopper reviews gave them five stars, but do they come with an extended warranty similar to the formal wear socks?”

I imagine there must be a huge Kirkland factory where everything is made, and I wonder how they avoid cross-contamination.

“WARNING: these tires may contain peanuts.”

Finally, Costco has everything: did you know that they now sell wedding dresses?

“Hmmm let’s see … 40 pounds

of pork cutlets, 12 dozen rolls of the variety pack three-ply toilet paper, and, oh yeah, might as well pick up a wedding dress while I’m here. Look! A Kristy Kelly Princess with a bateau neckline in the clearance bin! Wait, there's a BOGO 50% on these next week!”

Following on the theme of large volumes of stuff, the atmosphere can shift into the Costco shopping mode as well. There is a winter phenomenon called the “Pineapple Express,” where massive amounts of moisture and warmth are picked up from Hawaii and transported by upper-level winds across the Pacific – eventually hitting the West Coast anywhere from California to our south coast. During a Pineapple Express winter temperatures can reach the mid-teens with heavy precipitation lasting a day or more, causing flooding in the south coast lowlands and heavy snowfall in the mountains. Satellite images from space depict a majestic atmospheric river, with lines flowing more beautifully than a Kristy Kelly wedding dress.

Well, what’s in the weather shopping cart for February? The barcodes are still pointing toward greater likelihood that the month will be cooler and wetter, the result of a La

Nina that is currently rated as “weak to moderate.” Through the early winter La Nina’s effect on our weather has been La Nada as December was very dry (we only had 40% of our normal amount of precipitation), contradicting the forecast of wetter than normal conditions. But give La Nina a chance – these long-term predictions are best made and compared on a seasonal basis – so let’s see the cumulative tally at the end of February.

February has two momentous days – Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day – please don’t get the two confused. For both of these special days my sentimental forecast will be warm showers, a symbolic anticipation of spring where love, flowers and maybe even a wedding dress is in the air. After a cool and wet winter, I’m in for a case-lot.

Questions about the weather?

Send them to weatherwit@gmail. com or post them on my blog page: weatherwit.wordpress.com ~ Weatherwit

Top Mortgage Advice Your mortgage is important… trust an expert who knows the local market and can connect you with the right lender.

DBA: Invis – Chatterton Way *E&OE

• • • •

Hein Moes, Mortgage Consultant

Purchasing or renewing Mortgages for the self-employed Refinancing for renovations or investments Debt consolidation to control interest costs

250.812.3548 | heinmoes@invis.ca www.heinmoesmortgages.com Over 25 years experience in financial services

It’s worth a call to find out your current options.

SEASIDE TIMES

Proudly Serving Saanich Peninsula.

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february 2012

15

Feeding your taste buds at the Zanzibar Café is not mere dining, it's an exotic experience in delectable international cuisine from Europe to Africa. The fresh, superb quality food puts Zanzibar on the map.

But a huge factor of the café's success is the sterling customer service by dedicated, hard working staff.

Last summer, I took myself on a date. I spent a lazy mellow afternoon soaking in the Zanzibar ambience. Beautiful winding bushes crept around the trellis above as I sat gazing at the sun-drenched Saanich fields. Sipping delicious mulligatawny soup and eating warm herb bread, I was in heaven. The

Global Flavours, Local Tastes: Exotic Zanzibar Café

by Doreen Marion Gee

Zanzibar February Feature Breakfast O Lunch O Dinner O Espresso O

Open

Tues~Saturday 730 - 4 Thurs, Fri, Sat 530 - 830 GLOBAL FLAVOURS O LOCAL TASTES

Dinner Reservations Recommended

1164 Stelly’s X Rd, Brentwood Bay 250.652.1228 • www.zanzibarcafe.ca

Try Our Two-Course Meal Specials: Soup or Salad and Entrée $16.95 Monday - Thursday 4pm - 8pm www.spitfiregrill.ca 250-655-0122 • 9681 Willingdon Rd, Sidney

warm friendly staff made it memorable – they could not do enough for me! I was impressed.

The blooming business is owned by Mohamed Dehairi and Toni Brassard. Toni is all aglow about her popular restaurant: “It’s been gangbusters since we opened!" This calm, amiable woman comes across as a very savvy business person. She shops at a local organic market where meat comes from animals that are grass fed and killed humanely. Menu flexibility around food allergies and preferences 16

SEASIDE TIMES

Seafood & Sushi Redefined.

Visit the Seagrille to experience our fresh approach to seafood & sushi in Victoria’s most spectacular seaside setting…Enjoy our Chef’s seasonally inspired menu with ingredients harvested from the sea and grown fresh on Vancouver Island. Watch our highly trained Japanese Sushi Chefs create a truly authentic “West Coast” sushi experience.

SEAFOOD & SUSH1 AT B R E N T W O O D B AY R E S O RT

849 VERdIER AVE 250.544.2079 WWW.BREntWoodBAyRESoRt.Com

brings many customers through their doors. Toni knows that good customer service is essential to a successful restaurant business, and that it is the hard working staff who make it happen.

After our interview, I came away with a whole new respect for people who cook and serve food. “The food has to be good. Our reputation is all about the food.” Toni emphasizes the ultimate importance of the culinary talents of the kitchen staff – two cooks and a sous chef, with www.seasidetimes.ca

Toni also appreciates her servers: "It's a tough job!" Being a server requires smart multi-tasking: "You have to be really snappy and pretty with it." The job demands supreme people skills, a comprehensive knowledge of food ingredients plus conflict resolution and stress management skills. The hardest part of serving customers is always being on display, where customers are watching your every move. Forget about being grumpy: that smile can never wear off.

The owners themselves are a big part of this success story. They have both worked for many years in the food service industry and bring a lot of talent to Zanzibar. Toni and her husband extend a sincere “Thank you” to all who dine at their edgy restaurant

250- 479- 6612 Call us about our Valentine’s Day Special!

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with the worldly flair. “ We would be nothing without our customers! When people leave happy and laughing, it is the greatest feeling in the world.”

The human touch matters: "The staff give back when we treat them well and that is reflected in the business," remarks Toni. The Zanzibar owners put a huge value on customer satisfaction and respecting the staff who make it happen. Happy staff work harder for their customers – who leave satisfied and tell their friends all about it. In this circle of trust, everybody wins.

Visit the Zanzibar website at www.zanzibarcafe.ca. Breakfast and lunch is served Tuesday to Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the café is open for dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call 250-652-1228 and 250-544-1475 for reservations or further information. february 2012

17

Check out These Great Peninsula Restaurants!

Mohamed as head chef. Cooking is hard, demanding work: “Nobody stands around in the kitchen. It is go, go, go. They are sometimes cooking 10 things at a time." The cooks have to be fast and mentally on the ball, thinking five steps ahead about food to prepare and always attuned to details."

Sidney Pier Spa • Seaside Times Feb 2012 Ad • Size: 7.75” (w) x 4.925” (h) • Final • Jan 19/12

Everything is better with friends....

Introducing our new 'Sole 2 Sole' Pedicures.

Enjoy Group Haven pedicures (2 to 4 people) and allow your stress to melt away as your feet are rejuvenated and polished to perfection!

$55 per person

”Like” Haven Spa on Facebook and enter to win a year of free Pedicures! (Valid Feb 1-29, 2012) T bo To book your appointment call 250-655-9797 9805 Seaport Place, Sidney, British Columbia • Open Monday – Saturday 9 am – 6 pm

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic evening of Jazz with Edie Daponte & Mike Lefebvre

Saturday, Feb. 11th 7-10 pm

Voted one of the Top 10 Restaurants of 2011 by Pam Grant Times Colonist

Sunday Breakfast Buffet (11-2:30) $21 Kitchen open until 10:30 p.m. nightly

Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily 250.656.6690 • beaconlanding@shaw.ca 2537 Beacon Ave, Sidney (in the Cannery Building) • www.beaconlanding.ca 18

SEASIDE TIMES

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tweet this!

Do You Google, Plus?

by Chris Burdge Google+, Google’s latest entry into the social network arena, has been receiving lots of attention and hype recently – is the latest “shiny thing” to hit the web just a fad or could it be a legitimate competitor to Facebook and something small business should seriously consider?

With an estimated 62 million users as of December 31st, G+ is growing 50 times faster than Twitter or Facebook did. Today we look at some of the benefits of Google+ and why you might want to sign up.

1. Get an SEO Boost: If your business relies on search referrals for website traffic, and whose site doesn’t, then G+ can help you. Google+ influences search for all the people who have included your business in their circle, so having an active and engaging G+ account is critical to building a network. It’s also a good idea to put a +1 button on important pages within your site to get free promotion from people who like the page content.

2. Host a Hangout: Hangouts are live video chats with up to 10 people simultaneously. They are an excellent format for businesses to engage in a highly personal way with clients, customers and industry thought leaders. You can also collaborate with employees, partners or clients in other locations or hold team meetings to brainstorm with one another.

extending distribution of your content. Many companies are reporting that they were able to build Google+ “circles” (Facebook equivalent of Fans) in a fraction of the time it took them to build a similarly-sized network on Facebook.

4. Segment Your Audience: A huge benefit of G+ over Facebook is your ability to share select content with specific audiences.

Have you ever wanted to post a picture on Facebook but didn’t want your Mom to see it? G+ solves this problem with a feature called “Circles.” You simply place your friends, colleagues, customers, whomever, into different Circles (groups), and the information that you share is displayed only to people in that circle. If you want to post a business-related article or have an offer that is only relevant to your customers, you can choose to share that only with them and give them a sense of exclusivity.

5. Network: You can use both G+ personal and/or “Brand” pages to network, gather data and research media contacts and potential clients to better connect with them when the time is right. Checking the user's “About” section of their G+ profile is a great place to start.

6. Explore & Learn: Use G+ for exploration. G+ is starting to combine social and search. Knowing the impact this has on the way people find information on the web and being a part of it at the early stages can be a huge asset when it hits the mainstream.

Are you a Google+ early adopter? If so, why did you start and what advantages have you realized so far?

3. Content Publishing: Google+ is a great platform for

Lets continue the conversation on the bWEST blog at www.bwest.ca/blog.

RBC DOMINION SECURITIES

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Deborah Reid, FMA, FCSI | Investment Advisor 250-655-2884 | 1-888-773-4477 | deborah.reid@rbc.com | www.deborahreid.net Deborah reiD, FMA, FCSI RBC Dominion Securities Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank Bank of of Canada Canada are separate corporate entities which are are affiliated. trademarkof ofRoyal RoyalBank BankofofCanada.

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february 2012

19

Peninsula Arts Off to a Colourful Start!

by Dianne Cross The arts community is looking toward the New Year with fresh ideas, new projects and events. In February, the Community Arts Centre will be used by Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society (SPAC) to host a variety of arts activities: sketching, painting, bookbinding, composition and discussion. Organizer Janet Remmer felt, like so many of us at this time of year, that a little stimulation and inspiration will get the creative "juices" going! See www.SPACsociety.com for more information.

www.knickerbockers.ca

Brentwood Bay at Trafalgar Square 250.544.8211 Sidney at Sidney Pier Hotel 250.656.5506 Victoria at Broadmead Village 250.658.5578

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SPAC is the oldest arts group on the Peninsula, having its beginnings in the 1950s. A group of artists joined together to hold meetings and put on a spring show.

This year mark its 58th year for this popular event in which all members are invited to enter work. The jurors choose pieces they feel are outstanding and deserve recognition. Many of the Peninsula’s most well-known artists are or have been members of this group.

Next at the Arts Centre will be "Artists in Residence."

Weaver Diane Thorp and painter Sandy Bligh will set up their studios at the Centre and work for the week of February 27th to March 4th. They invite you to drop in to view and talk about their work. For the remainder of the month of March, the Arts Council will sponsor a show called "Small Expressions," displaying works of art 12 x12 inches or less. For information and entry forms for this event visit www.cacsp.com.

The Arts Centre plans to expand its resource centre, providing a space for arts groups to post their newsletters and event information. It is hoped that this will be found useful to artists and visitors alike.

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SEASIDE TIMES

#26 - 6782 Veyaness Rd. Victoria 778-426-1660 www.theoldattic.ca

www.seasidetimes.ca

25 Years of Friendship With the Peninsula Newcomers Club

by Liz Ball As Peninsula Newcomers Club celebrates its 25th anniversary, many hundreds of women who now call the Peninsula home are revisiting memories of new friendships, now lifelong friendships, formed through the Club. Uleta Fortune was the first president in January 1987; the Club grew to over 100 members in the first four months and continues to flourish.

That speaks to the appeal of this vibrant women’s club: that women new to the area are keen to make friends and learn about their Island community.

The tradition of having a monthly luncheon meeting, with an entertaining and/or informative speaker, began early. Membership activities, listed in the monthly newsletter, are only limited by the number of hours in a week and the interests and imaginations of the members! Just a few? Games, hiking, birding and biking; golf and tennis; boating, various crafts; art, museum and winery tours; theatre and opera outings and book and movie groups. There have been pub nights, dining in, dining out and potluck lunches. Members have gone on short excursions to most scenic and cultural points of Vancouver Island, and further afield – hiking at Whistler, a charter bus to Reno and a Panama Canal cruise. For the past several years, the Club has chosen and held a fundraising event for a local charity.

Testimony to the impact of the Club is that some bridge players from the original club still meet. A member stated: “My Newcomer friends have laughed and cried with us – been with us through joy and pain, sharing our happiness at our marriages, our children’s marriages and Photo L to R: past president Liz Ball, first the blessed births of our president Uleta Fortune, past president Delores grandchildren, supporting Savage, current exec Cathy Weston. us in our sadness in the loss of our partners and our parents, feeding us, and sending Current members are grateful love and best wishes during our own to those who began the Peninsula personal challenges with health.

Newcomers Club, and invite readers In a new community, one can feel of this anniversary piece to join in very alone during such times, and this experience too. Visit our new friends have come through www.peninsulanewcomers.ca for us with flying colours!” for more info.

Our Extended Care Unit is home to some very special people – just like Betty. We need your

I cared for Betty

help so that we can provide modern facilities, offer more comfort for residents and help our staff to be more effective.

We’ re almost there!

Please help us reach our fundraising goal.

Peninsula Newcomers Club is open to women new to the Peninsula, with membership beginning within the first two years of arrival. Current members are from all around the world, from Switzerland, Germany and Hong Kong to the U.K., Italy and Saudi Arabia. Members come from all walks of life, with an amazing breadth of experience, interests and talents – the commonality being that all are making the Peninsula their new home.

It ’ s our hospital.

Donate today at www.sphf.ca or call 250 652 7531

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

21

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www.scallywags-island.ca 22

SEASIDE TIMES

f you subscribe to the “been there, done that, got the kid to prove it” approach to Valentine's Day, then this simple and delicious meal is for you.

If, however, you are in the other camp, the one that plans for months in advance: selecting the perfect location for dinner, the gushing velvet card, the heart-shaped box of mystery candy, flowers and a va-va-voom outfit for the night … well, honestly this is for you too.

Let’s face it: some of our Valentine's Day experiences have been a night to remember, fueled by passion and lavish nights on the town, whereas others wind up a colossal yawn. So I decided this month the recipe would be the cherry to top off your perfect evening … literally. This saucy little number will be perfect for you and your Valentine: slow roasted pork tenderloin with a beautiful cherry and shallot sauce.

Pork Tenderloin is wonderfully easy and versatile (ie: fabulous for leftovers!) It also won’t put a dent in your pocketbook the same way beef tenderloin would. The cherries are a stunning little accent, and are right on target with the Valentine's Day theme with their glorious burgundy colour!

So here we go!

DOWNTOWN

624 Fort St 250 360 2570

BROADMEAD VILLAGE

Newborn to 12 years

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by Jennifer Bowles

The choice of starch is yours. Personally, a pillowy, buttery mashed potato is my go-to but if you decided to omit those heavy carbs, a lighter long grain wild rice or even couscous would complement this beautifully.

Desire something green on the side? I’m partial to roasted asparagus finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. If you’d prefer to pair up with a salad, go for mesclun greens with tangy pomegranate vinaigrette (recipe to follow).

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Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce (serves 2 with leftovers)

½ kilo pork tenderloin salt & pepper 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and quartered ¼ cup shallots, finely diced 2-3 tbsp good balsamic vinegar ¾ cup chicken stock 1 tbsp butter Preheat oven to 375°.

www.seasidetimes.ca

Season your pork on all sides with salt and pepper. Sear on all sides for 2-3 minutes in a medium pan to create a nice crust.

Remove from pan and place on baking sheet and into the oven for 20 minutes.

In the same pan you seared the pork in, turn the heat down to low/ medium and add a tablespoon of oil. Add shallots, cooking until translucent, then add cherries.

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Cook everything down for about five minutes until you cook out about half of the water in the cherries. Turn your heat up a bit and add balsamic vinegar.

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Cook until it is reduced by about half (about 1.5 minutes). Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.

Reduce again until it starts to resemble a fine sauce.

Turn the heat back to low and add a tablespoon of butter to give it a beautiful sheen and silky finish.

Slice your pork into ¼- to ½-inch slices and pour the sauce over. This can be done platter style or individually plated.

Pomegranate Blood Orange Salad

Sunbeds and Custom Sunless Tanning

(for two)

2 large cups local mesclun greens ½ pomegranate, cut and seeds removed (They sell seeds prepackaged in the produce department if you prefer; pricier but more convenient) 3 tbsp oil – a lighter oil, such as grape seed or canola 1 tbsp vinegar – sherry or red wine vinegar for a punch!

Section your blood orange and toss with greens; add your favourite toasted nuts for an extra crunch!

SAANICHTON

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Enjoy!

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Questions? Email fabfoody@gmail.com. www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

23

fo r b es & marshall

Jalapeño Heaven

by Michael Forbes In the beginning, when I agreed to write for Seaside Times, I vowed that one day I would actually write by the seaside.

So here I am, perched like a pasty poet on a beach in Ochos Rios, Jamaica. Yes, we are "made" to take a tropical vacation in the dead of winter by our awful radio station. We've been on a few of these trips over the years and odds are you or someone you know has won a trip with the Ocean.

If you’ve never been to an all-inclusive resort before, it’s like staying the week at an alcoholic's place who works at the all-you-can-eat buffet. The irony is that if you really wanted to, you could dine extremely healthily because the variety of food is staggering. Who does that though? You've maxed out your VISA for this trip and you are darn well going to get your money’s worth! In your regular life, you wouldn't dream of having thirds and then waddling back to the table with a platter full of six different desserts. There are some people who must get carpel tunnel syndrome by that repetitive

action of their fork shovelling food to their mouths. There was one resort in Mexico that made these deep fried jalapeño peppers stuffed with cheese. I took one bite and it tasted like an angel sang into my mouth. It woke up some long dormant pleasure centre in my grey matter, so much so that every night I would have to make excuses to get up from the table just so I could cram a few more into my face. Lisa finally put a stop to it when she started finding them in my pockets.

Of course, we can't forget about the firewater. Booze is the selling point and cornerstone of every all-inclusive resort and we have a few war stories.

One night after drinking a bar dry, one of our Victoria posse went missing. We got up to do a radio show the next day and saw a few early risers on the beach who were putting towels on chairs to save them for later. They just happened to be circled around one lounge chair like looky loos at a crime scene. They were talking and laughing in hushed tones and excitedly snapping photos for Facebook.

It seems our friend had passed out wearing only a terry cloth bathrobe, which was fully open, exposing his naughty bits to the morning sun. I hurriedly shooed them away and got him back to his room. Later that day I saw him doing a kind of sideways, slow motion Charlie Chaplin walk of pain. Insert your own deep fried jalapeño joke here.

Despite the alcohol-induced fun, the positive effects of these free vacations have allowed people to get away for awhile and recharge. We’ve seen our listener friends get engaged or get married on the beach, we’ve witnessed the smiles of people who needed a break as they coped with a serious illness and we know some who have made friendships for life. Through it all we’ve also managed to learn one very important lesson … whatever happens on vacation, stays on Facebook.

Forbes & Marshall are the hosts of Ocean 98.5’s popular morning show. They are one of the few married morning show teams in Canada and have two children, Noah and Adam. Join Forbes & Marshall weekday mornings from 5:30 to 10:30 a.m.

24

SEASIDE TIMES

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Discussing Changes to Family Law in B.C. Family law in British Columbia is about to change, particularly for people who are unmarried but are in “marriage-like” relationships. A new Family Law Act will come into force in the near future. The most significant change is that people in marriage-like relationships of at least two years will be subject to the same rules about dividing family assets as married spouses. This means that on separation, each spouse is entitled to a 50% interest in all family property, unless either spouse can show that equal division would be unfair.

The new law also clarifies what is included in “family property” and what is excluded to reduce lengthy legal battles over this issue. Some examples of what will be excluded is property acquired before the relationship and gifts or inheritances. The current law is silent on the issue of family debt, but the new law provides that spouses will be equally responsible for family debt. You and your spouse can agree to opt out of the new rules about family property by agreement, and it is advisable to put any agreement in writing.

With respect to children, the new law clarifies the rights and responsibilities of a guardian of a child and takes the focus off “winning” or “losing” custody. Instead of

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using the term “custody,” the new law refers to a list of “parental responsibilities” and allows parents to decide how to divide the responsibilities between them.

The best interests of the child has always been an important consideration when making a decision involving a child, but the new law makes the best interests of the child the only consideration. In particular, the impact of family violence on the child’s safety, security or well-being will be one of the factors to be considered. The new law promotes ways for people to resolve family disputes without going to court, where appropriate, by placing emphasis on mediation, counseling, and the use of parenting coordinators.

If you are entering a new relationship or you are in the middle of a separation or divorce, being informed of your legal rights and obligations may assist you in making this transition. The new law is not in force yet, but when it is, if you have any questions about how the changes may impact you, the lawyers at the law firm Henley & Walden LLP in Sidney, B.C., are available to meet with you.

Henley & Walden LLP, Personal & Business Law. 201 – 2377 Bevan Avenue, Sidney, B.C. V8L 4M9. Telephone: 250-656-7231. Web: www.henleywalden.com.

2189 Keating X Rd 250-652-5200 www.harbourcitykitchens.com

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

25

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The Best Care Begins at Home

M

by Murray Tough

y father died of prostate cancer. As a surgeon, he spent his entire working career in hospitals; he was at home in hospitals. And yet, when his condition became palliative, there was never any doubt that he would spend the rest of his life at home with his family. My mother was dad’s full time caregiver as his disease progressed through every stage.

This spring, my mother died. Like my father, she chose to die at home with her family and I consider myself very fortunate that I was able to look after her during that time. I got to share love, laughter and, yes, a few tears with her during those last weeks.

There aren't many times in our lives when we have the ability to put everything on hold while we care for a loved one. We have to earn a living, raise our children and serve our communities. If my mother’s illness had happened at any other time of my life, this story would have had more hardship and sadness than joy in it.

My father-in-law had Alzheimer’s disease. My mother-in-law watched as her husband of 50 years changed from being a kind and caring man to an abusive, belligerent stranger. She too had to care for her husband, but the man he had become was no longer the man she loved; there were no longer moments of joy and laughter. Looking after her husband was truly a burden and she desperately needed help.

These are some of the stories that led me and my wife, Kathy, to the home care business. We started Serenity Home Care because we realized that our generation, the so-called “sandwich” generation, needed help. From a very personal perspective we understood that having a caring person who could look after our parents would take away much of the guilt and stress we feel when we are torn between our responsibilities to our parents and our children, our jobs and our communities. Quitting work to become a full-time caregiver is rarely an option.

For us, the key to success was not to have an army of caregivers who would look after the cooking, laundry, errands and whatever else was needed. The key was to find loving, caring people who would form a friendship with our loved ones and who would do the sorts of things a family member would do. Yes, they do the cooking, laundry, errands and whatever else is needed but, more importantly, they do what friends and family do. They take our loved ones for

walks on the beach, putter in the garden with them, play golf, go to church, go to the theatre or simply watch TV together.

Not long ago, a nurse at a care facility told one of our caregivers that she, the caregiver, had transformed a man’s life.

The man had been lonely and depressed. His family visited as often as they could but there was not much stimulus in his life between family visits. His caregiver quickly learned that he liked to build things so she began bringing models that they could build together. It is such a little thing, but knowing that you have transformed someone’s life is huge.

Murray Tough and his wife Kathy are the owners and operators of Serenity Home Care, an in-home non-medical caregiving company on Vancouver Island. Murray is an active volunteer with the Rotary Club and The Prostate Centre in Victoria.

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Visit us in the Landmark Building #102-2506 Beacon Avenue, Sidney

Mon - Sat 10-530 • Sundays & Holidays 1130-5 778-426-3356 • www.marmaladetart.com

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

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SWEET HEART OF A DEAL 15% off luxurious flannel bedding

Discover Buddies … a great little toy store!

Sidney Store

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Celebrate Valentine's Day by egend has it that Saint Valentine was a Christian priest who married couples in secret. We may not all be saints, but we all deserve a little love. This Valentine's Day, treat yourself and those you care about to a little something special from one of Sidney's unique shops.

Whether it's something for the home, a pretty piece of jewelry, a day of pampering or a great little toy, Sidney's diverse range of stores has everything you're looking for.

Shop local and stay connected to the merchants in your community – all year round!

Pretty Yer Piggies!

Truly Natural Holiday Open House Nov 25, 5-8pm

1/2 Price Pedicures Through February Saltspring Soapworks

Brentwood Bay at Trafalgar Square 250.544.8211

Flush Bathroom Essentials #102-2537 Beacon Ave Sidney, BC BATHROOM ESSENTIALS

Sidney at Sidney Pier Hotel 250.656.5506

250.655.7732 www.FlushBath.ca

All natural plant-based botanical ingredients

www.knickerbockers.ca

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Victoria at Broadmead Village 250.658.5578

Gift With Purchase February 1st–14th Receive a PANDORA heart jewellery box* *See store for details.

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#3-2310 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250.656.2321 www.existhairworx.com

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Store-Wide Semi-Annual Sale!

20% - 50%

A Wonderful Selection of Valentine’s Cards for Your Loved One!

off

Bras • Panties Cami’s ❀ Warm,Cozy Nighties, Robes & PJ’s ❀ EVERYTHING ON SALE!

cards & gifts You bring the moments, we’ll bring the words.

2424 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.656.1002 www.sweettalkandlacelingerie.ca

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2449B Beacon Avenue, Sidney, B.C. (across from Tanner’s Books) 250-656-4316

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Shopping Sidney

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All these great shops and free parking too! Shopping Sidney really is simple!

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free public parking

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Map by John Webber pacificsafety@shaw.ca

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Conversations from the Past – Bert Todd

by Valerie Green Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down and talk with some interesting characters from Greater Victoria’s past? If so, wonder no more. In a series of upcoming “interviews,” imaginary conversations will be conducted with some well-known (and some lesser-known) men and women from Greater Victoria’s colourful history. Although these conversations are merely creative figments of my imagination, they are all based on fact.

Bert Todd, a one-time Victoria Mayor (1917-1919), tourism promoter extraordinaire, and a man obsessed with ensuring better road conditions throughout Greater Victoria and beyond, was born into a family of high achievers. He also rose to great heights in his short but very productive life.

Interviewer: Mr. Todd, when were you born and tell me a little about your family?

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SEASIDE TIMES

Todd: I was born in Victoria on August 5th, 1878. My father was Jacob Hunter Todd, the salmon-canning magnate. My mother, Rosanna, was his second wife and had been a teacher back in Ontario.

My brother, Jack, was a world-famous bacteriologist, and my half-brother, Charlie, an industrialist. I also had two sisters who were women far ahead of their time.

Todd: I was always civically minded, but my real passion in life was the automobile. I began to study automobile development early on, observing European experiments made

by Karl Benz and the works of Haynes, Ford and Buick in America. In May 1903, I purchased a two-seater steam model car for $1,800 from car dealer and inventor Bagster Seabrook, manufactured by the White Sewing Machine Company.

I first drove it from Victoria out to Shawnigan Lake in a mere two hours and 53 minutes. The journey back took one hour and 34 minutes, so obviously I gained some motoring skills along the way! The trip was made without insurance, driver’s licence, registration, licence plates, windshield or fenders (none of which were mandatory). The following year the B.C. government introduced an annual licencing fee of $2 and I became the owner of Licence Number 13.

www.seasidetimes.ca

More Than JusT hardware:

I: You obviously made history that day!

T: Yes, and I also became obsessed with promoting tourism and better road conditions throughout the entire Pacific Northwest. They called me “Good Roads Todd!”

I: How did you become interested in building a more permanent Pacific Highway in 1910?

T: Well, after I married the car dealer’s daughter, Miss Ada Seabrook, we spent our honeymoon driving to Mexico in a 30-HP General Motors Cadillac. That trip involved a 5,000-mile journey south and back again up the Pacific Coast to Vancouver. Our journey became the forerunner of all Pacific Highway travel, and my notes of that trip are now on official record.

I: And they helped to establish Victoria as a centre for tourism. During your time as Victoria mayor, I believe you helped promote those delightful hanging baskets on the distinctive lamp posts in Victoria?

T: I had seen similar lamp posts on my travels throughout Europe and I think they give Victoria a most distinctive and unique feel.

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I: Indeed they do.

Todd continued to believe in the future of the automobile, seeing it as something more than just a frivolous toy for the rich and privileged. He helped make it accessible to the masses so that eventually it would shape the economy, geography, and all social aspects of society.

After a lengthy illness, Bert Todd died in Seattle at the age of 50 in October 1928. Today, his name can rightfully stand alongside all those who promoted the automobile and early highway construction throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Valerie Green is an author and historian and can be reached at valgee@shaw.ca. Sketch of Bert Todd by Grace Smith.

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31

Saanich School District Jumpstarts Student Careers – Darcy Rhodes

B

by Devon MacKenzie

y the time he reached 22 years of age, Darcy Rhodes was running a 30-member crew of carpenters and apprentices, building one of the tallest wood frame structures in B.C. Recently he was quoted as saying: “Pretty good, eh?

Twenty-two-year-old kid laying out a $22-million project,” after a day's effort at his current work site.

The program allows students to start an apprenticeship as early as grade 10 or age 15. Rhodes took full advantage of this opportunity and spent his summers working for CanPro Construction before transferring his apprenticeship to Ocean View Construction.

His great success at such a young age was not just because Rhodes was passionate about his career path but also because he was fortunate to start his carpentry apprenticeship in high school as part of Saanich School District’s Secondary School Apprenticeship Program.

Apprenticeship training through District 63’s program consists of both logging work-based training hours at the work site and

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SEASIDE TIMES

“To apply for the program I basically just had to write an essay outlining my interests in the trade, record any work experience hours I had logged, and have a few meetings with the program coordinators.

It was an easy process,” Rhodes said.

The Saanich School District’s program not only offers carpentry programs for high school students but also dozens of different trade and career programs through postsecondary institutions. Each program is tailored specifically to the individual student and their chosen trade.

All Saanich School District trade programs have three main goals. The first is to have the student graduate, the second is for the student to attain level-one technical training, and the third is to see that the student becomes indentured to a local employer as an apprentice. Meeting all three goals ensures the student’s smooth transition into the workforce.

Rhodes said School District 63’s program helped him complete all his training very quickly.

E

Healthy Food means a Healthy Lifestyle

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attending a series of technical training sessions at a college or university.

www.seasidetimes.ca

“I was essentially able to fast track everything,” he said. “Because I already started my work experience and education in high school, I was able to enter the program at Camosun and skip the wait list which is usually a minimum of a year.”

He likens the program to “paving

the road before you drive on it,” and his advice to those thinking about the carpentry program is simple: “Get the application process and the program started as soon as you can. In high school you have the most time to devote to something like this and once you’re in the program it makes everything throughout the apprenticeship process super easy and fast.”

Are You a Young Reader That Loves to Curl Up With a Good Book?

He also encourages young apprentices to participate in the Skills BC and Skills Canada trade competitions.

Participating in these events and winning medals in both were highlights of his apprenticeship training.

Rhodes now works with Scansa Construction Ltd. and is currently a foreman on a largescale commercial construction site.

"Pretty good, eh? A 22year-old kid laying out a $22-million project."

Do You Want to be Published?

Then Seaside Times is Looking For YOU!

For more information on how to get involved as a student apprentice or as an employer sponsor in this or other career programs, contact Stu Rhodes at srhodes@sd63.bc.ca or at 250-415-9211.

For an overview of the trade training opportunities offered by the Saanich School District, be sure to view the promotional YouTube video “Jump Start Your Career” at http://www.youtube.com/user/saanichcareers.

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In the March Issue We Launch our “Young Readers Book Review & Contest” Each month Seaside Times will have a selection of titles from Tanner’s Books to choose from If you’d like to write a review and have it published, please email editor@seasidetimes.ca Enter to win! Of the 10 new releases listed in the review each month, tell us your favourite and why on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SeasideTimes) and you could be the lucky winner of that book!

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

33

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SEASIDE TIMES

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www.seasidetimes.ca

grey matters

The under-fives and their grandparents have more in common than seems obvious at first blink. Little ones are introduced to computers so early in life that it's not long before they become part of their routine along with iPods and cellular phones. Their

Always an early riser, she checks her emails every morning for an hour and that's about it.

Being a vital part of the community remains high on her list of priorities: volunteering at the church, the children's club and the local theatre company; attending dance and exercise classes; meeting friends old and new for lunch, coffee, shopping and other social activities.

In short, this gregarious lady has a full life.

Her laptop is the icing on her cake. “I'm really happy I made the move to get one,” she says.

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and as always, hemming is complimentary

Pressure notwithstanding, it should be obvious that pointing a finger and touching a box on a computer screen is infinitely less complicated than writing and sending an email. And here's a thought: Take your grandchild with you!

A C C E S S O R I E S

In a recent community newspaper, columnist Brian Kieran said he thought it unfair that so much weight is given to completing forms online. In his opinion, this presents a hardship for seniors. For example, elderly drivers who are required to take a DriveABLE road test must take a cognitive test on an ICBC touch screen computer. He wrote: “Many seniors in their '80s are hardly computer savvy enough to master email, let alone adapt to a touch screen monitor under such pressure.”

Taking things a step further, Fay has since bought her very own computer. Accompanied by an expert who fixes, sets up, teaches and advises those wanting to purchase one, the woman who once thought computers fine for everyone else chose a laptop. Now she communicates with her son and daughter-in-law in Japan, her other children and grandchildren in Nova Scotia, and her many friends in the United Kingdom.

A N D

The local library boasted five brand new computers, with comfortable chairs set at an ergonomically correct height for typing, and even a printer for patrons. Fay asked staff members to educate her in the fine arts of computership. More than happy to oblige, they showed her how to set up an email account, write an email and send it.

“elders and betters,” as many of us were taught to refer to seniors when we were young, often have time on their hands. Time in which to ask the assistance of your own or a friends' grandchild, great-niece or nephew to get online. They will probably be delighted to help. Both of you can play cards and other games on screen, surf the web and, like Fay Schwartz, email letters and photos to family members and friends far away.

Ashby-Rolls

M E N S W E A R

“Computers are fine for

by Trysh everyone else,” Fay Schwartz used to say. “But they're not for me.” In her early '70s, she preferred to contribute to the community in ways involving some sort of physical activity, rather than sitting still typing. Then her son announced he was off to live in Japan. The retired early childhood educator, who used to own a nursery school in Victoria, wondered how on earth she would stay in touch with him … especially after discovering that postage to Japan is expensive and the mail slow. With her best foot forward in the spirit of adventure, she thought herself not too old to learn some new tricks.

d.g.bremner & co.

Wired Seniors

The Secret of Nanoose Bay

T

by John Webber During the Second World War, both sides were using secret devices which could prove fatal to those who where not aware of their potential. Both the allies and axis had problems with the reliability of torpedoes and sonar.

Today’s sonar buoys, sonar equipment, acoustic torpedoes and anti-submarine detection methods are still being analyzed and tested at Nanoose Bay.

St A M er d en li & t W ng Re ion ith Sil c Th Pu ver eiv is rc Br e a ha ac se e l ! et

he secrets of the battle of the Atlantic are still being solved on Vancouver Island at Nanoose Bay and in the Strait of Georgia at a Canadian navy research base north of Naniamo that studies the best methods to search and destroy potential enemy submarines. Officially called the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges, the base is still researching and improving the naval underwater secret devices invented during WWII.

The base tests the reliability, quality and accuracy of surface, air, and subsurface torpedo launching in its threedimensional underwater tracking range.

It also maintains and tests different types of helicopter dipping sonar, submarine sonar and sonarbouys used in antisubmarine warfare by our military.

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SEASIDE TIMES

There are various displays of torpedoes, helicopters munitions, sonar, diving and computers and ships from the U.S. Navy, Canadian navy and the Canadian Coast Guard are on public display.

Kids, both young and old, can enjoy a ride in a high speed rigid hull boat or the slower aluminum boat ride to Winchelsea Island where the nerve centre of the testing facility is located.

The base uses 60 square miles in the Strait of Georgia, on the east side of Vancouver Island where it is over 1,000 feet deep. The depth makes it ideal for testing torpedoes and submarine detection methods – the test area is wired with 24 underwater detectors that carry threedimensional information back to the operations centre for analysis.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges is a small but important part of Canada’s West Coast navy. It's nice to know we can continue to sleep well with the comfort of knowing that we have some of the best equipment in the world to help ensure our coasts are safe from potential predators. www.seasidetimes.ca

2012 – Hype or Reality?

by Heather Zais (intro by Pene Horton) With December 2012 coming up like a goods train and the Mayan calendar end date on most people’s minds, will December 21st slither under the door of the 21st Century the way Y2K did, or is there some substance to the prediction that the world will end on that date?

There’s a melting pot of hysteria, confusion and conspiracy theories around that date, and no doubt the hysteria will grow until we find out for ourselves which theories are right.

In the meantime, Heather Zais, of Zais Astrology (resident Seaside Times astrologist), has this to say about 2012, and whether we should be concerned or not.

The number value of the day is 11; two when added together. This gives a strongly spiritual influence to the day, even though the effects will extend further back and forth like the blending of the seasons.

The day itself is a reference point; unity is the keyword. Analyzing the planets’ interaction with each other indicates the world will not end that day, so many will have to shift gears inwardly and outwardly.

There will be much soul-searching and looking for answers. It's time to put aside the doomsayers' words and move forward.

The Mayan calendar ends, but with endings there are always new beginnings.

Thought has power so think positive to avoid negative self-fulfilling prophecies.

Society is raised with the idea of a "saviour," so hope will grow for divine intervention or alien help, and many will look to God or other spiritual icons.

Some re-polarization will occur on personal, physical or spiritual levels. Be strong. Those just standing around until December 21st, waiting for rescue (or death), will have to regroup or start over. Put effort into recovery and improving conditions. We are all on the same

planet – in the same boat, so to speak – so start paddling! Inner strength overcomes physical limitations. Work on environmental conditions – the old can be improved and be new again.

It will be important to have the right people in power or as leaders.

The 11 and two show a strong female influence (including mother nature).

Original and historical works will be studied for their messages or hidden meanings The possibility of UFOs and aliens will be considered, and claims or evidence of sightings will be in focus.

There will be shaking going on as Earth and atmospheric changes continue, as well as fires, quakes and volcanic activity. Pay attention to Cascadia, the Pacific Rim and the "Ring of Fire."

Weather, wind and power issues affect electricity and communications of all types.

Sun spots and solar flares will have some influence and disconnections cause loss of information. Have backup for anything important. Brownouts or blackouts cause problems, some of which will become security issues resulting in tensions and hostility.

Finances get creative and hacking is a concern.

There will be natural or man made disruptions, threats or disasters, some related to water with too much or too little of it.

Protect and save water where you can – seek fresh sources or refresh where possible.

Major force will be seen in some areas with some catastrophes or deaths. Other areas of concern will be space junk, rocks, satellites or other debris from above or below.

It all comes back to the spiritual oneness of humanity and that we are all united on the soul level. This needs to be recognized. The world is not ending – we are at the dawn of a new beginning. february 2012

37

Parents Night Out! !

Need a night out? We can help! Enjoy some free time while we entertain your child in a safe, fun filled environment.

5-10yrs

We will start the night out with crafts and a swim in the pool.

After swimming we will have popcorn, a PJ party and watch a movie on our inflatable movie screen. * Second child (sibling) is $10.

Location: Panorama Recreation Centre 66382 Sa 6pm - 10pm Feb 25 1/$20* 66383 Sa 6pm - 10pm Mar 31 1/$20* 66384 Sa 6pm - 10pm Apr 28 1/$20* 66385 Sa 6pm - 10pm May 26 1/$20*

Added Bonus!

Parents will receive coupons for discount at these various Sidney businesses: Salon J, Mary Winspear Theatre Productions and Beacon Landing Restaurant.

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Visit our Website www.bleuecoyote.com to find out our daily specials!

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SEASIDE TIMES

Micro-Roasted Freshness …

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Saanichton: Mt. Newton X Road www.seasidetimes.ca

smell the c o ffee

What was not amusing was the coffee. At the lowest point of my caffeine-controlled coffee spiral downward, which, you might recall from December’s editorial, I promptly halted with a three-week completely caffeinefree coffee cleanse, I was able to start thinking clearly once again. After experiencing my lapse in coffee control, I’ve now become concerned that the small independents are going to feel the pressure of the coffee chains around their necks unless the true coffee consumer concludes that they do not want the ever-so-cultural Canadian coffee connection to fade colourlessly to beige.

I am now more profoundly in support of those nonMcCafés than ever before – the ones that have real

So, my point here is this: Recycle those cheap coffee coupons and kick the coffee chains to the curb in support of the little guys who keep the coffee quality real, fresh and worthwhile for all of us … and remember not to wear a coffee chain around your neck; it’s not very Canadian … Steve out.

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39

A C C E S S O R I E S

During my brief withdrawal period from coffee back in the fall, I alluded to the fact that I was looking for midday caffeine fixes at fast food places, but what I neglected to mention was … I was trying new coffee styles that were cheap and accessible. I made my way through a couple of McCafé drivethru's hoping nobody would notice me, and, even worse, I tried a couple of the Tim Hortons' push-button lattes too! I admit: I got tempted by coupons I received in the mail for cheap lattes and momentarily fell victim to the commercials with $1 coffee offers from Tim Hortons. I soon realized that these chains were riding into “Charbucks” territory, which at first I found to be amusing.

baristas and comfortable, cozy corners in which I can consume great coffee in quiet. Remember: as a fellow coffeeloving consumer, we all agreed to drink better quality coffee in 2012 … or have you fallen from your resolution after only one month? … Hmmm!

A N D

I’m a huge fan of coffee. Actually, or more accurately, I'm a fan of the coffee house experience itself. There’s a certain warm “Canadian” feeling that comes over me when I think about the coffee table conversations that happen coast to coast in Canada, but as your self-proclaimed “Coffee Scout,” I am sounding the alarm bells when I say “The coffee chains are coming, the coffee chains are coming!” And I don’t mean a new fad in bling.

M E N S W E A R

by Steve Sheppard

d.g.bremner & co.

Coffee Chains are NOT Jewelry

What's Happening to Us?

R

by Pene Beavan Horton

ecently, someone noticed two teenagers standing side by side – texting each other.

This may be funny at first glance, but it’s pretty chilling when you look at the big picture.

Those kids may never read a real book in their lives. You know, one with covers, and stuff in the middle.

I’m starting to wonder whether true readers will be extinct when this generation wears out.

In fact, does anyone know anyone under the age of 40 who reads real books for pleasure any more?

Who is a true reader? Someone who foregoes television and shuns visitors for the sheer pleasure of sneaking away with a good book?

A true reader reads all the time.

He or she can concentrate "sitting on a pin." They carry a book at all times and try, with varying success, to read a book under the table during meals. They definitely read after lights out, if necessary by flashlight, under the bedclothes. In later years, if a reading lamp bothers their spouse, they will wait until their partner is asleep, then creep downstairs and read until three a.m.

103-2537 Beacon Avenue (in the Cannery building) Sidney 250.656.5606 info@waterlilyshoes.com

40

SEASIDE TIMES

A strange bookcase, any bookcase, is a magnet to a true reader. It’s the first thing they see when they enter a room. It may well be the only thing they see when they enter a room.

They keep stealing glances at the titles, wondering which familiar friends are on those shelves, and what other exciting possibilities there are. www.seasidetimes.ca

“Excuse me, may I?” they blurt out, after craning their neck and answering the host at random.

“Go ahead,” says an understanding host, and the true reader waits hopefully for the host to offer, “If you see anything you’d like to read …”

In place of all of this we now have eBooks and Kindle and so on, but a true reader loves to cuddle up in bed with a favourite printed book, and lose themself in the story. There’s not quite the same feeling with a digital device … can you cuddle up with a Kindle?

Can you cuddle up with an electronic text messaging gadget? Can you read deathless prose and poetry minus the vowels? And if you’re only used to rapid texting, what does that do to the nxt gnerashn of books? Will they condense themselves down to X number of characters, as on Twitter?

Where wll our nxt Shakespre cme frm?

There’s something special about holding a real book in your hands.

The paper has a friendly feel. It smells good. The thickness of the book lets you know how long it is. You can tell when you’re halfway through it. You can write in it and personalize it any way you want. When you’re sleepy you can tuck it under your pillow or drop it on the floor beside the bed.

But what I have to admit is that you can now carry 1,400 books around in the palm of your hand if you have an eReader. And that’s hard to beat, even if you can’t cuddle down with them.

skin deep

Wine Education Classes Begin

24-day Mediterranean Cruise

aboard ms nieuw amsterdam

by Dave Gartley As I sit down to write these articles, I type in all my ideas and then start editing until I reach the magic 250-word count. I find it increasingly difficult to get a meaningful message across in so few words, and can’t help but think there must be a better way to pass on knowledge and help you to better understand wines and how to pair them with the foods you love.

Starting Sunday, March 4th at 1:30 p.m., I will hold the first of a series of 1.5-hour wine education classes at Gartley Station. We will taste a few wines, learn how to evaluate wines, and, when possible, pair wines with foods prepared by some of the Peninsula’s finest culinary chefs.

Classes will be limited to 20 people and a seating fee of $15 will apply to help offset the costs of wine and the food. If you choose to order a Gartley Station wine(s) that day your $15 will be returned as a discount toward your purchase.

Wine Education Class Details: (Registration is required) When: Monthly, starting March 4th, 1:30 p.m. sharp.

Where: Gartley Station Fermentations (108-1931 Mt. Newton X Rd. Saanichton).

How to Register: gartleystationwines2@shaw.ca, or call 250-652-6939.

S e p t e m b e r 23 - O c t O b e r 17, 2012 Itinerary: Barcelona, Spain • at sea • Monte-Carlo, Monaco • Livorno, Italy • Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy • Naples, Italy • at sea • Nafplion, Greece • Katakolon, Greece • Kerkyra (Corfu) Greece • Dubrovnik, Croatia • Venice, Italy • Venice, Italy • Venice, Italy Kotor, Serbia and Montenegro • at sea • Piraeus, Greece • Dardanelles Strait, Turkey Istanbul, Turkey • Istanbul, Turkey • Mykonos, Greece • Kusadasi, Turkey Santorini, Greece • at sea • Split, Croatia • Venice, Italy

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miles on every cruise!

BC Reg No. 2550-6

Sidney – 250.656.5441 sidney@cruiseshipcenters.com Mt. Doug – 250.477.4877 mtdoug@cruiseshipcenters.com

sidney’s traditional Candy Store

G o b y l ble l o L

Seating is limited to 20 people. $15 per person tasting fee, refundable at time of purchase.

Sweet shop

These events are meant to be fun with a little knowledge on the side. Please join me!

Can’t decide between Candy or Flowers?

This Valentine’s Day give a Candy Bouquet.

A sweet choice for tough decisions

Personal Wine Preparation World Class Wines at a Fraction of the Cost 250.652.6939 www.gartleystation.com #108 - 1901 Mt. Newton X Road, Saanichton

www.candybouquet.com or visit the Franchise nearest you 77 84 2 62 54 1 ph:

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www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

41

Look at us now.

Help Us Help You Win the Gas War

DID YOU KNOW? • Spelt’s is a family-run business that has been serving the Saanichton community for 40 years • When gas prices drop, independent gas stations are hit the hardest • We are one of only two independent gas stations left on the Saanich Peninsula

We Appreciate Your Business, Especially During This Time of Volatile Fuel Pricing at the corner of Wallace Dr. & East Saanich Road

Stay in touch while on the go with the Times Colonist.

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With features such as breaking news alerts, extensive video and photo galleries, sharing tools and an offline reading option, our feature-rich applications allow you to enjoy your news - your way.

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co mmo n cents

It's That Time Again!

by Deborah Reid That’s right – it’s time to make your annual contribution to your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). If you have not already opened a TFSA, you should consider doing so as soon as possible because it offers some great tax advantages!

Four years ago, the TFSA was introduced to encourage Canadians to save. Any Canadian resident Deborah Reid who has reached the “age FMA, FCSI of majority” (19 years in B.C.) can contribute $5,000 annually. If you have made no contributions to date, then you can contribute a total of $20,000. If you have not maximized your contributions, you are allowed to carry forward unused contribution room indefinitely.

Contributions to the TFSA are not tax-deductible, but you can withdraw the income, growth and contributions at any time, tax-free. The amount withdrawn is added back to your contribution room for the following year.

Although you can make a contribution at any time of the year, it is best to contribute early in the year so you can maximize the tax-free growth and income.

The determining factor whether to invest in a TFSA or an RRSP is the difference between your current tax bracket and the one you expect to be in when

Sudoku Solutions 7 3 1 9 5 2 8 6 4

6 5 2 8 1 4 7 9 3

4 8 9 6 7 3 5 1 2

3 9 5 1 8 6 4 2 7

Puzzle by websudoku.com

8 4 7 3 2 9 1 5 6

2 1 6 7 4 5 3 8 9

1 2 3 4 6 8 9 7 5

5 7 4 2 9 1 6 3 8

9 6 8 5 3 7 2 4 1

Exceedingly Evil

TFSAs can be maintained for a lifetime, which makes them an ideal complement to a retirement income plan. For example, you are required to make minimum withdrawals from your RRIF, which provides tax-deferred growth, but if you don’t need those withdrawals, you can put them into your TFSA to continue enjoying tax-deferred growth.

If you have not taken advantage of a TFSA then you should speak with an advisor to discuss how to make best use of this outstanding tax-saving opportunity.

Deborah Reid, FMA, FCSI, is an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member–Canadian Investor Protection Fund. This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article. Deborah Reid can be reached at 250-655-2884.

58-day AmAzing SAiling Vancouver to Sydney

Consider contributing investments that are expected to increase significantly in value in order to maximize the tax savings. It is important to keep in mind that you cannot claim capital losses in a TFSA, so a TFSA would not be the most appropriate account in which to hold high-risk stocks.

4 8 5 3 2 7 6 1 9

1 6 3 9 4 8 5 7 2

7 9 2 5 1 6 4 8 3

8 3 4 7 5 1 9 2 6

Puzzle by websudoku.com

6 1 9 2 3 4 7 5 8

5 2 7 8 6 9 1 3 4

2 7 8 6 9 5 3 4 1

9 5 1 4 8 3 2 6 7

3 4 6 1 7 2 8 9 5

Hardly Simple

you start withdrawing funds from your RRSP. If you expect your future tax bracket to be higher in the future, then a TFSA offers a greater tax benefit.

S e p t e m b e r 26 t h , 20 1 2

tranSpacific Sailing and circumnavigation of auStralia Pricing from $7,607** CDN pp (cruise & ALL taxes) Includes $50 pp shipboard credit & complimentary Pinnacle Grill Dinner ** all pricing based on double occupancy, inside stateroom **

Ear n

miles on every cruise!

BC Reg No. 2550-6

Sidney – 250.656.5441 sidney@cruiseshipcenters.com Mt. Doug – 250.477.4877 mtdoug@cruiseshipcenters.com

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

43

professional

real estate services

Gay Helmsing – Realtor® 250-360-7387 ghelmsing@gmail.com Gay knows Saanich & Peninsula Real Estate She expertly guides buyer and seller through the intricacies and regulations that may apply to both residents and non-residents of Canada.

Call for details on available properties, exchange rates and mortgages.

Your West Coast Lifestyle www.gayhelmsing.com

Pacific Paint

Hillside, Keating & Millstream Victoria, Saanichton & Langford 381-5254, 652-4274 & 391-4770

RE/MAX Camosun

Families Change...

At Henley & Walden we offer a wide range of services to assist you in preventing or resolving family disputes.

Whether you are in a marriage-like relationship and are about to buy a house with your spouse or you are entering a second marriage later in life, there are many things to consider. Having a written agreement that sets out your intentions will help prevent disputes later on. If you are in the middle of a separation or divorce, this is likely one of the most challenging experiences of your life. We can help you in making this transition by working with you to negotiate a fair settlement of the issues, such as dividing property, custody of children, and obtaining child or spousal support.

www.henleywalden.com

We welcome you to visit our office. In our first meeting we will listen to your story, as every family’s situation is unique. Family law issues often have an impact on other areas of life, such as business, wills and estates planning, or property. The experienced team at Henley & Walden offers services in all of these areas to best address your legal needs.

201-2377 BEVAN AVE. SIDNEY, B.C. V8L 4M9

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SEASIDE TIMES

www.seasidetimes.ca

TEL: 250-656-7231

seaside news

River Rescue in the Salish Sea

by Tina Kelly There is a monumental restoration project taking place in the Salish Sea. Approximately 10 kilometres west of Port Angeles, Washington runs the Elwha River. Located in Olympic National Park, the Elwha empties directly into Juan de Fuca Strait. The Elwha, formerly one of the most productive river systems in the Salish Sea, has long been impeded by not one but two dams: the Elwha and the Glines Canyon.

In the early 1900s, Port Angeles was experiencing an economic boom and, to provide the energy needed for its burgeoning industries, dams were constructed on this powerful river. Something was wrong, however, and illegal in the design – the absence of ladders for fish passage.

Prior to dam construction, the local Klallum tribe relied heavily on this ecosystem for salmon. The river and its tributaries once provided more than 100 kilometres of spawning and rearing habitat for all five species of salmon, as well as for steelhead and bull trout. That was reduced to only eight kilometres with the introduction of the dams. The dams also severely hindered the natural sediment flow. Both riverbed and beaches became eroded, nutrient-depleted and altered in geography, reducing their suitability as salmon spawning habitat.

Fast forward to September 2011. There are now holes in the dams, on purpose. After years of studies and debate, the U.S. Government is undertaking the largest dam removal in its history. Like a reverse game of Tetris, sections of the dams will be slowly removed. This carefully orchestrated and highly organized removal will occur over three years.

Each step of the way, organizations and officials will closely monitor and evaluate changes to the river system.

In the almost 100 years since the upper dam was created,

a tremendous amount of fine and large-sized sediment has built up behind it; some estimate 13 million cubic metres.

Although the deconstruction is occurring slowly, to limit the negative effects that the sediment load will have on the spawning suitability of the riverbed, restoring each salmon species does have its own strategy. These strategies include the use of captive brood programs and hatcheries.

A lot of eyes – government, scientists, First Nations, fisheries and citizens – are watching the dam removal.

All have a vested interest in returning this ecosystem to its natural state. Many are confident all salmon species will return; one prediction has the current population of 3,000 returning salmon increasing to 400,000. Everyone is hopeful for that "feel good" story, in which we successfully reverse the damage that humans have caused. It may take 15-20 years for the system to return to its historic state, but if all goes according to plan, it will be worth the wait.

More information on the dam removal, including webcams and salmon species recovery strategies, can be found at www.nps.gov. Chinook salmon are on display at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. Tina Kelly is an ocean advocate at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre.

Jim Laing – 250-652-2923

Neil Laing – 250-656-2919

A family owned and operated community business with more than 40 years of service

Specializing in: • Residential, Commercial, Strata & Condo Security • ABLOY high security locks & keys • Bell lock postal lock upgrade keys

www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

45

February Store-Wide Semi-Annual Inventory Sale!

20% - 50% off

Jewellery & Giftware

Diamonds • Gold • Sterling Silver Earrings • Bracelets • Pendants Crystal • Jewel Cases • Giftware EvErythinG On SalE!

2432 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.656.7141 www.christinelaurentjewellers.ca

The Denture Clinic Full & Partial Dentures Dentures Over Implants Relines & Repairs No Referral Necessary All Dental Plans Accepted New Patients Welcome Free Consultations

Ronald A. Postings, R.D. Robin Postings, R.D. SIDNEY 250-655-7009

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VICTORIA 250-383-7227

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www.genesishair.ca

• hair • esthetics • tanning 46

SEASIDE TIMES

Tanzania Teaching Confession by Derek Peach Dear Friends, Let me say straight off that I know the enormity of my crime and I deserve no mercy. Here I am in a strange land, entrusted with the education of these dear young women, and I have committed this most heinous violation of their developing female identities and the world of music. Blame boredom, call ignorance to account, say that opportunity and isolation conspired to create the situation, but we all know that it was a miserable flaw in my character that perpetrated this dastardly deed. I’ll tell you the whole sad story and you be the judge.

Beverly and I had divided the 30 Canadian Harambe Education Society (CHES) girls, and I had my group in a small corner of the dormitory for English classes. We did nice boring things and wrote pleasant little travesties on the language of Shakespeare, and then I discovered they loved to sing. They gave me a rendition of “Hokey-Pokey” that lifted the rafters and put a whole new perspective on the enterprise. I started feeding them all the campfire songs I could remember. They loved it! “If You’re Happy ‘n You Know It” and “The Wheels On The Bus” were just warm-ups. Let Chomsky and his silly tree diagrams gather dust; we were on a roll. Then that damnable tune began to insinuate itself into my consciousness as I tramped along the dusty roads of Katesh, humming me into wakefulness at dawn, drumming my fingers on tabletops after dinner. Still I forced the thought from my mind knowing I was bigger than such base instincts.

Alas, I knew I had gone over to the dark side when I found myself downloading the words, claiming I was just checking recall, but deep down knowing what I was about. The second last day of class I gave in to the ghastly force that had possessed me and stopped the lesson – some www.seasidetimes.ca

s k r o w b e W b m o c y e n Ho web design

You talk, we listen.

When you communicate we understand.

That's how we build lasting relationships. dreary business of phonology that might have actually given them some advantage in their studies and made a genuine difference in their lives – and I succumbed to that despicable urge. I sang the “Ballad of the Frozen Logger” to them, complete with chart of lyrics and sketches and marginal glosses on difficult vocabulary. I threw myself into a performance like the possessed creature I had become, falling stiff as the frozen logger’s corpse but then rising on one elbow to croon the last heart-rending verse, stirring thumb in imaginary coffee before collapsing finally onto the tabletop I had commandeered as my stage.

You call, we respond.

When you need us we are there.

Phone, email or face-to-face.

Of course, they loved it. Soon they were belting it out like bar-room brawlers, adding their own little gestures and musical peculiarities. Now the demon has been loosed for I have indeed sown the wind, and heaven knows what whirlwinds will ensue. These sweet innocents will go on to important careers in their developing nation, carrying within them warped concepts of Canadian weather and logging industry and a deeply flawed musical sense.

Daughter Susan will understand, poor child who was forced from a warm cocoon on school mornings by a father who perched himself on the end of her bed and sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Colleague Hilary will sympathize, she who taught me some guitar chords but never how to sing. Friend Gary will know the exhibitionist’s shame, who has from atop chesterfields performed numbers from Hair. And the end is not yet, for of late I have heard not the beating of a distant drum but lines from “Frog Went A-Courting” and “Bud the Spud from the Big Red Mud.” CHES is Canadian Harambe Education Society, an NGO providing school fees for girls in Kenya and Tanzania. Local agents Chris and Catriona Harker can be reached via www. chriscatsafaris.com or at 250-656-9229 if readers want more information about contributing to this worthy endeavour. february 2012

You ask, we answer.

Explaining computer jargon in plain English.

Is that a Web Guru in your pocket?

Pure Performance.

Sweet Results!

Absolute quality & genuine service from a team of new media experts. Call us:

250-655-9202 47

HoneycombWeb.com

The brands you’ve come to know; The products you’ve come to love

Bath & Body

Home Accents & Gifts For All Occasions victoria @ broadmead village

250-658-5578

sidney @ the pier hotel & spa

250-656-5506

brentwood bay @ trafalgar square

250-544-8211

www.knickerbockers.ca

A Boarding Kennel that loves your pets as much as you do.

Is Social Media confusing you?

Providing simple and effective guidance for:

• Developing and

implementing your company’s social media strategy

• Setting up your blog

and developing good blogging practices

• Creating a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms

• Comfortable, clean & healthy fresh air environment • Quality, nutritious foods • Exercise yards up to one quarter acre • Feline “Cuddle Time” • K-9 Playschool course • All managerial staff “Certified Kennel Technicians” • Recommended by veterinarians • Full grooming services available

2918 Lamont Road, Saanichton 250-652-2301 www.puppylove.ca • info@puppylove.ca Just minutes from Victoria Airport & BC Ferries Terminal 48

SEASIDE TIMES

• Tracking results and

measuring your success

Call us for a free consultation 250.508.7761 Book a workshop at www.bwest.ca

www.seasidetimes.ca

veterinary v oice

February is National Dental Health Month for Pets

by Shelley Breadner, DVM Did you know? People have 32 teeth; cats have 32 teeth and dogs have 42 teeth! Wow! Nobody likes to talk about their gum disease in public.

Our pets even blush when we speak about their stinky breath! The medical truth is the vast majority of pets have significant dental disease. Dental disease means gingivitis, bleeding gums, gum loss and tooth root abscess (Oww! Painful!) Calculus builds up on teeth and the disease process goes on behind this “cement wall.” Sometimes teeth cannot be seen for the heavy calculus present.

Why do we do want to maintain good dental health for our patients?

1. Prevent gum disease ( gingivitis, painful bleeding gums, gum and bone loss).

2. Resolve & prevent tooth root abscess.

3. Maintain healthy teeth and get pets keeping them throughout their life.

If you choose to get your pet’s teeth cleaned “anaesthesia free,” you are only doing a cosmetic cleaning to make yourself feel better. It is not possible to perform a therapeutic teeth cleaning without anaesthesia. It is also not possible to perform a pain-free cleaning, especially when your pet has dental disease.

Who does the dental assessment and oral surgery?

Why, our veterinary doctors, of course! Doctors examine the entire oral cavity and all teeth and review all x-rays taken of the teeth. Our trained technicians take the x-rays and clean the teeth, just as dental assistants and hygienists do at your dentist’s office. Doctors do all the oral surgery on the patients, just as a dentist does for you. Would you want your hygienist doing your fillings, root canals and extractions on you at your dentist’s office? Of course not! Ask and be sure your veterinarian is the one doing the dental procedures on your pet!

Let’s make our pets healthy, pain free and happier, by attending to their dental health in February! More information can be found at www.breadnervet.com.

4. Prevent spread of bacterial infections through inflamed gums to: a. Heart – infection and damage to the heart valves, leading to heart failure b. Kidneys – causes reduced kidney function over time c. Liver inflammation and infection d. Infections in the bones, especially the vertebrae of the spine e. Low grade chronic established infections in the body

Caring for your pet - Body, Mind and Spirit

5. Fresh breath! BONUS! Pets get to cuddle with their owners!

Why do pets have to be anaesthetized to get their teeth cleaned?

1. To be able to clean under the gumline where the disease problems occur.

2. To be able to assess every tooth and every part of every tooth 3. To identify painful abscessed teeth, perform treatments or extractions and make the pets better through proper treatment. Leaving abscessed teeth only makes for more abscessed teeth!

4. To be able to administer local anaesthetic (“freezing”) to give better pain relief following anaesthesia with any oral surgery.

Sidney Location 2353 Bevan Avenue 250-656-6977

Offering a full line of premium pet food and supplies for your dog, cat and small animals.

Proudly serving Sidney for over 9 years! www.bosleys.com www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

49

Sidney Pier (Haro’s) Seaside Times Ad Dec 2011 • Size: 7.75” (w) x 4.925” (h) • REV 1 • Nov 30/11

Every Wednesday Evening is Pasta Night

$17.95

Includes Caesar or Organic Greens, choice of Pasta (menu changes weekly) and garlic toast.

Italian wines for $25/bottle

Make your reservation now!

Call 250.655.9700 www.sidneypier.com

Whatever the Occasion …

We’ve got the Bottle

Liquor Store Good Spirits. Great Value. 9 am - 11 pm 7 days a week Friend us on Facebook – Liquor Express 50

SEASIDE TIMES

www.liquorexpress.ca www.seasidetimes.ca

Saanichton: 2134 Keating X Road 250-652-4400 Tillicum: 3170 Tillicum Road 250-384-0060 Yates: 759 Yates Street 250-384-4136, ext. 3 Follow us on Twitter – @liquorexpressbc february 2012

Sudoku Puzzles 7 3 5 2

Hardly Simple

1 8 6 3 9 5

2 4 6

5 9 2 6

2 4

5 2 7 6

6

1 3

1 3 2 6 9 7

Puzzle by websudoku.com

2

1

Exceedingly Evil

8 5

7 4

3 6

9 1 3 Keep Your Brain Healthy

5 2 7

3 6

9

5

6 3 4 1

Puzzle by websudoku.com

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. * Sudoku Solutions can be found on page 43

Zais Astrology – February 2012

by Heather Zais (heather_zais@telus.net) Aries (march 21 - april 19) Connect with influential friends or associates who are on the same page. Wonderful plans come together that benefit all involved. Be willing to re-align projects to make them more viable. Closer personal relationships develop.

Libra (september 23 - october 22) Express yourself in creative ways and you attract attention or romance. Taking time out works wonders for your sense of well-being. Attend special events and link up with those whose company you enjoy – of any age. Travel.

Taurus (april 20 - may 20) Do what is necessary to enhance your position or status. Your business or influence increases. Others see you as a winner and want to come on board. Take a stand and show your leadership capabilities. Make deals.

Scorpio (october 23 - november 21) Major decisions about home or living situation could see moves for you or others as relationships change. Take care of organizing it so all goes smoothly and everyone is happy with the eventual outcome. Endings are beginnings.

Gemini (may 21 - june 20) Negotiate terms near or far; some travel is likely, now or later. Delegate duties and responsibilities to those who can handle them best; business comes before favouritism, no matter what is said or how many strings are pulled.

Sagittarius (november 22 - december 21) Communications are key to advancing your plans. Some of this goes over distance. If there is added intensity, just get to the bottom of it. Your mental powers are strong and allow you to gain or increase some control.

Cancer (june 21 - july 22) Check out everything you hold jointly with others. There may be some required paperwork to alter the arrangements. Tax or estate matters need review as well. Follow "gut" feelings you get about this to avoid other problems.

Capricorn (december 22 - january 19) Harness your finances to give you more spending power. Wait a day before buying things you don't really need. You will have other opportunities to increase income.

Your instincts help you pick the best one. Sign.

Leo (july 23 - august 22) The full moon in your sign puts added emphasis on relationships. Matters reach a point of decision or conclusion. Don't buckle under pressure as you want this to be a winwin situation. Compromise where it makes sense.

Aquarius (january 20 - february 18) Step forward personally and adjust to some added limelight. Changes you make with yourself are positive and others notice. Set things in motion that enhance your position or relationships. You're on a role, so enjoy.

Virgo (august 23 - september 22) Pay attention to health and duties. Make sure one does not affect the other. You will have the opportunity to advance your position, but only if you feel up to it.

Long term ambitions need to be worth your time and efforts.

Pisces (february 19 - march 20) Handle most matters in a confidential way for now. There are certain details that need to be worked out before it "goes public." Navigate around obstacles or objections to gain what you want. You need a clear path ahead.

What’s Happening – February 2012 2nd Thursday of Every Month

Peninsula Newcomers Luncheon Haro's Restaurant & Bar, Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa, 11:30 a.m. www.peninsulanewcomers.ca Just moved to the Saanich Peninsula? Why not join our club to make new friends and get to know the community! We meet for lunch on the second Thursday of every month with an invited speaker on diverse topics. Share in a variety of interests and activities organized and run by our members. For more information, check out our website (above).

Until March 31 7th Annual Lego Exhibit

Sidney Museum, 2423 Beacon Ave, Sidney Open daily 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

250-655-6355, www.sidneymuseum.ca More models join the over 250 Lego models from pirates to Star Wars and cranes to castle that are on display in Sidney Museum. This year the Super Star Destroyer is the feature exhibit (over four feet long!). Admission by donation.

February 11

North Saanich Farm Market St. John's United Church Annex 10990 West Saanich Road, 9:30-2:30 www.northsaanichfarmmarket.ca Expect to find seasonal veggies, eggs, mushrooms, baked goods, meat and crafts, and of course seeds for the home gardener.

Come out and meet your neighbours and support our local farmers.

February 11, 14

"Seasons of Love" Musical Theatre Muse Winery, 11195 Chalet Road North Saanich, 6-10 p.m.

250-656-2552, www.musewinery.ca A special treat just in time for Valentine’s Day! The Muses have put together a fabulous evening of entertainment which includes delectable dining (in the Bacchus Room) with a plated dinner from Bistro Muse. Seasons of Love is a musical production to amuse and delight. Price for three courses (appy, main & dessert incl. tax) and the show is $55/person. Bring your sweetheart or gather the gang and reserve now as seating is limited. Tickets available at both Stonestreet Café locations and Muse Winery.

February 11

February 20

Star Cinema, 9842 3rd St., Sidney, 8:45 a.m.

250-655-3384, www.starcinema.ca

1831 Fern Street, Victoria (park on Begbie) Doors open @ 7:15 p.m. stories begin @ 7:30 p.m.

250-477-7044 www.victoriastorytellers.org

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD - Götterdämmerung

With its cataclysmic climax, the Met’s new Ring cycle, directed by Robert Lepage, comes to its resolution. Deborah Voigt stars as Brünnhilde and Gary Lehman is Siegfried – the star-crossed lovers doomed by fate. James Levine conducts.

Run time: 384 minutes.

February 17

Going Batty!

(Drop-in Event – all ages) Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park (Saanich), 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

250-478-3344, www.crd.bc.ca/parks Drop in between 11am and 2pm and join in a batty world with CRD Regional Parks’ naturalists. Make a ‘bat button’, enjoy a ‘bat walk’ through the park at 11:15am or 1:15pm.

Meet at the Beaver Lake nature centre. *This is a wheelchair accessible event.*

February 18 or 19

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific Market Basket Class 505 Quayle Rd, Royal Oak, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

250-479-6162, www.hcp.ca Joan Carrigan continues her wildly popular basket classes. The market basket is a very sturdy rectangular splint woven basket with a wood handle. It has an attractive plain and twill weave pattern and is a basket ready to be put to use.

Great for shopping, garden produce, garden tools and storage. All materials are included.

HCP members $110; non-HCP members $154.

February 20

Companions of the Quaich Robbie Burns Dinner & Tasting

Victoria Storytellers Guild Evening

The Victoria Storytellers Guild welcomes you to hear and tell stories. Admission $5 adults, $3 students (includes tea and goodies.

February 28

Canadian Federation of University Women Saanich Peninsula Meeting Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 7 p.m.

250-656-7010 www.cfuwsaanichpeninsula.org Lorna Crozier, renowned poet, University of Victoria professor and a winner of the 2011 Order of Canada, will be giving an inspiring presentation on Why Poetry Matters. Tickets are $5 at Tanner's Books or at the door.

Everyone welcome.

February 29

5th Annual Anti-Bullying Day (a.k.a. "Pink Shirt Day") Boys & Girls Clubs across Vancouver Island, including the Brentwood Bay Club 250-384-9133, www.bgcvic.org www.pinkshirtday.ca Anyone can join the sea of pink by wearing a pink shirt and showing they will not tolerate bullying behaviour. This event raises awareness about the negative effects of bullying in schools, youth groups and workplaces. Encourage young people to stand up against bullying through the solidarity of wearing pink shirts and by participating in anti-bullying learning activities. Other groups and businesses are encouraged to participate. Pink shirts are available through the Boys & Girls club.

Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa, 7 p.m.

250-658-1109, wuhrer@shaw.ca "One Man's Journey Through Whisky.”

International Master Mariner, John Markham, will introduce, in chronological order, four whiskies he tasted and learned to enjoy as he embarked on and built his career on the Seven Seas. Three-course dinner; four whiskey tastings. Members $60, guests $70, dinner only (designated drivers) $50.

For details on other events happening in your community, visit www.mypeninsula.ca

Sidney Museum Lego ® Exhibit Returns Are you looking for a fun way to get out of the cold and rain? Look no further – the Sidney Museum is hosting its annual LEGO® exhibit! The 7th Annual LEGO® exhibit features over 250 models, with everything from castles to pirates, cars to cranes, and Tower Bridge to the Taj Mahal. Attracting over 10,000 visitors, the exhibit is a must-see, and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

If you had LEGO® as a child, if you have LEGO® now, or if you are just interested in seeing a collection of bright toys and models, then this exhibit is for you!

The Sidney Museum and Archives has been hosting the LEGO® Exhibit since 2005, and it has grown every year. It began when Peter Garnham, executive director of the Museum, offered his family’s collection of LEGO® models as an exhibit for the quiet winter months. Now the winter months are anything but quiet. Supplementing the Garnham Family collection, the Victoria LEGO® Users Group supplies a collection of some fantastic models. This year they have contributed, among other models, an enormous street scene that spans almost an entire room in the museum. If you get the time, it is well worth spending a few minutes studying all the details they have managed to incorporate into the scene.

This year the feature model of the collection is the LEGO® Star Wars Super Star Destroyer Executor, a model which is over four feet long and weighs nearly eight pounds! The flagship of Darth Vader, this model contains over 3,000 pieces. The Super Star Destroyer is only one of many enormous models: other highlights include the Taj Mahal, which contains over 6,000 pieces; the Millenium Falcon, with over 5,000 pieces, and the Tower Bridge of London, a nearly four-foot-long scale model.

The Sidney Museum has introduced a LEGO® Creations Contest to coincide with the display. The contest is open to all ages – just create a LEGO® model of your own, then email a picture of your model to the museum. From there, your photo is included on the Sidney Museum and Archives Facebook site. The creation with the most “Likes” at the end of the month wins a brand new LEGO® set, as well as being featured in the May edition of Seaside Times. Visit www.facebook.com/SidneyMuseumArchives for more details.

The Sidney Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is by donation. Make sure not miss this gem!

Submitted by Bryan Smith, Sidney Museum and Archives.

SEASIDE TIMES

Ballet Jörgen Canada ANASTASIA

The mystery of the 17-year-old Grand Duchess has fascinated people for 90 years, spanning books, movies, and musicals.

Anastasia is the story of an innocent girl, a modern myth, and its mysterious surroundings inspire great speculation about the summer of 1918.

Embrace the gripping human drama – the life of a young girl born to privilege and cast into a heartbroken world.

Ballet Jörgen Canada is renowned for its storytelling.

February 10th @ 8 pm Adults $35 Seniors/students $30 Children (<12) $15

250-656-0275 • www.marywinspea r.ca

For The Love Of Africa Presents

Sounds of Motown Featuring The Legendary Vic High R&B Band

Saturday, February 11th Mary Winspear Centre 7pm - 11 pm Tickets $35 Available online at www.fortheloveofafrica.org or by phone 250.891.0762 A Fabulous Evening of Entertainment, Fun, Food & Dance!

No Host Bar • Silent & Live Auction • Visa/MC Accepted

All proceeds to support the work of For The Love of Africa Society Tickets available at: • Tanner’s Books, Sidney • Ten Thousand Villages, Oak Bay & Broadmead • Fay’s Brentwood Cleaners

www.seasidetimes.ca

Proudly Sponsored By:

COLLEEN M. KOVACS COLLEEN M. KOVACS COLLEEN M.AND KOVACS BARRISTER SOLICITOR BARRISTER AND AND SOLICITOR BARRISTER SOLICITOR

COLLEEN M. M. KOVACS KOVACS COLLEEN BARRISTER AND AND SOLICITOR SOLICITOR BARRISTER

february 2012

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Orr’s Family Butchers

Come in and Get Yours Soon!

Established 1979

Quality Scottish Butchers Wide Variety of British Specialty Foods Meat Pies & Pastries New Selection of Ready-Made Meals

Mention this ad and receive 50% off a 2nd entrée of equal or lesser value * Regular entrée

menu only * After 4 p.m.

Visit our new café in the Sidney shop for a traditional Scottish breakfast or soup and a sandwich!

Sidney: #104 - 2506 Beacon Ave 778-426-1934 Brentwood Bay: Trafalgar Square 250-652-3751 Victoria: 4011 Quadra Street 250-590-8067 Sidney: Open Tues - Fri 8am - 5:30pm Saturday 8am - 4pm, Sunday 9am - 4pm

Next to the Best Western PLUS Emerald Isle Hotel

2302 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC 250-656-2423 • www.smittys.ca

Welcome

Quadra & Brentwood: Tues - Fri 9:30am - 5:30pm Sundays 9am - 4pm

www.orrsbutchers.com

to The Cedarwood

Beautiful waterfront location on the Saanich Peninsula • Pet and child friendly Daily, weekly and monthly rates • Free long-term parking available Ask about our island resident rates • Friend us on Facebook!

The Cedarwood Inn and Suites – Your Home away from Home 9522 Lochside Drive, Sidney, British Columbia 250-656-5551 • 877-656-5551 • www.thecedarwood.ca

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SEASIDE TIMES

www.seasidetimes.ca

last w o rd As I sit down to write this month's Last Word, my throat is on fire and I feel terrible, so I hope our wonderful readers won't mind if I don't share something "from the heart" this time, and instead share something from everyone else's: Valentine's Day traditions around the world.

The Chinese celebrate the "Night of Sevens," which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month (late summer). On Chinese Valentine's Day, couples visit the Matchmaker's Temple where they pray for love and/or marriage. Single people also make the visit and will pray to be lucky in love.

In Brazil, as in China, the traditional North American Valentine's Day is not celebrated. Instead, Brazilians celebrate the Dia dos Namorados (Day of the Enamored) on June 12th. This date was likely chosen because it falls just before St. Anthony's Day - St. Anthony supposedly brings good fortune to all marriages. As with many of Brazil's celebrations, Dia dos Namorados is marked with festivals, dancing and lavish parties. Couples also exchange gifts or give flowers and cards to one another.

most of the traditions are similar to ours: flowers, cards, chocolate etc. However, these gifts are often exchanged in a secret way (like "secret santa" during Christmas).

There is another unique way in which Mexican men celebrate Día de San Valentín – in the evening, they may show up at their girlfriend's home with a mariachi band or trio of singers who serenade the girl with songs of romance while standing beneath her window.

Ain't love grand?

Allison Smith,

Editor-in-Chief

Managing the World’s Most iMportant investMents:

yours!

In this business…

si usan daafoe nvestMent

Experience Matters!

dvisor

susan.dafoe@nbf.ca

In Wales, on St. Dwynwen's Day on January 25th, a long-held tradition of giving Welsh love spoons to one's lover still occurs. The spoons are carved with symbols such as, among other things, a heart (love), a twisted stem (two lives become one) and birds (let's go away together). Some companies that carve and sell these intricate spoons still exist in Wales today.

#205, 2537 Beacon Avenue, Sidney

250.657.2224 • 1.866.678.2200

Mexicans celebrate Día de San Valentín (St. Valentine's Day) on February 14th just like in Canada and the U.S., and

National Bank Financial is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada which is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NA: TSX).

Sidney ’s Pet Centre & Aquatics This Valentine’s Day, Share the Love With Your Four-Legged Friends!

Mention This Ad For 10% Off in February #4-9769 Fifth St., Sidney 250-656-3314 www. sidneypetcentre.com www.seasidetimes.ca

february 2012

55

Community Arts Centre at Tulista Park 9565 Fifth Street

(Lochside Drive) 250.656.7400 www.cacsp.com

CACSP Located Here!

Community Arts Centre Events Until February 25th Saanich Peninsula Arts & Crafts Society (SPAC) will host a variety of discussions, workshops and classes. Visit www.spacsociety.com for details.

February 26th - March 4th “Artists in Residence.” Painter Sandy Bligh and weaver Diane Thorp will be working in their mediums.

March 7th - 30th Community Arts Council presents “Small Expressions.” (12 x 12 inches or less).

Call for Entries - visit www.cacsp.com for information.

Watch for these Arts Council Events • Arts Council AGM April 5th @ 7:30 p.m. • Artisans Summer Gift Gallery June, July & August • Studio Tour - spring and fall • Sidney Fine Art Show – October • Gallery by the Sea Sidney Wharf - July & August • ArtSea Festival – October Our Mandate Is: “To support and enhance community life through Arts and Culture.” The Arts Council organizes events, workshops and art shows.

It also provides grants to visual art, music, theatre and literary groups.

In addition, it provides an Arts Directory for the community.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Town of Sidney, District of North Saanich and the Municipality of Central Saanich.