VOL 01 ISSUE 02
FEBRUARY 2016
South Delta
A good home for every pony p 8
inside Purrfect place to read p 5 SOMETHINGGOODMAGAZINE.CA
Children and animals bond through reading
Empty bowls p 11
FEBRUARY 2016
Art students learn the
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What is Something Good? W
hen we launched this magazine in December we really didn't know what to expect from the community or how it would be received by readers.
Sarah Kelloway Publisher/Designer
We had an inkling that people would want to read more local stories about all the good things happening in South Delta, but the biggest concern we had was whether anybody would notice? As it turns out we couldn't possibly have imagined the overwhelmingly positive response to Something Good. It was as though people had been waiting for a publication like this to appear for a long time.
Adrian MacNair Editor/Photographer
People loved the idea of a magazine that focuses on the positives in our lives, the
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happy moments and the good feelings. Too often in telling the news, publications become weighed down in heavy topics that take the wind from our sails, rather than lift us up. We aim to do the opposite here at Something Good, by telling stories that energize and invigorate, that inspire us to be good neighbours and businesses and friends. Thank you for letting us know we're on the right track. We look forward to walking this path together.
For story ideas contact Adrian MacNair editor@somethinggoodmagazine.ca For advertising opportunities contact Sarah Kelloway publisher@somethinggoodmagazine.ca
Some good things to do
There’s always something interesting cropping up in South Delta. Check them out.
5 8 13 15
A purrfect place to read
Children and animals bond through reading.
A good home for every pony
Pony rescue society holds fundraiser.
"Magic" the pony at Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society
Something Social
A glass of wine, slice of cheese and good friends.
Something Else
Kicking and punching the Christmas weight off.
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FEBRUARY 2016
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Some good things to do SATURDAY, FEB. 13: DINNER TO BENEFIT THE DELTA POLICE FOUNDATION AT TSAWWASSEN SPRINGS Support your local police while enjoying a four-course dinner and entertainment by a 23-piece swing band this Valentine's Day. This fundraiser held by the Delta Police Foundation goes toward promoting community initiatives not otherwise covered by the operating budget of the department. Examples include community volunteer vans for Delta's three community police stations, an emergency command vehicle which provides officers with a mobile police station, along with workstations and computer equipment. Tickets are $125 per person.
MONDAY, FEB. 15: VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY AT THE TSAWWASSEN LEGION Give your sweetheart a Caribbean night out without the airfare costs. The Legion is holding its annual Valentine's Day Party with Caribbean Calypso music via the band The Tropotonics. Tickets are $15 per person and includes all-you-can-eat pasta and dessert. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. with music at 7:30 p.m.
this month!
SATURDAY, FEB. 20: SEEDY SATURDAY AND GARDEN EXPO AT HARRIS BARN Get your gardening season in full swing with the Ladner Community Garden's Seedy Saturday event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harris Barn (4140 Arthur Drive). Along with seeds and plants for sale, seed swaps, and garden vendors, there will be several guest speakers to help your garden grow. At 10 a.m. David Catzel will talk about seed saving, at 11:30 a.m. Conway Lum will discuss fruit trees and their quirks, at 1 p.m. Egan Davis will let you in on secrets of successful gardening, and at 2:30 p.m. Randy Shore will speak about “Grow what you eat, eat what you grow.” Admission by donation. Visit ladnercommunitygarden.blogspot.com for more information.
FRIDAY, FEB. 26: DELTA IDOL 2016 TSAWWASSEN ARTS CENTRE Who will be chosen Delta Idol for 2016? Find out Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as the top 13 contestants chosen by the Delta Parks, Recreation and Culture staff will perform live at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre. This is the third year for this popular event which drew 120 spectators in 2015. Performers are aged between 12 and 19 and will be judged on vocal ability, performance quality and likability. Tickets are $10 at the door for the Tsawwassen Arts Centre (1172 56th Street).
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Tsawwassen artist
has a banner year with contest win
If you happen to notice any vibrant and colourful banners about town in Ladner or Tsawwassen, chances are you're looking at the winning entry to the 2015 Delta Heritage Banner Design Contest. Gary Nay of Tsawwassen won the Grand Prize entry for his “Ours to Preserve” banner, which captures distinct characteristics of Delta's identity with nautical, aboriginal and agricultural elements.
“As an emerging artist I'm constantly looking for opportunities to showcase my art, whether it's a gallery or a contest like this,” says the retired stockbroker who began working on his art full-time just over two years ago. “It caught my eye and I thought I'd give it a shot.”
The theme of the banner was heritage, so Gary visited the Delta Museum and Archives in Ladner and “poked around” to see what sort of elements he could use in his artwork.
He decided the strongest elements would be to use agriculture, the Port Guichon ferry and aboriginal motifs to represent the First Nations people who lived here before European settlement. Gary says he “got lucky” by more or less designing the winning banner on his first try.
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TSAWWASSEN ARTIST GARY NAY AND HIS GRAND PRIZE WINNING BANNER "OURS TO PRESERVE"
“I mean it was kind of like moving up the river it seemed and I think I just did it one step at a time. I started sort of with the barn on the dike and the next thing you know I was on the ferry and then up to what I call the North Delta portion where the totem poles are shown.” Gary says he was flattered and delighted to be chosen, and though he never expected to win, he'd shown the piece to many people beforehand who had a positive response to it. What makes his art somewhat unique is that he develops it all on an iPad, which he says offers a lot of flexibility with customizing his pieces or going back and changing things.
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The opportunity to showcase his artwork all over Delta has also been good for sales.
because it's not just one picture, it's a limited edition print and lots of people can own it and enjoy it.”
Gary did a limited edition print of the banners, originally thinking he would never sell 25 in his lifetime, however they sold like the proverbial hotcakes and are already gone. He now plans to print a second special heritage banner edition with the Delta logo on it so people who enjoy seeing the banner in the streets can also have them in their home.
Also recognized in the heritage banner contest was Cathey Tyler of North Delta, and Luna Nanahoshi in the Child and Youth category for developing a Tsawwassen First Nation banner. You can see all three on the Corporation of Delta website at delta.ca.
“I haven't broken into the big leagues but I've put a lot of pictures on a lot of walls and made a lot of people sort of smile which is pretty rewarding.”
“Yeah and that's sort of why I like doing this
The banners are already up in parts of Delta and more are being added by municipal staff on an ongoing basis. They will remain up for all of 2016 and be changed when the winners are announced for this year's contest.
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A purrfect place to read Story by ADRIAN MACNAIR
T
are especially affectionate with people and like plenty of attention.
Julia was initially disappointed to learn she isn’t old enough, however when she heard about a special program which allows children from the Lower Mainland to read to the animals, she jumped at the opportunity.
Although the program ended in the fall it was such a smashing success that they decided to make it open year-round to anyone under 16 years of age who wants to practice reading.
welve-year-old Delta resident Julia is an aspiring veterinarian who already has a dog and two cats at home. Last summer she decided she wanted to do more to help animals and so she called to volunteer for the Delta Community Animal Shelter.
“My daughter is generally very shy and needs a little bit of practice reading and she just loves animals so we thought this would be a perfect combo for her,” says her mom, Marisa.
Last summer Julia came as often as she could to sit with the animals and read them stories. She spent most of her time with the cats, who are quite happy to sit in a lap and be stroked while listening to a good story. Tales for Tails was introduced to the shelter last summer and saw 40 children like Julia participate between the reading levels of grades one to seven. The animals in the program are those who
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“They [shelter staff ] know the animals really well and they have a sticker showing which animals are Tales for Tails animals, which are the animals you can read to,” explains Marisa.
“We really wanted to give children who were not old enough to volunteer yet an opportunity to get involved with shelter animals and this program seemed like a winwin” says Sarah Jones, manager for the animal shelter.
Sarah is a big believer in numerous studies which show that reading to animals help children become comfortable reading out loud. She says it’s a perfect place to practice because animals are non-judgmental. Indeed, they’re just happy to have somebody sit and cuddle them as they wait to be adopted into their “forever home.”
“It is an amazing experience to see the animals’ stress
PHOTO: HENRY THE (FORMERLY) HOMELESS CAT ENJOYS THE GOOD STORY AND A WARM LAP AS JULIA READS TO HIM
reduce right before your eyes,” says Sarah. “Living in a shelter is tough on them and although we do our best to give them a comfortable and loving environment, that one-on-one time with the kids makes so much more of an impact.”
Of course, the idea of the program is to get families comfortable with the animals in the hopes they might find a place for them in their homes, as well as their hearts. Marisa says Julia fell in love with a marmaladecoloured tabby cat named Henry. They wanted to adopt, but learned that he wouldn’t be a good fit for a home that already has a dog. Julia understood and mom says she was just happy for the opportunity to spend time reading to him. But
there’s a happy ending to this story. Henry has since been adopted by another family.
Tales for Tails is available through pre-booking on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and school days (except Monday) from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Reading times are limited to 20 minutes and only certain animals have been designated by the animal shelter as having a temperament suitable for reading. You can bring your own book although the shelter has a library for children to select from. Call 604-940-7111 to book your time slot.
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Tsawwassen seniors find new home at The Wexford
One of the realities for many seniors who leave their empty nest is that they move away from the place they've called home all their lives. Developer Century Group, along with Bria Communities, is hoping to alleviate that problem in Tsawwassen with the creation of The Wexford, a seniors living facility at 18th Avenue and 56th Street.
“People love Tsawwassen and they don't want to leave, right? They don't,” says Rosanne Philbrook, manager of The Wexford. “My husband's from Tsawwassen, he's lived here 40 odd years. He's lived here all his life, his mom and dad have lived here all that time and there's nowhere else he's going to live. And I think people who've lived in Tsawwassen for a long time think like that. They don't want to go anywhere else.”
says Rosanne, adding the backyard of The Wexford will look onto a park where children can play.
Rosanne says her mandate is to ensure seniors are still connected to the community, as she does for those who live at The Waterford. “This is going to be neat because it's going to be standalone, the community is going to be built in. I'm going to be
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I THOUGHT I WAS A GOOD FIT FOR THE NEW BUILDING. BECAUSE I LIVE HERE, I WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I WANT TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THE SENIORS TO GO THAT THEY'RE PROUD OF AND HAPPY TO LIVE IN."
Rosanne is the former recreation manager for The Waterford and has worked in seniors health care for 20 years. The Wexford is similar to The Waterford in many ways, including rates, included meals, a continental breakfast, light housekeeping and all inclusive activities.
When it opens in April, 2016, it will be part of an exciting new multi use complex that includes nearby townhomes with a shared courtyard and the Northgate development that will have retail and office spaces. “So it's going to have that kind of multigenerational feel, a little bit more of its own community within a block,”
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trying to connect the townhomes and the families with the seniors and try and do some open house events when it opens so they can come and see how vibrant and lively the seniors really are.
FEBRUARY 2016
That there isn't that stigma.”
Rosanne says the seniors in Tsawwassen are amazingly active, going to social outings and volunteering in the community. The Waterford has daily fitness classes, Tai Chi instructors on the weekends and yoga once a week to keep seniors fit and healthy. Even in the extended care unit there is a walking loop with markers to tell seniors how far they've walked. They can even use those markers to contribute to the annual Terry Fox Run without leaving The Waterford.
“We have a very highly driven calendar from resident feedback here where they tell us what they want to do and we make sure it happens. I think that kind of thing is where I can kind of fulfill the wishes of the seniors.”
Rosanne says many residents at The Waterford are people who lived and worked in South Delta for most of their lives. In fact, she says the other day a Langley woman showed up to inquire about availability. She had lived in Tsawwassen for 25 years but moved away to be closer to her children. When her husband passed she wanted to come “back home.” “So she took a taxi for $120 from Langley to here. She's been staying at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, eating at Brown's Socialhouse and going to
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the White Spot and seeing all her old friends. Getting her hair done at the old hairdressers.”
Incredibly, despite the two year wait list, there happened to be a room opening up. She jumped on the opportunity right away. “She said, 'this is it, I'm moving back, I'm coming back to Tsawwassen. It's where all my memories are with my husband. It's where I want to be.' As she was leaving she said, 'well, I better make some phone calls, tell my kids I'm moving,'” says Rosanne laughing. There are many spaces available at The Wexford but potential residents had better hurry.
“It's a high need, right? We have a lot of seniors and not a lot of places so I guess the assumption is it's already full,” she says. “We do like [seniors] to
age in place and stay as long as possible. And we do have the care floor within The Waterford that [Wexford residents] will have a first right to go on that waiting list.” Rosanne says some people don't look that “far down the road” but it's a nice comfort for families to know that once seniors lose their ability to be completely independent there are other options. She notes the Waterford often has several Centenarians in their extended care wing at any one time.
The Wexford will be well situated in the community, right next to the Coast Tsawwassen Inn and Browns Socialhouse, across from the art gallery and the South Delta Rec Centre. And of course there's also Tsawwassen Mills, a new mall with dozens of new stores coming to the First Nations territory nearby.
“If you're a very active senior you're going to be close to the highway, you're going to be able to come and go still, and there will be the new mall to take a trip over to.”
The Wexford will also have a bus which can transport seniors to venues and shopping. But many of those decisions will ultimately come from the seniors themselves, adds Rosanne. “That's one reason why I thought I was a good fit for the new building. Because I live here, I want it to be successful. I want to have a place for the seniors to go that they're proud of and happy to live in. Right? Because I'm part of this community as well.” For more information about The Wexford visit briacommunities.ca. Story by ADRIAN MACNAIR
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A good home for every pony Photographs and story by ADRIAN MACNAIR
When the lead comes off of Joey's harness you'd think he was more dog than pony. For a split decision he freezes as though unsure which direction to go, before he bolts toward the edge of the circular paddock and then begins sprinting around us like a pony possessed.
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cost of — well, of everything — has made it harder to take care of them.
“It's not as high as I'd like it to be,” admits Tara. “It's just that the financial needs for them have to be met by us so we can only do it in smaller quantities.”
It also depends on the size of the horse and their specific nutritional needs.
oey is one of five ponies who live on this Ladner farm at Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society, a charitable organization run by Tara Pay and her mother Marilyn Pay. Tiny Tales was started in 2012 to find new homes for rescued ponies, managing to the change the lives of nine tiny horses in that time.
Most of their ponies have come through the rescue by word of mouth and Facebook. Other times they've acquired them through the B.C. SPCA and Pipsqueak Paddocks, a miniature horse rescue located in the Fraser Valley.
The Pays have spent the past three and a half years caring for the animals on their farm in Easter Ladner.
“Horses are a passion for both my mom and I. It just kind of runs in our blood,” says Tara. “And there is such a financial problem with the horse world right now. There's just no money in it. People are just having to ditch and get rid of them. And because we have the facility, the passion, and we have the resources to do it then it just went hand in hand.” Although the farm is a haven for these ponies, the rising
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FEBRUARY 2016
A bale of hay used to cost anywhere from $5 to $7. That same bale is now between $9 and $14, sometimes doubling the cost of feed. Those escalating costs make it harder on Tiny Tales.
“I'd say our biggest expense are vet bills though,” adds Tara. “Our initial cost for any horse coming in is around $500.” One pony, Hank, cost the charity $1,100 in vet bills in the first six weeks alone, not including food or bedding. Many of their rescues come to Tiny Tales as stallions, which means there's a cost to geld them and make the animals more agreeable and friendly to adoption. Not everybody who gets a pony understands this fact.
Oliver was a stallion who had been so strong-willed that his previous owners had used a 2x4 block of wood to discipline him. Tara says that on at least one occasion he was knocked out by blows to the head. Tara sighs.
“So many people talk about these cute little animals and ask how do people abuse them, why do they need
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to be rescued? It's because they're still being mistreated, neglected, it's still the same way.”
There is a happy ending though, thanks to Tiny Tales. Oliver now lives with a friend who looks exactly like him in the backyard of a kind woman on Vancouver Island. She takes him for walks while she has her tea and enjoys his company. “There's no stress in his life. He just gets loved.”
There are many reasons that ponies wind up at Tiny Tales. “Magic” was bought for kids who outgrew their love of ponies and neglected her. As for “Joey”, our hero at the start of this story, he was a show horse who had been pushed too hard by the previous owners and developed acute anxiety. “A lot of it is just lack of knowledge. Not knowing that these ponies are going to live for so long that you have this responsibility for almost 30 years. It's not just kind of a fad.” But thankfully there are often happy endings to these tragic cases. “Ireland” is another success story. The pony had never been around other horses, only sheep, and as a stallion he wasn't properly socialized. Today he lives in a farm near Prince George with a beautiful mare as his companion. It's not quite the plot to “Black Beauty” but it does bring a smile to the lips. “So he lives now with other horses the way he should in a beautiful field and she's trained him, just as they do with dogs and clicker training, to do barrel racing. Mentally and physically he's used the way he should be and he gets to live in this ideal home for a horse.”
Tara notes that many ponies have problems simply because they're isolated. Horses are herd bound animals and want to live with other horses. They develop stress and anxiety when they're left alone, the same way we humans would.
Tiny Tales has a re-homing screening process which requires a detailed application, home visit, and reference checks. There is also a one year follow-up period during which time the rescue can take the animal back if it's not
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a good fit or there is some neglect.
“We will always take back anything we adopt out at any time if the family just decides that they can't care for them any more.”
Not everybody has acreage so there are options to board out their ponies at various farms in Ladner or at Tiny Tales. “I like people to have a bit of horse experience so I can do those reference checks on them. A lot of our horses have special needs. That's why they've come to us. So having a background in it is something that's very important to me.” Adoption fees are $500 and the money goes to immediate good use.
“As a result by somebody adopting him they're therefore helping us get the next pony in line because the $500 will then cover their vet bill.” Last year, Tiny Tales held their “Fairy Tales” fundraiser at the Harris Barn, helping to bring in over $5,000. This year, the charity is looking to do something a little different by hosting a women's expo and bridal fair.
“You kind of have to get creative with your fundraising,” says Tara. “There's a lot deserving charities out there that take people's money and people donate to them so you want to come up with something more creative that gives back to the people as well. Delta hasn't had a women's expo and bridal fair in years and with the Harris Barn not having weddings at it, it's still a beautiful venue to have a wedding fair at because it's set up for weddings.” It's good timing for Tara as well, since she's set to be wed herself this summer.
“It's not just a bridal fair, keep in mind that it's a women's expo as well so we want everyone to come.” Tiny Tales is still looking for vendors for their Fairy Tales Women's Expo and Bridal Fair event, to be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. Admission is $5 and can be purchased ahead of time or at the door. Visit facebook.com/fairytalesexpo/ for more info.
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Finding a
natural way
When Tsawwassen naturopathic physician Dr. Heli McPhie began practicing more than 18 years ago it was rare to see anxiety in children. But these days McPhie is seeing younger and younger people come through her clinic needing help with the stress of everyday life.
“I'm seeing children as young as three and four that are coming in to the clinic for treatment for anxiety,” she explains. “That means that they're in pre-school and they're having a tough time going to pre-school because they're anxious.” She and yoga therapist Beth Triano teach off-campus classes to high school students to gauge what factors contribute to this modern phenomenon. The pair say 83 percent of students in a recent class asked questions about anxiety.
“So things like, 'Dr. McPhie I feel really anxious, how does naturopathic medicine treat anxiety? I can't sleep at night. I always feel like I can't breathe.'” Triano participates in workshops with staff and children at Southpointe Academy in Tsawwassen. She says she's passionate about accumulating research that may help understand the problem in order to effect change. “Because it's systemic. It's not just the kids,” she says. “The kids are learning anxiety somewhere. Kids are not naturally anxious.” That research is being gathered for a book the pair are collaborating on, fo-
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to treat teen anxiety
cusing on the big question: If children aren't naturally anxious, just where the heck does it come from?
Triano suggests there are many factors at play, but it's partly because kids never really unwind anymore. Many teens have smartphones with them at all times, even from a very young age, leaving them “plugged in” all the time.
Triano says typically the scientific measure of increased anxiety has been by counting the number of prescriptions given to children by General Practitioners (G.P.s) to treat anxiety. And while neither she nor McPhie are opposed to allopathic medicine, both urge the need to create a collaborative relationship with naturopathic medicine. McPhie says it's important to take time to explore other options first. Those options can include a myriad of things such as changing diet, downtime from “gadgets” and technology, more hours of sleep and proper exercise.
“Coming home and eating a healthy snack and getting some exercise by being outside and unplugged for a time. Then focusing on homework,” she says, adding getting proper vitamins, Omega 3 supplements and ensuring the body has sufficient iron and protein is crucial. “We're finding that yoga and meditation are beautiful and effective tools to help reduce stress. And helping children sleep better is also important.” Although McPhie says there's both
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clinical and anecdotal evidence of rising anxiety, the purpose of the book is to explore whether it's a new phenomenon or if it always existed somewhere underneath the surface of society. “Did we just not talk about it when we were young?” says McPhie. “We still had anxious people but it was just like, keep going, don't talk about it.” Today she says it's safer to talk about anxiety and depression because there are support services, however some of the “stigma” still remains.
“I think people used to be incredibly fearful. What are the repercussions if I admit that I'm anxious? Am I going to be considered weaker? Am I not going to succeed as much?”
Triano is currently doing a practicum at SFU in counselling, working with 18-year-olds who have been anxious since they were in elementary school. The challenge is in finding practical solutions that don't simply involve popping a pill. “How to manage their anxiety so they can function during the day,” she explains. “The weight of the world is on these kids shoulders and they are really struggling.”
McPhie says that's why they want to work with schools, not just children, but also parents and teachers and administrators, to explore the root causes of anxiety and create a happier, healthier society for the future.
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Empty Bowls
Story by ADRIAN MACNAIR
offers full stomachs for the needy
Y
ou've likely heard the expression “art feeds the soul.” But as it turns out it can feed more than that, as demonstrated by South Delta Secondary School in Tsawwassen. “Empty Bowls” was an event held at the school in January which combined the talents of student musicians, actors and multimedia artists to raise money benefiting a local charity with an aim toward feeding the hungry. Students in the art department created ceramic bowls which were then continued on next page
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Empty Bowls filled with several varieties of soup made by high school teachers and then served during performances by drama students and musicians.
For the price of $30, parents and members of the community could purchase a bowl and enjoy a pleasant evening of entertainment, content in the knowledge the money was going to charity.
South Delta Secondary art instructor Julie Lymburner explains it this way to students: "So often when you make your art and your project it's all about you. It's all your world, what you're personally into, what you care about, what you think about, what you believe.' Which has a value. But I said, 'This is a different value beyond making something that matches the couch and beyond making something that is selfexpressive. You can use your talent and your artistic ability to create social change.
continued
To have a bigger impact. To make a difference in the world.'”
The story of Empty Bowls began more than 20 years ago, according to Lymburner. A former colleague of hers, graphic design teacher Peter Scurr, had visited the
bowls, somebody make soup and then invite people to come and make a donation and raise money to help feed the hungry.
The first event in Tsawwassen took place that same year with a staff luncheon. Lymburner says the school
THIS IS A DIFFERENT VALUE BEYOND MAKING SOMETHING THAT MATCHES THE COUCH AND BEYOND MAKING SOMETHING THAT IS SELFEXPRESSIVE. YOU CAN USE YOUR TALENT AND YOUR ARTISTIC ABILITY TO CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE" National Art Education Association and learned about the idea.
It was started by two art teachers in Michigan and their concept was to have the ceramic students make
was hosting the musical “Oliver” that year which tied in well with the famous line “Please, sir, I want some more”. Teachers then figured out ways to get students in-
volved in hosting the event and combining it with music and entertainment in the evening so parents could attend.
Lymburner says she always tries to create a project during the school year to raise the “social conscious” of the children through art. But does it sink in? “You know what, there are some kids who don't get it. They're looking and they're going, 'You mean I have to give my bowl away?' But by and large they were very good about making sure that it all came to pass.”
After the event, art instructor and organizer Julie Lymburner said she estimated they raised about $2,500 to benefit Deltassist, a local charitable organization which provides numerous services for families facing economic hardship, including emergency food. To read up on the history of Empty Bowls you can visit emptybowls.net.
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Something Social
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SHIRLEY SILVA, ELAINE CAMPBELL, SHELLEY PATER AND SUSAN EIDT
T
he conversation is easy and the smiles are natural as these four members of the Women's South Delta Wine and Cheese Rotational talk about their friendship. There are sudden outbursts of laughter, like when organizer Susan Eidt explains who is eligible to join.
“Any women from Ladner and Tsawwassen. We also include people who live in Point Roberts, just to be nice,” says Susan. “Don't say it that way!” replies Elaine Campbell with mock outrage. What's amazing is that just a year ago the four scarcely knew one another at all.
Susan was born and raised in Delta but at the age of 21 she moved away to Toronto and then to Edmonton and spent 13 years in each city. While in Edmonton, she started a local “pub night” that became quite successful and popular. But Susan says with men and women both attending the events became a bit of a dating SOMETHINGGOODMAGAZINE.CA
venue, and that wasn't the intention.
When she moved back to Tsawwassen and tried to reconnect with the community Susan noticed a trend where women were already in established social groups. She decided to change that by creating a wine and cheese social inviting women to come and meet other women regardless of their occupation or socioeconomic status.
Today, they have 103 members ranging in age from 25 to 75, with female longshoremen to politicians and everything in between. So, how did she get the ball rolling?
“I just started by email spamming all the females I know and it just grew from there,” says Susan.
The first to respond was Shelley Pater, a local realtor who says it's a great way to meet new people and find mutual interests. “I see it as an opportunity for professional women in South Delta
to network, socialize and potentially exchange services.”
The event is inclusive to all ages and levels of health because of the simplicity, says Shirley Silva, a Ladner resident. There's no hiking or running here. “I like this club because you don't have to do any homework like a book club,” adds Shirley.
However, she notes it's a good place to find others who have common interests so if you are into hiking or running or books you'll usually find somebody else who shares that passion. The reasons for joining seem to vary from woman to woman.
“Support is a good thing for people to have in a community. You can find common interests in other people and make new friends,” says Elaine.
Despite the membership numbers, the busy schedules of many women keeps the monthly events quite reasonably cozy. Their largest event was 26 people, continued on next page
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Something Social CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
while their next one has 17 people confirmed.
So, how do women usually find out?
Shirley says she heard it from her girlfriend, who heard it from Susan's husband, with whom she plays volleyball. “So it's like six degrees of separation,” says Shirley with a laugh.
There's no need to be intimidated if you're not a connoisseur of fine wines or cheese. Despite the name, the focus of the club isn't about wine or cheese but just getting out there and making connections. “All wine is good wine,” says Shelley with a laugh.
There are a group of regular hosts who volunteer their homes for events, while co-hosts will arrive early to help set up or stay late to clean up afterward. Participants bring wine or snacks, but everybody shares. And some don't drink at all. That's an important thing to note, since the friends carpool to encourage social responsibility and avoid drinking and driving. If you're a woman in South Delta (or Point Roberts) and would like to get in on the fun, you can email sue@eidt.org to be added to the mailing list.
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A letter & poem to the editor CONTRADICTIONS Beautiful, stately heron Displaying exquisite plumage of blue-gray feathers, Standing perfectly still with unlimited patience In our backyard pond. Alert for a flash of naively swimming goldfish To quickly spear with long razor sharp beak Providing tasty morsels with minimal need for skills and effort on your part. A battle of wills and wits continues to evolve To protect our adopted family Planting prickly plants around the pond’s perimeter Nets of various colors and texture constructed, Bright blue ropes criss- crossing above the water. Removing any semblance of the natural habitat We initially strived to create. But this is war. Yet, these measures serve only to challenge you. And as each temporary victory is celebrated We look out and see you silently watchful Contemplating your next strategy From a high vantage point. Until finally, Extending beautiful wings and uttering a loud, raucous laugh You return from whence you came… for now.
Hi Adrian, Congratulations to both of you on your first edition of Something Good. It is very useful to know about what is happening in our local community and what is new and different. For example, I had no idea there was a skating rink at Tsawwassen Springs. We have lived in Tsawwassen for 27 years and I always find it interesting to examine the interactions between nature and residential interactions. We love nature, trees animals and birds but can often experience conflict in how that interaction should present itself. We put in a pond many years ago, as many people do, and stock it with goldfish each year. I wrote this poem and do not know if it would be suitable content for your next issue or not, but thought I would send it off anyway. All the best in your endeavours, Joan Lang
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Something else.. Kicking and punching the Christmas weight off It was a few years ago now but Krista Green remembers it well. She was watching the film “Karate Kid” with her daughter who was eager to try it. As Krista had trained in Tae Kwon Do as a teenager she felt it would be a good fit for her little girl so she put her in the Tiny Tigers program at United Mixed Martial Arts gym in Tsawwassen. The moment awoke a deep memory in her.
“When I went down to the gym just the smell of the mats and the sounds of people hitting the heavy bags just kind of made me want to get back into it,” she recalls.
Krista had recently given birth and was feeling self-conscious because she was 50 pounds overweight. It spurred her to try the women's cardio kickboxing class.
“I had a lot of weight to lose and it was not coming off at the [Ladner] leisure centre classes I was religiously taking,” says Krista. “So I thought maybe I needed to try something else.” Although it's like second nature to her now, she admits the whole idea of putting on boxing gloves can be intimidating. Fortunately, many people who saw the emergence of Tae Bo cardio workouts in the 1990s know it's a relatively safe activity. “Because cardio kickboxing gives you the same mindset as aerobic type exercise classes whereas a Muay Thai kickboxing class you just imagine
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you'll get smashed in the face for 16 minutes, right?” Krista laugh.
At first she began the kickboxing class because it was the least intimidating and only for women. That took half the pressure off, she says, knowing that there would be other women just like her with the same goals and athletic ability. “And with the fear of knowing we might have to do some partner work you know, not being paired with a dude kind of makes a difference,” she says. The results could not be denied. In the first year she lost 20 pounds.
When she began to plateau, Krista thought about trying the mixed martial arts (MMA) portion of the gym because she had become comfortable watching other people wrestle and grapple.
“I started seeing results right away in toning by the wrestling. Because there's pulling and pushing and gripping and holding and squeezing.”
While Krista has scaled back to just doing the kickboxing she said there's an uptick of interest in the MMA from girls, noting since September about ten 12-year-old girls have joined the gym. Women and MMA has become
quite popular in recent years, thanks in large part to the popularity of Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm. Krista says many young girls wouldn't know about those athletes, however she is seeing older women in their twenties to forties are following combat sports like UFC due to the success of women's MMA.
In fact their sister gym in Hawaii has a female fighter who has made it a goal to get into UFC, made possible by the advent of more women training in MMA. But Krista makes it clear that many beginners come to the gym without any intention of doing that kind of fighting. And that's OK, too.
“I personally don't think girls or women who would start just because they've seen Ronda Rousey fighting. I think that's actually quite scary for someone who hasn't taken a class yet.” United MMA in Tsawwassen is open Monday to Friday with women's cardio kickboxing at 6 p.m. The courses are taught by head coach Andrew Davis, a third degree black belt in Hap Do Sool and a mixed martial arts fighter.Visit unitedmma.ca or call 604-831-0531 for more information.
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