Just out of high school in the mid-60s, my two best friends both got pregnant illegally or “out of wedlock.” Fran, from a religious home, was directed by her parents and the Church to keep the child. But they prayed over her and called her a slut. I lost track of her, as she was in and out of psych hospitals. Diane’s folks sent her to Edmonton to an unwed mother’s home with the story that she was visiting family down East. She gave her son up for adoption and married some years later, only to fi nd that her husband was sterile. Somehow, she found out that her son was still in an orphanage, but under the laws of the day, she and her husband were not allowed to adopt him. She grieved his loss every year on his birthday.
In my early 20s, I was confronted with a life-changing choice. I was pregnant by a new lover, already the father of two children being raised by his mother, who denied any responsibility. I’d been on birth control pills until recently but wasn’t seeing anyone, so when my prescription ran out, I didn’t renew it. On our second or third date, too many marguerites impaired my math and memory skills, and then there, I was two months later, faced with a life-or-death choice.
I weighed my options. I didn’t think I could raise a child alone in Montreal, where I had few supports. I could always go home to Mom; I knew she’d take us in. But raising a mixedrace child in Red Deer, AB, did not bode well for a happy life for either of us.
I was pretty sure if I went through with the pregnancy, I wouldn’t be able to give the child away. If I kept it, I couldn’t
see how we’d survive, and with my upbringing, I didn’t think I’d be a good parent.
I opted for abortion, which was still illegal in 1970 Canada. Six months earlier at work, I had listened most of the night to a woman screaming in fear and pain on the next ward. She’d had a back street abortion and now was dying of septicemia. The consensus seemed to be that she got what she deserved. No one considered she was a recent immigrant with five kids and a husband without a job.
I was luckier. Got a contact from the back pages of a radical feminist magazine and was eventually taken to a residential house in a nice neighbourhood.
My legs up in stirrups, the doctor chastised me that as a nurse I should have known how to prevent this.
— B.S. Anderson
Ladysmith’s Maritime Legacy at Risk
In a series of urgent appeals issued on August 29 and September 16, 2024, the Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS) has called upon political leaders and the public to confront a looming crisis
threatening not just the future of the society but also the very fabric of the Ladysmith community.
LMS, which has safeguarded local maritime heritage for nearly 40 years, has been crippled by the premature termination of its headlease for District Lot 2016. This unjust action, driven by provincial and municipal decisions, has resulted in the loss of $6 million in assets and $1 million in annual revenue, devastating an organization that has been central to the town’s identity, tourism and education.
Despite presenting constructive proposals and seeking millions of dollars in compensation, along with transitional fi nancial assistance, LMS’s pleas have been met with silence. The society’s ability to provide essential community programs now hangs by a thread, as does the dream of rebuilding a new community marina — an anchor for the local economy and a lifeline for affordable, accessible marine facilities.
As the October 19th provincial election draws near, the stakes could not be higher. LMS urges every voter to hold political candidates accountable and
demand they confront the injustices imposed on Ladysmith and LMS. This is not just about fi nancial losses; it is about rectifying the betrayal of a community that has seen its heritage dismantled and its future jeopardized.
This election represents a decisive moment — a chance for political leaders to take a stand and for the public to insist on real, meaningful commitments. The future of Ladysmith’s maritime legacy and the heart of its community are on the line. Voters must demand action now or risk losing an irreplaceable piece of Ladysmith forever.
— Dr. Richard Wiefelspuett, Executive Director, Ladysmith Maritime Society
Ooops!
We incorrectly identi fied Kevin Smith from Highway Antique Emporium. The correct name is Highway Antique Barn in Chemainus.
This is an open community forum. The letters published here do not necessarily represent the opinion of TAKE 5 or its affiliates.
The Game of the Season
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
Nick Cnossen has taken the baseball season by storm and now has an opportunity to make it big. This October, Nick will represent Team BC in the U15 division at the West Coast Premier Fall
Classic in Nevada. Ladysmith is a baseball town, and this is one tournament the community is not going to want to miss.
His dedication to the sport in Ladysmith led him beyond the local leagues to the Mid-Island Pirates, where he plays now. Travis Cnossen, Nick’s dad and former coach, said of his son’s commitment to the sport, “He’s honestly one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met, so I actually have to tell him to dial it down sometimes. He works so hard but is driven, and so we support with everything we can.”
It’s this drive that caught the attention of the Cnossen’s neighbour, Brian Bancroft. Brian is a local sports enthusiast and long-time supporter of Nick. “I’ve been personally observing him on the ball diamond as well as [during his] training in the front [and] backyard consistently. And he’s been more serious about this than I’ve seen kids [this] age in the intensity of personal training.”
Brian is incredibly proud of his young neighbour’s success, both in achieving personal opportunities and in benefiting the community of Ladysmith as a whole. “To see something that exciting come on our block is just very rare.”
Nick isn’t daunted by the big stage or that Major League Baseball scouts might be in the stands. “I’m just gonna try to keep doing what I was doing and play the same.” His con fidence comes from trusting in himself and his training. “[I have] been working really hard to get there, and I’m gonna keep doing the same thing to stay where I’m at and hopefully keep getting better.”
The West Coast Premier Fall Classic is in its 34th annual tournament, and Nick will play with teams from Canada and the United States. The Fall Desert
Classic runs from October 24 to 27 in Las Vegas. About the event, Travis said, “There [will be] a lot of top tier teams, and we’ll see how we stack up with kids from all over BC [and] against the big American teams down there.” If the games go well for Nick, he could start playing with American teams and win baseball scholarships to universities in the States.
This is the fi rst year Travis isn’t coaching Nick, and he’s appreciating the chance to watch his son play the sport he loves. “Anything’s possible, even if you’re from a small town. You don’t [have to] be from a big place to make it there. As long as you put in a lot of hard work and want it, you can achieve anything.”
New classrooms Are Coming to Chase River Elementary
BC NDP MLAs Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley say that students in Nanaimo will benefit, as 125 new student spaces are added to Chase River Elementary as part of the government’s actions to expand schools.
“We’ve been working hard to build education back up locally, getting students out of portables and making classrooms seismically safe,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “Now we’re building more modern prefabricated classrooms at Chase River School to help students as they learn and grow.”
Chase River Elementary will get a five-classroom prefabricated addition, which will add 125 new seats to the school. The use of prefabricated construction means students will soon be learning in modern classrooms that look just like regular schools. With sustain-
Nick Cnossen to represent Team BC. Photo courtesy of Brian Bancroft
able and energy-efficient designs, the addition also aligns with the Province's CleanBC targets and meets BC’s enhanced energy requirements. The new classrooms are expected to be ready for students by September 2025.
“When people move to Nanaimo and the surrounding area, they should be able to start and grow their families knowing their kids can get quality education in the community,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.
Through a $133.5 million investment, the Ministry of Education and Child Care is adding a total of 89 new classrooms, which is the equivalent of 2,185 new seats, to ten school districts.
Local Dragon Boat Champions BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
Ladysmith local Marnie Craig led her team to victory in the World Dragon Boat Championships in Italy. Her team medalled in all three of their events: bronze in the 200-metre, gold in the 500-metre, and gold in the 2000-metre races.
The World Dragon Boat Champion-
ships are an annual event hosted in different countries worldwide. This year’s events took place September 3 to 8 in Ravenna, Italy. The International Dragon Boat Federation announced that it was the largest IDBF Club event ever, with
163 clubs from 30 countries participating. Canada alone entered 15 clubs and 1181 athletes.
Craig was not reached for comment before publication, but she continues her work as a coach for the 49th Dragons of the Ladysmith Dragon Boat Society.
Decommission Mackie Dam Postponed until 2025
The Town of Ladysmith has decided to delay the decommissioning of the abandoned Mackie Dam until summer 2025 to protect salmon spawning on Holland Creek.
The decision to postpone the removal of the Mackie Dam was made after the Town received new information from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS), which indicated that the timing of the removal posed a signi ficant threat to salmon in Holland Creek.
While the risk of dam failure remains, it is not imminent; therefore, protecting fish spawning is the higher priority. The Town initially planned to begin removal work on September 4; however, no work
Marnie Craig at World Dragon Boat Championship. Photo submitted.
has commenced, and as a result, there has been no impact on Holland Creek.
The 1.5-kilometre section of the North Loop of the Holland Creek/Heart Lake Trail slated to be closed during the removal process will remain open to the public until work begins.
The decommissioning is expected to cost an estimated $600,000. There will be additional costs associated with the delay; however, those costs are unknown now. The project is being funded with a $2.75 million grant that the Town received from the provincial government to remediate three weirs along Holland Creek, including the Mackie Dam.
Class of ’79 45th Reunion
The Ladysmith Secondary School (LSS) Class of ’79 held a 45th Reunion in July while also raising $2179 for the LSS West Coast Wilderness Studies (WCWS) outdoor education program.
Forty-one former students, signi ficant others and even a former LSS teacher John Mulrooney and former vice-principal Andrew Bohay enjoyed reminiscing and catching up amidst laughter, tasty snacks, photo-taking and multiple donated door prizes on July 20 at Ladysmith's Eagles Hall.
A moment of silence was offered in remembrance of nine classmates who have passed on since Grade 12, including three since the 40th reunion in 2019. Losing friends was a primary motivator for holding a 45th reunion, rather than waiting for a 50th reunion in 2029.
Reunion co-organizers, Ming Jang and Shannon WyndlowTait, were thanked on behalf of the group by Class of ’79 valedictorian, Eric Drixler, and presented with gifts of champagne and flowers courtesy of former classmates.
A short WCWS donation ceremony was held in the LSS lobby on September 5, 2024, attended by LSS Vice-Principal Jake Hardy, 45th Reunion co-organizer Shannon WyndlowTait, West Coast Wilderness Studies (WCWS) teacher, Kalvin Beuerlein, and new LSS Principal, Shelley Gvojich.
The Class of ’79 group was thanked for their fi nancial gift of $2179 to the WCWS program and told that funds raised would be used to support students and aid in the purchase of additional outdoor education equipment, training certifications and field trips. Mr. Beuerlein was pleased to report that the program also has its highest enrolment to date this year, with 180 students excited to develop skills and gain experience in communications, teamwork, leadership, fi rst aid, survival and outdoor recreation.
Donations of equipment, money and people’s time are always welcome too. Please email kalvin.beuerlein@sd68.bc.ca.
Ladysmith Secondary School Class Reunion. Photo: Gord Ayer
Busy Lions
Ladysmith Lions Club members have been busy. With the support of Ladysmith’s Bosley’s by PetValu, they presented a cheque for $5,070.26 to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides.
Throughout June, Bosley’s in Ladysmith, at Coronation Mall, encouraged their customers to contribute. With this donation, the Ladysmith Lions Club was able to raise over $7000.
Then on September 18, the Ladysmith Lions Club 49th Parallel Flyers repelled down the Manulife Tower in Victoria as part of the BC/Yukon Easter Seals Drop Zone fundraiser, raising over $5000 for Easter Seals programs, services and support for children, youth and adults with disabilities. New members are always welcome.
G.O.A.T. of Goats?
BY ROB JOHNSON
You may or may not know the term G.O.A.T. stands for the expression greatest of all time, and there is a local goat that may fit that description here in Yellow Point.
Buckleberry Woods Zinnia has been named grand champion in most, if not all, the competitions she has entered into this year. She also won grand champion in the Western National Dairy Goat Show in Barriere, BC. The breed of the goat is Soanen from Switzerland.
Ray Howe and his mother, Susan Howe, have been breeding championship goats in the Yellow Point area for years. Susan said it is hard to keep track of the awards they have won, but it would be close to a 100.
No ordinary goat. Buckleberry Woods Zinnia Photo submitted.
Step Back in Time with the Blackstaff 's Heritage Schoolhouse
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
Shirley Blackstaff always wanted a schoolhouse, and when the opportunity to turn an old storage shed into the one-room schoolhouse of her dreams came, she took it. The schoolhouse opened officially last month on September 15 and is a near replica of the Old Koksilah School.
“We knew what we wanted. I’ve done some research on the internet, and I also visited Koksilah Schoolhouse. It’s like the Koksilah School, except it doesn’t have a basement. It’s the same colours: the brown and the cream. The windows are smaller than Koksilah because it’s a one-story building, whereas theirs was two.”
Blackstaff also got the original desks from the Old Koksilah School for her school. “They gave me all the desks. I went there to just get textbooks, and then I went up to say thank you, and they said, ‘Would you like the desk?’ And I said, 'sure,' because their desks were in better condition than the ones I’d purchased over the years.” The rest of the furniture and decorations are items that she purchased at garage sales over the years.
Blackstaff put a lot of long, hard hours into building this schoolhouse, including staining each floorboard by hand before it could be placed inside. But this schoolhouse represents more than just personal satisfaction and a hobby. “Heritage is the basis of us. It’s what makes us know where we come from. And we should save our heritage for the children that are coming after us… Otherwise, you would never know what your grandparents did or how they were brought up at school.”
The walls of the school hold pictures of the King and Queen, plaques thanking the people involved in building the school, and a poem sharing the experiences of children in schools like this one. “That poem shows [that] a lot of children really loved [their] school. It wasn’t a scary place for them, especially the country schools. They could get their work done and then they
would go outside and play, or they would do nature trails.”
The Cowichan Valley Schools Heritage Society (CVSHS) recently proposed a project that aims to “show the development of education” by using Blackstaff ’s Heritage Village School. The project will use the school as a place of preservation for documents, photographs and collected school items. The CVSHS plans to keep original documents at the Cowichan Valley Museum Archives for safe keeping.
The CVSHS also plan on using the schoolhouse as a site for “a hands-on educational program…to share the history and activities of past school days and to take advantage of the heritage and nature opportunities at Blackstaff ’s Ladysmith site to enrich field trip programs.”
The CVSHS is looking for new members who are interested in this and other projects that focus on saving and preserving local school heritage.
May Sosa became an author spontaneously last year while recovering from an injury. Her 10-year-old son, Liam, has high-functioning autism, and she wanted to create stories that spoke to his experience. “I wanted to really write something that my kid could relate to.”
Since she started to write last year, Sosa has published four children’s books and is scheduled to publish another in December of this year. “There’s no mention of the word autism in the stories. There’s no mention of any sort of illness… It’s more around emotional in-
Author May Sosa with her son who inspired her books. Photo submitted.
telligence. I wanted to bring the topic of equity versus equality. Not everybody fits what we [want to] make equitable. And not everybody with a disability fits the same equality.”
The stories follow animals to help kids engage with the lessons in the
books, rather than making direct comparisons to themselves. Sosa said that her choice to have animals in the book was intentional. She felt that by not including children in the stories, they would be easier for kids to digest.
Sosa draws on her life experience as a Cuban immigrant and as a nurse working in emergency psychiatry for inspiration. She explores complex scenarios through a lens of understanding emotions and having compassion. Her books are for all children, not speci fically those with diversabilities. Each book highlights the importance of friendship and compassion and learning how to accommodate differences in others.
The illustrations are done by Sosa using the design program Canva, and she enjoyed the process so much that she’s branched out into more varieties of books. “I really enjoy doing it. I have created a bunch of journals for moms with children with disabilities.”
But her latest book, The Smile That Lost Its Shape, isn’t illustrated by Sosa and instead uses a collection of her son Liam’s drawings as the artwork throughout it. “He’s very proud of the last book… I wanted him to feel special, and so I didn’t tell him anything until the book arrived and I gave it to him, and he was over the moon.”
The books are available for purchase online on Amazon or locally at the Ladysmith Museum. Sosa can also be found selling the books at the Mom’s Market on October 6, 2024, hosted at the Diana Krall Plaza in Nanaimo.
Calendar Girls take the stage
The Yellow Point Drama Group is presenting “Calendar Girls,” a comedy written by Tim Firth, based on the Miramax film screenplay by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth.
“Sometimes along comes a story of human interest with humour, friendship and drama, and this is one of them when friends step outside of their comfort zone to fundraise for a
Below:
Several Yellow Point Drama Group cast members in rehersal for Calendar Girls. Photo submitted.
worthwhile cause,” said Director Armando Dos Santos. When Annie’s husband dies of cancer, she and her best friend, Chris, revolve to bring some good from their sadness. When they convince four fellow members of the Women’s Institute Association to pose nude for an alternative calendar, what begins as a plan to buy a new settee for the local hospital turns into an international media sensation.
Calendar Girls” runs Oct. 18- Nov. 3, 2024. Opening night only! Two adult tickets for $35.
For more information, please https://www.yellowpointdramagroup.org/
The Yellow Point Drama Group has a permanent home with Cedar Community Hall, located at 2388 Cedar Rd. Nanaimo.
Forest Documentary
A “ film and talk and forest walk” for the new forestry documentary Silvicola is planned for Saturday, October 5, 7 pm, at the Heritage Hall in Duncan (2687 James St.). It will followed by a discussion with the film’s director Jean-Philippe Marquis and Forest Ecologist Erik Piikkila. The next day, on October 6, is the forest walk from 11 am to 1 pm, meeting at Kinsol Trestle Parking Lot, Shawnigan Lake.
The event will also be held in Nanaimo, Sunday, October 6, at 7 pm, followed by a Q&A at VIU, Lecture Theatre Building 355, room 203, Nanaimo. The forest walk is from 10 am to noon, October 7, at Morrell Nature Sanctuary (787 Nanaimo Lakes Rd., Nanaimo). Online registration is required.
BC Election
Cast your vote
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
The world is buzzing with election drama from our friends south of the border and it’s easy to forget that our own provincial government is also having an election.
BC’s provincial election is a quiet affair but an important one, nonetheless. This election is to elect members of the Legislative Assembly to serve in the 43rd parliament. It is your right as a Canadian citizen to have a say in the government and voting is how you do it.
Whether you’ve cast ballots before or not, it’s crucial that you vote. This is how you experience democracy in action. Voting is your chance to express your views and have an impact on the community. These candidates speak in parliament on your behalf, and this is your chance to choose who best represents the values you care about.
If this is your fi rst time voting, or perhaps fi rst time in a while, and are unsure how to vote, the BC elections website has a voter’s guide, information on registering, where you can vote, and details on what happens after you vote.
Even if voting is old hat for you, it’s best practice to review the information on the BC elections website in case there have been changes. A change that has been made this year is a new voting process which includes “using laptops instead of paper lists to look up voters and cross them off the voter lists”. Electronic tabulators will also be used to count the ballots, which BC elections promises is “accurate, secure, and efficient.”
Advanced voting in the LadysmithOceanside Riding (including Cassidy, Yellow Point, Ladysmith, Saltair, and RDN areas west of Nanaimo) are October 10-12. British Columbia’s General Election day is October 19. Locations for these, and other riding information can be found at elections.bc.ca
There are many factors which may influence your vote: your personal values, family traditions and party loyalties. But regardless of how you cast your ballot, it’s important to know who you are voting for, both as a person and as a party.
Ladysmith-Oceanside riding candidates
Stephanie Higginson BC NDP
Stephanie Higginson was twice-elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education, and a past president of the BC School Trustees’ Association. She and her family have lived in the Ladysmith-Oceanside area since 2010, where she and her husband raise their two children on a small farm in Cedar. Stephanie values education and healthcare and promises delivering strong public services, good jobs, and a strong and clean economy.
Brett Fee Conservative Party of BC
Brett Fee Conservative Party of BC has been a business owner for many years and his martial arts facility was honoured as the Parksville Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2019. He studied Political Science and Criminology in university and has worked as a local minor baseball, soccer, and martial arts coach with values of teamwork and dedication. Brett promises to foster a prosperous British Columbia through fiscal responsibility and personal freedom.
Get out and vote!
BC ELECTIONS Cowichan Valley Riding
Meet Your Candidate: Debra Toporowski BC NDP
Debra Toporowski (Qwulti’stunaat) is a member of the Cowichan Tribes, a two-term elect councillor in the municipality of North Cowichan, and a five-time councillor for Cowichan Tribes. She was the fi rst elected woman to hold both positions on two councils at the same time. Debra is a champion for Indigenous watersheds and the big issues people face in the Cowichan Valley. Debra promises more housing, improving healthcare services, and making life more affordable.
Stephanie Higginson BC NDP candidate for Ladysmith-Oceanside. Photo submitted.
Brett Fee Conservative Party of BC candidate for Ladysmith-Oceanside. Photo submitted.
The Haunting of Huard Manor
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
There are many “scary” haunted houses and supposedly “creepy” decorations that will leave you feeling disappointed, but Huard’s Haunted House is not one of them. The haunted house has been a tradition in Cassidy for the last thirteen years and is known for bringing psychological terrors that will make you wet yourself. You have been warned. The haunted house is the pride and joy of Shandra Huard and her husband, Lionel Hubert. Each year, they design a new theme, layout, and scares designed
to frighten you to your very core. The team of volunteers — affectionately called “the Boo Crew,” who delight and terrify patrons — are at the heart of this haunted house’s success.
“We’ve had anywhere between 15 to 30 volunteers a night that we’re open. I do have a core Boo Crew that we’re in contact with the entire year, and they’ve come out, and we’ve had a couple groups come out and help build this year.” The Boo Crew and building volunteers are of all ages, from five to eighty. They’re not trained actors, but they want to participate.
This year’s theme is a haunted mansion. “It’s thirteen rooms. Each room will unnerve you one way or another. And a lot of times, it’s as scary as you want it to be. If you have fears, we will pull ’em out of you. If you don’t think you have them, we’ll find them.” The Huards’ haunted houses have been known to terrify to a point of a bodily reaction with thirty-one code YELLOWS, seven code BROWNS, and, new as of last year, two code EXORCISTS.
This intensity has led to Huard putting restrictions on who can and cannot enter
the haunted house. “We take pride in making grown men pee themselves. We do not take pride in terrorizing children. … One parent actually said to me, ‘We wanna toughen our kid up.’ And [I said], ‘No, that’s called abuse.’ We don’t scare children to toughen them up. We show them how to face their fears in a nice way.”
Additionally, Huard’s Haunted House does not allow intoxication of any kind on the property for the safety of the volunteers and the all attendees. “We have minors in our line up and in our haunt.” You must be 10 or older to enter.
Lionel and Shandra Huard
“I’ve always loved Halloween. I loved spooky; I liked psychological thrillers. Not so much the horror movies that are blood and gore, but the psychological horror movies — the ones that have you on your edge of the seat, not knowing what’s gonna happen next.” This love of Halloween quickly turned into a deep love and fascination with the production of a haunted house for Huard. “And then I found out about the theatrical side of it. The makeup, the sets, the lights, the sound … how everything together can create an atmosphere.”
The Huard’s Haunted House is open for thirteen nights, October 16 to 20, 23 to 26, and 28 to 31. All nights go from six to ten. Huard noted to arrive early, as they do cut off the line if it gets too long later in the evening. “We close the doors at ten because we do have neighbours. Don’t come at quarter to nine expecting to come in when there’s still a lineup.”
While this annual tradition does create a lot of excitement for the team who puts it on and those who attend, it’s not just about the experience. “This money does go to our youth groups, our charities, food banks… The more that people give, the more we can give out. We wanna make sure the community stays strong, and the more people we can have come through our doors, the more people we can help.”
Huard's Haunted House gardens. What's inside will scare you. Below some of the "boo" crew. Photos submitted.
BY KERITH WADDINGTON
Chemainus businesswoman Rachele Turgeon has been, quite literally, fi ne-tuning her craft for over 42 years.
That’s because Turgeon, one of Chemainus’s newest residents and a proud shop owner, has travelled a good part of her life and a good part of the globe to study under and work alongside the best bow and violin makers in the world.
She has perfected her craft while perfecting the structure and sound of thousands of stringed instruments. Beautiful music has been played around the globe thanks to her work. And now Turgeon has hung her musical “shingle” on the main promenade in Chemainus, where she opened her shop’s decorative door on June 23.
But the Rococo Violin Shop is so much more than a place where “everything for bowed instruments” gets repaired or restored. As Turgeon likes to say herself, “It’s fun in the front
Rachele Turgeon making music. Photo: Kerith Waddingon
and business in the back.”
That’s because the shop features eclectic gift and art pieces from both local and European artists.
The store gets its name from the Rococo time period, which Turgeon describes as “a flamboyant, fun and fanciful time in the history of art, music and political expression.” Rococo originated in France and flourished from 1720 till 1780. “It was a time between the Baroque and Neoclassical eras when everything was over-embellished, very ornamental and theatrical,” says Turgeon.
The shop and its items are the embodiment of that, as community members who have dropped in to welcome Turgeon to the neighbourhood with stories and smiles have been delighted to fi nd out. “People thought it was strictly a violin shop, so I think they were surprised when they came through the door,” Turgeon laughs, admitting that “I’ve always enjoyed display.”
Turgeon comes by it honestly.
With a professional violinist for a mom and an opera singer father, Turgeon grew up listening to classical music and arias, hanging out on stage sets or during her parents’ rehearsals, not realizing that this was training her ear to the diversity of string instruments and voices.
She studied music from a very young age, yet she found herself always using her hands and creating elaborate productions on her family’s kitchen table. Costume design beckoned for a while. But when her parents divorced and her mother married a world-renowned bow maker, the opportunity to continue working with her hands while remaining in the community she knew and loved was a powerful draw.
“I entered into a four-year apprenticeship with my stepfather, honing the art
form of French bow-making and restoration and instrument repair,” she says. “He later sent me to his teacher in New York for my practicum. And from there I had the bug to further my studies in the art and history of violin-making at a school in England.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
When asked why she chose Chemainus to re-locate her shop, Turgeon admits the friendliness of the residents, the artistic community, the theatre, and the history of the 1904 home in which she has set up business kept drawing her back.
“It doesn’t really matter where I work because the community of players I serve is global,” says Turgeon. “That said, when I was looking up and down Island for a place to land, it was Chemainus that made me feel grounded. The bigger bonus is that I am now in close proximity to all my family members.”
Speaking of family, Turgeon has this to say about the stringed instruments that come her way.
“Many of the instruments I work on are hundreds of years old, they have a huge history, and to me, are like cher-
ished family members,” she says. “For me, repairing and making is a passion, I am in love with my craft. I have the responsibility to pass on the instrument or bow in as good, or better, condition than when I received it. It is such an honour to be entrusted to their care.”
Chemainus Fall Fest
Get ready for some family fun at the Chemainus Fall Fest on October 26.
Savor delicious chili at the Chili for Charity Cook-Off (fundraising for Chemainus Harvest House)—enjoy a taster for $2 or a full bowl for $6—show off your skills at the Cornhole Showdown, bring your best creations to the Pie Baking Contest (categories: Apple and Pumpkin), and let your kids dazzle at the Costume Contest.
Dive into exciting activities in the KidZone, enjoy safe Trick-or-Treating from local businesses, and experience a thrilling Museum Halloween Haunting. With great food, fun prizes, and entertainment for all ages, this is a fall celebration you won’t want to miss—rain or shine!
RDN Area A Cedar, South Wellington, Cassidy & Yellow Point
The Bylaw 500/2500 update process started before my term. It’s a large, complicated and in fluential bylaw that dictates land use regulations. So, it’s important to get it right. In September, the amended Bylaw 2500 passed second reading, will go to a public hearing in October/November, and is expected to go to a third and final reading at the turn of the year.
Some important changes were made by the Board and in response to community feedback. I will briefly outline these changes. If you are interested in learning the details, please contact me.
The hot topic in Area A was shipping containers. The large turn out for the community meeting made it clear to
staff that our community predominantly disagreed with the proposed regulation. As well, some community members explained valid considerations and concerns about the presence of shipping containers. RDN staff proposed that we undergo a secondary public consultation to explore and determine the final regulations for shipping containers in the region. Until then, the board passed a temporary regulation that allows the use of a limited number of shipping containers without the requirement of a building permit if safety considerations and setbacks are met. The total space of shipping containers allowed is in fluenced by property zoning and size, with industrial and agricultural properties being allowed greater overall shipping container space. Another area of change made by the Board involves secondary suites. The
overall effect of the changes is to allow more bedrooms and greater overall space in secondary suites. The current proposal changes the maximum numbers of bedrooms from two to three and increases the overall allowable floor area of secondary suites from 90 square metres of total floor area to 100 square metres. Further, the restriction that secondary suites not exceed 49 per cent of the principal dwelling unit’s floor area was also removed from the proposed bylaw. I am hopeful that these changes will increase the availability of affordable housing options in our community that are big enough for families. I am also hopeful that these changes will allow older residents to stay in their homes and earn income by renting out a suite in their house. Finally, heat pumps will no longer be considered a “structure” in the bylaw,
meaning that they will not be subject to structure regulations and will not be included in the overall floor area of a dwelling unit. This change was made to make it easier for people to switch to heat pumps by reducing the regulation. Given that heat pumps are attached to the house (dwelling unit), their location will be influenced by the setback requirements, but heat pumps themselves will not be required to have setback obligations.
As previously discussed, once the update is complete and Bylaw 2500 is passed, the Board will complete a more thorough review of land-use options to increase affordable housing in a manner that is consistent with rural living. This will be the process that evaluates the use of tiny homes and recreational vehicles and will involve community engagement.
On a slightly different bylaw note, I wanted to discuss the bylaw complaint process. There are times when con flict among neighbours cannot be resolved by a forthright and friendly discussion. In this circumstance, the bylaw complaint process is available. All personal information received by the RDN during the
complaint process is con fidential and will not be shared except in the rare situations of a court-ordered release of information or other legal obligation. In response to a complaint, the RDN will investigate the situation and, if necessary, attempt to seek voluntary compliance through education and cooperation. If that is unsuccessful, further steps may and can be taken.
Although I am available to support community members through this process, I cannot make a complaint on behalf of others. I wanted to emphasize the confidentiality of this process and that each report will be seriously considered in a manner that is independent of my role. I also want to explain why I am unable to make these reports for others. It is important that this process is free of in fluence from an elected official to ensure it is unbiased and fair. Further, I must remain impartial in case the issue comes before the board, and we need to make an objective decision.
I am available to answer any questions or provide support though any RDN process. Please contact Jessica Stanley at jessica.stanley@rdn.bc.ca or 250-268-7359
CVRD Area H North Oyster/ Diamond
Join me for a Director’s Town Hall at 6 p.m., on Thursday, October 3, at the North Oyster Community Centre. If you have any topics of interest you’d like to discuss, please let me know ahead of time. Be sure to mark your calendar — I hope to see you there!
Last month, I highlighted several initiatives on the CVRD’s Plan Your Cowichan website (www.planyourcowichan.ca). In this town hall, I’d like to dive deeper into one topic that’s generating a lot of interest — the Island Rail Corridor.
The Island Rail Corridor (which includes the E&N Railway and the link to Port Alberni) has sparked much discussion. Ideas from the community range from revitalizing rail services (for both passenger and freight) to creating active transportation routes, emergency pathways (e.g., the 2023 Cameron Lake fi re) and opportunities for housing and tourism.
The Province is funding a study involving five regional districts along the
rail line. The aim is to develop a comprehensive vision for the corridor’s future. A fi nal report is expected by February 2025.
Key Objectives of the Study:
• A detailed technical review covering rail history, climate resilience, environmental considerations, land use and mobility planning, along with a business case for future uses.
• Engagement with First Nations whose lands are bisected or affected by the rail corridor.
• Listening to the community to build a shared vision for the corridor’s future.
• Involvement of key community and stakeholder groups.
• A presentation of a fi nal report and video to the CVRD Board summarizing the fi ndings.
Historical Context: The Island Rail Corridor dates back to the Esquimalt-Nanaimo land grant, given by the Province to Robert Dunsmuir in exchange for building the railway. One legacy of this grant is the corridor running through many communities and First Nations lands. Another is the private forest lands that stretch through Vancouver Island — an issue of great interest to local governments and environmental organizations, especially concerning the impacts on watersheds and sensitive ecosystems.
A fun fact: The name “Brenton-Page Road” originates from a whistle stop at Brenton, which served as an access point to the Page Farm.
The Road Ahead: While everyone agrees on the tremendous value and potential of the corridor, opinions on its future — how it will be used and managed — differ. A lot of work is being done to provide the necessary information for an informed
decision. Draft technical backgrounders on rail history, environment, land use, climate, remediation, and transportation are already available on the website.
Remediation Challenges: One example of how detailed information is vital to decision-making involves remediation. After more than a century of rail use, contamination is a key issue, with outdated practices having left behind chemicals now banned or restricted. For instance, it’s estimated that there are 50 to 100 metric tons of creosote ties for every 100 metres of track. How much of this contamination needs to be remediated? Once that’s determined, the next question is, how much will it cost? The cost varies signi ficantly depending on the corridor’s future use — from industrial to wildland, with wildland use requiring the highest level of remediation.
Community Input: So far, 3,300 people have completed the survey, and analysis is pending. Keep an eye on the Plan Your Cowichan webpage for updates.
ben.maartman@cvrd.bc.ca, 250-510-5930,
CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands
A Call for Volunteers:
With summer break fi rmly in our rearview mirror and holidays over, I want to take this opportunity to call for volunteers.
Alternate Director
Rod Smith, our alternate director, has indicated that he would happily step aside for someone with more time on their hands. If you fi nd this opportunity intriguing, please email me an expression of interest. You don’t need political experience; however, I will only consider people living in Area G (i.e., Sal-
tair, Thetis, Penelakut, Ruxton, etc.).
The primary role of the alternate director is to fill in for the director when they cannot attend board or committee meetings. In addition, it’s essential to stay current with meeting minutes while fostering a good working relationship with the director. Alternate directors are paid a stipend for meetings they attend.
Advisory Planning Commissions (APC)
Each electoral area within the CVRD has an Advisory Planning Commission made up of local residents who provide advice and recommendations to the CVRD Board on planning-related matters such as:
•Official Community Plan (OCP) Amendments,
• Rezoning Applications,
• Development Permit Applications,
• Other applications, as requested by the electoral area director, Commission meetings are open to the public, and those interested are encouraged to attend.
Saltair District Resident Association (SDRA):
The SDRA’s mission is to promote education, engagement, communication and action between and with Saltair residents on issues affecting our shared quality of life.
In addition to working closely with community leaders to support our many events (e.g., Halloween, Easter, etc.), the SDRA plays a vital role in holding the area director and CVRD accountable. This could be the right group for you if you want to get involved while remaining at arm’s length from the CVRD. Please email the chair, Sue Miller, for more information millder@shaw.ca. jesse.mcclinton@cvrd.bc.ca 250-2526525
Are We Food Secure?
BY CAROLYN HERRIOT
De
fi
nition of food secure: When ALL members of the community have access to enough nutritious, safe, ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate food at all times.
We have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves a food-secure community. Local farmers are struggling to make a fair living, Vancouver Island farmers continue to lose their food production quota for poultry, eggs and dairy to the mainland, and many of our neighbours lack access to su fficient, healthy food on a daily basis.
As for all of Vancouver Island, 80 to
90 per cent of our food is dependent on long-distance transport via truck and ferry, and a mere two to three days’ worth of food is stockpiled in case of crisis. In short, our food system is both environmentally unsustainable and extremely vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis and other emergency situations.
With our increasing population and development, the challenges for food producers are growing. They include the rising cost of land; the aging population of farmers, with few young people taking their place; the increased use of farm land for non-food crops and animals; in-
creasing government regulations, especially for meat processing plants; water shortages; and urban and suburban development.
There are 700 farms in the Cowichan Valley, who use 11,559 hectares of land, 38 per cent less than in 1991. There are more small, intensively-run farms, and organic (certi fied and uncerti fied) growing practices are on the rise. The fact that farmers on Vancouver Island have lost quota for poultry, eggs and dairy to larger operations on the mainland seri-
Locally grown carrots and tomatoes.
Photo Cowichan Green Community,
ously impairs our ability to achieve local food security. We need more farmland to be in production.
Since 2004, the non-profit Cowichan Green Community (CGC) has worked to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers; increasing capacity for local food production (urban and rural); and empowering people with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to feed their community. CGC’s food security projects include the creation of food policy documents, such as the Cowichan Food Charter and the Cowichan Food Security Plan. They also run many projects, such as the reFRESH Food Recovery Marketplace; FruitSave, a fruit gleaning project; community gardens; the KinPark Kids Camp; Seedy Saturday; and they publish an annual farm map of the region with 53 listers.
In Cowichan’s food-secure future, there will be no more chronic hunger and no more malnourished children. Farmers will be better connected to consumers through farm markets, community supported agriculture, and school and work lunch programs. Our farmers’ roles as environmental stewards will be protected and fi nancially supported. Agricultural resources including water, land and the knowledge of farmers will be protected. New regulations will strengthen the capacity of local farmers to produce and reach their markets. “Buy Local” campaigns that promote local food production and consumption will be expanded. Traditional teachings about food preservation, seed saving, eating seasonally and eating locally will be encouraged and supported. Institutional buyers such as hospitals and universities will have the flexibility and incentive to buy more local products. And there will be ongoing research to ensure long-term food security in the face of the changing climate.
On Thursday October 24, Y.E.S. will hold a public meeting at the North Oyster Hall on Cedar Road from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., to take the pulse of our area’s food security. Judy Stafford, executive director of Cowichan Green Community, will be our keynote speaker. Come and learn about the inspirational progress CGC has made over the past 20 years in the Cowichan Valley. Perhaps we can do some of the same?
Dogs to Fall For
BY KATHY REILLY
Living with a dog can improve your health in so many ways. Medical studies reveal that dog owners are more likely to have reduced stress and cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.
They give their humans a reason to get up in the morning, a purpose in life and a companion to walk with.
However, there can be a downside. Over the past twenty years, injuries related to dog walking are on the rise, according to Johns Hopkins University Researchers. Fractures, sprains and head trauma are among the most common.
From 2001 to 2020, the estimated number of adults seen at emergency departments in the US for dog-walking injuries increased from 7,300 to 32,300 per year. Seventy-five per cent were women. Adults overall between ages 40 and 64 amounted to 75 per cent. Still more people seek treatment from primary care providers.
One of my clients, a fit young man, was walking his 12-pound Yorkie mix in an off-leash area when the dog went down a steep bank and needed his help to get out. The man stepped down the hill and landed awkwardly, twisting his leg, requiring surgery and an extended time off work to recuperate. Another client, who came to me for training, was yanked off her feet by her 80-pound German short-haired pointer when he saw a squirrel and reacted. The handler ended up with a broken wrist. People have received rope burns (mostly from faulty extendable leashes, my least preferred walking tool) broken fi ngers, skinned knees, breaks, sprains and head injuries due to falls while walking their dogs.
Prevent injuries while walking a leashed dog, focus on the dog. Put away the cell phone, and if walking with a buddy, converse without eye contact.
If you need to answer an important call, park your dog in a down/stay. Be aware of any “triggers,” like a rabbit or squirrel, that the dog will take off after. There are methods you can teach your dog that will keep him from reacting.
Training your dog to walk calmly beside you and to ignore distractions will help keep you safe. If you feel he needs a longer leash to enjoy sniffing, use a 20-foot leash that you can coil up or let out as needed. The opportunity to sniff and read the pee-mail should be only on your say so. A well-trained dog will return to your side when asked, to proceed in a quiet manner for the remainder of the walk.
Dogs should bring joy, not frustration and injury. Happiness is a well-trained dog.
Watch your step. Photo: Marina Sacht
Nature’s Raincoat
BY ALEXANDER SMITH EIS NATURALIST
It’s late afternoon here at Wildwood, and a slight chill hangs in the air. For someone who spends nearly all their time working outdoors, I’m often surprised by how woefully unprepared I am for the weather.
As the rain begins to fall, I watch a large Douglas-fi r sway gently in the breeze. Its bark, which can grow over a foot thick, serves as a natural rain jacket, helping it survive through the changing seasons.
This got me thinking — tree bark is nature’s perfect raincoat. Though each
species has its own distinct bark, the effectiveness of this natural shield in protecting the tree is universally reliable.
Douglas-fir The Douglas-fi r, also known as Ts’sey’ by the Indigenous Peoples, is one of the most iconic and widespread trees on the Island. The bark of a mature Douglas-fi r is thick, deeply furrowed and can range from grey-brown to reddish-brown. This thick, ridged bark provides signi ficant fi re resistance, allowing the tree to survive in fi re-prone landscapes. The bark acts as insulation, protecting the tree’s vital inner layers from heat. Additionally, it creates habitats for insects and fungi, which in turn attract birds and other wildlife.
Western red cedar Xpey or Western red cedar is revered by the Indigenous Peoples of the Paci fic Northwest, has fibrous, stringy bark that is reddish-brown and peels off in long strips. While the bark is thinner than that of many other conifers, it is incredibly versatile. Indigenous communities traditionally use red cedar bark to weave baskets, mats and clothing. The bark also contains natural preservatives that protect the wood beneath from rot, contributing to the tree’s
Arbutus tree bark.
Photo: Alexander Smith
longevity. As the bark decays, it enriches the soil, promoting nutrient cycling, and shelter for small mammals and insects, making it an integral part of the ecosystem.
Arbutus
Qaanlhp or Arbutus tree is one of the most striking species on Vancouver Island, with smooth bark that ranges in colour from green to reddish-orange. The outer layers of its bark peel away in thin sheets, revealing a lighter, often pale-green layer beneath. This process, called exfoliation, is part of the tree’s natural growth cycle. The smooth, peeling bark of the Arbutus helps reduce the growth of moss and lichens, minimizing competition for sunlight and nutrients. Arbutus trees thrive in dry, rocky soils, and their unique bark makes them well suited to the Island’s coastal environments.
Bigleaf maple
Ts’alhulhp, Q’um’-unulhp or bigleaf maple is a common deciduous species found in Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforests. It’s rough grey-brown bark is often covered with mosses, lichens and even ferns in the Island’s moist climate. The texture of the bark creates a microhabitat for epiphytic plants, whose presence act as an indicator for overall forest health.
Tree bark does more than just protect the trees themselves — it supports the entire ecosystem. Bark provides homes for countless insects, birds and small mammals, and as it decomposes, it enriches the soil with nutrients. For the Indigenous Peoples of Vancouver Island, tree bark, particularly from red cedar, holds profound cultural signi ficance. It has been used for centuries in traditional crafts, clothing and even shelter, symbolizing a deep relationship with the land and its resources.
Prefrontal Cortex Can Wait in the Car
When you ask some people about their job, they screw their nose up in distaste and announce, “It sucks.” Others reach for the silver spoon around their neck and say, “How sweet it is.” The latter might well work as professional jam tasters, aka “trained sensory panelists” who work for publications like Consumer Reports, the time-honoured arbiter of jams, jellies, lawnmowers and, if their luck runs out, anchovies.
Apparently with tasting events, jam or otherwise, best results come from using your feelings, not your brain. Too much
analysis screws you up. This fi nding was determined by giving the same jam tasting assignment to professional trained sensory panelists and then to a group of college students.
There was amazing correlation between the two groups. Then they asked the college students to perform the task again, but this time asking for explanations why they preferred one brand over the others. They had to justify their choices, which meant thinking. Amazingly, on this second round, there was absolutely no correlation with the professional tasters. Jams they previously ranked best were ranked last and vice versa. The conclusion? When it comes to tasting, turn your brain off and trust your feelings. You are strongly advised to disregard this directive when drinking beer in a peeler bar after work.
As it turns out, protocols for jam tasting are not that much different than for wine tasting (although spreading Cabernet over one’s toast is not recommended). And believe me, nothing screws up wine tasting more quickly than your brain. Over-thinking will lead you astray every time. The more knowledge
you have about wine, the farther afield your brain will lead you. Which is why all the better tasters sit their brains down before the tasting and say, “Okay Mr. Prefrontal Cortex, it’s been a long day. Why don’t you wait in the car?”
People like myself, with lots of wine tasting experience, are easy to trick. In fact, you don’t even have to trick guys like me. We’ll do it ourselves. All you need do is imply that one of the wines in the blind tasting was given 98 points by esteemed wine guru Robert Parker and I’ll look for it. When it turns out that no such wine was included in the tasting, that we weren’t really tasting wine at all, that I’d attended a Kool-Aid tasting by mistake, that’s when I excuse myself, head to the nearest washroom to crawl out the window and book passage to another country.
A classic ploy to trip up wine tasting professionals is to include the same wine in the tasting more than once. Professionals train themselves to look for differences in wine and will fi nd di fferences even if they don’t exist. This quirk a ffords you the opportunity to say, “You just gave the same wine two totally different scores. Man, you must be stupid.” (Note: Pulling this trick greatly increases your chances of being eviscerated by a corkscrew.)
But if you feel your calling is to teach humility, an excellent method is to have a real blind tasting where tasters have brown paper bags over their heads, not the bottles. Taste nine wines: three red, three white, three pink. Ask the paper-bagged tasters to guess which is which. But don’t be surprised if your car blows up, with you in it, shortly afterwards. When it comes to looking stupid, we professionals have no sense of humour. For life’s important decisions, like choosing a good Cabernet or selecting premium two-ply toilet paper, just leave that prefrontal cortex sulking in the car and go with your gut. Not that I need toilet paper. After pulling that paper bag trick on my wine tasting cronies, I’m not sitting on anything where a bomb might be hiding.
Wine pick of the month
BY ADRIAN POLO, CAREFREE WINE TOURS
If you are looking for a wine to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner, look no further than the 2021 Tapestry from Little Straw in West Kelowna. It is easy drinking and it will pair from soup to dinner to dessert.
It is a blend of five di fferent white grape varieties all singing in perfect harmony. And, at just $24 a bottle, you will also be thankful.
