TAKE 5 April 2016 by Take 5 Print & Digital Media

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APRIL 2016

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Letters

Cassidy Inn Concerns The future of the Cassidy Inn, on the Island Highway, is a topic that has been brought up many times at my kitchen table, in regards to the status and the unknown future of the property. Depending on who you talk to and how long they have been in the community, the stories are always entertaining and historically compelling. Being the “new guy” on the block, I’m all ears when it comes to the good times that once happened there. Even more interesting to me is that, as I’ve been told, the building is around 100 years old, once boarded weary travellers back in the day of horse and buggy, and was used as a resting place for men and their horses travelling north and south on the Island trail. I have done some research on a few of the old inns on the island, and the Cassidy Inn is ranked up there with the 4 Mile, 6 Mile and the 17 Mile pubs on the Island’s old Sooke gold rush trail. (All these old pub houses have some sort of establishments running today and continue to be a milestone in their communities.) With all this being said, I’m asking TAKE 5 readers to share their opinion on what they think should be done with this property. Above is a recent photograph of the building, and as you can see the dark cloud over the inn is rather fitting for the gloomy

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state it is in. This empty building is in serious need of a community decision regarding the property moving forward. As much as I would like a developer to come in and purchase the property and make it what it once was, that’s not a financial reality for, as I am told, it’s likely beyond the hope of repair. The cost of bringing the building and property back to an operational state makes it likely unrealistic for any chance of a return on investment. So my question is: Has the building been inspected? And should it be condemned? The RCMP have been called many times with reports of homeless people living within the building. It is a constant worry to residents for criminal activity. I personally have been broken into once and to date have made three calls to the RCMP to report possible squatters in or around the property. The building is a serious liability to the neighbourhood and needs to be dealt with. Speaking for my fellow residents, here are a few of our concerns: extreme fire hazard, drug trafficking and breaking and enterings due to the criminal activity it attracts, and the depreciation of our properties value. Why are we paying premium taxes when we have this serious eye sore? Is someone in the RDN going to act here before something more serious happens? — Dean Handley

Derelict vessels I’m writing to voice my continued concerns over state of various derelict vessels either tied up or laying on the bottom of Ladysmith harbour. My main fear is the fate of the ship, the Vicki Lynn II. What is the purpose of its existence? Will it be refurbished and put back into service? Or is it waiting for scrap prices to improve? Or is it waiting to join the other vessels on the bottom that are polluting of our beautiful harbour? — Herb Cordingley Letters to the editor is an open forum for the commuity to exchange comments and ideas. Please note letters may be edited for space, and legality. Articles published in TAKE 5 do not nescessarily reflect the opinions of TAKE 5. editor@take5.ca

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Sustainability: The Green Thread On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. This is a time to reflect on what we as individuals, organizations and communities can do to protect and preserve our environment. As I have said many times over the past few years, protecting the environment must be a priority. The challenge for us in Ladysmith — for council and for all of us as individuals — is to find ways to look after the natural environment while building a sustainable community with real, lasting opportunity for current and future generations. We have a solid foundation to build on. The Town’s list of sustainability and environmental accomplishments over the past decade is truly impressive (you can see it on our website at www.ladysmith.ca/sustainability-green-living/ town-initiatives). Council has just adopted a new set of strategic priorities that line up with our Sustainability Vision and position us to move forward to build a sustainable future for our citizens. We will encourage investments to attract new businesses and industries to our community, ones that align with our sustainability objectives. We will help to develop a positive

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business environment that contributes to our quality of life. We are committed to maintaining and improving our infrastructure to meet current and future needs in a way that protects our water sources and the natural environment that surrounds us. Later this year, we will complete the new, state-of-the art sewage treatment plant that will treat our sewage and waste water to the secondary treatment level. This is an important step to help ensure the future health of Ladysmith Harbour. I am particularly pleased with the progress of the Ladysmith Watersheds Roundtable. I believe strongly in any grassroots initiative involving community members, concerned citizens and dedicated organizations, working together as equals with a common goal. I am excited to see what this group can accomplish together to protect our precious watershed. In the meantime, council will continue to reduce the amount of water the Town uses and work with our citizens to meet the community target of using 20 per cent less water than the published Canadian single family consumption rate by 2018. Ladysmith is recognized as a leader in sustainability. We are justifiably proud of being the first community in the Cowichan Valley Regional District to introduce curbside recycling pickup (in 2003) and the first in B.C. to bring in curbside organics collection (in 2006). The Town has been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for four years in a row. However, it isn’t enough to rest on our reputation. There is much more that we can all do, individually and together, as individuals and as organizations. I was disappointed recently to find out that too much of Ladysmith’s recycling is “contaminated” — that is, we are putting things in our recycling bags that don’t belong. I understand and share your frustration that we can no longer put film plastic out with our recycling. We all felt as though we were taking a step backwards when we found out film plastics were no longer acceptable in the curbside recycling. Council, along with local governments across our province, will continue to work for a solution to that. But in the meantime, I hope that residents of Ladysmith will be more vigilant about what you put out for recycling, more creative about finding al-

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ternatives to using film plastics (such as reusable shopping bags) and more diligent about taking materials to your local recycling depot and the Peerless Road Recycling Centre. One easy way to deal with your film plastics is to save them up and return them with your regular deposit cans and bottles. We will be enclosing a flyer in the upcoming utility bill to help in these efforts — keep it handy! Another significant environmental challenge for council is the threat posed by the derelict and abandoned vessels in Ladysmith Harbour. We are strongly lobbying senior governments to take action on this front, and in the meantime, we are also working with partners, such as the Ladysmith Maritime Society and Stz’uminus First Nation, to find local solutions to the challenges in the harbour. The environmental hazard is compounded by the risks to our tourism and shellfish industries. While I am frustrated at the lack of action taken to date by senior governments, I am hopeful that our efforts are supported by our local Member of Parliament, First Nations and other organizations. While we know that we need to protect and preserve our natural environment, we also know that development and growth are inevitable and, when properly done, desirable. It is council’s job to ensure that growth is managed and development is responsible. We recently reviewed the development plans for the new Holland Creek development and were unanimous in our concern for protecting the Arbutus Hump in the middle of the proposed development. We have asked the developers to change their plan to ensure that the development boundary respects the natural topography and protects a greater portion of the Arbutus Hump as park. This is the kind of development that will help ignite economic growth in Ladysmith. By listening to the community and working with developers, we can promote growth that fits our shared vision and lays a solid founding for our future. I hope you will take part in the Earth Day activities on April 22 this year, as we celebrate and renew our commitment to protecting our planet, not just on Earth Day, but every day of the year. astone@ladysmith.ca; 250-245-7552

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How can we make a difference? BY GUY DAUNCEY Because of the way we have been burning fossil fuels, destroying forests and eating meat, we are currently on track for a 3–4 C increase in the global temperature, and the last time the world was 3 C warmer, the sea level grew 25 metres higher. If we let that happen, the sea will drown every major port city in the world.

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That’s why the global effort to make the transition to 100 per cent renewable energy is so important. It will also generate more jobs than lost with the end of fossil fuels. Denmark is planning that by 2050, the whole country will operate on 100 per cent renewable energy; the City of Vancouver is aiming for the same. Could Duncan, Ladysmith, North Cowichan, the CVRD, Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo make the same commitment? How can we make a difference? Go electric: You can buy a 2013 Nissan Leaf, with a range of 120 kilometres, for under $20,000 at the Motorize Auto Direct dealership in Sidney. It’ll eliminate your fossil fuel emissions from driving, cost less than $100 a year to service, and only cost $7 a week in electricity. If you own a house and can access a line of credit at 3.2 per cent, borrowing $20,000 will cost you $12 a week, so you’ll save money from the get-go. There are recharging stations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan and Lake Cowichan, but you will be mostly recharging at home. To explore where the recharging stations are, visit www.plugshare.com. Go solar: If your roof catches good sun

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or you have space in your yard for a solar array, call a local solar energy company, such as Viridian, Terratek or HESPV, and ask if someone could come and give you a solar estimate. A typical roof will support a 3–4-kilowatts system, and the going price is $3–$4 a watt, so a four-kilowatt system will cost $12,000 to $16,000. A three-kilowatt system will generate 3,300 kilowatt-hour a year, which will save you $425 a year if you pay for power at the Tier 2 price of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour. For more details, search “solar tsunami slideshare.” If you want to organize a group of neighbours to buy solar together, as the Cowichan Carbonbusters did last year, contact Dave Neads at GabEnergy. Go neighbourly: If you live in Cedar, Yellow Point, North Oyster, Cassidy or Wellington, there’s an initiative to find nooks and crannies for benches, planters and small heritage gardens — pleasant places where people can pause and chat with friends and neighbours. It could be a hall, a school or a spot with a great view. If this interests you, contact Laurie Gourlay at the Vancouver Island and Coast Conservation Society (250-722-3444), and come to the Cedar Heritage Centre on May 4, 7 p.m., to discuss ideas. Go organic: France is about to bring in a total ban on pesticides that are responsible for killing off the bees and other pollinators. The secret to growing healthy plants without pesticides or chemical fertilizers is to nourish your soil, using compost, seaweed, leaf mulch and manure. To get started, dig into local author Carolyn Herriot’s books “The Zero Mile Diet” and “A Year on the Garden Path.” Buy fresh: Local organic food: Farmers markets’ will soon be re-opening, so

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get in the habit of doing your weekly shopping at the Cedar Farmers’ Market (Sundays, 10 to 2 p.m., next to the Crow and Gate, starting in May), the Ladysmith Spring Farmers’ Market (Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 49th Parallel Grocery), the Chemainus Farmers’ Market (Wednesdays, 10 to 3 p.m., Waterwheel Park), the Great Greens Farmers’ Market (Koksilah Road on the TransCanada Highway), the Bowen Road Market in Nanaimo (Wednesdays, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Beban Park, starting in May), the Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market (Fridays, 10 to 2 p.m., next to the Bastion), the Community Farm Store (on the TransCanada just south of Duncan). Go vegetarian: Or at least, eat less meat. The world’s livestock industry is a greater contributor to the climate crisis than all the world’s transportation. It causes 18–20 per cent of global warming, compared to 16 per cent for transport. Making the shift will also benefit your health. In the largest study ever done of health and diet, The China Study, researchers found that the healthiest people that lived the longest ate the least meat and the greatest variety of plant food. Conversely, those who ate the most meat had the most health problems and died sooner. I know from long personal experience that a vegetarian diet is healthy — and tasty, too. So buy a good vegetarian cookbook, and start cooking vegetarian food for your family. Learn about the climate crisis: That may sound like hard work, but it’s by far the biggest crisis facing us (more serious than population growth and terrorism), so we owe it to ourselves to understand it. If you read my book, “The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming,” you’ll learn about the positive solutions as well as the dire warnings. Recycle, rigorously: The current estimate from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is that if we don’t change our ways, by 2050 the world’s oceans will have more plastic in them than they do fish. The terrible indictment on our global consumer habits is that 32 per cent of all plastic packaging finds its way into the world’s ecosystems, including the oceans — eight million tonnes of plastic a year, the equivalent of a dump truck of plastic rubbish every minute. Can we really face our children, let them read that, and say we don’t care? Encourage your children to form a Green Club at school: Teachers, who have seen Green Clubs succeed, tell me that the students who stay with the clubs from Grade 8 or 9 through to Grade 12 not only learn to care for the environment but also develop their leadership skills. If any high school teachers reading this would like me to come and speak to their school, for no charge, please get in touch. Become inspired about a better future: When I spoke recently to 400 students at Woodbank School in Cedar, I asked them this question: “When you think about the future of our world, do you feel hopeful or worried?” Out of 400 students, only five hands went up for hope. This is the legacy we’re leaving our kids. The good news, however, is that after I had spoken and shown slides about the better world we can build if we put our minds to it, when I asked the question again, 200 students put their hands up to say they felt hopeful about the future. Guy Dauncey is author of the newly published book “Journey to the Future: A Better World is Possible,” an ecotopian novel set in Vancouver in the year 2032. He lives in Yellow Point. See www.journeytothefuture.ca.

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work for future decision-making that allows staff and Council to be responsive to changing needs, trends and opportunities. Join the Conversation! April 6, 2016, 2-4 pm, and 6-8pm, Frank Jameson Community Centre.

Support Disaster Aid Disk Golf course opens There’s flying discs over Ladysmith Golf Course but it isn’t an alien invasion. It’s a new partnership between the golf course and the new Ladysmith Disc Golf Club. Based on a model in other communities, the golf course turns over its grounds every Thursday from 4:30 to dusk to disc golfers. Avid players Bryan Sharpe, Scott Gingerysty and Jesse Winterheled along with other volunteers of the Ladysmith Disc Golf Club put this project together. The course opened to the public March 24. It’s free to play, loaner discs are available and members will be present to offer tips to get you playing.

Boat Harbour concerns It was a packed Cedar Community Hall on March 21 at the RDN Public Information Meeting about Boat Harbour Marina’s renovation that would involve dredging the harbour and infilling part of the foreshore for a parking lot. Developers Alvin Hui and Roy Ellis of Tiara Holdings along with experts and RDN staff where present to answer questions from the public. Residents expressed their concerns over disturbing and possibly damaging the marine environment, as well as loss of public access to the foreshore. The revised plans presented at the meeting by the developers addressed some concerns saying that dredging would be kept to a minimum, and contaminated materials would be barged to a disposal site, and new material barged in to eliminate disruption on the roads. The plans to use riprap for the retaining wall would also provide a superior marine habitat, they said. Hui said that once the old marina filings are removed they will have a clearer idea to what extent they would need to dredge. Boat owners have been given notice to vacate the marina by April 1,

Ladysmith Disc Golf members at new course. Photo: Marina Sacht

2016. The new plans also allows for two public accesses including a public dock to launch a kayak or canoe. But many in the audience remained skeptical and questioned the developers erecting gates and cutting off access to parts of Hemer Park. “You should respect our private property rights,” said Hui. Members of Snuneymuxw First Nation also questioned how a company was able to get water lot ownership and raised concerns about private property rights relative to treaty rights. Area of Boat Harbour are traditional fishing grounds with rich clam beds. Ken Lockhart, one of the residents of Boat Harbour says he was pleased the developer recognized the need to provide some unrestricted and ‘forever’ designated public access. “Unfortunately it remains unclear as to how much,” Lockhart says he was surprised at the developers lack of consultation with First Nations, and pleased that the RDN awaits a consultation process. “I wish the consultations would include the immediate neighbourhood as well. It seems clear that the proponent should go back to the drawing board.”

PRC Master Plan Open House A new Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan is being developed and you have an opportunity for input. The plan provides an overall framework that conveys the community’s values and objectives for Ladysmith’s Parks, Recreation and Culture services; a policy frame-

The Rotary Club of Ladysmith invites the general public to an evening of celebration in support of Disaster Aid Canada. As the new official Rotary Sponsor of Disaster Aid Canada, they want to challenge all clubs and organizations to match the small town support. So far this year they have raised $3,000 towards Disaster Aid Canada related projects, and plan to raise another $2,000 before the celebration on April 23, 2016. Tickets: 250-616-0685 or 250-245-7044.

New Management Team for Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary Announcing the hiring of co-managers of the Thrift Store - Kathy Allen and Fran Bafaro who have generously volunteered their time to the auxiliary collectively for 14 years. The new management team is in place to provide better service to their valued customers and support the hard working volunteers. April 10 to 16 is Volunteer Appreciation week. A big thank you to all the members who share their time and talents.

Great Canadian Dollar Store Celebrates 20 Years Mark your calendar for April 23, 2016 and head down to Coronation Mall to help owners David and Cindi Key of The Great Canadian Dollar Store celebrate 20 years of serving the residents of Ladysmith. There will be hot dogs, a bouncy castle and draws. Show your support for one of Ladysmith’s long time retail shops.

New Women’s Group You are invited to join and become a Founding Member of a new group called “100 Women Who Care Mid-Island”. As one of a number of 100 Women Who Care groups across North America, the fledgling group wishes to make an immediate, direct, and positive impact on the lives of our neighbours by bringing together 100+ women in the Mid-Island

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Area who care about local community causes. There will be an informational meeting at the Fox and Hounds pub, Wednesday, April 13, 2016 from 7 to 9pm. The first inaugural meeting is at the Eagles Hall, Wednesday, June 8, 2016, 7:30pm. Doors open at 7:00pm with cash bar available. For information, Julie Stewart-Boyle, jsbmortgages@shaw. ca, 250-668-4420

of the forest. Incentive prizes for fundraising include fabulous local food and entertainment. To register www.cowichanvalleyhospice.org On Advance Care Planning Day April 18, 2016, you can view a screening of Being Mortal featuring Atul Gawande’s provocative book, followed by cake and conversation. For more information 250-701-4242 or events.cvhs@shaw.ca

Heritage Fundraiser Event

New shops open in downtown Ladysmith

The Ladysmith District Historical Society Industrial Heritage Preservation committee has joined with members of Ladysmith Maritime Society and Ladysmith Rotary to put on a Waterfront Sale and Lunch on Saturday, April 30, 2016, 9 am to 3 pm. The sale of nautical and marine treasures, tools, etc. will take place at the north end of the blue Expo Legacy building. Everyone is welcome to be a seller or buyer. If you want to participate please contact John at 250-245-3201 or email myfandjohn@ hotmail.com and reserve your 10 ft. x 10 ft. space for only $10

Ladysmith continues to attract vibrant new business ideas as a unique store opens in the historic Sutherland Building at 432 First Avenue. Left Coast Fashions is a new women’s clothing and lifestyle boutique featuring the best of West Coast sustainable style with a special focus on local designs: clothing, jewelry, soaps, candles and other handcrafted treasures. In the spirit of reuse and recycle there is also a section of carefully selected consignment clothing and purses. Grand Opening Celebration is planned for Saturday, April 9, 2016. Check out the store’s Facebook page for more details, there will be free gifts including a gift basket valued at over $300 awarded to one lucky shopper that day! April Akroyd and Kim Hansen have partnered to open a funky and unique store called Purple Pigeon Treasures located at 317 First Avenue, Ladysmith (next door to Chopstix Salon). Focusing on up cyled, re-purposed and re-furbished items. The store will be an ever morphing and changing stage for one-of-akind items ranging from knick knacks to pieces of furniture and funky things. They are open now. Grand Opening is on April 1, 2016 at 9 am. Get yourself a “Peeps” card - a discount punch card for up to 15% off items. Visit it them on Facebook. Also newely opened in dontown Ladysmith is April’s Tack Boutique featuring everything for the horsey crowd. Owner April Johnson is well known in the equestrian world.

Local B&B wins Traveller’s Choice, again! Beachside Garden B&B has been the named winner in 2016 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice, ranking 10th out of the ‘Top 25 B&Bs and Inns – Canada category. This award is the highest honor given by TripAdvisor, highlighting the top properties based on reviews and opinions of global travellers. This is the second time Beachside Garden B&B has won this award in its five years of operation.

Walk, Run, Hike for Cowichan Hospice Join in for a day in the sunshine in support of hospice care for Cowichan on Sunday May 1, 2016 at Providence Farm. Choose a two or four km trail or a stroll through a labyrinth on the edge

Knights of Columbus Award Grant Money. Santa Maria Knights of Columbus 4582 gathered to award the recipients grant money from the Gaming Commission. Each year the Knights put together a list of charities and submit their names for consideration for grants. This year’s recipients are as follows: Ladysmith Food Bank, Mary Pinfold; Crossroads Crisis, Kirsten Emmanuel; Bursaries LSS, Sandra Milne; LRCA, Cathy Hyndman; St. Joseph’s School Chemainus, Bern Muller; Boys & Girls Club, Heidi Hoffman; Festival of Lights, Robin Francis; Disabled Sailing, Chris Loscerbo. Knights of Columbus: Carl Wandler, Alphonse Gallant, Jerry Poilievre, Denis St. Denis, Jeff Poulin, George Weiss and Ross Lubben, Grand Knight. Congratulations to everyone. Photo: Cindy Damphousse

Does recycling make a difference? Ask Sang Kim of the Junction Bottle Depot. Last year the Ladysmith Bottle Depot processed 6.3 million units of pop bottles alone and 4.2 million units of liquor bottles. The depot also takes plastic film, electronics, styrofoam and other products. Check them out before you throw it out. Photo: Marina Sacht

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Scientists, activists and politicians praise local writer Guy Dauncey’s novel From Elizabeth May, NDP MP Murray Rankin and UK Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, to activists Tzeporah Berman, Angela Bischoff and Bill McKibben, and scientists David Suzuki, Andrew Weaver and Elisabet Sahtouris, the endorsements for Guy Dauncey’s new book are united: “Journey to the Future” an inspiration that must be widely read. Guy Dauncey, a resident of Yellow Point, is a prolific writer, speaker, researcher and organizer (founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association). He is author or co-author of 10 books, including the award-winning “Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic” and “The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming.” In this blockbuster novel, young protagonist Patrick Wu visits a future world — Vancouver in 2032 — brimming with innovation and hope, where the climate crisis is being tackled, the solar revolution is underway, and a new cooperative economy is taking shape. But, enormous danger still lurks. David R. Boyd, co-chair of Vancouver’s Greenest City initiative, says “Journey to the Future” is “an imaginative tour de force, blending science, philosophy and fiction into a delightful story about how we can and must change the world.” “Journey to the Future” is now available at local bookstores or through Heritage Group Distribution, Ingram Content Group, and author Guy Dauncey (250924-1445, guydauncey@earthfuture. com, www.journeytothefuture.ca)

Local artist to help create designs for new Salish Class vessels BC Ferries, in partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, has selected local artist John Marston, along with two other Coast Salish artists, to

Carver artist John Marston. Photo: Ashley Marston Photography

create designs for the new Salish Class vessels: Salish Orca, Salish Eagle and Salish Raven. Darlene Gait from Esquimalt Nation will design for the Salish Orca, John Marston from Stz’uminus for the Salish Eagle, and Thomas Cannell from Musqueam for the Salish Raven. The vessels are named to recognize the Coast Salish as the original mariners of the Salish Sea. The First Peoples’ Cultural Council issued a call for artists last August, and invited Coast Salish artists to submit their portfolios for consideration. From 37 expressions of interest, a jury of artist peers and BC Ferries representatives identified a shortlist of nine artists. Their decisions were based on artistic excellence, Coast Salish artistic style, ability to express the vessel names through artwork, ability to provide digital images for fabrication and ability to meet the project timeline. Marston will be working with BC Ferries to prepare their designs, from final refinement to technical specifications. The designs will be shared publicly as each is finalized over the coming months. The Salish Eagle will arrive in 2017, and will sail in the Southern Gulf Islands. Marston first started carving at the age of eight. In 2009, he was honored with the B.C. Creative Achievement Award for Aboriginal Art. Marston’s public works include pieces at Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology, the Vancouver and Nanaimo Airports, the Vancou-

ver Convention Centre and the Department of National Defense. His work is also in private collections worldwide. facebook.com/John-Marston

Mary Fox Pottery launches Pottery ÉCONOMUSÉE® Mary Fox Pottery, whose workshop and gallery has attracted visitors and residents to her studio in Ladysmith since 2008, is soon to be the Pottery ÉCONOMUSÉE®, certified by ÉCONOMUSÉE® B.C. Artisans at Work. This

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The cast of The Musical of Musicals, the Musical, Ladysmith Little Theatre’s production. Photo: Tammie Hunter

initiative promotes authentic and traditional artisan trades and is part of the internationally recognized network. The public is invited to attend the official launch to be held on Thursday, April 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., at her studio (321 3rd Avenue, Ladysmith). Fox is a prolific self-taught craftsperson, who is passionate about sharing her creative energy and knowledge. Visitors come to watch her amazing throwing skills and learn about innovative glazing techniques. The gallery features distinctive richly coloured functional ware from mugs to casseroles, as well

as beautiful decorative chalices, vases, and vessels in contemporary shapes. A new initiative, the Legacy Program, offers a unique learning experience with an artist-in-residency program for young potters.

The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! Ladysmith Little Theatre presents “The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!,” a musical structured into five short musicals, parodying the style of five Broadway greats, each with the same classic melodramatic plot: “I can’t pay

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Kingsley Hill, author of Cave Days, was honoured recently with The Son of Wales Award for Best New Author & Poet 2016. Hill will be having a book signing and reading at Salamander Books April 9 from 1-3pm. Photo: Marina Sacht

the rent!” Although it’s all original music, the composers have done such a marvellous job of mimicking the greats (Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Kander and Ebb) that you’ll be saying “I’ve heard that song before,” while tapping your toes and having a great time. The talented cast play over 40 roles and include the hilarious turns of Ladysmith Little Theatre favorites: Mort Paul, Bill Johnston, Elizabeth Hermann, Ann McInulty-Gogo, Rob Bradford, Kim Rog-

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ers, Alan Watt, Sharron MacLeod and Brenda Clarke. We also welcome Mike Dietrich to the Ladysmith footlights, in his stage debut. Accompanying the cast musically is Mary Jackson. The show has been co-directed by Alan Watt and Bill Johnston, with musical direction by Nikita Towe. “The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!” runs from April 21 to May 14. Tickets are available at the Ladysmith Little Theatre Box Office (250-9240658, ladysmiththeatre.com).

Buying the Moose Yellow Point Drama Group presents its spring play, “Buying the Moose,” by Ontario playwright Michael Wilmot. Good rollicking fun, “Buying the Moose” makes astute observations on the differences between how men and women think, and the resulting miscommunication between the sexes. The trouble begins when Betty (Lynnia Clark) comes home earlier than planned and is surprised to hear waltz music playing. When she sees what her husband is doing in the living room, she gets the shock of her life and walks out after Rob’s (Torry Clark) failed explanation. The attempts to help by family members, Greg (Mike Cooper) and Cheryl (Maureen Molyneaux-Watt), result in wildly unintended consequences. Before all the problems are resolved, secrets that the characters preferred remained private are revealed, and the audience learns the meaning of “Buying the Moose.” Previewing on Thursday, April 7, the play runs on Friday and Saturday, April 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 29 and 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Hall. A 2 p.m. matinee will be held Saturday, April 30. Tickets are available at the door at Cedar Hall (2388 Cedar Road), by phone (250-245-7516) or online yellowpointdramagroup.org.

The Student Show Come check out our young artists. Always exciting, “The Student Show,” presented by the Art Education Committee at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, is about imagination and art. This show is for all students, in our programs and in our education system, and is one of the most popular shows each year. The Gala Opening, April 2, 7 p.m., will feature guest speaker and storyteller, Barry Baker. The exhibit runs to April 24.

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Local home builders nominated for VIBE awards GNB Builders known for their quality “planet-friendly” homes are thrilled and honoured to be a finalist for the 2016 VIBE awards sponsored by the Canadian Home Builders Association. The award-wining builders are nominated for the following categories: Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Vancouver Island - Best Production home, Best Renovation, Best Kitchen new over $50,000, Best Any Room, Grand VIBE Award Project of the Year, Grand VIBE Award Renovator of the Year, Grand VIBE Award Single Family Builder of the Year. Two of the awards “best project” and Below: (left) New kitchen includes natural cherry cabinetry, granite countertops, large walk-in pantry, forged iron light fixtures, and cast iron sinks. Large windows throughout the home highlights the outdoors views. Below: (right) Covered outdoor living area with wood burning fireplace and built in speakers. The fireplace was designed with natural rock, large hearth and two mantles with custom rock niches to hold firewood. Photos courtesy of GNB Builders.

A magical transformation. Grey metal roof with cedar accents and exterior natural colours are used to blend the home into the forest. Multiple roof lines with transom windows provides architectural detail and natural light. Rock planters, retaining walls and grades were created using material from excavation. Photos courtesy of GNB Builders

“renovation” are based on the transformation of a small A-frame into a custom dream home. The owners took their environmental responsibility seriously not only for energy efficiency but to protect the ecosystem in Yellow Point where they were building in. The home was also built to be dog friendly. The existing home was 1470 sq. ft. and the owners decided not to demolish but to renovate. A garage was built on one side of the existing home and a bedroom was converted into a dog grooming/ mudroom area. The new wing was designed to be level entry and includes the

private master suite, using the old home as guest quarters. A central covered outdoor living area was added along with a sun patio both with multiple access points. To tie the buildings together a metal roof was added to the new and old home and the use of a stairwell tower seamlessly connects the addition. Besides being sensitive to the eco-system of the area, the owners incorporated energy efficiency and green features into their Built Green “Platinum” Energuide rating 83 home. GNB’s Greg and Heidi Bianchini are pleased with the home. “The outdoor liv-

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ing space is going to be used year round” says Greg. “It looks like it belongs there,” says Heidi. GNB Builders was a joy to work with, say owners Tom and Mary Shillabeer. “They were very responsive to our concerns and requests. The final product is more than we had even dreamed.” Nestled into the landscape this truly is a treehouse amongst a forest. Trades and companies who contributed to this project include GNB Builders, Daniel McGrath Ltd., Pope & Sons Refrigeration & Heating, United Floor, and Nova Integrated Pest Management Ltd, please see ads on this page and J.E. Anderson & Associates Surveyors - Engineers, please see ad on page 22.

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Grow local for the planet Around the world, the weather is normally the topic that unites people in conversation, but according to visitors to Vancouver Island, “all we ever talk about is food!” To me this is a good thing, because it shows that we are actively engaged in safeguarding our health at the same time as preparing for an uncertain future, as far as climate is concerned. It surprises me that not more people are questioning the impacts of weather havoc on global food supply and industrialized food production on climate change through fossil fuel-intensive methods of production and transportation. Food cultures vary by country and region, and through them, celebrations are centred and local traditions are expressed, as you can experience by travelling the world. On Vancouver Island a resurgence of demand for farm fresh produce, pasture-raised livestock, wild harvested products, and artisan cheese shops and bakeries is stimulating a vibrant new food culture. We are being introduced to in-season, wild and healthy cuisine, featuring novel concepts, such as fruit infusions, artisan salts, herbal seasonings and fermented concoctions. Chefs are on the front line, introducing us to delicious ways of enjoying local ingredients, such as sumptuous spot prawns in season and creamy, warming sunchoke soup in late winter. When we support restaurants that serve seasonally appropriate food from farm to plate, we allow more people to succeed at farming, fishing and wild harvesting. To me, it’s a relief that we talk about food so much, because this also means we are staying connected to the source of our wellbeing. There is nothing better for one’s health than nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables, and wild harvested mushrooms and seafood. Of course, the best way to ensure that you have access

Betty Benson at Cedar Farmers Market

to these is to grow as much food as you can in your own backyard and get to know a fisherman! The next best way is to attend your local farmers’ market on a regular basis or sign up for a weekly CSA (community supported agriculture) farm box program. Shop where you can find local farm produce and products, and don’t forget to stop at farm stands. Investing in local agriculture also stimulates the local economy. We have a willing workforce of young farmers, and all we have to do is let them loose on some land and support them with the infrastructure for processing, marketing and distribution. Buying local spreads dollars throughout the community, providing worthwhile occupations for a new generation of workers. We need to support a culture in which there’s a good living to be made from feeding communities, replacing the current myth that farming is a waste of time if you want to get ahead. So join the food revolution and lessen your carbon footprint by getting your hands in the earth to grow more food. It’s up to us to decide what the future brings, so I choose to revel in conversations about food, and celebrate seasonal abundance with luscious lettuces, fresh figs and gorgeous garlic! The Cedar Farmers’ Market starts up again on Mother’s Day, May 8 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), so perhaps I’ll see you at the IncrEdibles! tent? Carolyn Herriot is author of “The Zero Mile Diet” and “The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook.” Available at your local bookstore. She grows IncrEdibles! in Yellow Point (www.incredibles.vision).

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COMPILED BY CINDY DAMPHOUSSE AND ALLEN MCDERMID

3, 1pm to 4pm, Meet the Artist Theo Dombrowski, Kiwi Cove, 5130 Brenton Page Rd.

April 1-2

3, 10am to 5pm, Water Day FREE Community Event, Qualicum Commons, 744 Primrose Ave., Parksville

1, 2 to 8pm, Ladysmith Chamber of Spring Home & Garden Show, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave., 250245-2112 1–2, Town of Ladysmith Spring Cleanup Week 1–24, Art for Humanity Exhibition & Sale by Theo Dombrowski, Kiwi Cove, 5130 Brenton Page Rd. 2, Spring Cleanup Day, Chemainus Seniors Dropin Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 — Volunteer sign-up sheet at centre 2, 11am to 3pm, Swap-O-Rama-Rama, bring $5 and a bag of clean used clothes, take what you want and make it your own, St. Andrew’s United Church, Nanaimo 2, 10am to 4pm, Ladysmith Chamber of Spring Home & Garden Show, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave., 250-245-2112 2, 8am to 1pm, Rummage sale, Ladysmith Eagles, 921 First Ave. 2, 9am, Ladysmith Sportsman Club Watershed & Area Debris Cleanup, Bush Creek Hatchery, 250-713-7737 2, 8pm, The Looprechaun and One Man Rock Show, The Wheaty Pub, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250722-2240 2–30, noon to 4pm, Nanaimo Arts Council (NAC) Spring Art Exhibition — Spring is in our Step, Thursday to Saturday at the new location #4 Commercial St.

April 3-9 3, 1pm to 4pm, TheatreOne’s Fringe Flicks presents “45 Years,” Avalon Cinema, Nanaimo. Tickets are $12 each and available in advance at www.theatreone.org or by phone 250-754-7587

3–4, 7pm, Theatre One presents “45 Years,” Avalon Theatre, Nanaimo, 250-754-7587

4, Town of Ladysmith Spring Cleanup Week 4, 6:40pm, Mondays Bingo, doors open 4:45pm, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

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9, 1pm, TheatreOne presents “The Great Balanzo,” VIU’s Malaspina Theatre, 250-7547587. Tickets are $10 each or 2 for $18, available in advance at theatreone.org or 250-754-7587

April 10-16 10, 10am to 4pm , Pacific Brant Carving and Art Show, Parksville Community Centre. Admission $5, children under 12 are free

4, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Regular Council Meetings, Council Chambers City Hall, 410 Esplanade

10, 5:30pm, Country Western Burger & Beverage Fundraiser for the Soup Kitchen, bring your dancing shoes, live band, Ladysmith Eagles Hall. Tickets $20 avail. at the Resource Centre, Salamander Books and the Eagles, info 250-2457015

6, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

11, 6:40pm, Mondays Bingo, doors open 4:45pm, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

6, 6pm, Ladysmith Resources Centre Association Bingo, St. Mary’s Hall, 1135 4th Ave.

13, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111

8, noon to 3pm, Celebrate 47 years of Art with Chemainus Sketch Club, Coastal Community Credit Union, Willow St., Chemainus 8, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 9, 9am to 11am, Pancake Breakfast, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 9, 10, Ladysmith Kinsmen Hot Dog Sale, Food Drive to help out the Ladysmith Food Bank, 49th Parallel 9, 10am to 5pm , Pacific Brant Carving and Art Show, Parksville Comunity Centre. Admission $5, children under 12 are free 9, 10am and 1pm , Cowichan Valley Garden Club Annual Spring Plant Sale, St John’s Anglican Church Hall, Duncan, 486 Jubilee St. 9, 8pm, JP HOE House/Studio Concert at Jo Vic Pottery, 4781 Shell Beach Rd., Ladysmith

13, 9:30am to noon, The Joy of Drawing with Alison Watt, Fuller Lake Arena 13, 6pm, Ladysmith Resources Centre Association Bingo, St. Mary’s Hall, 1135 4th Ave. 14, 2pm, Mary Fox Pottery, the opening of the 5th Économusée® on Vancouver Island, free to the public, info call Lorraine, Project Coordinator, 250-382-7132 15, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111 16, 2pm to 6pm, The Atkinson Brothers, The Wheaty Pub, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2240 16, 5pm to 8pm, Birthday Party with pot luck dinner, bar and entertainment, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111

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April 17-23

schmoozeproductions.com

17, 2pm, Chemainus Classical Concerts presents “Music for Spring” — Garth Williams, violin; Ruth Williams, piano; Natalie Williams, cello; St Michael’s Church, Chemainus. Tickets $20, in advance $17, 250-748-8383, www. ChemainusClassicalConcerts.ca

22, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111

21–23, 8pm, “The Musical of Musicals,” Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd., 250-924-0658

17, 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Sweet Music of Nanaimo Concert Band Spring Concert, the Port Theatre, Nanaimo. Info online at www.porttheatre.com or 250-754-8550

23, 10am to 4pm, Jonanco Spring Craft Show & Sale, craft demos, raffle, refreshments, handcrafted items for sale! Free Admission! www. jonanco.com or email jonanco@gmail.com

18, 6:40pm, Mondays Bingo, doors open 4:45pm, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

23, The Deaf Aids — Beatle Cover Band, The Wheaty Pub, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2240

18, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Regular Council Meetings, Council Chambers City Hall, 410 Esplanade 19, 7pm, Ladysmith & District Historical Society AGM in the lower room of the Frank Jameson Centre, speakers John & Luke Marston. 20, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111 20, 9:30am to 11am, Blood Pressure Clinic, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 20, 11am to 1pm, Soup and Sandwich, entertainment Ladies Choir, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 20, 6pm, Ladysmith Resources Centre Association Bingo, St. Mary’s Hall, 1135 4th Ave. 21, 7pm, Ladysmith Saltair Garden Club monthly meeting, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church hall, 314 Buller St at 3rd Ave. 21, 8pm to 10:30pm, “Urinetown, The Musical,” Harbour City Theatre, 25 Victoria Road, Nanaimo. Info and ticket sales visit www.

23, 20th Anniversary Celebration Great Canadian Dollar Store, Coronation Mall

April 24-30 24–25, 7pm, Theatre One presents “Rams,” Avalon Theatre, 250-754-7587 25, 6:40pm, Mondays Bingo, doors open 4:45pm, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111 26, 7pm, Ladysmith Camera Club presents “Colour — When to ‘use, choose, or lose’ it,” with veteran Nanoose Bay photographer Kevin McGuinness, in Hardwick Hall, High Street at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith, www.LadysmithCameraClub.com 27, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wednesdays and Fridays, Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-2462111 27, 6pm, Ladysmith Resources Centre Association Bingo, St. Mary’s Hall, 1135 4th Ave. 28–30, 8pm, “The Musical of Musicals,” Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd., 250-924-0658 29, 9:30am to 11am, Muffin mornings, Wed and Fri., Chemainus Seniors Drop-in Centre Society, 9824 Willow St., 250-246-2111

30, 9am to 3pm, Waterfront Sale & Lunch, LDHS Locomotive restoration project, Heritage Park, Oyster Bay Rd., vendors call 250-2456-3201 30, 9am to 2pm, Nanaimo Glad and Dahlia Society’s Annual Tubers Sale, Country Club Mall, info Jim 250-722-2109 30, 9am to 3pm, The Ladysmith Seniors Centre Society annual garage sale and raffle, good bargains, come and join us, 2nd floor, 630 2nd Ave. 30, Country Night at the Wheaty YEEHA!!, The Wheaty Pub, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2240

May 1-7 3, 6:30pm, Ladysmith & District Credit Union 71 Annual General Meeting, Eagles Hall 29 French St. 250-245-2247 (above, clockwise) 9-10 Kinsmen Hot Dog Sale 21-31 The Musical of Musicals 24-25 Rams at Avalon Theatre. Photos submitted.

RDN Area A (Cedar, Cassidy, S. Wellington) Controlling Our Future — Advancing a Local Governance Restructure Feasibility Study At the July 23, 2013 Regional District of Nanaimo board meeting, the following two motions were passed with no dissenting votes recorded. Electoral Area A Local Governance Restructure Study MOVED Director McPherson, SECONDED Director Young, that the Regional District of Nanaimo supports the Electoral Area A desire to have a local governance restructure study completed in respect of the Electoral Area and requests that the Province of B.C. provide the staff support and/or funding necessary to enable such a study to be undertaken. CARRIED MOVED Director McPherson, SECONDED Director Young, that staff be directed to forward correspondence to the Local Government Structure Branch of the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, communicating the board’s support for a restructure study for incorporation in Electoral Area A and the request for funding or provincial resourcing for the study. CARRIED At the same July 23, 2013 RDN board meeting, a motion was passed to forward the Cedar Main Street Village Design Bylaw to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for approval. Subsequently, the province approved the bylaw. The Cedar Main Street Village Design project was undertaken to try to create commercial space to replace the last undeveloped commercially-zoned property within the Cedar Village area that was rezoned for residential housing on what is now known as the Cedar Village Estates, situated next to the 49th Parallel Grocery. In short, the Village Design project supports rezoning of the properties within the village area to a mix of residential

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and commercial uses — the idea that increasing the population density will also increase the support for local business as well as a variety of commercial uses. It is intended that the area will attract boutiques, unique businesses with an exciting blend of architectural styles that will create a walkable community. Drive-thru type businesses, for example, are not a permitted use. Earlier in 2013, the RDN board had received another study on the completeness of the Rural Village Centres (RVC) within the RDN. Of the six RVCs, the Cedar RVC was adjudged to be far in advance of the others and most likely to succeed if the residents of EA “A” chose to incorporate at some time in the future. On October 21 2013, the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development wrote to the RDN asking a series of questions and for further indication that the RDN had fully considered their support of which rural area to support, so that they could go forward on a path that would potentially lead to incorporation. In February 2014, the RDN affirmed the selection of this area. The Ministry posed a number of questions, delegated to me as the EA Director by the RDN, to respond to. Unfortunately, at the same time, School District 68 had indicated the closure of three schools in EA “A”. In making the decision, the SD 68 consultant group relied on estimated population growth which, because of the moratorium on the supply of water to new developments instituted by the improvement district in early 2010, implied a near “no-growth” situation. While this was only one of several factors, I believe that it was significant in the outcome. Note that several residents have pointed out the current building activity at the Cedar Village Estates as evidence of “new” growth. One must be aware that the Cedar Village Estates development had confirmed the supply of water to their 55-lot development about seven years ago. Recent announcements

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relative to the re-opening of the secondary school indicated that there is renewed interest in families choosing Cedar as their preferred place of residence. Meanwhile, the development group is still awaiting water for a 70+ unit senior’s residence at the same location. Because of actions by the improvement district in 2015, this group has seen the cost to connect to water increase from about $322,000 to near $800,000, making the economics of the project less certain. All these negative aspects would have, in my opinion, drawn a negative response from the Ministry as to whether or not they would fund the feasibility study; hence, the matter has not been advanced, pending a more favourable situation. Recently, a number of residents have expressed a renewed interest in advancing the feasibility study. There was a considerable amount of interest expressed in a feasibility study during the period 2010 to 2013, as evidenced by a dozen public meetings and the formation of a committee to advance the issue. The developers of the Cable Bay property primarily spurred on this activity, seeking approval from the City of Nanaimo for a 3,500+ unit development, adjoining Cedar and the attempt to annex approximately 40 hectares (98 acres) of Cedar. The potential for increased traffic on the narrow rural roads was adjudged to have a detrimental effect on the rural nature of the community. The Cable Bay, now Oceanview, development has stalled, at least temporarily, due to the lack of a second access route. More recently, a number of activities have occurred that residents have reacted to unfavourably; hence, the renewed interest. What is or will become evident is that the RDN does not have the tools necessary to address resident concerns. As with most development applications within a regional district environment, the decision-making is multi-jurisdictional with provincial and/or federal agencies involved. While the province

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had indicated, about 14 years ago, that they would delegate the authorities that the incorporated municipalities enjoy — like the control and repair of the roads — through their Community Charter, they have not done so, despite repeated requests from the Union of B.C. Municipalities. Two things are becoming very clear to me: One is that we are on the cusp of receiving many more controversial development applications; and the other, is that the only hope in addressing residents’ concerns is by pursuing the trail to incorporation. Note that this will be a long and winding road should a feasibility study indicate that incorporation is a viable alternative for this community of some 7,500 residents. The matter will be put to a public referendum as it is not something to casually embark upon. alecmcpherson@shaw.ca

CVRD Area H (North Oyster, Diamond) Regional Recreation Update: Last month, I wrote about the desire of the CVRD board to initiate a regional function for the recreation facilities in our Valley. The goal is to have all of the people in this region pay the operational and capital costs of facilities that are mainly used by the folks in the core areas. In order to move this function forward, a workshop was held to discuss regional recreation. The workshop identified potential action plans, including the preparation of a long-range plan for existing and new facilities. In my opinion, the workshop was not successful in finding a commonality among the directors. The subject will again be discussed at a future meeting.

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In spite of the fact that the board could not reach a decision, the issue is still being pushed by the directors from the core areas. Certain other directors rigorously put forth the notion that the condition that sparked previous regional recreation debates does not exist today, and therefore the current mix of existing sub-regional relationships meets the districts needs and do not require a regional recreation approach. My position has not changed. I am hearing that North Oyster/Diamond residents do not wish to pay for facilities that they never asked for and had absolutely no say in the matter. I can not and will not support having to pay for these facilities, unless North Oyster/Diamond taxpayers get to express their opinion through an area-by-area referendum process. This would allow those who use and want these facilities to pay for them, and give those who do not wish their dollars to be used in this fashion the ability to opt out. North Oyster Fire Hall Project Update: Although it may seem like the proposed plan to build a new fire hall had stalled during 2014–2015 time frame, I can assure you that this is not the case. The condition of the existing hall does not fully meet building standards and other regulations. As every day goes by, the condition of the hall continues to deteriorate. It is obvious that a new hall is greatly needed; it has been obvious for quite some time. We must work collaboratively as a community in order to achieve this goal. The grass fire that occurred in the summer of 2015 is a good example of the work that volunteer firefighters do for this community in emergency situations. The firefighters were on scene for three days, in the heat of the day and into the night; they needed periodic rest and recuperation space. The current hall does not have the ability to provide dedicated space for that purpose. This is one of many reasons why a new hall is an essential factor in the provision of fire services in North Oyster. The CVRD has continued to work on the project over the past years. Money and land were both a factor in the lengthy delay. We now have money set aside to proceed with the project, as is shown in the 2016 budget papers. CVRD staff, the fire chief and I are working hard to resolve the land use issues, and I believe that we are making progress. Although I cannot give a time frame as to when the land use issues will be satisfied, it is my intention to keep you informed as the project moves forward. I will be working with staff to prepare information sheets, and I will continue to use this magazine to disseminate information. I will also hold public information meetings as needed. FortisBC — Mt. Hayes LNG Storage Facility: There has been a lot of inaccurate, misleading misinformation circulating throughout the entire Cowichan Valley Regional District — and beyond — regarding the Steelhead proposal to export LNG to other countries. This would be achieved by having a shore-based facility on the Bamberton property, with a shipping dock located in the waters of the Saanich Inlet. The public has expressed concerns about potential fires and explosions, leaks that could contaminate the pristine waters, noise, safety issues and the risks to the environment. To construct and operate a facility, such as the proposed Steelhead project, likely a rezoning would be required and

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would involve a public process. The opponents of the project would like to see the proposal squashed without going through that land use process. The CVRD has not yet received an application. Steelhead has applied to the federal government for a National Energy Approval for an LNG export licence. As part of that application, a reference was made to the Mt. Hayes facility; that reference sparked the intense public discussion about LNG in general and specifically the Steelhead proposal. I have been assured that there are no plans to build an export facility on Mt. Hayes. The focus of this facility is on serving the domestic market; not exporting a product to the international market. If a Steelhead rezoning application were to come forward to the CVRD, the directors would be required to give it full and fair consideration. Because a formal rezoning request has not yet been submitted, the board will have to wait and see what actions are taken by Steelhead, and respond appropriately when and if an application is submitted.

CVRD Area G (Saltair) Saltair Volunteer Community: Volunteer Award To Ted Brown The Ratepayers Association presents an annual award to an outstanding volunteer in the Saltair community each year. This year’s recipient is Ted Brown. Ted was chairman of the Official Community Plan Committee that became a new OCP in 2005. He has a lot of experience in community planning as he was formerly the head planner of the City of Calgary. During his time as OCP chairman, he used a great deal of patience with the committee, knowing that it was going to take time to come up with some sort of consensus with the plan. The members of the group came from very different backgrounds, experiences and values. With the support of Katie Thompkins, the CVRD planner, part of Ted’s job as chairman was to help the group evolve and stay focused. It took over two years. Since then, Ted served as Advisory Planning Commission chairman for Saltair for 13 years. His experience helped the community greatly. We had some tough decisions to make and with the help of Ted, we came through it pretty well. Developments can be very emotional and controversial at times, but Ted kept an even hand on the discussions. We have better parkland and beach accesses now because of the work of our Advisory Planning Committee under Ted’s leadership. We are really going to miss Ted as APC chairman. He recently retired from the position. But the remaining committee members should be able to pick up the ball where Ted left off. Thank you very much Ted for helping our community for 16 years and for all that you have done for us. Debbie Neil, the vice president of the Ratepayers Association, presented Ted the award at the Cowichan Valley Regional District board meeting on March 9. Garbage And Recycling Survey The CVRD did a garbage and recycling survey in Saltair and some of the other areas. In Saltair, 944 households

Ted Brown, recipient of the Saltair Volunteer Award with Mel Dorey, CVRD Area G Director and Debbie Neil, the vice president of the Saltair Ratepayers Association at the Cowichan Valley Regional District board meeting on March 9. Photo submitted

were given a survey tacked to the top of their garbage cans. Only 437 surveys returned (a return rate of 63 per cent) when the householders stuck them back on the garbage cans the next pick up. According to the results of the survey, 72 per cent would like to keep the same garbage and recycling service, with pick up every two weeks, that we have now. About 28 per cent of Saltair households would like to add kitchen waste to the service at an additional cost. Why add kitchen waste as a service? Here are some of the reasons. A previous CVRD study revealed that Saltairians have about 30 per cent of their garbage weight in kitchen waste, even though some have composts in their back yard. Garbage with kitchen waste is shipped all the way to Rabanco, Washington for disposal because the CVRD does not have a landfill or a waste to energy plant. Why not compost it on Vancouver Island so that we can make soil for our farms? And why create more greenhouse gases from shipping by truck and rail to Washington? Morally and environmentally, it makes sense to separate the kitchen waste from the regular garbage. It also helps the CVRD make its zero-waste target. North Cowichan, Ladysmith, Duncan and Lake Cowichan all have a kitchen waste program, but the electoral areas don’t. In the rural areas, people say they compost, but studies show that there is not nearly as much composting as what people say. If the whole regional district separated kitchen waste, there would only be a minimal raise in costs due to volume. Stay tuned. We will return to this discussion soon.

Extended movie credits and other things All I wanted to know was who performed the soundtrack for the Netflix movie I had just watched. You wouldn’t think that would be very difficult or take that long, would you? So instead of saying good night to the cat and going to bed, I stayed up to watch the credits. After about half an hour, I fell asleep. The credits rolled on. I never did get the band’s name. Back in the old days things were much simpler. The credits lasted maybe ten whole seconds. You’d get a list of eight or ten actors, the guy’s horse if it was a western, the producer and who wrote the score. After that, the Lion would growl or Porky Pig would go, “De dip, de dip, that’s all folks.” Then, if your feet weren’t stuck to the floor, you were out of there. But back to the Netflix movie. The last thing I remember was the name Moe Jones. Special thanks to Mr. Jones, his personal trainer, his aerobics instructor, his plastic surgeon, his stock broker, his paper boy, his lifestyle coach, and whatever you do, don’t forget his hairstylist, even though he’s bald as an eight ball … “Wait a minute,” I thought. “Who the hell is Moe Jones? The new Yul Brynner?” Oh, he’s the “Captain of Transportation.” The guy who drives the star back and forth to rehab, gets coffee, and stuff like that. The guy on a construction site, where euphemism is in short supply, they call gofer. And what’s this? Mr. Jones has how many assistants? Ahhh!!!!!! Okay, let’s for the sake of argument say it’s important that society knows these details; democracy won’t function without them. Why then are the credits rolled so fast that only recent Evelyn Wood graduates can keep up? (Evelyn Wood, remember her? Evelyn Wood’s

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Reading Dynamics, aka, Speed Reading. You’re not stupid; you’re just a slow reader.) Rumour has it, extended credits were started by Dean Martin, who got to feeling maudlin one day about all the things his bartender had done for him that had gone unrecognized. So right where the credits would normally end, Dean put a special thanks to “my friend Duke, whose triple gin and tonics made Jerry Lewis’ laughter somewhat bearable.” When Debbie Reynolds saw this, she thought, “How thoughtful. If the old drunk can be that nice, I can certainly thank my T-ball coach.” From there, like some mutant ninja crabgrass, it just grew and grew and grew. But now it’s time to put a stop to it; to admit it was a good idea that got out of control. So for all you filmmakers out there, a message: Return to the standards of yesteryear. Keep the credits short. It’s unnecessary to list every individual in a crowd scene. And if we want to know who drove the catering truck, we’ll get in touch. Not to be outdone by the filmmakers, Academy Award winners adopted the gracious practice of not just thanking every person in the Los Angeles basin, but everyone in the known universe. That’s why, to work around time constraints and to fit everyone in, they have started to eliminate all breaks between words and speak like auctioneers. Well, I say go for quality, not quantity. I propose they get to thank only their parents and one other. If, in the case of estranged parents, say in Angelina Jolie’s case, she would get double time to thank her tattoo artist, Brother Leroy, who, before he discovered fame and fortune in the San Fernando Valley, was known around the shop as that prick Joey. A sample speech might go like this: I would like to thank my Grade 3 teacher Miss Bunker, for choosing me as #1 Christmas tree in the Christmas play. I would also like to thank my mom for sewing up my costume — a success story in itself. (Getting a green garbage bag to look like a Douglas fir is never easy.) I would also like to thank my dad for serving as Captain of Transportation all these years. And dad, thanks for not snoring at the play. And Mom, thanks for remembering to bring the cone of silence just in case he did.

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Even more annoying than long, rambling acceptance speeches, are the political speeches. I don’t watch the Academy Awards to hear a pampered actress in a $20,000 dress tell me to wear pink because her son’s Grade 4 class is bullying him because his name, thanks to her ex-husband’s drug habit, happens to be Captain Turdball. As far as Leo DiCaprio goes, amateur climatologist, a gentle reminder: Just because you went down with the Titanic and once wrestled a man in a bear’s suit, doesn’t mean we’re any more interested in your political opinions than last night’s busboy, or for that matter, the guy at the city dump who optimistically refers to seagull shit as poor man’s Brylcreem. If you really want to get into politics, rather than tussle with Trump, why not star in a movie about presidents? “The Bill Clinton Story,” for example. Believe me, the under the desk scene will be a lot more fun than rolling around in the snow with a make-believe bear. What it really gets down to is the entertainment industry takes themselves too seriously. It’s not brain surgery. Someone makes a short, subtitled documentary about transgendered gerbils that no one will ever see, and this is cause for much backslapping and self-congratulations? Meanwhile, over at Mt. Sinai Memorial, where the brain surgeons are successful 98% of the time, with only 2% of the patients walking out the door and talking like Rocky Balboa, it’s just another day at the chop shop. (Mr. Horrocks would like to thank his wife for going to town, so he could slack off from chores and write this article; his Grade 3 teacher, who held him back until age 17, at which point he could fit in socially; and finally, his father, who was flexible enough to switch Mom’s aphrodisiac over to gin and tonic when Lucky Lager just wasn’t getting the job done. Without his efforts and fast-talk none of this would have been possible.) As an alternate aphrodisiac, you might want to try a delicious Australian Sauvignon Blanc, Limestone Coast Artan, $13.99. Delbert Horrocks is a co-proprietor at Mahle House Restaurant. Follow him at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com

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A world of camas A meadow of blue camas in full bloom is an arresting sight. When Europeans first arrived here, they frequently described these meadows as resembling large lakes. The size of those camas â&#x20AC;&#x153;lakesâ&#x20AC;? has shrunk over the last 150 years. There, in those meadows and in this plant, lies a complex history of plant and land stewardship, and human and plant co-dependence, and a sudden change in the relationship between hu-

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mans and blue camas. This plant presents possibilities for the renewal of a relationship that values a role for humans in nature as well as acknowledging the dependence of humans on nature. There are two species of camas in this area. The common camas, as the name suggests, is the more common one. The great camas is similar in appearance, but bigger in stature. Both were incredibly important sources of carbohydrates for First Nations peoples prior to European settlement. The white death camas often grows amongst edible camas. Though similar in name, white death camas is in a different genus and when in bloom is easy to distinguish from the two edible camas species. However, the death camas bulb is indistinguishable from the edible camas. It is for this reason that camas meadows were weeded when they were in bloom, and only the patches without death camas were harvested for use. Camas were harvested in the summer

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(l) Camas and (r) death camas

with Pacific yew digging sticks. A family would store hundreds to thousands of pounds of harvested bulbs for the winter and any excess was traded with people who lived in areas where camas does not grow. To favour camas production, the meadows were burned periodically, so as to keep shrubs out (to reduce light, moisture and nutrient competition). The burning would also help fertilize the soil by recycling the phosphorus from the burned plants tissues.

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Camas were typically pit-cooked. A large pit was dug and a fire was lit in it. Rocks were heated up in the fire, and then the burning wood was removed. Following that, the pit would be lined with ferns and salal, and then filled with camas and lined again with foliage. A bit of water would be added to create steam, and then the entire pit was covered up with mats followed by soil. This was allowed to bake for a day or more. Baking the bulbs for long periods like this helps convert the indigestible inulin in the bulb to usable fructose. If eaten raw or undercooked, one is liable to suffer from intestinal gas. Many who eat this bulb now do so in relatively small quantities. They will use slow cookers for family and pit cooks for larger gatherings. Nowadays, it is not advisable to harvest from the wild due to the limited areas where camas is abundant. However, camas grows readily from seed and from bulbs, and it can be cultivated in the home garden or lawn. If you convert your lawn to a camas meadow, it will look like a bright blue pond for a month or so every spring. If you are interested in planting camas, please gather seeds from local sources (or purchase bulbs from local suppliers). This helps maintain the genetic strains unique to your locality. Camas patches were traditionally “owned” by families and were managed as a garden, albeit with different techniques than early European settlers were accustomed to, and so they typically regarded the harvesting of bulbs as gathering rather than farming or gardening. The long history of camas–human relationship benefited both. Humans created the conditions that favoured the plant, and the plant provided humans with sustenance. It is difficult to say which shaped the other more. After almost disappearing as a food source, some people are now working to restore camas meadows as well as the cultural practice surrounding their stewardship. Some of the reasons include the use of traditional foods to connect with ancestral history as well as a mechanism to restore ecosystems and the human–nature relationship. My thanks to Brenda Beckwith, Cheryl Brice and Nancy Turner for sharing their knowledge about camas and pit-cooking. Jay Rastogi is a naturalist, horticulturist and educator living in Yellow Point. ecoforestry@gmail.com

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“Never, no, never, did Nature say one thing, and Wisdom say another.” — Third Letter on Regicide Peace, 1797; Edmund Burke

World Water Day, Earth Day and me Ripples roll across the river. I gaze through the surface, calm to the current beneath, shimmering glimpses of the river bed, stirring thoughts unbidden. The two-thirds of me that is water calls to swim with the tadpoles; the one-quarter of my brain that is not, decides. Spontaneity will wait for a hot, dry summer day in July. Look now, swim later. I pick up a pebble and flick it, watching it spin and drop, plunking through and away; gone before I draw a second breath. So we are water, hidden in clear sight. Thoughts stream and dissolve, as the river runs by. I float through space and time on this island, Earth. The beauty and glory of being part of life reveals itself; the magic of creating my own destiny is part of the moment. And, like a rock, I’m back. Me, standing by the river, immersed in the cold and wet; the reality that this April shower’s not going to let up. Home and dry clothes are not that far away, and if I’m lucky, similar profundity and revelations of life on Earth might come with heatstroke in July. Dripping steadily, rain pouring, I slip and slide across briny intertidal, the mouth and majesty of river touching the sea. I squint and peer, storm clouds twisting up and sideways, white caps pounding at the cliffs, a righteous wind whirling, spinning, around and away. Trees and grasses bend. They disappear in sheets of driving rain, holding fast. Their tenuous perches where I should be.

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And there, where the line of sand curls and lifts, is my path, having wandered further than prudent judgement would suggest. But water always has its way with me. I stumble along, blown by a breeze that has become a wind now a force to be reckoned with. Sands roll up and back; and the fury of waves, a testament to power and fortune. This grain goes back to the deep. That one left high and dry amongst the kelp and seaweed. Along a crooked line of logs and flotsam, I look awash, aghast, ashore. I would not wish to be on the water this day. The estuary, the shoreline once covered with white sand and the beach littered with shellfish, now drown in tempest tossed waters. Through the swirling mists and clouds, the abandoned and unleashed forces of nature, all is swept before the howling. I stand, mesmerized. And the moment returns. Alive, alive oh! Alive, alive, oh with the mussels and cockles alive, alive oh ... A sweet joy and song warms my heart. Here I am at waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge where life began. Boom! A rolling thunderclap shudders through my bones and slaps the reverie right out of me. But not the joy. I peer once more into the storm and laugh; the echoes of my ancestors are a reminder of who I am and what I stand for. The elements, seas, rivers and lands run through me. Born of the earth, I am free to find my own way, marvel at the wonders of creation and seek answers in the mysteries around me. Here we began, were one in the mix and went our separate ways. And boom! Now I know when the mighty and powerful universe might best be pondered from a warm and cozy home. I turn on my heel. Sure it is time to scramble once again up the muddy banks. Laurie Gourlay and Jackie Moad waxed eloquent on World Water Day, March 22, inspired by all they expect that spring will bring by Earth Day, April 22. While weeding and pruning and mightily gathering their formidable resources, they do both agree that they are no match for Mother Nature, but will humbly spit in her eye if that is not good enough â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for they are only human, and their earthly ways sometimes get the better of them. To repent, and make amends, however, they farm 20 acres organically and seek local solutions to global challenges naturally!

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etc. Full-/part-time and drop-in spots. Subsidy welcome. patti@senseofplaceyp.com, www. senseofplaceyp.com, or call 250-667-1222 or 250-618-3396.

FOR RENT OFFICE SPACES Downtown Ladysmith, modern, reasonable rent or lease. Call 250-245-3395. FOR SALE

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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WANTED WANTED PART-TIME experienced gardener for Mahle House Restaurant. Call Ginny 250-7222115. BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL - join like minded Nanaimo & area travelers for adventures around the world! March 2017 - Portugal, Morocco & Spain - 19 days. October 2017 - South Africa 20 days. Contact: debs.travels@hotmail.com for further information KEN’S MOBILE MARINE SERVICE. Over 25 years licensed Marine Mechanic, repairing and maintaining diesel, inboard, outboard, stern drives, electrical, etc. We come to you. Call Ken 250-210-0756. BARNACLE BILL’S CHARTERS. Fishing, prawning, crabbing and sightseeing. Call 250210-0787 or 250-245-4185. BEADS BEADS BEADS Etc! 9752 Willow St., Chemainus. Best prices on the Island. Follow us on facebook/etcinchemainus. Call 250-324-2227.

FOR ALL YOUR SEWING NEEDS Bedding, window treatments, couch and chair covers, cushions, pillows, special accessories and decor, dressmaking and alterations — whatever comes to your mind. Contact Elke info@egrstudios.com or 250-618-1172. I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, substantial editing and more. Fiction or nonfiction. For more information, www.editican.wordpress. com or email editican@gmail.com. EXPERIENCED HOUSE SITTER available for Summer/ Fall / Winter. References avail. Prefer long stay. Call Kathleen 250-619-0786. SPECIAL EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHY. from weddings, family portraits to corporate clients. Email for quote and portfolio: marinasacht@ yahoo.ca or call 250-245-9165. EDUCATION SENSE OF PLACE YOUTH PROJECT LTD. Offering child care Pro-D, before and after school spaces available for children ages 5–12. North Oyster Community Centre (Lic#KRIS-9MPPYV). 7am to 6pm. Mon. to Fri. Nature programming, arts/crafts, hiking, building, music, games

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SASSA’S HOME AND GARDEN CARE. Specializing in fall & spring cleaning inside & outside of your home or business. We use the tools & products that make the difference. Call 250-924-4735 or 1-250-218-4735. SENIORS’ UPGRADES. Railings, ramps; interior re/finishing, carpentry, painting, custom shelving/storage, decks, benches. Enhance your enjoyment of the home you love. Namaste Home Improvements. Call 250-245-2751 (see display ad).

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MEALS ON WHEELS. Delivered Monday, Wednesday & Friday between 11:30am & 12:30pm. Info call Joanne 250-245-5088 or Merle 250-245-7252. SENIORS’ UPGRADES. Railings, ramps; interior re/finishing, carpentry, painting, custom shelving/storage, decks, benches. Enhance your enjoyment of the home you love. Namaste Home Improvements, 250-245-2751 (see display ad).

ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large and small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-245-1260.

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THE HAPPY GARDENER. Weeding, digging, raking, cutting back, etc. Also do window washing and odd jobs. Cheerful and conscientious. Call David 250-618-9217.

LEAVE A LEGACY - WRITE YOUR MEMOIRS TAKE 5 Publications can help. We can get your project ready to go to press. Video production also available. Call 250-245-7015

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