I have been enjoying the forest around the Nanaimo River Hatchery for years and the recent deforestation disheartens me. While walking through the forest today, I noticed spray paint on almost every tree and numerous active logging signs.
This park’s beauty lies in its mature forest, which supports various plants and wildlife. Each season brings something special: in spring, wildflowers bloom; in summer, it’s my favourite place to walk in the shade and spot fry swimming in the streams and ponds; in fall, I love searching for mushrooms and watching salmon in the streams; and in winter, it’s easy to spot eagles perched in the trees, looking for a meal.
I’ve seen all kinds of wildlife here, from otters to salmon to eagles and all kinds of birds. This area is truly special and worth preserving. I understand that it is privately owned, but surely there is something we can do to help protect this beautiful forest, which is cherished by so many. —
BC Election
Savanna Lawless
I was prepared to vote for the NDP in this election, as they have provided fairly decent government for the people of BC over their last terms as the governing party.
However, that notion went out the window last year when the government STOLE the six-million-dollar Ladysmith marina from the non-profit Ladysmith Maritime Society.
This society had been operating its marina for decades with many volunteers helping maintain and upgrade the site, as well as providing many activities and educational experiences for the public.
This marina was taken from the society with little warning and NO compensation, despite the existence of a lease agree ment until 2029.
This property was then GIVEN to a local First Nation in the “spirit of reconciliation,” with, again, NO COMPENSATION for the millions of dollars of assets owned by the society, and no thought to the volunteers whose thousands of hours of work over the years helped build and maintain the property.
This sort of thing does nothing to foster a spirit of reconcilia tion between our races – more likely it creates a spirit of suspi cion and mistrust. You can’t get people to respect one another by stealing from one another and giving the stolen property to another! For these reasons, I did not vote for the NDP. — Michael Smith
Dragon Boat Champions
The Worlds — an unimaginable goal when I began dragon boat paddling in Ladysmith about 15 years ago. This September, I was in Ravenna, Italy, with the Vancouver Island Paddlers (VIP) Flat Out, a high-performance breast cancer survivor team. We had qualified by winning the Canadian National Club Crew competition in Welland, Ontario, last summer.
Our team is made up primarily of paddlers from the entire Island. Accompanying our team were six more VIP teams in several different competitive categories. We are fortunate to have three national coaches who prepared us very well. Strength training, winter paddling, gym time, endurance activities, good nutrition, mental toughness and technical excellence are just a few activities. Holly Wylie, who helped us as a starting dragon boat team in Ladysmith, included me with her Nusa’Lon team, providing me with additional coaching opportunities.
Ravenna was amazing — about 30 countries and 6,800 paddlers competed. All the winter paddling paid off when our team was the only one who could get the boat into the starting gate for one of the races! That race was eventually cancelled. Two gold and one bronze medal gave us the top place in this world competition. — Marnie Craig
The Future of Cable Bay Trail
We are supporters of the Cable Bay Trail and pray to the heavens that it remains. We emailed Toby Seward, agent for Nanaimo Forest Products Limited/Harmac.
Here is a copy. (from Albert Seibert)
“Unlike you, I’m no expert” Letter
Unlike you, I’m no expert, but even I can see what will happen if your plans are realized for Heavy Industrial Rezoning within metres of Area A residents and Cable Bay Trail.
Unlike you, I’m no expert, but even I can see that an “average 100 m buffer” to the trail is unacceptable, as some sections are only 50 metres, which can cause trees to blow down plus impact homes and habitats with noise and odours.
Unlike you, I’m no expert, but even I can see what your plans will do to the second and old-growth forests, Garry Oak meadows, wildlife and wetlands.
Unlike you, I’m no expert, but even I can see the impact on biodiversity conservation, climate and water regulation and unique ecological features.
Unlike you, I’m no expert, so I can do very little to ensure responsible land-use planning and environmental stewardship, which will result in the economic benefits of conservation.
Unlike you, I can sleep at night after mindfully walking Ca ble Bay Trail every single day since I moved to Nanaimo in 2015. I pick garbage and report concerns, and with the guid ance of true experts, I have rescued wildlife. And I have shed more than a tear while witnessing the clear-cutting.
Unlike you, I’m no expert, but I know the trail as though it were my back yard, and because of this, I can’t imagine anyone who has fully experienced the complexities of this trail would even consider doing what you’re planning on doing. Please take a mindful walk all the way to the end and back up again before you make a decision that will impact our planet and our people for generations to come. And if you don’t do it for them, do it yourself. — Brenda Seibert
This is an open community forum. The letters published here do not necessarily represent the opinion of TAKE 5 ates. Got an opinion? editor@take5.ca
Vancouver Island Paddlers Flat Out in Italy. Photo submitted.
Award Season
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
The Spirit of Ladysmith Business Awards were presented at a gala celebration at Aggie Hall on Friday, October 25. The event also celebrated the return of the awards after a 12-year hiatus. The Chamber of Commerce recognized a variety of businesses and people for their leadership and achievements in the community.
“What a truly memorable evening the Spirit of Ladysmith Business Awards was,” Cheri Mactier, president of Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, reflected on the gala. “Congratulations to all … [and] to Roberta Bowman, executive director, and Jacquie Chellew, administration, for their countless hours of planning and preparing made for a flawless celebration.”
Roberta Bowman, the executive director, described the event as a “celebration of the spirit of collaboration, innovation and care that defines Ladysmith.”
Congratulations are in order for the nominees and the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event, but especially to the winners.
Sarah Abdulkafi of Bayview Brewing Company was awarded for Outstanding Customer Service. Duck Paterson was awarded Volunteer of the Year. LCU Insurance Agencies Ltd. was recognized
for their expertise with the Financial Services Award. The Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to the Temperance Hotel for their leadership and devotion to the community.
The Business of the Year (1–10 Employees) was awarded to In the Beantime café, and the Business of the Year (11+ Employees) was awarded to Ladysmith Pharmasave for providing quality service and an outstanding contribution to the community. Cedar Dog Grooming won the Best Home-Based Business Award for their service and positive impact on the community. Andrea Rosato-Taylor from the Arts Council of Ladysmith & District won the Arts and Culture Award for her significant contribution to the community.
The People’s Choice Award was given to Bayview Brewing Company. The Employer of the Year, with exceptional commitment to its employees and dedication to creating a healthy workplace, was awarded to the Old Town Bakery.
Bowman said, “Whether you are creating jobs, enhancing our local culture or supporting those in need, your contributions leave a lasting impact on our town, helping our community thrive.”
Tis the Season!
It’s time to kick off the holiday season with the 37th Festival of Lights! This much anticipated tradition will be held on Thursday, November 28, with festivities starting on First Avenue at 3 p.m. There will be a craft sale at Aggie Hall from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., live music from the Doctors of Rock n Roll at 4:30 p.m. and a delicious selection of restaurants and food trucks. The man of the hour — Santa — will arrive to turn on the lights at 6:30 p.m., followed by the parade at 6:45 p.m.
Celebrating Legacy
Saint Mary’s Catholic Women’s League in Ladysmith celebrated their
Ladysmith Pharmasave at Spirit of Ladysmith Awards. Photo: Sophie Paisly
90th anniversary on Sunday, September 29. The festivities were marked by a speech from the president, Patricia Darling, and honoured those who have served throughout the organization’s long history. Years of service pins were awarded to several members, including the longest-standing member, Marilyn Johnson, who has served for sixty years.
We Want You!
The Regional District of Nanaimo is seeking volunteers to sit on several RDN advisory committees. Committee members advise on a wide range of projects and work with community groups in areas from parks, recreation, culture, agriculture, waste management and more. Terms range from one to three years, beginning January 1, 2025, and run until December 31 of the applicable year. For more information visit rdn.bc.ca/boardappointments
Coastal Concerns?
The Regional District of Nanaimo is inviting residents to share their experiences and questions about coastal hazards and environmental risks through a survey this month. The goal is to start a conversation about the changing coast and how to prepare for a sustainable future. The survey compliments the technical work the RDN is doing to assess risk to the coastline and the impacts to the area. For more information and to complete the survey by November 17, 2024, register and sign up to the project page at getinvolved.rdn.ca/coastal-risk.
St. Mary's Catholic League longest outstanding member Marilyn Johnson. Photo submitted.
Don't be Duped!
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
It’s the season for shopping—and that means this is also a high season for fraud.
The Ladysmith & District Credit Union held a Fraud Aware ness presentation a few months ago and the Ladysmith Eagles Hall was packed. Just about everyone there had either expe rienced fraud or knows of someone who has. The LDCU is already planning another information session in the spring.
Gone are the days of just phone calls from far-off princes asking for money. Fraudsters have diversified their tactics and their scams. It’s important to know what to look for and how to stay safe.
Michael Robinson, Marketing Director for LDCU spoke on the types and dangers of fraud scams. “If you get a call from your grandchild saying, Hey, I'm in trouble. Send me some money…That's a big problem right now too. They use AI and voice simulators to simulate your grandkids.”
Scams don’t look like what we’d expect. There are romance scams, charity scams, phishing emails or texts, online shopping scams, CRA scams, ransomware, ID theft—the list goes on. The medium used is also advancing, from phone calls, to texts, to emails, to fake websites, social media campaigns, and deepfake videos, even if you don’t think you’re being targeted, you are.
And you should stay critical whenever you encounter any thing remotely suspicious or from unusual sources. One key element to look out for is anything asking for money. Espe cially in the form of gift cards, Bitcoin, and transferring money to foreign accounts. “No one, and I mean no one, will accept a gift card as payment. Gift cards are [for] when you give to people and they go in and then they use them. No one requests a gift card as payment.”
Robinson went on to describe a scam where a financial insti tution calls and asks you to go purchase gift cards from multiple stores as a way to “test your security”. Actual financial institutions would never ask that of you and under a little critical thinking the logic falls apart, but the strength of these scams is not their logic, it’s their emotional manipulation.
It’s scary if someone calls, or emails saying your account has been hacked, or the security was breached. There’s a jolt of panic that happens as a response and they prey on that. In that moment of fear, they add pressure: you’ve gotta act now.
The LDCU created a guide to understanding the types and techniques fraudsters use that is available on their website. It lays out key pieces that are at the core of every scam. The first is deception. Scammers will manipulate facts or create their own false ones in order to get your attention. The second piece is ignorance. They specifically target areas or processes where you don’t know information. The third is exploitation. They gain your trust so that you lower your guard. And finally, they create a sense of urgency so that you make rushed decisions without stopping to think.
“If you can keep your wits about you, you'll do yourself a big favour,” Michael says.
Thinking critically will take you far but there are other tips, outlined in the guide, to stay safe and prevent scams as much as possible.
Don’t click suspicious links and double check website addresses. Watch out for are misspellings and extra characters— especially if the link says it’s from reputable sources.
Some scams look harmless, like personality quizzes on social media. While scams like these might not ask for money, they’re collecting your personal information, and it will be used against you in later scams. It’s important to protect yourself and not give out your personal information.
On social media be careful about who follows you. Scammers use fake accounts to steal your information. Consider changing your privacy settings. Using strong passwords might seem like a basic thing, but it's incredibly important. Protect yourself and your accounts with passwords that are complex, and include a mix of letters, numbers and characters. It’s also important not to reuse or have the same password for long periods of time—I know it’s hard to remember but that’s the point. Stay safe and change it.
Now is a good time to check your insurance provider and get extra protection in case you do end up a victim. Take steps to stay safe and keep up to date, but if you do become a victim, tell someone.
Fraud protection isn’t just on your shoulders, it’s a team effort. If you suspect fraud or are a victim, it’s important to report it as soon as possible to your local RCMP Detachment and your Financial Institution. Michael says it’s important to share the experiences you have. A big part of being safe is staying informed. “Talk. Don't be embarrassed. Let your friends know. Because if you talk about it, you'll be amazed at what comes up in casual conversation.”
Times Infinity
BY ELISE SACHT
It’s recycling day and my neighbours are always one step ahead: their recycling bins are already on the curb. I lug my two extra-large bags to the side of the road, containers and boxes spilling out. “How does this keep happening?” I wonder. There’s got to be a better way. Preferably one with less containers.
Natasha and Bryce Mayne think they have a solution with their store: Times Infinity Refill Bar + Eco Shop. They recently moved here from Edmonton and wanted to embrace the eco-conscious island culture as well as the perfect location for a small business.
Natasha has a background in esthetics, but she grew concerned with the amount of waste the industry produces. She stopped working when she and Bryce had their first baby during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their son was what ultimately inspired them into opening their business. “He has been the inspiration behind taking the leap to living lives of fulfillment and giving us courage to make our dreams come true so he can make his own dreams come true! We love and adore him times infinity!” Natasha said.
The Times Infinity Refill Bar + Eco Shop is the solution for less waste and a more sustainable life. The shop offers a wide selection of cosmetics, cleaners, detergents and more. You can buy a product once and take the container back for them to refill it. They will refill literally any cleaned container you bring in, so go ahead, reach into the recycling bin and use what you have. Didn’t bring your own container? They’ve got you covered with one in store.
In the spirit of sustainability, the store focuses on locally made products. They offer cleaning and beauty products from companies such as Island Essentials from Victoria, Earth Spirit Organics from Cowichan Bay, Cumberland Cleaning Co. from Comox Valley and Routine Natural Beauty from Calgary.
It doesn’t end there, they also offer eco-friendly clothing from local brands like Anian from Victoria, MeMi Collective from Nanaimo and Somewon Collective from Revelstoke. Their clothing is gender and size inclusive and can be dressed up or down. They also have fun socks that come in cotton and merino wool. It’s the perfect place to start your holiday shopping! The Maynes are focused on providing practical options for a sustainable community but also on having a beautiful store. Bryce designed the front end of the store with thoughtful touches, including his late brother’s CDs, which hang from the ceiling, paying homage to their love of music.
Mayne family at Times Infinity Refill Bar + Eco Shop.
Photo: Elise Sacht
Lions Vineyard
BY MARINA SACHT
If you liked The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, you will enjoy Loyola Van Rooyen Buck’s first novel Lions Vineyard.
Loyola was very involved with the community and while working at TAKE 5 and in the publishing industry, she knew she wanted to write a book.
It was when she moved to Aotearoa, New Zealand, with her husband and Rhodesian ridgeback, Leo, in 2015, that she started searching for a story.
“I missed everyone on Vancouver Island. So, I put them into the characters, though the names are changed.”
Loyola’s love for family and interest
in church history uncovered a story she knew needed to be told. Lions Vineyard is her first completed work and the start of a series. Her second novel Wolf and Kin is already underway.
The book, which spans 200 years, combines adventure and romance. The
story starts with discovering an old sea chest at Lions Vineyard, containing journals that reveal a historical connection to a vineyard in the Netherlands, dating back to 1810, when Ashton Malefyt sailed away from his ancestral home and arrived in New Zealand. The narrative follows the family through time as they pursue the truth of who they are and find forgiveness along the way.
Loyola, a chaplain and a theological college administrator, describes the novel as wholesome.
Lions Vineyard is historical Christian fiction available online and at Salamander Books. The author is looking forward to hearing from readers and welcomes their comments via her website (https://lionsvineyard.com/).
We Will Rock You at Ladysmith Little Theatre
Bring your dancing shoes to the Ladysmith Little Theatre this month for the ultimate rock musical. We Will Rock You follows a group of young rock rebels, the Bohemians, as they fight in a music-less society against the all-powerful Killer Queen. The story is inspired
Author Loyola Van Rooyen Buck with Garth Buck. Photo submitted.
by the music of British rock band Queen, with a script written by Ben Elton.
We Will Rock You embodies the spectacle of Queen’s concerts with a live band that is sure to leave you with music thrumming in your veins. The musical has thrilled viewers since its conception by band members Brian May and Roger Taylor in 1996.
The shows open Nov. 21, and go until December 15, 2024.
Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular 2024
Katy Bowen-Roberts and James Mark have been hard at work writing and creating this year’s Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular. Talented performers will dazzle viewers with a colourful and emotional journey through music, story and
dance. This year features music by Van Morrison, Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift as well as musical numbers, classical hits and holiday favourites. The show will be held three venues across the Island, finishing in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre from December 17 to 22.
Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular has become a holiday tradition for many, and tickets are selling fast. Visit www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca to book yours today!
Members of the We Will Rock You cast rehearsing at ladysmith Little Theatre. Photo submitted.
Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular is back. Photo submitted.
Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra’s Upcoming Concerts
The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra’s 20th season opens with two performances this month, November 2, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Nanaimo, and November 3, at St. Mary’s Church in Ladysmith.
Barry Leung, a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony, will be a feature violinist in the first performances. He will be performing George Philipp Telemann’s “Vicola Concerto in G Major.” The NCO will be showcasing a Baroque program with delightful and captivating music of that time period.
Tickets are priced $25 for adults at the door, $5 for students and children aged 12 or less enter for free. Further performances will happen in March and June at the same locations. For more information or early bird prices visit nanaimochamberorchestra.com.
Mercury Players Stage a Thought-Provoking Satire
The Mercury Player’s Society is opening the 2024–2025 season with a production of The Female of the Species. This play is hilariously funny and asks the question, what happens when a celebrated feminist loses her humanity? Written by Janna Murray-Smith, this play premiered in Australia and was a smash hit in London’s West End.
The show runs from November 21 to December 1st, 2024. All performances are on stage at the Duncan United Church Hall. Tickets are $20 to $25 on Eventbrite and at Ten Old Books a few weeks before the show dates. For more information go to www.mercuryplayers. org.
New Art Gallery Wall
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
Sonja E. Maans a local painter whose work captures the essence of coastal villages and rural settings is the first artist to be featured at the Ladysmith & District Credit Union’s new Art Gallery Wall in collaboration with the Ladysmith Arts Council.
Sonja immigrated to Vancouver Island from Finland as a child in the early 1950s. She initially pursued a career as an architectural designer, later transitioning into the hospitality industry. In 1996, she retired to Ladysmith, where she rekindled her love for painting, drawing inspiration from the stunning landscapes and rich history of Vancouver Island.
Her artistic path unexpectedly turned in December 2000, when a blank wall in her home beckoned her creativity. Armed with leftover acrylics and wornout brushes, Sonja painted a scene of her home across the harbour. This piece, which combined architecture with natural beauty, began a new artistic chapter for her. Buildings, especially those of historical significance, became the focus of her work, a theme that resonated naturally due to her background in architectural design.
Sonja created 35 paintings characterized by soft textures, precise lines and a masterful balance of colours. Her folksy style, which blends elements of naive or “primitive” art with sophisticated detail and perspective, reflects her architectural roots. “I try to bring together prominent elements and include them in the painting,” she said. “I like my work to be light, not serious.”
Her first piece, “Roberts Street, Ladysmith”, displayed at Bayview Framing thanks to Mike and Wendy Moulds’ admiration, quickly sold, sparking interest in her art. Her talent earned her a place at Ladysmith’s annual Arts on the Avenue exhibition, and she garnered even more recognition when she won the Jurors’ Award for Best of Show at the Cowichan Valley Springtime Arts Exhibition for her painting of Providence Farm.
Sonja had the rare ability to construct timeless pieces captivate viewers and honour the landscapes and structures she loved. Sonja died July 9, after fighting a short battle with cancer.j41
Violinist Barry Leung. Photo submitted.
36th Annual Artisans
Country Christmas SelfGuided Tour
BY MARINA SACHT
The Cedar Yellow Point Artisan’s SelfGuided Country Christmas Tour is back celebrating 36 years in the community. The artisans will be open Nov. 21 to 24 and Nov. 28 to Dec 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for an extra day shopping on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be new items and live demonstrations at Yellow Point Cranberries, Yellow Point Alpacas, Ted Jolda Gallery, Bigleaf Woodworks, and JoVic Pottery and Art.
From edibles, such as jams, jellies, and baked goods;\ to home decor to beauty and health, jewellery, alpaca wool, and arts, such as glass creations quilting, painting and pottery — this is a chance to make a big dent in your Christmas shopping while supporting the local artists and the local economy. It’s a winwin, and it doesn’t get any more local than buying from the actual producers in your community.
Josée and Vic Duffhues are the team behind JoVic Pottery, and they have the distinction of being the longest tour participants.
“The tour used to be a four-day event,.” says Vic, but when the pandemic hit, they tried to reduce the concentration of people in a short period. “We
stretched it out over two weekends. That proved to be so successful that we continued.” In addition to the eight days in November, they have added one day in December. That gives them more time to spend with their clients, which is important to the Duffhues. “We think of them as friends by now, and that’s fun,” Vic says.
There’s a wonderful opportunity not only to find one-of-a-kind gift items at each of the galleries and studios but also to meet the people who are actively engaged in creating those items, explains Josée.“There’s nothing nicer than knowing that you’ve bought something that you’ve taken the time to get locally made by someone. It adds to the enjoyment of the Christmas season.”
Vic recalls a Christmas morning a few years ago: “I looked at Josée, and I said, ‘Isn’t it amazing that here we are giving our gifts to family and friends while people [are] opening gifts that we made.’”
Josée agrees. “We are somebody’s favourite Christmas gifts. To be able to do that is kind of special.”
Visit cyartisans.com.
Josée and Vic Duffhues at work at JoVic studio. Photo: Bob Burgess
Metal honour
BY KERITH WADDINGTON
As Remembrance Day approaches, Cedar resident Michael Rawlins will reflect on his unique connection to the men and women who served this country during times of war.
Rawlins has been metal detecting on Vancouver Island (from Victoria to Nanaimo) for over 50 years. Although he has found everything from decorative broches and old coins to belt buckles during that time, his most cherished items are those connected to WWI and WWII: soldier ID bracelets, battalion ID pins, sweetheart pins, women’s auxiliary pins, victory coins and, soberingly, a German cross and swastika lapel pin.
These items are protected and displayed in cases on his walls at home.
“I do often wonder about the men and women … the stories that these badges and insignia could tell,” said Rawlins. “This is why I hold them in such reverence — not for the items, but [for] the people whose lives were affected by the war.”
For those not in the know, sweetheart pins are little brooches that are miniature replicas of military regiment cap badges and insignia. They were labelled as such because soldiers usually gave them as tokens of love to their wives and girlfriends before they left for active service.
Rawlins also has a silver sweetheart bracelet in his collection, which was given to a soldier before he left for battle. The engraving on the back reads “To Clyde with love Doreen.” He often wonders whatever happened to that couple, and the others whose mementos he now has.
One of the battalion pins in Rawlins’s collection has a rooster on it. “It was worn by a member of the ‘BC Bantams’ from Victoria during WWI,” he said. “To be a member of this core, you had to be shorter than the standard height required to enlist, which was five foot four. The war effort made room for everyone.”
The “BC Pioneers” pin in Rawlins’s collection has a beaver engraved on it, while the “Grenadiers” have an exploding grenade on their pin.
Rawlins admits that his favourite find is an ID bracelet from a WWII pilot who was tragically shot down at 20 years of age in 1943. “It is my favourite just because I know the story,” said Rawlins. “Based on the inscription, I was able to track down the pilot’s extended family, but they weren’t interested in having the bracelet returned. So, it’s got a place of honour, in my case, at home.”
And what of the German cross?
“It could have been taken from the body of a German soldier or given as a gift among buddies,” said Rawlins. “We’ll never know the story behind it.”
There is one thing, however, that Rawlins is certain of: “Soldiers weren’t out there fighting for king and country. They were fighting for the guy beside them.”
Rawlins’s own father served in WWII. Although he always told his children he was a cook, Rawlins heard a different story years ago when he inadvertently met a WWII vet who had known his dad.
“Turns out he wasn’t exactly a cook.” Rawlins laughed. “The knife he left me was a commando knife. He was known as ‘Tex,’ and he used to parachute be -
Michael Rawlins with his World War I and World War II Collection.
Photo: Kerith Waddington
hind enemy lines to cause havoc.”
The story Rawlins heard about his father?
“After being dropped behind enemy lines, he saw two German soldiers dragging away a young girl; he managed to ‘discourage’ the men from their endeavours,” he said meaningfully. “My father received letters from that young lady for years afterwards, thanking him for saving her life.”
Another pin in Rawlins’s collection is from the Canadian Machine Gun Core. “When WWII began, the Germans had plenty of machine guns, but the British thought it was ‘ungentlemanly’ to use such a weapon in battle; they limited the number of such weapons to two per battalion. Battalions were about 1200 men in size!”
Needless to say, as the war progressed, the British and their allies adopted machine guns, and entire regiments were fitted with the weapons.
Rawlins says that even after all these years, getting a reading from his metal detector is “still very exciting.” He says he is careful to do his detecting away from groomed areas and, as a result, often ends up in overgrowth. But wherever he digs, he is careful to fill the hole in afterwards. “I leave it just as I find it,” he says. “It’s the respectful thing to do.”
Rawlins will show his collection at the Ladysmith Museum’s special Remembrance Day exhibit on Nov 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
As November 11 approaches, Rawlins and many others are certain to reflect upon the people whose lives have been — and continue to be — touched by war.
Royal Canadian Airforce
100th
anniversary
BY SUSAN KNOSS WITH ED NICHOLSON, LADYSMITH ARCHIVES
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is celebrating its 100th year of service. During its early days, the RCAF carried numerous civil and defensive responsibilities, which eventually grew into the defence roles that it currently serves.
The early pilots in the RCAF had been trained with British Air Force during World War 1, and surplus aircraft from British Air Force were used in this newly evolving RCAF. The young RCAF was not immune to deep budget cuts in the early 1930s and was trying to catch up with the defence needs when World War II started.
At the beginning of WWII, the RCAF had 29 bombers and front-line fighter aircraft. By 1944, they had reached their peak of 215,000 active personnel and were the fourth largest of the Allied Air Force with active involvement in overseas and home defence operations. During this period, 13,000 active personnel were killed in operations or as prisoners of war. An additional 4,000 RCAF members died in training missions or of other causes.
Following WWII, the RCAF continued to maintain a national and international presence. They cooperate in international organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Canadian pilots and personnel continue to participate in the security of North America through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Nanaimo Airport
In 1942, the Department of National Defence bought 522 acres from Thomas Cassidy to build a training and operations airstrip for the RCAF, which is now the current site of the Nanaimo Airport. This airstrip with a radio shack actively trained glider pilots and paratroopers for D-Day preparations. These training flights, with the Waco gliders, included experimentation in capabilities, such as one exercise where strawberry boxes were strewn all over the field. Glider pilots and crew could carry troops, equipment and supplies to drop sites behind enemy lines. These stealthy missions were very danger-
ous one-way flights. On D-Day, over 4,000 troops and paratroopers were sent into battle using glider insertion.
Flight Lieutenant Paul Hartman, who led operations and training at the Cassidy Air Strip, later became the RCAF lead test air pilot. In 1942, F/L Paul Hartman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for torpedoing an enemy vessel through a hail of gunfire from its protecting destroyers. Following action in North Africa, Hartman became a flight instructor with the No. 6 Operational Training Unit and commanded the No. 3 Training Squadron and Glider Training Attachment at Cassidy.
In his book, Magic Alley, local author Ron Delcourt, relates those multiple types of aircraft that practiced tactical manoeuvres over Ladysmith and the area, flying in from Pat Bay and landing at the Cassidy airdrome. In the early stages of training, these bombers and various other aircraft were extraordinary sights, but they became quite commonplace as the war-training efforts gained momentum. The Cassidy airstrip became a training centre for Horsa gliders. In his account, Delcourt indicates that “each glider held up to 30 personnel and their equipment.” He and his friends would watch the gliders train for hours.
The key D-Day function of this regiment was to capture two key bridges near Caen, France, that were considered the main arteries to Juno Beach and Normandy.
As part of ongoing recruitment and training for RCAF personnel, RCAF teams encouraged the formation of Air Cadet programs across Canada as part of the high school curriculum. Initially meeting with the principal, Mr. Spargo and industrial arts teacher, Mr. H. Thicke, led to the formation of Ladysmith’s Air Cadet program in 1943. The original group of 29 students
Harvard trainer at Patricia Bay Airfield in WWII. Photo courtesy of Magic Alley.
began basic training provided by RCAF officers two days per week. Mr. Thicke became the flying officer and then served as commanding officer of the 257 Parallel Squadron for many years.
Since its early days, 257 Parallel Squadron has provided training opportunities and experiences for many local youths. The connection with the RCAF has led to many summer training opportunities. Some of the members have been able to gain private pilots’ licences through Royal Air Cadet scholarship programs. Several local cadets have continued careers in the RCAF.
Aerial view of Cassidy Airfield looking north, 1943. Photo courtesy of Magic Alley.
Beyond the Murals
Sip & Shop
The Chemainus BIA and the Chemainus Chamber of Commerce have come together to put on an exciting night market event on Willow Street in Chemainus. They are thrilled to announce the return of the Chemainus Sip & Shop, now entering its second year following the tremendous success of the inaugural event in 2023.
With free admission, live music by the Doctors of Rock and Roll and other festive entertainment, Sip & Shop is scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Willow Street will be transformed into a festive winter night market filled with local shopping, food, drinks and entertainment. This unique event brings an atmosphere unlike any other time of year in Chemainus. Attendees can explore a variety of goods and handcrafted products from local vendors, making it a perfect opportunity to kick off holiday shopping.
Visitors 19+ will also be able to enjoy open alcohol consump -
tion along Willow Street, with spirits, beer and wine available for purchase from the onsite TravelBar. “We’re excited to bring the Sip & Shop back to Chemainus after last year’s overwhelming success,” said Krystal Adams, executive director of the CBIA. “Our event offers a fantastic way to kick off the holiday season, connect with friends, enjoy live music, begin holiday shopping and discover some delicious local food.” Local restaurants will be open with specials, adding to the culinary offerings of the night.
Mix and Mingle at Chemainus Public Market
Join the Chamber for a networking event with fellow Chamber members on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please register at chamber@chemainus.bc.ca by November 4. There will be complimentary Archie’s hotdogs and hamburgers!
Good turnout for Fall Festival
The Chemainus Fall Festival was a fantastic success with a great community turnout! Harvest House raised over $1,200 in support, and Justin Farrugia earned top honors in the Chili
Contest. The pie contest drew a delicious lineup of 12 apple pies and 5 pumpkin pies; our apple pie winner was Julie Peters, and Ria Dunnewold claimed victory for pumpkin pie. Cornhole champions Dave Clausen and Kelly Giesbrecht, made it a memorable tournament. Special thanks to the Chemainus BIA, Harvest House, Island Savings, and Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce for their tremendous support.
Serving up chili.
Photo: Susan Attiana
Ria Dunnewold with her winning pumpkin pie. Photo: Krystal Adams
RDN Area A Cedar, South Wellington, Cassidy & Yellow Point
Let’s talk RDN parks and public spaces in Area A. The total of Regional and Community parks and trails, and water access points in Area A is 20. How many can you think of?
We have 13 community parks, one community trail, four water access points, one regional park and one regional trail. It sounds like a lot, but several of our community parks look like undeveloped lots, and some are hard to get to. Who has been to Kipp Park?
Compared to the other RDN electoral areas (EA), we have the least number of these public amenities despite having the third largest population among the EAs. For your information, RDN EAs B (Gabriola), G (French Creek, Englishman River, Dashwood), and H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay) all have 45; EA E (Nanoose) has 42; EA C (Extension and East Wellington) has 24; and EA F (Coombs, Errington, Whiskey Creek) has 23. These areas are all quite different, making comparisons is challenging, but the context is useful information.
What is the value of our parks and open spaces? Fewer public amenities can translate to lower taxes. You don’t pay for
what you don’t get. However, this also means fewer public spaces to connect with other community members. When my kids were little, I relied heavily on parks to get us out of the house and let the kids run off some of their energy. Young children's parents have been saying they wish we had this in our area. The opportunity to have an enjoyable chance conversation with others at the park could brighten a tough day or provide useful information about resources or community events. Others have said that they would like an outdoor space for picnics or physical activity. Regardless of what brings you to a park, that type of shared space is one of the few places where we can build community.
The communities of Area A — Cedar, Yellow Point, South Wellington and Cassidy — have few of those spaces. Hence the reason it has been a long-term plan to create community gathering spaces in these areas. The Area A Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee (PRCC) decided that a playground was needed in Cedar. However, very little public land is available that is suitable for a playground. The land around Cedar Skate Park is an opportunity to partner with our schools and create a recreational hub that includes a playground. If the plans submitted to the Agricultural Land Com-
mission are approved (because the school is in the ALR), the concept plan will be shared with the community for feedback. In addition to another partnership (that will hopefully be finalized), the park will be created using federal and provincial grant funds.
In Cassidy, a lot was acquired to be Cassidy’s first community park. The design of that park will be determined in consultation with the community, which will happen sometime next year.
In South Wellington, we continue to work on the community centre project. The necessary remediation of the building is now determined, and work will begin soon. This project will largely be funded by provincial and federal grants and supplemented by reserve funds. The school lands will also be a park. The specifics of that are yet to be determined and will follow the work in Cedar and Cassidy.
My goal was for each community to have a gathering space to connect and play. One of the lessons coming out of COVID was that outdoor public spaces serve vital functions in emergency situations in addition to their usual social and play functions. When I look at the statistic about parks and trails in our area compared to other areas, it seems important that communities have at least one gathering space. But I am also mindful
of the cost of creating and ongoing maintenance. I am grateful that the creation of these spaces is largely being funded by grant money and will not require taxation. Overall, I view these projects as good value for money spent. I hope you will agree.
Speaking of feedback, I will have a community town hall at Cassidy’s Timberland Pub (upstairs) on Monday, November 4, at 7 p.m. If you can’t make it or want to discuss any RDN Area A issue, please contact me at jessica.stanley@rdn. bc.ca or 250-268-7359.
CVRD Area H North Oyster/ Diamond
Mark Your Calendars!
On Tuesday, November 5, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is hosting two important meetings focused on agricultural zoning.
Meeting 1 is for those with farm status. An invitation has been sent by mail. If you currently have farm status but did not receive a letter, please contact the CVRD for more information at zoning@cvrd.bc.ca.
Meeting 2 is open to the public from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Heritage Hall, Cowichan Community Centre. A brief presentation will start at 6 p.m., followed by small group discussions.
Online registration is available at the link below. The draft agricultural zones are available at www.planyourcowichan. ca/zoning-bylaw-project to review before attending the meetings.
These meetings are part of the CVRD’s initiative to update and consolidate all current electoral area zoning bylaws into a single, region-wide comprehensive zoning bylaw (CZB). The new CZB will streamline zoning regulations, making them simpler to understand, and more efficient and cost-effective to administer. This will also allow for easier updates and improved efficiency in processing applications.
Why does zoning matter?
A zoning bylaw is where land-use policies come to life. While the Official Community Plan (OCP) outlines broad land-use goals, zoning bylaws specify how land can or cannot be used. In the CVRD, zoning bylaws are enacted by the CVRD Board under the authority of the Local Government Act.
Zoning bylaws regulate:
• the use of land, buildings, and structures;
• density, including the number of homes and suites that can be built on a property;
• the siting and size of buildings and structures, including height and setbacks;
• the location of land uses, both on the ground and within buildings; and
• parcel shape, dimensions and area, including minimum lot sizes.
Zoning bylaws also give local governments the authority to prohibit certain land uses within specific zones.
These regulations divide areas into zones for different land uses, such as residential, agricultural or commercial. This helps minimize conflicts between incompatible uses — like preventing residential developments from being located next to industrial operations. Zoning also ensures that communities maintain a balance of land uses to support sustainability and meet their needs.
Your input matters!
The CVRD is seeking your feedback to better understand how zoning impacts you. There are two online surveys, available at www.planyourcowichan.ca/ zoning-bylaw-project, that are open until November 8, 2024. The general survey covers key topics such as secondary suites, accessory buildings, residential food production (e.g., backyard chickens or beehives), food trucks and shipping containers. There is also an agriculture specific survey that includes topics such as permitted uses, farm worker housing in the ALR, agri-tourism and accommodation in the ALR, home plates (definition inside survey), setbacks, house size and minimum parcel size. Draft agricultural zones and regulations can be found on the right-hand side of the webpage under “Documents.”
Public consultations will continue into 2025, and the electoral area Advisory Planning Commissions will be involved. If you’re unable to access the online sur vey, you can contact the CVRD to pro vide your feedback over the phone.
Remembrance Day
As we approach Remembrance Day, let’s take time to honour the sacrifice of past generations who defended our freedoms. Many of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were among those who served. Our debt to
them is shown through the respect we pay to both past and present veterans.
Please consider joining me at the Ladysmith cenotaph on November 11 to honour their memory. In service, Ben Maartman 250-816-2534; ben.maartman@cvrd.bc.ca
CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands
Historic Elections: Par for the Course
Not only was the recent BC election one of the closest in Canadian history, but it also saw the BC Conservatives elect an MLA for the first time in over 50 years and may have allowed the NDP to form government for an unprecedented third term. At the time of this writing, the NDP is leading or elected in 46 ridings, and the Conservatives in 45. Both parties are shy of the 47 seats needed for a majority government. However, the initial count did not include the roughly 49,000 absentee and mail-in ballots, and three ridings are too close to call, so we’ll have more clarity by the time you read this.
What we do know with certainty is who will be representing Area G. Debra Toporowski, who has sat to my left for the last 18 months at the CVRD board table, won a back-and-forth battle for the NDP over Conservative John Koury and BC Green Candidate Cammy Lockwood. BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau previously held the seat. Debra is a two-term elected councillor for North Cowichan and a five-time councillor of Cowichan Tribes. She is now the MLA elect for Dayman Island, Hudson Island, Leech Island, Miami Islet, Penelakut Island, Ragged Islets, Reid Island, Rose Islets, Scott Island, Tent Island and Thetis Island. I’m proud to call her a colleague and friend. Congratulations, Debra! I look forward to our continued work together in your new capacity. Stephanie Higginson, previously twice elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education, is Saltair’s MLA elect. She won the unique Ladysmith-Oceanside riding for the NDP in a flip-flopping nailbiter. I don’t know Stephanie personally, but she is the only candidate who responded to my request for an all-candidates meeting that I hoped to hold at the Saltair Community Centre. Congratulations, Stephanie! Your openness to engage is very
Nearly 2,037,900 ballots were cast — the most votes ever tallied in a BC provincial election. However, as a percentage, only 57.4 per cent of registered voters cast ballots, which is low historically. Indeed, the atmospheric river played a role in turnout. Still, it’s true that when elections go negative, people get disinclined and turn away.
One of the things I love most about Area G is that it’s nonpartisan, which allows us to focus on what matters to our family and neighbours. After the government is formed, I pledge to stay positive and work unencumbered.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers (win or lose) who supported the issues they care about and candidates across the province who put their names forward. Politics is a full-contact sport, brutal on the candidates and their families during an election. They all deserve our gratitude. Lastly, congratulations to Lia Versaevel, my financial agent, on her hard-fought campaign for the BC Greens in NanaimoLantzville.
Save the Date: On November 5, the CVRD will host a meeting at Cowichan Community Centre focused on regional agricultural zoning.
Yoga Community in Practice
BY JESSICA LOWRY
In a world of ever-changing wellness trends, Iyengar Yoga offers a grounding practice focused on precision, alignment and mindful progression. At Align with Jessica, I blend this timehonoured method with a welcoming teaching style, helping students connect deeply with their body and mind. Whether you’re new or advancing your practice, I’m here to guide you.
Precision and Alignment: Iyengar Yoga emphasizes align ment, creating balance, stability and ease while reducing strain or injury. As we age, maintaining alignment is crucial for joint health and good posture. Together, we explore ways to deepen this alignment for a healthier body.
Props and Curated Sequencing: My classes thoughtfully use props — like blocks, chairs and bolsters — to make poses accessible and reinforce actions that engage the body and mind. Combined with carefully curated sequences, this approach ensures each session builds on the last, fostering a transformative journey.
Therapeutic Benefits: Iyengar Yoga’s therapeutic focus is ideal for managing physical and emotional changes, offering relief through supported poses that balance the nervous system. Restorative practices help the body navigate hormonal shifts, promoting deep relaxation, better sleep and overall well-being. A Welcoming Community: At Align with Jessica, commu-
nity is as vital as the practice. Whether in person at the Saltair Community Centre or online through Your Yoga Library, you’ll find a supportive space for growth and connection. This mix of in-person and online options makes consistent practice possible, wherever you are.
Jessica Lowry is a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor with over 17 years of experience, offering warmth, expertise and a passion for helping students grow. Join us for a month-long free trial of Your Yoga Library or learn more about all classes at alignwithjessica.com.
Journalist, teacher, writer of many books on news reporting and world traveller living in Ladysmith, Marc Edge has published a new book with a message we need to pay attention to. Print newspapers are on the ropes, struggling to compete in a marketplace increasingly dominated by digital news and changing consumer habits. Local news sources have been particularly vulnerable, and Tomorrow’s News: How to Fix Canada’s Media provides background and recommendations for fixing a broken news system.
Competition for news reporting has forced the former print newspapers to cut costs, fire reporters and photographers, and centralize editorial decisions. Local news coverage has been especially hard hit with closures and cost-cutting — something we have experienced here on Vancouver Island.
With his engaging writing style, extensive research and knowledge of business practices, Edge describes how these changes have been rolled out since the worldwide web made its public debut in the mid-1990s. Especially concerning is his finding that over 90 per cent of Canada’s print news business is owned by US hedge funds, which are taking enterprises that could be making good profits but are drowning in debt in a scheme that benefits hedge-fund investors.
Foreign ownership limits on Canadian news enterprises are not being enforced, and the consolidation of news production into fewer hands means that local news does not get the attention and coverage we deserve and need. Edge artfully provides the background readers need for understanding the changing news environment in Canada.
Edge follows through on the title’s promise on “how to fix Canada’s media,” particularly news media. His suggestions for reform are worth the price of admission. While his previous books provide ample background on how we arrived at this sorry destination, his suggestions in this most recent effort bring sparks of illumination to the growing darkness and should be required reading for every politician, especially with so many elections in the wings. If we don’t like politics as usual, then we need news that helps us make informed decisions, not that taunts us with uncertainty and divisive political antics.
Solutions proposed by Edge for media reform include not bailing out news organizations who falsely claim they can’t make a profit; encouraging non-profit news organizations to flourish with the help of tax-deductible donations; and creating co-ops and employee-owned newspapers. He wants to rewrite the playbook of current corporate news practices.
Another option encourages foundations to play a role in funding news production, but their tendency to advocate for their own interests can introduce bias in reporting. The result is often blatantly misleading “pink slime” funded by “dark money.” As a profession, public relations influencers increased dramatically, while the number of working journalists has plunged equally dramatically. Edge proposes, instead, the formation of an LDRS (Local Democracy Reporting Service) that promotes informed democracy instead of PR flack, political division and lack of accountability. As others have noted, news is the oxygen of democracy, and we need fresh winds to fan the flames.
Edge suggests that instead of bailing out corporations, civic-function journalism — helping communities know themselves for civic purposes — could be funded to share their news stories. Collaborative journalism and news sharing reverse the old idea of “scooping the competition” and instead share news to obtain more in-depth reporting.
Even though it has been controversial, Edge entertains the idea that taxing enterprises like Google and Facebook, which are making windfall digital profits, could spread the wealth and increase news availability. Governments would not directly subsidize the news; they would simply redirect the riches of the
Internet to improve online content and reinvigorate local news.
Edge suggests that Canadians should allow most for-profit local newspapers to expire along with their broken business model, build a national network of flexible online newsrooms and thus rescue what most needs to be saved — journalists.
Another plan for fixing the media is inspired by European initiatives to implement voucher programs where citizens redeem an annual allotment to support their preferred news sources. Vouchers shift decisions about what news to support from public authorities to individual users.
Above all, Edge advocates for accountability journalism — we should fund the watchdogs of democracy. Let other enterprises make money publishing celebrity news, sports reporting or opinions — at their own expense. While accountability journalism is the most powerful and necessary reporting we need, it is also the most vulnerable form of news: risky, costly and technically difficult. This is the journalism Marc Edge says we need to worry about. “Access reporting tells you what the powerful said, while accountability reporting tells you what they did.”
Author Marc Edge wants to fix Canada's Media. Photo: Marshall Soules.
New Transfer Beach
Pollinator Gardens:
It Takes a Community to Raise a Garden
BY PAMELA WALKER AND NIKKI TOXOPEUS
It all started in January, when the director of Parks, Recreation and Culture at the Town of Ladysmith asked a local group if they would be able to use a BC Hydro Community Regreening grant for their projects. Then a few interested volunteers from Yellow Point Ecological Society (YES), Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT), Broombusters and Friends of
Holland Creek got together over a cup of coffee and decided to support the grant application and take this opportunity to create a native plant garden.
In April, the Municipality got the grant, and Bob Simpson, Ladysmith Parks Supervisor Operations, offered us the two sunny beds next to the Kinsmen Hut in Transfer Beach Park. He also offered to get the beds ready for the fall planting, and so we got going in earnest.
With the help of the native plant community, we designed two beds — the Bird Shrubbery and the Butterfly Meadow — using native plants that are drought tolerant and will thrive in the full sun. We sourced plants from sev eral local nurseries that were able to supply an amazing diversity of plants suited to our bioregion. We went to Sat inflowers, NALT Native Plant nursery, On the Patio, SunnyGlades and Stream-
Volunteers created native plant beds at Transfer Beach Park. Photo: Bob Simpson
side. They were all great and delivered everything we asked for. Then, on October 9, the community came out to plant over 400 plants of over 50 species and scattered thousands of native plant seeds.
The Bird Shrubbery will attract birds with berry-bearing shrubs like the tall Oregon grape, red-flowering currant, blue elderberry, snowberry, gummy gooseberry and saskatoon. The hummingbirds that already frequent this area will appreciate the early spring flowers of these shrubs.
The Butterfly Meadow around the oak tree is for all pollinators and includes many Garry oak meadow species to support the butterflies. The loss of Garry oak meadow is one of the causes of our declining butterfly population. We planted 10 species of native grasses and sedges that make up about half the plants in the meadow and are hosts for butterflies. To this, we added camas, shooting stars, chocolate lilies, nodding onions, spring gold, red columbine and many more flowering plants and ground cover, like strawberries and stone crops, to delight butterflies and humans alike.
Our hope is that all the birds, bees, parasitic wasps, and crawly things will flourish in the gardens, and that all the people who come to visit will learn about the plants and will duplicate the process at their homes and businesses.
Birds and bees require “highways” — continuous food routes — so they can flitter and flutter here and there on a trajectory from one garden to the next. Hedgerows help, as do yards filled with a diverse array of native foods, rather than a monocrop of mowed grass. Collectively, we can create these vital highways! And then just maybe the red-listed species, like the Propertius duskywing butterfly, will make a comeback and find refuge in our backyard meadows.
Come on down to Transfer Beach, enjoy the Bird Shrubbery and the Butterfly Meadow, and get involved. We need ongoing community support to keep the gardens well cared for and are looking forward to future community projects to add painted lady butterflies and Hul’qumi’num plant names to the beds. Also, watch for the interpretive signs, with links to more information on the YES website.
We would like to thank the Town of Ladysmith, BC Hydro and all the volunteers for the huge effort to make this happen. The enthusiasm and support have been heartwarming.
We would also like to thank the Stzu’uminus people for being good stewards of the flora and fauna of our area over the course of many millennia.
Volunteers at work. Photo: Bob Simpson
A Tree Falls
BY ALEXANDER SMITH
EIS NATURALIST
It’s mid-fall here at Wildwood, and a rich, earthy smell lingers in the air. This is, by far, my favourite time of year, as vibrant hues of red and yellow dance in the early evening light, and the satisfying crunch of leaf litter accompanies every step. As deciduous trees slowly undress, leaves cover the forest floor and fungal delights emerge from every crack and crevice, cycling nutrients back into the earth in preparation for spring.
The nutrient cycle in our Coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) ecosystems is a complex process that plays a pivotal role in maintaining the productivity and biodiversity of the forest. As organic material gradually breaks down — particularly trees, as they transition through various stages of decay, including snags, nurse logs and coarse woody debris (CWD) — each stage contributes essential nutrients to the forest floor and supports a wide range of ecological processes.
Coastal Douglas-firs are long-lived conifers that dominate temperate rainforest canopies. During their life, they extract nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from the soil,
incorporating them into their tissues — wood, needles and bark. Through photosynthesis, they sequester carbon, forming the forest’s organic matter. As the trees mature, they shed needles and branches, which decompose and return nutrients to the soil in a slow, continuous process.
When a Douglas-fir dies from age, disease or disturbance, it enters a different ecological phase and becomes a standing snag or wildlife tree. Snags provide habitat for wildlife, such as woodpeckers, which create nesting sites later used by owls and squirrels. Both raptors and woodpeckers in turn protect saplings from rodents and insect blooms. Meanwhile, an array of fungi and insects begin decomposition, slowly releasing nutrients from the tree back into the environment.
When a snag falls, it enters the nurse
log phase, critical for forest regeneration. Nurse logs offer a vital raised platform for young saplings, minimizing competition with other established plants on the forest floor. Nurse logs also serve as a substrate for young plants like Douglas-fir seedlings and ferns. Decomposers such as fungi and invertebrates break down the log, turning complex organic compounds into simpler nutrients. Nurse logs also regulate moisture and temperature, providing a microenvironment that fosters seedling growth and supports nutrientrich soil formation.
As nurse logs decompose, they transition into the final nutrient phase, scattered remnants of decaying wood. Packed full of accessible nutrients, CWD maintains the forest floor’s complexity, providing habitat for small mammals, amphibians and inverte -
A nurse log. Photo: Kali Brauckmann
brates. It enhances soil structure, promotes water infiltration and contributes to humus formation, supporting long-term forest productivity.
At Wildwood, through sustainable and selective harvesting practices like Ecoforestry, significant portions of trees — such as roots, crowns and even some standing dead trees — are intentionally left in the forest. These snags provide essential habitat for wildlife, including birds that help control pests, while also beginning the decomposition process. Nurse logs and stumps further contribute to this cycle by enhancing soil fertility and fostering new plant growth. By understanding and protecting these natural processes, we help maintain the resilience and productivity of these iconic forests, ensuring their natural regenerative capacity is upheld for generations to come.
Weed Control
Organic Café, a well-known restaurant noted for eco-friendly cuisine. The Café pioneered serving wheatgrass shots: $2.75 for a single, $5.00 for a double. Wheatgrass is said to be an exceptional source of chlorophyll, which apparently is important to men sporting ponytails.
Here we are in Victoria, the Garden Capital of Canada, the place to go whenever you’re interested in state-of-the-art solutions to your garden’s needs. And this time of year, with plenty of rainfall to spur growth, what bigger need than weed control?
You can always bend over and pull the damn things out, but how state-ofthe-art is that? Hand weeding is ancient technology! We’re here to study two radically different approaches on how to gain control of your garden, how to show those pesky dandelions and prickly thistles who’s boss.
For the first approach, we go to the
For $7.50, you can get a power tonic. The Rejuvenator is a blend of apple juice, stinging nettle, cress, lemon, strawberry and electrolytes, important if you work part-time as a battery. It acts as a stress buster and metabolic enhancer. As 69-year-old Alastair Craighead of Hornby Island (frequently spelled without the “b”) says, “When I’m metabolically enhanced, who needs Viagra?”
Better yet, and catering more to my circle of red-necked friends, you can get Hangover Tonic, a certified organic tincture of artichoke, comfrey root, dandelion root and milk thistle. If that doesn’t straighten you out, the next stop is colonic irrigation. Puts an end to binge drinking, pronto.
I don’t know about the weeds in your garden, but the foregoing list of healthgiving ingredients pretty much covers my crop. So, there we have weed solution number one: gather up all your weeds, throw them in a blender, add a couple of shots of alcohol and whirl away. Fortunately, the definition of tincture calls for alcohol. I wouldn’t recommend drinking a weed puree without it.
For non-drinkers, you might want to try mixing the green stuff with pine nuts, garlic and olive oil and pawn it off on unsuspecting guests as stress-busting pesto.
Though these options may seem unpalatable to those of us not sporting ponytails, they are preferable to the next option the Weed Wand, a miniflamethrower. This device is a thin piece of pipe with a small propane canister on one end.
Weed Wands are particularly appealing to anyone with a bad back because no bending is required. And let’s face it, flamethrowers are fun. The top model Weed Wands come with a Vietnam-era soundtrack, handy when defoliating large areas. How cool is that?
Not everyone is a fan of these devices, however. The People for Ethical Treatment of Plants (PETP) is aggressively petitioning the U.N. to have this device banned. “One minute I hear Doors mu-
sic wafting toward me. The next thing I know, my whole crop is torched,” one dandelion cultivator said when asked about the wand.
Also protesting the wand’s use is one Jason Reed of Victoria whose wife accidently torched their house when taking out a few weeds nestled in their paving stones. “Definitely an unsafe product,” Reed insisted. It is not yet known if Reed’s model had been souped-up with any aftermarket options like the “Nostrils from Hell” nozzle.
Reed, now living in a tent, was last seen brandishing a charred Weed Wand, chasing his wife through world-famous Beacon Hill Park. He was later spotted at the Organic Café pounding back stress-busting tonics at an awesome rate. Bystanders freely volunteered that Reed was demonstrating undeniable symptoms of metabolic over-enhancement before leaving to track down his wife. There is, of course, a third way to deal with weeds name change. To enjoy your afternoon, pour yourself a double shot of wheat grass, lie back in that easy chair, and change the name of that dandelion to Irish Daffodil.
Wine pick of the month
BY ADRIAN POLO, CAREFREE WINE TOURS
Looking for a wine with a long tradition but with a bright, juicy acidity?
Check out the newly released Pinot Meunier Rosé 2023 from 8th Generation Vineyards at $26.
It is a dry wine with peach and grapefruit notes. It drinks exceptionally well. It is a red grape varietal, but when pressed, it gives out white juice. There is no skin contact. The Pinot Meunier grape variety is originally from France and is predominantly used in Champagne making. It is a beautiful red grape that is used here. All the grapes used were grown locally.
Bernd Schales, 8th Generation Winemaker and Stefanie Schales, a 10thgeneration winegrower, is carrying on the family tradition in Summerland that started in Germany. Happy sipping.
Grab a Coffee, Make a Difference
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
The winding road out to Cedar is beautiful this time of year, and COCO Cafe is the perfect destination. Tucked beside the Country Grocer, the cafe welcomes everyone who stops in with the smell of dark roasted coffee and freshly baked goods.
This cheerful cafe is more than your average place for a cup of joe. COCO Cafe is a social enterprise where 73 per cent of the people employed there have varying forms of ability. It was started twelve years ago by a group of parents who wanted their adult children with diverse abilities to have an opportunity to work and impact the community around them in a positive way.
Deborah Cooper, a board of directors’ member for the cafe, talks about her son, Jacob, who has Down syndrome and works at the cafe.
“We just felt blessed that he had an opportunity to develop himself socially and develop some skills, useful skills, that translated into great home skills as well, being able to make his own breakfast and developing some independence,” said In July, Jacob spent the day at the Cedar Hall business showcase, serving up cups of his specialty iced coffee: Brauck’s Brew. “I’m a Justin Bieber fan and he has ‘Biebs brew,’ so I wanted my own and made Brauck’s brew,” Jacob said about his creation, but quickly added, “It’s a secret recipe.” While he’s not sharing any of the secrets, Jacob would be happy to make you one at the cafe.
The food served at the cafe is intentionally made in-house in order to help build the skill levels of the supported team, but it also allows for better flavour and quality in the food. Marc Tashereau, executive director for the cafe, said, “We
lean heavily into the fact that almost everything here is made from scratch. We don’t buy commercially cut potatoes. We don’t buy pre-processed most anything. It’s cheaper to go with commercially available sauces, but it doesn’t give the same flavours and it doesn’t give the same experience.”
The choice to make food in-house helps develop independence and confidence in the people working in the cafe, but they are also working to support that growth with people who don’t work in the cafe. Tashereau spoke about the development of a meal kit line the cafe is implementing. “The meal kits are designed for people of various skill levels. You’ll have kits where the meats are already cooked; they need to be more warmed. … And then we’ll have ones [for] people with moderate ability where they have to cook the meat, a little bit more slicing and dicing to practice those skills.” These meal kits will be of a lower cost than other commercially available options and will be distributed through community resources.
COCO cafe has experienced incredible growth this year. “Our organic growth has been higher than we had projected. … It’s over 40 per cent for the year,” Tashereau said. But despite the growth, the cafe has still had its share of challenges. The cafe relies heavily on charitable donations in order to keep it in operation. The equipment is in “desperate need of replacement,” said Cooper, but the cost is too much for them to fund on their own.
The foodservice industry in Canada is currently in a recession and reports from Restaurants Canada say that half of companies are operating at a loss or breaking even. “It’s a tough industry
on a good day,” Tashereau said. “To do what we do, and fund supported hours, we have to be better.”
“Being better” is a stance that Tashereau and the cafe take not only financially but also with the people who work at COCO. “One in four Canadians is a person [with] a disability. One in two people who are unhoused is a person [with] a disability. One of the best things that we can do to affect our communities is to give those people resources to help themselves.”
This decision of betterment is shown through the actions the cafe takes to support its employees. This looks like strategically working with organizations to develop technology that helps support how the team members’ work. “One of our team members doesn’t read, and we worked with CanAssist over several months and developed a tool that, using an iPad, reads the order off the ticket into a headset and tells them what beverage to make so they can function as a barista, even though they can’t read the order tickets. And it’s developing tools like that that will make them employable in the broader job market.”
COCO Cafe is working to change the societal perception of people with diverse abilities. There are challenges that come with supported individuals, but Tashereau repeatedly noted that there is so much joy working with them. “What we’re trying to do is move the needle in a larger way. To show that there’s a lot more potential than maybe people realize. And that maybe as a society, we need to stop setting limits on people [and] help them discover what they’re capable of rather than making that assumption.”
Jacob said that he enjoys chatting with the customers and learning new things, but most of all, working at the cafe helps him grow. “It is important for me to work at the cafe because I learn how to cook and make money. It helps me for my future.”
The cafe is a lovely place to grab a coffee or go for lunch with a friend. Both Cooper and Tashereau encourage anyone to come for a visit or make a donation. “There’s a lot more need out there, and there’s a lot of people capable of more and they deserve the opportunity.”
For more information, go to cococafe. ca.
Jacob Cooper serving up at COCO Cafe.
Photo: Francesca Pacchiano
Lest We Forget
“In
war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” — Jose Narosky
When I was much younger, November meant birthday parties — both my sisters’, that is. There was Pin the Tail on the Donkey, wee sandwiches made with Mom’s homemade blue, pink and purple bread, money cake, and Dad rubbing a balloon on his bristly hair, then sticking it to the wall like magic. Great November memories.
Things changed (and, dare I say, matured) with my dad’s last posting to London, Ontario. Us Moad girls were in high school then, and even though
my favourite subjects were science and math, the school was keenly into teaching history.
Now, even though I was brought up as an “army brat,” my dad never talked about the war. Not many fathers did, I suspect. The wars I learned about in history class seemed so remote: South African War, WW1, WW2, the Korean War (his war).
But that London high school, Sir Adam Beck, transformed November for me. They did these wonderful “singing assembly ” — the whole school singing, all together, with a massive screen on the stage guiding us with the lyrics of so many well-known songs. Often, these events ended with a pep rally for our pretty famous football and basketball teams, with my sister, Sharon, and I as part of our cheerleader squad on the stage … “Ra-ra-sis-boom-ba!” But I digress.
Back to my November transformation: As well as all this fun stuff, the school always did a Remembrance Day Assembly, ending with Canadian soldier/poet and physician John McCrae’s moving In Flanders Fields. The poem was up there on the screen, but I knew it by heart and
was keenly aware of my English teacher, Miss Lewis, wiping away tears unabashedly.
At some point, maybe ’68 or ’69, perhaps because of the music of the times, the relevance became clearer. The music of the day was shaping my mind: John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction,” Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” of course, and, a favourite of mine, “Masters of War.”
Jackie Moad with her horses. Photo: L. Waugh.
I wanted to know more about the war my dad fought in, but he would just say he got to jump out of planes and that he survived—not like so many others. That was when I realized that a little acknowledgement, a small show of respect for those who fought and sacrificed so much, was the very least I could do. I started to go to the Remembrance Day ceremonies.
he squats to eliminate.
When my dad passed away in 2002, I inherited his khaki jacket, mainly because I kept my “maiden” name, and being a sentimental ol’ fool, I loved that my mom had sewn his name badge on it. For the last 22 years, I’ve worn it on Remembrance Day.
My thoughts about this day evolved even further when we bought the farm or, more specifically, when dogs and horses became members of my family. I had seen a couple of pictures of John McCrae with his horse and dog, and I started reading about war horses and other animals used during wartime. Now, I’m not one to be squeamish, but I had to stop reading about the lives of not just horses and dogs but mules, pigeons and even dolphins and how these “unsung heroes” fought so bravely, loyally, besides their human comrades: soldiers... all of them.
So here is my thought — and I’ve been thinking about this for at least 15 years — it’s time I did something about it! Each year, when I see the veterans marching to the cenotaph, I think there should also be a horse and a dog representing the contributions of the war animals. Maybe not this year. It will take some organizing and involve talking to a group that trains service/therapy dogs and horses — those that are comfortable with crowds. Perhaps an RCMP horse with a redcoat rider? Talk with the Legion, the municipality, and parade organizers. It’s time. It’s long past time. Does anyone out there have ideas?
Jackie Moad has a new project percolating from an old idea. She’ll be doing her best thinking while making Nanaimo bars and shortbread for the WI concession at the Cedar Hall, sponsoring the Yellow Point Drama Groups play Calendar Girls this month, all the while enjoying and appreciating her animal companions on that 20-acre slice of Paradise on earth.
Dog Park Etiquette
BY KATHY REILLY
A famous British trainer once said, “There are no bad dogs, just ignorant owners.”
Ignorance simply means lacking knowledge or experience. When it comes to off-leash parks, you can depend on the fact that there are a few people who are lacking in both.
Here are some helpful hints:
• Keep your dog on leash from the car to the gate.
• Before entering and releasing your dog, check the behaviour of those dogs and people who are already there. If you have a wee dog and the pack in the park are all large breeds playing rough, then perhaps it is not the best time to come.
• If you are not sure your dog will socialize well with the pack that is there, then work with him outside the park, getting his attention on you. If needed, use high value treats to succeed.
• Calm your dog inside the gate before removing his leash. The reward for calm “go play” when you give him the okay. Work on this at home and in different venues so it becomes second nature.
• When you enter a new park, if you see a pack of dogs running to greet you and your dog, make sure you do not tighten up on the leash transmitting your anxiety to your dog. He may feel the need to defend you or may cower in fear.
• If your dog seems really anxious, then revert to outside work again. Perhaps ask one of the friendlier dog’s handlers to come out to greet your dog. Sometimes just sniffing each other through the fence works to relieve stress.
• If your dog is too rough with a smaller dog, call him off or haul him off. Excessive mounting is dominant and inappropriate behaviour, so tell him to “leave it” or “get off.” If you see another dog doing this to your dog, ask the handler politely to correct the behaviour.
• Keep your dog from crowding the gate when a new dog arrives.
• Small children do not belong in the dog park unless they stay close to the adults near a fence. Running around with a pack of dogs can lead to serious injury.
• Knee protection. When large dogs are playing near you, bend your knees slightly. If you stand with knees locked and the dogs hit you, you will likely need surgery.
• Most importantly, get your dog trained and used to the dog park. Paying with another dog is the best form of exercise.
Kathy Reilly is a dog trainer and owns and operates a dog boarding facility in South Nanaimo.
• Once inside the park with your dog running and playing, incorporate the five second rule. You can chat with people but make sure your eyes connect with your dog every five seconds. You will then catch any poor behaviour or if
