VillageVibe February 2009

villagevibe February 2009 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood FERNWOOD

FUTURE

ISSUE

Imagine 2112 An uncommon conversation about the future >> by Ayrie Cunliffe Who are we as a Culture in service to Life?

T

he ‘Imagine 2112’ conversations began in the spring of 2008 to explore the question of homelessness and affordable housing on Southern Vancouver Island. A small group comprised of a planner, an architect, an economist, a mapmaker, integral thinkers, artists – communitarians all – quickly embarked on an exploration of who we are as part of a culture that

is creating or causing some of us to be homeless. What if a Culture in service to Life were able to remember a truly sustainable future for our region and the world? What elements of this future are present now?

Early meetings of the founding circle became so enriching that a natural expansion to a larger circle was inevitable. A one-day event was planned and held in Victoria, BC, Coast Salish traditional territory, on November 22, 2008.

The Imagine 2112 event attracted the participation of sixty-seven citizens from our region for a day of cocreative imagining and storytelling. The event showcased

Photo: ‘Goddess in nest’ by Deryk Houston

The Month of Love

>> by Deryk Houston

C

ollective Works Gallery wants to celebrate February, the month of love, with a free, Fernwood-focused raffle. One lucky person will win an amazing basket of beautiful gifts valued at over five hundred dollars from several businesses centered around Fernwood Square.

Stage, the small plate food and wine bar has a nice surprise in the basket. (EnRoute magazine

recognized Stage with a top ten finish in Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2008). The Fernwood Inn – one of the best loved places in Fernwood has also generously contributed. And anyone who has tasted one of the Pink Sugar’s cupcakes will love their donation of a dozen cupcakes. Don’t eat them all at once though! The basket also contains vouchers from our beloved Mom’s Market, goodies from the Cornerstone Café and a hand made recycled glass platter and special jewellery from the whimsical She Said Gallery. Plus, to top it all off, the winner will receive tickets for a future show at the Belfry Theatre. (Note that a romantically themed play is running at the Belfry Theatre – The Real Thing is running from Jan 13 to Feb 22nd).

Collective Works Gallery will also be donating an original work of art for the basket as well as a collection of art cards. There may be other treats in the basket as well.

What else is happening in Fernwood during February?

– continued on page 7

process elements from the earlier conversations.

The day began with an honouring of place followed by an exploration of ‘who we are individually and in community.’ Participants entered the opening circle with a smooth beach stone, a cedar sprig, and an ‘Artist Trading Card’ created by the founding circle. Through a series of pulsations from the whole to small groups and back, the group shifted to the noticing of ‘who we are in future-oriented action.’

Participants used various means of creative expression throughout the day: visual art, spoken word art, song, movement, poetry, stories from the past present and future, mind-mapping, and layered regional mapping.

Constellations of smaller groups created a series of questions to seed the further evolution of the Imagine 2112 conversation. These questions are: > Connecting to One Another: How do we learn to deepen our understanding in learning to connect? How will we remember our innate ability to connect? > Governance and Leadership: Where are the drivers?

What is the path of least resistance? Where is the interconnectedness? How do we figure it out together?

– continued on page 5

in this issue Fraggle Rocker Comes Home Page 3 Feature: Fernwood. February 1st. 2112 Page 4 She-power shines at the ‘stone Page 6

editorial : Village Vibe, 2112 This year, the Village Vibe turns 107. Started

by Fernwood NRG in 2005, the paper has been the voice of the Republic of Fernwood since before the time of the dissolution of the Corporation of the City of Victoria into a series of connected and cooperative republics.

The original creators of the Village Vibe had the foresight to know that the neighbourhood was the optimal unit of governance and place-based sustainability of the future. Anticipating the increased importance of neighbourhoods, in 2012 the Vibe creators founded the Canadian Association of Neighbourhoods (CAN) and the Canadian Association of Neighbourhood Newspapers (CANN). Now in existence for 100 years, CAN and CANN link neighbourhoods across the country through a virtual and real network of monthly online publications and regular face-to-face video conferences broadcast from village centres across the country.

Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to CanadaHelps.org and donate to Fernwood NRG.

declaration of principles and values

Historical records indicate that with the founding of CANN, neighbourhood newspaper editors across the country were exultant. As editors of place-based publications, many were motivated by the sentiment of Alan Durning, expressed in This Place on Earth: Home and the Practice of Permanence. “There may not be any ways to save the world,” wrote Durning, “that are not, first and foremost, ways for people to save their own places. If this is true it means that to seek durable answers to global challenges, the conscientious must – without losing sight of the universal – begin with place, and specifically, with one place.”

From the outset, members of CANN could reprint stories from other member papers, highlight challenges that other neighbourhoods faced, and derive inspiration from each others’ successes. Canada, which once seemed like a vast and disparate country has become a complex network of place-based approaches to Life.

Why I wrote Integral City Evolutionary Intelligences for the Human Hive

We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood; We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets; We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming financially self-reliant; We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment; We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them; We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives; We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness; We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves; We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity; We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive; and, most of all, We are committed to having fun!

>> by Marilyn Hamilton, PhD CGA Why is it time to provide a meta-framework for looking at the city as if it were a whole system? In 100 years cities may, like beehives, be classified as just one of two kinds: wild or designed. Wild cities will be like the cities most of us know today – mostly unplanned, self-organizing, everevolving, suboptimal habitats of swarming humanity.

But will designed cities be more than the cities that are starting to emerge from the deserts of United Arab Emirates or flicker as CAD/CAMs on the computer screens of developers, architects, engineers and visionaries – artfully crafted, functionally aligned, technologically advanced, and culturally and socially hollow? Or will we have to transcend and include what we assume are the design elements for creating optimal human living environments? Will we need to invite into the design space the very cultural and social people who will occupy the design and so should be the primary co-creators of the city?

I wrote this book to explore a new paradigm for cities that helps us to understand what we want to know most about human emergence, environmental sustainability, and global wellbeing.

The city is the most concentrated form of habitat created by and for Homo sapiens sapiens, the most evolved species of vertebrates. To explore it within the context of whole and living systems, I use the beehive as proxy from the species that lies at the apex of invertebrate evolution – namely, the honeybee (Apis mellifera). On the deepest level of complexity, I apply an integral meta-map that reveals, correlates and integrates more insights about the city than any framework we have developed before. While the beehive creates a kind of parable, the integral meta-

Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | February 2009

Food Skills for Families

>> by Allison Powers The Food Skills for Families program, a new initiative led by the Canadian Diabetes Association, is one of the major Healthy Eating Strategy Initiatives supported by the Ministry of Health. It’s happening right here in Fernwood … and it’s free!

The goal of the program is to make healthy food more readily available and to provide BC families with skills and knowledge necessary for making sound snack, meal, and beverage choices.

By promoting physical activity, healthy eating, non-smoking, and building community capacity to support the development of healthier communities, Food Skills for Families hopes to prevent chronic disease and illness.

The program is based on a healthy eating curriculum and is designed to provide participants with an enjoyable learning environment for cooking and nutrition skills. An emphasis is placed on creating a learning atmosphere that encourages the participation, social interaction, and joy that shared food experiences can bring. This program is intended to inspire and empower participants to create nutritious, interesting, and delicious meals while having fun in a social setting.

The first session is February 7-March 14, classes to be held Saturdays from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the Fernwood Community Centre. At press time there were still spots available. Contact allison@ fernwoodnrg.ca or 250-381-1552 ex.122.

Further sessions will be held in April, October, and January 2010.

map deepens the space by which we can understand the intelligence of the human hive.

I asked what role cities have to play in closing the communications gap between the connected and the unconnected parts of the world. How will cities continue to change in a world that is technologically driven? How will cities develop sufficient resilience to thrive in the face of the converging tectonic stresses of over-population, energy scarcity, environmental damage, climate change and economic instability?

The subject of the city is attracting a growing number of authors writing about the city they consider to be vital – the Ecocities, Ecovillages, Creative City, Mongrel City. Others are writing about the aspects and functions of the city – renewable energy, transportation, green building, planning for the unplanned. Still others are writing about processes and resources for the city – sustainable communities, sustainable cities, the natural step. Each of these voices and perspectives is important, but none offers us a big enough framework to hold all the frameworks of human systems at the level of complexity of the city.

– continued on page 3

VillageVibe

Fraggle Rocker comes home

>> by James Kasper Not many can say they’ve had the opportunity to work side-by-side with legendary Muppets creator Jim Henson. Victoria-raised and now Fernwood-based puppeteer Tim Gosley is one of those who can make such a statement. Although the self-proclaimed shy 54-year-old is not one to boast, nor even put emphasis on this part of his resume, it is an impressive belt-notch nonetheless.

Gosley recalls working with Henson on popular Muppets spinoff Fraggle Rock in the early ‘80s.

“He played this character called Cantus, who was kind of this cosmic flute player who’d wander through The Rock, giving Zen-like wisdom and stuff, and we were the cool band behind him. So, I did get to work close to him.

And he was really open. If I wasn’t so shy, I could have had more of a rapport with him. He was definitely interested in everybody.” He adds, “He did look jet-lagged all the time. He must have just been working all the time. And he died really young. In fact, I just passed his age, which freaked me right out.”

Gosley first came to be a member of the Muppets family while in Toronto 1981. The Muppets came to town, and the front page of the Toronto Star announced they were looking for people for Fraggle Rock.

He was one of 300 hopefuls who auditioned, and one of 13 who were hired. The Ugly Duckling (the timeless one-man show which Gosley will be performing at the Cornerstone Café February 21st at 2pm) was part of his audition for Fraggle Rock all those years ago. Shortly after the successful audition, Gosley trained with the acclaimed and eccentric Richard Hunt, who is known best for his characters Scooter, Beaker, and Statler on The Muppets.

Hunt, like Henson, would later die at a young age.

“We all thought, as Canadian puppeteers,” Gosley explains, “that we were the elite (laughs) because we were chosen by The Muppets, and we were going to play all the lead parts on Fraggle Rock. Of course, there was no intention of that.” Gosley explains that working on the show could at times be “frustrating as hell” because of the extensive down-time between scenes. “We had a rollerskate in our green room which we put a bottle of scotch in, and we would just sit in the couches and wheel it back and forth. And that’s only scratching the surface.”

(Laughs.)

He experienced an inner dilemma of art versus money. “My artsy-fartsy side is saying ‘I’ve sold out to the big television machine,’ and the other side is saying ‘but Tim, you’re earning a wage …’ I’d read Victorian poetry in the green room just to freak people out because I didn’t want people to think I had lost my ethic or whatever. And yet, we were having a good time.”

Gosley’s characters on Fraggle Rock included Brool the Minstrel, Bulldoozer, Cave’s Oldest Fraggle, Noodlenose Fraggle, Poison Cackler, and background fraggles. He also worked on Muppets specials The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show and The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. Following Fraggle Rock, he was the voice and hands behind Basil the Polar Bear for nine seasons on the Canadian Sesame Street.

Skip ahead a few years, Tim’s shadow puppeteering in The Spectre’s Bride met with great acclaim in 2007 here in Victoria. The tale of a dead lover who returns to claim his fiancé combined Tim’s work with the artistry of Michel

Integral City

Yes to Yoga >> by James Kasper

Hatha Yoga with Elke Schlufter – Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:00pm

“Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine.

Confidence through self-control. Energy within and energy without.” – Ymber Delecto Yoga has never been more popular than it is today in North America, and Fernwood is no exception.

Perhaps this is a reflection of a need, more than ever, for people to seek health in both body and mind, and to immerse themselves in a counter-culture to the world of speed, convenience, and aggression that swarms all around us.

Although all of the many styles of yoga are based on similar physical postures, each style has a particular emphasis. Fernwood NRG now hosts four different yoga classes. Below is a breakdown of the four classes to help you decide which one is for you. The descriptions come from the instructors themselves: Kundalini Yoga with Gillian Reiss Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30pm

“Enjoy a lighthearted and fun approach to Kundalini Yoga as taught by YogiBhajan. Challenge yourself and tap into your limitless potential in anuplifting and supportive atmosphere. Classes suitable for all levels and experience.”

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Gagne and the soundscape of the 80-voice Victoria Philharmonic Choir and a 65-piece orchestra.

Gosley is collaborating with Puppetry Guild of Victoria President Dawn Schell to form Victoria Puppet Zone, a new group which will be contributing a puppet station at the Living Colours conference at the Victoria Conference Centre on February 15. “I am looking forward to sharing with Victorians the depth and breadth of puppetry talent,” Schell explains, “and hoping to spark others to explore this amazing theatrical art form.”

Gosley’s friend of 36 years, Theatre Inconnu Artistic Director (and fellow respected puppeteer) Clayton Jevne will also be contributing to the Victoria Puppet Zone submission, with a puppet stage that is pulled by a bicycle.

“What’s great about this event,” Jevne points out, “is that it is letting people know that there is a highly developed underground culture of puppeteers in Victoria that not many are aware of.”

Gosley encourages people to come out to the February 15 event and participate in an interactive section where they can play with shadow puppets and even construct their own puppets. A new Fernwood Puppet Experiment will also have a presence at the Living Colours conference, and if other Fernwoodians are interested in contributing, they can call 250-381-1552 Ext.25.

“Puppetry is all about trying to create the world as you would like to see it,” Gosley sums up his philosophy on the trade, “I think my whole career, which isn’t over yet, has been trying to meet this high art form of puppets with this very sort of – not crude but – base entertainment … making the serious stuff more palatable by allowing people the warm and fuzzy.”

On living in Fernwood, Gosley calls the neighbourhood “one of the most vibrant and healthy” in Victoria and praises its “bohemian creativity.”

“The approach to poses is mindful and gentle, teaching alignment and working on opening energy channels in the body. In movement and stillness, conscious breathing is encouraged, as well as body awareness and guidance by inner wisdom.”

Moksha Yoga with Lena Simmons –

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In this book, I propose that the value of the city does not derive just from the survival value to the egocentric individual, nor just to any belonging value of an ethnocentric collective or collectives, nor even just to the ecocentric sustainability value of the region or nation. This meta-framework integrates the multiple disciplines, sciences and arts to reframe the city as if it were a whole worldcentric system that supports the evolution of human consciousness, collaboration and capacity while adding value to Kosmocentric life on planet Earth.

Tuesdays, 7:30 – 8:30pm

“Great for all levels, fun and creative, and great for increasing mobility, strength, and wellness.”

Flow Yoga with Jay Zakaluzny – Fridays, 5:30 – 7:00pm

“A gentle flow yoga class sequenced to accommodate our different body types. Increase flexibility while benefiting from the cultivation of mindfulness and body awareness.

Suitable for most levels.”

All classes are held at Fernwood Community Centre at 1240 Gladstone Avenue. Admission is $5 per class for all classes.

February 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3

feature :

Fernwood. February 1st. 2112.

F

ernwood Council reps walked to James Bay last week for a tour of that Village’s new tidal power plant.

“We are excited to be part of this zero-harm renewable energy generation project that harnesses this most dependable form of renewable power,” said James Bay Councillor Jeremy Fair. “It is an honour to be working cooperatively with the other 13 Independent republics of Victoria to increase all residents’ quality of life while shrinking our ecological footprints.”

This is part of the “Juice for Juice” trade program agreed upon last year between Fernwood and James Bay during the semiannual Regional Roundtable Dialogues. In the J4J as it is known, the James Bay People’s Power Company will generate 4000 Kilowatt hours for Fernwood in return for 4,000 litres of freshly pressed apple juice from the Fernwood Fruit Tree Project. “Given the raised sea levels that have impacted especially Coastal Villages for the past 50 years, Fernwoodians are blessed to have fertile soil and we are pleased to share with our neighbouring Republics to help meet the food needs of their Commons.” said Fernwood Representative Shakti Albers.

Mia Kellnor and Jane Lakeman, coordinators of Hey Fernwood, LETS! (local exchange trading system) send out

a reminder to all residents to visit the cyber-commons to make sure that their Commons Credits are updated. It’s that time of year again when Fernwood residents come together to decide upon the Common work required to maintain our infrastructure and quality of life, and then divvy it up per the number of Fernwoodians to arrive at our individual Commons Carrying Cost. Remember, all Fernwoodians are encouraged to try out new tasks this year, and Mia can help facilitate project sharing and swapping on both individual and Commons tasks.

Fernwoodians are reminded that every day is “Kill-a-watt” day, and that the greenest way to create power is by conserving it. We would also like to acknowledge Joanne Smith’s ongoing discomfort with the slogan which she experiences as promoting violence against energy. People feeling creative are encouraged to head or ‘heart’ to the Commons to co-create a more inclusive slogan.

The heritage seed swap and urban agriculture fair takes place this Monday and Wednesday at the Stevenson Park Sustainability Centre. There will be loads of demonstrations and lectures on topics which include: No-till gardening, Enhancing your soil’s ecosystem, Fallow is Fun, and

A century ago, people young and old went hungry and slept cold and uncared for in parks and on streets. Today, we have 100% homefullness and can produce 96% of Fernwood’s food.

Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | February 2009

VillageVibe

> > b y R o b e rta M a rt e l l

Imagine 2112

Biodynamic planting: the other full-moon party! The theme of this month’s Urbag is “Pollen and Fallin’� the vital role of pollinators and rainfall in our food cycle. Kaylia Arbess has volunteered to head up the Mason Bee habitat enhancement program, so please consider allocating some of your Commons Credits to support her ability to complete this important task. As well, Danika Wegwitz will be lecturing on her latest e-publication, “Rain comes not from above, but from below: The bioregional case for composting and soil enrichment as a hedge against drought.� Loris Spence and Ella Richards who choose to complete their portion of the Fernwood Commons work at the Compost Necessity Centre will be on hand to assist residents with advanced soil and compost analysis.

Building on the groundbreaking work of the Victoria Hospice more than a century ago, Fernwood’s compassionate network of life celebrants invite you to a two-day retreat on Being and Not Being: Sitting with non-duality to reconcile life and death. This pan-spiritual and life-affirming workshop will include art, silence, writing, meditation and dialogue to engage participants on a central quote: “Every Being Dies; Not Every Being Really Lives.�

Once again, we wrap up with a meditation on gratitude. Look how far we’ve come Fernwood! A century ago, as hard as it is to believe, people young and old went hungry and slept cold and uncared for in parks and on streets. Today, thanks to our Roads to Homes and Streets for Eats reclamation projects, we have 100% homefullness and can produce 96% of Fernwood’s food. Items such as toilet paper, rubber for tires, coffee and red wine are topics of discussion by our Local Indigenous Consumption Klub who remind us to LICK it! by buying, making and growing, living, dying and sowing in our own bio-region!

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> Essentials to Life: Water, Food and Energy: What does the responsible household of the future look like? Then: street, neighbourhood, community/village, bioregion? What actions can they take to be responsible – mindful, resilient, sustainable, communal, connected? > Money and Wealth: What is the container that evolves our values and thinking and delivers a ‘life-affirming’ economy? > The Commons: How do we take back the commons?

How do we inspire connectivity in order to mobilize? > Creative expression: How do we manifest the conditions that allow personal creative energy to have value and generate infinitely? > Urban Villages: What if the story of my village has room for the stories of every villager? What is the global village story emerging from the story of ‘my village?’

The arbutus tree illustration by Ayrie identifi es who we are as cohabitants of a region ‘where the arbutus grows’.

A grant from Imagine BC has made it possible to ‘catch’ the emerging story with local artists attending to witness the day. These art pieces carry our story forward in the form of paintings, spoken word, art cards and video.

Paintings by Nadia Chaney, spoken word piece by strong cottonwoods, video interviews by Christopher Bowers, film artistry by Pauline Karch and Dorrie Murphy, Story by Naomi Steinberg, artist trading cards by all.

Imagine 2112 founding circle: Ayrie Cunliffe, Amber Wood, James Pratt, Donna Morton, Diana Smith, Mark Hazell, Danella Parks, and Patrick Hayes.

Imagine 2112: The Future

As from a stone tossed in still water – circles are reverberating ‌ In the founding circle some will step back and be in the loop and others will stay fully involved. A new inner circle will form to communicate and facilitate Imagine 2112. A networking website will record the artifacts of our past and future conversations: http://imagine2112.ning.com/ New Imagine 2112 conversations are taking place and generating future-oriented action. We imagine how profound it will be to continue to capture the emerging story of Imagine 2112. Who are we as a Culture in service to Life?

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February 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5

garden gleanings : Tools and Gear Series, part

>> by Margaret Hantiuk Wondering what this month’s topic would be, I came across a wonderful book from the Victoria Horticulture Society library: William Bryant Logan’s The Tool Box (Smith and Hawken, Workman Publishing, NY. 1997, ISBN0-7611-21-36-6.) I’ve wanted to do an article on tools and the idea of a series materialized because of the amount of information; I just couldn’t limit it to one article. It’s a topic very important to successful gardening.

In nearly thirty years of gardening, I have been very frustrated at times with poor quality tools breaking, bending, or not doing a good job or with not having the right tool for the job. Gardening can be much more of a pleasure with tools that are dependable, easy to use (causing less strain and discomfort) and lovely to hold and to behold.

Often people balk at spending more money on a wellmade tool. My answer to this is that I have wasted money constantly replacing cheaply made tools, and realized years ago that I could have bought the better one up front, saving time and frustration as well. If budget is an issue, I would recommend your first purchases of the more expensive, well-made tools be the one(s) that you use the most, and slowly add to your tools year by year. (Holiday or birthday gifts are also a good way to build your collection!) It’s also a matter of priority. We don’t balk at spending big money on cars and computers; why on a simple hand-tool that will not be outdated or depreciate in value as time passes? (Try garage sales, second hand stores and relatives’ sheds and basements for good deals on excellent used tools.)

This series will be dealing with hand tools only. I feel strongly that power tools are not needed for gardening on an average size city lot. Power tools pollute, creating fumes and noise. I resent hearing lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and string trimmers on a lovely day. They are very expensive to purchase and maintain, and they use fuels that contribute to greenhouse gases. They save time, but they also take time, because they often break down and require servicing.

When they break down – and this happens more often than it should – it’s frustrating. Time is spent running off to the service station to buy gas. Eventually they must be replaced, while a well-made hand tool, used and cared for properly, can last for years. (The Tool Box mentions that family hand tools of yore were so precious, they were in

i

wills and often cost the equivalent of a car to our presentday salaries!)

Using hand tools will take more energy in some situations, but don’t most of us want to get into better physical shape anyway? Why not spend more time in your yard, meeting your neighbours and passersby (that you can actually talk with, as you will not be working a noisy machine!) Your garden will love it, as hand tools are easier on plants. You will do a better job, being up close and more able to concentrate on the work at hand, not the machine. You will not scare off the wildlife, and can enjoy the birds and butterflies as you work, listening to their songs and noticing more of what goes on in your yard.

You can get ‘in the zone’ so that you not only reap physical and social benefits, but also emotional and spiritual ones, communing with the wondrous aliveness of nature. Hand tools are safer: your children can play alongside, learning to garden ecologically, and people can socialize on the patio as you work. You will be connecting with people around the world and across the centuries who have used, and are still using, hand tools.

Our series will look at short and long handled hand tools for digging, cutting, propagating, raking, watering, composting, hauling, collecting, cleaning and then their care and storage (and clothing for gardeners). Happy New (Gardening) Year!

She-power shines at the ‘stone >> by James Kasper The Cornerstone Café’s ongoing quest to become a destination venue for acoustic acts in Canada continues with parts two and three of the 2009 Cornerstone Concert Series. I had a chance to interview February’s feature (female) performers…

Cleo Madelaine, Saturday, February 21.

Village Vibe What can people

expect from your February 21 show at the Cornerstone Café?

Cleo Madelaine A night of high energy music with a rhythmic, edgy, message-filled sound.

VV What makes you unique as a musician?

CM I try to use sound as a vessel for teaching others.

This is what I think music is meant to be, a means for communication to help people understand life in new ways, or even just understand each other better.

VV Why is making music important to you?

CM It connects us all; it is alive in the threads of life; it is

alive in everyone. Nothing enhances a beautiful moment like a good soundtrack – any filmmaker would agree, I am sure.

VV: What is the strangest or most interesting musicrelated thing that has ever happened to you?

CM One crazy music-related experience is having Bobby McFerrin’s beautiful voice captured in my two-pedal looper, my performance device. Apparently, he helped run an improv singing workshop in L.A. that my friend attended and she brought her looper, which she later sold to me. And now I have seven beautiful, never-before-heard tracks of everything from beatboxing to melodic haunting harmonies and African rhythms by one of the world’s most talented and diverse a capella singers – someone who has been a real inspiration for me.

Erin Wallace, Saturday, February 28 Village Vibe What can people

expect from your February 28 show at the Cornerstone Café?

Erin Wallace People can expect a diverse mix of covers and

Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | February 2009

originals on piano ranging from jazz to folk to R&B. VV What makes you unique as a musician?

EW I’m told that my singing style is unique in that I use a lot of range and improvise over melodies much like a jazz singer would.

VV: Why is making music important to you?

EW Music is very important in my family, especially singing. My mother, Joan Wallace, is a professional singer.

My grandfather taught voice to aspiring opera singers and directed choirs.

VV: What is the strangest or most interesting musicrelated thing that has ever happened to you?

EW Once, when I was younger and working as a waitress in Nanaimo, Diana Krall and her family came to the Sushi Bar where I worked and sat in my section. That was a little stressful. They were nice though, and they left me a ridiculously generous tip.

Note: On Feb.28, Erin Wallace will share the stage with Emily Ray Fleming. Emily is originally from Nelson B.C, where she developed her affinity for the soul of blues and country music. Simple and authentic, Emily blends these genres into a contemporary and unique style, playing originals and a variety of borrowed tunes.

VillageVibe

BC Transit Update: Proposed Bay St Bus Route Since last summer, BC Transit has been working to introduce a new route on Bay Street. There are a number of reasons why BC Transit is looking to implement a new route: 1. Congestion: Bay Street is increasingly congested. A new route will provide residents and employees in the area with an additional transportation option aside from the single occupancy vehicle.

2. Royal Jubilee Hospital Expansion: The hospital is expanding, and it will be hiring a few hundred additional employees when completed. The hospital has requested additional bus service, hoping to reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles traveling to the site.

3. Congestion at Downtown Bus Stops: This new route will help reduce the number of downtown bus transfers, reducing congestion at stops.

4. Cross-Town Travel Market Underserved: Most trips require a transfer downtown. The addition of a crosstown bus route will add to the number of travel options for Victorians.

5. Vic West Growth: Additional routes in this growing neighbourhood will help build transit ridership.

6. Bay Street as a Major Artery: Bay Street is the last remaining arterial street (able to carry 18,000+ vehicles a day) in Victoria that does not feature transit service. It is also a major route to and from the hospital.

The proposed route would run from the Royal Jubilee Hospital down Bay Street to Douglas Street and continue into Victoria West. The possibility of running to Esquimalt and the Dockyard is also being considered.

Proposed Schedule

The service hours and peak hour services are timed to reflect the major weekday shift changes at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. In response to resident feedback, service hours were shortened to meet shift changes and visiting hours at the hospital. Late night service will continue along existing routes.

Service Hours Weekdays: 6:00am to 9:00pm Saturdays: 7:00am to 8:00pm Sundays: 8:00am to 8:00pm

Proposed Route Options There are two routings that BC Transit is considering, based on resources available: Option #1: Royal Jubilee Hospital, Fort Street, Richmond Road, left onto Bay Street, Catherine Street, right on Esquimalt, and to the Dockyard. The return trip follows Esquimalt Avenue to Catherine Street, Bay Street and ending at the hospital.

Option #2: The second option is from the Royal Jubilee Hospital, to Fort Street, Richmond Road, left on Bay Street, Dundas Street, right on Catherine Street, right on Wilson Street. The return trip follows Bay Street back to the hospital.

Issues Addressed

Some residents have raised some concerns about the addition of a new bus route on Bay Street. BC Transit has made some amendments, rationale and solutions to mitigate impact: Road Conditions: In narrow areas along Bay Street, such as Dowler Place to Cook Street, the four lanes each stretch to three-metres wide. Buses are 2.5 metres in width, providing ample space for safe passage. Concerns over street makeup are similar to conditions that exist along other routes run by BC Transit and are safely serviced by transit buses.

As one of the busier streets in Victoria, with 15,000 cars travelling through on a typical workday, additional bus traffic adds just over 0.5% to the daily total. A fully loaded bus can replace 40 cars, helping reduce emissions and noise pollution in the area.

Routes Servicing the Hospital: There are three existing routes that service the hospital property all day: #8 Interurban/Tillicum Mall/Oak Bay, #11 Tillicum Mall/ UVic, and #14 UVic via Richmond. The #33 UVic via Richmond has five morning trips that route past the hospital. An additional three routes stop within 500 metres of the hospital - #7 UVic/Downtown, and #27/28 Gordonhead/Majestic/Downtown/ Beacon Hill. As it is one of the largest employers in the CRD – and growing – additional bus routes to and from the hospital are expected to be utilized well.

The BC Ambulance Service is aware of the Bay Street proposal and gave no objections to sharing Bay Street

Service Frequency Weekdays: every 15 minutes between 6:00 to 9:00am every 15 minutes between 4:30 to 7:30pm every 30 minutes between 9:00am to 4:30pm every 30 minutes between 7:30pm to 9:00pm Saturdays: a bus every 30 minutes from 7:00am to 8:00pm Sundays: a bus every 45 minutes from 8:00am to 8:00pm

with buses. They offered that professional drivers, such as those employed by BC Transit, are very good at giving emergency vehicles the right-of-way. #22 Vic General/Hillside Mall: Initially, consideration was given to making changes to #22 Vic General/Hillside Mall. Due to community concerns, no changes will be made if the Bay Street route will be implemented.

If the route is approved by the Transit Commission, and resources are available, BC Transit hopes to introduce this route by September 2009.

Feedback

Open houses for residents along the proposed route were held in October and November. Four public meetings were held along with a meeting for hospital employees.

Feedback from these meetings and website submissions were in favour of the route by about three to one.

BC Transit will host two more customer information sessions in February to present the final proposal that will be brought to the Transit Commission for approval in the spring.

The first session will be February 16 from 2:00 to 6:00pm at the VicWest YMCA, 521 Craigflower Road.

The second session will be February 19 from 3:00 to 7:00pm at the Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue (at Fernwood Avenue).

To submit comments about the proposed Bay Street route, customers may visit the BC Transit website (http:// www.bctransit.com/regions/vic/news/bay_street_rjh/ default.cfm), or call BC Transit at 250-385-2551.

Love

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On your Valentine’s strolls this month, keep in mind that the labours of love of many of your favourite artists can be viewed in three art exhibits at the Collective Works through February. The shows are as follows: > Roberto Maralag III from Jan 30 – Feb 13 > Collective Works Group Show from Feb 13-26 > Rosalie Matchett from Feb 27-Mar 13

42 buses/day/direction

26 buses/day/direction 16 buses/day/direction

local poets Feeding Chickens

by lisa helps

she complained to us that her hind leg was sore the woman in the ritzy neighbourhood who kept chickens on her front lawn hind we understood meant that her front legs were working could throw chicken feed

As well, Collective Works artist Miriam Mulhall will be exhibiting her amazing photography throughout the month of February at the Fernwood Inn. These are just some of the scheduled events in Fernwood during this Valentine Month. With inspiring art and cultural events and fabulous places to eat and drink, Fernwood is a destination for the amorous.

Fernwood may or may not believe in Free Love, but during the month of love, Fernwood definitely believes in free raffles. So make sure you pick up your entry form at one of the participating business and deposit it at Collective Works Gallery (one entry per person).

There will be an early-bird draw for a “surprise item” on Valentine’s Eve, February 13th, during the opening of the first gallery group show for 2009 (starts at 7 p.m.) The final draw for the basket will be on Feb 27.

just fine

VillageVibe

February 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7

what’s on in Fernwood Arts, Theatre and Entertainment Belfry Theatre.

THE REAL THING. A play by Tom Stoppard.

Held over until Feb 22!!. 1291 Gladstone Ave. Info: 250.385.6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca Bluegrass Wednesdays.

Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass Association present Wednesday night bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:3010pm. FREE! Collective Works Gallery.

“Sari-Likha – Nature in Watercolour and Prelude to Socio-Realism.” Works by Roberto Maralag 3. Show runs Jan 30-Feb 13.

Members Group Show. Feb 13-26. Gallery hours>11am-6pm Tues-Thurs; 11am-8pm Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun; closed Mon. 1311 Gladstone Ave. 250.590.1345. www. collectiveworks.ca Live at the Cornerstone – 1301 Gladstone (at Fernwood).

Sat, Feb 14>MARY CAROLINE. Yellowknife songbird sings for the lovebirds and cynics alike on Valentine’s Day. Sat, Feb 21>Puppeteer TIM GOSLEY performs his one-man show “The Ugly Duckling.” 2pm.

Admission by donation.

Sat, Feb 21>Songstress CLEO MADELAINE live in concert. 8pm. Admission by donation.

Fri, Feb 27>FERA. Vancouver twins Courtney and Stephanie Fera bring their rootsy twinpower to the ‘stone. 8pm. Admission by donation.

Sat, Feb 28>Cornerstone she-power continues with songbirds ERIN WALLACE and EMILY FLEMING. 8pm. Admission by donation.

Thank you for supporting independent touring and local musicians!

Live Music at Fernwood Inn. Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302 Gladstone Ave. FREE! Live Music at Logan’s Pub. 1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com Ministry of Casual Living.

1442 Haultain St. Info: www. ministryofcasualliving.ca Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam. Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood Rd. $2 to play ($3/non-members).

Listen by donation. www.victoriabluegrass.ca Victoria Folk Music Society.

Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature Performer. (Feb 1>STACEY EARLE and MARK STEWART. FEB 8>Variety features. Feb 15>KATE POWER and STEVE EINHORN. Feb 22>BRYON, CLAYTON, THOMAS and DON.).

Norway House. 1110 Hillside Ave. $5 feature performer nights/$3 all open stage night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca

Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community Centre Family Community Day. Family Fun directed and facilitated by the participants. Snacks, crafts, play equipment and varied themes. Mondays 9:30-11:30am.

Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE! Parent and Tot Playgroup.

Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $1 per family.

Youth, Adults and Seniors New!! Tai Chi. Thursdays. 4:30-5:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre. 1240 Gladstone. $5 dropin.

New!! Moksha Yoga with Lena Simmons.

Tuesdays. 7:30-8:30. $5 drop-in.

Fairuza Fridays.

Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 10-14. Nintendo Wii, big screen movies, basketball, floor hockey, roller skating, music. Fridays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre. Info: 250.381.1552 ext.25 FREE! Falun Gong.

Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome!

Wednesdays, 5-7pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. FREE! Fernwood Seniors.

55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities.

Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays, 11am Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $2 for lunch.

Financial Literacy with Casey from Investor’s Group.

Learn to manage your money effectively.

Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30pm. Drop-in.

Fernwood Community Centre. FREE! Floor Hockey.

Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11 sessions.** Flow Yoga with certified instructor Jay. Adult. Fridays 5:30-7pm. $5. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. Hatha Yoga.

With certified instructor Elke. Gentle poses, breathing practice, deep relaxation and meditation. Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $5.

Karate.

Drop in. Adult Co-ed. Instructor Lucas Trottier.

Sundays, 1-2:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.** Kundalini Yoga Mondays, 7-8:30pm. $5 drop-in. Fernwood Community Centre.

Women’s Soccer.

Drop-in. Sundays 5-6:30pm, Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**

Special Events Fern Fest 2009!!

Sat, June 20, 2009. 11am-11pm. Come out and help us in our celebration of the wonderful Fernwood Community! Live entertainment, family activities, beer garden, BBQ, Workshops and more! Free admission.

New!! Village Sustainability Workshops.

Ongoing workshops at the Oak and Fern Centre. Contact Rainey and Margot for information at 250.383.9171 or hope_of_rain@ islandnet.com New!! Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective hosts: Monday Movie Nights at the Cornerstone.

Screenings of food security–related films.

Mon, Feb 23 and Mon, Mar 30 at the Cornerstone. 7pm.

Fernwood Business Network.

Everyone welcome. Tues, Feb 3 (first Tues monthly). 10am. Fernwood Inn. For info contact Ryan Rutley at ryan@rutleyventures.ca Victoria Green Drinks.

An inclusive gathering of the sustainabilityminded for refreshments and conversation.

Tues, Feb 10 (second Tues monthly). 5-7pm.

Canoe Brew Pub, Marina and Restaurant 405 Swift Street. For info see www. greendrinksvictoria.ca Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day. Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing and food trays, electronics and foil-lined coffee/chip bags. Sat, Feb 8 (second Sat monthly). 10am-1pm. Across from Fernwood Community Centre. By donation. Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day seeks volunteers!

Come help us make it all happen! For info: villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca Fernwood Place Making Troupe.

All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square and the neighbourhood. Mon, Feb 16 (third Mon monthly). 7pm. Cornerstone Café.

Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective.

All welcome! Tues, Feb 17 (third Tues monthly).

7-9pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. foodsecurity@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca Fernwood Community Kitchen.

Cook nutritious, creative meals with your neighbours! Info: fernwoodkitchens@gmail. com Spring Ridge Commons Workparties!

Come get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s only public food garden. Thursdays, 5-7pm at the Commons. Please bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.

The Fernwood Commons: A Fernwood Community Communication Forum.

For info on Fernwood comings and goings and neighbourhood news and views, check out The Fernwood Commons online: http:// thevillagevibe.ning.com/

villagevibe Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group) 1240 Gladstone Street Victoria, BC V8T 1G6 T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509 villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca www.villagevibe.ca Editor: Lisa Helps Assistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen, Trish Richards Contributors: Ayrie Cunliffe Marilyn Hamilton Margaret Hantiuk Deryk Houston James Kasper Roberta Martell Allison Powers Jo Roueche The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily reflect the views of Fernwood NRG.

If you have a workshop or special event idea for the Fernwood Community Centre or the Cornerstone Café email james@ fernwoodneighbourhood.ca If you have a Fernwood event you would like listed in the Village Vibe calendar please send an email with the subject line “vibe calendar” to villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and Canadian Tire Money at face value!

Come on in out of the cold, where neighbours gather!

Open daily from 11:30 1302 Gladstone

Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | February 2009

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