February 2015
villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood
Neighbourhood generosity provides relief for families Good Food Box fundraiser doubles their goal—helping 24 families receive a year of produce
›› Mila Czemerys
T
he Give the Gift of Good Food fundraiser was an outstanding success. The goal was to raise enough funds to support 10 families in Fernwood with Good Food Boxes for all of 2015. With the support of neighbours, local businesses, and community organizations, we raised $11,000—over double our original goal! These donations will provide 24 local families a Good Food Box every two weeks for a whole year and hopefully nourish their lives with nutrition and a little bit less to worry about. The aim of the campaign was to provide a means for local families in need to access a regular and ongoing supply of local fruits and vegetables. Families were selected from those currently accessing Fernwood NRG’s Family Resource and Best Babies Programs. We also teamed up with George Jay Elementary School’s Family Liaison who helped us to identify and select families with children attending their school who would benefit from the support. Shonna Bell, Fernwood NRG’s Family Programs Coordinator, shared, “I think this fundraiser is important because many of the families we support struggle to access fresh fruit and vegetables.” She described how the families selected were overwhelmed with relief knowing that a box of healthy food would be available every two weeks means they can focus their energy on other important concerns. “This is a significant impact for them,” she said. As soon as the call for donations was made, the contributions came pouring in from a diverse group of supporters including
The Step Up Youth Program, with matching funds from Hoyne Brewing Co. & Oaklands Market, raised $714.30 to donate to the Give the Gift of Good Food fundraiser. Left to Right: Ryan Lance, Alex Harned, and Gary Pemberton. Photo courtesy of Alex Harned.
local businesses, families, individuals, clubs, and other Community Centres. Give the Gift of Good Food inspired some creative initiatives to raise funds and get involved. The Step Up Youth Leadership Group organized a cake walk at the Oaklands West Coast Winter Market and those funds were matched by Hoyne Brewing Co. and Oaklands Market. This collaborative effort was able to raise enough money to cover the cost for almost two families for the year. Another telling example of the overwhelming support received were the families that decided to forgo their own Christmas presents this year and donate their holiday
money to the campaign. See one of their stories here: fernwoodnrg.ca/swovelandfamily-forgoes-christmas-gifts. There are countless stories of generosity and cooperation but there is not enough space to share them all here. We have so much gratitude for each person who decided to take part in this fundraising effort. Thank you! A heartfelt thanks to: 4 North Patient Care Centre at Royal Jubilee Hospital, Aubergine Speciality Foods, BC Transit, Café Brio, Division of Continuing Studies UVic, Hoyne Brewing Company, HumanNature Counselling, Investors Group, Island Health, Oaklands Community
Mark Your Calendar
Feature
Artist’s Aside
Fernwood U: All About Fungi page 3
Fernwood Community Map page 4 & 5
Trace Nelson & Peter Sandmark page 6
Centre, Ocean Grown Medicinal Society, Selkirk Montessori School, SOMA Active Health, Step Up Youth Leadership Program, Story Tellers of Victoria, STS RX Pharmacy, Studio 1313 Hair Design, The Belfry Theatre, The Local General Store, The Paint Box School of Art, The Vitamin Shop, UVic Ecology Department, Vegas Convenience Store, Victoria Community Dialysis Facility, Who Dyd Your Hair, and all the individuals and groups who donated! Please email abby@fernwoodnrg.ca if you are interested in being involved with the fundraiser next year. For more info about the Good Food Box, check out thegoodfoodbox.ca.
in this issue To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca
guest editorial:
villagevibe
Ten years of “Principles & Values”
Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Editorial Committee
Lee Herrin Hayley Evans
Matt Takach David Segal Founding Editor Lisa Helps
›› Lee Herrin
Contributors
Mila Czemerys Laurie Rubin Ben Clark Dorothy Field Kate Wallace
Lee Herrin Danielle Stevenson Josh Wagler Jillian Player Sarah Rempel
Art
Alex Harned Emma Skye Sarah Rempel Axel Mila Czemerys Morgan Leik Fernwood Community Mapping Project Production Mila Czemerys Contact us
1310 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1S1 T 778.410.2497 F 250.381.1509 vibe@fernwoodnrg.ca www.villagevibe.ca To enquire about advertising in the Village Vibe, please contact ads@fernwoodnrg.ca The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily reflect the views of Fernwood NRG.
declaration of principles & values ››
a socially, environmentally,
neighbourhood; We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets;
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We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming financially self-reliant;
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We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;
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We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;
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We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;
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who walked through the door. The values we aspired to would not allow us to sit by and hope that someone else would fix the problems in our neighbourhood (as we had been for several years previously). Rather, our new values dictated that we put the neighbourhood first and take direct action to improve its health and vitality. It is now ten years later, but those principles and values endure and guide the work of Fernwood NRG today, even though the reality we confront is no longer brutal. Looking for Fernwood NRG’s 2014 Annual Report on our Principles and Values? Last year, our membership agreed to change the organization’s fiscal year to a calendar year. Previously, we reported out on the past year’s activities in February and our finances in October. Going forward, we will try to do both together in April. Watch the April Vibe for our Annual Report.
buzz:
Vining Street POP gives back
We are committed to creating
and economically sustainable
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This coming spring marks ten years since Fernwood NRG’s Board of Directors sat down to confront the brutal fact that the heart of our neighbourhood, the Fernwood village, was unhealthy—and that, more importantly, neither the government nor the private sector had the means or the tools to fix the problem. On the one hand, the City government was using an increasingly heavy-handed enforcement approach to put pressure on the owner of the boarded up Cornerstone building. City crews came into the building, cut the water and power, and evicted the upstairs tenants. On the other hand, though the building was for sale, no private sector purchasers seemed eager to purchase a boarded up property with no income. Capital wants to minimize risk and seeks a return measured in dollars, not in neighbourhood health.
And so it seemed the building would sit indefinitely, as it had been already for several years. In considering what our organization could do about the challenges in Fernwood at that time, we began to articulate a set of principles that would guide the actions of the organization we wanted to become—one which was focused on the neighbourhood as a whole, and not just on running a facility in the neighbourhood. After much discussion, we drafted the “Declaration of Principles and Values” that appears to the left of this column. Some might say: “what use are lofty words when your neighbourhood is suffering?” We transform reality first in our imagination, second in the way we talk about the future, and finally in the material world. The principles and values we articulated in 2005 painted a word-picture of a very different organization than the one we had been, which provided services to those
We are committed to governing our organization and serving our
›› Laurie Rubin Last September 7 th, Fernwoodians and all of Victoria came out to enjoy the sunshine, roll around in bumper balls, eat delicious BBQ food, watch exhibitions and demonstrations, but mostly to groove to great music and bid on 400 donated items. Besides having a fantastic time with our neighbours, we raised $8,000 for two local non-profits. $250 went to Puppets for Peace, and $7,750 to the Learning Disabilities Association for reading and writing programs for vulnerable school-age youths. Heart-felt thank-yous go to the many people who give their time freely to help organize this event. VS POP has no paid staff, but benefits from generous donations made by our local businesses. Thank-you to our community for your generosity and open wallets!
The Leg Up Program performing for the crowd last September. VS POP raised $8,000 for two local non-profits including Puppets for Peace and the Learning Disabilities Association. Photo: Emma Skye
We held a vendor’s market for the first time. It seems like such a good idea, that we are planning a weekly Friday Fernwood Market (May to September/October) on the Vic High plaza from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
This year’s VS POP community celebration & FUNdraiser is set for Sunday, September 13th. We are always open to your ideas about what you would like at the Party. Contact Laurie Rubin at 250-9952696 or lrubin@shaw.ca with questions.
neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;
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We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;
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MARGARET HANTIUK GARDEN SERVICE SUSTAINABLE GARDENING
We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and
Pruning. Bedwork. Designs. Consults. Senior-friendly
diversity;
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We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;
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and, most of all,
Email: mmhantiuk@shaw.ca Phone: 250.595.1684 Cell: 250.882.1929
We are committed to having fun!
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villagevibe
February 2015
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
mark your calendar:
Fernwood U Lecture Series: All About Fungi Learn about the many cool things you can do with mushrooms on Tuesday evenings at the Cornerstone Cafe
›› Danielle Stevenson This March, D.I.Y. Fungi is partnering with Fernwood NRG to bring this free lecture series to Fernwood. Join us on Tuesdays at 7:00pm at the Cornerstone Café to learn about the amazing world of mushrooms. Cool Stuff You Can Do With Fungi
March 10th, 2015 (Beginner level) Growing your own mushrooms is an easy
way to boost your home-grown nutrition, grow your own medicine, and deal with your household waste. You can break down your cigarettes, filter your greywater, make your own tempeh, grow mushrooms on waste materials, and so much more. This workshop will offer an overview of some of the cool stuff you can do with fungi at your home or apartment. Intro to Mycoremediation
March 17th, 2015 (Intermediate level) Have you heard that mushrooms can break down oil, eat plastic, and clean up radiation? This workshop will discuss how fungi can break down chemical pollutants including oil, pesticides, and even Agent Orange; suck up heavy metals and radiation; filter water; break down asphalt; and initiate and support many lifecycles that regenerate
healthy ecosystems. We will talk through some specific applications, including how to filter water and detoxify contaminated soil with fungi. Mushroom Companions for the Garden and Farm
March 24th, 2015 (All levels) This lecture highlights three super garden companion mushrooms – King Stropharia, Elm Oyster and Shaggy Mane – which can boost plant growth, control pests, and build healthy soil ecosystems. We’ll also walk you through how to make a mushroom bed, mushroom pathways, and companion plant mushrooms within your veggie beds, and clarify the amazing role of Mycorhizal fungi in the garden and orchard. Learn more about this lecture series at fernwoodnrg.ca/fernwood-university/.
Danielle Stevenson is a fungi enthusiast with 3 years of mushroom cultivation experience, and a background in permaculture, organic food production, and community-based work towards food sovereignty. She recently launched D.I.Y. Fungi to offer educational workshops and mushroom cultures (a.k.a. “spawn”) for people of all ages to grow their own fungal food and medicine at their homes, gardens, and farms. She is especially excited about the potential to work with fungi, plants, and microbes to regenerate the land and water in a process known as “Bioremediation.” Learn more at diyfungi.wordpress.com. When she isn’t “spawning” (cultivating mushroom spawn), she is busy coordinating LifeCycles’ Growing Schools program, and the Coalition of Neighborhood Houses’ Food Access program.
oaklands news:
commons corner:
Maintaining neighbourhood connections
CommuniTEA!
›› Ben Clark Before City Council took a break for the election last November, they approved an update to the Bicycle Master Plan which sets out priorities for new infrastructure. Two bike routes identified for improvements in the next few years include a North-South route through Oaklands and Fernwood down to Gonzales Beach, and an East-West route parallel to Bay Street along Haultain Street and Kings Road. Oaklands held a land use meeting last summer to hear from residents about traffic concerns in the neighbourhood, as maintaining Haultain as a safe and quiet street for bicycles and pedestrians is a common priority. This idea was especially relevant because some feared that lowering the speed limit on Bay Street would lead to
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
more cars on Haultain. Victoria is often called “Canada’s Cycling Capital,” and whenever I hear this I am inclined to believe it is more to do with our climate than our bike paths. With so much of our city dedicated to an increasing amount of vehicle traffic, it is important to set aside dedicated space for active transportation, where all ages and abilities feel comfortable riding from one neighbourhood to the next. I think it is great that the city has a growing focus on cycling infrastructure as part of their strategy. Our Oaklands Annual General Meeting is at 7:00pm on March 3rd at Oaklands Community Centre, and Mayor Lisa Helps will be there to discuss the direction for the city for the next four years. I hope to see you there too!
›› Josh Wagler We are well into winter now but at the Commons it feels like spring is just around the corner. Winter is a time of darkness, and this darkness can often bring great challenges. Over the years, one thing has become very clear to me. The answer is tea! It doesn’t matter what the question or challenge is, 9 times of 10, the answer is tea. As most of us know, the past year has been somewhat tumultuous at Spring Ridge—so many different perspectives! Over 80 people showed up to be heard at the community meeting last September. Thanks to excellent facilitation by Lee Herrin, tedious transcription by Linda Chan, and excellent filming, these opinions can all be heard at springridgecommons.ca. Diversity can be challenging to navigate, but ultimately, diversity creates great value. That brings us back to tea. Everything comes back to tea! Tea of a single variety is nice, but a diversity of plants adds so much depth. It’s early in the season, so much of what is harvestable right now is used in tea.
These plants include rosemary, cat’s ear, dandelion, chickweed, plantain, miner’s lettuce, lemon balm, red dead-nettle, milk thistle, and cress. Most of these plants are multi-functional and can be used fresh in a salad. Oh the beauty of multiple functions! Plant of the Month: Red Clover
Trifolium pratense Red clover’s functions include nutritious tea for humans, attracting pollinators, and building soil fertility via nitrogen-fixing root nodules. For this reason, red clover is often the foundation for new food forests. As we move forwards towards spring, lets look to red clover as inspiration. Let us add value in multiple ways, and respect the many roles that each of us plays within the Commons and beyond. If you love freshly-picked tea, come join the others at Bee in The Garden, which continues every Sunday at 1:30 to 3:30pm at Spring Ridge Commons. All are invited to join be in nature, join the conversation, enjoy tea, play an instrument, create art, volunteer in the garden, and gather food!
February 2015
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feature:
Fernwood Community Mapping Project ›› Dorothy Field
I
t’s been a long time coming, but we’re just about there. The Fernwood Community Mapping Project was launched around a dining room table in the spring of 2009. Now, more than five years later, we’re printing maps to be distributed free to anyone interested in Fernwood’s story. There’s also an online map where you can input places in Fernwood that are important to you: mapping.uvic.ca/ fernwood. Our hardcopy map, “Fernwood Then and Now”, opens to 11” x 17” and folds to 3” x 5”, the perfect size to slip into your pocket. “Fernwood Now” features our contemporary village showing Fernwood’s hot spots: good food, music, art, gardens, alternative health, and our dog park, as well as our bus and bike routes. “Fernwood Then” superimposes an 1863 map over the original topography, outlining First Nations and early settler history. In 1863, Fernwood didn’t extend much beyond Fernwood Street, though sub-divisions had been laid out and a few large farms established. A street car started at Beacon Hill and ended at Fernwood and Gladstone. “Downtown Fernwood” grew up around the terminus. Our map is part of the Green Map movement which began in 1995. Since then, 900 communities in 65 countries have mapped their home places. Green Maps use standard icons to identify community-minded sites and activities. We’ve created new icons for the springs that first provided Victoria’s water, the well in Stevenson Park, the historic breweries, and our Walnut Street crows. We are the Fernwood we create. Our vision – how to keep Fernwood livable, safe, and a place of fermentation and new ideas – will determine our future. We’re also producing a Fernwood game to spark conversation about what community is and what it might become. We will be organizing a gala to launch both the mapping project and the game while celebrating Fernwood itself. Keep your ears open for the date and time.
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villagevibe
“Fernwood Now” is the contemporary side of the new map produced by the Fernwood Community Mapping Project. The hardcopy of this map will also include to find your own free copy of the “Fernwood Now and Then” map. Image courtesy of the Fernwood Community Mapping Project.
February 2015
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
e a “Fernwood Then� side which displays information about historical Fernwood. Check at local businesses
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
February 2015
villagevibe
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artist’s aside:
Trace Nelson & Peter Sandmark ›› Jillian Player The dynamic art duo of Trace Nelson and Peter Sandmark have so much going on that I can only scratch the surface of their achievements in this short article. Not only are they the force behind the rockabilly band Slim Sandy – who will have you dancing in the isles – but they also have established individual visual art careers. Trace and Peter met at university in Montreal, where they were both studying various forms of art. After many years of being active in the Montreal art scene, they decided to move to Victoria. Friends told them about our thriving artists community in Fernwood, so they came to check it out. They have made their home and careers here for the last ten years. Trace Nelson works in a variety of media: soft sculpture, painting, drawing, video animation, and interactive media. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, and she has worked as an art educator for the past 15 years, teaching at Concordia University and, most recently, teaching drawing and painting at the Vancouver Island School
of Art in Victoria. Trace’s soft sculptural installations – which are odd and slightly mischievous figures – originated from the sock monkey. From there, her sculptures have morphed into organic-looking creatures or soft inanimate objects with unique personalities. As a prolific visual artist, she also creates costumes for the band. Along with being the lead vocals in Slim Sandy, Peter Sandmark has a long history as an independent film-maker. As well as music videos, he has made about a dozen short, experimental films since the eighties. His latest, made in 2013, titled Quantum Zen, was exhibited at the Antimatter Film Festival at Deluge Gallery last year. He is currently the executive director of MediaNet. He is also the creator of the Village Vibe’s “Max Roach” cartoon (see bottom left of this page). Both Trace and Peter collaborate on the lyrics and music for Slim Sandy. You can catch their shows at various venues around town and listen to their album, Jump Back, on iTunes, or check them out at slimsandy.com. You can view Trace’s work at tracenelson.com.
Trace Nelson and Peter Sandmark in their backyard vegetable garden at their Fernwood home. Photo courtesy of the artists.
george jay: coming up next –
MARCH 10 – 22, 2015
Festival
SPARK 2015
THE BELFRY THEATRE’S FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS AND NEW IDEAS
THE GOD THAT COMES created by Hawksley Workman and Christian Barry live music and performance by Hawksley Workman
“ “ “
A tour de force...
CALGARY SUN
BOYS WITH CARS & LET ME BORROW THAT TOP created and performed by Anita Majumdar ... ease, elegance and intelligence.
The art of giving ›› Kate Wallace The winter holidays can be a daunting time of year, but George Jay families had it a bit easier this year thanks to our amazing donors and volunteers. George Jay’s Holiday Emporium was a huge success thanks to Glad Tidings, Central Baptist, and our supportive community members, all of whom donated items and volunteered time – and also enjoyed lunches courtesy of Fat Daddy’s and our teachers. All money raised went back into the school, making this a great event. We also collected enough to donate thirty-nine food hampers and nine toy bags for school families. Thanks to Mount Doug
for their “Fill the Foyer” fundraiser! More thanks go out to Monterey School, BodyDynamics, the Ministry of Finance, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Victoria Symphony, LifePlan Financial, Royal Roads University, Cedar Hill Rec Centre, and the staff and parents of George Jay. You’re all so generous! Finally, our Christmas Concert was one of the most wonderful and well-attended events ever seen at our school—all due to the amazing work of teacher Ms. Shum. Plus, all of our Grade 4 and 5 classes are now taking ukulele classes (thanks John Shields for donating books & instruments), and to volunteers Bonnie Smith and Heidi Hoshal for helping to make it happen. We are so grateful to have donors and volunteers like these.
DEEPA MEHTA
THROUGH THE GAZE OF A NAVEL created by Anita Rochon & Emelia Symington Fedy Yoga Satire. Brilliant, brash, and wickedly wise. DANIELLE LAPORTE, AUTHOR OF THE DESIRE MAP
Festival PASS – Three vouchers valid for any show during SPARK $69
single tickets on sale now! 250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca
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villagevibe
February 2015
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
mark your calendar:
5th Annual VintAgeous Vintage Fair
There are loads of great vintage finds every year at the VintAgeous Vintage Fair. Photo: Sarah Rempel
›› Sarah Rempel For 5 years running, the VintAgeous Vintage Fair has been held at the Fernwood Community Centre each February. A thrilling sale featuring 35 stalls of vintage clothing, accessories, housewares, records, décor, and much more! There will be items from the turn of the last century all the way to the early 1990s. Whether you are looking for some fun decor for your place (vintage globes, suitcases, lamps, books) or some great accessories (think: vintage cuff bracelets, fur shawls, fun shoes, dresses, jackets, and so much more), this is the place to be. This event not only supports over 35 local vintage dealers, but it promotes reusing & recycling in our community. Why buy new when you can buy vintage? A great event for all ages where you truly never know what you will find. W.I.N. Victoria will
have a large booth selling all retro clothing and accessories on the Saturday, with all proceeds going towards the assistance of women’s programs and initiatives. There will also be roaming vintage fashion shows and a DJ Friday night. A local food truck will be on site offering delicious coffee and eats too. Come and visit us – we will be glad to see you! Date: Friday, February 27th, 5:00pm - 9:30pm & Saturday, February 28th, 10:00am - 5:00pm Location: Fernwood Community Centre, 1240 Gladstone Ave Admission: $4 at the door Kids: Free! 40% of door proceeds support the Fernwood NRG Cash only sales (ATM on site) VictoriaVintageExpo.com
FERNWOOD NRG WINTER PROGRAMS JANUARY - APRIL 2015 (Reg) Registration Required
(DI) Drop In
MONDAY Fernwood Family Dinner (DI) Ongoing LifeRing Alcohol & Drugs Support Group (DI) Ongoing Falon Gong (Closed) Jan 5 - Apr 27
5:00pm - 7:00pm 6:45pm - 8:00pm 7:30pm - 9:30pm
TUESDAY Family Resource Program (DI) LifeRing Alcohol & Drugs Support Group (DI) Capoeira for Youth (Reg) Male Caregivers Group (DI) Victoria Bootcamp (Reg) Youth Drop-in (13-17yrs) (DI) Capoeira for Adults (Reg)
Ongoing Ongoing Feb 3 - Jun 30 Ongoing Jan 6 - Mar 31 Ongoing Jan 13 - May 26
9:30am - 11:30am 12:00pm - 1:00pm 4:00pm - 5:00pm 4:00pm - 7:00pm 5:30pm - 6:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Ongoing Every other week Jan 7 - Mar 25 Ongoing Ongoing
11:30am - 2:30pm 1:00pm - 8:00pm 6:00pm - 7:00pm 7:00pm - 10:00pm 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Ongoing Jan 8 - Mar 6 Jan 8 - Apr 9 Ongoing Jan 8 - Apr 9 Ongoing
9:30am - 11:30am 10:00am - 10:30am 10:30am - 11:15am 11:30am - 2:30pm 5:30pm - 6:30pm 6:30pm - 10:30pm
WEDNESDAY Best Babies (Reg) Good Food Box Pickup Dancing for Wellbeing (Reg) Nuu Chah Nulth Drumming (Closed) LifeRing Workbook Workshop (Reg)
THURSDAY Family Resource Program (DI) Parent & Tot Creative Dance (Reg) Children Creative Dance (Reg) Best Babies (Reg) Victoria Bootcamp (Reg) Victoria Sport & Social Club (Closed)
FRIDAY Lunch n’ Play (DI) Ongoing Autumn Glow Seniors Program (55+yr)(DI) Ongoing Youth Drop-in (9-12yrs) (DI) Ongoing
10:30am - 12:30pm 12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm
SUNDAY Kyudo (Reg)
Jan 4 - Apr 5
10:00am - 12:00pm
Holiday closures on January 1, February 9, April 3 & 6 and May 18.
WORKSHOPS / SPECIAL EVENTS February Fox Fair - February 6 & 7 All Ages Show - February 8 Girl Guides District Thinking Day - February 22 Vintageous Vintage Fair - February 27 & 28 Fernwood U Mushroom Lectures - March 10, 17 & 24 Vinyl Supernova Record Fair - March 21
For more information & to register contact: Fernwood Community Centre 1240 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509 info@fernwoodnrg.ca
fernwoodnrg.ca/fernwood-nrg-programs/recreation/
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
February 2015
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Scene in Fernwood : In loving memory of ZoĂŤ Cassidy