October 2015
villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood
The Cornerstone Building 10 years of neighbourhood ownership
›› Lee Herrin
T
en years ago on August 1 st , 2005 Fernwood NRG (then the Fernwood Community Centre Society) took possession of the Cornerstone Building (1301-1313 Gladstone Avenue). Although it is hard to believe, things were very different in Fernwood then. The Cornerstone Building had been boarded up for over a year, neighbourhood businesses were struggling, the injection drug trade had penetrated the neighbourhood leaving discarded needles in the streets, and Fernwood was being called an “inner-city neighbourhood.” As well, we were fighting rearguard actions half a block away at the Community Centre—vandalism and petty crime increased dramatically, meaning we were also spending resources just to maintain the status quo. And we weren’t succeeding. People were steering clear of the dangerous corner at Fernwood and Gladstone, and were avoiding Fernwood Square. The George and Dragon (now the Fernwood Inn) sat nearly empty after dark, if you can believe it. The neighbourhood was dying on the inside. It was demoralizing to be involved—I was serving on the organization’s Board of Directors and my name was at the top of the list for security call outs. My phone would ring once or twice a month in the middle of the night as our security company reported on break-ins. On at least three occasions I came down in the middle of the night to sit in an empty building waiting for the glazier to repair a window that had been smashed in just for sport, or to steal some relatively valueless items. People wondered why we kept on, but those of us who were involved at the time had a sense that things could be better if only we could find the answer.
The Cornerstone Building has stood in Fernwood for over 100 years. Ten years ago it was purchased by Fernwood NRG and transformed into a neighbourhood owned asset and community hub. Photos: Fernwood NRG Archives
We sat down and took stock in the spring of 2005. We made a list of our commitments which became our Declaration of Principles and Values. At the time they seemed like empty promises, and even today few organizations have a list of commitments as radically aspirational as ours. We did a hard-headed analysis and determined that we needed to take powerful action to change the dynamic taking root. We entered into negotiations with the owner of the Cornerstone Building. We made an agreement for sale. We discovered that no lender would finance the purchase of an empty building. The building that to us had once been the heart of the neighbourhood was to them, a stream of income to pay off debt. No income, no loan; no loan, no building. But we were undaunted.
Our organization was lucky to have been given a large character house in 2000 (1423 Fernwood Road). When we received the house, it was in good general repair, but use as a group home had left it in rough shape on the inside. Over a few years, we lovingly restored the interior, exposing original features and repairing damaged elements. We also painted the house inside and out. Our staff were using the house as a program space and had made a beautiful garden in the back—they were very grateful to have a house of their own. However, the house did not generate a significant amount of income, but it did costs which cut into our resources for providing services to families. Though it broke our hearts to do it, we found a way to finance the purchase of the Cornerstone Building by swapping
Buzz
Feature
Garden Gleanings
Victoria House Concert B page 3
Recollections of a neighbourhood page 5
The scoop on worms page 7
our lovingly restored character house for the boarded up building and a significant mortgage from the vendor. At the time, skeptics said the owner would end up with both buildings. They were wrong. From the moment we announced the purchase, it all began to change. We threw open the doors and invited the neighbourhood in. Collectively, we breathed a sigh of relief that things were starting to shift. We put up flags, we held FernFest in late August, and then we set to work. Weekends were work parties. Neighbours, friends, and well-wishers came from across the city to pitch in. We were big news—good news, for a change. There were lots of children who helped. They moved boards, swept floors, and pitched in wherever they could. We were all proud of taking initiative to take back the building. (Continued on page 2)
in this issue To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca
cover:
villagevibe
The Cornerstone Building
Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Editorial Committee
Lee Herrin Hayley Evans
Matt Takach Mila Czemerys Founding Editor Lisa Helps Contributors
Lee Herrin Kathryn Juricic Edeana Malcolm Shonna Bell Margaret Hantiuk
Mila Czemerys Mike Parolini Jillian Player Ben Clark Tania Wegwitz
Art
Mike Parolini Derrick Lundy Mila Czemerys
Jillian Player Tania Wegwitz Beth Threlfall
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 ››
We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood;
››
We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood
(Continued from page 1) But the kids were proudest of all. The process seemed to take forever as we involved as many people as we could. It was neighbourhood catharsis. Eventually, the cleaning up and demolition was done, and it was time for the professional tradespeople to take over and start putting it back together. We decided it was important to send a signal to everyone that Fernwood was turning around. We proposed affordable housing for families on the top floor. We obtained funding from four levels of government, foundations and private donors to make our vision a reality. It helped us when we were leasing the commercial spaces that the George & Dragon was sold to new owners who made a significant reinvestment into what
is today the Fernwood Inn. Still, all of our original commercial tenants took a risk in believing that Fernwood would regain its magic. Of course, we joined them when we opened the Cornerstone Café, but by then we were confident we were going to succeed. Since then, we’ve added three more properties: a sixplex of affordable family housing on Yukon Street; 2009 Fernwood Road which is leased as an office to another charity; and 1310 Gladstone Avenue which we propose to redevelop as a mixed-use building sympathetic in character and scale to the Cornerstone Building. Now, it’s ten years since the purchase. So much has changed in the meantime, but one thing has stayed the same. The building is still owned by an organization
whose members and directors all live in Fernwood. Literally, the neighbourhood owns the building at its core. Not many neighbourhoods can say that, and that is one of things that makes Fernwood a gem of neighbourhoods around the world. Some charities invest surplus funds in stocks and bonds; we’ve invested our capital and sweat equity right back into our own neighbourhood. Ten years ago, when we said “We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control and ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets,” we meant it. You can learn more about this project by watching a presentation marking the 10 year anniversary of the purchase at fernwoodnrg. ca/fernwood-nrg-about-us/our-story/.
buzz:
Want to help feed families? ›› Kathryn Juricic The Gift of Good Food is a holiday fundraiser that supports families with fresh fruits and vegetables all year long. In 2014, we raised enough money for 24 Fernwood families to each receive a large Good Food Box every two weeks for the year. We were blown away by everyone’s generosity and are inspired to reach out again.
This November, we are teaming up with organizations across Southern Vancouver Island with the goal of raising $100,000 to support 200 families from Sooke to Sidney. Every $500 raised will provide a family with a year’s worth of produce. This fundraiser supports single parents, families who are in transition, have low incomes or need support. If you are inspired to get involved, please
get in touch! You can donate directly or collect donations from your soccer team, work mates, family, book club, roommates or even strangers. We will set you up with a fundraising package. Every donation of $20 or more is also eligible for a charitable donation receipt. Please contact info@fernwoodnrg.ca if you are interested in being involved or if you have any questions.
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!
page 2
villagevibe
October 2015
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
mark your calendar:
mark your calendar:
Fernwood Seed Vinyl Supernova Library Launch Party Record Fair Fernwood will soon become home to a node of the Victoria Seed Library
›› Mila Czemerys This October, drop by the Fernwood Community Centre and check out our new Fernwood Seed Library in the main entrance. You can sign-up to become a member anytime and it’s free for everyone to participate! Members will be able to access the library throughout the year without having to travel out of the neighbourhood. The goal of this project is to strengthen our local food systems and increase our region’s biodiversity. Excited? Fernwood NRG will be hosting a launch party for the Fernwood Seed Library on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00pm at the Fernwood Community Centre. It’s
free to attend. There will be snacks and refreshments sponsored by Phillips Brewing Co., you will be able to sign-up to become a member and “sign out” seeds. There will also be a seed saving demo by Jesse Howardson of Lifecycles Project Society. How do seed libraries work? Seed libraries hold seed in the public domain. They offer a way for community members to share and trade seed through a formalized system. Community members “sign out” and grow seed from the library. If they are successful, they save seed from the plants they grow and return it to the seed library. Fernwood NRG is delighted to be partnering with Lifecycles Project Society and the Greater Victoria Public Library to provide a home base for seed sharing in Fernwood. This project is another step toward greater food security and access in our neighbourhood. If you are interested in learning more seed libraries, check out borrowsaveshare. com.
Calling all vinyl junkies, CD collectors, and music memorabilia maniacs!
›› Mila Czemerys Vancouver Island’s largest record fair is back in Fernwood this month. Look forward to 50 tables full of records; all musical genres will be represented. You can’t even imagine what treasures you may behold in these stacks of vinyl. There will be collections from all over the Island and the Lower
Mainland for sale. It’s only happening for one day so don’t miss out. “The Fernwood Community Centre will be turned into a music lover’s paradise,” says organizer Ryan Wugalter. Walk down to the Fernwood Community Centre on Saturday, October 24 to check out the goods. Admission is $2 at the door. Doors open at 10:00am until 4:00pm. If you love music, meeting other collectors, and discovering new-to-you gems, make sure you attend this event. Vinyl records and even CDs hold a certain magic that just can’t be matched when you listen to your music library on your Ipod or computer. Try it for yourself!
buzz:
Victoria House Concert B ›› Mike Parolini When I walk into 1277 Stanley Avenue, there are only fifteen or twenty people in the living room, conversing quietly with one another as Eric Harper perches on a stool, tuning his guitar. The evening’s performance is an intimate one, a small group who know each other well, laughing and joking amongst themselves and with Eric. The house, known otherwise as Victoria House Concert B, is not always so intimate. The living room can expand to hold up to 60 people. Sporting hardwood floors and unique octagonal shape, as well as a custom stuccoed ceiling that ensures the acoustics are excellent no matter where your seat, the living room is a warmly lit and welcoming space.
Steamer’s [had] closed, Hermann’s [had] closed. I felt the city needed and wanted a space to hold live music The owner and operator of the house is Andy Briggs, who has been putting on these concerts since 2007. “Steamer’s [had] closed, Hermann’s [had] closed. I felt the city needed and wanted a space to hold live music.” It’s clear that Briggs’ efforts have been both successful and appreciated. The room is filled with memorabilia from past
performers, posters and CDs lining the walls and ledges, most of them signed with many thanking Briggs personally. Former acts include names such as Vince Vaccaro, Tal Bachman, Acres of Lions, and John Mann of Spirit of the West, who has played at the house an astounding 23 times. What is it about the house that keeps people coming back? “The proximity...there are people staring at you. In that venue, they’re all there, they’re not in a coffee shop hearing background music, it’s intense,” says Briggs. Upcoming concerts include Matthew Benedict on October 15, and Jon Middleton (of Jon and Roy) on October 17. Prices are $10 and $25 respectively with all proceeds going to support the artists. Further info and concert announcements can be found at facebook.com/groups/VHCBinfo.
Eric Harper performing at Victoria House Concert B in Fernwood on September 8, 2015. Photo: Mike Parolini
MARGARET HANTIUK GARDEN SERVICE SUSTAINABLE GARDENING Pruning. Bedwork. Designs. Consults. Senior-friendly
Email: mmhantiuk@shaw.ca Phone: 250.595.1684 Cell: 250.882.1929
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
October 2015
villagevibe
page 3
OCT. 19 Vote for the candidate that will put you ahead of the party line.
JO-ANN ROBERTS FOR VICTORIA (INCLUDES OAK BAY)
Authorized by the Official Agent for Jo-Ann Roberts
page 4
villagevibe
October 2015
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
feature:
Recollections of a neighbourhood Malcolm’s family has lived in Fernwood for more than a hundred years. Here is part of their story...
›› Edeana Malcolm
T
he world began the day I was born—or so it seemed to me. The neighbourhood I lived in was as it always had been—or so it seemed to me. But then I had my father to set me straight. He lived all his life in the Fernwood neighbourhood. He told me that when he was a boy, there were vegetable gardens where we lived, and the farmers delivered their vegetables to customers in horse-drawn wagons. I could hardly imagine it. He assured me it was true, and that milk and bread were delivered that way, too. When I was a child, milk was still delivered, but it came in proper trucks. No horses were seen on the streets anymore, except downtown pulling “Tally-Hos” for the tourists. When I was a child, there were many corner stores, including the one we frequented on the corner of Stanley and Gladstone, but they didn’t have vegetables from Fernwood gardens anymore.
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
The school that I went to, Spring Ridge, was two and a half blocks up Gladstone from my house. On the way, I passed a great, big, vacant lot (of which there were many in the neighbourhood) and then what we called the junkyard, which was actually a lumberyard belonging to Parfitt Construction. Crossing Fernwood Road where Fernwood Square is now (it wasn’t there then; they blocked off a street to create it) was Emmanuel Baptist Church. I used to go there every Sunday. Mr. Parfitt, of the construction company, would give the children candy after the service. He was known as the “candy-man,” of course. The church is now the home of the Belfry Theatre. In the next block, then as now, was Victoria High School on the left and William Stephenson Memorial Park on the right, whose name I know because there’s a plaque that tells me so. But we never called it that. We called it “the lacrosse court” because of the box court that was there. Steps led down into the park, which was situated in a big hole. Today, it doesn’t look quite so much like a hole because it’s partially filled in and there’s a community centre and daycare there. That hole, I later learned, had been dug up to fill in the tidal flats at James Bay. The Empress Hotel now sits upon the soil that came from the site of Stephenson Park. Spring Ridge School was at the end of the block at Chambers Street. It was a two-
room wooden schoolhouse. One classroom was for kindergarten and the other was for grade one. I went to kindergarten there, and I looked forward to the next year because the grade one students got to ring the hand bell at recess when it was time to go back into class. I couldn’t wait for my turn to run around the building ringing that bell with all my might. But it was never to be. One day, we all marched two and a half blocks down Chambers Street to George Jay School. We walked around to the back of the building and there was a brand-new addition, a boxlike structure added on to the old elegant brick school, where our new classroom was situated. It was twice as far for me to walk, and I used to take shortcuts through vacant fields and sometimes through the lacrosse court. Over the years, as I grew up, all the vacant lots were filled in with houses. Change was the natural order of things, and so I came to understand that before I was born, the world existed and my neighbourhood had been different. One of the changes happened to Spring Ridge School. Sadly, except in memory, I cannot go back to that old wooden structure. It was torn down years ago. If you go there today, you will find in its place the Spring Ridge Common, the site of an organic permaculture garden. You can stroll through it, listening to the quiet
hum of the bees and reading all about the strange plants and their uses. You are even invited to pick what you need. I am glad Fernwood’s neighbourhood organizations decided to grow this educational garden and that they placed a plaque acknowledging that the garden is named for the wooden school that once stood on the site. But it shouldn’t be forgotten that even before that, the school was named for a natural spring where fresh water bubbled up from inside the earth. In the early days of Victoria, horse-drawn wagons used to bring tanks of water from Spring Ridge on the outskirts to the people who lived in the fort and the town that grew up around it. Many cultures believe such springs are sacred, and I too have felt the holiness of such a source, the wellspring of life. I walk along the streets in the Fernwood neighbourhood and I see the buildings that are there now and remember how it looked when I was a child. I try to imagine what the neighbourhood was like when my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather lived here. But deep below the surfaces of things, even deeper than my ancestors’ past, there lies a source that wells up, linking us to all of the people who once lived here. I can sense it when I walk through Spring Ridge Commons. It is as if I am here eternally, in the days before any of us now living were ever born.
October 2015
villagevibe
page 5
artist’s aside:
mark your calendar:
Jane Francis
Halloween Bonfire
›› Jillian Player Gazing at the large abstract paintings that recline against Jane Francis’s studio walls, I am intrigued by the tender graphite marks that reside in the spaces between an explosion of paint strokes. Her inspiration from nature, and her walks around our Fernwood neighbourhood, trigger Jane’s imagination to produce complex yet pleasing abstracts. Layers of thin washes of acrylic over graphite markings give the paintings an ambiguous, ethereal quality. There is confidence in composition but there is also vulnerability and curiosity. Jane Francis is embarking on a new adventure, a new way of being, a new career. With a background in fine arts and commercial arts, she has worked tirelessly in the field of graphic design for many years, creating a successful business until her retirement a few months ago. She now just wants to paint. Jane seems to get her cues for making life-changing decisions from influential people. In the late eighties, while working for a publishing house in Boston, her employer gave her the opportunity to live and work where she desired. Jane chose Victoria. Within weeks of arriving she acquired the Belfry Theatre as her first client and she has designed their print material for the last twenty-three years. Her studio was in the theatre’s tower until her business outgrew it. Another trigger for change came when her father-in-law passed away. A passionate and acclaimed academic, he wrote until his dying day at the age of eighty-nine. This inspired both Jane and her partner to make career changes. Jane began exploring art instruction and collaboration with her friend Jo-Ann Richards. Another influential friend encouraged Jane to enter a piece in the 2014 Sooke Fine Art Show. To her surprise she won an Award for Excellence. Jane and JoAnn just had their first show together at
Saturday, October 31 in Stevenson Park from dusk to 10:00pm
›› Shonna Bell
For twenty-three years Jane Francis worked as the garphic designer for the Belfry Theatre, as well as other clients. She is now embraking on a new adventure as an artist. Photo: Jillian Player
the new Baumann Centre where it was a huge success. Strengthened by her recent successes, Jane is now embarking on a year of artistic introspection by enrolling in Vancouver Island School of Art’s rigorous Independent Studio Program. I’m sure that Jane’s conviction and verve will produce a flurry of compelling work. See Jane’s work at janefrancis.com.
oaklands news:
Shaping the growth of neighbourhoods Help update Oaklands’ Local Area Plans which will guide land use for the next 20 years
›› Ben Clark
The Local General Store 1440 Haultain Street (Haultain Corners) | 778-265-6225 9:30am – 6:00pm Monday to Saturday
ORGANIC PRODUCE, GENERAL GROCERIES & HOUSEHOLD GOODS, LOCALLY-MADE CLOTHING & FAIR TRADE GIFTS YOUR ONE-STOP SUSTAINABLE SHOP
thelocalgeneralstore.ca
page 6
villagevibe
October 2015
Trick-or-Treat your way down to the Fernwood Community Centre, at 1240 Gladstone Avenue, this Halloween. Join fellow Fernwoodians around the Fernwood Halloween Bonfire in celebration of this special and spooky night. Share a ghost story or two. This annual family event has been a favourite of locals for many years. It’s always a pleasure to see friendly faces and creative costumes of neighbours gathered around the fire. The bonfire will be burning in Stevenson Park from dusk to 10:00pm. There will be family festivities in the Fernwood Community Centre from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Come inside to warm up with some hot apple cider, served by Fernwood NRG’s youth group and stay to play. There will be a bouncy castle, games and treats to enjoy. The whole family is welcome. Make sure to wear your favorite costume. If you have wood to donate or are interested in volunteering for this event please contact shonna@fernwoodnrg.ca.
One of the most important committees we have at the Oaklands Community Association is the Land Use Committee. A unique feature of Victoria’s bylaw structure, this committee holds meetings that serve as a first point of contact between developers and residents. By hosting preliminary meetings with residents that live near a potential new townhouse, duplex or garden suite, our committee is able to provide a valuable test for developers to determine whether their proposal has the support of neighbours and is likely to ultimately get the approval of city council. While these meetings are an important task of the committee, we have recently been
presented with a much larger opportunity to sink our teeth into. As part of the process of implementing Victoria’s Official Community Plan passed in 2012, city staff are looking to the various community association land use committees to help them update the Local Area Plans which help to guide the land use change expected to happen in the next 20 years. The most recent Local Area Plan for Oaklands was written in 1993 and is no longer relevant. With a recently adopted strategic plan for our organization to build upon, updating our Local Area Plan is a great opportunity to incorporate energy efficient building technologies, active transportation corridors, community gardens, placemaking initiatives, and reclamation of natural features like Bowker Creek. If you are as excited as I am about this challenge, then please consider joining the Oaklands Community Association Land Use Committee. More info can be found at oaklandscommunitycentre.com.
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
garden gleanings:
The scoop on worms ›› Margaret Hantiuk
I
recently chatted with master composter, certified organic land care professional, and certified horticultural therapist David Greig, who has been “farming” red wriggler composting worms for over 25 years, in addition to teaching at Camosun College. These little workers (also called “tiger worms,” “brandling worms,” or more properly, Eisenia foetida) digest organic matter to produce a rich mixture of castings (worm poop) and undigested organic matter known as “vermicompost.” David had his product analyzed by Corvallis, Oregon’s EarthFort Lab, and was told it is the richest product they have tested for biological microorganisms. As David explained, the first thing for gardeners to understand is the necessity of building the soil in order to have healthy plants. Throwing on chemicals or adding chemical fertilizers are short-term solutions that do not build the foundation of plant health—that is, to have a vital soil that is teeming with microorganisms. These tiny creatures form a vast network in healthy soils that not only feed plants, but also, by attaching to the plants’ hair-like root ends, create the symbiotic food delivery system. Chemicals and fertilizers directly and
temporarily jolt a plant with a couple of nutrients, but they don’t build this delicate soil infrastructure that has been thousands of years in the making. “Build the biology and usually the chemicals needed will become available naturally,” he says. Red wrigglers migrate to any compost heap or debris that is consistently moist, dark, and cool, with a neutral pH. They need lots of food as they are voracious eaters. Compost that is hot and really working won’t host red wrigglers—they cannot take the heat. A different kind of composting is required, with less coarse materials and a slower process. To make his vermicompost, David’s worm bins use coconut fibre and OMRI-certified peat moss. Where coarse, woody, debris that falls onto the floor is first composted by fungi, worm bins use microorganisms and less fungi, hence their value. And vermicompost is not high in nitrogen, so it will not burn plants. This rich and crumbly vermicompost can be used in compost teas (add a handful to a pail of water that has been left standing for a day to release the chlorine), used as a foliar spray, or to sprinkle over the mulch around the plant. It can be mixed into the top of container plants, household pots, or greenhouse containers to add
Red wigglers (Eisenia foetida) digest organic matter in compost heaps and produce castings and vermicompost. Photo: Derrick Lundy
microorganisms (which purchased potting mixes lack). In the garden, it is best mixed into the topsoil so that the microorganisms can migrate easily into their new environs. Adding it to compost after it has turned can add more diversity to the precious microorganisms. David makes his own potting soil with a mix of vermicompost, glacial rock dust, greensand, kelp meal, perlite, lime (calcium carbonate is best, with no magnesium), coconut fibre, and EM (Effective Microorganisms, a product he buys from The Gardener’s Pantry). You can add any of these materials to your purchased mix.
Most worms here have been introduced—the common earthworm, for example, is from Europe—because most of North America has been glaciated. While the introduction of worms in the forest is a concern because they compete for food with native microorganisms, these mini-workers are a boon to urban gardeners where the natural ecosystem has been altered; we need to accelerate the building of healthy soil. David says that the lifespan of his worms is 1 to 3 years. He doesn’t sell them, but does sell his vermicompost. Contact David at From Heaven to Earth Products at greig@islandnet.com.
george jay corner:
Back to school with a whole lot of new
a Christian worshipping community.
›› Tania Wegwitz September usually brings with it the return to old routines after the summer. But for families and staff at George Jay Elementary, this September has also brought many new things as they returned to the newly renovated and seismically upgraded school. The refurbished school looks amazing inside, with fresh paint, whiteboards, and blinds, as well as new interior doors, windows and skylights that make it feel light and open. When asked about the new school, my son’s comment was “It’s soooo beautiful!” In addition to revamped classrooms, office, music room, and school kitchen, the changes have also turned one room into “The Maker Space.” This free-form place is filled with materials, recycled objects and tables where students can build things and conduct science experiments together. The changes also make it easier for the community to join the school; not only has the school’s StrongStart Program room been refreshed, but a separate family washroom with a change table has been added. Preschool-aged children and their families are welcome to participate in this early learning program from 8:45am to
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
Kids enjoying the new nature playground at George Jay Elementary. Photo: Tania Wegwitz
11:45am. The community will also notice changes outside the school, with a revitalized heritage school sign and cornice facing Chambers Street, soaring new covered entranceway on Princess Avenue, and a completed nature playground with logs and rocks to scramble over. Much thanks to School District #61 staff and Trustees and our fantastic George Jay staff for enabling all these changes to happen. September brings a fresh start indeed.For more info on George Jay Elementary and its programs, call 250-3853381 or visit georgejay.sd61.bc.ca.
Sundays Beginning October 4, 2015 at 4pm Paul Phillips Hall -1923 Fernwood Rd. (at Gladstone Ave.)
www.abbeychurch.ca info@abbeychurch.ca photo credit: Mike Gabelmann CC by-NC 2.0
October 2015
villagevibe
page 7
Scene in Fernwood : Pole Painting Project