Village Vibe
news and views from the heart of Fernwood
www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
october 2005
Cornerstone Crusade Continues
Where has summer gone? October 2nd marks two months since the FCC took possession of the Cornerstone. The initial work parties were so well attended and successful that we had to stop working until we got a strip-out permit from the City. Now, permit in hand, we can continue gutting the upstairs in preparation for rebuilding. With the volunteer efforts of Garde Collins, Mike Sharpe and Ron Spence, our completed plans have been submitted to the City in support of our application for a building permit, and we are eagerly awaiting their approval! If goings on at the Cornerstone have seemed subdued during September the reality has been anything but quiet! To raise awareness of the project we met with Mayor Lowe, various City Councillors and Fernwood MLAs Carol James and Rob
Fleming. Mary Desprez, General Manager of the Belfry, has been instrumental in advising our capital fundraising campaign, and with her wealth of experience behind us, we have applied for hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants. We’ve met with prospective commercial tenants, and reviewed proposals from interested businesses. We’ve also made connections with Leslie Albers and Stu Wheeler from Vic High to develop partnerships with both the
Leadership and Construction programs. We are working with Fernwood resident Greg White, of Solarcrest Designs to create a solar hot water system which will save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the building, but more importantly, will reduce our carbon emissions by approximately 10 tonnes per year! It was our commitment to a green retrofit and urban sustainability that impressed Dr. David Suzuki who wrote, “Congratulations Fernwood. It’s where the action is!” and to support the project with a generous donation. To join us in the action, log onto www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca or call the Centre at 381 1552, become an FCC member, or come out to a work party.
You Want It, Let’s Make It: Youth Centre in Fernwood
My name is Brianna Waldman and I am t he new Y outh Worker in Fernwood. I am so excited to be a
part of this neighbourhood and am stoked to make things happen. Vic High students and other young folk, if you want a p lace for coffee, yoga, poetry readings, hip hop competitions, punk shows, arts shows, or just a place to chill, let 's do it!
If you have program ideas, want to help me out, or if you just want to say hi, contact me at briannaw@uvic.ca.
Let’s take Fernwood to a whole new teen level!
Village Vibe
Fernwood Community Centre Society Declaration of Principles and Values 1. WE are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood; 2. WE are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets; 3. WE are committed to using our resources prudently and to selfbecoming financially reliant; 4. WE are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment; 5. WE are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them; 6. WE are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives; 7. WE are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity, and kindness; 8. WE are committed to developing the skills, capacity, selfworth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves; 9. WE are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood's heritage and diversity; 10. WE are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive; 11. AND, most of all, WE are committed to having fun! To subscribe, contact, submit to or advertise in the Vibe, head to www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca/vibe
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The Centre of Fernwood
Walking by the Fernwood Community Centre the other day, I was shocked to see that Vida’s memorial fig tree has grown about three feet since we planted it in her memory in May! It might just be the summer’s growth, but it certainly could be a metaphor for the growth at the Centre. In addition to our work at the Cornerstone, we are building a new Infant and Toddler playground, and launching new programs and services. A big welcome goes out to new Infant and Toddler supervisor and Fernwood resident Judy Smith. With over 20 years of experience providing quality childcare, she brings a great reputation for childdirected education and responsive programming. We’ve also hired a new youth worker, UVic Co-op student Brianna Waldman, and she’s reaching out to Vic High students to find out how we can best support them. Parent and Tot, Mother Goose and Nobody’s Perfect Coordinator, (and all round Family Support
Worker!) Liz Murdoch is heading up a new initiative which finds her coordinating parent volunteers and finding out what programming parents want to implement. Our Fernwood NRG meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month, and we’re working on developing a Business Improvement Association (BIA) and on Square Revitalization. We’re running a morning Yoga class, have welcomed Falun Gong to the FCC, and started drop-in volleyball on Tuesday evenings and basketball on Thursdays (see Calendar) Debbie and Mary of Best Babies coordinated a HUGE garage sale and traditional salmon bbq, which was a smash hit! There was so much demand that we are having an encore! Mark your calendars (and book your tables early!) for Saturday, November 5th! To stay up to date, become a member, and keep your finger on the vibe head to www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca.
Looking for a convenient way to support the Cornerstone Renovation Project? Consider designating all or part of your workplace charitable contribution to revitalize your neighbourhood. The United Way of Greater Victoria has an easy designation option that allows you to support specific charities. Just tick the box and insert the Fernwood Community Centre Society as your organization of choice (make sure you designate the right neighbourhood organization! Our charitable tax # is 107 380 982 RR0001). We
will ensure that donations go directly to the Fernwood revitalization effort. Of course, giving directly is always an option. Please call 3811552, donate online at www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca, drop by the Fernwood Community Centre, or mail your donation to 1240 Gladstone Ave, Victoria, BC V8T 1G6. Lastly, A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who have already donated to the project . Way to go Fernwood!
Cornerstone Contributions?
Village Vibe
Faces of Fernwood Youth
by Susan Salvati
With the start of another school year, many students can be seen walking towards Vic High. One student stands out, in part because she glides down the hill on her yellow cruiser. Fifteen-year-old Pia Mena is in grade eleven at Vic High. Apart from a few years living in Chile, she has always lived in Fernwood and she loves it. “Fernwood is a very community-oriented place. There’s a lot of community stuff happening. With the Community Centre, there’s always something you can join.” In fact, via the Community Centre Pia has been able to gain valuable volunteer experience. Last summer she participated in Mosaic Fernwood, and in August she helped out at the Fernfest street party. Pia has also volun-
Pia is very glad to be able to attend Vic High. She appreciates
the strong arts programs and is committed to dance. She feels that Vic High has great people. "There are no cliques and people are very welcoming. I feel that everybody loves everybody." Pia finds Vic High teachers to be supportive of students. "Most of the teachers come out to special events like fine arts nights and art shows." With her funky style and warm heart, Pia Mena fits Fernwood. When asked if she would ever live anywhere else she answers clearly, "No. I love Fernwood. Its the best neighbourhood ever." Keep your eye out for the yellow bike streaking down the Fernwood hill, and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of someone who loves Fernwood as much as you.
Compost will lighten a heavy clay soil and make it more porous so that it drains better and compost will enrich sandy soils so that they hold more moisture. It also adds nutrients. I read recently that one tablespoon of good soil contains millions of microorganisms! Every time you use herbicides and pesticides, you kill off these microorganisms and all of the good bugs that help build soil and eat bad bugs. Compost is easy to make. Never put any cooked foods, bones, breads, etc. in your compost – just peelings, coffee grinds, tea bags, egg shells and of course your garden trimmings: lawn clip-
pings, prunings, and leaves. Noxious weeds like morning glory and diseased leaves should be put taken to the City Compost. You can top-dress your established beds and pots with a 3” layer of compost as mulch every spring, and dig it into your new beds in the spring and the fall. In Fernwood we have the experts in our back yard: the Victoria Compost Education Center at 1216 North Park (386-9676). They sell the “Earth Machine” (a plastic bin) which is rat resistant (wildlife you don’t want in your back yard!). See Fernwood What’s On for upcoming workshops. Happy composting, happy gardening.
teered with Luminara, Folkfest and for an anti-racism project, all sponsored by the Intercultural Association. Volunteering fits in nicely with the Human Services Career Prep program that Pia is pursuing at Vic High.
Garden
by Margaret Hantiuk
Considering gardening into the fall? Regardless of the season, one the most important elements of successful gardening is the soil. You can have enough sun and light, ample water, the right plant in the right place, but your garden will not flourish if you are not feeding your plants with nutrients. An experienced gardener knows that you must start from the ground up, otherwise you are wasting your time, and money. If you grab a handful of damp soil from your garden and squeeze it, you can tell if it is sandy (crumbles easily and falls through your fingers) or clay (balls up). Either way the best remedy is compost!
news and views from the heart of Fernwood
Gleanings
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Fernwood What’s On: October 2005
A monthly roundup of neighbourhood shindigs. Head to www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca/events for more listings or to submit your event. 1 Sat
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C omposti ng Bas ics Workshop: Compost Ed. Centre, 11:00am – 1:00pm, Fre e! G irl in the Goldf ish B owl: Charming and quirky award winning play. The Belfry Theatre , Tickets: 385-6815. Show continues to Oct 9. C ommuni ty Rhyt hm Cir c le : Join Barry (Bazza) Hayward for a unique family friendly rhythm experience. Bring any hand drums or percussion instruments. FCC, 7:00pm - 8:30pm, by donation, proceeds to FCC (+ ongoing Mon) P are nt & Tot P layg roup: FCC Gym, 9:30am - 11:30am, $1 per family, snacks provide d. {+ ongoing Tue & Thu} D ro p- In Volle yball : Co-ed Adult (18+), all equipment provided. FCC Gym, 8:15pm-9:30 pm, $3. [+ ongoing Tue] V ic tori a Bl ueg ras s Assoc. Jam: Orange Hall, 7:30 10:30pm, $2 to play, free to l isten. (+ Sep. 20) Ha tha Y oga: For beginners and intermediates. Mats provided or bring your own. FCC, 7:30am – 8:30am, $24/4 sessions (+ ongoing Wed) Holis tic Hea lt h & H eali ng: Qi Gong exercises and meditation; FCC, 10:00–11:30am, Free! [+ ongoing Wed) Fal un Gong: Peaceful meditation practice. FCC, 5: 00pm – 7:00pm, everyone welcome, Free! (+ ongoing Wed) Fe rnwood N ei ghbo urhood Revit alizati on Group. Join others actively working to make Fernwood even more vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive. FCC, 7:30pm, Free! Win te r C irc le Danc e : All ages welcome , no experience needed. Cele brate light, love, growth and community. FCC, 7-9pm. By donation. D ro p in Bas ketb all Co-ed Adult (18+), all equipment provided. FCC Gym, 8:15pm-9:30 pm, $3. [+ ongoing Thurs) Fe rnwood Aut umn G low (5 5+ ): Gentle exercise, lunch & activities; FCC, 11:00am, $5.50 for lunch. (+ ongoing Fri) T ota l P last ics Re cy clin g Da y: Back of FCC 10am Noon. I nt ro to Per mac ult ure : Compost Ed. Centre. 10:00am – 5:00pm. $90 members / $100 non-members P re- register at 386-WORM.
ATTENTION FERNWOOD ARTISTS ! Interested in a community venue for your work? The Fernwood Community Centre would appreciate your expression of interest in anticipation of opening an Art focused Gallery/Coffee Shop at the Cornerstone. To support this new venue and take advantage of the opportunities it presents please call Al at 595-3947 or e-mail al@artonvining.com Village Vibe
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T hanksgivi ng Da y: FCC Closed . Mot her Goose Ci rcle T ime : Songs, rhymes & stories; FCC Infant & Toddler Centre, 11:30am - 12:30pm, $2 (+ Oct 29) Call 381-1552 to register. C ompost Club Lec tu re: Native Plant Garde ning: Compost Ed. Centre, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, members free, nonmembers $10. N e ighbou rhood Eme rge ncy Prepa redne ss P rog ram Wor ksh op: Fire Extinguishment: Learn about dif ferent types of extinguishers. Yates St. Fire Hall (Meet out back), 1234 Yates St. 9:30am – 11:00am, Free! How to Get What Y ou Wa nt in Life : Join Rod Cooper in a workshop to explore strategies for making positive changes. FCC, $10, registration required. Call 381-1552. P rov inc e- wide Pr o-D Da y: Fernwood Kids Sleep In U n less : A beautiful, heart-wrenching tale based on the Carol Shields novel of the same name. The Belfry Theatre, Tickets: 385-6815. Show continues to Nov. 20 V ic High Pa re nt / Teac he r I nt erviews C ommuni ty Da y: Explore new ideas for family programming. What would you like to make happen in your community centre? FCC g ym, 9:30-11am. Fe rnwood Pa rade of Lost Souls: Celebrate Hallow e’en in the he art of the ‘hood. Meet in Fernwood Square at 6:30pm, spooky parade through neighbourhood, FCC for hot chocolate and a possible bonfire. K e e p Your P umpkin out of t he Landf ill: C ontact the Compost Education Centre for info on composting your pumpkin. Call 386-WORM
What kind of Victoria do you want? Pam Madoff and Dean Fortin, Victoria City Councillors, are pleased to invite you to coffee to meet VCE council candidates Marianne Alto, Chantal Brodeur, Erik Kaye, and Bryan Skinner.
ARRIBA Coffee House 1610 Cook Street 10:30 to 12:00 noon Saturday, October 29th news and views from the heart of Fernwood