TAKE 5 Feb 2024 by Take 5 Print & Digital Media

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Letters Cassidy Aquifer Open letter to CVRD Electoral Area Directors On December 13, 2023, you all voted to support our local Director Ben Maartman and begin the process of reducing and possibly eliminating a serious risk to our precious water supply. On behalf of Area H residents, who now or may in the future draw potable water from the Cassidy aquifer, we thank you sincerely for your service, support, foresight and wisdom in this very diﬃcult and complicated issue. May you and your family have a healthy and fruitful New Year. The Christmas present you have given us is colossal and beyond adequate description. Again; THANK YOU! — Mike Fall, CVRD Area H resident and Area H APC chair

Save Cassidy Aquifer Supporters! Yes! We’ve succeeded in encouraging the CVRD EASC Board not to approve Heavy Industrial zoning for Schnitzer Steel (now Radius Recycling). A big thank-you to everyone for coming out to support what’s really important to our Area H, North Oyster/Diamond community. And an enormous thankyou to our CVRD Area H Director Ben Maartman, who delivered an inspired, convincing speech to the Area directors. — Pauline Hunt, North Oyster/Diamond Ratepayers Association (for NODRA) Letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of TAKE 5's contributors or its aﬃliates. Please note letters are subject to editing. Email editor@take5.ca or mail to PO Box 59, Ladysmith, V9G 1A1

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Heritage Week events Monday, February 19, 2024, is BC Family Day and the kick-oﬀ to BC Heritage Week — the Ladysmith & District Historical Society and Ladysmith Maritime Society are inviting the community to come on out and enjoy some fun activities while learning more about their community. Visit the Ladysmith Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a tour of the exhibit Treemendous, highlighting our fantastic forests. Activity stations will echo the forest theme with arts and crafts, and a discovery table featuring leaves, seeds, bugs, fossils and a microscope will have young minds engaged. A series of silent movie shorts will be playing, and there’s

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free popcorn. Also on the same day, the Ladysmith Maritime Society volunteers will open a refreshed exhibit at their floating museum at Oyster Bay Marina, formerly Ladysmith Community Marina. Come walk the docks and visit the fleet of award-winning heritage boats, including one of the area’s oldest sail boats, the Dorothy. Later that week, on Friday, February 23, will be the Ladysmith Heritage Awards at the Ladysmith Eagles. Along with the award presentation, there will be slideshows, updates and a mix-andmingle social. Ed Nicholson, editor of Magic Alley, will be reading an excerpt from Magic Alley, chronicling author Ron Delcourt’s growing up in Ladysmith during the Depression and war years. Come cheer on the award winners and pick up a copy of Magic Alley. Heritage Week is an annual provincewide celebration that runs from February 19 to 25. For more information, email info@ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca or call 250245-0100 or visit www.lmsmarina.ca.

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Memorial Fund Set Up for Cedar Youth Cedar and the surrounding community have rallied their support for a family that recently suﬀered a terrible loss in an accident. Parker Amann, 14, was described by the community as a loving and hardworking youth who had a passion for riding mountain bikes and was training to be a professional mountain biker. Parker lost his life just after Christmas in non-bicycle-related accident. If you would like to help, there is a fund started to help create a scholarship/ bursary in Parker’s name — Amann Memorial Award — via the NanaimoLadysmith Schools Foundation (www. canadahelps.org/en/dn/24199?v2=true). The Memorial Award would benefit Cedar Secondary School students. Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation provides support to students through its scholarship and bursaries program, as well as Food4Schools, Student Support Fund and a number of other innovative initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nlsf.ca.

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You can make also make donations to the New Frontier Fund held at the Nanaimo Foundation, where funds will be directly donated to the family to help with any costs over the next while: www.nanaimofoundation.com/funds/ the-new-frontier-fund/.

Sportsmen Awards Banquet and Fundraiser Be a good sport and support the Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club fundraiser. The club is hosting its annual awards banquet and fundraiser on Saturday, Febru-

Ladysmith Sportsmen's Club. Photo submitted.

ary 17, at the Ladysmith Eagles Hall. Proceeds will benefit the Bush Creek Hatchery, with equipment and supplies needed to continue their 35 years of salmon enhancement and contribute towards their tenth annual Ladysmith and area Earth Day bush cleanup. This year, it’s even more important, as, according to club president Dave Judson, the club lost valuable equipment — a generator, pumps and tools — in a break-in. Tickets include dinner, entertainment and prizes: $50/adult and $25 for a child under 17. Please get in touch with Bob (250-245-2651) or Dave (250-713-7737) for tickets.

Heritage Bake Contest Can you bake? Want to win $100? In celebration of BC Heritage Week, the Ladysmith & District Historical Society is holding a Heritage Baking Contest. Heritage BC’s theme this year is “Layer Upon Layer.” Contestants are asked to design a cake or any other dessert that is composed of layers, with

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each layer representing some part of the community’s rich history and how we have built upon the past. Contestants are asked to submit a recipe, with step-by-step instructions, as well as a photo or diagram if possible. Entries must be received by February 19, 2024. Five entries will be selected and produced this summer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the LDHS and the 120th anniversary of Ladysmith’s incorporation. The public will have a chance to sample the treats, and the winner will be awarded a $100 prize. For more information, email info@ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca or call 250-245-0100.

Arts Council seeks space BY NADINE WONG With a limited window to continue the use of their current space in the old Davis Road School, the Arts Council of Ladysmith (ACL) is working towards finding a location for its art classes and groups, arts administrative oﬃces and storage for events and art supplies. Although they do not know how long they will be allowed at their current location, the Arts Council will continue to operate and raise funds for a new space. A meeting with the Island Corridor Foundation is being sought to discuss the possibility of using vacant land running parallel to the retired train tracks in Ladysmith to establish art space composed of modular units. The long-term intention is for the ACL to return to the historic Machine Shop in Ladysmith when the upgrades are completed. For more information and to donate, visit www.ladysmitharts. ca/artstation. The Arts Council is doing a food bank drive in February. Though “LOVE” is a literary event, the ACL thought that helping our community food bank during February would be showing LOVE to those in need. From February 1 through February 15, they are doing a “toilet paper and toiletries” drive, and from February 16 to 29, they will collect tinned food items. Items can be dropped oﬀ at Pharmasave, Ladysmith Art Gallery, Crossfit/Motus and Juniper and Sage. If you haven’t been into the gallery, the current show is “Food for Thought,” which runs from January 17 to February 4. The new show, running February 7 to 21, will be “Inspired by Text.” For details, visit www.ladysmitharts.ca/ladysmithgallery.

Arts Council of Ladysmith classes are very popular. Photo courtesy of Nadine Wong.

quired, when, where, how? These are the questions the focus groups will wrestle with at the February 24 meeting. The SDRS plans additional follow-up focus group meetings to tackle the many dependencies identified now and later — infrastructure, transportation, water, etc. — all of which will be documented for presentation to the Area director and the CVRD planners. Space is limited, so if you’re interested in sharing your vision, exploring options for a ten-year plan with fellow residents, email info@saltairdra.ca to reserve a chair.

Housing Investment New Democrat MLAs Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley say local governments are receiving funding that will help them implement new provincial legislation to build more homes for people faster. “This funding for Nanaimo and the Regional District will help our local governments adapt to changing needs and work

Saltair Group Meetings The Saltair District Residents Association is hosting the first in a series of Local Focus Group meeting (SDRS) — Housing & Growth Options — on February 24, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Saltair Community Centre. According to a statement by the SDRA, some residents have expressed various levels of dissatisfaction with the approach of the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) to the Official Community Plan and, specifically, the Local Area Plan process. The methodology has been lengthy but somewhat obscure, and folks don’t seem clear on what the CVRD has planned for Saltair in the next five or ten years. Specifics are missing. What do we consider to be appropriate options for housing and growth in the various spaces in/around Saltair in the next ten years? And to make this vision happen, what might be re-

Lions on ice! Fuller Lake Skating Club President Jenn Torres Hernandez receiving a donation from Ladysmith Lions Club Secretary Allen McDermid. The Ladysmith Lions Club is proud to support community groups that are committed to the development of youth. Photo submitted by Ladysmith Lions

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to create more housing, sooner, here in our community,” says Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. In Nanaimo and North Cowichan, the following local governments are receiving funding: • Cowichan Valley Regional District, $323,554 • Ladysmith, $191,995 • Nanaimo, $619,936 • North Cowichan, $299,774 • Regional District of Nanaimo, $345,913 “We know that people in our region want more housing, and our government has recently taken a number of steps aimed at increasing housing supply across the province,” says Doug Routley MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “Local governments play an important role in the process, and I want to thank all our local officials who have been strong partners in this work. Funding like this will help them continue to take on the task of creating and supporting more housing.” In response to the new provincial housing legislation passed in 2023, the New Democratic government is providing $51 million to 188 local governments to help them meet the new requirements. This money will be used to improve planning, development and reporting processes, hire new staff and consultants and help governing bodies become more efficient at approving housing. Smaller communities will especially benefit from this funding, as they have fewer resources to make changes. This funding is part of a historic $19 billion housing investment by the provincial government. Since 2017, more than 77,000 homes have been delivered or are underway across BC.

Ladysmith Maritime Society moving out of the Ladysmith Community Marina. Photo: Nick Longo

LMS – a revisioning process BY MARINA SACHT A heavy grey sky greeted Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS) volunteers as they packed up and vacated the Ladysmith Community Marina on Dec 31, 2023. The society failed to halt the water-lot lease transfer with an interlocutory injunction with the BC Supreme Court. The marina's operation continues as Oyster Bay Marina under the Coast Salish Development Corp.

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Magazine. The Dorothy is considered one of the oldest sailing boats in the country. “Just to have it all come together in this way and to get this kind of recognition is really extraordinary,” says Robert Lawson, who headed up the team, calling it a “real feather in the hat” for the LMS, the volunteers, the BC Maritime Museum and the donors. Additionally, Dorothy has been nominated in the Classic Boat 2024 Awards program as the best restoration of 2023 under 40 feet. The recognition underlines the importance of LMS’s work over the last 30 years, building a Heritage Boat program. “It’s also an opportunity for people to work on something really interesting and very satisfying,” adds Lawson. Currently, Dorothy is moored at the Oyster Bay Marina, formerly Ladysmith Community Marina. While a bit more work still needs to be done, volunteers are hopeful that by the end of April, Dorothy will be sailing again. Voting ends March 11, and the results will be announced in the May issue of Classic Boat. Cast your vote at More Accolades for the Dorothy awards.classicboat. Restoration work being done by the Ladysmith Maritime Soci- co.uk/restoration-of-theyear-under-40ft/. ety volunteers is getting worldwide attention. The articles on the Dorothy, a 30-foot sloop built in 1897, appeared in the February issues of Wooden Boat and Classic Boat Archival photo of Dorothy In a post, LMS president Marnie Craig wrote: “Despite facing a setback in our legal challenge for an injunction, we believe in moving forward with optimism and resilience…While the outcome is not what we hoped for, we remain committed to the spirit of the Ladysmith Maritime Society and its valuable contributions to our community.” And while the LMS is no longer operating the community marina, it is fully focused on its other mandates relating to maritime heritage, including boat restoration, marine tourism, and education. “We want to assure people that though our future is diﬀerent, we are working toward having a positive future and being able to continue supporting the preservation of maritime history and the understanding of natural history,” said Craig. The society is currently operating at large while until it can find suitable oﬃce space, preferably near the water. “We feel we require a connection to the water to carry on with the protection of maritime heritage,” said Craig. “LMS will survive the loss of the marina operations, which is just part of its program,” says LMS Executive Director Richard Wiefelspuett. The public is invited to an Open House at the boat restoration site in the "Car Shop" on Feb 19 for BC Family Day. LMS volunteers continue to care for the society’s heritage vessels and envision new possibilities.

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The show runs February 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and February 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for those under 19 years. They can be bought online at yellowpointdramagroup.org or reserved by telephone (250-722-2459) or with cash at the door.

The Ladysmith Little Theatre Presents: Radio Plays, Live! Love Bytes in Cedar Yellow Point Drama Group is presenting a lighthearted Valentine’s celebration of song, poetry, skits and art. Audiences can expect a lively mix of original poetry and skits as well as an art show with themes on love and relationships, presented by the Chemainus Art Group. “Love can be many things — uplifting, heartbreaking, joyful, frustrating, hilariously funny and more,” says Brenda Bell of Chemainus Art Group about the show. “This will be a chance to celebrate the variety of loves in our lives.” The Konsorados will bring their special renditions of love songs and dance tunes, and there will be prizes for an audience participation challenge.

On the heels of the Ladysmith Little Theatre’s Dorothy Gets Scrooged, a sold-out Christmas production, the Little Theatre is bringing us Radio Plays, Live! Imagine, during the era of radio performed in front of live audiences in the 1930s and 40s, perhaps our parents, grandparents and even grandparents listened to Fibber McGee & Molly or The Adventures of Philip Marlowe. Fibber McGee is a teller of tall tales and a braggart, usually to the exasperation of his long-suﬀering wife, Molly. You will laugh as the two of them banter and make fun. In the episode “Piano Lessons,” Fibber decides he needs to learn how to play the piano. The Adventure of Philip Marlow, on the other hand, is a crime and detective

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Ladysmith Little Theatre's Radio Plays cast rehearsing. Photo: Mike Rankin

story with a bit of romance. The episode “The Green Flame” will make you sit up in your seats as the investigation unfolds. The show runs February 15 to March 3, 2024. For tickets and more details, visit www.ladysmiththeatre.com/.

Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra March Concerts As March is ushered in, how appropriate that the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra is presenting the work of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The guest artist, Patricia Armstrong is a resident of Gabriola Island and is currently a violinist with the Vancouver Island Symphony. The Four Seasons is a set of concerti that provide a musical narrative describing the elements of the seasons of the year. Also included in the program is work by Tomaso Albinoni, Edward Elgar Max Reger and Haydn Wood. The concert dates are March 2 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, Nanaimo, and March 3 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Ladysmith. For tickets visit www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com.

Shen Yun: A Captivating Performance Returning to Vancouver as part of its 2024 world tour, Shen Yun, based in New York, has become a global phenomenon due to its brilliant artistic revival and celebration of China’s rich cultural heritage through dance and music. Audience members often say they feel a sense of inspiration and hope after seeing Shen Yun. Shen Yun will play seven shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from March 20 to 25. For tickets and more details, visit www.shenyun.com/vancouver.

Shen Yun Performing Arts. Photo submitted.

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Heritage - what's it really worth?

Award-winning downtown Ladysmith's charm is due to its heritage buildings. Photo: Bob Burgess

BY KERITH WADDINGTON BC Heritage Week (February 19-25) is fast approaching, which makes it the perfect time to reflect on the many ways in which it brings value to people, communities and even the economy. First, it is important to discern between the two types of heritage. “There is tangible and intangible” says Kirstin Clausen, Executive Director of Heritage BC. “Tangible you can see or touch, like a heritage building, a local monument, artifacts, or even an old tree in your neighbourhood. Intangible heritage includes traditions and values, like the preservation of language, the cultural spices you use to cook or the holidays you choose to celebrate because your forebears did the same.” Regardless of the form heritage takes, says Clausen, “it comes with stories, and stories are always tied to people and more and more we are giving space to new voices to hear their stories.” Beyond providing societies and individuals with identity, meaning and comfort, however, the question arises: does heritage have an actual monetary value? Clausen has no doubt that it does. “Preserving heritage is not a tool to prevent change – it is a tool for thoughtful change that responds to real needs in communities – needs like economic stability, climate action, reconciliation, social justice, aﬀordable housing and more. Spaces that are well-planned and accessible for people draw locals and tourists alike, money gets spent, and people get to enjoy the beauty of the space”, says Clausen. “For instance, downtown Ladysmith took advantage of the main street program in the 1980s to refurbish and preserve its beautiful main street buildings, and now it’s a draw for visitors and locals alike. Local businesses fill those structures, which contribute immensely to the area’s economy. And because many older buildings are often very elegant in design, their preservation enables people to enjoy being in the same space others were years ago. It ties us in a very tangible way to our history.” Indeed, the preservation of heritage

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can occur on a small or large scale. “Our planet is also part of our heritage”, says Clausen. “Heritage building conservation is climate action - fighting carbon emissions, enabling continued use and adaptive use, and reducing waste and resource depletion. The environmental movement is an expression of how we value our planet and want to preserve it for future generations,” says Clausen. Quentin Goodbody, President of the Ladysmith & Kirstin Clausen Executive District Historical Society, Director, Heritage BC. refers to a quote from Heri- Photo submitted. tage BC that echoes Clausen’s statements. “By its very nature, heritage is irreplaceable. It is something that was created in the past, using materials that are often no longer available and skills that are not readily available. Beyond the materials, so much of its value relies on emotional and spiritual qualities that certainly cannot be replaced. We can, therefore, say heritage has a high economic value, as it would be too expensive – if not impossible – to replace.” Heritage BC shares some very telling numbers. “Statistics indicate that visiting ‘historical, archaeological and world heritage sites’ rank fourth among the top 10 activities and experiences of interest to Canadian travellers, and that heritage activities rank fifth and seventh in a list of 23 activities for travellers to Canada,” “Indeed, when considering vacation activities on which to base an entire trip, ‘heritage sites’ rank second out of a list of 46 options. Monetarily, it has been shown that spending one dollar on heritage investment equates to two dollars of spending, GDP and taxes.” So what heritage will Ladysmith and area residents be celebrating this year? “Our natural heritage is a stunning setting beside Ladysmith Harbour with ample opportunity to enjoy nature,” says Goodbody, adding that “Our cultural heritage is our historic downtown, and artifacts and art related to the varied cultural makeup of our community reflecting Indigenous and settler sectors of the community”. Goodbody identifies the rich, intangible aspects of our heritage as including the multicultural community we live in with its varied languages, traditions and value systems. As much as there is to celebrate, however, Goodbody feels much more could and should be done to capitalize on our heritage. “As a community we need to recognize, cherish and protect our heritage, recognize the value it brings us, and work together on reconciliation and capitalization,” he says. He identifies three main threats to our local heritage: the degradation of built heritage, the lack of an up to date cohesive long-range heritage plan, and insuﬃcient co-operation between groups and business within the Town. These threats the Historical Society hopes to help mitigate

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A marine artifact along Ladysmith's waterfront. Photo: Bob Burgess

by working together with the Town and other interested parties to create an updated heritage policy. Goodbody sums up the subject. “All aspects of our heritage are important.

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They give us a sense of place, of who we are – and make us interesting to visit.” Kenzie Knight, Tourism Development Specialist with Tourism Cowichan, echoes those sentiments. “Although heritage sites hold significant monetary value for tourism and job creation, I would suggest it also extends far beyond this to encompass community well-being and sustainability,” says Knight. “The presence of heritage sites can revitalize neighbourhoods, attracting investment in infrastructure and amenities. This revitalization often leads to increased property values and a renewed sense of community pride, improving residents’ quality of life.” She uses the town of Chemainus as an example. “Murals depicting the town’s heritage were used as an economic development initiative to bring new life (and visitors from around the world) into a resource-dependent community.” The preservation of heritage buildings can also contribute to long-term environmental and economic sustainability, reducing the need for demolition and new manufacturing, adds Knight. “And protecting heritage sites like the

Kinsol Trestle and Cowichan River Provincial Park provides opportunities for recreational use. By providing accessible spaces for exercise and relaxation, heritage sites indirectly contribute to reducing healthcare costs associated with sedentary lifestyles and stress-related conditions.” Heritage spaces that are significant for tourism in Cowichan include the BC Forest Discovery Centre, the Cowichan River, the totem poles in downtown Duncan, the Cowichan Bay Maritime Museum, and the aforementioned Kinsol Trestle and Chemainus murals. In Nanaimo, refurbished heritage buildings, miners’ cottages, the Bastion, the waterfront, First Nation history, the former Chinatown, and pride over the sweet confection named after this fair seaport are all aspects of heritage locals take pride in. The theme of BC’s 2024 Heritage Week is Layer by Layer and posters are available for download on Heritage BC’s website. There is also an event calendar for Heritage Week where organizations and municipalities can list their events. www.heritagebc.ca.

RDN Area A Cedar, South Wellington, Cassidy & Yellow Point It’s budget time again. It’s a challenging year for everyone, and that includes the RDN. It seems that everything is more expensive. I am keenly aware that some people are struggling to make ends meet and expressed these concerns during debates about the budget (also called financial plan), including in my decision to vote against the current budget (which passed). Although I support several of the increases in service in this budget, I am opposed to the overall increase. It’s important to understand that you only pay for the RDN services you receive. Some are obvious, like garbage pick-up and streetlighting. Some are less obvious, like community planning and parks. Some are only noticeable when

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you need them, like emergency services and animal control. Some services are regional, and some are specific to Area A or parts of Area A. When we talk about the RDN’s Area tax rate, this includes our area’s unique combination of services, plus the library tax. This does not include taxes collected for police, hospitals or schools. Although the budget has not yet been finalized, the current budget includes a 16.7 per cent increase for Area A. Before you choke, please know that I have at least six motions coming to the Board for debate in an attempt to reduce this number. These will be debated between the time this was written and when it was published. Although inflation explains some of this increase, other reasons include increased service levels and transfers to other organizations. The greatest in-

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crease among areas of service is for the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) and was determined by the VIRL board, not the RDN Board. I understand this year’s significant increase as a one-time adjustment to match actual VIRL expenses. The second greatest source of taxes is “southern community recreation,” which pays for our access to Nanaimo’s sports fields and other recreation amenities. However, this is not a significant increase from previous years. The second biggest area of increase was for our community parks. Compared to other electoral areas, our community parks funding remains the second lowest, despite Area A being the third largest in population. Better funding for community parks is a request frequently heard in our community and was one of my campaign promises. The third greatest increase is for the

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administration for RDN services. The fourth greatest increase is a tie between emergency planning and Area A recreation and culture. Regarding Emergency Services, part of the increase is due to provincial legislation and part of it is due to more frequent emergencies. The increase for recreation and culture is due to increases in programming. However, I hope that two of the above-mentioned motions will pass to reduce this source of taxation. The fifth largest source of increase is another tie between electoral area community planning and regional parks. Some of the increase is due to hiring more bylaw staﬀ, which is also in response to community complaints. The challenge with all governments services is that we can’t get increased service without a corresponding increase in taxes. I’ve asked the RDN Board reconsider four staﬀ positions (in Administration, Parks and Fire Services) to reduce taxes. I will also be recommending a reduction in Area A recreation and culture. Although some of the increases are unavoidable (provincial requirement or determined by other bodies) and some are in response to community request for increases in service, I am very concerned about overall financial impact during a time for financial strife for many. For some, this will not have a big impact. For those on a fixed income or who are struggling to get by, this average increase of $122 for the year may be a hardship. I am trying to find the balance among community services in a challenging financial time. For perspective, the 2024 Area A’s proposed total tax cost for the average home is $905 for all the services provided by the RDN. The average residential value is $842,302. Area A has the second lowest tax rate among the electoral areas in the RDN (excluding Area B, who gets services from Islands Trust). You can google “RDN Budget Talks” to find the budget information including a link to the latest version of the financial plan. Feedback is always welcome on this and any community issue. Please connect with me via phone (250-268-7359) or email (jessica.stanley@rdn.bc.ca).

CVRD Area H North Oyster/Diamond Mark your calendars! Director’s Town Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at North Oyster Community Centre. On the agenda is the Director’s Report, 2024 budget, Local Area Plans and anything else you want to discuss (and for me to listen to ). I hope to see you there. The last article I wrote for the TAKE 5 was mid-November 2023. At that time, the Schnitzer Steel (I believe now renamed to Radius Recycling) application for a zoning amendment to the Simpson Road had not made it onto the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) agenda. Since then, the application has come once to committee and twice to the CVRD Board. Each time, there was a strong contingent of community members that attended the meetings. The turnout filled most of the public gallery. The directors heard repeatedly from the community how important the protection of the aquifer is today and into the future. They heard that this is a decision about what is the appropriate land use above a highly vulnerable aquifer. At the last board meeting, on January 10, 2024, the decision was made to deny the application. This application has been going on since 2016. The meeting

Cowichan River facing climate change challenges. Photo: Bob Burgess

material fills a very large binder. In addition, there are hours of recordings of previous meetings going back to 2018. Since that time the community has endured a heat dome, an atmospheric river and wildfires on Cedar Road and at Mt. Hayes. The impact of changes in the climate has made water a precious

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commodity here in Area H and around the CVRD. Areas of the CVRD are being impacted to the point where drought conditions limit farmers’ ability to water their crops. Last year, the premier stated that the Cowichan River is on life support. It is really clear that we have shifted, in less than a generation, from viewing water as something we took for granted (we aren’t the “wet coast” for nothing) to grave concerns of water scarcity. What will our thinking be like in another generation, let alone looking well into the future for seven generations? The community is much more informed today. There is a premise that this is part of the reason for the decline of deference. It has been contended that “this happens when the skill gap between politicians and citizens has narrowed, so Canadians are less inclined to accept without question the wisdom of their leaders” (Nevitte, The Decline of Deference, 1996). And our community is blessed with many residents with superb knowledge and skills. An example is Dr. Quentin Goodbody’s in-depth article on the Cassidy Aquifer published in last year’s TAKE 5. It is a great example of looking at the facts. The aquifer is just below the surface, and it covers a large area. And there are a couple of deeper aquifers. Protecting all of them from activities on the surface is very important. This includes protecting the aquifers recharge from the surrounding watershed. Our community is fortunate to have groups like the North Oyster/Diamond Rate Payers Association (NODRA), the Yellow Point Ecological Society (YES) and Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition (VIWWC) that are very concerned about the future of the aquifer. It should come as no surprise that all the directors are very concerned about protecting the aquifer. However, not all agreed on the path forward. There was a concern that by denying the application

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that the Board was missing an opportunity to work with the applicant. However, not changing the zoning doesn’t mean doing nothing. It is about getting the land use right for now and for all future generations. Our community was clear and vocal about this. In closing, for me, the final Board decision is about land use above a pristine lake — it’s just that our pristine lake is just below the surface — that is a precious resource. It is my belief that denying this application demonstrated how much this community values and takes responsibility for its water. Ben.maartman@cvrd.bc.ca; 250-510-5930

CVRD Area G Saltair/Thetis Island Not many issues require an update as things slow down significantly for Directors over the holiday season. In addition, I had to cancel our community meeting with the Ministry of Transportation and MainRoad because of inclement weather. It’s too bad, as our community has significant concerns regarding snow removal, road maintenance, and ditches. I will reschedule the meeting as soon as possible so that we can attempt to address pressing issues. For those who don’t know, the Ministry of Transportation is responsible for all roads and ditches in unincorporated areas like Saltair. MainRoad is Saltair's contractor and their 24-hour hotline is 1-877-215-6006. The CVRD drivers did an admirable job collecting garbage and recycling during our recent winter storm but only got to half the residences. If the CVRD cannot collect your materials because of a weather event, you can put out additional containers for the next pickup. Alternatively, you can always take your materials to a CVRD Recycling Centre. Finally, I’d like to bring attention to a criminal act of vandalism in Saltair. Our water system was vandalized over the holiday break, which is the second time this happened. In early January, someone opened the fire hydrants on Olsen Road and left them flowing, resulting in the loss of 250,000 litres. If you have any information about this incident, please get in touch with CVRD Utilities by email or phone: utilities@cvrd.bc.ca 250-746-2530.

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A New City Hall for Ladysmith BY ROB JOHNSON Ladysmith Town Council has started the process to secure funding to build a new city hall, with institutional space and housing on the present site of the Ladysmith Museum at the corner of First Avenue and Buller. This would result in the demolition of the existing building that houses the Ladysmith Museum to make room for new construction. The Town has yet to release any details as to the size and cost of the multi-use building or how much space the city hall will require. Staﬀ estimates the cost just for the Town’s portion of the building will be $13.5 million. As of January 6, 2024, the Town has started the process towards this plan with the first step having approval from the residents of Ladysmith to borrow the $13.5 million over the next 30 years, at 4.5 per cent interest. The Town has two ways of getting the residents' permission to borrow this money. One is to put the question directly to the voters in the form of a referendum; the other is what some consider the back-door method — that is, the alternative approval process (APP). The AAP assumes voter approval unless more than 10 per cent of eligible electors submit and sign response forms in opposition to the initiative. This method is often used for non-controversial issues. But is a $13.5-million Ioan a non-controversial issue? A report to Council recommended that the Town, in partnership with the provincial and federal governments, build this multi-purpose building at First and Buller, as stated. The report says the Town is pursuing opportunities to work with the provincial and the federal governments to build housing in the downtown heart of Ladysmith. The proposed site will allow for a building of up to 60

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feet, five to six stories tall, once the latest zoning bylaw is passed. The housing portion of the building is proposed to be built above the new city hall. At present, the public does not know much about the proposed housing, such as the number and type of units, the cost, or even if the provincial and federal governments have a plan for this site as yet. How long will it be before we see anything happening? Hard to say, but it could take up to six months for the AAP to pass and be approved. Then if the provincial and federal governments are ready, construction could start immediately. The necessary demolition of the building that houses the Ladysmith Museum could occur at any time. Demolition of the building will result in the closing of the museum a popular destination that this year had over 4,000 visitors and has been rated by Tripadvisor as the #1 indoor tourist attraction in Ladysmith. If the proposed institutional space in the new building is for a new museum, then it would probably take a year or more for that to happen. If the institu-

Ladysmith Museum building may be slated for demolition. Photo: Bob Burgess

tional space is allocated for some other purpose, such as a library, then who knows when we will see the museum reopen. Hopefully, the Town can aid in relocating the museum quickly. That’s as I see it. The museum is closed for the winter but will be open for BC Family Day/ BC Heritage Week, Feb 19 from 11 to 3pm.

The Invasion of the Nature Snatchers BY PAMELA WALKER While I wander around my small yard in Yellow Point, I am always on the lookout for intruders. It takes a keen eye and a slow, surreptitious pace to search through the hedgerows and around the large firs to make sure nothing untoward is lurking. While I do not live in an area of high crime, I do live by a rather busy road, and what gets blown in by vehicle’s updraft or dropped in by low-flying birds is just criminal. I’m talking invasive species, of course. The broom is the worst. Brought here

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by some twit from Scotland, a colonizer himself, and spread by the 30,000 seeds each mature bush produces a year, as well as by the deliberate plantings by the Ministry of Highways and BC Hydro years ago, this beauty has estimated to have cost the forest industry millions in lost revenue. The plant actually sends chemicals into the ground to inhibit the growth of other plants. And it’s cost me precious weeks of my life, as I have recently joined BroomBusters in Ladysmith and show up, whenever I’m called, to cut it when it’s in bloom. Daphne is the second worse. Daphne laureola, or spurge laurel, looks pretty, and at first, I didn’t believe my friend who said to get rid of it. I thought it looked as nice as any rhododendron I’d seen in Butchart Gardens. Little did I know that this crafty scourge spreads like crazy, and its thick white sap is even listed as toxic with WorkSafe BC. It can cause skin rashes, nausea, swelling of the tongue and even coma. Those are all criminal oﬀences in my books. So, how do you get rid of Daphne? I just pull it out, but maybe I should put chain mail and armour on before tack-

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ling my neighbours’ infestation. Vigilance is a prerequisite when tackling this delinquent. English Ivy is up there, too. So pretty in pots cascading down to the ground, but once all the other plants are dead, the unsuspecting and uninformed will toss it away where it will go rogue and start crawling over everything. And once it starts up a tree, it actually undergoes a kind of metamorphosis and changes shape. The leaves become rounded and it starts to create seeds that spread like snakes in a pit. Give it time and it can kill a mature tree by strangulation, its once pretty green tendril now the size of a python. I was also flummoxed when another friend told me that some nurseries still sell some of these diabolical plants. In fact, many plants recognized by the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) as being toxic, invasive, poisonous — or all three — are still propagated, bought and sold every year — even in our area. Say “It’s not so,” but you would be wrong. YES has recently written to all the growers and nurseries in the area, asking them to be aware of what they

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Daphne laureola, or spurge laurel, a crafty scourge that spreads easily. Photo submitted.

are selling. We sent them a QR code they can easily scan to find out what plants are on the list and how their industry can help stop the invaders. Actually, we are all required by the BC Weed Control Act to maintain vigilance against noxious and invasive weeds. One such weed is the beautiful but dreaded yellow flag iris. Originally from Northwest Africa, someone thought it would make a nice addition to any pond or lake. But this blighter forms dense mats over any wetland, preventing anything else from growing. It clogs streams, lakes and even irrigation systems. It alters habitat, traps sediments and compacts the soil. It propagates by rhizomes in the mat system and by seeds that float in pods and stay viable for over a year. Not only that, all plant parts can cause skin irritation to people and can poison livestock if they eat it. To slow this troublemaker down, one has to cover it with a thick black pond liner (a tarp won’t work)

for a year. The fact that it’s infiltrated Quennell Lake and much of Hemer Lake is disastrous. It’s enough to make you want to raise a white flag. But guess what? Some pond supply stores still have them for sale. Give me strength, Mother Nature! What else can we do about the problem besides jumping over the deep end in despair? Here’s some suggestions: • Scan the QR code in this article. It will give you access to ISCBC’s “Grow Me Instead” brochure that lists BC’s invasive species AND what you might consider planting instead. While attending Seedy Saturdays or Sundays, make sure your QR code is still in your phone so you can be sure not to bring home intruders yourself. • If you see an invasive plant for sale, ask your retailer if they know it’s on the invasive list and whether they feel good about selling it. • Pull out invasive plants on your property and ask your neighbours to do the same. • Join Ladysmith BroomBusters this year, and let’s get to work! • Organize a broom busting party on your block and get a lawn sign from Mother Nature herself thanking you for your eﬀorts. • Adopt a Patch in Hemer Park and ensure it stays invasivefree. • Join one of our ivy pulls in Hemer Park. • Report noxious weeds with the InvasivesBC Smartphone App or by calling 1-888-933-3722.

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Back to Business New Executive Director for Chamber wants to see success It’s been a few months since Roberta Bowman stepped in as Executive Director of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. Bowman, who took over in October, did it with ease thanks to her extensive experience, having worked with Chamber Organizations and, most recently, the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Being familiar with Ladysmith’s community also helped. Bowman is a member of the Ladysmith Yacht Club and an avid sailor. “I have a huge love and respect for the community. And I think that's what really helped me feel comfortable coming into this position.” Business owners have faced many challenges in the last few years, especially during the recession. The recent deadline for repayment of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans has added more stress to the business community. But the number one challenge facing local businesses is staﬃng. Roberta Bowman, Executive Director Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Bob Burgess

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“It's becoming increasingly expensive for business owners to operate. One of the challenges I've seen over the past three years is the struggle for our members to attend events because they don't have staﬀ coverage.” But regardless of the challenges, Bowman says, “I have never experienced a community with so much community feel for itself in a sense like, you know, all of the significant unique events that are put on here, all volunteer-driven.” Bowman has worked in many diﬀerent chambers in Canada. “I can say that in my heart, Ladysmith is a very special community. And the community is fortunate to have the support of each other that we have here.” Bowman is planning more events for the future that all their members can participate in – including the return of a business award in the fall. “I am trying to diversify the portfolio for events to reach out to all our members,” she says. The Ladysmith Chamber has a long history and is celebrating 94 years serving Ladysmith and the area during BC Chamber Week, Feb 12-16. Chamber of Commerce Week is celebrated annually and recognizes the outstanding contributions that Chambers and Boards of Trade make to communities across B.C. On February 15, they will hold an Open House/Lunch and Learn event on small business tax. Lori John and Tammy Leslie of Palmer Leslie Accountants will be presenting. Lunch is free for members, non-members $10. RSVP the Chamber by Feb 13. 250-245-2112. “We want all our businesses to prosper, be healthy, be alive, and do well. That's why we're here- we want to see all businesses succeed.”

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Self-Care Tool Kit BY ELLY SMITH How did you welcome the new year? We seem to get caught up in the holiday buzz and then come crashing down when January arrives. We pull ourselves together during late January, get rid of the cold and cough we had, and can finally start February feeling fresher. Are we really? What have we done to start this new year on the promises we made to ourselves as the last batch of cookies went into the oven at 10pm? As we dragged ourselves into work in January, we still had that nagging promise that things will change, I just need to finish this and then… Well, you have come to the right place, and this is the right time. We have reached out to our wonderful health and wellness practitioners in the community and asked them for their words of wisdom. Our theme is self-care, and this is for you.

Get your zzzs Dr. Ashley Burton from VI Physiotherapy shares her top wellness tips for 2024: • Rest and Sleep: make sure you are not running on cortisol. Adults need at least 7-8 hours of good quality sleep each night. Having a regular bedtime routine and avoiding screens is helpful for ensuring a good night’s rest.

Photo: Metro Creative

• Morning walks: early morning light in the eyes regulates melatonin levels and walking in nature reduces stress, blood sugar levels and counts towards being physically active. • Nutrition: Stabilize your mood and hormones by attaining at least 30g of protein at each meal.

Monitor your blood pressure Ladysmith Pharmasave Pharmacy manager Sneh Parikh states that high blood pressure or hypertension increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, memory loss, impaired vision, and damage to the kidneys. Making some lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a good level; by eating healthy, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol, your blood pressure can be better controlled. Ladysmith Pharmasave offers free blood pressure checks.

Nature & Nurture For Leesa Poﬀenroth, owner of SoulSync Wellness, self-care is non-negotiable. It's daily time in nature, pursuing what excites her, and having firm boundaries. Nutritious eating fuels her vitality, while meditation and balanced fitness anchor her days. To begin your self-care journey Leesa recommends that you recognize your needs, set boundaries, and embrace nature, movement, and mindfulness. Create and accept change (as change is inevitable!) and let self-care be your guiding light to your best self.

Massage Therapy Most people know that massage therapy can be beneficial for physical ailments, but it can also be a great way to regulate one’s nervous system, decrease stress, and enhance overall feelings of well-being. Jess Stone, RMT and owner of Sanctuary Massage Therapy shares that in a world that demands so much of our time and attention, setting aside an hour out of your day where you don’t have to be anywhere or do anything can have a powerful eﬀect on the mind, body, and spirit. Jess recommends Craniosacral therapy, a technique that works directly with the central nervous system to reduce pain, boost immunity, improve sleep, and promote full body relaxation.

Rejuvenate Prioritize your self-care and set the tone for a vibrant and energized year ahead! This is the mantra from Nicole Lewen-

dowski, owner of FrequenSea Healing Space. The Energy Enhancement System sessions at her wellness centre oﬀer relaxation and rejuvenation to your physical and mental wellbeing using scalar frequency, colour and light. Immerse yourself in a tranquil 2-hour sanctuary session that enhances overall health by promoting pain reduction, increased energy, decreased stress, and improved immune function.

Elly's story Many people view self-care as a luxury, rather than a priority. Consequently, they're left feeling overwhelmed, tired, and ill-equipped to handle life's inevitable challenges. The seven pillars of self-care fall into the following areas: physical, social, mental, spiritual, emotional, recreational, and environmental. I first experienced self-care when I was caring for my aging parents in Ontario. Getting through the long days of cleaning up, laundry, meal preparations, appointments, listening, talking, cheer leading, and making sure the correct meds were given was exhausting. At first, I thought I could do the 14-hour shifts, I am young and fit, but after the first few visits, and coming home mentally exhausted, I soon realized I needed a self-care tool kit. What could I do to help myself and help my parents? I moved them into a small care home, where they were together, had a spacious room and all their meals prepared in the main dining room. I found a nearby B&B operated by a fantastic woman who had been through the same process with her aging mother, so we had connection.

The self-care plan was starting to unfold - I could relax knowing my parents were looked after 24/7 yet had independence to make tea anytime they wanted. I was being taken care of at the B&B, a glass of wine with the owner each night to share our stories of the day, soothing baths, uninterrupted sleeps, rising early, warm yoga class to allow for deep stretching and connection with my inner me and healthy breakfasts to start each day. Now my body was fueled, my spirits were high, and I was ready to care for my parents and all the challenges of the day. Many of us have or are caring for aging parents or family members. Many of us are also just trying to make it through the day and weeks. Keep yourself in mind each day. Ask yourself every day, what can I do for ME today? Something small: Have coﬀee with a friend; social connection is so powerful. Take ten minutes at lunch and walk, breathe in the fresh air. Connect with nature. Book a treatment. Your inner self will thank you back. Keep the seven pillars in your self-care tool kit and ask yourself what are you doing for YOU today?

Photo: Metro Creative

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Yogurt for Men It started off like any other day, but so did 9/11. I woke up to sunny skies, a light breeze, balmy temperatures, and no cat barf underfoot. I let Barfmeister out, put the coffee on, grabbed a bowl of cereal and yogurt, and sat down in front of my computer to read the news – unaware I was on a collision course with destiny. I was halfway through the paper, the Lions had lost again, gangsters had shot up another Cadillac Escalade in Vancouver … or was it environmentalists? And a senator - large of jowl, larcenous of heart - was having his pudgy feet held to the fire after declaring the mortgage on the West Edmonton Mall as his personal home allowance. I was breezing through the food section where I discovered an article about Powerful Yogurt, a product supposedly designed for men’s special nutritional needs. The packaging featured a guy’s ripped torso and proclaimed in immodestly-sized letters, “Find Your Inner Abs.” The implication was clear: eat Powerful Yogurt and await your sixpack abs to arrive in the mail. Why the yogurt I was eating didn’t do the same job was beyond me, but that’s the way it goes with yogurt. Curious, I read on, chilled to the bone by this description: “Rising up against the oppressive matriarchy of yogurt – a product that presumably rates between Steel Magnolias and ovulation on a sliding scale of femininity…” WHAT? I read on, the message hitting like a sledge hammer. Are they saying yogurt is girl food, that the only people who eat yogurt are women, or men seeking emasculation? As PhD candidate in feminist philosophy Rebecca Tuvel confirmed, yogurt is a “stereotypically female product.”

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WHY WASN’T I INFORMED? All these years I’ve been emasculating myself, eating girl food, and not one person came up to me and said, “Hey buddy, why don’t you just wear a dress?” It was all starting to make sense. Why I had taken to ordering salads at restaurants, with dressing on the side. And why I couldn’t order without first asking 4000 questions. Before, I only had two questions: Does it come with fries? And can I get a side of sausage with that? Without doubt, the icy fingers of emasculation had wrapped themselves around my privates. With my sexual identity in tatters, feeling society had dressed me up as a girl and pushed me uninformed into the playground of life, I sat back and took inventory of my yogurt-eating history. My first encounter with yogurt was in the formative years of my teens. From day one, I loved the stuff. Sometimes male friends would come over. I’d pull the yogurt out and say, “How’d you like a big scoop of this?” Mysteriously they’d run out the door and never come back. It gets worse. I looked back in horror at my running days. After the races I’d be up at the food table, the only guy up there, in plain view of the whole community, pigging out on the little cups of yogurt. No wonder it took me so long to find a wife. All along I thought I was I was eating a tasty and nutritious snack; instead, I was risking my sexual identity. I should have been warned. Just a short message from the Surgeon General: Eat too much yogurt and all the King’s men won’t put lead in Joey’s pencil again. It is particularly galling that we’ve had the technology to solve this problem for centuries. It’s called the printing press. Just put men’s food in one location and women’s in another, then put up proper signs. Imagine a department store without signage. No Men’s Wear, no Ladies’ Wear, just one big jumble called Clothing. Or, as they used to say in the seventies, Unisex. Men have enough trouble shopping as it is, but without the guiding hand of well-placed signage, before long Justin Trudeau will show up at state functions wearing peddlepushers. Grocery stores should be stocked along gender lines, and required to have

two entrances - Ladies and Gents - like the beer parlours of yore. Which took it one step further with a third entrance marked Ladies and Escorts, just in case you wanted to take Mom down to the Newcastle for a beer after a heavy bout of gardening. If the Newcastle could go to such lengths, why not Ralph’s Market? These simple changes would help men avoid the risk of emasculation and greatly diminish our chance of walking out with a tub of Tutti Frutti yogurt by mistake. Meanwhile, thanks to grief counselors and my support group, I now realize that all the yogurt I consumed was not proof of trans tendencies but being misinformed. (Disclosure: I want to thank my sponsors at Powerful Yogurt who have taught me you don’t have to sacrifice your manhood to eat yogurt. Just pay a little more at the till.) Pick up a copy of Delbert's book Slightly Corked at the TAKE 5 office!

Wine Pick Adriane Polo from Carefree Wine Tours, in the Okanagan recommends... If you are looking for a afternoon delight this Valentine Day try Ciao Bella Rosato from Ciao Bella Winery. It's made with love by the Fiume family, originally from Napoli. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. It's perfect for a romantic moment. Check out Ciao Bella Winery in the Okanagan. Around $29.

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BUSINESS

FOR SALE FISH FISH FISH. Buy direct from the guy who caught it! High-quality salmon, lingcod, rockfish. All fish blast frozen at sea. Satisfaction guaranteed! Contact Jim at oceandancer. wallace@gmail.com or 250-245-5957/250-7391123.

ARTS & CR AFT FAIRS

ZODIAC INFLATABLE. Zodiac 13.9 ft. Classic Mark II Inflatable, 25 HP Yamaha, EZ-loader trailer and accessories $3,995.00. Contact John at 250-661-5815.

EVERY SUNDAY CAROL’S ARTISANS. Pens, quilting, woodworking, purses, sewing, knitting, jewellery, hats, pottery, preserves, jams, etc. Food truck on site. 13467 Cedar Road 10am–3pm. New vendors welcome. Contact petespensandmore@shaw.ca.

2 X OCEAN KAYAKS. Excellent condition; 1 Kelvar Diamonte model, 1 Fibreglass Icelandictype, all accessories and Yakima roof rack $2,995.00. Contact John at 250-661-5815.

VIDEO PRODUCTION - it's more affordable then you think. Celebration of Life, special events, or just share your story. editor@ take5.ca

OMCAN COMMERCIAL MEAT SLICER $700 and a GREY PLASTIC PATIO FOLDING TABLE, seats 6 - $30. Please call – 250 722 3876

HEALTH & WELLNESS

BABY SWING - Good condition. Free for pick up. Call 250-756-8892 (Cassidy Airport area). RENTAL SPACE WANTED RENTAL SPACE FOR BUSINESS OFFICE wanted, no public visitors. Rural or urban; between South Nanaimo and Saltair; 200-500 sq ft.; must have exterior window. Contact Roberta at 250-751-0302. FARM FRESH EMPRESS ACRES LITTLE FARM STORE. Pasture-raised eggs & pork-specialty sausages, bacon, ham, end cuts; org. cert. produce; raw honey. Open 7 days/wk; 2974 Haslam Rd.; don’t miss Katina’s Sunday Goodies (10am–1pm). See Fresh Sheet for regular updates on what’s available on website: www.empressacres.ca; for pork & turkeys, email Marlene at marlene@ empressacres.ca or call/text 250-889-1343.

FEB 2024

TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner class Monday mornings. Ongoing class every Wednesday morning. For class time and location and more information, visit www.taichinanaimo. org or call Sara 250-245-1466.

HOME & GARDEN DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 35 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. Renovations. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823. KB HANDYMAN AND YARD WORKS. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, power washing, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@ gmail.com or 250-714-2738. HEART LAKE ROOFING for all your roofing repairs 250-668-9195. ALL ACRES providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling, hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265. CONCRETE RESULTS. Foundations, retaining walls, patios, driveways, walks and stairs. Full forming and finishing. 40 years’ experience. Email Gord at concreteresults@ live.com. PAINTER. Certified Journeyman. Clean, efficient, respectful, punctual. 25+ years’ experience. WCB coverage. Enhance your enjoyment of the home you love. Call Howard at 250-245-2751. ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large & small cleanups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260.

I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or non fiction, web content and eBook prep. For more information, editican@gmail.com. L AUNDRY SERVICES CROFTON SHOP & WASH COMMUNITY THRIFT STORE & LAUNDROMAT with large capacity machines, affordable drop-off and pick-services; 1606 Joan Ave., Crofton. Open 9am–7pm, 6 days a week; closed Wednesdays. Contact 250-324-2249. WHAT's HAPPENING Feb 4 - 17, 4th Annual African Connections, Celebrating Black History Month, crimsoncoastdance.com Feb 5, 7:00 pm, Special General Meeting Fraternal Order of the Eagles, The Ladysmith Eagles Club (Home Society) Feb 5, 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm, Art Night with Michele "Arctic Aurora Bears", the Wheatsheaf Pub Feb 8, 7:00 pm, Adventure inspiring short films, Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Feb 9, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, Reconciliation Workshop, St. John's Anglican Church Hall, 486 Jubilee St. Duncan Feb 16 – 17, Family Day Weekend activities, Nanaimo Museum Feb 17, 7:30 pm, American Rock Legends, Port Theatre, www/porttheatre.com Feb 17, 7 pm, Valentine's Celebration: Dinner & Salsa Social Dance. Nanaimo Tickets www. eventbrite.com Feb 19, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Cowichan Valley Museum Treasure Hunt, FREE Feb 21, 7:30 pm, Flip Fabrique – Blizzard, Port Theatre, www.porttheatre.com Feb 23, Pink Shirt Day- to create a more kind, inclusive world. Feb 23, 6pm-8pm, Annual Ladysmith Heritage Awards Evening, Ladysmith Eagles Hall, 250245-0100 Feb 29, 7:00 pm, Port Theatre, The Legends Show, www.porttheatre.com March 2, 8:00 pm, Port Theatre, The Comic Strippers (19+ Only), www.porttheatre.com The next issue of TAKE 5 is out in March but follow us on Facebook and YouTube for more great content throughout the month.

Another Labour of Love “The problem is that those of us who are lucky enough to do work that we love are sometimes cursed with too damn much of it.” — Terry Gross, Journalist I sure don’t want to jinx us, but lemme just say … I’m hoping that the cold has snapped and skedaddled away. I should know by now not to be smug, thinking that I’m prepared and can relax. Such has proven true with grape-vine and fruittree pruning, weeding, harvest, mulching and, especially, cold snap water prep.

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Jackie Moad's mares,31 and 28 getting ready for winter. Photo submitted.

I’ve written previously about the Honey-Do List, that roster of once-hidden wishful-thinking items that Laurie had compiled, those labours of love just waiting for time, money and retirement to complete. I’ve pecked away at that list for five years and still figure I have at least a decade worth left. Necessities keep getting in the way, dagnabbit. Those urgent projects that rear their ugly heads, demanding attention, like the metal roof to replace the 60-year-old cedar shingles before a July fire season spark created one heck of a bonfire, or the September rains soaked and spoiled the year’s supply of hay in the loft. Speaking of rains … when the drought was fi nally over, I plum forgot about what happens with heavy rains. I was busy harvesting, juicing and planting the garlic to recall that old conversation starting with “We need to get some foundation work done,” as we sopped up the two ever-increasing basement leaks when there was the customary torrential downpour. They had been increasing annually for the last 15 years. It was time to get that monkey oﬀ my back. It seems that along with some ergonomically incorrect eves troughs, there was all the beauty plants, shrubs, trees and their gnarly roots that had been growing, thriving and increasingly clogging up the perimeter drains. Fixed, just in time: Whew! A wry smile appeared across Jackie’s face. And once again, she hasn’t learned that life lesson. Smug little me thought I was one jump ahead. It’s going to get cold — shut down and blow out the irrigation lines (check); bring the pump inside so lingering water doesn’t crack the casing on this $900 machine (check); cistern pipe heating cables plugged in (check); when

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it dips below zero, open every tap to drip – cabin, farm kitchen, big house, guesthouse (check). Smirk. All seemed well until Mother Nature caught me feeling all proud of myself. “Well, let’s see how she handles minus 14 degrees,” she said. All the pipes froze solid except for a dripping tap in the big house bathroom and the guesthouse kitchen. But I was prepared with pots of water on standby for humans and dogs. It was the horses and sheep that took my undivided attention for the three days (so far!) of deep, deep freeze. Although they got increased food, housing and blankets, it was their water that consumed my thoughts and actions day and night. I kept wondering how they did it in the olden days when they didn’t have kitchens and stoves to boil water. Now I truly don’t want any cheese with my whine. Those frigid days have been long and hard, but only physically. Emotionally, they remain a labour of love. There is nothing more soothing for the soul than watching a horse drinking. And soothing for the body, when a hot bath is not an option? You know the saying “it was a three-dog night.” I think it comes from Australia, or here in the Great White North, when the night is so bitterly cold you need three dogs in bed with you to keep warm. Yup, and three hairy Lassie collies definitely do the trick, with the cat chiming in for good measure.

Jackie Moad's collies at her farm in Cedar. Photo submitted.

Jackie Moad believes, as Dennis Kimbro said, “there is no richer woman than the one who has found her labour of love.” With “plumbing upgrade” added to her list for this year, she continues to farm that 20-acre organic slice of Paradise in Cedar, ever looking forward, with local solutions for global challenges in mind.

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Do You Have the Right Dog for You? BY KATHY REILLY OF MISS BEHAVIOUR'S DOG TRAINING Sometimes our emotions take over when it comes to adopting a pup or rescue dog. We may be hurting terribly from the loss of our best buddy of many years, or we may see a poor little fur buddy who needs someone to love them. Please stop and assess the needs of the potential family member and yourself. Does the dog belong to a breed that needs a lot of mental and physical exercise, such as a border collie, Yorkshire terrier or German shepherd? Has the potential adoptee been abused, abandoned or suﬀered trauma? Without the help of a professional, do you honestly have the skills, patience and time to rehabilitate the dog? Is your home conducive to an active dog? Susan Attiana with her daughter's Do you have a safe, fenced yard? Do you live husky Herbie. Photo submitted. in an area where there are easy access walking trails? Are you limited in any way physically? Can you keep up to the needs of the dog? If you have limited mobility, can you aﬀord to bring your dog to daycare or have a dog walker come to exercise him? Or do you have friends with playful dogs so you can arrange playdates? Forty minutes of playing full tilt with another dog is equal to 20 minutes of anything we humans can do with a dog. If you work, what is the new housemate going to do while you are gone? Are you patient enough to work with housetraining a pup or adult dog who was perhaps raised in a cage in a puppy mill, with all the resulting fears and phobias? Some of these poor creatures have never felt the feel of grass beneath their paws, have never climbed steps or trod on hardwood floors. If your recently deceased dog was fun, intelligent, loved laps and didn’t mind being left alone for short periods, please don’t expect the new adoptee to be the equivalent. Perhaps you were younger and more agile and able to exercise your lost fur baby. Be realistic about your expectations and take your time looking for a new companion. You should feel joy, contentment and a special bond with your dog. If you are feeling frustrated, helpless, sad and like a failure, contact a professional trainer, a rescue or the SPCA for an informed opinion and perhaps a solution. May your choice of buddies be made with careful consideration and bring you and your dog many years of joy.