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AUGUST 2018
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Letters Condo development We moved to Ladysmith exactly 26 years ago and have never had a moment of regret. During this time period, we always felt the decisions made by our elected officials were based on “what is good for the residents of Ladysmith,” that is, until now. The decision to build a six-story condo development at Transfer Beach is absolutely ludicrous. There is nowhere on Vancouver Island where such a lovely beach is found. Surely it is possible to build this development elsewhere to increase the tax base and generate revenue for infrastructures. The negative impact of constructing such a development and the horrendous increase in traffic must be avoided. This is a plea to our elected officials to please cancel the proposed development. — Lis Farrell Letters to the Editor may be edited for space, clarity or legality. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of TAKE 5 or its affiliates. editor@take5.ca
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Running for local office isn’t for everyone Municipal elections will be held October 20, 2018, in communities across the province and many people are thinking about running for local office. It’s a decision that should be made carefully and thoughtfully. In my last Mayor’s Message, I outlined former politician Danielle Klooster’s Six Awesome Reasons to Run for Municipal Office. Now that we’ve discussed some very good reasons for wanting to serve your community, let’s talk about some bad reasons for seeking local office. As with the previous article, I will supplement Klooster’s excellent reasoning with my own thoughts and experience. Five Terrible Reasons to Run for Municipal Office People are ready for a change! Maybe, but how often have you voted for someone simply because you are familiar with their name? Did you really know anything about them other than they seemed familiar? It happens all the time. When I ran for office, I felt like I
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was ready for the challenge. I grew up here, my business is downtown, my son went to school here and I attended Council meetings as a concerned citizen and business owner. I had leadership experience in that I was a director and president of the Chamber of Commerce, director of the Ladysmith and District Credit Union, acted as co-chair of our local Parents’ Advisory Council and belonged to a working group that addressed concerns related to the School District 68 10-Year Enhanced Facilities Plan. I was a community advocate long before I ran for mayor, and many people knew that about me. Yes, maybe some folks were ready for a change, but that’s not why I chose to serve my community, and I hope it didn’t influence someone’s decision to check the box beside my name on the ballot. I’m going to clean house! As Danielle Klooster says so eloquently, “Uh, no you’re not.” Whatever you think about Town staff or the job they do or how much they get paid, you need to understand that their jobs are not your job and you don’t get to direct their work. In fact, the only person who reports to Mayor and Council is the CAO and replacing a CAO results in significant severance costs that are ultimately passed down to taxpayers. It’s a decision that can never be taken lightly. Further, once you get elected, you will see firsthand just how hard Town employees work and just how committed they are to serving the residents of our community.
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I’m going to fix the [insert pet peeve such as snow removal, pot holes, bike lanes] situation! Running on a single issue is a bad idea for many reasons. Once you get elected, you have to work with your fellow members of Council to get decision, and believe me, there are plenty of issues. If you ran on the premise that you are going to do something specific and the majority of Council decides it has other priorities, you will not only be disappointed, you will disappoint the people who elected you on that platform. When I ran for mayor, I developed an election platform that focused on building a solid foundation for our future — a platform based on 15 items ranging, from revitalizing First Avenue to fostering partnerships with the Stz’uminus First Nation to developing our waterfront. As a Councillor, you are one of a group of decision makers. It is Council’s collective responsibility to make decisions for the benefit of all citizens of Ladysmith, not just a select few who are focused on one issue. It’s important to bear in mind that what is important to one group of residents might be a low priority to another. We have to get rid of the current corrupt/secretive/self-serving/incompetent bunch! Negativity breeds negativity. It’s destructive and counterproductive. And at the end of the day, Ladysmith is a small town where most people know their neighbours. Running a campaign on a platform designed to smear someone else is never a good idea, because even if you get elected, that negativity will
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follow you. Further, as with running on the premise that you will fix potholes or improve snow removal, running an ‘anti’ campaign is similar to running on a single issue. If the ballots are counted in your favour, you will still have a host of decisions to make as part of a team, and some of those decisions may have been in the works for months or even years by the very people you vowed to replace (some of whom may still be sitting next to you in Council chambers). This is a reminder that while it’s easy to be a critic, being part of the decisionmaking team is full of challenges that not everyone is going to agree with. I’m going to make lowering taxes my number one priority! This is such a short-sighted premise. When I campaigned on the premise of creating a solid platform for the future, I knew that taxation would be a factor. How could it not be? From upgrades to our water supply system, our awardwinning waste water treatment plant, the new bio-solids composting facility and our soon-to-be constructed water filtration plant to our own community centre, Ladysmith has some of the most amazing infrastructure of any local government. If we weren’t running our own infrastructure, we’d be paying a lot more in taxes to the CVRD to supply the same services. This way, we have more control over our own services for our residents. Further, each dollar that you pay in property taxes funds a variety of programs and services for everyone to benefit from and enjoy. These include: Maintaining 900,000 square metres of park land and 26 kilometres of trails Caring for 38 kilometres of Ladysmith sidewalks Filling 50–100 potholes per year Placing approximately 250–300 tons of salt and 200 tons of sand on roads each winter Cleaning and repairing 68 kilometres of sanitary sewer lines Supplying 1,407,000,000 litres of clean, safe drinking water to residents in Ladysmith, the Diamond, Saltair and Stz’uminus First Nation Maintaining 67.5 kilometres of roads and 17 municipally owned buildings Without taxation, none of these things would be possible. That said, Council always works hard to try to ensure Ladysmith’s municipal share of taxes stays
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as low as possible. In 2018, the Town’s share of property taxes will increase by just over two per cent based on the average assessed value of each owner’s property as determined by BC Assessment. This slight increase in property taxes will allow the Town to maintain services for our citizens, enable us to invest in key infrastructure and allow us to move forward on our Waterfront Area Plan. Now that we have talked about why not to run for office, I encourage prospective candidates to inform themselves about
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the various issues and opportunities facing our town and check out some excellent videos provided by the provincial government aimed at anyone thinking of running for local office. (Visit https:// www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governancepowers/general-local-elections/thinking-of-running-for-local-office.) You can also see Danielle Klooster’s original blog at http://danikloo.com/ five-terrible-reasons-to-run-for-municipal-office/.
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Sea Life Celebration Returns to LMS Ladysmith Maritime Society is hosting another Sea Life Celebration on Sunday, August 12, 2018, from 10 am to 2 pm., at the Ladysmith Community Marina (Oyster Bay Drive). It is an opportunity to introduce young people to the magic and wonder of Ladysmith Harbour’s sea life. There will be hands-on touch tank experiences with divers, students and marine biologists; a Stz’ uminus First Nation language game and displays; art, science, drama and music activities; puppets and stories; and food for an adventure designed to appeal to everyone. “It will be an experience that brings together families and children at our friendly community marina,” says Shirley Blackstaff, event organizer. The many educational and fun activities, led by volunteers, will take place at the LMS Welcome Centre, Big Tent, Maritime Museum and Sea Life Centre and on the Maritimer Harbour Tour Boat. It is a free event for children sponsored by Ladysmith Maritime Society and others. 20 Volunteers Needed Sea Life Celebration is looking for Sea Life Celebration, 2017. Photo: Shirley Blackstaff
volunteer divers to collect sea life, marine biologists and teachers to assist at the touch tanks, artists and crafters, musicians, photographers, greeters and anyone who enjoys working with young people and has an interest in sea life. If you are able to assist, please contact Shirley Blackstaff at 250-245-3075 or email vimarmot@shaw.ca.
Canoe races It was a great weekend July 21 & 22 at Kulleet Bay for the Annual War Canoe Races. Canoe Clubs from across the island, Mainland and the United States all converged to do battle on the water. “ This year we had 7 canoe clubs for the weekend races” says organizer Margret Seymour. We would like to thank our volunteer boat committees, Della Daniels, Barry Elliott and Johnny Seymour. Special thanks to sponsors, Fortis BC, Western Forest, Ladysmith & District Credit Union, Kwumut Lelum, Stz’uminus First Nation, Yellow Point Lodge, Ladysmith Maritime Society, professor Donna Gerdts Simon Fraser University, and all that supported their fundraisers. The races were broken into categories ranging from singles, doubles, 6 man and 11 man. Saturday Races - Results were: 6 man canoes, 10 and under - 1 Geronimo, 2 Ocean Thunder 3 King Fisher. 12 & under - 1 Geronimo 2 Ocean Thunder 3 King Fisher. Women – 1 Lady Esther 2 King Fisher 3 Geronimo. Men – 1 Geronimo 2 King Fisher 3 Xeyteleq.
Canoe races at Kulleet Bay. Photo: Nick Longo
11 man canoes, 10 & under – 1 Geronimo 2 Crown 3 King Fisher. 12 & under – 1 Geronimo 2 Crown 3 Five Star. Women – 1 Geronimo 2 King Fisher 3 Ocean Thunder. Men – 1 Geronimo 2 Island Queen 3 Arrow Sunday Races – Results were 6 man canoes, women – 1 Lady Esther 2 Geronimo 3 Rainbow. Men – 1 Geronimo 2 Lady esther 3 Lil homes. 11 man canoes, men - 1 Geronimo 2 Island Queen 3 Lady Jane. Women – 1 Geronimo 2 Ocean Thunder 3 Vicki Lynn. Three Generation 11 man canoe (3 under 10, 3 under 12, two men, two women, 55 plus years. 1 Vicki Lynn 2 Arrow 3 Lady Lavinia
Town Councillor Resigns The Town of Ladysmith has accepted the resignation of Councillor Carol Henderson, effective July 31, 2018. Councillor Henderson, who was elected to Council in the November 2014 local government elections, is resigning for personal reasons, saying that she is unable to carry out her councillor duties due to other demands on her availability. “On behalf of Council and staff, I would like to thank Councillor Henderson for her service and dedication to our community, and extend my best wishes to her,” said Mayor Aaron Stone. Under the BC Local Government Act, a by-election to fill a vacant seat does not need to held if the vacancy occurs after
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June 1 in the year of a general local election. Council will decide at an upcoming meeting whether to hold a by-election, given that the next local election is taking place on October 20 this year.
Car Shows Here are two car shows you don’t want to miss in August. The third annual Grease, Gears & Grooves, Show & Shine and Pin-Up Pageant and Ladysmith Show and Shine. Cars, hot rods, trucks, semis, bikes, motorcycles, parts and more — if it has wheels, it will be at Grease Gears & Grooves held August 11, from 10 am to 10 pm, at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds. Tickets are $15 and available at the gate. Lots of family-friendly entertainment supplied by Six Gun Romeo, Moonshine Mollys and Sweet Potato Brown. There will also be camping available, a beer tent and vendors. This year’s Pin-Up Pageant is a 1950s Betty & Veronica theme and the outfits they would wear. The pageant runs from 3 pm to 4 pm.
2018 Brits on the Beach. Photo:Cindy Damphousse
Risk Leads to Trail Closures Due to the high risk of fire, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is closing the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) from the Timberlands Road trailhead by the Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge to the Harewood Mines Road trailhead at the Region’s boundary with the City of Nanaimo. This 21-kilometre section of the TCT is situated for the most part on private forest lands. Landowner Island Timberlands has advised that all company property in the mid-Island is being closed to recreational users due to increasing fire hazards. Keep apprised
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of access to private forest lands by following the Island Timberlands Blog at blog.islandtimberlands.com. In addition, there is no smoking permitted at this time in any RDN park or trail. For updates visit www.rdn.bc.ca/ parks. To report a wildfire, call 1-800663-5555 or *5555 on your cell.
Ladysmith Maritime Society Harbour Tours Harbour tours are available aboard the MARITIMER Wednesday through Sunday (weather permitting) at 10:30 am and 2 pm. Fares are $15 per person and $40 for a family of four (max. of two over 15 years). Reservations are recommended, but not always required (250245-1146). Private charters are available upon request. A maximum 10 persons per tour.
RDN Approves Solid Waste Management Plan The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) continues down the path of diversion to Zero Waste. On June 26, the Regional Board moved to adopt the Solid Waste Management. The Plan was developed with the help of the Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee (RSWAC), comprised of community representatives and the input of other stakeholders. This plan proposes a 90-per cent waste diversion target, which would result in an annual per capita disposal rate of 109 kilograms. The RDN’s current diversion is 68 per cent, with an annual per capita disposal rate of 347 kilograms. Strategies to reach the new diversion target include mandatory waste source separation regulation and Waste Hauler Licensing. getinvovled.rdn.ca/swmp.
Protecting wild salmon meeting.
on fish farms in recent weeks, but the responsibility for fish farms is 90 per cent federal, and responsibility for wild salmon is 100 per cent federal. We need to keep the pressure on the Trudeau Liberal Government to keep its promises, protect wild salmon.” The town hall was held at Vancouver Island University, hosted by MP Malcolmson, with guests Fin Donnelly, New Democrat critic for Fisheries, Oceans and Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Coquitlam, and scientist Alexandra Morton.
Recovered Fruit-Beer Cask Did you know that up to 50 per cent of what we throw out is edible food? This August Cowichan Green Community’s (CGC) Food Recovery Team is partnering with Red Arrow Brewing Company to raise awareness about this important food-waste issue. Red Arrow will be brewing a limited edition fruit-beer made with fruit rescued from community growers and will co-host, with CGC, a Recovered Fruit-Beer Cask Night on August 9, 2018, from 6 pm to 10 pm at Red Arrow Brewing. Tickets are $28, proceeds to the Food Recovery Project. eventbrite.ca (Recovered Beer Cask Night). 250-748-8506
Salmon Farms On-Land Following a well-attended and highlyengaged town hall meeting on protecting wild salmon, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson is renewing her call to transition salmon farms onto land to save wild salmon. “Open net-pen fish farms are a sunset industry we know is harming the wild salmon fishery. Wild Pacific salmon are under threat from sea lice and disease from open net-pen fish farms,” said Malcolmson. “The B.C. New Democrat Government has taken some good steps
Cowichan Summer Games. Photo: Rob Johnson
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Wyndlow Farms Twin brothers Greg and Keith Wyndlow are well known in the Cedar area. On Wyndlow Farms, Greg and his family grow mainly hay, while Keith, on the other side, focuses on vegetables. Now in their late 80s, the brothers have long roots in the area. What’s even more exciting is that their families have taken up the lifestyle and continue farming. It all started back when their father, George Wyndlow, a stockbroker, turned farmer after misfortune brought him to Cedar. George had worked in Victoria, but when the stock exchange crashed on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, it broke him financially and his career ended. This was the start of the Great Depression. George turned to farming in Alberta, but fed-up with the cold winters, he and his family eventually found themselves back on the Island in 1945. George and Margaret had three boys — the twins, Greg and Keith, followed by Blake — and two girls, Thetis and Pamela. Education was important to the Wyndlows, and the twins would attend private school on the Island while the rest of the family remained in Alberta. That ended after the Pearl Harbour bombing on December 7, 1941. That scared the bejesus out of everyone. People were convinced that Japan was going to invade Vancouver Island. “When we went to school, we had to have the blinds down to block out any light in case it was used by the Japanese for navigation. Cars would have the top half of their headlights blacked out with shoe polish.” Back in Alberta, the family used to make toffee with the extra cream they would get from the dairy cows. The candy was very popular, and many winters were spent wrapping them and packing them in boxes. They named the farm “Caramella” in honour of the sweet confectionery. The Wyndlows continued making the candy, but it tapered off once they arrived in Cedar. Keith was 14 years old when they started farming on the 160acre Doole Road property. The Wyndlows had a good life, but they work their butts off, milking cows, growing hay, and rais-
Aerial view of Wyndlow Farms. Photo: Greg Wyndlow.
ing pigs and chickens. George tried everything to put food on the table. They were busily running two milk routes, one to Nanaimo and one to Ladysmith. They had Jersey cows, which produced milk with a thick cream. Eventually, Greg and Keith split the original farm, and it became known as Wyndlow Farms. There were four dairy farms in the area. “I think you could get 11 cents a quart,” recalls Keith. Greg looked after the bookkeeping. Eventually increasing regulations and mounting pressure on milk producers spelled an end to most of the small dairy farms. “We had to get out of the cow business,” Keith recalls. They produced corn silage and potatoes, rotating the crops. The barn was renovated, and their farming operation streamlined. There was always a challenge to be met. One year, they had eight days with no power and so the family had to use the generator in the back of a truck to keep power going. “You had to be inventive. In the early days, farmers could work off taxes by upgrading roads. Doole Road then was a tree-stump-filled dirt trail.” By 15, Keith was already a seasoned blaster. It was their job to blow out the stumps. “We got very good at it. We’d take a crowbar and make a hole in the centre of the stump and use a stick to loosen it up. Then we would take thirty-six or more sticks and place them around the stump. It was a lot of fun.” Keith married Irene Wright on August 8, 1959. They met while attending a short course designed for rural young people. They have two children, Shannon and Ian, who continue to farm. Keith, who was in Air Cadets as a youth, got a pilot’s license that “helped me capture my wife.” He remembers renting a plane form the Aeroplane Club. He would fly back and forth to see Irene, who lived in Richmond at the time. Keith and Greg have seen lots of changes in the community. “Being resilient is key to surviving in farming. There’s always machinery to buy and fix. You have to be adaptable,” says Greg. Both of the brothers worked at Madill in Nanaimo for many years as well as in the forestry industry, but farming was always their first love.
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The twins, Keith and Greg Wyndlow. Greg is the eldest being born 15 minutes earlier.
The brothers and their families are community-minded — involved in many community projects. Like true farmers, they are always willing to lend a hand. And that’s a tradition that we could all use more of these days.
Keith and Irene Wyndlow
For more stories about local farms and the Cedar District pick up a copy of the book Farms & Folks: Stories of Cedar and Area.
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Music Magic at Blues Festival Nanaimo is set again to host its Summertime Blues 2018, featuring David Vest, David Gogo, Layla Zoe and Blue Moon Marquee, with a surprise guest appearance from the Paul DesLauriers Band. These Vancouver Island Artists entertain internationally and have been recognized as Maple Blues and Juno Awards winners or nominees. “We have world-class entertainers who are in demand all over the world,” says Gerold Haukenfrers, President of the Nanaimo Blues Society. Summertime Blues continues to be located in Maffeo Sutton Park, right on the waterfront in downtown Nanaimo. “We are returning to the identical format as last year. Enhanced stage, enhanced sound and enhanced lighting. This makes for an amazing festival experi-
It was lights, cameras, and action July 20 at the Ladysmith Archives and Museum. Streamline Pictures was in town to interview local residents and members of the Ladysmith & District Historical Society about a particularly sweet moment in our Town's history – the Candy Bar Strike. The nation-wide movement started in front of the Wigwam Restaurant when local kids protested the price increase of candy bars from 5 cents to 8 cents when the war ended. Photo: Rob Johnson
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ence. Increased artisans, more food vendors and our relaxed atmosphere with adult libation anywhere in our enclosed venue,” says Haukenfrers. nanaimoblues.tickit.ca/
the stage by Roderick Glanville. For tickets call the Box Office at 1-800-565-7738 or at chemainustheatre.ca.
The Little Prince at the Chemainus Theatre
Nudes, featuring the works of Ben Sopow, Richard Harlow and Christine Battye, runs August 2–31, 2018, at the Nanaimo Art Council Gallery (78 Wharf Street). Meet the artists at the opening reception, August 2, 2018, from 6 pm to 9 pm
One of the most cherished stories of all time, The Little Prince continues at the Chemainus Theatre Festival until Sunday, August 5, 2018. Originally published as a novella in 1943, The Little Prince was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a pioneering aviator, after he escaped the fall of France in Second World War. It is thought to be inspired, in part, by his own experience of being stranded in the Sahara Desert in the 1930s. It was adapted for
Nanaimo Arts Council Show Bares All
Little Feet Explores Head Trauma Heather Williams was well on her way in her career — until the unexpected happened. Born and raised in Chemainus and Nanaimo, she graduated from the Canadian College of Per-
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Little Feet author Heather Williams
forming Arts and went on to perform Internationally at Universal Studios Japan in 2001. Just seven and a half months into the contract, a taxi hit her and she acquired a traumatic brain injury. Using this horrible tragedy, her new book Little Feet documents her journey and the physical and emotional toll it took on her and her loved ones. While oering insights into brain injuries, Little Feet puts into words the power needed to face a new reality. The book is available at Chapters, Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. For more information, visit www.littlefeetpro.com.
Outdoor Music The popular Concerts in the Park in Ladysmith and the Music in the Park in Chemainus continue through the month of August. The Ladysmith Resources Centre Association hosts a series of concerts at Transfer Beach Amphitheatre. August 12, The Deaf Aids, Beatle tribute band, August 19, Terry Boyle Irish Singer/ songwriter, and August 26, Lion Bear Fox featuring roots rock, Americana. For more information and a full listing of concerts, see the pull out centrespread in this issue of TAKE 5. Music in the Park continues at the Chemainus Waterwheel Park, on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. The line up is August 7, Luv Train,
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Blues R/B Band, August 14, The Hub Organ Trio, original and familiar tunes, Aug 21, Bijoux Du Bayou, zydeco, cajun, calypso mix, and concluding on August 28, with La Familia, upbeat Latin/American music.
Take Great Travel Photos Ladysmith Camera Club is hosting “Make Better Travel Photos,” with Dennis Ducklow, on August 28 at 7 pm, in Hardwick Hall, Ladysmith. Dennis will discuss practical, specific things you can do to ensure you return with photos that capture the memories, showcase your talent and enable you to proudly share them with others. This workshop will appeal to beginner as well as advanced photographers. Everyone welcome. Nonmembers $5 drop-in fee. (www.LadysmithCameraClub.com).
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Saltair-based filmmaker shares his Snowbirds flying adventure story BY BOB ENNIS When I heard that the Snowbirds were coming to Nanaimo, August 8, it sparked many memories in my mind. For Expo 86, I worked the year before as a cameraman on the British Columbia Pavilion high-tech mega movie produced in Showscan, a process of film shot in 70mm and projected at 60 frames per second. My assignment was to film the Snowbirds. I left Vancouver to go to Ontario where a performance of the Snowbirds was taking place in Kitchener. The first day of filming in the morning, from ground to air, captured the fantastic Snowbird Tutor aerobatic jets, which are piloted by some of the best air show flight demonstration teams in the world. I had been to the Paris Air Show to make a movie, and nothing that I had seen surpassed the aerobatic skills of our Snowbirds squadron. In the afternoon, I went to the air terminal to create a CGI process shot, and later, I climbed into a Snowbird jet for the passenger orientation training in preparation for my flight the next day. The captain that I was going to fly with went over all the safety factors that I needed to know. We would have to eject our seats by firing up the rockets underneath them, which would shoot us up and out of the cockpit. I was shown how to brace my body in a certain position to prevent a broken back. He said: “If I say, ‘Eject! Eject! Eject!’ three times, you grab that lever, push the button at the end of it and pull it up.” I looked down at the yellow cylinder with black stripes on it between our seats — the lever. It was almost frightening to look at as I thought of how I would have to psych my mind up
to grab the lever if I had to blast out of the jet. He then had me try on a helmet for a good fit. Next was instructions on how to properly put on an oxygen mask. When I asked him if we were going to fly at a high altitude, he said no; we should wear it to protect our face if birds crash through the windshield. The next morning while taxiing along the airport runway, we were bound for Sarnia, Ontario. Roaring up the engines and zooming down the runway was like being blasted out into space by a Star Wars starship. It felt more like I was in a movie, rather than making a movie. It was such an incredible speed that I had never experienced before. While flying at a low level, over farm fields, I looked down at the ground, but it was just a blur, travelling at 300 or 400 miles per hour. Then through my head set, I heard the commanding officer’s voice: “Birds in trees ahead prepare for a right turn and. ... Right turn.” As we turned in formation, I looked past my pilot through the cockpit to see a huge flock of birds flying up out of the trees. In a short time after that, we had climbed way up into the blue sky. It felt like we were in limbo, with no sensation of speed, flying nearly 500 mph in formation. I looked at the jets in front and to my left and right. At that time, it didn’t feel much different than being in a six-lane highway. But instead of cars surrounding us, there were planes, with wing tips very close to ours. All of a sudden a conversation came over the headphones that one of the jets was having some kind of engine shuddering problem. My pilot assured me that it was not us with the problem. Suddenly from our position and three jets over from us, one rose up and away from the formation. It seemed to fly at a tremendous speed backwards. That was only an illusion, though, since we were flying at 500 mph. The jet had actually slowed down to about 100 mph when he left his position. A few minutes later, the commanding officer wanted to know what action I wanted them to do for the filming. As a kid watching war movies, I was always fascinated when planes in formation would peel off one by one for an attack. He said they could do that, no problem. The jets all lined up beside us, and then each in turn rolled over and dove away down towards the ground. It was a beautiful and dramatic shot. As they all disappeared out of sight and my pilot and I were left alone, he turned to me and said that the other Snowbirds would be performing an unscheduled salute before landing in Sarnia. We had to get out of their way by diving straight down. So he told me to hold on real tight to that camera. As we dived down towards the ground, I was now looking out the roof of the cockpit, straight across to the horizon, holding onto the camera, which, even though it was about 30 pounds, felt like over 60 with the g-force. I was literally holding onto the camera for dear life, as it felt like it would easily fly out of my hands and through the cockpit’s windshield. Then, in a matter of seconds, we flattened out horizontally, before we landed. I must admit it was one of the most exciting experiences in my life, and I was glad that I had a job to concentrate on that kept me from getting really bloody scared. In 1991, I had another encounter with the Snowbirds. I was one of the cameraman on a TV movie documentary shot in Comox titled, Canada’s Magnificent Snowbirds: The First 20 Years. I never do get tired of watching them fly.
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6 – 12
Ladysmith First United Church, 232 High St., Ladysmith
1–5
7–10, 9am–3pm, Adventure Zone Day Camp, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, 250-245-6424
12, 6pm–8pm, Concerts in the Park, The Deaf Aids, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, 250-245-3079
1–5, “The Little Prince,” Chemainus Theatre Festival, 9737 Chemainus Rd., Chemainus, 1-800-565-7738
7, 7pm, Music in the Park, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus
13 – 19
7, 7pm–10pm, Ruby Tuesday, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468
13–17, 9am–3pm, Adventure Zone Day Camp, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, 250-245-6424
7, 7:30pm–10pm, Open Mic on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146
14, 7pm, Music in the Park, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus
1–Sept 1, “Grease,” Chemainus Theatre Festival, 9737 Chemainus Rd., Chemainus, 1-800-565-7738 2, 7pm–9pm, Music on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 2, 8:30pm, Alden Penner, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 3, 5pm, Dine on the Dock, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 3–24, 11am–4pm, “While Out in the Woods Today,” Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1252 3, 8pm, Megan and Chris, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 3–5, Ladysmith Days (parade starts at 10am Aug. 4), various locations in Ladysmith 4, noon–5pm, Ladysmith Little Theatre’s Improve Workshop, 4985 Christie Rd., Ladysmith, maribridges@shaw.ca or lyndonbzdel@gmail. com 4, 7pm, Gala Opening, “While Out in the Woods Today,” Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1252 4, 8:30pm, The Silver Cord, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 5, 10am–2pm, Cedar Farmers’ Market, 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo 5, 8pm, Bijoux Bayou, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468
8, 5:30pm, 2018 Canadian Forces Snowbirds Fly for CH.I.L.D, Maffeo Sutton Park, 100 Comox Rd., Nanaimo 9, 7pm–9pm, Music on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 9, 7pm–9pm, Open Mic Night, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 10, 8pm, One Love Music Festival, Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave., Ladysmith, onelovefest.ca 10, 6:30pm–8:00pm, Shut Down Pool Party, Frank Jameson Community Centre, 810 6 Ave., Ladysmith, 250-245-6424 11, noon–8pm, One Love Music Festival, Transfer beach, free entrance, after party Aggie Hall, 1110 1st Ave., Ladysmith, onelovefest.ca 11, 11am–4:30pm, Accordion Festival, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus 11–12, Adult Wheaty Five Aside Soccer, The Wheaty Sports Complex, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250722-2422 12, 10am–2pm, Cedar Farmers’ Market, 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo 12, 10am–2pm, Sea Life Celebration, Ladysmith Community Marina, 250-245-1146 12, 4pm, Organ Recital, marking Freeman Dryden’s 60th year as organist and choirmaster,
14, 7:30pm–10pm, Open Mic on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 250-245-1146 15, On the Water Movie, Ladysmith Community Marina, 250-245-1146 16, 7pm–9pm, Music on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 250-245-1146 16, 7pm, Claire Coupland, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 16–19, Cultivate Performing Arts Festival, Gabriola Commons, Gabriola Island, www. cultivate.artsgabriola.ca 17, 5pm, Dine on the Dock, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 18–19, Kids Wheaty 5 Aside Soccer, The Wheaty Sports Complex, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250722-2422 18, 10am–3pm, Show & Shine Car Show, 1st Ave. in downtown Ladysmith 19, 10am–2pm, Cedar Farmers’ Market, 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo 19, 2pm–4pm, P.J. Perry Quartet, Pat’s House of Jazz, Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton, 250-324-2245 19, 2pm, Jazz Festival, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus 19, 12, 6pm–8pm, Concerts in the Park, Terry Boyle, then Mark Crissinger, Transfer Beach,
Ladysmith, 250-245-3079
20 – 26 21, 7pm, Music in the Park, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus 21, 7:30pm–10pm, Open Mic on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 20, 7pm, Town of Ladysmith Council meeting, City Hall, 410 Esplanade Ave., 250-245-6400 20–24, 9am–3pm, Adventure Zone Day Camp, Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, 250-245-6424 21, 7pm–10pm, Ruby Tuesday, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 23, 7pm door, 7:30pm–10pm, Greg Brown Concert, St. Andrew’s United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam St., Nanaimo, 250-753-1924 23, 7pm–9pm, Music on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 23, 9pm–midnight, Karaoke Night!, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 24, 9pm, A Night of Johnny Cash with David James, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 24–26, Fun Slow Pitch, The Wheaty Sports Complex, 1866 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2422 25, noon–6pm, Nanaimo Gladiolus & Dahlia Society Annual Flower Show, Country Club Mall, 3200 N. Island Hwy., Nanaimo 25, 6:30pm–10pm, Light Up the Night, 1st Ave., in downtown Ladysmith
25–Sept. 2, 11am–4pm, “Duets—Baskets and Leather” (opening reception Aug. 25, 1pm–4pm), Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1252 26, 10am–2pm, Cedar Farmers’ Market, 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo 26, 10am–4pm, Arts on the Avenue, 1st Ave., in downtown, Ladysmith, 250-245-1252 26, 11am–3pm, Nanaimo Gladiolus & Dahlia Society Annual Flower Show, Country Club Mall, 3200 N. Island Hwy., Nanaimo 26, 6pm–8pm, Concerts in the Park Finale, Lion Bear Fox, Transfer Beach Ladysmith, 250-2453079 26, 10am, North Oyster Museum open, North Oyster Community Center, 13467 Cedar Road
27 – 31 28, 7pm, Ladysmith Camera Club’s “Make Better Travel Photos,” with Dennis Ducklow, Hardwick Hall, High St. at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith, www. LadysmithCameraClub.com 28, 7pm, Music in the Park, Waterwheel Park, Chemainus 28, 7pm–10pm, Glenn and Jetta’s Talent Tuesday Showcase, Riot Brewing Co., 3055 Oak St., Chemainus, 250-324-7468 28, 7:30pm–10pm, Open Mic on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 30, 7pm–9pm, Music on the Docks, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146
31, 5pm, Dine on the Dock, Ladysmith Community Marina, 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, 250-245-1146 Aug. 31–Sept 2, Ladysmith Kinsmen Slow-pitch Charity Ball Tournament, Aggie Field, behind Aggie Hall, corner of 1st Ave. and Symonds St., Ladysmith
SEPTEMBER Ladysmith Harbour Tours by appt, 250-245-3944 2, 10am–2pm, Cedar Farmers’ Market, 2313 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo 5, 10am–noon, Open Studio, Chemainus Art Group, Saltair Centre 2, Music on the Dock Ladysmith Community Marina 16-19, Cultivate Performing Arts Fest 31, The Crazy Senoritas, Sporty Pub
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RDN Area A (Cedar, Cassidy, S. Wellington) Director Alec McPherson returns next month.
CVRD Area H (North Oyster, Diamond) BY MARY MARCOTTE École North Oyster Elementary School — Hard Work Pays Off Over the years, the teachers and parents of École North Oyster have identified a great need for new playground equipment for this school. In recent years, funds have been raised through bottle drives, plant and bake sales and other creative fundraising ideas in hopes of making the dream of new playground equipment come true. Unfortunately, it was not feasible for this community to raise the funds entirely on their own. When it was announced that BCAA Play Here was holding a contest for three prizes, the teachers, students, parents and community members jumped at the chance to acquire one of the prizes for École North Oyster. The prizes were allotted through a voting process, which would determine the winners. Everyone involved worked very hard to inform the greater community that their support and assistance was needed in order to win one of the prizes. The greater community heard the message and submitted their votes through the online process. École North Oyster Elementary ended up among ten finalists vying for the grand prize. Shrieks of cheers and joy could be heard from the students, teachers, parents and community members when it was announced that École North Oyster had been awarded up to $100,000 to install new and safer playground equipment. Congratulations and a big “thank you” to everyone who submitted their contest ballots online. You have helped make this much needed dream come true. Your hard work and dedication will benefit the school, teachers, students and
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parents in many different ways. Climate change is having a large impact in our rural areas; there is no doubt about it. North Oyster/Diamond residents have noticed the difference as the years go by. There used to be swarms of red-legged frogs and salamanders. I have not seen them in a number of years. Our natural environment is very important to the residents. The comments I hear most often from community members is the need for sustaining and enhancing rural values and green spaces. At the top of the list is water conservation and water sustainability. The Regional District recognizes the importance of water sustainability and watershed stewardship. Food security is also a must. Our local producers are recognized as part of solution. Growth management also plays a large role for a sustainable community. The lack of water in this area helps curb growth. The Regional District is working hard to identify the critical issues and find workable solutions throughout the entire region. By working together in a collaborative manner, we will ensure a resilient future for those who follow in our footsteps. I am thankful that this community is informed about these issues and concerns and that you are willing to research and identify potential solutions for the long term. If you would like more information, please contact me.
CVRD Area G (Saltair, Thetis) Saltair Community Centre There is a fantastic new roof completed on the Saltair Community Centre. During the roofing, the CVRD hired a roofing inspection company to inspect the workmanship, procedures and quality of materials, as the CVRD didn’t have staff with the qualifications and expertise to do the job. Fortunately, because the job also came in at a very good price, there was money left over to complete, or almost complete, the gym
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renovations. The very successful Saltair Community Society has been managing the centre without the use of the gym up until now, because the ceiling had falling tiles and the spore count was too high. A company from Vancouver treated the spores in the gym area, and certified testing has been done to clear for use and construction. Some residents had concerns that the gym tiles had asbestos in them, so they were also tested and no asbestos was found. All this work has been done without raising taxes. When the school purchase loan was paid off, the taxes were kept the same to do the roof and gym renovations. The use of $130,000 of federal gas tax grant money helped to complete the job as well. During the construction, new furnaces will be put in also to keep gym users comfortably warm in the cold weather. Saltair should be proud of all the good organization of these upgrades that has come from the Saltair Community Society. The CVRD has a policy of protecting public spaces. When the school was sold to a private citizen by the school board, it was to the detriment of the community. We lost a meeting place and a place to do things together to build community. Social and psychological health is boosted by doing things together. We are still a tribal species in many ways. Trans Canada Trail Saltair Construction has now begun on the Trans Canada Trail through Saltair. This trail is also called the Cowichan Valley Trail. They started the construction at the Old Victoria rail crossing in Saltair and are working their way southward on the west side of the tracks, towards Chemainus. It will take a few months to complete and connect to the already finished sections, north and south. The difficult and most expensive part will be the bridge over Stocking Creek. The Saltair Cycling Group was instrumental in drawing attention to the neces-
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sity of this trail completion for safety and convenience. They had a demonstrative trail ride and did a delegation to the CVRD Board and to the Chemainus Rotary Club. This trail is part of the Rotary Circle Cycling Route detailed on the internet. The route goes from Tsawwassen, Sidney, Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay, Crofton, Chemainus, Saltair, Ladysmith, Cedar, Duke Point and back to Tsawwassen. The Saltair Parks Commission also pushed for the trail even though this trail is classiďŹ ed as a regional trail paid for out of the regional budget, not local. When you think of it, there are about 16,000 people between Ladysmith, Chemainus and Saltair that can use the trail. The trail will be fairly level, so it will be excellent for cycling, with a cart path hard packed surface. This is one more convenience that Saltarians can enjoy. What a wonderful community!
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Cultivating Traditions “The human soul can always use a new tradition. Sometimes we require them.” — Pat Conroy When I was a kid, I remember relishing family gatherings: the anticipation of that “long drive,” the joy of listening to stories of years gone by and the pure excitement of sitting down to a delicious homemade meal filled with laughter, and sometimes tears. These are my memories of traditions, or at least, what I always thought of as traditions. The rituals, held a couple of times a year, were a chance to get to know family members living in regions close enough to visit during holiday times, but too far to see more regularly over the weekends. Until recently, I hadn’t taken the time to think about family traditions, I mean really sit down and reflect on what my traditions were growing up and the new traditions being created with my own children. I think I took for granted the times we gathered, the four of us or with our larger family, to share stories, eat together and laugh. And I think I always associated traditions with holidays and
Family gatherings are an important process of building traditions. Photo submitted.
birthdays. Anything in between was just everyday stuff. But with the recent changes in our lives, I’ve been thinking more about family and about traditions. What does it really mean to be a family? Why are traditions so important? For me, at this point in my life, I think family is about enduring connections — belonging and compassion — and traditions provide an opportunity to stay connected, like a touchstone. So, as our family evolves and grows, so do our traditions. We continuously find ways to create new connections and maintain or revive existing ones. For us, our move to Cedar has resulted in a subconscious, or maybe a semiconscious, search for ways to cultivate new relationships while nurturing existing ones. We started with weekly “Banana Split Fridays” and “Sundae Sundays.” While initially very exciting, and tasty, the anticipation faded, and we soon realized this was not quite the tradition we had been searching for. We also neglected to fully appreciate the negative consequences of such a decadent, and frequent, tradition! Then one afternoon, Aunt Jackie had an idea. She remembered my partner and I talking about the amazing Indian restaurants we frequented when we lived in Aotearoa/New Zealand and set to preparing a delicious meal. She thought to herself, “Wouldn’t it be lovely to dress the part?” And so she set out to find
and wash the churidars purchased during her travels and the special garment gifted to her by friends. We arrived home, my partner and I from work and the kids from camp, to the tantalizing smells of turmeric and cumin and the sounds of Indian music. The farm kitchen was transformed into the smells and sounds of a far away land. We all changed into our dinner wear and sat down to a meal filled with a lot of flavour, but even more laughter. The kids’ eyes were wide with anticipation as Aunt Jackie shared stories of how she and Uncle Laurie travelled the world. With full bellies, and even fuller hearts, we decided to swap our “Banana Split Fridays” for once a month “Around the World Dinner.” It was even more exciting and special when we were able to share our newest tradition with Nana and Grandpa during their first visit to the Island — a French-inspired dinner of crêpes and crème brûlée in honour of this year’s World Cup champions! We can’t wait for next month’s dinner, which is sure to be tasty, but more importantly, another opportunity to share memories from yesteryear and create new ones too! Jackie Wood recently moved with her partner and two children from suburban Ontario to rural Cedar. The whole family is enjoying life on Thistledown Farm, learning and laughing with Aunt Jackie Moad.
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Charlie, the new addition, enjoying the Garden Path.
Puppy Madness We found our last puppy, a Silky Yorkie, from a family in Ucluelet, who were advertising a litter on the bulletin board at The Common Loaf Bakery in Tofino. We called him Benji, and he turned into an adorable addition to our family life. He was a very sociable, nine-pound ball of fearless fun-loving energy, beloved by many. Benji lived for afternoon walks with my husband, chasing sticks through the forest, and for his six years with us, he had a seemingly endless supply of energy. Last fall, we walked Benji down to Blue Heron Park one evening where he was gutted by two vicious dogs coming off the beach. Gone just like that! This spring, I was missing a doggy companion when a chance encounter with a friend informed me of a ready-to-go litter from a vet in Errington. We drove up to be greeted by an eight-week old male Shorkie/Maltipoo puppy, and it was love
at first sight. After a few days, we decided to call him Charlie, as he has a rather cockish personality. Right away, we knew Charlie was the dog for us, and I think he is happy with his new family too. He came home with us without a whimper and settled right in. They say you know you have a good dog when they make lots of eye contact, and that’s what happens with Charlie. I feel very bonded with him and am constantly amazed that such a young dog can be so smart and adaptable, and so mischievous! How could we have forgotten that a puppy changes your life? We could just as well have called him Digger or Chewer or Homewrecker because he is very fond of these activities. It’s the different breeds in him making an appearance. Which breed is it that likes to roll in fresh horse manure? Recently, he has taken to chasing our chickens around their run until we found out how he was getting into the run and shut him out. What a delightful game for a puppy, chasing flustered, zig-zagging, squawking hens. Now he just squeals at them, looking in from the outside, after many attempts to dig tunnels under the fencing. Lately, he has been playing a new game with me when a command to come is taken as run away. Cubes of cheese only worked for a short time! This is most frustrating when I am ready to leave and he is running off down the road. “Oh well, he’s only a puppy!” most people exclaim as they grin from ear to ear. I, on the other hand, grit my teeth in frustration. With a puppy in tow, you fade into the background. Accompanied by “oohs” and “aahs,” the cry “Puppy!” follows you everywhere you go. People are drawn to puppies like nails to a magnet. I hoped I was invisible while chasing Charlie down the road at the heels of three large horses, the image of a nasty horse kick looming large. This was the first time he had encountered horses, so thankfully he was not barking at them, just extremely inquisitive and too close. Good, that means he is fearless! Time to take him to the beach and see if he takes to water — no squeals here and an ability to doggy paddle a short way back to shore. Good, he’s a swimmer, now for some watery adventures. So far Charlie has been an amazing little doggy, who has already bought much joy into our lives. We now have a new awareness as owners of a small dog when it comes to larger aggressive dogs who attack them. In Charlie’s case, it means that either his instant recall is perfected or he will have to be on a restraining leash at all times. Carolyn Herriot is author of The Zero Mile Diet, A Year Round Guide to Growing Organic Food and The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook, Seasonal Recipes for Delicious Homegrown Food (Harbour Publishing). Available at your local bookstore.
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Steam-powered Children This personal beverage container nonsense has gotten out of control. It seems people can’t do anything these days without slurping on something. On Global TV last night, a woman was hiking up the Grouse Grind with a coffee in her hand. Personally, I hope a bear gets her. Then there’s the ferry problem. More and more people are falling off ferries these days. This didn’t used to happen. Falling off a ferry was just something you didn’t do, like getting run over by a train or flattened by a concrete truck. Some things just don’t look good on the resume.
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The problem is not enough hands. Today, when the captain shouts, “All hands on deck!”, half of those hands show up with water bottles in them. With one less hand to hang onto, no wonder people are taking swan dives off the upper car deck. (“All hands on deck” sounds like a kinky yoga move – the downward dogfish perhaps?) The ferry then has to turn around and rescue these people. This takes time and puts the ferries behind schedule, which seriously affects the lucky people assigned to pick the passengers up. Busy people, like your daughter, who somehow manage a full-time job, two kids, soccer, ball hockey, basket ball, regular yoga, hot yoga, cold yoga, maybe this new all-hands-on-deck yoga and, for backup, a BMW, which spends more time in the repair shop than it does on the road, and a husband so skilled in the kitchen that he frequently needs help peeling a banana. The concern here is that these overloaded people will snap, buy a handgun and start blasting seagulls out of sky, all because people are holding on to their stupid beverage containers instead of the ship.
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I am also concerned about the children, a whole generation of whom are in danger of becoming water junkies. They are constantly being hounded to drink, drink, drink, and don’t ever — and I mean ever — attempt to walk from the house to the family mini-van, which is actually nothing but a four-wheel driving cup holder, without a water bottle. It’s enough to leave an old guy scratching his head. Meanwhile, at the kid’s karate class, the young Bruce Lees are allowed to run around the small dojo three maybe four times before being called in for water. And this is on a cool day. I casually mentioned to the instructor that none of the children were steam powered and, therefore, did not have to stop so frequently for water. I escaped without a pummelling, but barely. The problem is if we as a society keep guzzling water at our present rate, there’ll be none left for the important stuff, like watering the lawn, flushing the toilets and, let’s not forget, ice cubes for the gin and tonics. Some of us were fortunate enough to be brought up before water bottles were
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invented. Having both hands free made swinging through the trees like Tarzan a lot more fun and way less risky. On hot days, we did stop for water, however — but never to drink — always to dump it on our heads, then furiously comb the curls out, curls being about as highly prized as acne. Back then our parents had no qualms about sending us out to play without water. They had more important concerns, like whether our underwear was clean. Accidents do happen, and sometimes, you’d take the long way home — that being the emergency room where the first thing they did, whether it was a black eye or a dripping nose, was to remove your trousers, the sole purpose being to embarrass your mother. Equally important was that your mother slathered half a jar of cream on your nose before you went out in the sun. The identity of this cream was never disclosed, but judging from the smell, which was impossible to escape from, it was one of Mom’s beauty creams. Despite her best efforts, my nose was never singled out for acclaim. Though I often stuck it in other’s business, not once did a member of the opposite sex say, “What a beautiful nose you have. That must have taken a lot of cream.” Though we were never force-fed water or ordered to carry a water bottle around, no one died of dehydration. Several of us, however, were sent to the emergency with plugged airways. The attending physician pulled our pants down, checked for dirty shorts, then sent us home with a note for our moms to use a smaller trowel when applying nose cream. Today’s preoccupation with water all started when a health researcher concluded that the average human required eight glasses of water a day. This quickly became the new seventh commandment, replacing “though shall not commit adultery,” which no one was treating seriously anyway. But what’s this? The researcher hadn’t finished. His next sentence, mysteriously unreported, was that drinking eight glasses of water a day was unnecessary because most of us get that amount from fruits, vegetables and other beverages consumed. But it was too late, the damage had been done. North America had gone water-bottle happy. Pretty soon you couldn’t buy so much as a pogo stick without a cup holder. Meanwhile, over at the cat kingdom, you won’t be finding any water bottles. Why drink boring water when you can get all the liquid you need by slurping back a nice juicy rat? To a cat, water is an optional beverage, a beverage of last resort, something to drink in a rodent shortage, or when the birds fly South, or when mom has a senior’s moment and forgets to put Frisky’s whitefish and tuna pâté on her shopping list. As our new cat, Frankie, puts it, “Leave the water drinking to the lesser animals. Let them puff up on water. When they get nice and juicy, I’ll take over from there.” Humans have some of the same tendencies. We can get by with very little water. Two gargantuan cups of coffee in the morning, a fat juicy steak for dinner, lots of veggies, a delicious Spanish red, Borsao, $12.25, and a shot of cream for the nose and you’re pretty much ready to go. My book Slightly Corked is available at the Coco Café, the Mahle House, the Wheaty Beer and Wine Store, and the Crow and Gate Pub. Follow Delbert at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com or pick up his book Slightly Corked available at the Mahle House.
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Evolution of The Mahle House Restaurant Garden BY STEPHEN WILSON Since opening in 1983, we have been fortunate to have access to many wonderful small farms from Nanoose to Ladysmith. In the mid-90s, it occurred to Maureen Loucks that, sitting on an acre of land, the restaurant was uniquely poised to grow some of its own produce. Thus, the Mahle House Restaurant Garden was born. Over the next 20 years, we tried many crops and conďŹ gurations, ďŹ ddled with irrigation systems, and had many successes and also many failures. One constant, however, was our heavy wet clay
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soil. We could not start planting until the soil dried out. It was rare to get much produce before the end of July, and come fall, heavy rains meant few, if any, fall crops. Early in 2016, we made the decision to move the garden. The entire infrastructure was removed and taken to our home. We trucked in 25 yards of soil, installed fencing and built a new irrigation system. While the first two seasons were a marked improvement in the new location (carrots harvested through early December), 2018 was truly a metamorphosis. At the end of 2017, we invested in row covers, caterpillar tunnels and higher tunnels built with agricultural poly. This allowed us to warm the soil and sow crops much earlier than usual. We managed to produce crops of radishes, kale, mizuna and turnips in early May, and by the beginning of June, we were harvesting carrots and romaine … a full month or more sooner than previous years. Once full production hit, we also had tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, kohlrabi, cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, apples and blueberries. The hardest part now is keeping up with harvesting, weeding and replanting. Our children have been more or less willing participants in the occasional garden shift. Last year, we also added pigs to our program. We have a boar and two sows. This spring, they successfully littered ten piglets that we sold to hobby farmers. Talk about a steep learning curve! The day the piglets were born, the boar broke free and was racing around the yard in a frenzy. It was very exciting to have a 400-pound panicking pig running around the property. Fortunately, a friend, and more seasoned veteran of the business, came over and helped us coax him back home. Even more exciting was the day the piglets all got out. It is amazing how fast six-week old piglets can be. One even got into the boar pen and kept zapping its nose on the electrical fence; it took some doing getting him back with his mom. Our next litter should be arriving in the fall. Stay tuned for exciting news regarding our house-made charcuterie program. Our bee hives are the newest addition to the farm. Two hives were placed on the property from Fredrich’s Honey Farm on Cedar road. They produce the honey from those two hives exclusively for us to use at the restaurant. What a sweet treat that is, and it sure is nice to have pollinators on the property. You can keep abreast of what is new and happening in the garden by following us on our Facebook page.
Raising pigs at the Mahle House Restaurant Garden. Photos: Stephen Wilson
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Best locally made chocolate chip cookie tasting with judge Dina Stuehler of Ironworks Crêperie. Photo:Allen McDermid.
How the cookie crumbles BY MARINA SACHT This month we put the chocolate chip cookie to the test. Chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1938 by Ruth Graves Wakefield and Sue Brides. Ruth owned the Toll House Inn, in Whitman, Massachusetts so she named it the Toll House cookie. Bits from a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar was added to the first recipe and it was called “Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie”. Our taste judge this month is Dina Stuehler who serves up sweet and savory entrees at Ironworks Creperie. The cookies were judges on appearance, texture, taste, and dunk-ability. The nominees were selected by our readers. Hearthstone Artisan Bakery - $1.16 ea. 2.8 grams. Soft topside, slightly hard bottom; good milk retention; home baked look; choc chip – good size and distribution – soft and chewy CoCo Café - $.95 cents ea. – 2.6 grams. Thick & buttery, great milk retention – sticks together; large, small Choc chips, evenly cooked. Country Grocer - .82 cents ea. – 1.6 grams. Soft, doughy, slightly uncooked; minimal milk absorption: great look; lots of small choc chips, not too sweet. Subway (Ladysmith) - $.63 cents ea. – 1.7 grams. Soft & chewy, slightly under cooked; minimal milk absorption; attractive appearance, lots of medium choc chips - very sweet. 49th Parallel Grocery (English Bay) - $.33 cents ea. 1. gram. Light chewy, slight crispness; average dunk-ability; pleasing appearance, tasty small choc chips, nice flavour, good chew factor. Old Town Bakery - $.95 cents ea. – 1.1 grams. Crispy, slight gingerbread taste, sweet, firm, good dunk-ability. Wild Poppy Bistro (Gluten Free) - $.95 cents – 2.2 grams. Thick & chewy; lots of milk retention, crumbly but cooked through, very chocolatey, spicy. Chemainus Bakery – $1.65 ea. – 2.8 grams. Crumbly, crispy & chewy; generous size; big choc chips, oatmeal taste. Judge Dina chose the 49th Parallel Grocery Store chocolate chip cookie as her favourite with an all-around good appearance, flavour and cost factor. Chemainus Bakery was a close 2nd with generous size and chocolatey taste but the most costly. Taste is subjective so we encourage you to get out and do your own taste testing to discover your own favourite chocolate chip cookie.
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HEALTH & BEAUT Y
FOR SALE 2013 Polaris RZR Side by Side quad. 357 orig. miles. All new synthetic oil in running gear. Too many options to list. For appointment to view, call 250-924-4624 and leave a message.
10 Ways to Protect Your Property From a Wildfire Fires are a natural part of the forest ecosystems in Canada. The burning recycles nutrients and improves the habitat for animals. It is also good for trees in the long run. It clears the forest floor of debris, allowing existing trees to grow stronger and healthier. However, fires can also be devastating to those located near a wildfire-prone zone. Perennially, they pose a significant risk to communities and businesses located close to forests. Based on lessons learned over the past decade, here are FirstOnSite Restoration’s 10 ways that residents and business owners can protect their property from a wildfire:
10 Steps to Preventing Wildfire 1. Create a 10-metre defensible space around your property. 2. Make your roof fire-resistant and clear away gutter debris. 3. Keep embers out. 4. Remove close by coniferous trees. 5. Prune your trees. 6. Keep your lawn mowed. 7. Create a “bug-out” bag and an action/evacuation plan. 8. Find a “fire-resistant zone” near your home. 9. Work with your neighbours. 10. Ensure you have adequate insurance coverage. (FirstOnSite Restoration; www.firstonsite.ca/)
USED WOMEN’S BIKE needs some work, good condition. White, 7 speed, large frame. 250-2459165 SCALERS RIGG, used for climbing up poles, etc. Fair condtion. Best offers. 250-245-9165.
HUGS FOR HEALING. A support group for all widows who wish to share their journey. Every 2nd Wednesday of each month, 2pm–4pm, at The Gales (626 Farrell Rd. Unit 14, Ladysmith). Contact Lindy Tungatt at kandlt@hotmail.com or 250-924-0056. TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner classes start Sept. & Jan., Mondays, at Cedar Heritage Centre. On-going class Wednesdays at North Oyster Community Centre. Both classes 10am–noon, $25/mo., www.nanaimotaichi.org. Call Sara 250-245-1466.
STORM DOOR, used, $50. 250-245-9165.
HOME & YARD
BUSINESS
QUALITY RENOVATIONS. Big or small. 25 yrs. exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate, call Lars 250-616-1800.
RIPPIN SHORES MARINE SERVICE. Tuneups, maintenance, summerizing, winterizing, shrinkwrap, trailers, buff detailing & more. Outboards, sterndrives, inboards, Personal watercrafts. Mobile. Reasonable rates. New business deals. Licensed marine mechanic. 778268-0790. Thanks.
DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 30 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. No job is too small, from fences, decks, tile work to hardwood flooring, painting, drywall, etc. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823.
I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or nonfiction, web content and eBook prep. For more information, email editican@gmail.com.
TAKE 5 ads work! 250-245-7015
CONCRETE RESULTS. Contracting, full-service forming and finishing, walls, walks, patios, drives. 35 years experience. Call Gord 250-753-4024.
ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large and small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260.
BEADS BEADS BEADS, ETC.! 9752 Willow St., Chemainus. Best prices on the Island. Follow Facebook@etcinchemainus or call 250-3242227. EXPERIENCED HOUSESITTER booking for Spring 2019. Now also offering Senior Companionship and concierge services ! peaceofmindcare.wordpress.com. Contact Kathleen at kgrcoaching@gmail.com or 250619-0786. ROMAX MASONRY. Chimney repairs and rebuilds. Stonework. Patios. Interlocking pavers. Fireplaces. Slate installs. Minor excavating. Romaxmasonry.com, romax-bc@shaw.ca or 250-516-7597. EDUCATION VIDEO PRODUCTION services, from script to screen, edited and ready to post on YouTube, Facebook or your website. Editor@take5.ca. TAKE 5 classified ads work. Get them working for you. Call 250-245-7015 or submit online at take5. ca. Serving Nananaimo to Chemainus.
ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING A HOME? Curb appeal, re-design or new design, www. islandgardenscapes.ca or 250-802-0461.
KB HANDYMAN AND YARDWORKS SERVICES. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, gutter cleaning, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors’ discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@gmail.com or 250-714-2738.
TAKE 5
take5.ca
GARDEN RENOVATION AND LANDSCAPING. Are you thinking of a garden renovation or landscaping project? Excellent quality and knowledge. We are happy to assist you with any landscaping or gardening work you need. Estimates are always free. Give Sandpiper a call! 250-246-2421.
DOG WALKING/Hiking OFF LEASH!! 2-hour avg. walk, weekly walks year-round, pick up & drop off included, insured & licensed. Contact Paula Plecas for a complimentary meet & greet! See us Facebook and Instagram for fun in action! Tracks Outdoor Adventures INC at walken@ shaw.ca or 250-754-TREC(8732).
RAISED GARDEN BEDS, railings, wheelchair ramps, decks, benches, woodsheds, greenhouses, painting, carpentry, custom shelving. Enhance your enjoyment of the home and yard you love. Namaste Home Improvements, 250-245-2751.
PHOTO, or VIDEO service.. Affordable friendly, onsite appointments. Excellent gift for loved ones. Starting at $50. 250-756-8892
HIGH PERFORMANCE LANDSCAPING locally owned & operated, excavating services, lawn maintenance, hedge, tree & shrub pruning, low maintenance garden design, irrigation installations & servicing, water features, fence, deck & patio construction, mulch & soil delivery, garbage/ dump runs. Call 250-327-5896. ALL ACRES TREE SERVICE providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling, hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265. THE HAPPY GARDENER. Weeding, digging, raking, cutting back, etc. I also do odd jobs. Cheerful and conscientious. Call David 250618-9217. PETS PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE. Leash ’em & walk ’em with Marlena. Insured and bonded. Animal First Aid and CPR. Service for all pets including dog walking, home care visits, overnight with pet in my home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250-246-3394. TOO CRAZY BIRDY HOTEL. Now three locations: Victoria, Cedar and Comox Valley. Travel with peace of mind, parrot boarding in loving settings. Budgies to macaws. $7, $14, $18 for sml, md, lrg. www.toocrazybirdyhotel.com. Call Diana and Kip 250-722-2201. LEASHED PACK HIKES FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND. Awesome exercise & canine enrichment. Dogs return home tired & happy. Contact Dee at Little Town Pet Service at littletownpetservice@ gmail.com or call/text 250-246-0252.
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SENIORS LYNN’S SENIORS CARE HOME. High quality personalized care. Warm caring environment. Great food and snacks. Family events. Couples and pets welcome. Ocean views, gardens. North of Ladysmith..lynnsseniorcare.com. 250-245-3391. GRANNYS ON THE GO Companion Services. Are you looking for help with an active senior family member? Well look no further than Janet Bowman at janetmb@shaw.ca, or 250-924-1515.