TAKE 5 June 2020

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Letters Suspend 5G Twenty-Four Canadian Groups Say: Suspend 5G Until Proven Safe Appeal to the Government of Canada: “Look Before We Leap” Everyone wants faster access to the internet, and recent events have shown us how important dependable, high-speed internet is. Yet many parts of B.C. do not have it. The telecoms are promising a brand new, untested wireless technology, 5G, and are laying the groundwork for the grid in the larger centres. As scientists and experts from around the world warn about associated risks to both health and privacy, people are becoming concerned, and rightly so.

Better options to another wireless network are available. One is a fiber optic cable network that goes into the home and connects via cable to provide internet access. Fiber optic cable provides far faster service (up to 20 times faster), can handle more data, does not emit radiation and is far more protective of personal information. In addition wired internet uses far less energy than does wireless. Some communities in B.C., like Denman, Hornby and Salt Spring Islands and the Slocan Valley, already are exploring how to create such a fiber network.

Meanwhile, concerns raised by individuals are going unheard by industry and the government agencies responsible for protecting us, and 5G continues being rolled out. The health and security of our families and theirs are being put at risk.

Consequently, on May 14, twenty-four organizations from across Canada launched a unified urgent appeal to the federal government to suspend the 5G rollout until it is proven to be safe and to invest in fiber optics. The appeal can be read at www.c4st.org/5Gappeal. Individuals are invited to ensure their concerns are heard by signing the appeal at www.appel5gappeal.ca.

— Nola Galloway

Public consult lacking The public-consultation process in Ladysmith is broken. Insofar as it exists at all here, the process serves only to allow Council to fulfill their statutory obligation under the Local Government Act. Arrange a meeting, invite proponents, tick the box, job done.

I’ve been here long enough now to see three generations of Council in action. All have been deeply uncomfortable with

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public consultation, particularly on the rare occasions when concerns were raised and/or participants asked for more information.

On January 21, I was among a group of homeowners who went to a council meeting to learn about a new brewpub proposed for our immediate neighbourhood on the 200 block of Dogwood Road. Despite our best efforts at city hall, the town was unable to provide a copy of the official plan for the project, so there were legitimate concerns about adherence to bylaws, parking, operating hours, public safety, etc.

The official plan was also absent at the meeting, even though Council was scheduled to vote on whether to approve an application to rezone the proposed site. We could draw only two conclusions: either Council had the official plan and were not making it available to the public; or they were about to vote on a project they had not seen.

In that light, it was suggested by a local homeowner that the public consultation and the vote should be postponed until such a time that both processes could be better informed by the official plans.

Councillors seemed almost threatened by this suggestion.

Perhaps it was just the inconvenience of having to listen to the public drone on when Council had already made up its mind.

The vote to approve the rezoning passed, unanimously.

Subsequent efforts to request an official copy of the plan also have been rejected by City Hall. Officials there have directed the homeowners to apply for the information through the Freedom of Information Act, a lengthy process they know will buy them enough time to approve a new development application

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for a plan that local neighbours have not been allowed to see.

In the overall scheme of the Town’s development plans, the brewpub is a small project; there may be nothing there to see, nor hide. But it once again laid bare the weakness of our council’s commitment to public disclosure, and that has to change if we are to achieve our growth ambitions. Stone-age practices make poor tools for modernisation.

In Canada, the courts recognise that all levels of government have a duty to consult with community stakeholders (such as taxpayers) on issues and developments that may impact the environment, public health and the quality of life.

Modern governments have a responsibility not only to consult with the public, but also to accommodate some of their concerns and, in some cases, seek consent for major projects through referenda. Several major infrastructure projects earmarked for First Nations land, for example, have recently been returned to the negotiating table for failing to accommodate and seek consent during the public consultation process.

This is not just the law, it is also best practice, and Ladysmith deserves a council that will consistently strive for that.

The proposed brewpub may be a small project, but the process around its approval also shows a real lack of vision and planning from the council. It is the smallest of three commercial projects emerging on a quarter-mile stretch of the Dogwood Road environs that will significantly change an entire residentially-zoned neighbourhood.

Yet each is being considered individually, without meaningful consulta-

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tion, community impact assessments or wider municipal planning for the area.

If it goes ahead as planned, the largest project will require a significant rewrite of Ladysmith’s zoning bylaws, enough to almost double the allowable height of commercial projects.

If you don’t own a house near the 200 block of Dogwood Road, why should you care? The small-picture answer is that, in a town with no culture of transparency, projects like this could be coming to a site very near you.

In the bigger picture, all Ladysmith residents have an interest in demanding that our council’s commitment to public disclosure equals their ambition for development. Why? Because any clear vision for the future requires daylight.

— Russ Barling, Ladysmith

Letter to the editor in May Given that Director Lynne Smith has consistently championed the community’s right to decide by referendum whether it will fund the Saltair Community Centre (SCC), Mary Desprez’s accusation of divisiveness is baffling. Her factual assertions are even more so.

First, the Saltair Community Society is indeed a private society. It directly serves and reports to its members, not the public.

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Second, providing our own recreation facility does not save Saltair taxpayers any money. Any cost to Saltair taxpayers for purchasing, operating, maintaining, and/or updating the building is in addition to the cost for Regional Recreation. As Director Smith reported in the September 2019 edition, the funding scenarios for Regional Recreation all suggest local taxpayers should pay the full cost for some of the facilities in their area plus a portion of the cost for the Regionally Significant Facilities.

The CVRD does not deem the SCC to be a Regionally Significant Facility.

Third, Lynne Smith has not received a 33 per cent CVRD salary increase. She clearly deserves one, but the allegation that she has received such an increase is false.

Fourth, I have never seen Director Smith attack volunteers. In fact, she supports volunteers and volunteering (e.g., February 2020 Director’s Notes).

There is certainly no such attack in her April 2020 Director’s Notes.

- Gord Van Dyck Letters to the editor on community topics and concerns are welcomed.

Please email editor@take5.ca or fax: 250-245-7099 or PO Box 59, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A1.

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winner of the draw. A huge sigh of relief escaped from the gathered crowd, as the baby was not a human baby as feared.

Depending on your source, the baby was either a kitten or a live piglet. My mother, who had come from the community of Extension, along with her grandmother, to protest this giving away of a baby, said that the baby was a piglet, and not a kitten, as described in Viola Cull’s book Chronicle of Ladysmith and District (page 349).

In view of the times and the hardship on local residents, it makes more sense that the “prize” would be something to be considered an asset rather than another mouth to feed.

At least that’s as I see it ...

Whose Baby Is It??

That was on the lips of all the women and many of the men of Ladysmith 90 years ago.

The depression was just starting, and the local coal mines had been running intermittent for the last couple of years.

Many couples were at their wits end trying to figure out how to feed their families. So it wasn’t a complete shock when word quickly spread around the town that a local merchant was giving away a baby.

You read it right: A baby was going to be raffled off. With each cash purchase at that store, a numbered ticket was given to each customer.

At all the women’s organizations, the only topic of discussion was the “live baby raffle” and the question of “whose baby?”

Women’s groups from all societies petitioned the mayor, the police and the ministers of the various churches to stop this giving away. “It’s all perfectly legal” was the response given. These worthy men had interviewed the shop own-

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Joseph Mason was likely Ladysmith’s mayor during the 1930s baby give-away.

Photo: Ladysmith Archives/Bruce Mason

ers, and it was clear to them that no laws had been broken.

The long awaited Saturday afternoon of the draw arrived, and so did many angry women and a few men. At precisely 5 pm, the box filled with ticket stubs was retrieved from the back of the store by the store owner. Then without much fanfare a ticket was drawn. The gathered crowd held their breath waiting for that fateful number to be called out. Who would be the winner and more even more to the point, who had given their baby away?

The store owner then went to back of his shop and returned with the baby to be presented to the lucky or unlucky

To find out more about the Great Baby Giveaway, and other community stories, visit the Ladysmith Museum or the Ladysmith Archives when they re-open.

Logging camp in the 1930s.

The men were not as upset as the women.

Photo Ladysmith Archives

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See Part 1 in the May 2020 issue of TAKE 5

Compendium of Caring, Part 2

BY DR. QUENTIN GOODBODY We are fortune to live in a community as caring as ours. Just how caring is reflected in a long history of philanthropic organizations in the town.

Still very active in Ladysmith is the

Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE). Founded in 1898 in Seattle, this is an international non-profit organization “uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.”

Within 10 years of its inception, the organization boasted more than 1,800 Aeries scattered throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a membership exceeding 350,000. Members received free medical attention for themselves and their families, weekly payments in case of sickness and a funeral benefit — all valuable services before the widespread availability of medical, disability and life insurance.

The FOE Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed in 1926.

The Ladysmith Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) Aerie #686 was instituted

Fraternal Order of Eagles building,Ladysmith. Photo: Quentin Goodbody (Below): Ladysmith Lions planting tree in Ladysmith. Photo: TAKE 5 file

on April 22, 1904, over a month before the Town was incorporated. Aerie #686 surrendered its Charter in 1922. Five years later, on May 2, 1927, Ladysmith Aerie #2101 was instituted with 90 Chartered Members. The Aerie motto is “people helping people.” The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2101 was instituted August 25, 1949.

Former Aerie #686 and the present Aerie #2101 both met in the Odd Fellows Hall on Roberts Street until that building burned down in May 1932. Currently the Aerie is housed in the Eagles Hall

at 921 1st Avenue — a building dating from 1901, with its own interesting heritage history.

The F.O.E Ladysmith #2101 continues to work hard to bring citizens together in the name of bettering communities and raising funds to assist friends and neighbours in need. The Aerie and Auxiliary donate thousands of dollars annually to local sports groups, festivals and celebrations, community support groups and High School bursaries.

The International Association of Lions was founded in 1917 with the main tenet being “unselfish service to others” and the motto “we serve.”

As of January 2020, the governing body known as Lions Clubs International, oversees 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members (Lions

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& LEO) in more than 200 countries around the world.

Local Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues and many other programs. The discussion of politics and religion is forbidden. The LIONS acronym also stands for Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nations’ Safety.

Membership in the Lions Club is by “invitation only.” All member applicants need a sponsor who is an active member and of good standing in the club they intend to join. In 1987, the constitution of Lions Clubs International was amended

Kinsmen Street Hockey Team, 2017.

Photo: Duck Paterson

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to allow for women to become members.

Since then many clubs have admitted women, but some all-male clubs still exist. In addition to adult Lions Clubs, the Lions family includes Lioness Clubs, Leo Clubs, Campus Lions Clubs and Lion Cubs.

The Ladysmith Lions Club (LLC) was founded in 1941 with the mission “To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian

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needs by providing voluntary service through community involvement and international co-operation.”

The organization has been involved in the development of playing fields, ball grounds, starting the Senior’s Housing Society providing low-cost rental accommodation, supporting the hospital, restoring and managing the Aggie Hall, hosting the Home and Garden Show and currently supports a number of charitable activities in the town, such as Ladysmith Family and Friends (LaFF).

Kin Canada, founded in 1920, is the nation’s largest all-Canadian service club organization. Over 6000 members belong to Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin

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clubs across the country, working to better their communities, enhance the well-being of Canadians and improve the environment. The Association is dedicated to fostering life-long friendships while “serving the community’s greatest need.”

Kin Clubs perform a wide variety of local fundraising and service projects.

Certain national service projects are addressed as well, with current focus on the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Kin Canada is also involved in a bursary program designed to help students fund their dreams of post-secondary education, advocacy for Canadian Blood Service collecting blood donations, organ and tissue donation programs, management of a disaster relief fund and promotion of Kin Canada’s National Day of KINdness every February.

The Kinsmen Club of Ladysmith (KCL) received its charter on February 22, 1952. The club has a long list of contributions to the community, including purchase of an ambulance, construction of a Health Unit, building and rebuilding playgrounds at Root Street, Transfer Beach (playground and spray park) and Brown Drive Park, construction and expansion of the Festival of Lights building on Fourth, construction of over a dozen ramps to facilitate access for persons with disabilities (including a ramp to the Museum), provision of bursaries for local students and supporting dozens of youth sports teams and events. The Ladysmith Kinsmen are also the sponsors and organizers of both of the Town’s annual parades, Ladysmith Days, as well as the Festival of Lights’ Light Up Parade.

A recent innovation is an annual Soap

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Box Derby. An initiative that the club has been trying to get off the ground is the construction of a public washroom in the downtown area.

The KCL stresses that all that it has done would not have been possible without support from ALL of the members of the Ladysmith community.

Another well-known organization with continued presence in Ladysmith is the Rotary, which defines itself as a nonpartisan, non-sectarian organization open to business and professional leaders aged 18 and upwards, with no regard to economic status. Its mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. Rotary is made up of three parts: Local Rotary clubs, Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.

The first Rotary Club was formed in Chicago in 1905. Today there are 35,000+ member clubs worldwide; upwards of 1.2 million people have joined the Rotary organization. Until the 1980s, women were not allowed membership although Rotarian spouses were often members of the similar Inner Wheel Club founded in 1924 to unite wives and daughters of Rotarians. Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18-30 in communities worldwide to organize service activities, develop leadership skills and socialize. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18.

Rotary International supports Rotary clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs, which focus on preventing disease, providing clean water, supporting education, growing local economies, saving mothers and children and promoting peace. In 2018, the Rotary Foundation awarded in excess of US $86

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million to fund these initiatives.

The Rotary Club of Ladysmith (RCL) was founded in 1970. The club accepts new members by invitation or approved application. Very active within the community, past projects include the construction of the Ladysmith Golf Course, building a public boat launch, Peace Garden, tot park and the Rotary Lookout. RCL continues to support Ladysmith Family & Friends (LaFF), the Ladysmith Secondary School lunch program, scholarships to graduates, the Food Bank, and the Ladysmith and District Arts Council amongst many other groups. The club is involved internationally by raising funds to support a Mayan community on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Major local projects currently underway include collective efforts with other service clubs to fundraise for building a fitness path around Forrest Field and to build the Rotary Gardens (the Leaving Garden) at Cowichan Hospice.

Recently the club has begun the sponsorship of Rotaract, a Vancouver Island University based Rotary club. There is also an Interact Club at Ladysmith Secondary. This group of students actively supports all Rotary projects, as well as their own. It is currently involved in fundraising to support the replenishment of emergency supplies for the community in the event of a disaster.

The Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) came into being in 1992 at a time when social problems stemming from a prolonged period of economic downturn were evident. The intent was to form a group that, after an assessment of community needs, would centralize and optimize provision of social services. The LRCA vision is to be the centre of social change in Ladysmith through “enriching the lives of people in the community through advocacy, programs and partnerships.”

Currently housed in Spirit Square, at 630 2nd Avenue, the LRCA administers a wide variety of programs under the

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headings Community Wellness, Food Security and Shelter. “Community Wellness” incorporates Counselling, Family Support Services, Income Tax Preparation, Kids, Restorative Justice, Seniors Advocacy, Victim Services and Youth Support Services. “Food Security” incorporates the LRCA Food Bank, Food Recovery and the LRCA Soup Kitchen.

“Shelter” encompasses Housing Support Services, the LRCA Cold Weather Shelter and the soon to be constructed LRCA Affordable Housing Project.

Last in this review and the youngest of the societies mentioned herein, Ladysmith Families and Friends (LaFF) started in 1993. It provides inclusive, interactive opportunities for the development of children, families and community. Programs include LaFF Mornings and LaFFternoons in the Aggie Hall and Family Frolics at the Frank Jameson Community Centre and Swimming Pool.

The above is a long list of benevolent organizations, past and present, in Ladysmith. Doubtless it is not complete: for example, additional research is required regarding the Knights of Pythias, which were in Ladysmith, and the Salvation Army, which may have been active in our town. If your group has been left out, send information on the history and activities of your organization to the Ladysmith & District Historical Society by sending an email to info@ladysmithhistoricalsociety.com.

COVID-19 has interrupted our activities and many are feeling the strain financially, and mentally. It is heartwarming to know in these times of social distancing that our community, through its orders, societies and clubs, has a continuing history of really having “got it together” when it comes to looking after each other.

Quentin Goodbody is the president of Ladysmith & District Historical Society

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Some of the volunteers at Kiwi Cove Community Garden.

Chris Barfoot Joins the Town as Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Chris Barfoot joined the Town of Ladysmith as the new director of Parks, Recreation and Culture on March 30th, right at the peak of the pandemic. Barfoot comes from the City of Nanaimo and brings over 28 years of diverse municipal parks, recreation and cultural experience to the Town. “The introduction to the town was exciting, but also posed some unique challenges,” he says.

COVID-19 has changed the face of the recreation industry. Everything is impacted from fitness class sizes to the use of certain facilities. “At least, in the beginning, there’s going to be some significant differences,” says Barfoot.

A lot of sports clubs are working with their provincial sports representatives to put together safety procedures and a case for reopening.

“We want to re-open the doors, but we want to do it in a cautious and safe man-

Chris Barfoot new Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture.

Photo: Marina Sacht

ner. We want to make sure that we have the proper education, procedure and items in place to ensure a smooth transition. We understand there’s going to be a lot of anxieties as things start to reopen and people start getting re-engaged.”

Barfoot is passionate about the positive benefits of recreation and culture pursuits, providing inclusive access to recreation opportunities and programs, and creating diverse offerings for the community.

He was drawn here by the beauty of the town, its amazing recreation facilities, a beautiful waterfront and a gorgeous downtown.

“I think the biggest asset that Ladysmith has is the passion of the people working in non-profits or for business, together with the common goal of bringing Ladysmith forward. I’m really excited to be working with that passion and commitment.” He is looking forward to supporting existing and new relationships with the community stakeholders to enhance the health and quality of life for all.

Even though we’re in the middle of a pandemic, Barfoot invites groups or individuals to reach out to him. “I am here, and I’m totally willing and ready to meet everyone.”

Growing for a need The Kiwi Cove Community Garden, located on land donated by the Kiwi Cove Lodge on Breton-Page Road, has been growing food exclusively for the Ladysmith Food Bank since 2008. This year, the garden got off to a shaky start, with former volunteers either not available for personal reasons or concerned

about participating in group activities due to the coronavirus. However, the Ladysmith Resources Centre classified the garden as an essential service, and volunteers rose to the occasion, in some cases developing “work-arounds” to minimize close contact with each other.

Putting up the fencing was a challenge, but as of May 25th, most of the garden has been planted, and the first harvest of spinach, radishes, kale, Swiss chard and mixed greens has been delivered to the Food Bank.

In past years, the Kiwi Cove Community Garden has sometimes supplied over 3000 pounds of vegetables to the Food Bank, with an average of 2600– 2700 pounds each year. This year, with as many as eleven volunteers now contributing their time and energy, the garden is flourishing and poised for maximum productivity. New records may or may not be set, but all signs are pointing to a good harvest throughout the summer season and into the fall.

Helping Ladysmith’s Homeless During COVID-19 In response to the COVID-19 crisis, BC Housing is working with communities and local health authorities across the province to identify temporary sheltering spaces — such as emergency response centres and designated hotels — to provide safe places for people experiencing homelessness.

In Ladysmith, a small-scale tenting site, with toilets and hand-washing stations, that includes food, outreach, hygiene and security services opened in May. The groups staying at these sites will be no more than a dozen people

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who can self-isolate together. Currently, there are eight individuals staying at the site located at a vacant lot owned by the Town on Buller Street. The maximum occupancy is 12.

“The temporary outdoor shelter site, across from the existing winter shelter on Buller Street, will be serving individuals familiar to Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) staff and offer the same services, but in an outdoor location while providing for social distancing and monitoring,” says Mayor Stone.

“Community members have asked some really good legitimate questions, and we’ve been able to ease some of the worries,” says Ladysmith Resources Centre Executive Director Christy Wood.

“For the most part, the community has been very supportive,” says Wood, “but there’s still a handful of people that are using the stigma approach. A lot of that comes from fear and lack of understanding about the situation or the support services that are there.”

The staff and clients have even received some threats from people opposed to the shelter. “Our homeless deserve the same level of human safety that we can give to everybody,” says Wood, adding that kindness and compassion go a long way. Support can come in a variety of ways. A thank you to the hard-working shelter staff or a call to the LRCA office to see what items are needed are just two ways people can lend a hand. The LRCA is working with partners in planning for Phase 2 to see what things will look like after the funding ends on June 30.

“Just days before we got the site, we were able to get two individuals housed,” says Wood. A chronic shortage of housing is exacerbating the homeless situation. “There’s nothing available, especially for some of our individuals that need the most support,” says Wood. “So when you get messaging from the community that says we only want local homeless people here, but you don’t have any supportive housing available in Ladysmith, you’re actually sending them out into communities that don’t want them.”

Having the homeless shelter here has helped the LRCA connect resources to the homeless. “I think one of the positives that comes out of this is that our shelter in the past was only open in the night time, so even though our staff was able to build some strong relationships with our homeless population, it was always very hard to track them down and link them with other agencies during the day. By having them at a site regularly during the day, we’ve been able to connect nurse practitioners, doctors and service agencies that we struggle to connect with our homeless population.”

Another success is that individuals at the site are stable and getting all their basic needs met when they don’t have to worry about where they are going to sleep or what they’re going to eat, allowing them to think about ways to improve their situation.

With safe shelter and resources available, there is a positivity that is starting to grow at the homeless site.

One individual is planning to go into detox. Another has started a small garden.

“The homeless clients have a message for the community,” says Wood. “They are feeling very positive and feeling very, very grateful for the support they received.”

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David Spirit Wolf Bodaly and Beau Wagner are part of the new Artist Collaboration

A New Artist Collaborative Opened in the Red Barns at Beban Park, Nanaimo The Artists Collaborative is made up of Beau Wagner, a dugout canoe carver, David Spirit Wolf Bodaly and Nathan Brass, a First Nations blacksmith tool maker.

Located at 2300 Bowen Road, the VIEX buildings Red barns will be headquarters for the group, offering classes. storytelling, weaving, carving and the making of other regalia.

Beau Wagner is a dugout canoe carver, who trained under Stz’uminus master carver Elmer Sampson. His first year of training was very strict. “I was just learning the protocols, the ceremony, the prayers and the mind-set that went into carving, before I was allowed to carve.” During that time he watched Elmer carve five dugout canoes at Shell Beach. The experience was life changing.

Beau’s interest in boats began when he was recovering in the hospital from a house fire. He picked up a Wooden Boat magazine and fell in love. “When I got out of the hospital, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” A graduate of the Silva Shipyard Boat Building School, Beau combined his art with boat building.

Beau has joined forces with David Spirit Wolf Bodaly in the Art Collaborate, who is a well-known Cedar weaver and storyteller. They plan on harvesting a cedar tree and carving a dugout canoe together.

“We’re creating a collaborative where we work together,” explains David. “We are looking to find other artists willing to work with us.” David is looking forward to carving a canoe with Beau. The two have worked on quite a few projects in the past and share family ties.

David who teaches weaving throughout the school district, describes his 13 years of weaving as “an amazing journey.”

There is growing interest in First Nations culture, he says.

“There’s a hunger. COVID-19 may bring that hunger out even more, a need to go back to the old ways. But not just to observe it from a distance, but to be a part of it in a way that is shared on equal terms.”

The public is invited to visit their workshops Monday to Friday, from 11 am to 2 pm.

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People and Places

Morden Mine Update “Work on the historic Morden Mine coal tipple is progressing, though a bit behind due to COVID-19 closures,” says Christine Meutzner, a director of Friends of Morden Mine (FOMM).

Located at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park, this concrete tipple was built in the early 1900s by the Pacific Coal Company and was the fi rst of its kind in the region. It’s an important example of our coal mining past.

About 16 years ago, FOMM started advocating conservation at the site, and last year, fi nally after hard lobbying, they received $1.4 million to stabilize and restructure the site, says Meutzner. Last fall the stabilization project began, and until recently, they’ve been working on the actual repair of the concrete. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the site was shut down, but work is restarting in June.

Come visit the Morden Mine and see for yourself. Other changes are an enlarged parking lot that one day could accommodate tour bus groups.

“We look forward to the future,” says Meutzner.

Were there neighbourhoods in Ladysmith during the 1920s and 1930s? As part of the “People and Place” project, the Ladysmith & District Historical Society is looking for photographs of streets, buildings, houses and gardens within the original townsite of Ladysmith taken during the 1920s and ’30s.

There are examples of people identifying areas, such as “Finn Town,” “Top of the Hill,” “Little Italy” and Belgian Town.” Are there specific boundaries to these areas? Did residents identify with the names of their neighbourhood? When did these names start to be used?

If you have information and/or photographs from these locations taken during the 1920s and ’30s, please call and leave a message at 250-826-3228 for the project coordinator, or call the Ladysmith Archives at 250-245-0100, or email info@ ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca. The “People and Place” project was funded in part by Heritage BC through the Heritage Legacy Fund.

End of the road for Welcome Wagon After 90 years of operation, Welcome Wagon Ltd filed for bankruptcy. Citing the difficulties presented by COVID-19 restrictions and declining visits across Canada, the decision was made to shut down.

For Eileen Geiger, the Ladysmith area representative, it is like losing a friend. Geiger was the local representative for almost 30 years, greeting newcomers with a smile and a package of goodies to promote local shopping. She thanks all her clients, some of which have become good friends.

The service was inspired by frontier settlers and their Conestoga Wagons in the mid to late 1800s. Their communal ways of greeting new settlers on the prairies laid the foundation for Welcome Wagon.

City Hall Reopens City Hall is reopened to the public. The Town will have protocols in place at City Hall to protect both residents and staff while maintaining physical distancing and ensuring all common touch surfaces are frequently sanitized.

While the due dates for property taxes remains at July 2, 2020, penalties on unpaid property taxes will not be applied on balances remaining until 4 pm on September 30, 2020.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Restarting Registered Programs As part of the Town of Ladysmith’s gradual reopening Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) is restarting its registered programs to begin offering live virtual courses and small in-person classes outside.

During COVID-19, PRC’s “QuaranTeam” has offered complimentary online programs and classes daily to help keep the community active, while also staying apart during this difficult time.

“Thank you to the community for your patience as we continue to review all of the latest guidelines from the Province and implement the recommended protocols for physical distancing and public health,” says Acting CAO Erin Anderson.

The Barney Twins about to cross the Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge. Photo: Martin Barney.

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Kay Rozzano celebrates 100

BY DR. ED NICHOLSON One hundred years ago, seven artists became known as the Group of Seven, creating a new artistic vision in Canada, Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto first isolated insulin and, closer to home, the Duke of Devonshire visited Ladysmith — all the same year that Kay Rozzano was born.

On May 27, 2020, the community came together to mark her 100th birthday COVID-19 style. Now residing at the Lodge on 4th, Kay received well-wishers as they pulled up in their cars. Messages relayed by staff from the Lodge, bouquets of balloons, a short service by the priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and live music put a smile on Kay’s face.

One of the highlights was the birthday congratulations and well wishes letter from the Pontiff that was read to Kay. Benvenuto Rozanno came to Canada from Turin, Italy, in 1883 and found work with Robert Dunsmuir and Sons at their coal mines in Wellington, B.C. Three years later, he went back to Europe and returned with a 16-year-old beauty, Cisserina, from Cannes, France, as his bride.

A son, Joseph, was born in 1890 in Wellington and a daughter, Matilda, five years later.

Benvenuto, or “Ben” as he was known, had impressed James Dunsmuir with his mechanical skills, and after a locomotive was purchased by the company, Ben

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Kay Rozzano as telephone operator.

Photo: Ladysmith Archives

was trained to run it. When Dunsmuir decided to ship coal from the Extension Mine to Oyster Bay, all employees were informed that they were to move to the new town soon to be called Ladysmith.

Ben drove the engine taking miners to Extension and bringing coal back to the wharf in Oyster Bay, a job he continued until his retirement. Three more children were later born in Ladysmith.

By the time Joseph was 13, he was already at work as an apprentice to his father. He also shared his father’s ability with machinery, and Kay remembers her dad tinkering with machinery or fixing clocks and other mechanical devices people brought to the house for repair.

Like his father before him, Joe continued to work as a train engineer until his retirement. In 1919, Joseph married Palmyre D’Hayer (Dyer), whose family was originally from Belgium and, like the Rozzanos, had moved from Wellington to Ladysmith in 1900. They had two children, Katherine (Kay) born in 1920 and Joseph Jr., who arrived in 1922.

The family home was at #12 Kitchener Street, and the house is still there today.

As the Dyers and Rozzanos settled into life in Ladysmith, Kay’s family expanded through intermarriage to include Dumonts, Delcourts, Erskines and other familiar Ladysmith names. Uncle Joe’s and Aunty Pearl’s Kitchener Street home was a popular gathering place for this extended family. St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the adjacent convent were a few blocks away on Buller, the E&N Railway station was across the

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Esplanade, and soon the highway to Nanaimo and Victoria would run almost past their front door. Everyone was always welcome.

Kay initially attended school at the convent before completing her education at Ladysmith High School. Church activities were a large part of her life growing up in Ladysmith. Kay was also a member of the Canadian Girls in Training, an early experience that would prepare her for a lifetime of service to her community. She enjoyed boat trips around the harbour and picnics at Shell Beach. Shopping on First Avenue was very convenient, and there were always concerts and recitals and plays, bonfires on the beach or at Ryan’s at Halloween, berry picking and lots of places to explore. She loved walking! Even during the years of the Depression, there was lots to do in Ladysmith. As Kay’s father was an army sapper in World War I and her brother, Joe served in the Royal Canadian Navy on convoy duty in the North Atlantic, I suspect the family were also involved with Royal Canadian Legion activities.

After finishing her schooling, Kay worked initially for the Ladysmith Laundry (where Shar-Kare is today) and then for many years was a familiar sight at Ladysmith Drug Store, owned and operated by Tom Bertram and located in the Nicholson Block next to the Wigwam Cafe. Kay was also a B.C. Telephone operator until they closed the exchange, which was located in the building on Esplanade that is presently the Ironworks Cafe & Creperie. Many residents of Ladysmith will also remember Kay from her days with the Pharmasave on First Avenue.

As I contacted people to ask them for their Kay Rozanno memories, I heard stories about five-pin bowling, disappearing Easter eggs, strangely named cocktails and working girl lunch trips, which began on the Esplanade and ended up at the Dairy Queen. Everyone I spoke to had something to share. (Did you know, for example, that Kay babysat Bruce Mason? Talk about a stressful occupation!)

Do you have a memory of Kay? Please go online and share some of your “Rozanno Remembrances” with the rest of us. Happy Birthday, Kay, and many more to come!

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Kay Rozzano at her 100th birthday at Lodge on 4th.

How the Boogieman became my friend

BY RONNIE DELCOURT I was almost three years old when I encountered the Boogieman. My mother and I would visit the Rozanno family. Auntie Pearl, Uncle Joe and cousins Kay and Jo Jr. were part of my extended family. I will always remember the time I was asked if I would like to meet the Boogieman.

I already heard that the Boogieman was in the same league as the witch on a broom, zombies and other evil monsters, so I was apprehensive. After much persuasion, I worked up my courage and agreed to meet the Boogieman. Auntie Pearl led me to a door and guided me to enter a dark room. The door shut behind me. As my eyes adjusted, I saw a shadowy figure emerge from behind the curtain. As I was about to bolt, the Boogieman grabbed my wrist and placed something in my hand. I was released and was told to go. I did. Promptly.

Coming out into the light and the smiling faces, I looked down and discovered an Oh Henry bar in my band. It was the Depression, and chocolate bars were akin to gold! My fear was replaced with delight. Each time we would visit the Rozanno’s, I would ask to meet the Boogieman, and each time I was rewarded with batch of grapes, a bowl of cherries or some rare treat. As time went by and the encounters continued, I had realized the Boogieman was none other than Kay Rozanno.

I am 88 years old, and I still remember the Boogieman.

Thank you cousin, Kay.

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Coronavirus Considerations

BY TRICIA TOTH If you have been watching the news or any social media platform, you have more than likely detected a spectrum of opinions when it comes to the coronavirus. Perspectives differ on the composition of the virus, benefits of self isolation and social distancing, treatment and potential conspiracy theories. There are varying opinions on the immediate and long-term impact on our physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.

While opinions vary significantly, they are as subjective and unique as an individual’s personal and professional life experiences, values, social and economic stature and outlook on life. For instance, those working in the medical field, and their families, impacted first hand by COVID-19 may have a stronger stance on self isolation and stopping the spread of disease; whereas those working in the psychiatric and mental health field who are treating individuals with increased levels of anxiety and depression may have a focus on preventing the secondary impacts of coronavirus, such as suicide prevention. This is not to say that either party does not value the importance of either’s work or objective, but rather that their outlook and standpoint varies based upon their unique personal and professional experiences.

To recognize that we each have diverse viewpoints and to respect each other’s Things are not always how they seem.

Flower photo: Nick Longo.

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differences, we must consider these factors when it comes to COVID-19: Don’t assume anything: Do not assume because you have a certain expertise or perspective that someone else should share this with you. Some practices that you may consider “common sense” may not be shared with others.

Take for instance shopping practices, such as following the arrows in a grocery store. A shopper may simply not see the arrows or know their purpose, as opposed to them being defiant. Take this into consideration and be gentle when you share your knowledge.

Not all of the current solutions are working: In an effort to protect the greater good, some restrictions are creating bigger problems. An example of this is the closing of many public washrooms. Although this has stopped the spread of the virus in certain spaces, this has resulted in washrooms being less accessible to paramedics, truck drivers and those more vulnerable who have unpredictable needs for a public washroom. The lack of public washrooms has also increased the number of individuals relieving themselves in public spaces.

We don’t all have the same resources: Self isolating when you have a home with a yard and space to roam in is much different than living in an apartment as a single parent with rambunctious children. Some people may need to go outside for their own sanity and consideration of their neighbours. Some caregivers may need to take children with them on outings with them.

Tricia Toth works as a clinical counsellor at her private practice, Great Life Counselling, in beautiful downtown Ladysmith (www.greatlifecounselling.ca).

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We don’t all have the same benefits: As the government is attempting to quickly and efficiently support those during this time of crisis, many individuals and families are falling through the gaps of service and financial eligibility.

For some, this is a period of self reflection and relaxation, while for others this is a time of extreme stress and uncertainty.

Some areas are grey: Information changes from day to day. What may be presented as truth today may change tomorrow. What may have been of concern two months ago may be less so now.

Some areas are simply “grey,” where there may not be a concrete “right” or “wrong” answer.

We are getting missed messages: When coronavirus was initially announced, it was hard to determine if we were under or overreacting to the virus.

This is evident in the varying public service announcements we received, and continue to receive, on a national and international level. What one government considers a viable response and treatment of the virus, another does not.

We receive some inaccurate data:

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There are many media outlets and social media platforms commenting on the virus. Some are provided by wellintentioned professionals, many quick to report their credentials and present their opinion as fact. However, even “expert” opinions vary and much of the information that we receive has not been peer reviewed. It is important to turn to credible sources of data and stay clear of sensational references.

Leaders are not all in agreement: On all levels of government, management and treatment of COVID-19 differs. Some countries are taking a much looser stance when it comes to social distancing and are choosing to protect their economy by allowing businesses to continue to operate with safety precautions in place, while others are shutting down many business sectors in an effort to stop the spread. While there are arguments for both tactics, this divergence creates a sense of confusion.

Not all recommendations are followed by those who enforce them: Restrictions and limitations are being put in place for our safety, yet even those in power bend the rules.

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Physical or verbal aggression is never the answer: Regardless of your stance on COVID-19, enforcing your own opinion with aggression is not productive or effective. Presenting your opinions supported by reliable sources while considering the viewpoints of others is most beneficial. The reality is that you (or I), or your well-intentioned friend, family, pastor or even physician, may not be right. We are all on unchartered territory where outlooks and opinions vary and change rapidly.

Although COVID-19 has brought out the differences in perspectives and priorities, it has also unified us in our quest for protecting humankind. Internationally, people have placed hearts on their homes and windows to display their solidarity in spreading love and kindness to one another. A new appreciation has emerged for our essential services workers, teachers, home and health care staff and all of those who continue to work amidst this uncertain time. Considering the unique experiences of others, recognizing our own biases and coming from a place of kindness allows us to adopt a more open and tolerant mindset.

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Back to Eden For years, I have been pondering the scenario of what would happen to seed supplies if the whole world suddenly became food insecure and people all around the globe started to grow food.

I could not imagine what would cause such an unlikelihood, yet today here we are seeing an unprecedented reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a return to the land and expansion of food gardening not seen since the victory gardens of the Second World War. This has caused sweeping demands in seed sales and food starts, as folk who have never grown food plant food gardens and others switch their gardens to grow

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something they can eat.

As we transition towards a sustainable future, agriculture will once again be based on small-scale regional food production. To grow food plants adapted to our climate, we will need open-pollinated seeds that have not been hybridized or tampered with genetically. Farmers and gardeners are realizing that it’s a good idea to save seeds, and seed exchanges are being created within communities to meet the needs of an uncertain future.

Before starting, I recommend that you obtain a copy of How To Save Your Own Seeds from Seeds of Diversity (www. seeds.ca). For $15, it provides a worthwhile guide to seed saving. In the meantime, here are a few useful tips to help get you started.

Benefits of Seed Saving You collect organic seeds from healthy plants adapted to your local growing conditions.

Seeds become adapted to the unique cultural conditions in your garden/farm and display greater vigour as a result.

Fresh seed has the highest germination rate.

Plants become available to you that may not be commercially available.

Seed saving safeguards food security.

Seed saving protects plant genetic diversity, which increases the plant’s ability to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Choose open-pollinated rather than hybrid seeds to guarantee that you get the same plant year after year. Hybrids result from crossing two parent plants. If you save seeds of hybrids, the plants will not come true in the next generation.

The resulting plant may revert back to characteristics from one or the other of the parent plants, or display an undesirable mix of both. Species of plants that have not been hybridized grow true to the original plant.

Determine whether plants are selfpollinating or cross-pollinating. Plants such as tomatoes, beans, peppers, lettuce and peas are self-pollinating. They have “perfect flowers,” which means their flowers hold both male and female parts, so they can be pollinated without the assistance of bees, insects or the wind to carry pollen. This allows the gardener to grow different varieties in closer proximity to one another without

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fear of them “outcrossing.”

Use isolation distances to be sure accidental crossing does not occur. Different tomato varieties should be separated by a distance of six feet (30 feet if they are potato-leaf varieties); different varieties of lettuce should be 10 feet apart; bush beans need to be separated by 10 feet and pole beans by 30 feet. These are all self-pollinating vegetables.

Many plants, such as squashes, have “imperfect flowers,” which means each plant has separate male and female flowers. Squash needs to be isolated by 1/4 mile to prevent insects spreading pollen from the male flowers of one variety to the female flowers of another variety. If you’ve ever had an unidentified squash volunteer in your garden, it was the result of cross-pollination between different varieties of squash grown there the previous year.

Biennial crops, such as beets, carrots and cabbages, produce their edible crop in the first year and set seed the following season. These crops need isolation distances of 1/4 mile to prevent crosspollination. Carrots will cross with wild carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace, if they are grown within 1/4 mile of each other. Brassicas, e.g. broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, kale and kohlrabi must be separated by 1/4 mile to prevent cross-pollination.

Label seeds. For everything you collect identify the species and variety, record any special features and record data, such as the place and date the seeds were collected.

Dry seeds thoroughly. Drying seeds thoroughly is critical before storing them in sealed containers or envelopes.

The larger the seeds, the longer they need to dry. Let them dry in a warm area away from direct sunlight for two weeks.

Clean seeds before storing, Remove chaff and debris by sieving seeds through screens of different-sized mesh.

Winnow seeds in a light breeze to remove any tiny particles or dust. I use a hairdryer on a cold setting to do this.

Tomatoes are cleaned by a wet process, where they undergo a fermentation process for a few days, which eliminates seed-borne pathogens. Melons, squashes, cucumbers, cape gooseberries and tomatillos are also cleaned using water, allowing dead seeds to float to the sur-

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face and good seeds to sink to the bottom of the container.

Store seeds in a cool dark area, away from fluctuations in light and moisture. The ideal temperature for storage is 55 F (13 C). Paper envelopes or airtight containers, such as yoghurt tubs, work fine for seed storage. Keeping seeds in an airtight, waterproof container in the fridge prolongs seed life, longer if you freeze them.

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

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Every Father’s Day weekend, the community comes together to enjoy the annual be a “HomeTown Tourist” Weekend. This year’s weekend takes place June 20,21, 2020. Because of COVID-19 recommendations, many people have put their travel plans on hold, and are planning to stay in their communities this summer. This makes this year’s 10th annual HomeTown Tourist Weekend even more special.

So lace up your running shoes, grab your camera, or sit back in front of your TV with a beverage and let’s play tourist. Because this year along with specials, sales, and promotions, we will take you on a virtual tourism experience that will amaze you.

This campaign is hosted by TAKE 5, in partnership with the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce and participat-

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(Above) A peaceful view at Kiwi Cove Lodge.

(Right) Boat docked at Bute Island

ing businesses.

This year’s campaign is still being developed as things are changing quickly due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check back often for the latest news and participants.

Some of the activities planned are bike rides, golfing, an interpretive walk, and a virtual hometown tourist experience.

It was 10 years ago that TAKE 5 Print & Digital Media who published TAKE 5 and the Explore 2020 Guide, launched its first campaign. Then organizer Cindy Damphousse wanted to showcase the natural beauty of our area. Since then many residents have taken advantage of the specials during this weekend.

For an up to date schedule and more information on events and specials call 250-245-7015 or the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce 250-245-2112 or visit www.take5.ca/hometowntourist

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Ladysmith Golf Club Photo: TAKE 5 file

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RDN Area A Cedar If you are like me, you feel like this pandemic has been with us for months now! It’s amazing how quickly many of us have begun to adapt to this new “normal.” The good news is we are seeing a gradual return to the “normal” we used to have. Some stores, personal services and other businesses have begun to open, albeit with different methods of service, different ways to get their products in your hands and different numbers of customers inside their establishments with line-ups common outside the doors. But social distancing is still very much alive.

At the RDN, operations have continued through the pandemic with some modifications. Transit and solid waste have operated on regular schedules (the summer schedule for transit), and the planning department has been available through appointments and the introduction of a new building and bylaw enforcement web portal (at https://cv.rdn. bc.ca/NanaimoPortal). Details on all the changes due to COVID-19 are on the RDN website (www.rdn.bc.ca).

The RDN has re-opened several outdoor recreation facilities over the past several weeks. Huxley and Cedar Skate Parks are open again, as are some sport courts for small family groups only. Beginning on June 1, transit buses return to front door entry and fares are reinstat-

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ed. Distancing requirements will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. The two RDN campgrounds, at Descanso Bay Regional Park on Gabriola Island and Horne Lake Regional Park in Qualicum Bay, re-open on June 1.

The Board of Directors has been meeting virtually using the Zoom platform.

This has worked but with some frustration. It is difficult to get public involvement on the virtual platform, so public hearings and meetings have had to be rescheduled to future dates. On a personal note, I find it quite unnerving to see my face continually staring back at me throughout the meeting! Committee meetings have also begun to take place using the same platform, but again, public involvement is obviously missing.

Time will tell where this will all end up. It is my hope that the kindness and generosity shown by everyone as they go about the daily chores continues to be commonplace. In this age of social media, and the political antics of our friends to the south, it is heartwarming to see Canadians still being kind to one another. I also want to join the voices recognizing the great job being done by healthcare workers in our communities.

And, I would also like to recognize the jobs done by RDN employees throughout the last couple of months. I know that going to work initially was scary — who wants to get sick to the point where you could die — and that the choice was

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there if they wanted to stay home. Most stepped up and got on with the job, and for that, we all should be very grateful.

They kept the Cedar landfill open, the buses running, the water and sewer systems going and the parks and trails open and clean. To them a huge thank you.

As we move further out of the “lockdown,” we should all remember and heed the words of provincial health officer, Bonnie Henry: “Be kind, be calm and be safe.” Words to live by, even after COVID-19 has come and gone.

CVRD Area H North Oyster/Diamond CVRD Board and Committee meetings With the coronavirus restrictions, the CVRD board and staff have continued to adapt to the current reality. While meetings continue to be held online, processes have been changed where delegations are now able to present to the Board virtually through the WebEx platform.

Staff are working on procedural changes to guide the conduct of public hearings through electronic or other communication methods. This will allow the Electoral Area Services Committee and the CVRD board to address land use applications and encourage public input on such items.

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I believe that public participation is critical in zoning, variance and development permit processes, and look forward to this again. Staff advise possible formats, including traditional public hearings with physical distancing measures, electronic public hearings or some combination thereof.

I encourage participation with public input and question submissions for meetings to be made through the Legislative Services Department of the CVRD at legislativeservices@cvrd. bc.ca. Public input and question submissions will be read into the record and will be included provided they are received before that particular section of the agenda.

You can access the meeting agendas at www.cvrd.bc.ca/993/ Agendas-Minutes-Video.

If you are an Area H resident, please “cc” me in the email (colin.haime@cvrd.bc.ca), and I will ensure the Chair addresses your submission at the meeting.

Harmonized/Modernized OCP The May 6, 2020 Electoral Area Services Committee meeting included the staff report on the Harmonized OCP Open Houses held in February. At the four events held, there were approximately 411 attendees although there was no way to filter individuals who may have attended more than one event. Of those, 191 individuals responded to the online questionnaire.

While not a statistically valid sample, the results did provide some information on where to concentrate activities or focus areas for the upcoming Modernized OCP process.

With the conclusion of the HOCP process, staff will now be developing the plan for the modernization of the OCP for the electoral areas. This is expected to include speakers, additional online opportunities to become engaged, youth engagement and other events.

I again raised the concern that with the Area H OCP being a very old document that it was important to have a more robust process for our area in terms of further defining/confirming the Area H Local Area Plan. This document guides property owners and the CVRD board on future land use proposals and decisions, so it is important to ensure that the document represents the will of the people. Other areas with more recent OCP’s do not require the same level of engagement. There was support at the Board table for this approach.

At both the Board table and at the APC meetings that have been held related to the OCP, I have promoted the idea of what I referred to as “Kitchen Table Meetings” and what staff are now referring to as “Community Circles.” These are opportunities for individuals, local groups and other participants to

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hold smaller more diverse small group discussions regarding the future of our area and submit the resulting feedback to the CVRD. These are more neighbourly discussions and allow those who are not fans of the larger events to participate more fully on topics specific to their areas of interest.

Watch for upcoming details of this for the fall 2020.

Peerless Recycling Facility COVID 19 created challenges with the operation of the recycling facilities in the CVRD. Initially the challenge was staffing adequately, recognizing the new protocol requirements, and later the challenge was limitations of the movement of recyclables and other collected items downstream to Biggs to be sorted and then transported to the appropriate disposal location. With some of these challenges addressed, Peerless is now open an additional day each week and is expected to begin their full summer schedule June 1.

The requirement for physical distancing still creates limits for the number of vehicles onsite at any one time, so there may be backups during times of high demand, but it is expected to be less than it has been over the past months.

Area H Advisory Planning Commission and Area H Community Parks Advisory Commission With the shutdown of meetings, the reactivation and appointment of applicants to these two commissions was put on hold as they were unable to meet anyway. As things start-up again, there is still time to apply to participate more fully in the Area H community by serving on these commissions. Email me directly for an application form to complete and submit.

Area H By-Election Due to the shutdown, the date for the Area H CVRD director by-election has still not yet been set.

CVRD staff have been in contact with the provincial ministry regarding advice and guidance on the way to hold a by-election at the earliest possible time. The challenges being faced include ensuring the safety of voters and election staff noting guidelines regarding gatherings. There are currently a number of by-elections/referendums provincially that are on hold until it is determined safe to do so while including operational procedures to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised.

As an Area H resident, I am also interested in our representative being determined by a by-election.

Contact Information As always, you can contact me with any issues, concerns or comments that you may have.

Colin.Haime@cvrd.bc.ca Telephone 250-616-3986 www.cvrd.bc.ca

CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands At the beginning of June, many residents plan their summer vacations and family gatherings. This year, we are adapting our plans to the continuing COVID 19 physical distancing and self-isolation guidelines. We live in an amazing part of the world. Gorgeous vistas, outdoor recreation opportunities and local products are at our fingertips. Let’s have a good time and buy local. A thriving local economy appears to be a key requirement for a healthy future. I am looking forward to picnics, cycling, hiking, swimming and local produce. How about you?

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Good News for CVRD Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands Taxpayers Saltair will see a 2020 taxation decrease of $9.93 per $100,000 (or minus 5.22 per cent). The Saltair Water System parcel tax will remain the same as it was in 2019 at $569 per parcel.

Thetis Island will see a CVRD 2020 property tax increase of $0.09 per $100,000. The Wharf Budget will remain as it was in 2019 at $38.86 per parcel. The Boat Launch Budget will also remain as it was in 2019 at $3 per parcel. The Solid Waste and Recycling budget will increase from $73 to $91 per parcel, an increase of $18 per parcel.

The Province of B.C. Ministry of Finance – Rural Property Tax Notice you receive includes more than just the cost of CVRD services. There is additional taxation for schools, Provincial Rural Tax, police, BC Assessment and the Cowichan Valley Hospital. This is all collected by the Province of B.C. Ministry of Finance. Thetis Island taxpayers will also find Improvement District and Trust Area Levy charges included in their Rural Property Tax Notice.

The Government of B.C. has extended the penalty deadline to October 1, allowing class 4, 5 and 6 property owners to pay later without penalty.

Some CVRD Updates Electoral Area Directors are working through a backlog of Land Use applications. We have added an additional meeting on April 29th to make up for an earlier EASC meeting, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Peerless Recycling Facility, as of May 7th is open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Requirements for physical distancing limit the number of vehicles onsite at any one time.

Regional Recreation In past Take 5 articles, I identified the nine “regionally significant” facilities affected by the Regional Recreation initiative. I also provided information about the CVRD board moving forward with funding apportioned based on use. Unfortunately, a Saltair resident recently published a letter about Regional Recreation stating, “… the cost to Saltair residents could be up to $100/month or $1,000 per year.” These figures are misleading

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and incorrect.

The 2017 CVRD Regional Recreation usage-based funding figures suggest the Area G portion would be about $190,000 per year. Currently, Saltair taxpayers pay $40,000 per year to the Frank Jameson Community Centre. Therefore, $190,000 minus $40,000 produces a potential $150,000 per year increase for Area G taxpayers. Saltair taxpayers pay roughly $46 per year per property to Frank Jameson. There could be a $124 increase. The Board has not finalized these amounts, so they are only approximate. The Regional Recreation process is not finished. However, the result will not be anything like $1,000 per year.

As the Area G Director, I am always available to go over facts and figures with residents.

Former Mt. Brenton School – Saltair Community Centre There are many details that need to be shared with Saltair taxpayers about the history of funding, etc. This requires additional space. I have drafted a detailed report that will soon be published on the Saltair News & Views website (www.saltairnews.ca).

As a community, we will need to look at options and make decisions about tax dollars for this building. Should we start with a referendum, a referendum to establish if residents do or do not support taxation and/or grant funds being spend on the restoration/renewal/repairs to the building?

Saltair Water Filtration System Grant The federal government has indicated there will be investment in infrastructure as we move forward from the COVID 19 challenges. This could be good news for Saltair taxpayers with regards to our filtration system grant application. It is our turn.

Summer is just a few days away. Let’s find ways to enjoy this lovely time of the year locally.

If you have questions and/or comments, please contact me at lynne.smith@cvrd.bc.ca or 250-701-1407. Additional articles and information can be found on www.saltairnews.ca.

If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact me at lynne.smith@cvrd.bc.ca or 250-701-1407. Additional articles and information can be found on Saltair News and Views website (www.Saltairnews.ca).

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Nature’s Flowering Shrubs

BY SARA MIMICK ʼTis the season of native flowering shrubs that brighten up our days and our forests with bursts of diverse and vibrant coloured flowers and berries.

The flowers and berries from many native shrubs are stunning shades of reds, whites, blues, purples, yellows, oranges and more. At Wildwood Ecoforest, a mosaic of flowering shrubs grow sprinkled in between and around the tall ancient evergreen trees of Douglas-fir, Western redcedar, Grand fir and Western hemlock. The native shrubs provide food, shelter and nesting habitat for many creatures. The flowers provide important nectar for pollinating bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, flies

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and beetles. The berries are nutritious meals for birds, deer, mice, raccoons and bears.

A few of my common favourite native shrubs at Wildwood Ecoforest include: Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) is an attractive waist to head-high shrub that seems to draw you to it like welcoming open arms. The leaves somewhat resemble maple leaves as they are large and consist of five to nine lobes each. The leaf texture is soft and fuzzy, playfully known among naturalists as nature’s toilet paper. The slightly crinkled white flowers have five petals and grow in open clusters at the end of the branches. A centre of numerous soft yellow stamens compliments the gentle surrounding petals. Thimbleberry is named after its tasty and sweet, raspberry-like berry that resembles a sewing thimble.

Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) is a stately tall shrub with dense pyramidal clusters of creamy white flowers that develop into large clusters of small, bright red and fleshy fruits. While the colourful berries are toxic to humans if eaten raw, they are a delicious and attractive food to birds. Individual leaves have five to seven long, lance-like leaflets that are serrated along the edges.

Some people think when you gently rub

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the leaves, they smell like peanut butter.

Red elderberry is often found growing in moist areas and along stream banks.

Its dense roots and rhizomes help stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is an eye-catching, shiny evergreen shrub that does not lose its leaves all at once in the winter. The flowers begin blooming in April, but last throughout the spring and summer until they turn into berries in mid to late summer.

The vibrant yellow small flowers grow in clusters and have a subtle fragrant odour. Oregon grape gets its common name from its blue-black berries that grow in clusters and look like small grapes in colour and shape. It is also the official flower for the U.S. state of Oregon. While edible and liked by many, the berries can be quite bitter and sour to taste. Each leaf contains five to nine leaflets that emerge new and red-tinted in the spring and then transform to a beautiful glossy dark green by summer.

The leaflets are oval in shape with spiny sharp teeth along the edges. Its species name, aquifolium, means leaves that have curved hooks like an eagle’s beak.

The leaves are sometimes mistaken for English Holly leaves.

Thimbleberry, Red elderberry and Tall

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Oregon grape are just three of many native flowering shrubs and plants that are blooming this time of year, and you may have your own favourites that you are enjoying right now. More and more people are growing native plants and shrubs as wildlife-friendly additions to their gardens, so the next time you are outside, see if a few of them capture your eye, nose or other senses.

To learn more, sign up for our FREE, kid-friendly, weekly nature activities at www.ecoforestry.ca/education.

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“Once again, and for the third time, I found myself crying, probably from the intensity...”.

At a time when most businesses are just coming out of COVID-19 hibernatin, Dina Steuhler has been working on expanding her Ironworks Cafe & Creperie.

Steuhler now is adding Chemainus to her Duncan and Ladysmith locations as places to enjoy tasty crepes. The Duncan Ironworks Cafe & Creperie recently won Best New Business in Downtown Duncan.

“Chemainus is coming along nicely,” she says, adding that once the site is approved by VIHA they will be open 7 days a week from 9am - 3pm.

They have an exclusive menu for Chemainus, she said. On the menu are gluten-free, vegan and Belgian batter options along with their fantastic Caffe Umbria Drip coffee and beverages.

“Duncan has done amazingly well through the last couple months despite the coronavirus,” says Stuehler, who thanks her loyal customers.

June 1st marks the full return to regular hours for all locations.

“Our full menu is on offer once again and we have weekly specials. The cafe has been setup for indoor dining with much emphasis on physical distancing and enhanced sanitation protocols. We currently offer takeout and delivery as well.”

Ironworks Creperie in Chemainus

Prince of Tears According to the Internet, the average man cries six to 17 times a year. To which I say, come on guys, you can do better than that. With a little work, you should be able to do that in a day. I don’t mean to blow my own horn — or nose — but I am a superb crier, one of the best.

For example, the idea for this story came when I was at an old folks’ home listening to maybe the worst Christmas band since the invention of the bass fiddle. Was I feeling sad over the imminent passing of a parent? Gosh, no. It was my mother-in-law, whom I never really got to know. Why was I crying? I’m not entirely sure. Probably just overwhelmed by the humanity of it all, though the guy with the tambourine was truly painful.

When I was a callow youth, my cheeks were as dry as the Sahara. Then, to liberate the inner Delbert, I took some classes to access my feelings (something we did in the early seventies).

That’s how I found myself on the car deck of a ferry, in broad daylight, sobbing like a baby. What happened? Well,

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the vessel was powered by four V-16 GM diesels, 2900-hp each, and they fired them up one by one to create this magnificent warffling sound. There was no stopping the tears. That’s when I realized I had taken one sensitivity class too many.

I cry at all the standard things: war memorials, heroic deeds, jet fighters passing over head. And dying, whoa boy. Anything dying this side of an insect sets me off, and if the insect shows just a scrap of personality, I’ll cry for it too.

Movies? I am a joke at movies. My wife won’t sit with me. “Just go in the corner, dear, where no one can see you.

Here are your towels. Don’t forget to ring them out when they get soggy.”

And that’s for Bambi. For anything truly sad, I need a life raft.

If you’re going to be a world-class crier, you’ve got to be well-rounded and cry at more than just sad things. I excel in crying at the recognition of beauty, glory or wonderfulness. This covers a lot of ground: the opening chords of just about any Bruce Springsteen song, a mother walking down the street with her child, a Ducati ripping through 6000 rpm.

After embarrassing my wife at the old folk’s home, and being a sensitive fellow, I watched a boxing match between two of the sport’s most magnificent warriors, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez. Márquez entered the ring to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” a favourite anthem of the local hockey crowd. Pacquiao shuffled in to the old Rocky song, “Eye of the Tiger.”

Once again, and for the third time that day, I found myself crying, probably from the intensity of the event. Two

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guys putting everything on the line.

That’s why I’m offering my services as a professional mourner. Got a mean old relative who croaked and no one able to shed a tear at the funeral? Who ya gonna call? The Prince of Tears, that’s who. For $19.95 an ounce, I’ll give mean old Uncle Bart one memorable send off. Onlookers will think he was the most loved man in town by the time I dry off. All it takes is the word “funeral” and the Kleenex box is out. If premium cuts of meat are served at the afterlife party, a lower rate might be negotiated.

I’m not the only male with a gift for crying. There are lots of us out there, locked away in closets, in bathrooms and on ferry car decks, secretly crying away and feeling weird about it.

That’s why we need an all-male support group. A group for anger management was advertised in the paper the other day: “Address the Inner Dragon,” I believe it was called.

We could “Embrace Tears” and meet every second Thursday, each taking turns to bring the Kleenex. We would learn we’re not weird, merely a little salty (which explains why the cat keeps licking my head). Our house band could be Question Mark and the Mysterians, and our theme song “96 Tears.”

After the meeting, we could all stand out on the curb, and when a Ducati goes by … “Gentlemen, start your tear ducts.”

In the meantime, grab a handkerchief and drown your sorrows in a bottle of Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir Rosé for around $12.

Follow Delbert at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com or pick up his book at Mahle House, or TAKE 5 when open again.

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How’s that toothache?

BY DR MICHAEL ROCKWELL Wow what a time we are all going through. It’s been tough on all of us, posing challenges none of us thought we were prepared for. I, for one, missed stocking up on toilet paper, but so far have made it through just fine. Early on, I was googling natural alternatives to TP, after all we live next to a great park out here in Cedar. Newspapers might work in a pinch (who still gets those?!), but not if you only have a digital subscription. Such a great opportunity to take a required break and learn something new. So many great Netflix series to watch to pass time. Two of my favourites were Ozark and ZeroZeroZero (Amazon Prime). During a pandemic, it’s great to watch shows where other people are totally messing up their lives.

To be sure, some of us have had very difficult challenges to deal with during this pandemic or because of it.

To see people, businesses and communities come together to contribute in some way is heartwarming. We are very fortunate to live out here on this beautiful island, in this great province, rather than a large crowded city. I guess we can all congratulate ourselves on how well we’ve done so far. It didn’t turn out like the apocalyptic movies suggested.

We’ve mostly remained calm and kind, even while in those long Costco lineups.

Thanks to our essential workers who’ve been making sure our food and supplies are well stocked. I’ve experienced our healthcare in action during this period, and I am very thankful to all our healthcare workers.

So, how about that toothache?

Back on March 15th, I would have never imagined that the next day my office would be ordered closed, but that

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is exactly what happened to me and all other offices in our province. This was the first time Cedar Valley Dental had an unplanned shutdown in all of our 23 years of operation. Now, most of us were already preparing for a slowdown in some way, but not an order to shutdown. This pandemic crept up on us at first and then sprinted forward, catching us all off-guard. Many of us experienced working during SARS and H1N1, but COVID-19 took it to a new level indeed.

As a group, we all came together to provide teledentistry care for our patients in Nanaimo and the upper island. I think we did okay. Now, as we all know most dental issues require in person care to resolve, and the good news is that day

is coming soon as our offices slowly reopen.

Dental offices are experts at infection control and patient safety, and I am sure when you do get to see your dentist again, there will be lots of obvious changes, from physical distancing to Plexiglas to PPEs (another acronym many didn’t know prior to COVID-19). This break has given us the time to make changes that will benefit patient and team safety.

However, it will take some time for us to get back on track, but please know that we all are here for one reason, and that is to provide the best patient care we can.

Regarding that toothache, expect your dental team to be reaching out to you in the near future to resume your dental care. That said, I’m really looking forward to a call from my hair salon.

Dr. Michael Rockwell with staff from Cedar Valley Dental Centre

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WANTED HIRED HAND for Independent Elder, odd jobs, companionship, meal prep, etc! Valid First Aid/ CPR, Clean Driver’s record, Level 2 Foodsafe, Gardener and Handywoman. Call Marilyn 250606-7069 VOLUNTEERS needed to help with historical research, photography, fundraising, promotions.

Work from home. Call 250-245-0100 or email info@ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca.

FOR SALE 12FT MAHOGANY KAYAK Custom made with painted and epoxyed bottom,2 cargo hatches.

Paddle, PFD, spray skirt and towline included. $950. Contact Marguerite 250-722-2258 THREE CANVAS & METAL LAWNCHAIRS, folding chairs in fair condition. $10 for all three.

250-245-4073.

TAKE 5 Classifieds work! Phone 250-245-7015 or email info@take5.ca and book your space in the July 2020 edition.

JUNE 2020

BUSINESS

HOME & YARD

CONCRETE RESULTS. Contracting, fullservice forming and finishing, walls, walks, patios, drives. 35 years experience. Call Gord 250-753-4024.

MAKE IT NICE qualified, experienced gardener available for private, residential gardens. Please call 250-754-9346

EXPERIENCED HOUSESITTER Now offering Senior Companionship, Respite Care and Concierge Services. Peaceofmindcare. wordpress.com. Kathleen 250-619-0786 or email kgrcoaching@gmail.com.

KB HANDYMAN AND YARDWORKS SERVICES. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, gutter cleaning, power washing, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Seniors discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@gmail.com or 250-714-2738.

TAKE 5 ADS WORK! Get them working for you. Call 250-245-7015 info@take5.ca or editor@take5.ca

HEART LAKE ROOFING for all your roofing repairs 250-668-9195.

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.

HEALTH & WELLNESS 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, www.taichinanaimo.org. Call Sara for more information 250-245-1466.

LEMON BALM for sale. 250-245-9165 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.

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.

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JUNE 2020

DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 30 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. No Job is too small, from fences, decks, tile work, hardwood flooring, painting, drywall etc. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823.

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.

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING A HOME? Curb appeal, re-design or new design, www. islandgardenscapes.ca or 250-802-0461.

PETS PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE “leash’em & walk’em” with Marlena & Babs. I am bonded, have Animal First Aid and CPR. My service for all pet includes dog walking, home care visits, overnight in your home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250.246.3394 THE PET NANNY. Let us pamper and love your pets at your home or ours. References are available. Contact Shanon or Bill at sburchard@ hotmail.ca or 250-924-8809.

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. www.lynnsseniorcare.com. Call 250245-3391.

GRANNYS ON THE GO COMPANION SERVICES. Are you looking for someone that can help you with an active senior family member? Well look no further than Janet Bowman at janetmb@shaw.ca or 250-924-1515.

VIDEO & BOOK publishing to preserve your precious memories. 250-245-7015

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Remembering the Spanish Flu Victims

JUNE 2020

Funeral for Alfred Spineto, 19 years old.

A miner, Spineto was the first Ladysmith resident to succumb to the Spanish Flu. Photo: Ladysmith Archives Wanting to remember the victims of our earlier pandemic, the Spanish Flu of 1918, Ladysmith & District Historical Society volunteers Esther and John Sharp have compiled a list. Other than those citing place of death as Extension (1) and South Wellington (2), all victims lived, died and were buried in Ladysmith.

Below, ages, occupation and date of death (Oct 19th to Jan 26th). Esther said she checked for the second wave of Spanish Flu and only found two deaths by bronchial pneumonia at the end of the year, which may not be Spanish flu.

If you have any information, photos or stories about these people, please contact the LDHS at 250-245-0100.

Gracoino Vannello, 40, Oct 15 Jules Quinaox, 40, miner, Oct 19 Alfred Spineto, 19, miner, Nov 3 Peter Stillin, 30, miner, Nov 5 Domenico Galasso, 27, miner, Nov 13 Ellen Russell, 38, Nov 13 Joseph Mairs, 46, miner, Nov 15

Elizabeth Fielding, 31, Nov 16 George Wilkinson, 18, miner, Nov 16 Mary Wilkinson, 16, Nov 18 Andrew Gordon, 31, miner, Nov 18 Ellen O’Neil, 27, Nov 20 John Jones, 48, miner, Nov 19 Janet Dickie, 53, housekeeper, Nov 22 Nellie Roberts, 11, Nov 22 Beatrice Bateman, 12, Nov 24 Emil Rantennen, 27, logger, Nov 24 Nick Kuretich, 27, miner, Nov 27 Fred Kallo, 22, miner, Nov 28 Alfred Waugh, 36, high school principal, Nov 29 Joseph Andrulonis, 3, Dec 1 Samuel Carley, 31, printer, Dec 2 Johanna Kenny, 10, Dec 2 John Wilkinson, 26, miner, Dec 6 Ernest Soady, 33, carpenter, Dec 31 Margarite LaďŹƒn, 24, housewife, Jan 14 James Dick, 6 months, Jan 26

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