Capital Magazine Spring 2019

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Capital S P R I N G 2 01 9

M A G A Z I N E

INNOVATIVE

HOMES & PEOPLE

HANG OUT IN AN INCREDIBLE B&B TREEHOUSE NEAR SOOKE • Cottage in the City • Co-op Housing • New Urban Village

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The next wave of eco and tech entrepreneurs

Employment pipeline for Esquimalt, Songhees Nations

SPRING DELIGHT: Dessert fit for a famous dancer

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18 pages of Planned Giving

BAYVIEW PLACE IS A 20-ACRE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY OVERLOOKING VICTORIA’S INNER HARBOUR

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CONTENTS

DAVE OBEE

• RAVENS CROSSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Embracing fresh ideas and energy in our region

S

ome might say that all the good ideas come from somewhere else, and we merely adapt them to our lives in Greater Victoria. Some might try to convince you that there are no new ideas, only derivatives of old grand dreams. Those people are wrong, of course; and for proof, just look inside this magazine, dedicated to the innovators among us. We are lucky to live in a community filled with dreamers, with visionaries, with creative people of all types. Of course, ideas alone don’t matter without a commitment to see them through to reality, and Greater Victoria wins on that score as well. We should be proud of the can-do attitude we see here every day. There is something in the air, and that’s not a reference to our climate. Innovation happens in an environment that welcomes creativity, risk-taking, planning, collaboration, innovation, and communication – along with the strength to get things done despite negativity and nay-sayers.

Consider Jake and Amanda Petronis, who planned for life high up in the trees. Or people like Matt Gravel, Paige Whitehead and Yamila Franco, who prove every day their commitment to saving the planet. Or Devesh Bharadwaj, whose business is likely to save lives by providing access to clean water. Or Andrew Beckerman, with his micro home away from home. Innovators all. These are the people who inspired this Innovation issue of Capital, the Times Colonist’s magazine. Prepare to be inspired as well.

• FAIRFIELD COTTAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • SOOKE TREEHOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• BURNSIDE RE-INVENTION . . . . . . . . . • PLANNED GIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • MUST-HAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ECO INNOVATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• TECH INNOVATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • G-MEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • FIRST NATIONS JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • FIRST NATIONS CONNECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • CHEF’S CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ERIC AKIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the Times Colonist

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• JACK KNOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Capital MAGAZINE DAVE OBEE / PUBLISHER DARRON KLOSTER / EDITOR PETER BAILLIE GREG BAXTER / DIRECTORS OF ADVERTISING 6 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

GORDON FALLER JENUS FRIESEN TROY NIXDORF / GRAPHIC DESIGN

Capital Magazine is published by the Times Colonist, a division of TC Publication Limited Partnership, at 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8T 4M2. Canadian Publications Registration No. 0530646. GST No. 84505 1507 RT0001 Please send comments to: Editor Dave Obee, dobee@timescolonist.com To advertise, phone: Peter Baillie @ 250-380-5328, email: pbaillie@timescolonist.com

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RAVENS CROSSING

HARMONY TEXT: PEDRO ARRAIS

Artist’s rendering of the Ravens Crossing development, a 34-unit project: Consensusbased decision making, spacious common areas.

8 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

Co-operative housing, collaborative living spreads its wings in Sidney at Ravens Crossing

C

o-housing, a living style pioneered in Europe decades ago, is the cornerstone of a residential development about to start construction in Sidney. Ravens Crossing consists of a group of people who have gathered together to create their own community — a community of independent households with a number of features designed to facilitate social interaction. The project targets homeowners who are attracted to the idea of knowing and interacting with everybody in the building they live in. “It is our dream to create a multi-generational community where people both collaborate and co-operate,” said Barbara Whittington, a founding member of the group. “Some people refer to co-housing as a regular strata, but with a heart.” Ravens Crossing will consist of 34 one, two and three-bedroomwith-den units in a four-storey building set on 28,000 square feet of land along Brethor Avenue and Seventh Street in Sidney. Units range from 660 to 1,200 square feet.

Co-housing is not a new concept in parts of Europe (in Denmark, for example, it is known as Hygge, or a comfortable and happy life), but is rare in Canada, with only two other projects in Greater Victoria. Co-housing joins two other existing ownership options currently available — strata title and cooperative. The ownership structure is different for each. In a strata title condominium (which represents the majority of condos in Canada), the individual owns a unit in a property along with common ownership of shared areas. >

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A drone’s eye view of the Ravens Crossing building site along Brethor Avenue and Seventh Street. Ravens Crossing Co-op is designed as a multi-generational planned neighborhood, with Sidney Elementary School next door.

10 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019 10 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

In a co-operative, the entire property is owned by a co-operative housing organization. People buy shares in the co-op, which entitles them to occupy one of the units. This makes it difficult to get a mortgage because the shareholder does not hold title or any asset besides the shares. Co-housing is similar to strata, in that owners have a private unit and contribute to the maintenance of common areas. The main difference between co-housing and strata ownership is that residents manage the complex through a consensus-based system of decision-making versus an elected group who represent owners. The co-housing members will already have a place to meet — a 3,200-square-foot common area on the main floor that will serve as the meeting area, party lounge or play area. “We’re hoping for a lot of parties,” said Whittington. Also planned are guest suites, a 1,000-square-foot kitchen, workshop and multi-purpose room. “Having the guest and common areas allow residents to live in a smaller footprint,” she said. “You don’t need to buy a suite with a second bedroom for guests.” She said that owners can also rent out their suites, but no short-term rentals are allowed. The common areas, including an outside area suitable for yoga classes, for example, are to encourage socialization by seniors living independently. Ravens Crossing co-housing is designed as a multi-generational planned neighborhood, with Sidney Elementary School just a hop, skip and jump away.

RAVENS CROSSING

The south-facing building is built with sustainability, green and energy efficiency in mind, with a target of Built Green Gold certification. There will be ample community green space, a roof garden and capacity for solar upgrades in the future. Residents will all have private decks or patios. The project was capped at 34 units because co-housing projects in Europe indicate that people tend to remember, on average, about that many names. While co-housing is rare in Victoria, it may be a concept whose time has come. “I can see the benefits of the concept and understand their goal,” said Patricia Parkins, a real estate agent with Newport Realty. “Like many people of my age, I am looking for a condo, but I don’t want to live by myself.” The co-housing concept is a natural fit for people looking for aging in place. Parkins said that in co-housing she can close her door and have her privacy at any time with the knowledge that she can go to the common lounge at any time when she is in the mood to socialize. “I can see a lot of potluck parties in its future,” she said.

The one downside she can see is that, if it is anything like a co-op, meetings called to discuss building business can get bogged down with technicalities because there are more people involved with each decision. Prospective buyers also need to be aware that they can’t automatically buy a unit. They go through a vetting process by existing members to see if they fit into the community. Ravens Crossing co-housing currently offers a three-month associate membership so that prospective buyers can meet other members and determine if the lifestyle is for them. “It’s not for everybody,” said Whittington. “But if you are a person who can collaborate and cooperate, it may be a good fit for you.” Construction is expected to start in the summer with completion in 12 to 18 months. Pricing for units are determined by size and desirability. The choice of units will begin with the earliest equity members. The average price of units is set at about $640,000. C For more information, go to ravenscrossingcohousing.ca

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 11

TEXT: GRANIA LITWIN

PHOTOS: BY DEBRA BRASH

The silver and blue corrugated steel-sided home has two living units.

12 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

A COTTAGE

CITY IN THE

Architect, art collector gets away from it all in Fairfield, and supports non-profits by sharing his innovative microsuite

T

here’s nothing like a vacation home, that cozy bungalow or bolt hole where you can escape the commotion of the city, revel in the countryside and enjoy some extra space between you and your neighbours. For an out-of-the box thinker like Andrew Beckerman — who has a large condo in the Bayview One building — the idea of a holiday retreat doesn’t involve braving the Malahat on a busy Friday

afternoon or riding a ferry to a Gulf Island. The retired architect can lock his condo and be at his “cottage” in 12 minutes. Located just five kilometres away in Fairfield, in the soothing shade of a quiet (almost country)

road, his holiday destination is a small apartment in a house that he designed and built a dozen years ago. He no longer owns the house, but rents its secondary suite. “I am very comfortable in my Bayview >16

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 13

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Taking Care of Each Other Shannon Smith is a first year Practical Nursing student with a warm presence and a soft smile that lights up her face. She started Camosun College’s Practical Nursing diploma program in September 2018, after completing the Indigenous Health Care Assistant (IHCA) certification the previous year and working in the field for six months. She continues to work part time as a health care assistant (HCA) while she takes classes at Camosun. “I love this work even though there are hard days,” says Shannon. “There’s never a day that I don’t like.” Shannon took a long journey to Camosun. Of Gitxsan and Tsimshian ancestry, she grew up in Prince Rupert in northern British Columbia. After being bullied through childhood into high school, she went through a dark time and moved to Kamloops for a fresh start. Three years later, she relocated to Victoria to be closer to her grandmother. Through all these transitions, Shannon discovered that she had a passion for caring for people. “I’ve always been known as a caretaker,” she says. “Even during my troubled youth, my friends knew me as the ‘street mom.’ I was doing bad stuff, but I was also taking care of my friends.”

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Given her relationship with her grandmother, it’s no surprise that Shannon has a way of connecting with the elderly residents that she works with. “The residents tell me that they feel comfortable and safe with me. That’s what really makes me happy, that the residents feel like they’re being taken care of.” As for her life beyond her Camosun education, Shannon feels optimistic and hopeful. She’s interested in furthering her education, by either becoming a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse, or possibly working with Indigenous elders in some capacity. Whatever path Shannon chooses, her warmth, genuine care, and compassion will light up the lives of the people with whom she works.

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16 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

The owner created a Lilliputian library in a deep closet in his office.

home, but I can go a whole week without seeing my next door neighbours. I wanted to have a place where I could reconnect with neighbours and my old neighbourhood. “So this is cottage country for me,” said Beckerman. He uses the little apartment a couple of times a month, and offers it to visiting friends and family, too. “But my main motivation in assuming a nine-year lease was to also make this space available to local charities and societies in the community, for when they want to house visiting consultants and speakers, or applicants coming to town for interviews. “This is so charities don’t have to absorb the expense of hotels.” The location is ideal: a couple of blocks from a bus stop that connects to downtown, the University of Victoria and Camosun College, and a short stroll to Fairfield Plaza. Beckerman regularly supports societies such as the Victoria Foundation, Cool-Aid, Our Place, AIDS Vancouver Island, the Together Against Poverty Society, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and Pacific Opera — but is keen to offer his second home to other non-profits, too. “While I enjoy packing up a small bag of supplies and bicycling out to spend the weekend in my cottage,” he hopes the attractive, art-

FAIRFIELD COTTAGE

A dining table from the owner’s previous home was too large, so it was cut down to precisely fit. The mahogany-coloured granite top matches the base.

filled pied-à-terre can also fill a useful gap for others. Since moving here from the United States 14 years ago, and becoming a Canadian citizen four years ago, he has been a major patron of many groups. Among his numerous gifts has been the donation of $750,000 in art to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The architect built this silver and blue, corrugated steel-sided home in 2006 and when he decided to move back into the 650-square-foot suite, after it had been rented for many years, he upgraded the finishings and rethought the lighting. Although it is half the square footage of his condo, he also managed to display 44 pieces of art there, compared with just 36 in his Songhees home — partly because the latter has almost two full walls of glass. His art ranges from antique Navajo rugs and Santa Fe pottery, to paintings, prints, carvings, Thai tapestries and Indian brass. >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 17

A red leather armchair benefits from natural light for reading. At top is a work by Hopi artist Dan Namingha, “a wildly successful and critically acclaimed artist,” said the owner.

18 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

He also loves photography, and recently found an old envelope containing photos he took of Cairo decades ago. They now march along his office walls. His Bayview condo doesn’t lend itself to storing many books, due again to the windows, and although he has given many away, he is holding onto his favourite tomes. With this in mind he designed a Lilliputian library in a deep closet, and in the process created two tall narrow wall areas on either side for artworks. “My books mirror my travels (including his passion for Italian palazzos) and a lot of them relate to my art collection, including many pieces which are going to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The staff members there are not necessarily familiar with or knowledgeable about Native American painters and potters in the context of New Mexico,” so the books will be a valuable resource. Many of the details in Beckerman’s home are works of art in themselves, simple and inexpensive to conceive. For instance, a sleek, silver handrail

on the staircase is made from a length of standard rectangular stainless steel tube with caps welded onto the ends. He chose a finish with texture so it doesn’t show fingerprints. With a little imagination and ingenuity, such simple items, fabricated from standard materials, can become unique elements. “The contemporary wood panelling on the walls and ceiling of the main floor is just carefully-fitted 4x8, 4x9 and 4x10 foot sheets of standard plywood, but it wraps you in a wonderful a warm glow. “I don’t have a lot of artwork on these walls because I want people to see the panelling. It’s a statement.” The panelling helps the small space look larger because of its reflective quality and the use of one continuous material. “Because the ceiling is also panelled, you don’t notice it is a little on the low side, barely eight feet compared to upstairs where the ceilings are 10 to 13 feet high.” The upper floor’s higher ceilings make the room >23

FAIRFIELD COTTAGE The main floor features an array of windows, an all-white kitchen and reflective panelling on walls and ceiling. An armless sofa, perfect in a confined space, is from Crate and Barrel. Its monotone fabric contrasts with cushions and a Pakistan quilt,

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 19

20 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

FAIRFIELD COTTAGE

A mirror over the allwhite kitchen’s sink replicates a window.

The kitchen bookcase backs on the stairs. Many shelving units came from IKEA and were delivered and assembled by a local service called Add2cart

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 21

22 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

FAIRFIELD COTTAGE

seem bigger, and also gave him the opportunity to expand the storage potential by adding lofts in both the bedroom and office. In his bedroom, he created a starry night effect by installing an LED projector above a suspended panel drilled with recessed pinpoints. The twinkling lights above create a magical effect in the dark and can be put on a timer. The large dining room table, custom made for his former home in California, was cut down from 40 by 90 inches to 30 by 60 to fit the new space and an off-cut of granite was used to handsomely top a bookcase in the main room.

When rethinking his kitchen, he decided to lighten it up by painting the original veneered cabinets a glossy white to match the appliances. He hired Rockstar Finishes to give them their high-gloss, plastic look and also replaced the dark backsplash. “The appliances were white, and I wasn’t about to replace them all, so I made them disappear in an all-white wall.” Small white tiles now stretch to the ceiling, adding more reflection and light, and a large mirror over the sink mimics a window. “Ideally you always want to have a window over the sink,” he said, adding this acts like one and he hung it high enough to avoid splashes. C

Here is his email for those wanting to inquire about the suite: adbeck@shaw.ca

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 23

THE WORLD LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE

24 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

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Medimap Medimap provides easy access to wait times at walk-in medical clinics in your community with the aim of helping you find same-day access to care. A quick visit to the app can save you lots of time in the waiting room. What’s not to love about that? Learn more: medimap.ca This spring’s UVic Torch Alumni Magazine features even more apps that you’re going to love. Check it out online: uvic.ca/alumni/torch

b m i l a n o t Ou s ’ l w O at the h c r e P mes o c l e w e l p u Sooke co se — u o h e e r t o t visitors and t e l i o t d e b with plum res t e m e n i n shower — nd off the grou

| Capital 26 |26 Capital MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 2019 2019

TEXT: ANGELA MANGIACASALE

PHOTOS: MICHELLE PICHERT

STORY

H

aving moved to Vancouver Island from out of province, Jake and Amanda Petronis often entertained visitors for weeks at a time. Things could get crowded with family and friends sleeping in their daughter’s playroom. So, they decided to add a little guest cottage at the bottom of a slope next to their house in Sooke. The local contractor Jake first approached suggested chopping down a swath of trees. “We weren’t very happy with that,” Jake said. “We love the trees. We were so happy to have such large trees on our property that we couldn’t see ourselves cutting them down. So that got us thinking.” Huge fans of the Treehouse Masters television series on Animal Planet, the Petronises decided to go out on a limb and perch a little guest room in the trees. That would save all the trees and protect the two resident Great Horned Owls, Amanda said. And it gave them a name for their project: Owl’s Nest Treehouse. >

Set in a window that overlooks the loft is a little stained-glass artwork that features an owl.

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 27

COVER STORY

Almost 50 steps wind their way up the slope to the door of the 200-square-foot cabin, which sits almost nine metres off the ground, nestled among three cedars and one maple.

28 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

They had little experience in construction, so the plan constantly morphed and changed as they tried to stick to several guiding principles: maximize the use of the space available without running afoul of local regulations, build in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible, use as many reclaimed resources as possible and create a space that was as considerate of the nature outside as it was comfortable inside for guests. One year and many revisions later, the couple completed the impressive structure that sits just shy of nine metres off the ground, nestled among three cedars and one maple. Almost 50 steps wind their way up the slope to the door of the 200-square-foot cabin. Inside, it features fir plank walls, a 16-foot ceiling, a kitchenette with a sink in a counter >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 29

COVER STORY

The treehouse sits on 16-inch-diameter cedar posts a friend logged on his property. The six- by 12-inch cross braces between the posts came from the old Oak Bay High School, which owner Jake Petronis purchased when the school was torn down to make way for a new one.

30 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

of four-inch-thick cedar atop cabinets of verticalgrain fir, a bar fridge, microwave and toaster oven, a 100-square-foot sleeping loft, a bathroom that includes a plumbed toilet and shower, and a 150-square-foot deck. Electric heat from baseboards and a fireplace keep the space toasty. The learn-as-they-went approach led to time-consuming and expensive modifications. Sometimes, items had to be reconfigured. The bar-height table that sits next to a window has metal legs in the shape of Vancouver Island, but the original round, burl wood top took up too much room. So, Jake replaced it with a cedar plank. The burl now hangs on the wall above the flatscreen TV. Other times, they ended up buying and returning products — including the shower, sink, sofa and bed — before finding the right one for the

cabin, Amanda said, rolling her eyes. “After starting to spend so much, we thought we had to go all the way and put plumbing in here, make it a full home,” said Jake, who used to work as a real estate agent in Ontario. He estimates the final cost was “upwards of $100,000 and, if I didn’t work on it myself pretty much full-time throughout the year, it would have been a lot more … double that, easily.” To help cover costs, the couple turned the guest room project into an Airbnb getaway. “We were so far into it that we had to do it right. That’s when we realized that we would start renting it out and getting some income back.” The structure sits on 16-inch-diameter cedar posts a friend logged on his property. The six- by 12-inch cross braces between the posts came >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 31

Double French doors with full-length glass inserts lead to a 150-square-foot deck. The living area of the treehouse includes an electric fireplace. The table under the window features metal legs in the shape of Vancouver Island. The round burl tabletop was too big for the space, so Petronis removed it, hung it on the wall and replaced it with a cedar plank.

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COVER STORY

Alamo Finishing of Sooke created the curly maple ladder that leads to the loft bedroom. It works like a library ladder, pulling out from the wall and rolling along a metal bar to the centre of the room when needed. Otherwise, it tucks away in the corner.

from the old Oak Bay High School. When that facility was torn down to make way for a new school, Jake bought as much of the old wood as he could, using eight of the 16- to 18-foot long 6-by-12s and more than a dozen 3-by-10 floor joists in his project. For treehouse builders and enthusiasts, Jake said, reclaimed wood is essential. “That required some thought because I only had certain sizes [of the reclaimed wood] to work with. I worked with inches, the whole project. The place is 200 square feet, but it lands directly on my columns … and the beams were not cut, they were exactly what I got from Oak Bay. They literally sit within inches of the trees.” The structure’s base is attached to the trees using a TAB (Treehouse Attachment Bolt) system, with large screws that twist into the trees. TABs are designed to allow trees to continue to move and grow as they heal around the wound. “The tree treats [each TAB] like a natural branch that has broken off and it starts to repair and heal. Over time, it actually becomes more stable as the tree grows a protector around that hole,” Jake said. >

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34 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

COVER STORY

The kitchenette’s sink sits in a counter of fourinch-thick cedar atop cabinets of vertical-grain fir. Although a full stove wasn’t permitted, the kitchenette does have a microwave, toaster oven and bar fridge.

It works so well that, when the wind blows, the trees sway, but the building doesn’t move, he said. The more than 50 Airbnb guests who have stayed at the treehouse since it opened in August 2018 have given it a five-star review, even the couple who were there during a wind storm. “The power was out. Tree branches were crashing around,” Jake recalled. “We left it open to them that if they wanted to leave, we were willing to refund them. They said no way.” With large windows that flood the space with light, the cosy treehouse feels like a cabin aerie perched high in the woods with views across the Salish Sea to the mountains in Washington state. “It’s the type of wood and the way it was used that makes the treehouse special,” says

Ali Alamolhoda, the carpenter who runs Alamo Finishing that worked on the Petronis cabin. “Not many people allow you to build with so much solid wood now. Almost everything is built from plywood and Jake understood the value in using real wood.” Alamolhoda and fellow carpenter Travis Dezall devised the ladder that links the main floor to the loft. Made of curly maple, it features mortise and tenon joints, no screws and modified hardware so it operates like a library ladder that pulls out from the wall and rolls along a metal bar to the centre of the room when needed. “You’re able to push it back up straight and slide it in, so then it tucks away and you’re able to use the space as a whole,” Alamolhoda said. He loved the atmosphere working on the project because almost everyone Jake involved lived and worked in Sooke. >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 35

COVER STORY

The treehouse includes a fully plumbed toilet and shower.

“It was a friends project. We all knew each other,” Alamolhoda said, which meant everyone cared about the job and it was a fun working atmosphere. “Jake is so [obsessed] about everything being perfect that he was there the entire time with us,” he said. “He stained every wall six times to achieve the colour that he wanted. There was never a moment when he looked at it and said, “Hey, I’m just going to live with it as is.” He never accepted anything except for exactly what his vision was.” Every detail mattered to the Petronises. The handles, hooks and some of the metal décor in the shape of leaves and trees were fashioned by Foggy Mountain Forge using wrought iron reclaimed from the Jordan River. Framed pictures of trees from Avatar Grove and Sombrio Beach are labelled so guests would know where to find them. Paul Clarkston, who runs a Sooke construction company that bears his name, helped the Petronises with advice throughout the project, after first telling them they would have to cut down their trees to build a guest house. >

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An authentic experience in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter Stroll the original downtown, admire the mix of old and new architecture and relish in eclectic businesses Sometimes you stumble into a great experience through sheer luck or loads of perseverance, but when your calendar is full and your time is short, it’s usually easier — and often better — to learn from someone else’s experience. With nearly 100,000 people living here, there are thousands of excellent experiences waiting for you to discover, and one of the true gems is the Old City Quarter. The Old City Quarter is nestled in the heart of Nanaimo, just steps from the downtown core. Consisting of a collection of owner operated businesses — from specialty food stores to metaphysical treasures to wealth managers and chiropractors — the Old City Quarter oozes vibrancy and community. Originally the economic centre of the city, the area is a charming mix of revitalized heritage buildings and thoughtful new development. It has become the number one destination for shopping in Nanaimo and a hub for doers and relaxers alike. The Old City Quarter in Nanaimo is much like Canada — a great variety of backgrounds and cultures, working together to provide a fantastic experience. Play one of the 200plus board games in the Board Game House, check out new styles in Bodacious or something vintage from Yours and Mine Consignment, or find something cute for the kids at Pumpkin Pie Kids Wear. Best to enjoy a sweet treat from A Wee Cupcakery with a coffee or tea from The Bee’s Knees while you explore OCQ. Embrace the Arcane Something supernatural is brewing in Lobelia’s Lair (8-321 Wesley Street), Nanaimo’s centre for new age treasures, found only in Old City Quarter. Let the cards predict your future or learn to read them yourself with a tarot reading class. Browse through the collection of metaphysical riches to enable your spiritual awakening, then start a journey of self-discovery, replete with crystals, jewellry, candles, herbs, books and so much more. Indulge your spiritual side and reward yourself with a truly mystical experience. – ADVERTISING FEATURE

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COVER STORY

Dozens of Airbnb clients have stayed in the Owl’s Perch since it opened last August, and the reviews have been exceptional — including a five-star review from a couple who stayed there during a wind storm.

38 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

The exterior walls and decking were stained with multiple layers to achieve the perfect colour.

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“There was no room in that corner to build in any other way,â€? said Clarkston. “With the tree spacing, he got kind of lucky with setbacks from the property line.â€? Clarkston sounded a bit amazed that Jake was able to achieve his vision for a cabin in the trees. “He’s not a contractor or a builder ‌ [but] he must ask the right questions because he was able to do it on his own and it turned out good. What he did was nice for the neighbourhood.â€? It certainly has “shock value,â€? he added. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it, so it’s pretty neat.â€? >

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COVER STORY

It was a $100,000 project that could easily be doubled if you counted the owner’s time, but for Jake Petronis it was a labour of love.

40 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

The Petronises think so, too. They are happy to welcome guests, but they also spend time in it themselves — a getaway just steps from home where they will watch the owls chase bunnies around the property, keep a lookout for black bears or just play games with their six-year-old daughter, Sophia-Marie. “The thing I am most proud of with the project is seeing the joy it brings my family and guests from around the world,” Jake said. C

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Site plan for the Burnside School land, which includes daycare and afterschool care facilities, shared space, a park and 88 housing units.

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PACIFICA HOUSING

CECELIA ROAD

TEXT: JEFF BELL

BURNSIDE

Affordable housing, childcare services and a park — all surrounding a revitalized Burnside School

RE-INVENTED

NEW URBAN VILLAGE

urnside School, built in 1912 and freshly renovated with seismic upgrades for new batches of students in its second century, is on the cusp of another massive re-invention to fit with a modern city. After the $6.5-million upgrade to the school itself, the vision is now turning to the school grounds, where there is a plan in place to use it for 88 units of housing for those with moderate incomes, says Greater Victoria School District secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh. “It’s for your average working people, working families.” The concept of bringing a school and housing together in this fashion is “very, very unusual,” Walsh said. The school district, Pacifica Housing and the City of Victoria are all part of the effort. “I think it has potential for other kinds of school-property development,” said Margaret Eckenfelder, acting executive director for Pacifica Housing. “And B.C. Housing, our major funder and partner in this, is also very interested in seeing this kind of project move forward and go ahead.” >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 43

BURNSIDE DE PACIFICA HOUSING

RE-INVENTED

44 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

Artist’s conception of the proposed housing development and park; a bird’s-eye view looking northwest, with Burnside school building at right corner.

The framework for the project is coming together, but rezoning and Official Community Plan discussions with the city are still needed. “We remain very excited and very proud to be part of this kind of initiative that we hope could maybe be a model for elsewhere,” Eckenfelder said. “But as with anything that’s new and complex, it takes a bit of time to work through the details.” Eckenfelder said he hopes to have further conversations about the project soon.

We bring a lot to the table. The five-story building that is envisioned will have uses other than housing, Walsh said. “There will be a park and there will be two sets of childcare run by the Burnside Gorge Community Association on the main floor,” he said. “The cool thing and the reason that it’s not just us getting rid of an interest in land, is there will 4,000 square feet of teaching space that’s ours in the daytime and the community’s at night. “The housing will actually be amenities for us.” The impetus for looking at a housing component was the fact that the original cost of fixing Burnside was turning out to be higher than expected. “So we thought we need to continue to do something for this building, but we can’t spend all of our money on that,” Walsh said. “And so the idea was, let’s use our facilities plan, that specifically addresses the idea of housing on our lands, and ‘take it for a spin’ in order to get reinvestment into the site.” The original plan had been to bring in three portables to use for child care, he said, but that still left a large portion of the property unused. “If you don’t need the land, why not do something a little more intensive?” The city’s vision for the area includes a housing plan, Walsh said. “The city actually has [it] set as an urban village in their long-term plan,” Walsh said. “The reality is that you have an active school, you’re going to have housing, you going to have a park — everything starts to lead to it.” The idea is to produce housing that fits in with the school, Walsh said. “That’s the whole idea, is to have the school be part of the community.” A similar housing concept is being considered at Vic High, as well, with over 100 units a possibility there. >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 45

DARREN STONE

RE-INVENTED

BURNSIDE

District secretarytreasurer Mark Walsh at the Burnside Education Centre, where the addition of housing on the former school grounds is considered an innovative approach to solving the local housing crisis.

46 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

The housing could coincide with a $73.3-million expansion/seismic upgrade at Vic High that might start as soon as September 2020. There is also a notion to go one step further in the future and add school facilities to planned developments. “So rather than put portables on sites, why don’t we get somehow into the base of a larger building or larger complex?”, said Walsh. Burnside School, meanwhile, had an uncertain future after closing in 2006 during a period of falling enrolment, but thanks to a $6.5-million renovation, it has taken on the mantle of the crosstown S.J. Willis Education Centre. Former S.J. Willis offerings such as alternative high-school classes

and continuing education have now found a home at Burnside. About 200 people are taking part in programs on any given day. “I would say we brought it back to life, that’s for sure,” said Walsh. “And it’s seismic now, so it’s one of our safest facilities.” In the meantime, S.J. Willis will have a reno of its own and become a “swing” school to be used by secondary- and middleschool communities while their own sites undergo seismic upgrades. Vic High could be the first to take advantage of the temporary home base, once S.J. Willis — which was last in full use as a school in 1983 — has been given a $4- to $5-million overhaul. C

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50 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

Lucy is now six years old and in grade 1. She’s living a happy childhood, and she is supported and healthy.

Supporting Island kids like Lucy A family’s journey through cleft lip and palate treatment

Danielle Green learned her family’s life was going to change during her ultrasound at 18-weeks pregnant. Physicians detected her baby Lucy would be born with a cleft lip. “We were fairly distraught. I had never met anyone with a cleft lip. I had no idea what that meant. I am a fairly private person and I initially didn’t want a team associated with my baby. But then we became very grateful for the help QAC (Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health) was able to offer us. And we were shocked with the number of specialists Lucy was going to have to see over time,” says Danielle. Baby Lucy was born with cleft lip and palate, which, among other issues, makes it very challenging for babies to feed. “It would sometimes take me an hour and a half to feed her an ounce of milk. We were doing it around the clock. When she was born, she was in the 85th percentile for size and dropped to the fifth because she was having her feeding problems.” Lucy had her first surgery at three months old to repair her lip. “I was always suspended between gratitude and grief. I was so grateful that these services were available to Lucy and covered medically, and we knew developmentally, she needed the surgery, but at the same time it was emotionally devastating to hand her over, a tiny little three-month old baby. To put her in an anesthesiologist’s hands and watch her go unconscious. And when she woke up, she was in pain, had croup from intubation, we didn’t recognize her, and her voice was different… it was very emotional. We were full of grief about her face changing. We loved her smile. That was the smile we knew and fell in love with.” Lucy quickly grew from the fifth to 90th percentile for size. Another transformational result from this surgery was her ability to hear. At the same time Lucy had her lip repaired, doctors gave her ear tubes.

“I don’t know if the doctor would even know what an amazing impact that had. She mostly cried all the time, from birth until her first surgery. She was barely hearing anything. Then our whole world turned around. Watching her fully hear for the first time was amazing. She became so much more interactive. When she came home it was amazing. We would close a drawer or use cutlery and she would shake because she had never heard all those little sounds before. And our voices… she reacted to them times a thousand. It was such a cool connection we got with her, and clearly, so important for her development.” Lucy had a second surgery at 13-months for palate repair. Danielle recalls how vocal and chatty Lucy was at that age. She was ready to talk but couldn’t make all the sounds she wanted to, prior to surgery. After her surgery, she could speak clearly and without any issue. Lucy is now six years old and in grade one. She’s living a happy childhood, and she is supported and healthy. “They had sharing day at Lucy’s kindergarten (last year), and one day she brought in her baby book, which we called ‘I

love Lucy’. She shared it and told her whole class about her cleft and surgeries she had. She was so proud and so excited. The teacher put it out at break time and a bunch of the kids went and read it.” Lucy will need more treatment as she grows, but thanks to the services and support available to her and her family, including her team at QAC, she will be able to live a normal life. “Lucy was born with this circumstance that could have been a massive obstacle in her life, but instead, it’s a story that we celebrate as a family because she was able to work through stages of babyhood so successfully. And that wouldn’t be a story of celebration in our family if we weren’t able to access all that support. We look back at everything she went through and celebrate it as part of who she is, instead of it being a lifelong limitation.” Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island funds programs, services and equipment at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health, which is home to the cleft lip/palate clinic in Victoria. The clinic is operated by Island Health and includes plastic surgeons, ear nose and throat specialists, speechlanguage pathologists, orthodontists, pediatric dental specialists, audiologists, and nurses, among other great supports. The Foundation works to ensure all Island kids like Lucy have access to the health care they need, when and where they need it most. This includes ongoing developmental supports for day-to-day health care of kids and their families before and after surgeries. Donors in the capital region and all across the Island are making big difference in the lives of Island families through their generous support. Join the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island as champions for the health of every Island family by giving to the Kids First Fund today. Learn more at: islandkidsfirst. com, or by calling: 250-940-4950.

Capital 2019 | 51

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SAANICH PENINSULA HOSPITAL & HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION (SPHHF)

Generous Gift to Enhance Scholarships and Projects provided in memory of long-time donor In January, a donation of $500,000 was made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation (SPHHF) in honour of a much-loved wife and mother — Florence Yong. This generous gift is the ďŹ rst of two or more installments that will create an endowment fund. Interest from the Florence Yong Endowment will ďŹ nance speciďŹ c projects and an educational scholarship program (The Florence Yong Scholarship) to assist those individuals who have shown a commitment to upgrading their skills to meet the needs of SPH, to the long-term beneďŹ t of the hospital. This will include upgrading of professional designation (i.e. LPN to RN), new advanced techniques in surgical nursing, imaging or laboratory technology, respiratory technology, orthopedics technology or rehabilitation assistance. Paul Hames, President of the Board of SPHHF, explains why this gift is so important: “The Saanich Peninsula is a

small hospital, employing a rural medical model. Because of its size, staff recruitment and retention can be difďŹ cult. We know that programs like this will keep it modern and vibrant, while supporting its unique needs.â€? Mrs. Yong came to the hospital regularly for day treatments and became well acquainted with the nurses and staff members. In speaking with these kind and caring individuals, she came to understand the ongoing requirements of SPH. A close friend of the family says, “Florence was devoted to her family and friends, always giving of herself, and it is great to see her legacy honoured with an extraordinary gift for an extraordinary purpose.â€? The SPHHF has been fundraising on the Peninsula since 1985 to support the Saanich Peninsula Hospital in promoting healthcare excellence. With long-term gifts such as this, the Foundation will be able to continue with its mission to provide the best

A generous gift in honour of a much-loved wife and mother — Florence Yong, has created a lasting endowment fund for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.

possible and most compassionate health care for every person in the community, and to enable access to healthcare services throughout the Saanich Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands communities for every resident. If you’ve thought about making a legacy gift to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation, please contact: 250652-7531 or: karen.morgan@viha.ca. Visit: sphf.ca

Just think of all the good your planned gift will do.

your community, your health 250-652-7531

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YOU CAN HELP MORE SENIORS REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR OWN HOMES LONGER. SAFE provides a medical alarm service to low income seniors at risk of hospitalization or extended care placement due to falls. SAFE Lifeline is funded 100% by donations to the Eldercare Foundation. SAFE has helped close to 100 seniors in Greater Victoria and the southern Gulf Islands remain safely in their own homes longer, but our lengthy wait list tells us the need is much larger. Please consider a planned gift, a multi-year pledge, or a donation today and help us keep this important program going and growing.

Every gift, big or small makes a huge difference!

1454 Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2B7 Tel: 250-370-5664 www.gvef.org Registered charity #89881 6095 RR0001

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ELDERCARE FOUNDATION

SAFE: If your elderly loved one lived alone, like many do, how long would it take for someone to find them if they suffered a fall? If they were lucky, maybe a couple of hours. But if they weren’t, it could be a couple of days or even longer. Among older adults, falls are the number one cause of fractures, hospital admissions for trauma, loss of independence and injury deaths. Each year, 30 to 60 per cent of seniors suffer a fall, through accident or due to health conditions that leave them dizzy, lightheaded or with poor eyesight. A simple fall can have devastating effects on an older person, and unfortunately, it often takes just a moment to change a life. Medical alert services like SAFE Lifeline, protect people living alone from the consequences of falling. In a perfect world, everyone would have access to such a service. Sadly, this is not today’s reality as many seniors are struggling to meet their basic financial needs for shelter, food and medication on fixed incomes which are not keeping pace with ever-increasing costs. Maintaining independence and peace of mind go hand-inhand with enhanced quality of life. That’s where a program like SAFE Lifeline can help. Funded 100 per cent by donations to the Eldercare Foundation, SAFE is delivered in partnership with Philips Lifeline and Island Health in Greater Victoria and on the southern Gulf Islands. The average cost per senior per year is between $500 and $700. Thanks to Eldercare’s donors, SAFE has enabled almost 100 seniors to

Specialized Assistance for Elders

Thanks to Eldercare’s donors, SAFE has enabled almost 100 seniors to remain in their own homes longer. A lengthy wait list shows a much larger and growing need.

remain in their own homes longer, but the lengthy wait list shows a much larger and growing need.

SAFE: Testimonials Island Health case managers who qualify seniors for SAFE were asked to send a story or two about why SAFE is so important. Eldercare received many passionate responses — even several from SAFE clients. A registered nurse on the Saanich Peninsula sent this: “There are currently 40 people on the waitlist who are eligible for Eldercare funding for SAFE, but are waiting because of lack of funds. Some of these clients have been living at risk in their homes for many months because they are unable to pay for a medical alert service. “The clients that I have referred

are low income, live alone and have multiple health issues that put them at risk for falling. I hope the people on the waitlist do not fall and be unable to call for help before funding for them becomes available. “As a community case manager, I have heard about multiple clients who have fallen and broken a hip or leg and been unable to call for help. Some of these clients had to lie on the floor in pain for hours. This is one of the worst nightmares family members have about their loved ones who are living alone at risk. Additional funding for this valuable service will help enormously to keep our clients safe in their own homes and possibly avoid preventable hospital admissions. Thank you

for considering donating to this program.” From “Betty”, a grateful SAFE client, came this testimonial: “I’m so happy to have been able to qualify for funding for SAFE Lifeline. Hopefully anyone who needs it should qualify. This really takes the fear out of living alone. Staying in my own home is important to me.” With over 40 people currently waiting for SAFE Lifeline funding, your donation is more important than ever. Consider a gift today to help reduce the wait list and take the fear out of living alone for low-income seniors at risk like “Betty”. For information on SAFE Lifeline, contact the Eldercare Foundation at: 250-370-5664 or visit: gvef.org to donate online.

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THE CRIDGE CENTRE

One precious life at a time

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How many of us have small pencil lines marking the growth of our children on our kitchen walls — from when they were barely able to stand to their present height — taller than us, and proud of it? The little pencil lines remind us of growth measured in centimetres and years, creating memories and precious moments along the way. Marking the growth of an organization is similar, but also different. We can mark how we have grown structurally — with new buildings and locations. We can track the number of people served, from tens to thousands. We can mark years and decades — especially as we celebrate 145 years of service. We can look back at the grainy black and white photos of children and staff in the early years and compare these to the sharp, coloured photos of our children and staff today. With 145 years behind us, we have seen so much growth, change and progress. From our beginning as an orphanage, we now serve so many more populations through our programs: childcare, senior assisted living, brain injury

survivors, women and children fleeing violent relationships, young parents, families with children with a disability, and immigrant and refugee families. We are humbled, yet proud, of the legacy of compassionate care The Cridge Centre has provided in Victoria. But we are not done yet! We are looking ahead, planning and preparing for the next decades of service — knowing our work is not complete. We have more areas of service to grow into, we have more people to serve, we have more impact to make in our community. We are growing a stronger community, one precious life at a time. We need your help and support to continue to grow and serve your community. Because, who knows? The next person we serve might be someone precious to you. Investing in The Cridge Centre is an investment in growing your community. To discuss how you can invest, call Joanne at: 250-995-6419, or email: jlinka@cridge.org. Visit: cridge.org

VICTORIA HOSPICE

Hospice care deepens sibling bond

Victoria Hospice patient Cheryl Cave knew she would not make it to Halloween 2018. She loved the holiday, some years carving up to 200 jack-o-lanterns with her friend. In July, Cheryl’s friend decorated her room at Hospice with pumpkin lights, witches and trick-or-treat candies for visitors and volunteers. Cheryl was so grateful. “You would have thought it was October 31, not July,â€? says Cheryl’s brother Todd Cave, who retired early to be with sister. Cheryl made the most of the time she had left while at Victoria Hospice. “The care team was so accommodating,â€? reects Todd. “If there was ever a problem, Hospice had her back. We started calling it the ‘Land of Yes’ because everything we asked for, the answer was always ‘yes’.â€? One day, Todd asked staff if he could take his sister out for a tour of the city. He ďŹ gured they would say no or that a long process of paperwork would ensue. “In no time at all, they had us out the door,â€? says Todd. “We took a taxi to Oak Bay Marina and drove along the waterfront. We saw the

cruise ships, the Inner Harbour and all the beaches. Cheryl was so excited, and it was just fun. That’s a memory I will always treasure.â€? As Cheryl’s health declined, Todd admits that he wanted to be able to care for his sister. “I think when people ďŹ nd themselves in these kinds of situations, myself included, there’s this naĂŻvetĂŠ that they can provide all the care for someone, but you can’t be on 24/7 to care for someone else. You want to do the best for your sibling, but you’re still just one person.â€? He says being at Victoria Hospice allowed him and Cheryl to talk, laugh, cry and connect in a meaningful way. “Without the help of Hospice, we would have been at each other more, frustrated about her pain and care.â€? Victoria Hospice relies on community donations to fund half of its operating costs. Todd is now one of thousands of loyal donors who support quality, palliative end-of-life care in our community. “Hospice gave Cheryl the ability to have dignity, to be safe, to feel loved,â€? he says. “For that I am eternally grateful.â€? Visit: victoriahospice.org

!

VictoriaHospice.org / 250-519-1744

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BROADMEAD CARE

Generosity lives on

Where will your legacy live on?

During her h lif life Connie C i gave to many worthwhile h hil causes and through her Will she ensured her legacy would carry on helping others.

A native Victorian, Connie once shared that it was because of her interest in all things maritime that led her to support the veterans living at the Veterans Memorial Lodge (at Broadmead). Join Connie – make a powerful difference in the lives of veterans, seniors and adults with disabilities living at one of Broadmead Care’s homes where together you will help build communities where people of all ages and abilities can experience happiness and wellbeing.

To receive a FREE brochure on Broadmead Care’s Legacy Giving program, call Mandy Parker at 250-658-3226 or mandy.parker@broadmeadcare.com

4579 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC V8X 4Y7 www.broadmeadcare.com A charitable bequest is a donation that you specify in your Will which would lead to a tax credit and will help offset the income tax owing on your final tax return. To include Broadmead Care in your Will, work with your lawyer or notary to create a new Will or to add a codicil to your existing Will.

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Connie passed away peacefully in July 2017, yet her legacy lives Connie once shared that on at Broadmead Care through it was her the contribution she made in interest in all things her will. maritime that A native Victorian, Connie led her to support the attended Cedar Hill and veterans living at the Veterans Girls’ Central schools. Upon Memorial graduation in 1939, she started Lodge at Broadmead. work at Yarrows Shipyards Her legacy gift in Esquimalt (later Versatile will live on Pacific Shipyards), and after through her remarkable 49 years of steady employment investment. at Yarrows, she retired as head secretary. It was at Yarrows her remarkable investment. that Connie met her future “Connie’s greatest pleasure was husband, Gerald, and in 1949 to give to organizations whose work they were married and moved to was for the benefit of others,” says Esquimalt where they built their friend Hugh Statham. “During her home in the Highrock area. After lifetime, Connie donated to many retiring, Connie continued to take worthwhile causes, and through her a keen interest in local maritime will, she ensured her legacy would history and anything to do with carry on helping others. She was a ship construction and ship repairs. fine, kind and generous lady.” Connie once A bequest to shared that it was Broadmead Care is a “During her lifetime, her interest in all wonderful gesture of Connie donated to things maritime kindness and generosity many worthwhile that led her to that will greatly enhance support the causes, and through the homes we provide veterans living her will, she ensured for veterans, seniors and at the Veterans her legacy would carry adults with physical Memorial Lodge at disabilities. on helping others.” Broadmead. Over While we can’t predict the years, through the future needs of the her contributions to equipment, residents at Broadmead Care, programs or the simply the greatest your donation will have an impact need, Connie made a significant on its purpose, which is to build impact on improving the comfort communities where people of all and care of veterans and seniors at ages and abilities can experience Broadmead Care. well-being and happiness. Eighteen months ago, we A charitable bequest is a received news that Connie had donation that you specify in your passed away. Shortly thereafter, will which will generate a tax credit a letter from her lawyer arrived to offset the income tax owing on informing us that Connie had left your final tax return. To include a gift in her will to the Veterans Broadmead Care in your will, work Memorial Lodge. We were with your lawyer or notary to create saddened to hear of the loss of our a new will or to add a codicil to friend and benefactor, but we knew your existing will. her legacy would live on through broadmeadcare.com

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE BC AND YUKON

Home away from home Help keep Vancouver Island families close when it matters most

No family expects to come to Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, but for 2,000 B.C. and Yukon families each year, it becomes a home away from home. When Adam and Kristen Ireton took their three-year-old son Weston to the doctor in Port Hardy, they expected to get some antibiotics and go home. Instead, they were told to pack a bag. Weston had leukemia and they needed to fly to Vancouver that day. In Vancouver, the family learned that they would need to juggle months of treatment with caring for Weston’s older brother and running their business back in Port Hardy — far from home and with only what they could fit in a suitcase. That’s where Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon (RMH BC) comes in for hundreds of Island families like Weston’s each year. RMH BC provides accommodation and support for families when they must travel to Vancouver for their child’s life-saving medical care, and 25 per cent of the families they serve come from Vancouver Island. More than just a place to stay, the House keeps families together

in a community of support. At the House, Weston loves playing with the toys in the playroom and spending time with his big brother when he comes to visit. For Adam and Kristen, the House helps relieve stress so they can focus on the most important thing: helping Weston to heal. It also gives them acommunity of other families who they can lean on and celebrate with. s 2-( "# PROVIDES accommodation and support for up to 2,000 families like Weston’s each year, and 22 per cent of those families come from Vancouver Island. s &AMILIES CAN STAY FOR WEEKS months, or years while their child receives life-saving treatment. s &AMILIES SAVE TO $6,000 per month when they stay at RMH BC. s 6OLUNTEER RUN PROGRAMS SUCH as family meals reduce dayto-day stress and help families focus on the most important thing: supporting their sick child. There are many ways that you can support Island families at Ronald McDonald House, from making a donation to hosting your own fundraiser. Every contribution helps and makes all of the simple everyday moments of family life possible — from building Lego castles to sharing a mug of hot chocolate to reading a bedtime story. To donate or to find out more, visit: rmhbc.ca.

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VICTORIA HOSPITALS FOUNDATION

One Woman’s Heartfelt Legacy Estate gift makes a lasting difference to the Archie Courtnall Centre

%VERY YEAR DONATIONS TO THE 6ICTORIA (OSPITALS &OUNDATION HELP FUND HUNDREDS OF PRIORITY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FASTER DIAGNOSIS AND MORE EFÂşCIENT TREATMENT AT 2OYAL *UBILEE 6ICTORIA 'ENERAL AND 'ORGE 2OAD HOSPITALS IN EVERY AREA OF CARE 4HE GENEROSITY OF DONORS ALLOWS OUR HOSPITALS TO STAY ON THE LEADING EDGE TO PROVIDE THE BEST PATIENT CARE &OR THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL

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When Lynda Mottershead was planning her estate, she wanted to leave a legacy of compassionate care. Thanks to Lynda’s generosity and her thoughtful foresight, the Archie Courtnall Centre was renovated in 2017 — to better serve patients in need of emergency psychiatric service. Mrs. Mottershead’s generous estate gift funded a number of upgrades, including a new and more secure nursing station, a third private room for patients in severe crisis and the addition of skylights to patient rooms. An additional examination room was added and enhancements were made to family spaces to allow patients to enjoy time with their loved ones. In the years to come, her gift will impact caregivers, patients and their families with this truly beautiful and meaningful legacy.

The Archie Courtnall Centre helps people in crisis by providing psychiatric care and intervention services that can make all the difference during some of the most fragile times of their lives. Last year, more than 1,500 patients were helped. When the Centre opened

Generous donor Lynda Mottershead and the renovated, light-ďŹ lled Centre.

13 years ago, it became a leader in Canada for providing ‘emergency department’ style care for patients with mental health challenges. On behalf of all the patients whose lives have and will be touched by the Archie Courtnall Centre — thank you, Lynda! Your legacy lives on. victoriahf.ca

SWAN LAKE CHRISTMAS HILL NATURE SANCTUARY

The ‘Natural Heart of the City,’ the Sanctuary connects people to the ora, fauna and natural history around them.

Leave a legacy for those who follow Enhance ďŹ nancial security for those who will beneďŹ t from Sanctuary programs. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is a non-proďŹ t organization that offers the community a place to enjoy a living classroom, fostering understanding and appreciation of nature through direct experiences. The ‘Natural Heart of the City,’ the Sanctuary connects people to the ora, fauna and natural history around them. A registered charitable organization run by Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society, the lands and facilities are owned by the Corporation of the District of Saanich. The Nature Sanctuary Society operates through a land management agreement with Saanich since June 1975, and in 2020, the Sanctuary will celebrate its 45th anniversary. The Sanctuary offers an extensive trail system, whether you walk on your own or as part of the daily programs offered. The Sanctuary promotes awareness of the natural world without having to go far from home. This urban Sanctuary is located in the middle

of the city, and offers programs that inspire children and families with an appreciation for nature. Spending time at the Sanctuary is a great way to connect as a family, get moving and reap the beneďŹ ts to your overall health and wellbeing. Any time of year, visitors can enjoy the main lake trail and a stop on the beautiful new oating boardwalk. Here, you are right in the centre of a signiďŹ cant wetland. During the annual migration of birds, you have opportunities to see some beautiful plumage. Those looking for a little more exertion can enjoy the self-guided or naturalist led Christmas Hill Wildower Walk. The summit of Christmas Hill, at 109 metres above sea level, rewards you with spectacular views of the city. You can observe trees and shrubs, dormant during the winter, that are coming back to life in spring. Seasonally, you’ll see signs of wildlife, including holes/ cavities that birds, insects and small mammals could inhabit. Take time to sneak a peek at some of the wildowers that, in spring, edge

the trails that meander through the beautiful, yet sensitive, Garry oak meadow. Leaving a legacy gift for those who will follow the trails for years to come will assist the Sanctuary in its efforts to protect this majestic land, and foster not only an appreciation for nature, but ultimately, the next generation of nature lovers. — Kathleen Burton, Executive Director swanlake.bc.ca

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A place to call home.

9eeb 7_Z provides comprehensive housing, healthcare and support services in Greater Victoria, serving over 12,000 people each year. We’re currently working to build over 150 new affordable rental homes in Victoria.

CoolAid.org | 250.383.1977 | society@CoolAid.org

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VICTORIA COOL AID SOCIETY

Places to call ‘home’

Stephen’s life changed dramatically on his 19th birthday. A friend offered him drugs for the first time. He immediately became addicted. “I started narcotics at a really young age, and they have been with me my whole life,” he explains matter of factly. When his son Mark was just eight years old, in 1990, Stephen asked his own mother to look after him, fearful not only that he was killing himself with drugs, but that he would be unable to care for his son. As Stephen points out, “the whole family is addicted because they are living with a drug addict. It’s just that they don’t get the drugs.” As a result of addiction, Stephen was homeless off and on for many years, and has had several stays at Cool Aid’s emergency shelters. “I became homeless earlier last year, and then I became sick and was in the hospital for a really long time.” During this time in Stephen’s life, “most of my thoughts were occupied with suicide.” In August 2018, Stephen moved from the Rock Bay Landing shelter to Cool Aid’s Mount Edwards Court (which

“Having a place of safety and security are two major foundations that you need to have.” —Stephen

offers affordable senior’s homes). see what is going on. You’d be He is now working on recovery. amazed how much good they do.” “When I came here, I wasn’t very It’s never too late to change and happy about anything. But in a start a new life. Let Stephen be very short period of time, living our inspiration. here has allowed me a place to Stephen, despite a difficult life, fight for my life. And it is a fight.” is full of smiles, hope and the Today, his recovery is strongly desire to help others. motivated by his son and two Cool Aid works in our grandchildren. “That’s a big part community every day to help of it,” says Stephen, “sticking more people like Stephen find around for my son and my a place to call home. We offer a grandkids. broad range And I’m able of programs “Cool Aid works in our to do that including community every day to help now,” he healthcare, says with a more people like Stephen find a employment smile on his support and place to call home.” face. They affordable talk over the housing and phone now every week. have been a key social service Stephen is thankful to have a agency operating in Victoria since lot of support around him. “Cool 1968. Since 1991, we have been Aid starts to open doors. It starts successfully creating permanent to open hearts to people.” housing by adding over 500 units “A place like Mount Edwards, throughout Greater Victoria. for me, is one of the main building Cool Aid is always looking for blocks for recovery. Having a opportunities to build new and place of safety and security are affordable housing. This includes two major foundations that you Crosstown, a new mixed-use need to have before you can do development at 3020 Douglas anything else.” that will include 153 units of He encourages the rest of us affordable rental housing and over to, “come on down and meet the 30,000 square feet of commercial people that work at Cool Aid and space.

The Crosstown project combines affordable rental units for working families, seniors and singles with a mix of incomes — a range of rental housing supply options our city desperately needs — with other uses, including daycare services, office space, and retail space, including a café. The development is close to shopping, transit and other services, and is just a couple of kilometers from the downtown core, making it a great location for singles and families. Crosstown is an ideal reflection of Cool Aid’s mandate — to create and provide inclusive and welcoming spaces with community at the heart of everything we do. There are so many ways you can help Cool Aid’s work to get more people off the street and into permanent, safe housing. You can donate monthly to help sustain our programs, make a one-time gift that will immediately be put to use in our shelters and housing, or leave a gift in your will to help Cool Aid continue to provide hope and homes into the future. Visit CoolAid.org to learn more.

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CANUCK PLACE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE

Growing to reach more local children and families Canuck Place Children’s Hospice is here with pediatric palliative care for children with lifethreatening illnesses and the families who love them, delivering care out of two provincial locations that service the province including Vancouver Island. This past year, Canuck Place provided care and support for 728 children and families, with 40 families from Vancouver Island. But the need is growing, so Canuck Place is expanding inpatient care at its second provincial location, Canuck Place — Dave Lede House in the Fraser Valley. This growth is critical to increase capacity and reach more families who require pediatric palliative care. With 13 medical beds and eight family suites operating 24/7, Canuck Place will be able to provide more inpatient care than ever before. This complements an expansion to the Nancy Chan Enhanced Community Care program, which brings Canuck Place care into communities to support families at home or in-hospital. Canuck Place raises 60 per cent of its annual operating costs. This growth is only possible with donor support to fully realize and sustain. When a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, parents are impacted by the 24-hour care they provide for their child. The very real stresses incurred by these families include financial pressures, relationship challenges, fatigue, distress and increasing acute-care needs that impact

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mental and physical health and the overall quality of life for the whole family. Canuck Place offers comfort and care to these families to help ease their burden with a unique and holistic approach to clinical care. Families on program have access to medical respite care, pain and symptom management, art, music and recreation therapy, end-oflife care, as well as grief, loss and bereavement counselling. At every stage in their journey, Canuck Place is there during an incredibly difficult time in their lives. All at no cost. Canuck Place offers donors the ability to give back and support this growth in a way that works best for their planned giving goals. Whether it’s a one-time donation or annual gift, each contribution makes an immediate impact on families in town and across B.C. For Canuck Place families like the LaForge family from Campbell River, the impact runs deep. “We entered Canuck Place and found a team that calmed the storms for our whole family,” says Maureen LaForge, whose daughter Angela passed away on program. “Canuck Place donors ensured we had help to navigate through the hardest time in our lives. We’re forever grateful for that support.” To learn about giving to Canuck Place, visit: canuckplace.org.

MS SOCIETY OF CANADA

Connecting and supporting people affected by MS When you or a loved one is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), life can suddenly turn on a dime — one day your body behaves normally and the next, it refuses to listen to you. MS can happen to anyone, without warning, and it often happens in the prime of life. The MS Knowledge Network is the MS Society of Canada’s hub of knowledge and navigators, providing consistent quality MS information and support for anyone in Canada. Whether you’re living with the disease or caring for someone with MS, being able to tap into reliable information will enable you to make informed choices. MS Navigators can help you find information and support that is tailored to you. In 2018, MS Navigators served 4,285 inquiries from 2,548 individuals via phone (62 per cent), email (26 per cent) and after-hours web tickets (12 per cent). An additional 1,808 individuals were served via live chat on the website. Like the disease itself, each inquiry to the

MS Knowledge Network is unique. “There are typical patterns of MS, but no two people will have the exact same experience. We get calls from newly diagnosed people and their family members. Often, they’re in shock and looking for reassurance. We hear from people at every

“I am inspired daily by the many acts of greatness of individuals I connect with who are affected by MS.” — Sheryl Harding, MS Navigator, Nanaimo. stage of the disease,” says Sheryl Harding, MS Navigator. “People call with questions about practical matters like income and employment support. They want to know what services and resources they can find in their community. They want to know about research and clinical trials. They have questions about symptom management and how to talk to their kids about MS.”

The MS Knowledge Network is designed for maximum accessibility, regardless of whether an individual prefers to reach out via email, phone or live chat. “We’re there for people — no matter where they live,” says Sheryl. “You can be in a large city and still feel isolated, or in a small town with less resources. The MS Knowledge Network levels the playing field in terms of support.” Contact the MS Knowledge Network for information and support, and to learn about programs and services available to you such as peer and group support, education, community wellness partnerships, friendly visiting, equipment support, advocacy support and more. mssociety.ca/support-services MS Navigators are available: 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday to Friday. Phone: 1-844-859-6789 Email: msnavigators@mssociety.ca Live Chat: mssociety.ca/support-services

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Capital 2019 | 65

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TEXT: ANDREW A. DUFFY

It’s the reason many people have decided to live here, and may very well be Greater Victoria’s most valuable asset, but often the environment and our region’s mild weather and temperate climate are taken for granted. There is a vibrant and growing community of people who are intent on leaving their patch of earth better than they found it and many of them have developed innovative approaches to living

and doing business that can help the rest of us do our part. Sometimes the solutions to environmental problems can be found in innovative high-tech options, and sometimes it’s the innovation of going back to basics. This is a look at a few of Victoria’s ecoentrepreneurs who have made a stand to make a difference.

A BRIGHT IDEA Victoria firm has taken the desire to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate toxicity to the dance floor. Nyoka Design is developing the Nyoka Light Wand, a non-toxic, biodegradable glow stick. According to founders Paige Whitehead and Yamila Franco, the stick is powered with bioluminescence and designed to be restorative for the planet. It is also designed to go beyond the goal of fixing the problem of toxic chemiluminescence and plastic waste as a result of standard glow sticks. The pair believe their glow stick actually works for the earth with its use of biotechnology rooted in ecological wisdom. “By merging biotechnology with ecological wisdom, we can transition out of our broken system and grow a beautiful world,” said Whitehead. The company believes when biotechnology is merged with restorative design practices, they can develop technology that can reduce carbon emissions, eliminate

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toxicity, restore degraded ecosystems and bring opportunity for equity and sustainable development for communities. “My mission is to bring a sustainable service to the world that will reduce our environmental impact. I am leveraging technology and community initiatives for positive change — everyone can be a change maker,” said Franco. The Light Wand is algae-based, composts quickly and is actually edible. The company is also working on a prototype that when discarded will even act as a “seed bomb” for mushrooms. The idea for the product came when Whitehead saw the sheer volume of discarded glowsticks left on the ground at the Shambhala music festival, grounds that are used as a family farm. The target market for the product is anyone and everyone who has ever been entranced by glowing tubes at music festivals, dance clubs, school and community functions.

ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

A

NYOKA DESIGN CORP. Founders: Paige Whitehead and Yamila Franco Founded: 2018 Website: lightbynyoka.com

Yamila Franco and Paige Whitehead, founders of Nyoka Design who have designed a non-toxic, biodegradable glow stick.

INNOVATORS

Meet the next wave of green entrepreneurs

PLANT BUOY: LIFE PRESERVATION PLANTS Founder: Matt Gravel Founded: 2016 Website: plantbuoy.ca

Matt Gravel of Plant Buoy Nursery creates perennial food systems and plants that promote pollination and bird habitats. ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

FOCUS ON FUNCTIONAL PLANTS

T

he founder’s name says it all — Matt Gravel was always bound to find the dirt. And when he did, Gravel decided to try and improve the patches of earth he was turning over and seeding. That’s what’s behind Plant Buoy, a landscaper’s desire to improve the world by tackling the problems of food security, and disappearing urban ecosystems. “I decided to make a change into doing more positive work in this [landscaping] business and started to focus on growing food instead of grass and planting more trees and creating perennial food systems,” said

Gravel, a former professional skateboarder. Gravel said he’s had good response to his new purpose, though it has taken some people a little time to understand it. “It’s a fairly new concept,” he said, noting everything he does is with the local ecology in mind. He says gas-operated machinery is used only as a last resort, he finds new means of dealing with a short supply of water — including harvesting rainwater and limiting overhead spraying which can result in excess evaporation — and tends to favour edible plants or those that promote habitat for birds

and pollinators or, in some cases, fixes the nitrogen makeup of the soil. “I do a lot of ‘functional’ plants, focus on edible plants and medicinal herbs,” he said. “My business is about things to help life or the planet.” Gravel has done workshops to let people inside his world and he targets his services to both the homeowner and commercial enterprise. He has been working with The Village restaurants both to grow food for the outlets and to boost urban ecology. >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 69

ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

INNOVATORS ZERO WASTE EMPORIUM Founders: Paula and Nairn McPhee Founded: 2017 Website: zerowasteemporium.com

LIFE WITHOUT THE PACKAGING

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iving a life of zero waste is not easy. And it’s not made easier when you are one of the few doing it. That is the case for Paul and Nairn McPhee, who founded their Zero Waste Emporium out of necessity in 2017. What first started as The Burlap Shoe in the spring of 2017, evolved into a storefront with the new name by August last year as they found themselves at the vanguard of zero-waste movement. “Trying to live a zero-waste life two years ago was a challenge, there were very few resources in Victoria to reduce household waste and little was known about the [movement],” the pair said. “Not only is our world filling up with garbage, but our very own landfill is filling up fast as well, with a life expectancy of only 32 years.” The couple noticed a lot of the packaging waste comes from the food we purchase, so they established the emporium to help more people get into the package-free, low-waste lifestyle. Shopping at the store for food, household and personal care products will not create any new waste. “We are the first zero–waste grocery store on Vancouver Island. We are the only grocery store that sells everything in bulk, allowing customers to

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Paula and Nairn McPhee, owners of Zero Waste Emporium on Douglas Street, offer everything from shampoo and toothpaste to milk and vegan cheeses — all without the plastic.

bring in their own clean and dry containers to eliminate extra packaging and waste,” said the McPhees. “We offer everything from dairy milk on tap and house-made organic nut milks to bulk oils and locally made vinegars, vegan cheese, shampoo, dish soap and even refillable deodorant and toothpaste.” The target market is anyone who wants to reduce waste and live a cleaner lifestyle. “We see people of all ages and walks of life cross through our doors with clean containers to refill. We want to target all those people that haven’t thought about reducing their waste and how simple and enjoyable grocery shopping can be again,” they said. The store is open seven days a week at 10 a.m. at 1728 Douglas St. >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 71

TEXT: ANDREW A. DUFFY

Greater Victoria’s high-tech industry has emerged as one of the key economic drivers in this region and has done it on the back of great ideas, sharp minds and a willingness to take chances. That is the essence of innovation, which has spurred the industry into a $5-billion

powerhouse that now employs more than 17,000 people across Greater Victoria. There are now nearly 1,000 tech businesses in the region, many of them small startups hoping they have hit upon the next big thing.

ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

PANI ENERGY Founder: Devesh Bharadwaj Founded: 2017 Website: panienergy.com

Water Wizzard

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ani Energy has looked into the future and the startup company has determined it looks dry. Population growth, climate change and poor water management have resulted in freshwater sources drying up and further exacerbating a water problem worldwide. It is estimated that more than 800 million people are without access to safe water and one third of the world is enduring some form of water scarcity. According to the Water Resources Group, by 2030 global water demand will exceed existing fresh water supply by 60 per cent. Those sobering figures highlight the need to develop the means to extract fresh water

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Devesh Bharadwaj, chief executive of Pani Energy, provides artificial intelligence and machine learning to the water-treatment industry, providing security for our most precious resource.

from non-traditional sources — desalination of ocean water, waste water treatment and reuse, according to Pani Energy founder Devesh Bharadwaj. “These treatment processes are highly complex and resource intensive, making them difficult and expensive to operate,” Bharadwaj said, adding they can also result in greenhouse-gas emissions. Pani Energy was founded to tackle water treatment using less energy and resulting in reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. “Pani has developed a cloud-based optimization and data analytics technology that applies advanced computational tools — artificial intelligence and machine learning

— to the water-treatment industry,” said Bharadwaj. “These tools are able to comprehend treatment processes that are too complex for existing control technologies.” The company’s technology can offer realtime optimization recommendations to plant operators that will reduce cost and improve treatment-plant performance. Pani’s model offers “disruptive technology through a non-disruptive adoption” process, according to Bharadwaj, which should translate into more plant operators taking on the new technology. The technology has established Pani as a force to watch in the water industry.

INNOVATORS

Meet three young techies who hope they’ve hit upon ideas whose time has come

HRG INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING INC. Founders: Harsh Rathod and Dr. Rishi Gupta Founded: 2017 Website: hrginfrastructure.com

Harsh Rathod, co-founder of software company HRG Infrastructure Monitoring, is testing major infrasturcture such as roadways, bridges and dams. ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

H

RG Infrastructure is on a mission to save lives. The company was created in order to make civil infrastructure safer by updating and improving the way it is inspected. “Current inspection procedures for condition assessment of civil structures is time-consuming, capital intensive, highly dependent on subjective human judgment and even dangerous,” said founder Harsh Rathod. Instead, HRG uses proprietary damageassessment software along with a patent-

pending, drone-based acoustic method of computing damage ratings for structures such as bridges, dams and ski-lift towers. Rathod said HRG’s system is not only faster than traditional methods such as dragging chains over bridge surfaces to check for concrete integrity, but the software monitoring is more accurate and costefficient. HRG has completed pilot projects at the University of Victoria and Technical Safety B.C. and soon will be working with B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and the German government on projects.

The company is targeting governments, railway systems and infrastructure-dependent companies such as ski resorts and power generators as potential markets. “HRG’s system can save billions of dollars [that are] being spent on structural inspection,” said Rathod. “The technology can be applied to all types of structures in the future.” Rathod said within the next five years he expects his company’s software will run on autopilot using artificial intelligence and machine learning for condition assessment. >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 73

INNOVATORS ADRIAN LAM PHOTO

ANVY TECHNOLOGIES INC. Founder: Victor Nicolov Founded: 2018 Website: sepurator.com

Victor Nicolov, founder of Anvy Tech, with his prototype Sepura Home system at his lab at the University of Victoria: “Benefits that come with composting.”

Compost Capture

A

Victoria tech startup believes it has the answer to food waste in the home. Anvy Tech, founded by Victor Nicolov a year ago, has developed Sepura Home, a smart device that attaches to the kitchen sink and will act as a filter between the drain and the drain pipe. The system extracts liquids and allows them to pass down the pipe, while compostready, organic solids are collected and held in a sealed container. “Garbage-disposal units are currently being banned because of their negative impact on the environment and waste-water systems and counter-top food waste bins are messy and create odors,” said Nicolov.

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“Sepura Home brings the luxury of garbagedisposal units and the benefits that come with composting.” Nicolov says the system will capture 95 per cent of the solid waste put down the drain. He also believes the system is a cut above existing technologies such as garburetors, and he expects it will be the first to market with its patent-pending technology and innovation. “Our primary target market are homes currently in the design phase. The objective of this is to approach developers directly so that when you move in to a new home, Sepura Home would already be installed in your kitchen,” he said. “Even so, the device is still

designed to be easily installed in any home.” The company is currently testing prototypes and making adjustments before they are able to manufacture on any kind of scale. A beta version of Sepura Home is currently being built to be installed in a few homes in Victoria. Nicolov said since people are now being more careful about how they dispose of waste, Sepura Home could be the next step in food waste disposal. “Our goal is to get one of these in 50 per cent of homes across North America, Europe and Australia, thus helping save three million tonnes of food waste per month,” he added. C

GOVERNMENT

From left, software engineer Michael Fischer, scientific development manager Kyle Weston and data scientist Ludovic Alarie-Vezina solve issues facing various government ministries.

Victoria tech company using artificial intelligence, machine learning to solve government problems

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TEXT: LINDSAY KINES PHOTOS: ADRIAN LAM

Victoria company with a dozen employees is among the latest graduates of a B.C. government program that offers a leg up to emerging tech firms. Kinsol Research, which specializes in artificial intelligence and machine learning, was looking for more local work when it landed a spot in the province’s Startup in Residence Program, known as STIR. “Most of our clients have been Silicon Valley companies,” said Michael Fischer, Kinsol’s business–development engineer. “We want to diversify more and we saw the public sector in B.C. as becoming a really good place to try to do that. “Artificial intelligence is becoming pretty hot these days and government is interested to see how it’s relevant for solving a lot of their business problems.” Kinsol, which takes its name from the famed trestle bridge in the Cowichan Valley, spent the past couple of years meeting with people in different ministries to explain how artificial intelligence and machine learning could work for them. Eventually, they landed a spot with the Startup in Residence Program. Modelled after a similar initiative in San Francisco, STIR embeds companies in government ministries for 16 weeks to solve a particular problem. “It’s a way of us supporting the tech industry and getting solutions for government in a timely manner,” Minister of Citizens’ Services Jinny Sims said in an interview. The process unfolds at, what for government is, a breakneck pace. “Nobody would ever believe that government could do this kind of a procurement in anywhere from five to 17 days,” Sims said. “People usually

tell me it takes them longer to get a letter back from a government.” Once they are selected, the companies get $10,000 and the government gets help resolving a nagging problem. “Our own staff have had input in every iteration and they have played a role in finding the solution,” Sims said. “That, I think is the real strength of it. “We’re not talking about airy-fairy solutions. These are real downto-earth problems facing different ministries where we’re seeing where technology can help to assist and make life better for British Columbians.” In Kinsol’s case, the company was selected to help B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office, which reviews major projects to determine possible environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects. The office receives reams of material from the public during comment periods and staff have to read through everything to flag the key issues or topics raised in each document. > Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 75

GOVERNMENT

Kinsol Research staff, from left, Arnold Kalmbach, Darren Fairall, Kyle Weston, Daniel Templeman, Ludovic Alarie-Vezina, Michael Fischer, Dimitri Marinakis and Neil MacMillan.

“They were looking for a solution that would help speed up this process,” said Fischer, who managed the project. Kinsol’s team of data scientists and software engineers applied a type of “machine learning,” which essentially means training a machine to do one task really well. In this case, the Kinsol team

used cutting-edge techniques to train a machine to read and understand public comments and then identify the key themes. The model does more than simply search for key words or phrases, Fischer explained. “It’s actually inferring meaning.” A staff member still has to check the machine’s work to see whether particular

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issues or topics were properly flagged. “So it’s not taking the human out of the loop, it’s just helping to speed up the process,” Fischer said. The model also has the ability to plot its findings on graphs and charts so that anyone can quickly see the top issues being raised during public comment periods. “You get quick, actionable intelligence for decision-makers and stakeholders,” he said. “You see, ‘Oh, wow, lots of people are really worried about water quality or really worried about salmon.’” Fischer said government so far is “very happy” with the product. “It’s shown a lot of promise already in these short 16 weeks and it can be expanded to do so much more.” He said Kinsol is hoping the work leads to further government contracts, but noted that the STIR program has other benefits as well. “We get our name out there,” he said. “We’re associated with government that’s put trust in us to solve a problem for them and show that we can do this. We’re a small company, but we can work with big customers like government and actually make a real impact. “It shows that there is good local talent here in B.C. for, in our case, artificial intelligence and machine learning. It’s been a great advertising tool for us and showcasing our ability.” Sims says she hears the same thing from other companies, most of which have fewer than 15 employees. “As soon as they can put on their resume that they have been working with the government of British Columbia, they get picked up by other governments across the country and around the world.” One of the added benefits for companies is that they retain the rights to the products they develop and can market them to other ministries or around the world. “We do not own it; they own it,” Sims said. “The biggest plus for them is not the huge amount of money they’re getting — because you can see that we’re getting a pretty good deal for $10,000 — but for them it’s the fact that they will own the solution and the solution will have been tested out in the field with government.” C

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INDIGENOUS

EMPLOYMENT PIPELINE

Cody Breukers, part of the Salish Sea Industrial Services crew, works on replacing the wharf at Ship Point on the Inner Harbour.

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TEXT: ANDREW A. DUFFY PHOTOS: ADRIAN LAM

FIRST NATIONS

How an integrated company on Victoria’s harbour is supplying jobs — and hope — to the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations

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even years ago, it was just a chance for steady work and to develop skills within the parameters of an apprenticeship. These days, Jerome Thomas is able to relish in the security of his work at marine construction firm Salish Sea Industrial Services, and build on his skill set while being able to get home every night to see

his kids. “I enjoy being out on the water, and getting paid for it,” said Thomas, with a laugh. The 39-year-old member of the Esquimalt First Nation has been with Salish Sea from the start, when it was a concept introduced by Ralmax president Ian Maxwell and the hereditary chiefs of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. The idea was to create a competitive firm that would develop the skills of Indigenous youth to the point they could contribute to the workforce and overall economy. That suited Thomas. He bounced around the Ralmax Group of Companies between Ellice Recycling, Point Hope Shipyard and United Engineering, “putting in a hand” where it was needed. And then Salish Sea offered the chance to apprentice. Thomas would become a journeyman bridgeman and is now doing a course to become a crane operator. It’s been steady work that has ensured a good income to take care of his family, but it’s also given him stability and provided an example to youth within the First Nation. Thomas said he knows he’s become something of a role model, and he hopes more young Indigenous people follow his lead. “I hope so, that would be good. I think we are >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 79

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80 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

due to start growing as a company. Right now we are a small core group, but we are bidding on more jobs,” he said, adding when work slows down at Salish Sea, the crew has the chance to get steady work within the Ralmax Group. “I’m always working,” he said. Since it was founded, Salish Sea has become much more than a marine-construction enterprise. It competes on the same field, with the same rules as other marine construction firms, and it has to be both competitive on price as well as good at what it does to land contracts. But it’s the ripple effect of what the company does that sets it apart from the competition. “This is our baby. This was the first opportunity that came together as a partnership and included both [Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations] and has grown and developed over time,” said Songhees councillor Karen Tunkara, a director of Salish Sea. Tunkara said far and away the biggest impact the company has had is on the employment and training of First Nations youth. “It has created this stream of education and employment that some felt didn’t exist before. It’s been huge for them to be able to provide for their families, stay close to home and work within this area and on the water,” she said. She also believes the partnership has been a competitive advantage for the company. While it still has to offer competitive pricing

FIRST NATIONS A worker at Point Hope Shipyard works on the Salish Sentinel.

Rob Menzies and his crew from Salish Sea Industrial Services remove derelict boats from a barge salvaged at Gyro Beach in Cadboro Bay.

when it bids on contracts, Tunkara said many clients are interested in working with a company that has its eye on the bigger picture — what impact it can have on First Nations’ youth. “The company is much bigger in terms of its values, the way it operates and the growth we provide and opportunities we provide for First Nations,” Tunkara said. “I don’t think there’s anything else like it.” The company has exceeded in reaching its initial goal of developing skills within Indigenous youth, according to Dave Bukovec, who is general manager of United Engineering and oversees Salish Sea operations. Bukovec said beyond being a career option, Salish Sea is also a window into an entire industry and a wide variety of opportunities. “It’s a door that opens to the other companies in the [Ralmax Group],” he said. “That’s the big story.” Bukovec said crew numbers ebb and flow — at this point Salish Sea’s crew is about five people, three of which are Indigenous workers — while Ralmax’s entire workforce now includes 25 Indigenous workers, about eight per cent of the company payroll. “For me, that feels like a real accomplishment,” said Gary Leibel, chief financial officer for the Ralmax Group. “Salish Sea has become an onramp for Ralmax.”

Leibel said he would still like to see more participation from Esquimalt, but he admits from a company perspective the partnership has been “outstanding.” Leibel also noted Ralmax has hired a First Nations employment adviser to further establish a pipeline of potential new employees for the group of companies, and there’s an apprenticeship program that allows employees to move around from one discipline and company to another. Salish Sea has become something of a symbol of possibility and opportunity for members of both First Nation partners, but the lessons learned through its first seven years can also be applied to other ventures. Tunkara said they would like to see the employment training model somehow shared with other First Nations and used in other sectors such as tourism or office work. “The employment training program is an opportunity for Nation members to try it out. Some come, some go and others stick it out. They may develop a passion for what they are doing and find they enjoy going to work every day,” Tunkara said. “If we can create that same opportunity in other sectors it would be so beneficial.” Like any start-up in a competitive field (since Salish Sea was established, three competitors have entered the marketplace on

the coast), it’s been hard work to establish the company and its reputation, said Bukovec. But after some lean times in the first seven years, he believes it’s starting to hit its stride. “It’s only been seven years, and it’s still growing. We started from scratch and it’s been hard fought [to land contracts] and every job won is likely a new customer,” he said. Over the past several months, Salish Sea has won a number of new contracts and recently had to split the crew between three sites to handle the workload. Salish Sea has a number of things in its favour. There’s a competitive advantage to being based in the Inner Harbour — the cost of crew mobilization and towing barges into the area can price some competitors out of work in this area — and their partnership with First Nations offers a pipeline of potential employees in a tight labour market. Leibel agreed there is plenty of opportunity to grow as Salish Sea is the lead on a derelict vessel removal program, and it will play a role as Point Hope moves toward establishing a graving dock at its site. “There’s a lot of marine construction activity involved in that,” he said, noting one of the first items they will be tasked with is placing underwater habitats around the harbour to increase marine life. He also said there could be a variety of new employment opportunities for First Nations in complementary jobs supporting the Ralmax Group, including security and environmental monitoring. C

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CONNECTIONS Doing business with Indigenous partners starts with trust and an alignment of common goals. Advanced Business Match gets the ball rolling

I

t’s been a frustrating year for Sharon Marshall. The Indigenous entrepreneur hoped by now to have funding and partners in place to launch her digital literacy program for Indigenous youth. Instead, Marshall and her company, Campbell River-based Cree8iv Collaboration, has little to show for having sent out proposals and requests to everyone she could think of and applied for every grant imaginable. “It feels like I’ve been banging my head against a wall,” said Marshall, whose course is designed to build upon the improved high-speed connectivity in First Nations communities. That started to change earlier this spring. Marshall got a glimmer of hope during a business–matching event held by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance and Advanced Business Match. The innovative event, billed as a business-to-business trade show, brought together companies with suppliers and partners in a way designed to produce results. Katrin Harry, chief executive of ABM, said it’s a little like speed dating — delegates run through a series of curated 20-minute appointments over the course of two days on a trade

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show floor — but with a big difference. “Because we curate the network, there’s depth. We know everyone on this trade-show floor. We know what they want to do and how they do it and we try to ensure business interests align,” she said. Delegates provide Harry’s company with detailed profiles and spell out what they are looking for and what they hope to get out of the event. Harry and her team then match those goals to her database and set up the appointments. While designed to be useful for all business types, it plays particularly well with Indigenous business owners and First Nations. That deeper understanding of what makes

the businesses tick and what their goals are have been key to making connections with the Indigenous business community and First Nations, according to Harry. Harry said because the companies have been vetted, there is a level of trust established before the meeting, and a certain amount of understanding of what each side brings to the table. “We don’t attract companies that don’t understand doing business with Indigenous communities. We vet those companies and make sure the opportunities are real,” she said, noting that’s why they focus on small and medium-sized businesses and try and avoid some of the biggest players. “We don’t want

companies sending us their aboriginal affairs manager, we want people who can make decisions.” That’s helped Marshall, who said through a series of face-to-face meetings she landed referrals and leads that might help her move forward with a pilot project. “This opened doors for me and got me in front of people,” she said. “It gave me hope.” Naomi Nicholson had the same kind of experience. Nicholson, who founded Secluded Wellness in Port Alberni a few years ago, said the business matching event makes it possible to make real connections. She said as an Indigenous entrepreneur she wants to do business with people and businesses she knows. In her second year at the event, she found traction with a number of delegates. (The first time around a few years ago she ran into a wall of businesses looking at oil and gas opportunities rather than wellness.) Nicholson, of the Tseshaht First Nation, said there was plenty of interest because she has added cannabis massage, the sale of topical cannabis-infused ointments and cannabis consultation to her suite of products and services available. “These days people are definitely interested in what I’m doing with cannabis,” she said. And because the list of interested parties has been screened to some extent she said the stage had been set to make something happen, as she looked for someone to help her pull together and market an Indigenous cannabis experience. Harry estimates that one in five businesses

TEXT: ANDREW A. DUFFY PHOTO: DARREN STONE

FIRST NATIONS

Katrin Harry organizes business–matching events used by Island First Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs to connect with services and other businesses. A two-day event this spring at the Victoria conference Centre connected dozens of businesses in a common goal — ensuring economic success.

on the trade-show floor will sign at least one deal during the event. It can also be a bridge for two worlds. Josh Handysides, director of economic development for the Malahat First Nation, said companies often have no idea how to approach an Indigenous community, who to speak to, or what to say. “I think a lot of businesses aren’t working with nations because they don’t even know where to start — how do you make that connection?” he said. “They may see the opportunity there, the under-employed people, under-utilized manpower, but where do you start? And it’s different in every community.” Handysides noted that used to be the case at the Malahat First Nation, which struggled to establish a working relationship with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and large companies such as B.C. Ferries, both of which have a huge impact on the community. “There’s been a ferry of some kind at Malahat since 1924, but there’s never been a real effort to build a relationship [with B.C. Ferries] until this last year,” he said. It was an existing business partner that bridged the gap and brought the parties together. They have since discussed the future of the ferry terminal at its current site and what possibilities exist for changes and expansion. Handysides said the business–matching event does much the same thing, and they have used it to explore partnerships with tourism businesses and destination-marketing organizations to help with their proposed skywalk tourist attraction. “Beyond that, we accept every meeting because you never know where the things >

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 83

Meaningful Partnerships > From page 83

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that come to fruition will come from,” he said. “We are open to business ... and you never know who has the next right idea.” The event also attracts the banks. “‘I always walk away with new partners from [events like this],” said Keetah McBeath, regional manager for Indigenous banking with TD Canada Trust. “I’ll see new programs and ideas and think how we can partner and bring that under a TD banner.” McBeath said during a two-day event she will discuss all manner of things from opening accounts, financing, development, setting up businesses, corporate sponsorship and new products tailored for Indigenous groups. Harry said they will run as many as nine events in a year across the country, and this year they will run their first in the U.S. at an event organized for the Navajo Nation. She said the events are designed to land agreements and to establish meaningful partnerships. She said that’s why they push to get the decision makers, rather than mid-level managers, on the trade show floor, and make a point of having companies set goals for each event. “We attract companies that are ready to do business,” she said. “They don’t show up to say ‘no.’” Harry said they will set up an event wherever there is interest, noting healthy and strong economies in Indigenous communities benefit the region and benefit Canada. “Indigenous communities really see business as a way to create selfdetermination and self-determination creates social change and at the end of the day that’s what we are after,” she said. C

FIRST NATIONS

SKYWALKING ASPIRE BY NATURE

Indigenous partnership in proposed Malahat attraction

The proposed Malahat Skywalk would be built at the 356-metre summit of Malahat Drive.

A

Vancouver Island First Nation is partnering with a British Columbia tourism company on a plan that could see a major attraction at the peak of the Malahat. It would feature a 600-metre–long, 20-metre– high elevated wooden walkway, leading to a spiral tower 40 metres above the ground, offering expansive views of the Saanich Inlet and Finlayson Arm. Trevor Dunn of Aspire by Nature said the skywalk would attract travellers to stop at the summit of the highway, walk above the woods and enjoy the view. He said work on an approval process is underway, a rezoning application has been submitted to the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and public consultations are planned.

Developers hope to begin construction this fall and expect to have the project open in the spring of 2020. Dunn says the location would be appealing for a “world-class tourism experience.” “You see the ocean, you see the islands, you see a really neat arbutus forest. That’s the first thing. Secondly, it’s got a long, deep history of First Nations culture, and the Malahat Nation’s been a great inspiration for us,” he says. Dunn also notes the development would be located next to the extremely busy Malahat Drive, which is the only link between the Victoria area and the rest of central and northern Vancouver Island. He says said project would include First Nations art and culture and offer scholarship opportunities to the Malahat Nation so its members could be involved in the tourism industry. C

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 85

THE TASTE OF BRUNCHES TO COME The Marina Restaurant welcomes the season with a new brunch

‘‘

“This is an opportunity to put new dishes in front of our guests.” Executive Chef John Waller

The dining room at The Marina Restaurant.

T

he English have always had a thing about breakfast. The French domiciled writer W. Somerset Maugham said, “To eat well in England, you should eat breakfast three times a day.” Young scholars at Eton College were even given beer for breakfast in the early 1800s. British writer Guy Berling got the brunch ball rolling in an article, ”Brunch: A Plea,” for Hunter’s Weekly in 1895 when he suggested a new meal for the hunting, shooting and fishing brigade. This meal was to be a combination of breakfast and lunch that would “make life brighter for Saturday night carousers.” Berling describes it as a meal “that is talk compelling, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” This new concept caught on with those who invigorated their livers by riding to hounds across the English countryside. Brunch has been with us ever since. >88

‘‘

We’re passionate about giving classic dishes a new twist.” Sous Chef Maddy Routley

86 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

ADVERTISING FEATURE

STEELHEAD EGGS BENEDICT Dill caper cream cheese, grilled asparagus, baby shrimp hollandaise, turmeric carrot purée, pickled fruit, pickled red onion, crispy potatoes on housemade buttermilk scones.

CORNED BEEF HASH AND SAUSAGE

CHEF’S DAILY FRITTATA

Poached eggs, picked red cabbage, marina mustard, turmeric carrot purée, hollandaise.

Sundried tomato pesto, shaved parmesan cheese, greens, pesto grilled focaccia.

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 87

CHEFS’ CORNER

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SPECIAL BUFFET DAYS

T

he Marina’s buffet brunch will be available on special days throughout the year and the restaurant’s advice is to reserve early to avoid disappointment. Scheduled buffet dates for this year are: Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving and all the Sundays in December (with a special visit from Santa on one of those). And a reminder for those who fancy a sashimi Sunday, the restaurant’s Sushi Bar is always open on Sunday for lunch.

88 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

86>

Originally conceived as a “hangover cure,” brunch began to gain popularity in North America for other reasons. Stanford professor Carl Degler wrote in a 1980 Chicago Tribune article, “After World War II, large numbers of American women entered the workforce for the first time. Married women needed a relief on Sunday, too. Thus the popularity of Sunday brunch eaten out.” Brunch made its way across Canada in the 1930s, establishing a “brunch heartland” in Southern Ontario before moving to the west coast and to that 50s home-away-from-home of Englishness, Victoria. It’s been in good hands ever since, particularly at the Marina Restaurant where the Sunday brunch buffet upheld all the best brunch traditions with Bennies, custommade omelettes, and a cornucopia of seafood and delicious desserts. The Marina Restaurant has now taken brunch to a new level with a plated Sunday brunch served to your table. Executive Chef John Waller says: “We’re proud of what we create, and this is an opportunity to put new dishes in front of our guests. It’s incredibly important for sustainability as well.” The buffet will still be available on special holidays throughout the year. The new brunch menu, created by Waller, is supported by the young team of sous chefs, Maddy Routley and Paul Martinez. “We’re passionate about giving classic dishes a new twist throughout the menu,” says Maddy. “With items like cold smoked steelhead eggs Benedict, with baby shrimp hollandaise over the eggs, turmeric carrot purée, pickled fruit and red onion and crispy potatoes. It’s the perfect blend with the smoky notes of the fish, smoothness of the eggs and the spice of the carrot purée. A wonderful way to wake-up!” Paul Martinez talks about the other dishes available: “We’re giving our guests spectacular new tastes, the breakfast paella with chorizo, clams, mussels, scrambled eggs and cauliflower tempura is a hit, as are the vegetarian huevos rancheros and the corned beef hash and sausage. The plated concept is great because it means we can be super picky sourcing ingredients and we know guests will get their brunch dishes fresh from the kitchen right after we’ve created them.” C

THE CULINARY TEAM

Sous Chefs Paul Martinez and Maddy Routley.

P

aul grew up in Tulum, Mexico, and started at La Lunita Restaurant in Akumal. He came to BC when he was 17 years old and received his Red Seal at Camosun College. His first job in Victoria was at John’s Place. Paul finds the Marina Restaurant setting inspiring, especially when it’s the place where some of the seafood being served is caught. FAVOURITE BRUNCH DISH: Huevos rancheros: It brings back fond memories of home. FAVOURITE INGREDIENT: Salsa verde: simple and delicious and a fresh addition to any dish.

M

addy grew up in Shawnigan Lake and started her love of cooking with her dad and her aunt. She worked at Providence Farm Restaurant with the Vancouver Island University culinary program and Sooke Harbour House before

coming to the Marina. Maddy loves sourcing ingredients and the range of quality materials available locally. FAVOURITE BRUNCH DISH: Chef’s frittata: requires timing and perfect technique. FAVOURITE INGREDIENT: Had to choose two - eggs and bread; one is so versatile once you learn how, and bread, simple to make yet complex to master and fills the room with smells and memories.

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ANNA PAVLOVA February 12, 1881 January 23, 1931

SPRING DELIGHT Light, airy and oh-so-sweet, Pavlova — like the ballet dancer behind this dessert’s inspiration — is sure to please

I

f you want a special dessert named after you, being famous and knowing the right dance moves could be an asset. That was certainly true for the late, great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. After visiting New Zealand and Australia in the 1920s, folks there must have been impressed and inspired by her. Because a chef in each country apparently created a dessert in her honour called, you guessed it, Pavlova. It was a type of meringue cake topped with whipped cream and fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries and kiwi. The sides of the meringue were built up to suggest a tutu. The meringue was also light and airy, kind of like Anna Pavlova was when she soared through the air doing her ballet. Pavlova became a popular dessert and it eventually became considered a national dish in New Zealand and Australia. But there has always been a debate between to the two countries as to where it was first made. The Oxford English Dictionary appears to have declared a winner. It says the first recorded Pavlova recipe appeared in New Zealand in 1927. Versions

90 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

of it all are also started appearing in other publications in that country in 1928 and subsequent years. As for who actually made the first one, in his book about the dancer, Anna Pavlova: Her Life and Art, author Keith Money says it was created in 1926 by a chef at a hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, one of Pavlova’s tour stops. The person who was said to have invented Pavlova in Australia was Bert Sachse, a chef from Perth, but it’s believed he did that around 1935. For those around the world who enjoy making and eating this now classic dessert, they don’t really care

AKIS

TEXT & PHOTS: ERIC AKIS

FORMING and TOPPING the PAVLOVA •

Once meringue is on the baking sheet, use a thin spatula to form it into a round with built-up sides.

• Spread

who invented Pavlova, they are just glad someone did. If you need a special, pretty-to-look-at, delightful-to-eat, spring dessert to wow a table full of guests that you could ready mostly in advance, Pavlova will sweetly do the job. My Pavlova recipe is a twist on the classic version that sees the fresh fruit one would normal top it with be replaced with homemade lemon curd. That sweet and tangy preserve is then toped with whipped cream, toasted almonds and lemon zest. The end result is a dessert that kind of tastes like a deluxe version of lemon meringue pie, minus the piecrust. In other words, yummy! >

the lemon curd evenly though the surace and up the sides.

•

Squeeze the meringue over the top of the pie in whimsical patterns.

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 91

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HANDLING and BEATING Egg Whites

B

eaten egg whites are a key ingredient in pavlova and many other desserts. Here are some tips to ensure yours rise to the occasion:

• Use a spotlessly clean and dry stainless steel, glass or copper bowl to beat the egg whites with a stand or hand mixer. Do not use a wooden or plastic bowl, as they can absorb oil that can prevent egg whites form forming peaks when beaten.

• Even tiny bits of egg yolk left in the white can also prevent them from rising in volume and stiffening. To separate the white from the yolk, crack a cold egg into a bowl. Slide your fingers under the yolk. Now carefully lift up the yolk and let the whites around it drip through your fingers. Place the yolk in another bowl. Transfer the egg white to your mixing bowl. Keep separating eggs like this until you have the required whites for your recipe. The leftover yolks can be covered, refrigerated and later used for such things as hollandaise or mayonnaise.

Explore Esquimalt We’re ready. Are you?

• To ensure your whites rise to their fullest volume, once you have separated your eggs, let the whites warm at room temperature for 30 minutes.

• An acidic ingredient, such as cream of tartar, is often added to beaten egg whites to help stabilize them and add volume.

• If a recipe calls for soft peaks, the beaten whites will barely hold their shape when lifted up in the bowl. Medium peaks will stand up, but curl at the tip. Stiff or firm peaks are achieved when the beaten egg whites stand straight up. • When making baked meringue with egg whites, if possible, try and avoid doing so on a damp and rainy day, or hot and humid one, as the added moisture in the air may cause it to not dry properly. >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 93

AKIS

PAVLOVA with Lemon Curd and Almonds

This version of Pavlova sees crisp-on-the-outside, marshmallowlike-in-the-middle, meringue topped with a sweet and tangy lemon preserve, whipped cream and crunchy nuts. Preparation time: 30 minutes

4 large egg whites, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups lemon curd

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Baking time: 90 minutes

1 cup berry (extra fine) sugar (see Note 1)

3 Tbsp slivered almonds, toasted (see Note 2)

Makes: eight servings

P

1 Tbsp cornstarch 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 3 Tbsp icing sugar

reheat oven to 250 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Create a template for your Pavlova by using a pencil and drawing a 9-inch diameter circle on the paper. (I used a 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pan as a guide.) Flip the paper over. You will still be able to see the lines, but they won’t stain the meringue when you set it on the baking sheet. Place egg whites and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl, or bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat until very soft peaks form. Very slowly sprinkle in the berry sugar, beating constantly, until all is incorporated. Keep beating until mixture is thick and stiff peaks form. When there, beat in the cornstarch until just incorporated. Set large dollops of the meringue inside the borders of the circle you drew on the paper. Now, with a thin small spatula, form meringue in a round shape and build up the sides a little, so that there’s a shallow depression in the centre for the lemon curd filling to go. Set the baking sheet in the middle of the oven and bake the meringue 90 minutes. Turn off the oven and open the oven door one inch or so (I used a large wooden to keep the door ajar). Leave the meringue in the oven to dry three hours. After three hours, remove meringue from the oven and set it aside until ready to top (see Eric’s options).

94 | Capital MAGAZINE 2019

• twirls of lemon zest, to taste, for garnish • fresh mint sprigs and/or edible flowers, such as small pansies, for garnish (see Note 3)

When ready too serve, carefully (it will be fragile) transfer the meringue to a serving plate or other surface you can serve it from (I used a marble slab). Spoon and carefully spread the lemon curd in the centre of the meringue, ensuring some sits on the outer edges of it. Place the whipping cream in a clean mixing bowl, or bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, and beat until soft peaks form. Add the icing sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Pipe or carefully dollop the whipped cream on top of the lemon curd. Sprinkle the whipped cream with the toasted almonds. Garnish the Pavlova with the lemon zest, mint sprigs and/or edible flowers, and serve. Note 1: Berry sugar is very finely granulated sugar that’s sold in small bags in the baking supply aisle of supermarkets. Note 2: To toast the almonds, set in a single layer in a skillet. Cook over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until lightly toasted, about five minutes. Note 3: If you use edible flowers to garnish the Pavlova, make sure the were not sprayed with anything. Eric’s options: The meringue for the Pavlova can be made up to a day in advance. Once out of the oven, store it in an airtight container until ready to top and serve. >

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Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 95

AKIS

Lemon Curd A sweet and tangy lemon preserve to top the meringue base of your Pavlova:

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: About five minutes

2/3 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (see Note) 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 tsp cornstarch

Makes: 1 1/4 cups

pinch salt

P

lace all ingredients in a small pot and whisk until thoroughly combined. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Simmer curd until thickened, about one minute. Remove from the heat and transfer lemon curd to a jar, ensuring you get all of it. Cool curd to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until needed. It will keep several days in the refrigerator.

Note: Three or four lemons should yield the amount of juice needed here. Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His columns appear in the Times Colonist on Wednesdays and Sundays. C

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New problems, meet old solutions

V

ancouver Island, welcome to the innovolution. What’s an innovolution? It’s the Kim and Kanye of the future, the A-list marriage of innovation and revolution. Also, innovolution sounds better than the alternative: Renovation. We’re building a pre-22nd century economy here, not an in-law suite. But Jack, you say, are you really qualified to lead us into this brave new world? Yes, yes I am. For cuttingedge transformation, there’s no better source than someone who can remember where he was when Paul Henderson scored. True, I might not be up on the trendy buzzwords-du-jour (I thought a blockchain is what you use to pull the motor out of your pick-up. Artificial intelligence? Is that when you pay a smart guy to write your dumb kid’s college entrance exam?) But who else is better-suited to root around in the crawlspace of the past for the longforgotten Rubbermaid tote of ideas that may, like your Fortrel dress pants and home permanent kits, be long out of fashion but prime for resurrection? In other words: New problems, meet old solutions. Affordable housing — Want to ease the crisis? Buddy up in boarding houses. In the city of Victoria, half of all dwellings — 22,000 of them — have just one occupant. The region as a whole averages just 2.2 people per home. Canadians as a whole enjoys more living space — 2.5 rooms per person — than anyone in the world. In the olden days, single people lived in rooming houses where they would share meals cooked by a widow who would say things like “No gentlemen callers after 9 p.m., Miss Wilson” and “I don’t care if you have a wooden leg, please use the spittoon, colonel.” I supposed the widow could be replaced by Uber Eats. Affordable housing, part II — Dorms weren’t always just for students. Hospitals had nurses’ residences. Pulp mills and logging camps had

JACK KNOX

bunkhouses. Imagine how much fun it would be to not only spend every workday with your colleagues, but all your free time, too! All of it! Every! Single! Minute! Climate change — Hey, remember “the family car,” that mom, dad and anyone over age 16 would fight over like the last Timbit in the box? Now the typical driveway looks like the starting grid at Talladega Motor Speedway. Of the 33.8 million vehicles registered in Canada, 22.4 million are of the light-road type: Cars, vans, SUVs and the like. That’s in a country of just 37 million people. Canadians would no more share a family car than a family toothbrush. Employee retention — Two words: Indentured servitude. Oh sure, get all human-rightsy if you want, but just remember that the HR professionals of 1850s Upper Canada didn’t need to keep the lower orders happy with profit-sharing, flex days, dental plans, catered lunches or chair massages. Stock options out, punishment stocks in. Health — I’m not saying we should bring back leper colonies like the one that existed on D’Arcy Island until 1924, or the one that operated on Metchosin’s Bentinck Island until 1957. But if parents are so fearful of the measles vaccine — you know, the one that all but wiped out an illness that prior to 1963 ran rampant in Canada — that they feel justified in risking the spread of the disease to other people’s children, then perhaps they would feel more comfortable living in splendid, quarantined isolation, happily glancing up from their 9/11 conspiracy theory books to gaze at the chemtrails above. Urban deer — Politicians want to spend tax dollars on birth-control shots for Bambi. In two words or less, what would your grandfather have said about this idea? Food security — See above. I could go on an on, but have to go watch Back To The Future. Vive la Innovolution! C

Capital MAGAZINE 2019 | 97

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