West Vancouver Beacon | January/February 2015 | Edition 8

THE No. 8

BEACON

Shedding light on the communities from Horseshoe Bay to West Bay

January 2015

The Last Setting Sun of 2014

The First Sunset of 2015 Photos: Lindy Pfeil

At Sunset

We at The Beacon wish you a year of happiness and laughter, and time to enjoy the things that make this one of the most spectacular communities in which to live.

To-night the west o’er-brims with warmest dyes; Its chalice overflows With pools of purple colouring the skies, Aflood with gold and rose; And some hot soul seems throbbing close to mine, As sinks the sun within that world of wine. ~ Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)

Cypress Mountain

Travel Notes

Around the Village

] Caulfeild ]

May Day

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caulfeildmayday.ca

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Gold Medalist

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In This Issue 4

Mountains to Sea

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January 2015

2014 FANS Distinguished Artist Award: Shari Ulrich by

James Slaney

T

he Fund for the Arts on the North Shore (FANS) was established in 1995 to provide grant monies for up-and-coming North Shore artists, be they in the performing, visual, literary or media arts.

The Distinguished Artist Award is in-

TEAM

tended to honour local artists who have created a substantial nationally recognized body of work.

Two-time Juno Award winner and BC Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee, Shari Ulrich was first heard in 1970 with the quirky Pied Pumpkin group playing fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer, flute and sax.

She went on to perform with the Hometown Band followed by a high profile launch that led to national recognition and a solo career as a singer-songwriter.

Her latest release, Everywhere I Go, is her eighth solo album and the 21st of her career, produced in collaboration with other well-known performers. Shari’s career

Publisher

chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca

Lindy Pfeil Editor

lindypfeil@westvanbeacon.ca

Penny Mitchell Advertising Sales

pennymitchell@westvanbeacon.ca

Melissa Baker melissabaker@westvanbeacon.ca

Photo: Courtesy of FANS

Lori Phillips, President, FANS Board of Directors after presenting Shari Ulrich her Award.

Every year millions of people all over the world make New Year’s resolutions. Most of them will be broken. But that doesn’t stop us from doing it all over again the following January. It seems we’ve been doing this for a very long time, at least since the ancient Babylonians promised their gods at the start of each year to return any borrowed farm equipment and pay back their debts. We gathered some resolutions from our Beacon community. No borrowed farm equipment made the list! Here they are…

Chris Stringer

Creative Director

has expanded to include music composition for TV and film.

She received nominations for the 2014 Canadian Folk Music Awards for Solo Artist and Songwriter of the Year, which she won for “Everywhere I Go.”

Resolutions

If you are looking for a personal trainer who can whip you into shape in 2015 look no further than Joanna Quarry at the Gleneagles Community Centre gym.

Joanna Joanna Quarry commutes from Bowen Island where she spends her personal time running or cycling with daughters Molly (12) and Grace (10) and husband Morgan, and of course Storm, the family golden doodle.

“In the New Year I am going to gather my friends and take them walking and hiking in the beautiful outdoors on Bowen.”

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Happy New Year!

Reverend Stuart, who has been rector of St Francis-in-theWood church in lower Caulfeild for 8 years, surprised us when he agreed to reveal his resolution.

“It is to decrease Rev. Angus Stuart the amount of ‘stuff’ that I have accumulated. To finish each month, and ultimately the year, with less ‘stuff’ than at the beginning of the month and the year.

To not acquire new things without disposing of at least as much old ‘stuff’…”

Well this is a dilemma that most of us can relate to so we wish you luck with your commitment in 2015, Reverend Stuart.

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January 2015

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January 2015

mountains to sea

A friend of the frogs Elspeth Bradbury

Photo: Courtesy of Bruce McArthur The red-legged frog is a species of “special concern”.

B

ruce McArthur grew up in Horseshoe Bay in the days when children spent much of their time out of doors. Favourite pastimes included picking wild flowers to impress his mom and catching the small green tree frogs that lived in the wetland now occupied by Horseshoe Bay’s overflow parking lot on Marine Drive. He remembers

Photo: Chris Stringer Bruce McArthur checking conditions in Larson Creek.

Photo: Chris Stringer Bruce’s infamous red-legged frog costume.

watching fearfully as a forest fire spread from Whyte Lake towards Eagle Harbour, vividly aware that his father was among the fire fighters tackling the smoke and flames above his home. He was endlessly curious about the makeup of our natural landscape, and as his understanding of it grew, so did his desire to protect it.

In 2005, he was hiking on the Eagleridge bluffs in the hope of finding the highly endangered spotted owl. What he found instead was a frog. This one was bigger and browner than a tree frog, so what was it? Eventually, experts were able to confirm his identification of a red-legged frog. Frogs worldwide are in trouble and this species is Blue Listed by the Province, which means that it is deemed “of special concern and particularly sensitive to human activities”. Bruce discovered that, although red-legged frogs breed in standing water, they forage far and wide.

Species usually become endangered because of habitat loss and fragmentation. Predators and diseases or unusual weather can easily wipe out small populations of plants or animals. Such fluctuations are normal and usually temporary, but in fragmented habitat, reintroduction is impossible and the loss is permanent.

At this very time the new Sea to Sky Highway project was in progress and potentially endangered the survival of the Larson Creek wetlands, the home of the frogs and other

Swamp lantern also known as skunk cabbage growing in the Larson Creek wetlands.

Drawing: Elspeth Bradbury Red-legged Frog

wildlife. Bruce was spurred into action. He notified the Western Residents’ Association, wrote a critique of the Environmental Assessment for the highway project and began to play a leading role in the Coalition to Save Eagleridge Bluffs. With a large costumed redlegged frog at his side, he addressed West Vancouver’s Mayor and Council, pointing out that the setback of the proposed highway from the wetlands was gravely inadequate.

The costumed frog turned up at all the community events to extend the reach of the message. The Coalition failed to save the bluffs, but it did, largely thanks to Bruce and the red-legged frog, save the wetlands of Larson Creek.

The Eagleridge protesters were served a Civil Injunction and then charged with disobeying the Court. In spite of this ordeal, Bruce continued to advocate tirelessly for the local environment. Today, he is a member of Streamkeepers as well as a director of North Shore Wetland Partners, Old Growth Conservancy Society and West Vancouver Nature House Society. He never lost his determination to protect our local forests or the creatures that live in them. Nor did he lose his sense of humour. But what was lost at Eagleridge Bluffs, we may never know.

Photo: Bruce McArthur

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My mantra for 2015: Eat the marshmallow Opinion Lindy Pfeil

I

stumbled across the Stanford marshmallow experiment many years ago. Briefly, this is how it goes: a child is given a marshmallow, and told that he (or she) can do anything with it once the researcher leaves. He can eat it. But if he waits for 15 minutes for the researcher to return, without eating it, he will be rewarded with a second marshmallow. If he eats the first one before the researcher comes back, he will not get the second marshmallow. So it’s simple really: one marshmallow now, or two later. These experiments were first carried out on a group of four and five year olds at Stanford University by psychologist Walter Mischel during the 60s and 70s. The children were then followed for more than 40 years. Those who had waited for the second marshmallow consistently had higher SAT scores, showed better responses to stress and were more successful professionally.

In short, the researchers concluded that their ability to delay gratification, to NOT eat the marshmallow, made them “better at life”.

Of course this appealed to the over-achieving, people-pleasing part of me. For the greater part of my life I took enormous delight in foregoing the small, immediate pleasures that tempted me, believing that a higher reward lay in wait just around the corner. Martyrdom was encouraged both by the nuns at Catholic school, as well as my no-nonsense mother, and it suited my adolescent awkwardness. It continued into wife- and motherhood, as habits are wont to do.

But then one day I was unexpectedly tripped up by that interesting little bump in the road called midlife, and I started wondering about all this sacrifice. And there were all those niggly questions I had about the whole marshmallow saga. What if the preschool-

ers who ate the marshmallow did so simply because they were hungry? And because they thought that one marshmallow was more than enough? That two would be greedy? And what if they ate the marshmallow because they didn’t really believe that the researcher would in fact return with a second marshmallow? What if eating the marshmallow had very little to do with self-discipline and an awful lot to do with how much they trusted the adults in their lives?

Or feared them? That would mean that their future success in life had nothing at all to do with eating marshmallows - or not - and everything to do with being surrounded by humans they felt truly cared about them.

Which is when I started recalling all the marshmallows I never ate. The ones I refused out of fear. Or because I didn’t want to disappoint those who loved me. The ones I missed out on because I thought that enjoying them would mean that I was selfish or lazy or, heaven forbid, shallow. And then I wondered what being “better at life” really means? And that’s when things started getting awfully complicated. You can see why I’d be a horrible researcher.

Now I know that man (or woman) can’t live on marshmallows alone.

They are, by definition, candy. So of course the responsible thing to do would be to not rely on them for sustenance. They are, simply

put, fun. And it occurs to me, as I look around at all the responsibility, the scheduling, the ambitious goals that constitute this serious business of life…. we could all do with a few more marshmallows.

So this year I’m going to eat the marshmallow. I will breathe its sweet scent into my nostrils, squish it gently between my fingertips, pop it into my mouth with childlike enthusiasm, roll it slowly around my tongue, close my eyes and pay close attention as it melts away. I will enjoy every moment. And I will be grateful.

Because marshmallows, I do believe, are our unexpected gifts from the universe. To remind us that grand plans mean very little if we fail to enjoy tiny pleasures.

Are you a New Year’s resolution dodger?

Psyched Out Ian Macpherson

A

friend told me that he has made a commitment to work on only one change in himself this year — to give up his addiction to self-improvement! Every New Year he makes a bunch of resolutions and he never fails…to follow through on them. Then he is racked with shame. He is not alone. A number of surveys suggest that less than ten percent of people persevere.

If we really think it is such a good idea to make these changes in our lives, why do we fail most of the time? And if we are serious about tackling a problem, why do we wait until New Year’s? Sometimes it’s a kind of procrastination trick. But if we put off even thinking about it until New Year’s Day, we may end up with just a vague idea of what

change would look like. A vision which is too abstract is bound to be discouraging.

If we “fall off the wagon”, it is always better to get right back on, recognizing it as a misstep rather than a disaster. Feeling overwhelmed has also been found to have a generally depressing effect on our ability to work on other challenging projects even if they are unrelated to our resolution.

For some of us, keeping a resolution may be extremely difficult because of conflict about our goal. Sometimes we try to persuade ourselves that we “should” be doing something that in a peculiar sense is against our will. Or it may be that our “inner bully” is telling us that we are not good enough, while we fight to accept ourselves the way we are.

Although change can be uncomfortable, social support is a tried-and-true motivator.

Anyone who frequents a gym knows that every January there is a crowd of newcomers which dwindles noticeably after a few weeks.

But if they join a group or attend with friends they are much more likely to stay with their

programme. So when my friend told me about his resolution, he was doing something right: going public about your commitment can make it a bit harder to be a New Year’s resolution dodger.

Ian Macpherson is a psychologist who lives and practices in Caulfeild.

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January 2015

Book launch by Caulfeild author, David Roberts by

C hris Stringer

D

avid Roberts and his wife Gill have been residents of Caulfeild for 54 years. In 1958 David rented what had been the old Red and White store by the wharf in Caulfeild Cove. He shared it with a group of friends. When he married Gill he evicted the friends and he and Gill moved in. Gill claims that it took her two months to clear out the beer bottles and make the house habitable. The old house had been built sometime in the 1890s, by Captain Frank Kettle who lived there until he moved into the Pilot House, whose foundations are still visible by the old anchor. Then in 1962 Gill and David moved across the street into their present home, which they bought from Mary Harrison and in which they raised four children.

Wim(Vim) Hofmeyr and his family have been living in Horseshoe Bay since 2009. Prior to that he practiced medicine in Quesnel, BC, which is where his three sons were born. Wim is the founder of Docs on the Bay.

Wim Hofmeyr

“My challenge in 2014 (and 2013) was to make time for exercise. So my 2015 resolution is to jog down to the office instead of driving. I’m lucky - I live close by!

I’m going to let the truck have a rest!”

David has written a memoir entitled “Letters to His Children from an Uncommon Attorney”.

Here is a Review of the book by Anne Giardini, who is Chancellor of Simon Fraser University and chair of the board of the Vancouver International Writers Festival: “The truth is there are few books as amusing as the classic miscellany - a collection of well-observed, often humorous observations taken from life. Vancouver’s David Roberts has produced a very fine miscellany entitled Letters To His Children From An Uncommon Attorney and has published it in a handsome edition for readers beyond his own four children to enjoy.

The book is made up of several dozen sketches of places, people, events and ideas that Roberts has encountered during a long and interesting life. Reading him, you will wish you had kept a journal or will vow to start to write one. Roberts has either kept

Marianne works at Pharmasave in Caulfeild Shopping Centre while pursuing her university studies.

Born in Japan and raised in Caulfeild from the age of three, Marianne attended Caulfeild Elementary and Rockridge Marianne Morgan Secondary. A swimmer, hiker, martial arts (Kendo) performer, pianist and clarinetist she still finds the time to play in the West Vancouver Adult Community Band.

one of his own, or has a wonderful memory.

He brings to his recollections a lively mind, a writerly eye for detail, a keen wit of his own, and a great capacity to appreciate the tragicomedy of the human condition.

This book starts in England, where Roberts lived as a child during the Second World War, moves to cover some of his experiences during his long career as a lawyer in Vancouver, and then expands to his travels around BC and the rest of the world. It concludes with observations on topics ranging from wine to war, from books to beggars, from family memories and connections to the precise moment when one should shoot down a clay pigeon.

“For a split second,” he writes, “the bird hangs as if stationary, motionless, moving neither to right or left.” That, he says, is the moment to fire.

Roberts has a skeet shooter’s sense of timing. He holds his characters and thoughts up to view, and the reader can’t help but share his joy in the precision of the memory and in the sharp edge of Roberts’ wit. Most, but not all of these pages are politically correct; all are well worth the journey”.

The book is available on Amazon or at the Caulfeild Plateau Pharmasave or directly from the author. There will be a book launch in January at which David is to be interviewed by our former mayor, Pam Goldsmith Jones.

“I’ve been thinking for some time now about learning to play the trombone so in 2015 I will do it,” she declared.

Is there space behind the postal counter for you to practice, Marianne?

Resolutions Resolutions

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ANNIVERSARY

January 2015

PAGE 7

St. Francis-in-the-wood

Legacy Fund at work by

Ruth Hamilton

T

he St. Francis-in-the-Wood Legacy Fund seeks to manage gifts that have come from two sources: gifts during a person’s life and/or from a person’s estate on death. It is directed specifically to distribute the funds to “those in need in British Columbia, including the disadvantaged youth, the elderly, the homeless and those suffering from substance addictions.”

In 2011 the Trustees set up a $20,000 Education Bursary for use by homeless youth who are being assisted by Hollyburn Family Services.

Executive Director of HFS, Nanette Taylor, says, “This funding has been very special for us to be able to offer a significant ‘hand-up’ at pivotal times in a youth’s life journey to 26 young people.

One young woman who had a history of homelessness stayed at our Safe House and then our Life Success program. As a result of her personal experiences she wanted to become a Youth Care Worker. Today she is living on her own, finishing her diploma, working part time and doing her practicum at the one place where she felt she had the support to fol-

low her dreams. With us.

A young man, found sleeping in his car, moved into our Life Success Program. He always wanted to be a paramedic but did not have the financial means to follow his dream.

Today, because of the Legacy Fund, he is an Emergency Medical Technician working full time up north at the oil fields.

These stories are not unique. Every day we

marvel at the resiliency we see in these youth.

With secure housing, emotional support and financial resources, they can follow their dreams.”

Marilyn McBeath, Legacy Fund Trustee, commented that “We feel gratified that the Fund is making a difference in the lives of those in our community who need help. Thank you, Hollyburn Family Services”.

Our Messy Church Experience by

Tarina Palmer

My husband, Joe, and I, were raised in the Catholic church but moved away from it as adults. When our son, Ryan, was born it never occurred to us that he should be introduced to Christianity. That all changed when he noticed a nativity scene and asked us to tell him more about the individuals and the scene.

Shortly after, I noticed an ad for Messy Church in The Beacon and was curious enough that I contacted St. Francis-in-the-Wood and spoke with Janice Lowell, who is the associate priest.

Her warmth and encouragement convinced me

Wednesdays

• foodcrafts • songsstories • games • •

Messy Church was worth a try!

Shortly after, we attended our first Messy Church and found the experience so enjoyable we are now regulars. Each month, Ryan looks forwards to singing, playing games, painting, crafting and, of course, eating. I appreciate the fun and approachable way these monthly events have introduced my son to Christianity.

Most of all, I value the way the Christian values of kindness and sharing are demonstrated to the children through laughter, stories and song.

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January 2015

Home & Living

One of the original iconic Best of Bridge ladies The eight women were best friends and it came through in their books. While throwing together a last minute dinner to feed my hungry family, I always had a good laugh reading the quotes on the bottom of each Maureen Goulet page. I recently had the privilege of hosting one of these great ladies, Mary Halpen, and she did not disappoint. For over two hours If you were raising children in the late she told stories, making us all laugh while 70s you probably own a few copies of she baked goodies from their latest Best of Bridge cookbooks. cookbook, Holiday Classics. She looked at us at the end of the When Martha Stewart was making us all feel a little inadequate in class and said, “I feel like I just the kitchen with her complicated made 16 new friends.” We all dishes, the Best of Bridge ladies felt the same about her. What came to our rescue. Their motto a wonderful lady.

Maureen Goulet is the was ‘Simple recipes with gourmet results’. Their cookbooks were huowner of Ambrosia Cooking morous and the recipes were easy to School www.ambrosiaadvenfollow, using everyday ingreditures.com Photo: Courtesy of ents. Who knew you could cook Best of Bridge so many different dishes with Best of Bridge’s entertaining Mary Halpen. mayonnaise!

A Culinary View

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Invitation to eat mindfully in 2015 Tisha Bryant

A

new year generally incites activity around change and this often involves beginning a dreaded diet after all the extravagances of Christmas and the New Year. Many times these diets don’t work and are hard to follow, leaving you feeling guilty and deprived.

This year I invite all of you to try something a little different. Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of becoming attentive and aware. For so many of us, life is a hectic roller coaster and much of our time is spent in fight or flight mode. We are so busy dashing here and there that we have forgotten the importance of taking time to be still and quiet. Reconnect.

We intuitively know what foods nurture us but we are often too busy to stop and think about how what we eat affects our body. Being mindful around what we eat can reconnect us to our thoughts and emo-

tions. Our bodies are amazing and yet so often we forget the importance of nourishing ourselves in a way that allows us to live a vibrant life. Before we realize it, we have slipped into a way of eating that leaves us feeling fatigued, bloated, moody and perhaps even eventually, sick.

Steps to eating more mindfully: Keep a food journal and keep track of what you are eating and why. Notice any thoughts and emotions.

Be mindful when you go shopping and purchase only foods you know will nourish your body. Take time to read the labels.

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Before grabbing something to eat, breathe and take a moment to think about how the food will support your body.

Prepare food with mindfulness and be aware of the journey to your plate. Fresh food prepared with love will support your body on many levels.

Sit down when you eat and focus on the act of eating. Avoid standing and eating, eating on the go, multi-tasking and watching TV or the computer. Relax. Chew slowly. Be grateful. www.inourishandnurture.com

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January 2015

PAGE 9

Keeping track of Christa World Senior Games in St.George, Utah.

Christa’s highlight this year was her participation in the NCCWMA (North America Central America Caribbean

“

Lindy Pfeil

“It was an unbelievable thrill for me to compete with such a distinguished athlete.”

I

n the May 2014 edition of The Beacon, we introduced Caulfeild’s very own gold medalist, Christa Bortignon. A freak injury at the World Masters Games in Hungary forced her to take a month off to let her leg heal, and was responsible for what Christa calls “a slow start in Kamloops at the Centennial meet.”

She participated in the Pacific Invitational and the BC Senior Games in Langley, the Trevor Craven in Burnaby and the BC Masters Championships in Kelowna.

She traveled to the U.S. to participate in the Washington and the Nevada Senior Games and finished with the Huntsman

Photo: Attilio Bortignon High Jump, St. George 2014.

author, wanted to break the 200m hurdles. Since this was an event sponsored

by WMA, and Christa was the only other athlete competing in the 200m hurdles, they put the two of them together.

“It was an unbelievable thrill for me to compete with such a distinguished athlete,” says Christa. In a photo finish, she won the race!

Christa competed in 12 meets this year, and in 56 events won 56 gold medals, making her medal total 330 since starting track and field in 2009, at age 72. And it doesn’t appear that she’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

- Christa Bortignon World Masters Athletics) championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, where she won seven Gold medals. Earl Fee, a wellknown Canadian world record holder and

Photo: Attilio Bortignon Happy athletes after the 50m hurdles, Costa Rica.

St. George 2014 long jump.

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January 2015

our history

Hollyburn: A ski area with soul Francis Mansbridge

On the slopes of Hollyburn in 1929.

Photo: Courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library

Hollyburn Ski Lodge circa 1930.

Wooden ski jump circa 1940.

Photo: Courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library

Photo: Courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library

O

Be of good cheer You’re quite welcome here If sad and alone Let this be your home Here you will find A welcome most kind

scar Pearson’s words above the entrance to Hollyburn Lodge embody the spirit that made this ski area a second home to many. Peggy Bur field, whose parents Fred and Evy ran the Lodge for many years, says that growing up here instilled in her the importance of the environment, the value of friendship and a grounding in basic values. The current Lodge, built out of recycled materials from the old Nasmyth Mill, opened January 16, 1927. For many of the growing number of young Vancouverites, this was their focus for healthy recreation and a vigorous social life. Many built cabins, about a hundred of which remain as an important part of our built heritage.

Although the first recorded ski run on Hollyburn was down a large, snow-covered debris pile at the abandoned mill in January, 1925, it is very likely that Scandinavian skiers had been skiing on the plateau above, or even from the peak of Hollyburn, before then. By 1928, a well-established run had been cleared from Hollyburn Peak to First Lake. Skiers who enjoyed the challenges of steeper terrain spent much of their time on the peak to shoulder run.

Even more popular was the run from the Hollyburn shoulder to the plateau which,

at some point, became known as Romstads run. Hollyburn’s ski pioneers did not have the luxury of today’s shaped skis, highspeed lifts and groomed trails. This limited the number of runs one could make in a day and required a special set of skills.

Skiers hiked up the two hours from the end of the bus line, carrying their supplies, most taking a trail from the top of 22nd Street. Gradually the nature of skiing changed, and perhaps also the nature of the skiers. In the 1940s Jim Huff and Hi Coville started truck service up a logging road that made access to the Hollyburn area a whole lot easier. The first rope tow was installed in 1943, and within a few years as many as eight tows took much of the effort out of skiing. A chairlift that opened January 17, 1951 was, at 1800 meters, the second longest in North America.

But after 1957 people began to lose interest. Downhill replaced ski jumping for the thrill seekers. When Hi-View Lodge at the lift’s upper terminus burned down in 1965, and Cypress was developed, Hollyburn’s popularity declined sharply.

While Cypress is now the centre of action, the rise of cross-country and snowshoeing in recent years has revitalized Hollyburn, making it one of the most popular cross-country areas in North America.

For 16 years the Hollyburn Heritage Society has been advocating for the restoration of the Hollyburn Lodge. The City, BC Parks and Cypress Mountain announced in November last year that restoration has been approved and the reconstruction will begin in the Spring. “The Lodge is dearly loved by so many people. It retains the character of a time past”, says Don Grant, chairman of the Heritage Society.

January 2015

PAGE 11

From local bowl to international mountain Cypress Mountain can host as many as 6000 skiers in a day. It takes a staff of 700 to keep things running smoothly: mountain hosts, ski lift operators, instructors, Lodge staff who sell tickets, rent and repair skis and serve in the Grills and Cafe. “Our young, service-oriented staff is the lifeblood of Cypress Mountain”, says Bobby Swain, General Manager. “We have provided the first employment opportunity for many young people from West Vancouver.

The Ambleside Youth Outreach Program has always received our support because we feel a sense of responsibility for the wellbeing of our youth and the community”.

Chris Stringer

C

ypress Mountain is located in the southern section of Cypress Provincial Park and is operated under a Park Use Permit. The ski resort name is derived from the bowl, “Cypress Bowl”, between the three mountains: Strachan, Black and Hollyburn. There is in fact no Cypress Mountain in the immediate vicinity, but the park is home to abundant yellow cedar trees, also known as yellow cypress.

The Provincial Parks Branch operated the small downhill ski area above Hollyburn Ridge until 1984 when the ski facilities were offered for sale by tender. The successful bidder, Cypress Bowl Recreations Limited Partnership opened their operations in November 1984. Their business development programs saw the growth of Cypress from a small, community ski facility to a world class mountain resort with the resources to qualify for hosting the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events during the 2010 Olympics.

Photo: Joffrey Koeman Alexandre Bilodeau - Canada’s first Gold Medal on Canadian soil!

Cypress Creek Lodge.

Photo: Joffrey Koeman

The ski area’s 53 downhill runs are built on two mountains, Mount Strachan and Black Mountain, which are served by six chair lifts. For Skooters kids camps Cypress Mountain provides the memorable Magic Carpet and Magic-Go-Round Carousel and, of course, the Snow Tube Tow, creating many happy memories for first-time skiers.

At the end of a ski day, the fun starts with entertainment in the Crazy Raven Bar and Grill, where West Van’s own Adam Woodall has been enjoyed on many an occasion. The Crazy Raven shares the spacious premises of beautiful Cypress Creek Lodge with Cypress Creek Grill, Gold Medal Café and Big Bear Sports retail shop. The Lodge was built in 2008 and also houses the operations area.

Howe Sound from Cypress.

Photo: Joffrey Koeman

Sky Lift Cypress.

Photo: Joffrey Koeman

12

real estatE

Penny Mitchell

Address

These statistics represent industry sales in the Beacon distribution area between Horseshoe Bay to West Bay in the months of November and December 2014

List Price

5566 Gallagher Place ...............................................

5530 Greenleaf Ro ....................................................

5690 Keith Road ........................................................

6270 Nelson Avenue ................................................

6475 Raleigh Street ..................................................

5090 Keith Road ........................................................

5650 Larson Place .....................................................

3936 Westridge Avenue ..........................................

4350 Keith Road ........................................................

5163 Alderfeild Place ...............................................

4825 Meadfeild Road ...............................................

4725 Willow Creek Road .........................................

4442 Regent Place ....................................................

4658 N Piccadilly Road ............................................

3560 Mathers Avenue .............................................

4709 Woodgreen Drive ...........................................

3049 Spencer Court .................................................

3177 Westmount Place ...........................................

5775 Seaview Road ..................................................

5930 Condor Place ...................................................

4110 Burkehill Road .................................................

4954 Pinetree Crescent ...........................................

5477 West Vista Court .............................................

4827 Northwood Place ...........................................

3588 W Rockview Place ...........................................

1395 29th Street .......................................................

3250 Westmount Road ............................................

1770 29th Street .......................................................

6010 Gleneagles Place ............................................

4980 Meadfeild Wynd .............................................

3630 Mathers Avenue .............................................

2150 Gisby Street .....................................................

3575 Mathers Avenue .............................................

3366 Radcliffe Avenue ............................................

3928 Marine Drive ....................................................

3485 Mathers Avenue .............................................

2990 Palmerston .......................................................

$925,000 $929,000 $1,150,000 $1,198,000 $1,228,000 $1,270,000 $1,288,000 $1,397,000 $1,388,000 $1,579,000 $1,695,000 $1,699,000 $1,698,000 $1,728,000 $1,898,000 $1,887,000 $1,958,000 $1,888,000 $1,950,000 $2,000,000 $1,998,000 $2,098,000 $2,160,000 $2,198,000 $2,288,000 $2,749,000 $2, 538,000 $2, 995,000 $4,280,000 $4,800,000 $5,298,000 $6,800,000 $6,900,000 $6,875,000 $7,880,000 $8,880,000 $14,998,000

Sold Date 8 Dec 14 Nov 7 Nov 17 Nov 2 Nov 2 Nov 6 Dec 19 Nov 24 Nov 19 Nov 9 Nov 12 Nov 21 Nov 10 Nov 1 Dec 7 Nov 12 Nov 10 Nov 28 Nov 5 Nov 27 Nov 27 Nov 15 Dec 5 Nov 17 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 1 Dec 11 Dec 24 Nov 26 Nov 23 Nov 8 Nov 7 Nov 4 Nov 24 Nov 20 Nov

Based on statistics provided by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver MLS ® Residential The Penny Mitchell Group-Personal Real Estate Corporation RE/MAX Masters Realty

MICHAEL ALEXANDER

604-961-6457

michael.alexander@dominionlending.ca

January 2015

Resolutions

PAGE

Callie Taylor Callie Taylor is currently in Grade 4 at Gleneagles Ch’axay Elementary School.

She is involved in her community as a Girl Guide of Canada and plays for the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club. Callie loves anything to do with giraffes and peacocks.

She is quite the animal lover and has many pets including a dog, a cat, a hamster and a fish. Her New Year’s resolution is to try more new foods and help with the preparing and cooking.

James Hird James has worked at the Caulfeild Safeway for 11 years. He was Cashier of the Year for fund-raising in the Safeway district for the past four years and in all of BC for 2014.

James plays floor hockey, likes to hang out with friends and performs in his church as a singer. His resolutions for 2015 are to improve his customer service skills and to work out more regularly at the gym.

Good luck James and congratulations on your achievements.

Caught BEACON handed!

The Beacon is being read everywhere! Starbucks regulars Brian Carlson and Bruce Carter are joined by Chris Stringer on a sunny, warm November day in Caulfeild.

A MORTGAGE TO GET EXCITED ABOUT!

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January 2015

PAGE 13

A story of hope Maria Boublil

my mom was one of the lucky ones. Soon after signing up with the stem cell and bone marrow registry, a match was located from an unrelated donor. And so the long and difficult process n the fall of 2009 my mom was diagnosed of preparing for a transplant began. with Lymphoma at the age of 55. Her progAfter a number of preparatory chemo nosis was dismal and we were told very treatments, my mom finally received the stem early on that there was no chance of a cure. cells from her anonymous donor at midnight on September 30, 2009, The most we could hope via intravenous transfufor was temporary remission. Unfortunately, sion. Recovery was slow after undergoing a and fraught with gutwrenching moments. number of chemo treatBut five years after her ments, even that small transplant, my mom is margin of hope was not cancer-free and living a achievable.

A stem cell transplant full and active life. In Au(also known as a bone gust 2012, my mom was - onematch.ca marrow transplant) beable to reach out to her came the only option. Although the risks were donor to thank him for her gift of life. A young high this was her last chance for a cure. Of man from Delaware, he had joined the registry course, finding a suitable match is incredibly only a few months before being contacted as difficult . The only person that can be tested a match for my mom. In March 2013 he flew as a direct match is a sibling, and my mother’s to Vancouver to meet our family. The meeting only sister was unfortunately not a match. But was incredibly emotional, and he has since beby

I

“

“Hundreds of Canadians are in need of transplants every year.

come a close part of our family.

Of course not all outcomes will be the same for people undergoing a transplant, but what is unequivocally true for everyone is that a transplant is usually their last hope. Becoming a donor is really easy. Simply fill out the form online at www.onematch.ca. The cheek swabbing kit is mailed to you and if you are a match Canadian Blood Services will contact you to discuss time frames and procedures.

Some facts from the One Match website: *Hundreds of Canadians are in need of transplants every year. As of October 2008, there were about 600 Canadian patients waiting for a stem cell match. *A transplant may be the last and best chance for recovery from a serious illness. *Right now there is a special need for ethnic males aged 17 to 35. *For bone marrow donation, the collection of stem cells is taken from the iliac crest under general anaesthetic. For peripheral blood stem cell donation, the collection is a

Photo: Maria Boublil Luba and her donor, Steve. The photo she is holding shows Steve with the IV bag containing his donated stem cells that were sent to Luba for transfusion.

non-surgical procedure done in an outpatient clinic and does not involve anaesthetic. The donor does not experience pain during either procedure. *The body replaces the stem cells within six weeks. After donating, most donors are back to their usual routine in a few days.

Set the tone for a calm and relaxing home by

Amandah Tanner

N

ow that 2014 is behind us and the Christmas decorations are packed away, having a comfortable place to relax and unwind can help improve our wellbeing and make our homes more harmonious and peaceful. Try these simple tips: Start by walking through your home, trying to see it with new eyes.

Creating a focal point in a room is a great way to re-energize a space. You can do this just by adding a piece of artwork or even a rug. It may also be a feature in your room

such as a mantel.

Flowers are incredibly soothing both visually and aromatically.

Plants bring new life, growth and oxygen to a space. Music can be a powerful tool for relieving stress, or the sounds of nature and running water.

Natural sunlight does wonders for one’s spirit. Make sure your drapes are open and shades are pulled up. Even when the sun is not out, daylight’s natural light is quite bright.

The paint colours you choose in your home can have a real effect on your mood.

Tranquil blues, greens and greys create a more relaxing atmosphere. Whites and

beiges are suitable too – stick with natural tones.

Remove clutter. Clutter is distracting and creates a sense of chaos. Replace with items that soothe or inspire – such as family photographs.

Surround yourself with books and magazines you enjoy to read. Throw pillows and blankets add a touch of comfort.

Hardwood floors and soft area rugs can tie in furniture to help create unity, as well as create an atmosphere that is light and airy. Happy 2015. www.cinnibarinteriors.com

R E T N I www.d-zign.ca info@d-zign.ca 604 . 644 . 2877

Photo: Courtesy of JF Fabrics

PAGE

14

January 2015

TRAVEL NOTES

A cruise to French Polynesia How I mingled with marine life off Moorea Island Marie-Claude Arnott

I

didn’t dare move when I felt something pressing on my foot. Then I cautiously looked down, at a stingray. It lay still, but the (poisonous) spines I noticed on its whip-like tail made me nervous. I clearly remembered the instructor’s words, “They are not dangerous but don’t scare them!” I wondered if my pounding heart could be a threat.

On the way to our diving spot I had been taking pictures of the fascinating turquoise

Photo: Aquablue Moorea Marie-Claude holds a feeding tube while a fish swims right through her husband’s hand.

waters of the lagoon while being somewhat preoccupied. On my mind were my unpredictable bouts with claustrophobia. Years ago, my family went scuba diving without me. I had failed the scuba diving test… in a pool. Later, I was able to scuba dive 12 feet under water (a respirator provided oxygen from a tank on a support raft). This time, I would be walking 16 feet underwater on a lagoon floor. My head would be encapsulated in a helmet weighing 80 pounds (and supplied with compressed air).

We had been cruising on the m/s Paul Gauguin to several of the Society Islands.

The most famous ones are Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea. The cruise line offered other tours, but water activities were the most popular. It’s easy to understand why. There, you don’t simply observe marine life, you mingle with it.

Before the dive, I had attentively listened to the instructor and hoped that all would go as planned. My neoprene boo-

Marie-Claude feeding fish off Moorea Island.

ties boosted my sense of security, as did my training shorts and long sleeve top (a scratch from coral can ruin a vacation). I stepped down the ladder until I was breast-high under water. The instructor slipped the helmet over my head and placed it on my shoulders. Geez, it was heavy! But as expected, the weight eased off as soon as I immerged. I stood still for a few seconds wondering if water would slip under the helmet.

Of course it didn’t (air pressure keeps the water out).

My diving companions and I looked like a cross between ill-fitted astronauts and confused scuba divers. I realized that I could stand because I was ballasted, but I couldn’t swim. Walking was a combination of slow motion hopping and propelling my-

Photo: Aquablue Moorea

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Photo: Aquablue Moorea Stingray and other fish in a lagoon off Moorea Island.

self in any way I could. After a while, fish of striking colors and incredibly perfect markings began to rush in my direction.

They were chasing the instructor who was about to hand me a feeding tube. I have admired such fish many times at the Vancouver Aquarium and I have seen them from above while snorkeling, but this faceto-face with fish and without cumbersome equipment was extraordinary. Then, a kind of black saucer with flapping wings came whizzing around, and another, and another that glided between my legs, its skin as soft as velvet. Stingrays! One suddenly took a liking to my “neoprene foot.” The instructor signaled that it was ok, and to stay put.

Moments later, the feeding tube enticed the stingray to lift off and to follow him.

After thirty minutes under water it was time for our group’s photo-souvenir. I was still holding the feeding tube when I felt the familiar pressure on my foot. “My” stingray had returned to bid me goodbye, with a hug of its own.

More about French Polynesia and other travel stories at: www.buckettripper.com/author/ mcarnott

US CALLFREE A FOR MATE! I EST

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Kam Filsoofi, OWNER

January 2015

PAGE 15

parenting “Ask Domenica” Domenica Mastromatteo Dear Domenica, My son has developmental coordination disorder (DCD). He’s in grade 3 and is still expected to practice his printing. Shouldn’t he be practicing keyboard skills instead?

Anonymous.

Dear Anonymous, According to canchild.ca (Centre for Childhood Disability Research), “DCD is a common health condition that impacts motor skill development. Children with DCD have difficulty learning and doing everyday tasks like printing, getting dressed, or riding a bike.”

I appreciate that it is very difficult for your

Domenica Mastromatteo, CPDPE, MSc is a Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator (CPDPE).

She answers your questions about raising children of “all abilities”. Email her directly at dmastromatteo@sensationalchildren.ca with your question and her response will be in the next Beacon. More information can be found at sensationalchildren.ca

child to practice his printing, and although he may never have exquisite printing skills, many children do find that their handwriting difficulties diminish after the onset of adolescence (Eide, Brock and Eide, Fernette. 2006. The Mislabeled Child. New York, NY: Hyperion).

So, yes, please encourage him to practice his printing. It is worthwhile for your child to try a variety of pencils and pens to determine which allows the best performance. Handwriting problems can have very different causes (deficits in language, memory, attention, reading, motor, and/or sensory functions). If your child’s impairment is severe, he should be evaluated by an occupational therapist with

expertise in children’s writing issues. If you don’t already have one, you can find an OT at www.cotbc.org.

For children with severe handwriting impairments, handwriting should not be thought of as a primary means of expression.

Handwriting (or printing) should be its own distinct subject; so, yes, your child will benefit from keyboard skills, but when should he start keyboarding? An occupational therapist and your child’s school may be able to give you an answer.

You still may be wondering, why all the fuss over handwriting? Although many techies may argue with me, it’s still the best way

of note-taking, especially as a child progresses in his education. Handwriting (and printing), with a proper pencil grip and body posture is more of a brain thing then we realize. Just as gross-motor movement is so important for developing fine-motor skills (required for printing), the reverse is also true. As your son practices his printing, neurons are firing in his brain, creating complex patterns of neural pathways. Learning is happening that will help him in so many aspects of his life. If he doesn’t practice, he won’t create the pathways and as he enters adolescence his brain will undergo an extensive amount of pruning….and what he doesn’t use, he will lose.

montessori moment

Eagle Harbour kids explore Asia by

I

Emily Lapkin

f you hear Bhangra music coming from Eagle Harbour Montessori School, it’s a sign that some serious learning (and a little Bollywood-style dancing) might be happening inside!

At Eagle Harbor Montessori, a West Vancouver public elementary school that also adheres to the Montessori teaching philosophy, students of all grades immerse themselves in the study of a different continent each year. This year, the focus is on Asia.

That means both in-classroom activities and school-wide cultural events raise awareness of the different people, arts, and

activities found across the vast land mass. In November artist-in-residence Matt Bickel of West Van Karate Academy gave the entire student body a fun and engaging introduction to the Japanese martial art. And in December, students from the grade 4/5 class began an enlightening pen pal relationship with students from a school in rural Vietnam, with the help of parent Lien Khoshnevis and the Vietnam Education Society.

Winter and spring will be equally exciting for the students, as they are introduced to Indian Bollywood-style dance, Japanese Taiko drumming, and the painting and scrollwork of China and Indonesia. A cultural night in February will see students sharing what they’re learning with their families and enjoy a variety of Asian cuisines.

Eagle Harbour Montessori welcomes students from across the North Shore and is registering new students for 2015-2016

now. For more information visit go45. sd45.bc.ca/schools/eagleharbour or call (604) 981 1380.

Kindergarteners at Eagle Harbour Montessori School try karate.

Photo: Courtesy of Eagle Harbour Montessori

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16

January 2015

Schools

West Vancouver Board of Education Creates New Endowment Fund West Vancouver Community Foundation to manage fund to help students succeed by

Beverly Pausche

A

mid growing public concern around adequate funding for schools, the West Vancouver Board of Education approved a new endowment fund to support West Vancouver’s 17 public schools.

An initial $10,000 donation was announced by outgoing Board Chair, Cindy Dekker, who has served three terms with the Board.

“The world facing today’s graduates is a much different place than it was even a decade ago, and the endowment fund is one way that future Trustees can ensure we are

providing the world-class education that our community expects,” says Dekker.

CEO and Superintendent of Schools, Chris Kennedy, is pleased about the potential for the fund to meet a growing community need for personalized education, especially in light of changing demographics. “We get some of the top marks in the province for academic, athletic and artistic achievement, but we get there by providing ways to address each student’s needs,” explains Kennedy. “Additional funding for enrichment opportunities will help schools do even more to tap the potential of each student and help the Board realize its strategic goals.”

The new endowment fund will be managed by the West Vancouver Community

A student’s take on circles by

Fallon O’Neill Gleneagles Student

O

ur Grade 6/7 class circles up every week. This is a great way to express our opinions and feelings.

It allows us to learn more about our peers in a comfortable environment, while letting us contribute our ideas without feeling judged. “Circles has many great attributes, one of them being able to speak freely,” says Grace, a twelve year old girl who attends Gleneagles Ch’axay Elementary School. We can listen with genuine curiosity, and truly

be engaged in what the other is saying. We can let our minds relax, instead of constantly thinking of replies, compliments, and the science test next Thursday. We can turn our full attention to it, knowing that sitting in a circle and sharing our feelings is the priority at that exact moment, that worrying and regretting is for another time. Without a doubt, Gleneagles Ch’axay Elementary school has benefited from Circles. In fact, as students we have benefited, whether we realize it or not. We are learning that people shouldn’t be judged on what they seem to be on the outside, but on what they really are on the inside.

Foundation, an organization with a long history of successful stewardship within the community. “The West Vancouver Community Foundation Photo: Rob Newelli has a longstanding com- The West Vancouver Board of Education established an endowment mitment to excellence in fund in November to provide enrichment opportunities for students education,” says West Van- in its 17 public schools. L-R: Outgoing Board Chair, Cindy Dekker, West couver Community Foun- Vancouver Community Foundation Chair Geoff Jopson, West Vancouver School District Superintendent Chris Kennedy. dation Board Chair Geoff Jopson. “We know that edwill provide for their students.” ucation is prized in this community, and we Those interested in donating to the fund congratulate the Board of Education for their may contact the Foundation at 604.925.8513. leadership in establishing this new fund. We To find out more visit the website at: www. look forward to hearing of the many new and sd45.bc.ca/news/endowment-fund.html exciting learning opportunities that this fund

Gleneagles students share their Christmas spirit by

Sam Neale Gleneagles Student

I

n December, students at Gleneagles raised money to provide less fortunate families with a nice Christmas. This generous gesture started when Mrs. Odegaard’s Grade 6/7 class decided to sponsor a family on the North Shore. They were soon joined by the other Grade 6s and 7s.

Then the primary grades (Kindergarten to Grade 3) also joined in. Each family got a wonderful hamper filled with gifts, as well as a gift card for their local grocery store to buy a delicious Christmas dinner.

In just two weeks, Mrs Odegaard’s class alone raised more than $900.00! This Christmas Gleneagles Elementary made four North Shore families very happy.

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January 2015

PAGE 17

Schools

West Vancouver School District invites 2015-2016 admissions Out-of-catchment and out-of-district enrolment begins online www.sd45.bc.ca at 8 am January 15 by

Bev Pausche

P

lanning for the 2015-2015 school year is well underway in West Vancouver’s 17 public schools. The first series of open houses will be offered by the district’s three high schools from January 12-14. Parents and students currently in Grade 7 are welcome to attend one of these sessions to better prepare for the transition to high school and learn more about their educational options.

West Vancouver School District’s focus on Self-Regulation, Inquiry and Digital literacy encourages the development of 21st century skills like collaboration, communication and critical thinking.

Families with students entering the district in other grades this fall will also have a number of opportunities to attend information sessions on athletic, academic and arts programming in the district.

“West Vancouver public schools offer a range of personalized learning options that just aren’t offered anywhere else,” says Chris Kennedy, Superintendent of Schools. “The breadth and scope of our programming attracts a number of students who want to combine a strong academic foundation with interests and activities they are passionate about.”

One example of students combining interests with academics is the district’s First Aid Swim Training Program (FAST), which offers a lifeguard education program to students

Photo: Courtesy of West Vancouver School District Students enrolled in the district’s Premier Sports Academies get a rigorous academic foundation at one of WVSD’s three high schools in the morning, and train each afternoon during school hours. The programs provide a Physical Education.

age 13 years and up. FAST students obtain all required certification necessary to enrol in the National Lifeguard Course (NLC), which students can take independently at age 16.

Successful completion of the NLC qualifies

Our amazing teacher by

Scarlet Roth Gleneagles Student

T

o the world Mrs. Odegaard may be just a teacher, but to her students she’s a hero. Mrs. O is one of those kind, loving teachers who makes us feel warm and “at home” in our classroom.

She is so encouraging and helpful, many of us think of her as our mother away from home. Mrs. O inspires us, entertains us, and we end up learning a ton, often without even realizing it. Mrs. Odegaard does

plenty of fun, exciting things with us. She hates lasagna so I know we won’t be having a lasagna party any time soon. But she takes us on trips to concerts and so much more. She always gives us something to think about at home, other than homework.

Mrs. O gives just the right amount of discipline and love. Discipline is doing what needs to be done even if you don’t want to, the bridge between setting your goals and accomplishing them. Another reason I like having Mrs. O as a teacher is because my mom’s cousin is friends with her so I get to know all about her life outside school,

Photo: Courtesy of Laura Odegaard Mrs O, much loved teacher at Gleneagles Elementary.

which is never boring. Mrs. O is an amazing teacher. She guides us when we are lost, she supports us when we are weak, and she enlightens us. We are what we are now, because of our teacher.

an individual to work as a lifeguard. The program is open to students enrolled in any of the district’s three secondary schools, and an information session is planned for February 4th.

The district’s Premier Sports Academies offer students entering Grades 8-11 in-depth coaching during the regular school day. Information sessions take place in January and February for Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Fencing and Tennis. All abilities and skill levels are welcome.

Academic programs available to new and current students include the International Baccalaureate, French Immersion, Advanced Placement and Montessori. Information sessions for all programs except Early French Immersion are scheduled throughout January and February for the 2015-2016 school year.

If you are unable to make a session, but would like to arrange a personal tour of one of the district’s schools, please call the school and book a time with the principal, who will be happy to introduce you to the school community and programs.

PAGE

18

January 2015

Recognition indeed by

Chris Stringer

C

onsider our pride when we received an email commenting on the excellent quality of writing in The Beacon from the one and only Rafe Mair. He was in Horseshoe Bay and had discovered The Beacon for the first time.

The unabashed British Columbian don’t call him a Westerner because ”I know nothing about Alberta or Saskatchewan” has been living in neighbouring Lion’s Bay for ten years. Well, I seized the opportunity to ask him for a meeting over a bowl of soup, which he unhesitatingly accepted, and we met at his haunt, the Lion’s Bay

Cafe, overlooking beautiful Howe Sound.

At 82, and suffering from recent physical setbacks, Rafe arrived on his scooter and ordered his usual lunch, a morning glory muffin, “the world’s best”, and an icecream bar. From that point on it was pure Rafe, the man I’d regularly listened to on the radio for over 25 years. What a treat.

We chatted about his life, his career as a broadcaster and as a politician and his many awards. He was most emphatic when he mentioned being fired three times. His mind as sharp, his candour unchanged, it seemed that he was taking it easy on me and I felt a sense of relief for not being challenged for representing a newspaper that avoids controversy and focuses on community good news.

Photo: Glenn Owen

Rafe and Chris at Lion’s Bay Cafe.

Thank you for this privilege, Rafe. Thank you, too, for buying lunch! And for agreeing to contribute to the Beacon in 2015…. for the vast sum of a morning glory muffin!

Glenn’s Gallery - Our Community Through Glenn’s Lens

You can read Rafe’s columns in the Tyee and check out his blog at rafeonline.ca

G G

GLENN’s GALLERY Namesake of Smallest park in West Van

Look for the answer in the next edition of .

View From Caulfeild Park

Francis Caulfeild Memorial

Double Rainbow

Last edition answer:

Front of BC Ferry Building, Horseshoe Bay

Safeway is proud to support local farmers and producers. See our wide range of local products throughout the store.

January 2015

PAGE 19

save date

around the village

the

From the wild to the tame by

James Slaney

V

eterinarian Tjeerdo Polderman purchased the Caulfeild Veterinary Hospital in 1992 and has been caring for our pets for almost 23 years.

Tjeerdo was born in Nelspruit, South Africa, on the edge of internationally renowned game reserve, Kruger National Park, and this may well have fuelled his love of animals.

In 1973 the family moved to Rhodesia, which became Zimbabwe seven years later.

This was where Tjeerdo spent his teen years and went to Veterinary school. “With a marine engineer for a father my passion was boating and my hobby of boat-building largely paid for my education.” He also worked as an auctioneer, amongst several other endeavors, a time he considers not only interesting but essential for his future.

After graduating, he worked there for a year, treating dogs, cats, horses and wildlife including snakes, birds and elephants. However, due to deteriorating circumstances in Zimbabwe, Tjeerdo and his wife Ceri decided

May 9th, 2015 | 10am to 4pm

“

Caulfeild

May Day

“Working and raising a family in West Vancouver is a wonderful new life for us...”

- Tjeerdo Polderman

to emigrate, arriving in Toronto in the winter of 1989. In 1992 they moved to BC to start a family, and settled in West Bay. Their lives are busy with four children: Thomas, 22, is studying business at Capilano University. Hendrik, 20, is at UBC in engineering. Stefanie, 18, is on a sports scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas taking pre-med and Janine, 14 is among the busiest of students at Rockridge, where all four Poldermans were schooled.

Between events all over Canada and the US

A Community Event for Families

Tjeerdo and Gracie.

Photo: Glenn Owen

watching his girls excel at baseball, Tjeerdo sometimes still has time for his hobby, boating, which he does out of Horseshoe Bay, going crabbing and prawning as often as possible.

“Working and raising a family in West Vancouver is a wonderful new life for us (if only it would stop raining), a privilege I appreciate daily after the turmoil that our old world has become.”

] pony rides ] petting zoo ] stage entertainment all day ] arts & crafts ] North Shore artist displays ] olde Caulfeild fire truck ] coffee garden ] collector cars ] fashion show ] beer garden ] pizza ] hot-dogs ] hamburgers ] buskers ] entertainers

...and join us to dance around the maypole at the Caulfeild Village Shopping Centre, West Vancouver

www.caulfeildmayday.ca

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Penny Mitchell R E A L E S TAT E

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January 2015