THE No. 15
BEACON Shedding light on the communities from Lions Bay to West Bay
March 2016
Harbingers of Spring Tiny crocuses, Eager for life, Peek up by the wayside. White as snow, Purple as the twilight sky, They are the harbingers of spring. The laughter of little children, Flit among the dewdrops nigh, Like fairies on a breeze. They are the harbingers of spring. Soft chirps of chickadees As the morning sun appears Welcoming the young into the world. They are the harbingers of spring. by Kate Foley (Rockridge School) Early spring photos by Glenn Owen taken in Cathy and John Legate’s lower Caulfeild garden.
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Schools
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Eagleridge Bluffs
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PG
Mountains to Sea
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Craft Beer Festival
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Community Personality
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In This Issue 6
Landscape Design
Your Garden ...Our Pleasure
Installation
604.802.5272
Maintenance
BLOOMINGFIELDS GARDEN CARE AND DESIGN INC.
bloomingfieldsdigs.ca
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March 2016
opinion TEAM
Chris Stringer Publisher
Lessons from a silent son • Travel light. In planes, trains and automobiles. And in life.
chrisstringer @westvanbeacon.ca
• Stuff breaks. Get over it. It’s just stuff.
Lindy Pfeil
Lindy Pfeil
Editor
lindypfeil @westvanbeacon.ca
Penny Mitchell Advertising
pennymitchell @westvanbeacon.ca
Melissa Baker Creative Director
melissabaker @westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all contributing writers for The Beacon retain full rights and that the full or partial reproduction of feature articles is unauthorized without the consent of the author.
Submissions for The Beacon
The Beacon is delivered bi-monthly to 5000+ households between Lions Bay and West Bay. For submission guidelines and queries, please e-mail the Editor: lindypfeil@westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all submissions are subject to space constraints and editing. For advertising queries, please e-mail the Director of Marketing: pennymitchell@westvanbeacon.ca For all other queries, please e-mail the Publisher: chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca All editions of The Beacon (beginning in September 2013), can also be read online at: www.westvanbeacon.ca.
• B ones break too. This is not a pleasant experience, but it doesn’t help whining about it. • It doesn’t matter how talented you are you can’t do it on your own. Say “thank-you”. Often. And mean it.
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echnically, I’ve been a mother for nearly a quarter century, but my children will tell you that I’ve still not quite grasped this whole parenting thing. When they were toddlers, we spent a lot of time roaming beaches, collecting shells, fishing in rock pools, and finding treasures in the sand. I loved playing Lego, and painting rocks; we built forts out of cardboard boxes, and made up stories under the jungle gym in the garden. We lay together on the bed for hours, reading, a child under each arm, taking turns to flip the pages. But we did these things because I enjoyed doing them, not because I was their mother. I suspect they chose my womb because I had so much to learn. And they have taught me well. I think my job has always been just to keep them alive, and have some fun, until they could be on their way. With a little luck, and a few very close calls, we have made it this far. While the women in our little family are rather vocal (and I am being polite here), the men are inordinately silent. Some would say they don’t speak because they rarely get the chance. And they could be right. But it has been a curious thing – to be the mother of a Silent Son. Yet, so much I have learnt from him. And perhaps that has been the point all along. As another milestone approaches for him, once again without fanfare or fuss, I reflect on just a few of the many things this quiet boy-child has taught me:
• Blame no one for your mistakes. Own them. It’s how you learn to be better. In sport. And in life. • If you’re really good at something, you don’t need to tell anyone. • Other people will have opinions about your dreams. Listen politely. Then go ahead and follow your heart. • Don’t talk about it. Just do it.
• Stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Regardless of the outcome. • It’s easy to sleep when you’ve done the right thing. • The things that most need to be said, often don’t need words. • Don’t bother trying to make people like you. Bother instead with living so that you like yourself. There have been bumps along the way. And as his future approaches, there will, I am sure, continue to be unexpected twists and turns. It’s never all easy. But, as the saying goes, it really is that simple. Thank-you B. You done good. xoxo Mommy
‘The Village Effect’ Wilhelm Hofmeyr
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usan Pinker’s book, The Village Effect, talks about the physical and emotional therapeutic support that ‘your village’ provides in stressful times, during illness, but also when you are well. Each one of us has a unique village structure with full-time members, transient members and special places. This could
docsonthebay.ca A warm, friendly, inclusive, place in Horseshoe Bay where you and your family will receive physician,counselling, physiotherapy attention and care.
be your home, or at Whyte Lake or drifting in the ocean in a kayak. The key is that it requires your action: to build, maintain and nurture your village, and to allow it to evolve with you. Susan Pinker tells of a study of women with breast cancer that showed a fourfold survival rate in those with a large network of friends compared to those with a sparser social connection. So keep building your village, and let us all nurture this amazing place we share. Your health will benefit in unmeasurable ways. Thank you to the Beacon for contributing to my village.
BY APPOINTMENT OR JUST DROP IN:
MON TO FRI 8AM -7PM SAT 9AM -1PM
604.921.7120
Raising the bar for health and wellness delivery in the community, for the community
March 2016
Home & Living
Pomeg
ranat
Food trends for 2016 A Culinary View Maureen Goulet
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his is officially the Year of the Pulse. Pulses are the seeds of dry crops such as dry peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas. The flour from these ground pulses are higher in fiber and protein compared to traditional flours. Cricket flour has also been declared the protein of the future. And then there’s nooch, a nutritional yeast with a nutty flavour derived from sugarcane or beet molasses. There’s also a growing trend in African and Middle Eastern flavors. Karen Barnaby recently taught a
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An introduction to essential oils Tisha Bryant
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ith increasing information and awareness surrounding the number of chemicals the average person uses daily, it is hardly surprising that the use of essential oils is becoming more and more popular. In ancient Greece, aromatic plants were believed to be of ‘divine origin’. Egypt, India and China also held aromatic oils in great reverence. Hippocrates is known to have used aromatherapy as a treatment, and we all know
where we first heard about frankincense and myrrh. Essential oils are the volatile liquids that are distilled from the bark, stems, roots and flowers of plants. Apart from their wonderful aromas, they have long been utilized in food preparation, beauty treatments and health care. There are three ways we can use essential oils: • Aromatic: when diffused, different oils can be stimulating or calming and can also purify the air of unwanted smells and airborne pathogens. • Topical: essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and can be added to a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. • Internal: they can be used as dietary
supplements to support a variety of health conditions. Not all essential oils are created equal. Always source oils that are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) and will provide you with pure potency, without fillers or other elements that may diminish the healthful qualities of the oil. To find out more about the many uses of CPTG essential oils, head over to my blog on www.inourishandnurture.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Tisha Bryant Uses for Lemon Essential Oil.
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Suite 200 - 889 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3S1 P. 604.998.0901 F. 604.998.0920
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March 2016
our history
Saving historic Hollyburn Lodge Caulfeild History Francis Mansbridge
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any of the Scandinavians who arrived on the West Coast in the early years of this past century found work in BC’s mines, but in winter
they had the time and energy to introduce skiing, their first love, to other Canadians. “Mining is our bread, skiing our soul”, said one. Hollyburn Ridge provided an ideal place to experience fellowship through sport. With little in the way of formal training, some of its members competed with the best in the world, including Olympic appearances. Built of lumber recycled from the old Nasmyth mill on Rodgers Creek, the Hol-
lyburn Lodge was opened on January 16, 1927, just a short walk in from the current cross country parking lot. While intended as a temporary structure, it has clung to life for over 90 years, through times when many thought it had outlived its usefulness—the only surviving original North Shore ski lodge. The Lodge, and the ski clubs it fostered, created lifetime bonds among its many members. As Catherine Rockandel said, “The quiet introspection of this time and the values of community I have learned have defined my life”. Some years ago a group of dedicated volunteers vowed that the Lodge would not go down without a fight. In 1997 Hollyburn veterans Gordon and Iola Knight united with Bob and Greta Tapp to work for the restoration of the Lodge. A 2006 study by Don Luxton’s architectural firm indicated that the Lodge could be restored. As the cost of restoration could not be guaranteed, the decision was made to re-
build it in the image of the old lodge. The arduous process of raising over a million dollars to make this possible has continued for nearly twenty years, with victory now in sight. As of January 5 of this year, $1,064,372 of the required $1,100,000 has been raised. The renewed Lodge will open July 1, 2016; it will remain open during July and August and then be closed until the start of the 2016/17 ski season. So much more than just a building, or even a heritage building. The sign above its entrance, created originally in Swedish by Oscar Pearson, still brings tears to the eyes of many of the old-timers: 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 Visit http:/www.hollyburnheritage.ca for more information.
Things to do on the ‘Shore & more by
Susie Moore
VERSION 2 HORIZONTAL
GOTHAM LIGHT Horizontal
March 5 & 6, North Shore Art Crawl. Info: www.nvartscouncil.ca March 12, Craft Beer Festival at Caulfield Cove Hall at 7pm. Tickets and info: www.caulfeildcovehall.ca March 20, 2:30-3:30, Nowruz Egg Decorating. Ages 6-9. West Van Library. 604-925-7408 Hollyburn Ski Lodge circa 1930.
March 22, Spring Break Drop-In Program. Ages 6-9. West Van Library, 2-3pm. Info: 604-925-7408 March 26, 7pm, Legends & Lanterns snowshoeing tour, Mount Seymour. Cost $38.00. Info: snowshoe@mtseymour.ca April 28, Taste of the Bay, Horseshoe Bay. Cost $20.00. Info: 604-921-2100
Photo: Courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library
Book your Eye Exam at IRIS Today Vision plays an important role in every aspect of our lives. Our vision allows us to experience the world to its fullest. A complete eye examination checks your overall eye health, measures changes to vision and develops a plan to enhance and maintain your eye sight. Book your eye health and vision examination at IRIS today.
Dr. Jenna Fukushima Optometrist
Dr. Jenna Fukushima Optometrist
Caulfeild Village Mall 5313 Headland Drive
604.923.4747
March 2016
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Disrespect: why it’s time for parents to grow up Domenica Mastromatteo
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he title of Cathy Gulli’s recent article in Maclean’s magazine, “The Collapse of Parenting: Why It’s Time for Parents to Grow Up”, hurts. I didn’t want to read an article telling me I’m doing it all
wrong, but I read it anyway and was pleasantly surprised. We seem to be creating a culture of disrespect amongst our children. But parents aren’t the only ones to blame; Gulli writes, “There are broader influences shifting the parent-child dynamic as well.” We are influenced by society and society has no models of obedience. When children “don’t listen to us”, they are simply following the examples all around them. It’s become difficult to find anyone who is willing to accept an inferior,
submissive role in life. This is a good thing; Western society has progressed to where
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necessarily mean the same. Adults have experience, skills and maturity. Children are still developing, so it’s our responsibility (as adults) to guide our children. How? What does this look like? The answers will only become clear as we continue to raise questions and talk together about our parenting practices. sensationalchildren.ca
“We can treat them as equals, but equality does not necessarily mean the same.”
“equality for everyone has become a cultural objective and a constitutional right.” But what happens to our children? We can treat them as equals, but equality does not
It’s Tax Time - Taxes are due April 30 Armchair Accountant Rebecca van der Horst
H
Photo: Coutesy of Scotty Grubb Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise Past President, Ted MacCormac, and President Judith Harder present a cheque for $10,000 to Scotty Grubb, President of the West Vancouver Marine Rescue Society. The proceeds will go to the purchase of a new search and rescue high speed boat.
ere are a few handy tips to make filing your 2015 tax return easier: -The deadline for receiving 2015 T4s and many other slips was February 29. -RRSP contribution deadline for the 2015 tax year was February 29. -Donations of cash, goods, land or listed securities made to a registered charity or other qualified donee may be eligible for a charitable tax credit. -If your child was enrolled in a sports or arts program you may be eligible for the Children’s fitness tax credit or the Children’s arts amount. -If you support a dependent with a physical or mental impairment, you may be able to claim an additional amount (up to $2,093 in 2015) related to the family caregiver amount. -If you were a student in 2015, you may be
Your health matters. Make it a top priority. ON TIME • UNHURRIED • COMPREHENSIVE
able to claim, transfer or carry forward your tuition, textbook, education amounts, and public transit passes. -If you receive a pension, you may be able to elect with your spouse or common-law partner to allocate up to 50% of your eligible pension income to your spouse or common-law partner to reduce your combined tax payable. -You may also be eligible to claim the age amount, medical expenses, and the disability tax credit. Tax time does not have to be stressful. If you’re organized and informed you’re more than halfway there. Some people are comfortable preparing their own tax return either by paper or electronic filing, while others choose to have a professional tax preparer do it for them. CRA is always available to help, either by visiting online www.cra-arc.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-9598281. In this digital age, you can still pick up a copy of the tax Guide from your local Canada Post office or CRA agency. Rebecca van der Horst, officesolutions@me.com
Contact us today Terri Thompson at tthompson@copemanhealthcare.com or 604-707-2273 www.copemanhealthcare.com West Vancouver, 200-545 Clyde Ave Vancouver, 400-1128 Hornby Street
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March 2016
Broadcast innovator, public service leader Community Personality Chris Stringer
R
ay Peters has a record of distinguished service to the community, the province and the nation. His public-spirited approach to the broadcasting industry is especially notable in a business which often has the reputation for being concerned chiefly with the “bottom line” and only incidentally about service to the public. In 1984 he was appointed to Member, Order of Canada: “Chief Executive Officer of the British Co-
Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Peters Induction into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame.
lumbian Television Broadcasting System Ltd., he is known for his use of the network as a means of public service. Some of his best-known innovations include the introduction of the telethon as a fund-raising vehicle for charity”. Ray maintains that “Canadian broadcasters have a responsibility to their communities.” Over and above utilizing the effectiveness of radio and television broadcasting to help members of the community relate to each other and to the Canadian community as a whole, his own service to the community includes his personal contributions of time, energy, ideas, and financial commitment. Two of his greatest achievements are his longstanding work through Variety The Children’s Charity of British Columbia, and taking a leading role in the revival of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Ray assumed the chairmanship of the reconstituted VSO board, instituted a new management approach and expanded general appeal of the orchestra through innovative approaches designed to bring music to the people. In the summer of 1988 the Va n c o u v e r Symphony Orchestra p e r fo r m e d on Ambleside Beach and again on Whistler mountain. These innovations contributed to instilling new life into the orchestra with early, gratifying and lasting results. From his beginnings as a child and young adult performer, musician and writer in radio broadcast-
Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Peters The newsroom, where Ray created the first open newsroom concept and the first and most successful hour-long newscast in the early evening in north America.
ing in Vancouver to his subsequent notable achievements throughout his career in the broadcast industry across Canada, Ray Peters is respected by his peers and his community for his loyalty, honesty, integrity, farsightedness and compassion. His visionary approach to the broadcasting industry led to the development of - Ray Peters one of the most successful networks of private stations in the world, the Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (CANCOM), which was licensed
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to deliver television and radio signals to remote, underserved areas of Canada. During his tenure as CEO, Chairman of the Board of BCTV and CEO of WIC Western International Communications, B C T V became a leader in developing the CTV Television national service. BCTV introduced the first open-news room concept in North America and the first and most successful Canadian
“Canadian broadcasters have a responsibility to their communities.”
1) Are you tired? 10THE SECOND THE 1010 SECOND SECOND SLEEP SLEEP QUIZ QUIZ 2) Do you snore?
SLEEP QUIZ
1) Are 1) Are you you tired? tired?
2) Do 2) you Do you snore? snore?
3) Do you have high blood pressure? S O L U T I O NS OS L U T I O N S 4) Does your partner see you choke or stop breathing at night?
3) Do 3) you Do you havehave high high bloodblood pressure? pressure? If yES tO ANy 2 Or mOrE Of thESE quEStIONS, 4) Does 4) Does youryour partner partner see you seechoke you choke yOu mAy hAvE SlEEp #215ApNEA. – 1433 #215Lonsdale – 1433 Lonsdale Avenue Avenue tAlk tO yOur DOCtOr Or CAll Our ClINIC tO fIND Out mOrE INfOrmAtION North Vancouver, North Vancouver, BC, V7M 2H9 BC, V7M 2H9 or stop or stop breathing breathing at night? at night? AbOut SlEEp ApNEA AND hOw It CAN bE DIAgNOSED AND trEAtED. Tel: 604.985.1440 Tel: 604.985.1440 yes If to yesany to 2any or more 2 or more of these of these questions questions you may you have may have AreIfsleep you tired? Fax: 604.985.9471 Fax: 604.985.9471 sleep apnea, apnea, talk to talk your to your doctor doctor or call or our call clinic our to clinic find to find #215-1433 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC 604.985.1440 S O LU T I O out out more more information information aboutabout sleep sleep apneaapnea and how and it how can it can Do you snore? #2-38003 2nd Avenue, Squamish, BC 604.690.1130 be diagnosed be diagnosed and treated. and treated. www.clinicalsleep.com www.clinicalsleep.com
THE 10 SECOND SLEEP QUIZ 1) 2)
N S
www.clinicalsleep.com
3) Do you have high blood pressure? 4) Does your partner see you choke
#215 – 1433 Lonsdale Avenue
March 2016
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Variety Telethon raises $6.8 million for kids by
James Slaney
T
his year’s Valentine’s Day was special for Variety’s Show of Hearts Telethon. It was the 50th anniversary of the telethon and it exceeded last year’s fundraiser by nearly $1 million. British Columbians rallied to contribute $6,811,736 during the weekend. Global BC Host Chris Gailus closed the show with, “Thank you once again everybody, thank you to all families who shared all your stories with us. This wouldn’t work without you proving what a difference Variety the Children’s Charity makes in your lives”. Local entertainers volunteered their time and talents to perform during the weekend event. Among them was Caul-
Photo: Courtesy of Heidi Peters Receiving the Canadian Commemorative Medal from the Governor General at Rideau Hall.
hour-long local early evening television newscast. It went from near bankruptcy in 1960, to becoming the most successful private television station in Canada. BCTV, now known as Global Television, was the first Canadian TV station to produce the Variety Telethon, raising well in excess of 190 million dollars for the special needs of BC’s children and their families over the past 50 years. The successful telethon format developed by BCTV has been copied by television stations throughout North America. Dr. David Bond, Professor Emeritus UBC, who was President of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in the 1980s, has worked extensively with Ray and speaks highly of him, calling him “a generous and
kind man. His success is due in part to his inquisitiveness and sensitivity to his audience. He has a tremendous understanding of broadcasting and politics.” In recognition of his contributions to the broadcasting industry, Ray was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1989. And in 1992 he received “the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada” from the Governor General “in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada.” When approached about our writing about his life in the Beacon, Ray responded, “Nothing to write about. I’m just a retired broadcaster.”
feild Cove Hall regulars Shari Ulrich and Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Aaron Pritchett, 54-40 and Chilliwack. Variety Club’s commitment is: ‘together with our donors, Variety will step in where care ends to provide direct help to children in BC with special needs and organizations who provide services to children in every corner of our province.’ They fund medical equipment, medication and expenses associated with emergency out-of-town hospitalization. They change lives by funding mobility equipment, hearing devices, van conversions, residential upgrades and special therapies. The surprise gift this past weekend was a wheelchair-accessible van to a single mother. Congratulations to the Variety club and Global BC.
It’s springtime in Caulfeild again by
Ann Frost
“T
he March wind doth blow and we shall have snow and what will poor robin do then?” Well, all the robins of my acquaintance flutter their feathers and head for Caulfeild, because though March may come in like a lamb and go out like a lion, it is always an exhilarating month. The snowdrops and crocuses have already bloomed, the daffodils and jonquils are joining them and the early tulips are on their way. And the rhodies! The early pinks are over but there is a never-ending profusion to follow them. Spring is probably the most
beautiful of our seasons here in Caulfield, and March heralds its beginning. It’s time to plant garden peas and sweet peas. Time for the first cutting of the grass and time to bid farewell to any lingering traces of winter. And these days, there is Spring Break: time to travel to warmer climes and bask in the sunshine, time for a last trip to the snowfields for spring skiing or perhaps just time to sit quietly at home and listen to the plants grow. Time to go beachcombing, to turn over rocks and watch little crabs scuttle for new hiding places. Time to sort through the logs washed up by winter, and time to sit and watch the tide come in slowly as the sun sets. Fifty years ago, and today, living in such a beautiful place is always a blessing.
Safeway is proud to support local farmers and producers. See our wide range of local products throughout the store.
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March 2016
St. Francis-in-the-wood Join us for fun on the fourth (4th) Saturday each month.
Sponsoring Refugee Families by
• c ra
fts
• fo o d
s e m a •g
• songs
• sto r ie
s
I
n late January, Michael McGee, on behalf of the diocese, submitted the necessary papers to Canadian authorities, to sponsor two refugee families, and they were accepted! This means that St. Francis, St. Catherine’s, and St. Stephen’s will partner with each other to sponsor these two families, Syrian sisters who originally came
ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH A place for families celebrating community 4772 PICCADILLY ROAD SOUTH
J an Volker
M
essy Church happens on the last Saturday of every month from 4-6 pm. It’s a fun time for children ages 3 to 12 to play and learn. When the kids arrive they are greeted warmly and receive a name tag. Then it’s onto the crafts which are
Services Sundays 8am &10am (with Sunday School)
Wednesdays 10am 4772 Piccadilly Road South 604.922.3531 | stfrancisinthewood.ca “At Amici restaurant we specialize in old world Italian cooking, where the food is plentiful and delicious! You want Italian? We’ll give you Italian with our tradition of warm hospitality.”
Scott and Victor
from Aleppo, but have been taking refuge in Istanbul. Their brother, Ali, came to Canada as a refugee four years ago. He lives in North Vancouver and approached the Diocese for help in bringing his sisters to Canada. Older sister, Ranim, is a civil engineer with children ages 15 and 11. Nisreem is a teacher and has two boys, ages 2 ½ and 6 months. Both sisters speak fluent English. At least $30,000 is needed to sponsor one family for a year. That amount may well rise depending on the cost of accommodation
in North Vancouver, so donations of any amount are more than welcome. Please make checks out to St. Francis-in-the-Wood with a notation that they are for refugee relief. Credit cards, cash and installments are welcome. A list of services, and more information, including how to donate furniture and household goods, can be obtained from the Parish Office (604 922 3531). Grateful thanks to those of you who have already made donations. We hope that the rest of our community will follow suit.
What exactly is Messy Church? by
We hope to see you there!
A nn Frost
1747 Marine Drive, West Vancouver | 604.913.1314
set up at six different tables with volunteers manning each one. Each craft is related to a theme. Noah’s ark is a favourite. Many questions are posed as the children work away on their masterpieces. Jack asked, “Who was Jesus’ father anyway? Was it Joseph or God?” The crafts and activities last one hour in Caulfeild Cove Hall, then it is into the sanctuary of the church for either a play or a sing-
song. Making lots of noise with instruments makes the church feel alive. At 5:30, children, parents (if they can stay) and grandparents all have supper together. Food and drinks are provided. There is no cost, but donations are gratefully accepted. We welcome all children regardless of their religion (or non-religion). See you there.
KIDS IN SCHOOL? WANNA KEEP FIT RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY? Join personal trainer Heather (and toddler Jamie) to keep fit in a motivational group environment at St Francis-In-The-Wood church hall.
4773 PICCADILLY ROAD SOUTH, CAULFEILD FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: heather@pitraining.ca or 778-228-1164
March 2016
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Caulfeild Cove Hall
by
Carolyn Wray
T
he Growler is a truly majestic animal. Here it is, in all of its glory. Witness the tall, sleek features; the shimmering glass, the smooth, curved body, the squat, thick neck. The Growler is the apex beer predator. It’s chestnut brown colour gives it the perfect camouflage against the common table, while its darkness disguises the rich, bold flavours it holds inside. The magnificent Growler. An incomparable beast in the beer kingdom.
This playful description of a Deep Cove Brewers’ selection is from the home page of their web site. You will meet the Growler and many interesting craft beers from local brewers at the Craft Beer Festival at Caulfeild Cove Hall on Saturday, March 12. You will not only need to come thirsty but hungry too. Food will be served from Gastro Pub Food Trucks. Artisan cocktails and mocktails will be available together with gourmet food tastings, samplings and pairings. Live music and 50/50 draws round out this fun community event.
Sherri Koop Photography
Meet…the Growler
C A U L F E I L D
C O V E
H A L L
A great venue for your wedding reception nestled in historic Caulfeild Cove, West Vancouver, with a vaulted ceiling and crystal chandeliers creating a wonderful ambiance. Gorgeous opportunities to capture waterfront memories of your day.
www.caulfeildcovehall.ca
Bentall Taylor Ulrich
Craft Beer Festival 2016 West Vancouver
Great selection of craft breweries and cideries, artisan non-alcoholic drinks, food trucks, food pairings, music.
12 March 2016 Doors open at 7 pm Caulfeild Cove Hall, 4773 Piccadilly S, West Vancouver Tickets from
www.caulfeildcovehall.ca $23 includes 4 tokens
s eali Bor lk” the e Wa g atin ghtrop ebr i Cel se “ T a e l e r
Sat. April 2 - 8 pm
CAULFEILD COVE HALL 4773 Piccadilly Road South
Tix $35 @ caulfeildcovehall.ca Info: 604-812-7411
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March 2016
mountains to sea
The joy of growing Elspeth Bradbury
W
e all know we should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, but there are droughts in California, the dollar is down and the price of produce keeps going up. This is a good time to get serious about a 100-mile diet, but West Vancouver resident Terry Collins has an even better idea; she practices a 100-foot diet. From her back yard she harvests enough produce to keep her food bills under control. More than enough! Friends and neighbours benefit from the largesse that flows from her garden, and in summer, visitors to Lighthouse Park are delighted to see a FREE sign on a roadside basket loaded with fresh zucchinis. Terry’s freezer goes into winter packed with over fifty pounds of homegrown raspberries. Both she and her husband John love parsnips, and
even in January she can dig enough for the household and still have some to share. How does this magic come about? Certainly experience helps. When Terry was a child in England, her mother gave her a small plot of her own. As a teenager she lost interest, but when she and John moved to Canada as newlyweds she soon started gardening again. This doesn’t mean, however, that we all have to start at the age of seven. Terry has some great hints for beginners of any age. First, build up your soil. Terry spreads leaves and grass clippings directly on the ground or she layers them among the kitchen scraps and garden waste in her compost. She is an expert recycler, always on the lookout for valuable finds such as seaweed. Bales of hay left over from Halloween displays are coveted windfalls. Free firewood becomes free wood-ash and is added to the mix. She digs all this into a sunny spot or into raised beds that she builds from salvaged boards. Next, choose the right seeds. Terry concentrates on produce that she and John enjoy: crisp sugar-snap peas, new potatoes,
tender pole beans and flavourful tomatoes. She doesn’t grow crops such as corn that are readily available in season and relatively inexpensive. West Coast Seeds offer varieties suited to our climate. She sows thinly – parsnip seeds, for example, a thumb’s length apart – because thinning Harvesting parsnips in January. Photo: Courtesy of John Collins out is tiresome and damages the tiny plants. Her favourite va- fly. She handpicks cutworms and wireworms rieties, which she calls her super-foods, in- while turning the soil in spring and she leaves clude Fortex pole beans, Red Norland pota- other pests for the birds to deal with. They, in toes and Gladiator parsnips. turn, are rewarded when they commandeer Lastly, don’t fret about pests. Terry has their share of raspberries. “After all,” Terry a relaxed philosophy: “Don’t expect perfec- shrugs, “one good turn deserves another.” tion,” and “If something’s a problem, don’t grow it!” For instance, she doesn’t bother with carrots, which can be plagued by carrot
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March 2016
PAGE 11
Planting a seed and building community by
Anita Green
T
he community garden at Gleneagles Community Centre is more than a vegetable garden; it’s a story about building a community and awareness in a small way. With the growing trend towards less lawn and more vegetable gardens, I saw an opportunity to develop a community garden at Gleneagles Community Centre on the east side where there was a water source and an underutilized grass area. A proposal was developed and put forward to the Gleneagles Community Centre Advisory Committee and a presentation made to the Western Residents Association for feedback and support. Thanks to staff and numerous volunteers, eight small community garden plots
were opened on Earth Day in April 2012. They were constructed in partnership with the Gleneagles Community Centre Advisory Committee, community volunteers, and District staff members Brian Bull (now retired) and Dan Henegar in the Parks Department. Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary School PAC has one of the garden plots. The connection was made through committee member and school principal, Scott Wallace, and school parent and registered dietitian, Diana Steele. Students grow the vegetables and then make delicious dishes, learning the nutritional and environmental benefits of locally grown food. Over the past four years, the garden has produced some beautiful vegetables, developed new relationships, and planted seeds of conversation about growing your own food. The garden plots are leased by Gleneagles Community Centre to resi-
dents in the area for a nominal fee. With only eight plots, there has been a waiting list. It is a diverse group of residents and
I look forward to spending more time at the garden this season with them. My garlic is already up!
Gleneagles class learning about herbs at the garden in May 2012.
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Bull
Hometowner: OS Hulford by
SLt Ben Deutsch
A
native of West Vancouver is far from home on the adventure of a lifetime. Ordinary Seaman Duncan Hulford, a Naval Communicator (NavComm) is sailing aboard HMCS Fredericton on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. He and the rest of the crew are patrolling areas of the Eastern Mediterranean ensuring the spread of terrorism, trafficking, and other illegal activity is kept clear of those waters. Duncan’s job as a NavComm is to be the voice of the ship when communicating with other ships. Whether it’s giving
direction to allied navies, or questioning the vessels Fredericton suspects of being engaged in illegal activity, it is Duncan’s voice they hear first over radio. Clear and concise communication is essential to achieve the mission’s goal, and it is a challenge Duncan is more than up to facing. Duncan first took an interest in public speaking while attending Rockridge Secondary School where his teachers took note of his strong speaking and voice projection ability. This led to his interest in communication, specifically in military service. “Every Remembrance Day I was humbled by the sacrifice of all the veterans, and I knew I wanted to do something similar.” In preparing to join the military, Dun-
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can enlisted the help of Rockridge Physical Education teacher, Mr. Perino Zambon, to get him in shape. Speaking highly of him, he remarks: “Mr. Zambon would always open the gym up for me to workout, and encouraged Photo: Courtesy of Cpl Anthony Chand me to go forward with my goal of joining the Ordinary Seaman Duncan Hulford, Naval Communicator, on the bridge of HMCS Fredericton during OpREASSURANCE in the Mediterranean Sea. military.” Duncan was also an active member of lage after the deployment, to share some of the Rockridge rugby team, and worked his unique and amazing experiences. at the local Caulfield Village Safeway. He looks forward to returning to Caulfield Vil-
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March 2016
travel notes
So much to do in Corfu by
Johann van Rooyen
I
n his book, Prospero’s Cell, Lawrence Durrell suggests that Corfu is the location of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, “full of noises, sounds and sweet airs that give delight”. His account of the island is laced with references to azure blue seas, the scent of wild herbs baking under a blazing sun, a landscape covered with fig, olive, lemon and cypress trees, and wines like ‘volcano’s blood’. We needed no further convincing to make Corfu our first stop in Greece this past September. Corfu Town is an eclectic blend of Greek, Venetian, French and British culture and architecture, with small town squares, ice cream parlours, French arcades and a cricket pitch on the esplanade.
Kalami with Lawrence Durrell’s White House in the distance, left.
Our delightful old hotel, overlooking the New Port, allowed for al fresco lunches on our balcony, consisting of dolmades, olives, Feta cheese with pine-flavoured retsina, followed by ouzo and baklava. We rented a car on our third day, and headed west to beautiful Paleokastritsa, about an hour away, with coves of transparent water surrounded by hills. After three days of exploring, swimming, and eating some of the best calamari in Greece, we drove northeast and stopped at Loutses, home of Toronto author, James Chatto. His book, The Greek for Love, is an account of what happens after he and his wife buy and renovate a derelict house on an oliveclad hillside property, and the tragedy that befalls them. Our last stop in Corfu was Lawrence Durrell’s former hometown, Kalami. We stayed high above the bay in a duplex overlooking bright-red bougainvillea, olive groves and, in the distance, Durrell’s former home, the White House, now a B&B. Our days in Kalami were spent exploring the coves and beaches, trying to locate some of the scenery in Prospero’s Cell. Corfu seemed almost untouched by the financial disaster that ravaged the rest of Greece during 2015 or the turbulence of refugees arriving in Athens and the Ae-
Photos: Courtesy of Johann van Rooyen Desolate beach at Kouloura.
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Photo: Courtesy of Johann van Rooyen
Beach at Paleokastritsa.
gean islands. And traveling outside peak tourist season meant that the beaches and restaurants were half-empty and hotels were about 50% cheaper than during summer.
Johann van Rooyen’s website is residencycitizenship4investors.com/ and his travel blog is http://expatworldtravel.blogspot. ca/
Boyhood memories in Howe Sound Rafe Reminiscing Rafe Mair
S
pending one’s summers in Howe Sound is a privilege few young boys have and I was one of the privileged few. The memories are so often solitary ones because so many miracles - you didn’t think of them that way - are happening all around you. The first time you see an orca as a child, it’s an event impressed upon your soul for all time. One thing I remember about Howe Sound so well were the herring. We don’t see herring that much anymore although, thanks to the work of so many Howe Sound people, we do see them now from time to time, right off Lions Bay. But I
remember when it was unlikely that you wouldn’t see them and one of the tricks you learned about salmon fishing was to look for the birds feeding on herring and listen for the giant whoosh of the herring ball band is it sped to the surface to avoid waiting jaws. That’s where the Coho were! I particularly remember – and I don’t know why this location should mean so much – the water between Grantham’s Landing and Keats Island where there was usually a man in a rowboat with a herring rake getting bait. The herring rake was like a long piece of narrow finishing wood with sharp nails along the edges and the man would sweep it through the water alongside his boat, through the herring, and come up with plenty of bait for the day’s fishing. Sadly, I haven’t seen a herring rake since I was a little boy.
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March 2016
PAGE 13
Schools
Schools and residents rally support for Syrian family “Students at Lions Bay Primary raised more than $1700 in support of this campaign in just one week,” says resident and Lions Bay Parent Adesidents of Lions Bay visory Council Repreand West Vancouver sentative Meighan are raising funds Jury. “That’s pretty to support reuniting a amazing for 38 Syrian family of five kids who are bewith their loved ones in tween 5 and 8 Burnaby, and children years old.” attending Gleneagles ElMore than 5 ementary and Lions Bay million people Primary have been a mahave fled Syria jor driving force for the since the conflict local campaign known began in 2011, Photo: Courtesy of WVSD as It Takes A Village. and half of them Organizers (Lions Bay and Rockridge parents) Concerned Lions along with Todd Talbot and Adnan Mohammed are children. SyrBay citizens came to- (upper left) whose family the group has been ians are now the gether in November to working to bring here. largest refugee brainstorm. Residents population in the Meighan Jury, Noelene Searle-Valleau, Ruth world, and many people want to help. On Simon, Alison Gerlach and four members of January 29, the group hosted a silent and live the Dudley family formed the initial group spearheading the sponsorship drive, which aims to raise a minimum of $35,000 to support the family through the government’s private sponsorship program. That program requires applicants to provide funds to support refugees during their first year in Canada, while the government pays for transportation to Canada. Funds raised will be used to support the sister of a Syrian man who immigrated to CanScarlet Roth ada nine years ago and lives in Burnaby. His sister, brother-in-law and their three children ongratulations to 12-year-old Mimi have been living in an Iraqi refugee settlement since 2014 when ISIS fighters invaded their Marshall for her winning entry far, far away! Mimi used highlights to devillage, Tal Maruf, in North Eastern Syria. Support for the local initiative has spread fine the depth of the rock and the windows well beyond the village. Lions Bay Primary and I like the suggestion of a hot air balloon students hosted a Spell-a-Thon, and Glenea- to carry you far, far away. Honourable mengles Ch’axáý Elementary held a movie night on tions go to Austin and Scarlet for their beautiful paintings of views from their kitchen February 21 to support the family. by
Beverly Pausche
R
auction fundraiser hosted by Love It or List It star Todd Talbot, raising more than $30,000 to support the campaign. The group is working with Vancouverbased settlement agency MOSAIC, which will provide the family with general orientation services, English language training, employment counselling and referrals to other specialized services. Funds raised will go directly to supporting
the family’s accommodation and living expenses during their first year in Canada while they learn English, get settled and secure employment. Those who want to support the campaign may contribute directly at: ittakesavillagelionsbay.causevox.com/ If you’d like to organize your own event, please contact the group at: ittakesavillagelionsbay@gmail.com.
Photo: Courtesy of WVSD Lions Bay students raised $1700 during a Spell-A-Thon in support of the It Takes A Village initiative.
Mimi Marshall wins art contest Scarlet’s Art
C
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window, which, when you are young, are far away places. The next theme for the contest is “Abstract”. According to the dictionary, abstract is art that does not attempt to represent reality, but instead seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colours and textures. You will see here my painting titled Abstract Forest. Your submission can be any kind of media – photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, collage etc. Enter by sending a photo of your abstract artwork to lindypfeil@westvanbeacon.ca by April 4. There are prizes to be won!
OPEN HOUSE
Scarlet Roth’s Abstract Forest.
Photo: Submitted by Alex Marshall Mimi Marshall’s winning entry, far, far away.
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March 2016
Are you lucky or is there no such thing? Psyched Out Ian Macpherson
L
et’s say you are tossing a perfectly balanced coin and it comes up heads ten times in a row. Would you bet that the eleventh toss would more likely be tails? You might, if you share the psychology of many Las Vegas slot machine players. Yet the odds remain 50-50 on every toss, no matter what came before! Intuitively we may have a hard time accepting this because we humans are very bad at judging matters of chance. Though we like to think that we “call the shots”, much more of our lives are governed by randomness than we tend to appreciate. None of us really has a “crystal ball” but even many of our most important institutions act as if we did. Billionaire Warren Buffett showed us from past statistics that you would be better off sitting for a long time on a basket of shares of the top few dozen companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange than relying on any guru portfolio manager’s advice. Still we seem to thrive on the illusion of control over unknowable future events. Even in the realm of accidents, in spite of an increasingly common “no fault” philosophy, we like to assign blame or look for causal factors. The idea that mishaps are subject to chance somehow hurts our sense of propriety. But surely we have some choice? It certainly makes sense that if someone stands dizzy and blindfolded on the cliff edge, the probability that they will become airborne is far greater than it is for the acrophobic who avoids the height altogether. You could argue here, however, that chance factors - perhaps genetic - have resulted in differing risk-taking and fear tendencies of these two people. Nonethe-
“
less, it is obvious that we can improve our chances by learning to be careful and also by acquiring knowledge rather than remaining ignorant about how things really work although we are often surprisingly less effective in these endeavours than we prefer to think. So if random events play such a ma-
jor role in our lives, here’s a little experiment to consider: a group of optimists and a group of pessimists were given a short walk on which a $50 bill was hidden “in plain sight”. While most of the pessimists blindly walked right over it, the majority of optimists discovered the cash. These optimists
“Even in the realm of accidents we like to assign blame or look for causal factors.”
reported that they perceived themselves not only as lucky in this particular situation but throughout their whole lives in general. They would agree that although there may be a lot of unpredictability in life, if we keep our eyes open to the possibilities, we can actually create some of our own good luck! Ian Macpherson is a psychologist who lives and practises in Caulfeild. More at www. westvancouvertherapist.com
The Story of Eagleridge Bluffs by
B arbara Pettit
S
tanding Up for Nature is the story of a little red-legged frog who lived quietly in a pond at Eagleridge Bluffs and unknowingly became part of a protest to save this tiny ecosystem that even government scientists deemed worthy of protection in perpetuity. The Eagleridge Bluffs protest began with British Columbia’s bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, a bid that included a highway to be built through Eagleridge. For four years, protesters fought an escalating battle to save this fragile ecosystem and its rare species. As the protest shifted from polite concern to civil disobedience and arrests, the little frog became a symbol of a need for better legislation to protect our environment for future generations. Also symbolic was Tent City where protesters showed their tenacity by camping overnight in the bitter cold for more than a month. Here, protesters threw out
the welcome mat to the general public, took people on hikes through the Bluffs and held barbecued salmon dinners for visitors and their families. Originally, this book was to be a simple coffee table book for protesters to keep as a memory of the event. But along the way, tactics that the provincial government used to stop the protest were woven into governance at the federal level. As a result, the book changed substantially and describes how our political landscape has changed from the time that the protest began until the book was published in 2015. It was written by the protesters themselves and the reader can hear the change in voice from chapter to chapter. Standing Up for Nature can be found at Dayal’s Variety Store, Spirit Gallery, Sewell’s Marina, Gleneagles Community Centre, Pharmasave in Caulfeild and 32 Books in North Vancouver.
Image provided by Barbara Pettit
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March 2016
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伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀猀 戀礀 䌀愀渀愀搀椀愀渀 愀渀搀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀愀渀 䄀爀琀椀猀琀猀
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March 2016
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