August 2016 vol 12 issue 08
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Woodwyn Farms Peace Garden & Labyrinth • 6 The Journey of a $5 Dollar Bill • 10 John Beaton’s “Finishing” • 18
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THE FEATURES 6 Woodwynn Farms Peace Garden & Labyrinth 10 Journey of a $5 Dollar Bill
THE ARTS / THE OUTDOORS 13 14 15 18 19 21
Book review: The Power of Pulses Tide Table ECHO: Highlighting the 2016/2017 Season John Beaton’s “Finishing” Art Adventures Local Art Events
COMMUNITY LIVING
16 From the Desk of ... RDN Director, Bill Veenhof
ReStyle ReFresh ReNew!
Ready for a cool new summer do?
THE REGULARS 8 17 20 22
In the Stars: Georgia Nicols Horoscope Classifieds Community Events At Your Service - Local Services & Trades
Articles and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and published for general information purposes only. Articles are not intended to provide specific advice - the publisher will assume no liability. Articles and/or data may not be quoted or reproduced, in part or in whole, without permission from the publisher. Freelance writers & photographers Queries can be directed to Linda Tenney, Publisher at info@eyesonbc.com
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CALL FOR ARTISTS! MAGAZINE
August 2016 vol 12 No 08
EyesOnBC Magazine is published monthly Showcasing our community since 2004 Main Email: info@eyesonbc.com Phone: 250-757-9914 Mailing Address EyesOnBC Magazine, Box 182, Bowser, BC V0R 1G0 Hours: Mon - Thu 10-4 Our Contributors this month: Georgia Nicols, Joanne Sales, Bill Veenhof, Kim Leslie Young, Linda Tenney, John Beaton On the Internet www.eyesonbc.com & www.facebook.com/eyesonbc For Advertising Options Call 250-757-9914 to inquire or visit www.eyesonbc.com/advertise to request ad rates. VISA & MasterCard accepted Printed on Vancouver Island, BC
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D
isplay and sell your work along with other talented artists in the Artist Hall at the 2016 Lighthouse Country Fall Fair on September 3rd, 10am to 4pm. Approximately 4,000 visitors are expected at the Fair again this year, giving your art important exposure and sales potential. Artist Hall spots are $30 and our indoor venue means no complicated set up! As an added bonus, you and your customers will enjoy live music all day, and a fun, fun, fun Fair atmosphere. Please contact me if you are interested, or if you know of someone else who may be interested in reserving a space. Email Marcella Andrews at birdsong053@gmail. com for more information. ~ submitted
Woodwynn Farms
Peace Garden & Labyrinth David Morrison photo
“Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.” –
Both are philanthropic by nature, but Houston - boasting a resume as huge as his ambition - is a man driven to literally change the world through his astonishing work. So much so, in fact, that he was the subject of a 2003 National Film Board of Canada documentary, “From Baghdad to Peace Country,” which looked at Houston’s response to a 1999 trip to Iraq to see for himself the effect of international sanctions on the helpless victims of (the) war, particularly children.
American poet, Amy Lowell (1874-1925) by David Morrison
F
rom a personal perspective, the weekend of June 11-12, 2016, brought both the worst and best of humanity. Obviously equally reviled by millions, the former aspect of behaviour included the horrific mass shooting of innocent revellers in an Orlando nightclub, and the tiresomely predictable tribal thuggery of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. Like any rightminded individual I despaired at those events, and in this dark year many since, but thankfully had some faith restored by the inspiring few hours of that awful weekend my wife and I had spent in the company of an amazing couple, in an extraordinary setting. Down in Saanichton, close to Brentwood Bay, there is an altruistic establishment offering hope, opportunity, and the renewal of amour-propre to those
whom, for whatever reasons life has dealt them, may have lost their way. Founded by Richard LeBlanc (who, in Victoria in 1998, also launched the Youth Employment Project for homeless clients), Woodwynn Farms is a therapeutic community for the homeless. It is a place for which, to quote its website and charter, the vision is to “enfold homeless people back into the community by giving them the support and the tools needed to reclaim their self-worth.” The foundation on which this charter is built are the eleven core values of accomplishment, honesty, respect, love, compassion, integrity, loyalty, honour, dignity, support and celebration.
Houston consequently strove to create something powerful that would make people - especially those in power, or of influence - take notice, resulting in the Peace Sanctuary, near Hudson’s Hope in northeastern BC. With help from his young son Samuel and bulldozer operator Phil Kirtzinger, Houston designed and built a ‘landscape artwork,’ 1,000 feet in diameter, by moving thousands of tons of gravel and rock into position. Depicting a primitive image of a mother and child with a dove, its scale meaning it is seen most
Increasingly involved with Woodwynn Farms the last few years, being the couple we had traveled to meet, are (married) Victoria artists Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn.
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to show it off. Basically, you realize that it’s time to establish greater control over your life through the things that you value. Don’t keep stuff just for the sake of keeping it. (Your Achilles’ heel.) But do get stuff you really want to make your life easier and happier. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) This month is our hour! No wonder you will be serious about having fun. And you will do it with drama and style! Naturally, the Sun will pump your energy and recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. Venus in your sign will encourage you to shop for beautiful things – jewelry, arts and clothing. (For the best success, shop for wardrobe treasures before August 5.) This month, you are so empowered and articulate, your odds for success are stellar! Happy birthday! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Two contradictory influences exist now: Mars strengthens all your communications. You will mean what you say and say what you mean! Lucky Jupiter attracts favourable people and auspicious circumstances to you creating a fortunate time for you! However, the Sun, Mercury and Venus are hidden; and they send a completely different vibe. They promote secret activities and clandestine trysts. You want to play things low key. This is why you will enjoy working alone this month. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) As your focus now turns to friends and relationships, you will be more aware of the role they play in your life. Do you hang out with quality people? Remember that the people you befriend are a reflection of who you are. Enjoy fun times and schmoozing with friends; but you can also expect to be more involved in classes, clubs, groups and organizations. Good time to formulate future goals. (“My goal is to have an Aubusson rug and a four poster.”) Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This is the only time all year when the Sun is at the top of your chart casting a flattering light on you like a magic spotlight. Other people will notice you more and they will admire you. Therefore, this is the perfect time to ask for permission or approval from a boss, parent or someone in a position of authority! If someone approaches you with a task with increased responsibilities – accept!
Whatever you do will please them; and you won’t have to do anything special. That’s the power of good lighting! Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) This month Sagittarians want to blow town because they need a change of scenery. The allure of new places, new faces and exciting adventure will tempt you; and the boredom of your daily routine will prompt you. The carrot and the stick. Take advantage of these planetary vibes. Visit exotic places! Travel for pleasure! Make new friends from different cultures. Some will also explore new angles in publishing, the media, medicine, the law and higher education. Make those reservations now! Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This month, you will strive to be the best that you can be. It might be a physical competition or you might compete with yourself to improve a skill. It might also be a quiet challenge. You might decide to drop some bad habits. The bottom line of your soul-searching is one of ultimate self-improvement. Meanwhile, deal with loans, mortgages, inheritances, insurance issues and shared property. Finish what you can to help streamline your life. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The Sun is 180° opposite your sign now, which is as far away from you as it gets all year. Since the Sun is your source of energy (symbolically) you will need more sleep. It also helps you to learn more about how you relate partners and close friends. This month is a good time to form working units with others because you have a better appreciation of how partnerships work. It’s also a good time to consult experts. (An expert is someone who is far from home.) Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) This month is like a cleanup time for you because you want to run your life more efficiently. You want to be productive and effective in everything you do. You want to be physically healthier, which is why you might stop a bad habit. You might give more thought to what you eat. You might start to exercise more. Make lists and think about waking earlier to begin your day. Many successful people attribute their success to rising early. (The only downside is – who is around to admire your effort? ) ~
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JOURNEY OF A $5 DOLLAR BILL by Joanne Sales
M
oney can put a vise on the heart, and blinders on the eyes. But I wasn’t worried about being under the control of this particular $5 bill on the last Wednesday of June. In fact, we had quite a day together. This little $5 bill journeyed on the wings of integrity, homelessness, attachment, hard work, carelessness, generosity, and love. It rubbed elbows with Captain Frisbee and a long line of Austrian farmers who have farmed the same land for hundreds of years. Quite a day for a little blue slip of plastic. Let me tell you its story. It was Wednesday afternoon. A young couple from Austria had been out cutting BIG broom for days. They reminded me of an Austrian variation of Shrek and his wife - big, generous, fun, hardworking, and living on the same land that his family had farmed for 350 years! I paid them some money I owed them. At the top of the pile was a single shiny, blue five dollar bill. They were happy. They talked German between themselves for a few moments, way below the hearing decibel level for a 65 year old. Mumble mumble. Then he handed the $5 bill back to me. “Last week you gave us money to buy groceries, and we owed you $5.” I gave it back to them. “But you bought garlic.” They gave it back, “But you also...” Anyway, the $5 bill ended up stuffed loosely in my purse. My granddaughters, 8 and 11, asked me if I would take them to the store
“to get something for my mom.” They didn’t want to tell me what. “Well, what store?” “Pharmasave.” So at 12:55, they stood by my kitchen table. It was very hot outside, but they had just been given beautiful, new-to-them, hand me down sweaters. I finished my salad, grabbed my purse and we drove to Pharmasave.
“People don’t return money.” “I’ve returned money before,” I told her. “Not everyone is as nice as you,” she said. “A lot of people are a lot nicer than me,” I replied. (Just to stay on track of this particular $5 bill, I won’t seize this opportunity for much needed psychotherapy.)
The girls found the brush they wanted for their mom. Ellen also found a $10 brush that she wanted. At the counter, the two new shoppers were pulling out money to pay for the gift for their mother, shuffling through their wallets, pulling out bills and putting them back, while trying to do the 50% math with taxes and improper change. In the end Lisa gave the clerk $10, and the clerk, a young woman with a kind smile, gave them lots of change for change, to make the final brush negotiations easier for the girls.
“It’s not a big deal,” I continued. “Back in my 20s, I had an old friend who was a priest of an alternative Christian community. Most of the time, his name was Captain Frisbee.” (This was the 70s.) “Captain Frisbee said that anytime he gave $10 to a homeless or hungry person, he considered it money in the bank. He knew it would come back to him when he needed it.” After a pause, I suggested. “You know, maybe you didn’t lose the $5 bill. You might have just seen this $5 bill floating around in my purse...” “Maybe...”
We were just out of town when Lisa went into a panic. “Where is my $5 bill? I know I had it. Oh, no, I must have dropped it.” She was on the verge of tears.
When we got back home, Lisa checked her notebook, where apparently she kept track of all her money. “I didn’t lose the $5!” She was overjoyed. So the blue $5 was returned to me.
“Are you sure you had it?” “I think so.” Tears were flowing. As the $5 bill was floating loosely in my purse, I was able to reach in while driving and grab it. I gave it to her. “Here.... “ She took it and was grateful.
“I gave Ellen an extra dollar towards her brush,” she said. “She is really sad because she doesn’t have much money.” How touching for an 11 year old to say that about her younger sister! They have very different personalities. One knits scarves and sells them at fairs for $5, so she has a small stash. Her younger sister
“That’s bad training on my part, but oh well,” I told her. “You can call the store and see if someone picked up $5.”
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is similarly creative, but her creativity doesn’t make money, so she sometimes bemoans her comparable lack of funds. Besides when she sees a brush she likes, she is willing to spend the money. What we do with valuable things around us, like money and chocolates, varies greatly, even from an early age. On Easter, I would eat a little candy and put the rest in the freezer. Sometimes it would last until July. My sister on the other hand, ate all her candy in one day - and then mine. As an adult, my sister confessed that she had secretly been raiding my Easter stash for years. When I was young, for my birthday, my Aunt Dottie would put a $5 bill into an envelop and send it over hundreds of miles. I would stuff it into my politically incorrect ceramic bank. But other than that, I hardly noticed that money existed. No, that’s not true. I knew about money. I remember sitting with my mom in the old station wagon (age 7, front seat, no seat belts, 1950s). I said, “I think they should have a doll store where you can just go in to get a doll when you need one and you don’t have any money.” I spent lots of time in the car with my mother driving from her bank in Maryland to her bank in the District of Columbia. This was back in the olden days when it took a couple days for money to get from one state to another. So my mother could write a check in one state, and it would be a couple days before it would bounce in the other state. Or maybe it wouldn’t bounce if the banks were slow enough. She was a widow - thanks to the asbestos industry. Money is not the source of all evil, but it can make people do evil things. But money is also a means to do great things. Fire ceremonies are an important part of spiritual practices in the Eastern religions. Offerings such as rice, sweets, ghee, flowers, and special notes are offered to the fire, as a gift to the Divine.
The fire carries away the bad and brings in the good. One time, at the Tibetan temple in Coombs, I put a $5 bill into an offering platter to be thrown into the fire. The man collecting the offerings tried to give the $5 back to me, saying perhaps it would be better to put it into the offerings box - not the fire. The llama (think priest) happened to be watching. He motioned to put the $5 bill into the fire.
what else. When my brother died in Viet Nam in 1968, for years when I would pass a young man in need, I would think - that could have been my brother. Many of his comrades returned with such severe PTSD that they ended up on the streets for decades. When I looked at this young man, his eyes were blue like my brother’s, and he wasn’t much older than my brother had been when he was killed.
In the East, with a strong belief in reincarnation and karma, one is inclined to have a different perspective on wealth. The teachings (often forgotten) are that wealth is a result of good karma in the past, but your level of generosity with it at the moment will influence your degree of wealth in the future. So, if you are wealthy this lifetime, but also greedy and indifferent to the poor, next lifetime you will be “the poor,” just to see the other side of the coin. We have to experience both sides, until we learn to share our $5 bills. We get back what we give until we figure the system out and act accordingly. (What they call “True Wealth” has nothing to do with money.)
The young man explained that he was lost. He thought he got dropped off at the wrong place. “How do I get to Campbell River?” I told him where to stand and which direction to go. I gave him the $5 bill, and another, and said, “Get something to eat.” But I know there isn’t much of an opportunity to get food between here and Campbell River. Hopefully someone kind picked him up.
Every spiritual and wisdom tradition of the past emphasized the importance of generosity - giving with no concern for the return. In today’s temporarily more secular culture. generosity is still recommended - because it releases feel good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins which reduce stress and give us what’s called the Helper’s High. It’s a short term vision, but still good. Later that day, I made one more trip to town. A young man was sitting on the curb at the interchange, with his head sunken down over his chest. He didn’t have his thumb out. He seemed to be too wiped out at the moment. I turned my car around to check on him. “You ok?” I asked. He looked up. “I’m just really tired.” He was probably coming down from too many “nights”, mixed in with the chaos of having no home, and heaven knows
Enabling bad behavior - I think that is our fear when we give money to those on the streets. But whose bad behavior are we enabling when we pass them by without at least interacting, or acknowledging them as fellow human beings. There is not an easy answer. Sadly, all of us pass those in need all the time. We fail to take local action, but what we really need are systemic changes. I heard that the tech industry has now developed a robot farmer. Soon I’ll be out of a job too, just like the young man on the street. The Walton family, which owns Walmart, controls a fortune equal to the wealth of the bottom 42 percent of Americans combined. It would be so easy for them to improve the lives of 1.5 million people it employs in the US, simply by paying them a living wage. And think of what it would do for the Walton’s, in their present and their future - if they could just seize that opportunity. I guess that’s the challenge for us all. This little $5 bill is quite powerful! Well, the $5 bill went north without me. If you see it, please quickly give it away!
Joanne Sales is a freelance writer, blueberry farmer, and offers workshops in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and the fine art of brewing Kombucha. Comments and questions about her articles and/or upcoming workshops can be directed to joanne@glasswing.com.
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BOOK REVIEW
THE POWER OF PULSES:
SAVING THE WORLD WITH PEAS, BEANS, CHICKPEAS, FAVAS & LENTILS Guidelines are given for growing he Power of Pulses celebrates your own pulses the United Nations’ 2016 which do well in International Year of Pulses. Dan a wide range of Jason’s enthusiasm for the nutritious soils. value of pulses comes through on every In the chapter page, along with some good humour, as on “Dry Peas,” he writes about peas, beans, chickpeas, Jason says he’s favas and lentils. been growing The fifty vegetarian recipes included in a multitude of this gorgeously illustrated book are a peas for the past collaboration among Jason and “foodie thirty years. All sisters” Hilary Malone and Alison he did at the time Malone Eathorne of Nanaimo. of writing the book was “plunk The UN recommends pulses (legumes them into the harvested primarily for the dry seed) be ground a couple eaten regularly as Carol Pope, Associate of inches apart, scruff up the soil so the Editor, points out, “to prevent and birds wouldn’t notice and write the help manage chronic diseases such variety name and date on a stick with a as diabetes, coronary conditions and permanent marker.” cancer.” A Sweet Pea and Halloumi Fritters Jason, who owns Salt Spring Seeds, recipe showcases fresh English peas describes the many benefits of pulses “when they’re at their sweet, perfectly that are a protein-rich superfood that ripe peak.” Halloumi is a salty cheese can be grown that contrasts organically with the sweet anywhere. peas beautifully They use very the “foodie little water sisters” say. and they boost Favas are the soil wherever hardiest of the they take root. pulses. Fava They’re delicious, Bean Soup with versatile, easy to Cilantro Pistou store and Jason is a traditional believes they’re peasant dish the perfect food rooted in Hilary Malone, Dan Jason and Alison Malone Eathorne for the planet and Mexican cuisine. Photo Credit: Nathaniel Moore all its people. And the Black Bean Burger is a great contender for a Pulses are very high in fibre, low in favourite meatless burger. fat and sodium, and free of cholesterol Canada is the world’s largest exporter making them an extremely heartof lentils most of which are grown in healthy option. All the facts cited by Saskatchewan. Lentil and Mushroom Jason are backed up at the end of the pate, the authors says “will be devoured book with a list of articles and studies. by vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.” Reviewed by Mary Ann Moore
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And as for comfort food, Lentil and Mushroom Cottage Pie looks ideal with its vegetarian twist on shepherd’s pie. In the Middle East, chickpeas have long been widely consumed as hummus which has become popular here as well. Miso and Charred Scallion Hummus is a recipe with a Japanese-inspired twist on traditional hummus. Beans include pinto, kidney, navy and chili beans “plus a host of other soup, baking, salad and refry beans.” Picnic Bean Salad with Poppy-seed Dressing is a robust salad that will stand up to transport – ideal for family picnics. Recipes for sweet treats are included too: cookies, pie, and Black Bean Brownies with Espresso Ganache. ` The Power of Pulses: Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas & Lentils by Dan Jason, Hilary Malone and Alison Malone Eathorne (Douglas & McIntyre, 2016) ask for it at your local bookseller! Mary Ann Moore is a poet, writer and writing mentor based in Nanaimo. She writes a blog at www.apoetsnanaimo.ca
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AUGUST 2016 Our tide table measurements are taken from the Hornby Island substation. For other tides, visit http://www.tides.gc.ca/eng on the Internet. Printed courtesy Canadian Hydrographic Service.
LOCAL TIDE
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
BAR & GRILL Enjoy our full service Dining Room or spend some time on our Patio overlooking the gorgeous views of the Arrowsmith Mountain and Golf Course
Open to the Public (250) 752-9727 Open 9am - 9pm
2250 Fowler Rd, Qualicum Beach off Boorman Rd. www.golfarrowsmith.com
ECHO PRESENTS:
ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON OF LIVE THEATRE!
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t ECHO Players we strive to share a collection of plays that will entertain, amaze and create worlds on our stage for our audiences to enjoy. The 2016 - 17 season: a musical, drama, comedy, and a traditional Christmas pantomime showcases a creative community of directors, actors and designers that bring a vibrancy and rich experience to the Oceanside community. We can’t wait to see you at the theatre! THE COCKTAIL HOUR by A. R. Gurney Director Jeanne Atkinson October 13 – 30, 2016 Funny and heartbreakingly poignant, The Cocktail Hour is a comedy about how far one family can stretch the ties that bind them. From the author of The Dining Room, Love Letters, and Sylvia, this play will have audiences shaken and stirred with laughter as one family confronts its demons. DICK WHITTINGTON by Julian Packer Directed by Julian Packer December 14 – 31, 2016 ECHO Players pantomime this year presents the rags-to-riches adventure story of Dick Whittington. Expect plenty of laughs, outrageous costumes, special effects and unmissable entertainment for all the family. This is a Christmas treat you don’t want to miss.
2016 /2017 MARION BRIDGE by Daniel MacIvor
Directed by Wendy Punter February 16 – March 5, 2017 Midway through Marion Bridge, Agnes wonders: “Why doesn’t anything match up to our imagining of it?” Daniel MacIvor’s Governor General’s Awardnominated play is a perfect gem. It combines insightful writing and pointed Cape Breton humour for an immensely satisfying evening that tugs tenderly at the heartstrings. THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan Directed by Mari Lynne Kelly April 27 – May 14, 2017 The Pirates of Penzance is one of the zaniest of all Gilbert and Sullivan's mad facetious musicals. It's a staggering fun-fest of a show, full of sparkle and sentiment. First performed in New York in 1879, this classic from the brilliant Gilbert and Sullivan has entertained young and old alike for over a hundred years. Set on a pirate ship as a play-within-a-play, The Pirates of Penzance is good fun for the whole family. ~ Call 250-752-3522 or e-mail info@echoplayers. ca to order your 2016/17 Season Subscription. Buy your subscription by AUGUST 15TH and enter for a chance to win an overnight stay and a $100 gift certificate at The Chateau Victoria.
Phone: 250-757-8944 Fax: 250-757-8654
FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY NEEDS
Josie Lacey
Owner / Operator
Josie’s Driving Service
jlacey_1@hotmail.com
778-424-4248
Serving Lighthouse Country
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FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR
BILL VEENHOF
Regional Director, Area H billveenhof.com - ph: 778-424-2810 ■ bill.veenhof@shaw.ca
Vancouver Island University and Education Grants
Fellow residents of Area H. I hope you are all enjoying your summer as much as we are. Arlene and I just returned from a fishing trip to Port Hardy and had a great time. For me this experience underscores the fact that we live in paradise. The nature here is just spectacular. I will not soon forget sitting in the boat, in the fog, and the only sounds we could hear were the unseen whales swimming around us. This coupled with the fact that we took home a few fish made it a perfect trip. Due to other commitments, I will not be publishing an update for September. Arlene and I wish you an enjoyable and safe summer.
were born in 2006 and are between the age of 6 and the day before their ninth birthday. It is a one-time payment of $1,200 into their RESP.
I recently attended a great meeting with VIU where they highlighted their efforts to ensure that disadvantaged children have an opportunity to have funded post-secondary education. The following may be appropriate you or someone you know, please share widely:
It is free to set up an RESP and neither of the grants require any parental contribution. Make sure your families is getting all the support they are entitled to. For more information about the grants or on how to apply, ask your financial representative or contact the Canada Learning Bond Coordinator at Vancouver Island University at clb@viu.ca
Did you know….. That both the federal and provincial government have free government grants to help families save for their children’s post-secondary future?
From the VIU Brochure… Get a head start on saving for Education with up to $3200 of free money!
The Canada Learning Bond is a federal grant of up to $2,000 for families with children born in 2004 or later that make less than $45,000 per year. If the family is eligible, all they have to do is set up a free Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) at their bank or credit union and the financial institution will apply for the grant on the family’s behalf. The BC Training and Education Savings Grant is for BC families whose children
Your child is more likely to attend a post-secondary institution, and have greater success once they get there, if they have some money set aside in an Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for their education. Now is the time to get started
QUALICUM FIRST NATION AND REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
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ualicum First Nation (QFN) and the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) have signed an important agreement that will build trust and greater understanding between the two parties. QFN Chief and Council and the RDN Chair and Vice Chair signed the agreement earlier today at a ceremony held on QFN traditional territory.
Back: Deputy Chair Colin Haime, Regional District of Nanaimo; Councillor Saraphine Swanson, Qualicum First Nation; Councillor Arnold Recalma, Qualicum First Nation. Front: Chief Michael Recalma, Qualicum First Nation; Chair Bill Veenhof, Regional District of Nanaimo.
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of the needs of QFN members. By working together, we can assist each other in providing for the needs of our communities.” The Cooperation Protocol is the result of two community-to-community forums held in the past year. At these forums, QFN Chief and Council and the RDN Board of Directors met to discuss ways to build the political and working relationship between the two parties. The Cooperation Protocol will guide future and ongoing discussions on topics of mutual interest.
“This is the beginning of a more formal relationship between QFN and the RDN that builds off past successes,” said Chief Michael Recalma. “The Cooperation Agreement is based on the values of collaboration and respect, which are fundamental principles for any positive government to government relationship.”
To ensure effective and meaningful communications, annual joint meetings will be held between the RDN Board and QFN Chief and Council. The Protocol will also establish a Working Group which will develop an action plan based on the priorities identified in the document. ~ submitted
“This is a very exciting day,” said RDN Chairperson Bill Veenhof. “This agreement will not only strengthen our relationship with QFN, it will help us gain a deeper understanding •
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SERVICES OFFERED / NEEDED
WORSHIP
THE FIX-IT SHOP – Repairs to all makes and models of lawnmowers and ride on lawn tractors, including John Deere. Pick-up and delivery available. Used equipment for sale. Call (250) 702-2191 or email fixitshop009@gmail.com
WILDWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH 113 McColl Road, Bowser
Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 am 757-8136
LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS GROUP Needs your volunteer help! FMI Call: Val Weismiller: (250) 757-9667. CAREGIVER NEEDED - Looking for a caregiver for our 2 children (2 & 6 yrs old) - $11.50/hr, 40 hrs/week, optional free accommodation. Large dog at house. 250-240-8119
LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY · CENTRE
MIKE COCHRANE
THANK YOU
I
thank all those who send stamps to me or to one of the Vancouver Island Convenors. The Foster Secretary Association is again giving all its proceeds to the cancer projects of the Order of the Eastern Star, to be used for either cancer research or cancer dressings. Our cheque this year is for $6,277.65. The cumulative total of stamp sales to date (1954 to 2016) is $457,025.51. I've given my report of stamp sales to you ... and I promise it was the best I could do. Gladys Pierce, P.G.M. General Stamp Convenor
Renovations & Maintenance Inside or Outside – Big or Small Give us a call 250-240-4120 (cell) 250-248-2789 (home) mikecochrane@shaw.ca mikesrenos.com
AVAILABLE FOR RENTALS INFORMATION:
HEALTHY LIVING EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique Workshops - Learn how this effective technique can help you find your way to better emotional health.
240 LIONS WAY, QUALICUM BAY
WWW.COMMUNITYHALL.CA
KOMBUCHA - Make Your Own Kombucha Workshops offered in Coombs by Joanne Sales who has been making Kombucha for over 20 years. Contact Joanne for more information about both these workshops. joanne@glasswing. com www.islandhealing.ca
FIRST 25 WORDS $10+GST TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD
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John Beaton photo
Salmon in Grandon Creek Grandon Creek now has an elaborate culvert system to allow salmon to get upstream of the highway to spawn. You can see coho spawning there in fall. Before the culvert, a run of chum salmon spawned in the short stretch between
the beach and the highway. When jogging the beach, I would see them every year. Sometimes I would leap over them in tidal pools while beach-walkers passed by, unaware there were large fish on view right beside them. At the high-
FINISHING
tide mark there was a small waterfall. Some, like this one I photographed there, had come all the way from the Bering Sea only to find they were too gravid and exhausted to leap it.
About this Poem ...
The rains were long in coming this fall to Grandon Creek and at its mouth the homing salmon are ripened and weak. In tide-pool shallows they shelter with their fins and their tail-splines exposed, staged, as the outfall’s welter shoots shore-line rocks and explodes. In sorties they fight its ferocity and spend themselves or progress to the runnels upstream with their progeny, so near but so far. The success of a thousand-mile swim through the deep depends on a twenty-inch leap.
This poem is a variation of the sonnet, a fourteen-line form that lends itself to set-up and surprise. It has three four-line stanzas and a closing couplet. The basic meter is da-DA (iambic) with a few da-da-DA's.(anapestic) to lighten the uniformity. Each line has three beats (trimeter), e.g. the RAINS were LONG in COMing Apart from the rhyming couplet at the end, the rhyme-scheme is abab. The a-rhymes are feminine (DA-da or DA-da-da, e.g. "COMing" with "HOMing") and the rest are masculine, e.g. "CREEK" with "WEAK". Some rhymes are imperfect, e.g."ferOCity"and "PROgeny".
John Beaton lives in Qualicum Beach. His poetry has been widely published. He served for four years as moderator of one of the Internet’s most reputable poetry workshops and is a Spoken Word performer, a member of the band Celtic Chaos, and a co-organizer of local events, including a community showcase for musicians and Spoken Word performers, the Qualicum Acoustic Café (QUAC). You can find samples of John’s work by searching online for “John Beaton poetry”. To receive a monthly newsletter about local community events organized by John and his family and friends, email him at jabeaton@gmail.com. ~ 1 8
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by Patricia Banks, Artist/Writer
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egin anew! My heart is saddened at times by all of the overwhelming strain in the world today, that I can do very little about. So, it is mandatory to shake the stress and turn toward a more positive and creative realm. I find the best antidote is to immerse myself in the mysteries of nature; to marvel at the structure of a flower, the flight of a bird, the complexity of our living, breathing planet, or to contemplate the wonders of the universe. This brings me back to the only moment I know I have, this moment. Looking out my open window, I see that the sky is in perpetual motion. It is a constantly changing scene of various light and dark shapes, of different shades of blue, white, mauve and gray. Each cloud is unique and changing right in front of my eyes. The wind is currently gently blowing from a southeast to a northwest direction. Each cloud is moving at its own, individual speed. Nothing stays the same; not these clouds, not even the direction of the wind. This is part of the grand
design. I inhale deeply and I am grateful for the clean, fresh air and my new sense of joy. The diversity of natures' creations is amazing, even when it comes to clouds, and the peace that comes with this knowledge is calming. The effects of the world upon me, have passed. All it takes is the mindfulness to slow down and observe nature in action. To stop and live in the present moment. Taking my inspiration from the timelessness of the sky, I will paint these fleeting clouds, sharing my delight and wonder with others. So that others may rest, immersed in a moment of time and begin anew! www.patriciabanks.ca facebook.com/patriciabanksfineart
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Community Event Calendar August 2016 LIGHTHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE (LCC) 240 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Hall Rentals, call Sheena McCorquodale at (250) 757-9991. FMI on Events at the LCC visit www.communityhall.ca. SECOND SUNDAY MARKET at the Lighthouse Community Centre in Qualicum Bay – Sunday August 14 - 8am-1pm, Pancake Breakfast - $5 or $7. Enjoy live music, breakfast, shopping for a treasure, or even a few chickens for your coop! Members of the LCC Hall Board will be serving up breakfast this month. SECOND SUNDAY MARKET- would you like to be a vendor? We encourage artisans, farmers and crafters. We supply tables and chairs FMI: visit https://sites.google.com/ site/lighthousecommunityhall/pancakebreakfast, leave a message at 778-424-9900 or email king7will@yahoo.com LIGHTHOUSE SENIORS – Branch 152 – meet at 11:30am in the Seniors Room at the Lighthouse Community Centre on the first Monday of every month. For more information, please call Joan at 250-7579536.
AA LIGHTKEEPERS - Fridays at 7pm at the LCC. FMI contact (250) 757-2300. BRIDGE – Nordin Room 1-4pm Fridays at the LCC. FMI Sheila Steele 250-757-8307.
LIONS REC HALL 280 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. FMI on Hall Rentals Call Bert Carter: (250) 240-4538. QUALICUM BAY LIONS CLUB – Meet at 7pm, every second and fourth Tuesday in the Lions Den at the Lions’ Rec Hall. LIGHTHOUSE COUNTRY SCRAPBOOKERS – Meet 3rd Saturday monthly at the Lions’ Rec Hall, 9:30am4:30pm. $10. Door prizes. FMI Call Jorgie 250-757-8358 or Shirley (250) 757-8384.
LIGHTHOUSE SPINNERS – Bring your Spinning Wheels and fibre and meet the Lighthouse Spinners at the LCC, Tuesdays at 10:30am. FMI Call 778-424-1001. ADULT BADMINTON AND PICKLEBALL at the LCC. Badminton - Mondays 7pm. Pickleball and badminton - Thursdays 4-6 pm. Drop-in fee - $4. Equipment provided. 15 years and older. Beginners welcome. steelehunt@shaw.ca, or 250-757-8307 for more info. CARPET BOWLING – 12:45 to 3pm at the LCC. FMI Call Layne (250) 757-8217. 2 0
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PLANT SALE - QUALICUM BEACH GARDEN CLUB - Saturday, September 17th, 2016 - 8 AM to 1 PM at the Qualicum Beach Museum - 587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach. There will be lots of plants, winter vegetable starts, and garden-related items.
Let’s FLOOR CURL through the summer! We play Mondays, 1-3pm, June 6th to September 8th at the LIONS REC HALL in lovely QUALICUM BAY. No equipment is needed, curling rocks are supplied, and no 'sweeping' is needed either. $2/day. COME PLAY WITH US - JOIN THE SUMMER FUN! FMI call Fred or Lorraine: 250-752-0216.
TABLE TENNIS - FMI call 250-757-8307 or email steelehunt@shaw.ca TAOIST™ TAI CHI - Mondays 9:30-noon at the Lighthouse Community Centre in Qualicum Bay. Wednesdays 10:45-12:15, (Sep 30-May 2016) at the OAP Hall in Fanny Bay. Contact: Richard 250-752-1231.
2016 VIU’S MILNER GARDENS ART & PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE GARDEN August 6 to 7, 2016 · 10am to 4pm (last entry 4:30pm, gardens close at 5pm) Meet, mingle, and be inspired by local artists at work. Live music and silent art auction. All proceeds support Vancouver Island University’s Milner Gardens & Woodland. Adult admission $11, youth $6.50, children 12 and under accompanied by an adult, Milner Gardens members and current VIU students with card enter free. Hand stamp allows re-entry August 7th. Onsite shuttle for mobility concerns. Tea Room and refreshments stand open 11:30am to 4pm for this event. 2179 W Island Hwy, Qualicum Beach.
QUALICUM BEACH 58TH ANNUAL OCEAN MILE SWIM · August 14, 2016 1pm registration, 3pm start. FREE EVENT for the whole family. There are certificates for all swimmers that complete the distance. Look for us on Facebook. FMI: Anne Porteous 250 752 5014. APorteous@rdn.bc.ca
IN THE AREA
PARKSVILLE BEACH FEST EVENTS: FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES & BUSKERS BY THE SEA! Every Friday and Saturday evening, 6:30-8:30pm, until August 20. Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a variety of musicians from Vancouver Island under the main picnic shelter in Parksville's community park. To view the entertainment line-up go online to: www.parksvillebeachfest. ca. As well, talented buskers will delight young and old on many afternoons in the Gazebo by the sea.
ARROWSMITH NEEDLE ARTS GUILD 9:30am. 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Come and embroider, learn new techniques and for friendship with other stitchers. Qualicum Civic Centre, 747 Jones Street, Qualicum Beach. (250) 753-9320. BOWSER'S MAGNOLIA COURT SUMMER MARKET - Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 15-September 14 - Food, Music and fantastic Vendors!!
ART IN THE PARK: Saturday, August 20: Artisans from Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands will showcase their creative talents and products alongside beautiful Parksville beach in the shady grassy areas next to the tennis courts from 10am - 4pm. Interested artisans can register via the website: www. parksvillebeachfest.ca.
Please note that free space in our EVENTS CALENDAR listings will only be made available to REGISTERED CHARITIES and/or SOCIETIES as of September 2016. Non-registered organizations, clubs and groups are invited to submit their listings online at www.eyesonbc.com
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Denman Island Artists Welcome Art Lovers
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n August 6 & 7, the 2016 Denman Island Studio Tour offers a unique opportunity to explore 14 creative spaces of island artists. Visitors will find works in a wide range of media, including painting, photography, wood carving, fabric arts, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, and mixed media. Subject matter and style are equally varied, and participating artists are happily on hand to answer any questions about process, inspiration, and technique. The self-guided tour runs from 10am to 4pm August 6 & 7, is FREE, and all ages are welcome. Denman Island Ferry charges are extra. Maps and more information can be picked up on the days of the tour at the Denman Island Art Centre, 1016 Northwest Rd, just at the top of the ferry hill. For more information please visit denmanstudiotour.blogspot.com ~
submitted
August at the MAC
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ou'll find the provocative art exhibit "Non-Human Persons" at the MAC in August. The show, put together by curator Teresa Knight, features the works of Fiona Hawkes, Katerina Pravdivaia, Ian Fry and Carla Stein. The subject: the common perception of the natural world as holding less value than the human-made environment, and creating a platform for conversation to generate social, economic and political change and highlighting species at risk. Recently, international courts have moved toward the legal recognition of that person within, according the title 'non-human-person' to an orangutan in Argentina and dolphins in India. “I wondered if anyone was creating art on this changing perception or recognition of animals as being like us, and so put a call out. I did find a small cache of artists from right across Canada who do art on this topic and I invited them to participate in the MAC show," says Teresa Knight. ~ submitted MacMillan Arts Centre 133 McMillan Street, Parksville, BC 250-248-8185 A U G U S T
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Vulnerable Polar Bear by Katerina Pravdivaia M A G A Z I N E
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Service and Repairs Treatment Plant Certified Assessments Available
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fellow in with a backhoe, and he moved hundreds of tons of material!”
Continued from page 6 clearly from space, it is a remarkable achievement as both a work of art and a head-turning protest. “My art is about my life,” Houston tells me. “When you become an artist the art you create changes as you do, as you become more engaged with the world. Things that happen in the world stick with you, and you wonder what on earth ‘we’ are doing. The trigger for me was the first Gulf War; I’d been reading a lot about the lead-up, and was in my studio painting, including paintings relating to war, and I was hearing bombs dropping on Baghdad. I tried to find out as much as I could, why ‘we’ were doing this, and I felt helpless. Consequently a lot of angry art came out of me, but it didn’t seem like anyone was listening, so I decided to channel my energy and anger into something more peaceful, but on a scale no one could ignore.”
Differing from deliberately disorienting mazes in that they are single paths simply leading to central destinations, labyrinths date back over 4,000 years and are found all over the world, with over one hundred in British Columbia at this time. Labyrinths have been built for many reasons, including Christian worship, but are commonly viewed as places that, when quietly walked, symbolize a personal journey, promoting meditative and contemplative feelings for people reflecting on grief, loss, problems, or difficult decisions. Labyrinth societies exist the world over, proclaiming the subjects of their enthusiasm as places of “safety and rejuvenation,”
“Absolutely all of the art I create is motivated by and related to peace." ~ Deryk Houston
At Woodwynn Farms, the kind of project of which Houston speaks has seen him collaborate with his wife, son Samuel, LeBlanc and American artist David David Morrison photo Kocka to create something utterly beautiful and, though fuelled by compassion rather than anger this time, just as powerful. so considering the work undertaken Directly behind the farm buildings, at Woodwynn Farms it is a perfectly looking out over the verdant 193-acres natural addition. In fact, the ‘natural’ of farmland, is the Woodwynn Peace aspect is amplified yet further in that Garden, the centrepiece of which is a Houston and his collaborators have stunning unicursal labyrinth. created the 80-foot diameter labyrinth as a food source: the path is delineated by Houston and Wellburn had been deeply five hundred sage plants; apples, kiwis, impressed with the work of LeBlanc lavender and other fruits and herbs and his team at Woodwynn Farms, so also grow amongst its extraordinary as artists committed to the advancement features. In proclaiming that in his of our species through profound work he is “attracted to anything that is and undeniable creative statements, fertile… a ploughed field…a garden full wondered how they might get involved. of seeds,” Houston could hardly have created anything more aligned to his “We approached Richard at Woodwynn artistic and ethical impulses. to see if he might be interested in our creating some kind of sanctuary,” World Labyrinth Day is celebrated Houston explains. “He said he had one annually on the first Saturday of May, area he called the ‘boneyard’, a complete and after three long years of toil, sweat ugly ruin of a place that we could try to and invention, the Woodwynn Farms do something with, so we took a look. It Peace Garden & Labyrinth opened on was one chaotic, tangled acre, but quite that day in 2015. I have no desire to give truthfully I was not daunted by the everything away to spoil your own visit work that could lay ahead of us, because (see below), but within the perimeter I would look at it in sections, and what are a great many quite stunning, and needed to be done in it, rather than be moving, pieces of art. For example, take overwhelmed by the whole thing. I the painstakingly crafted, transparent knew I could do it, so we brought a A U G U S T
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driftwood globes, each containing a plaque bearing one of Woodwynn Farms’ eleven core values. And then there are the incredible sculptures designed by Houston, Wellburn, their son Samuel, and Kocka. Nanaimoites will recognize one dramatic stainless steel and glass mosaic sculpture, Wellburn’s exquisite “Solstice,” previously sited at the Nanaimo boat basin opposite the Port Theatre. “The peace approach, the kindness and compassionate approach – the core values of the farm, actually – is how you reach people,” reiterates Houston. “Absolutely all of the art I create is motivated by and related to peace. Art, I believe, definitely has to have meaning and, in general, the works that are going to be important and long-lasting are those with stories behind them. I want my work to be long-lasting, to be a legacy, because it’s a conversation, and art keeps that conversation going. People will come here to the farm and say, ‘What were these people trying to do here?’ It puts our time on earth in context for the people of the future, and gives them some sense of what we were thinking about. I really want people in decades or even centuries to come to know that we weren’t all just trigger happy. However small it seems now, it’s important for me to think that people will look back and know that there were people committed to peace.” And so say all of us, very loudly, from the rooftops. ~ The Woodwynn Farms Peace Garden & Labyrinth really has to be seen, walked and experienced, to be believed and fully appreciated. It is generally open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday and visitors are welcome (with donations encouraged), but in respect of the participants’ work at Woodwynn Farms it is advisable to call in advance (details below) to ensure a visit is convenient on any given day. Woodwynn Farms is located at 7789 West Saanich Rd., Brentwood Bay. For more information, please call (250) 544-1175, send an email to info@woodwynnfarms.org, or visit www.woodwynnfarms.org. For further information about the art of Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn, please visit www.derykhouston. com and www.twoglassyladies.ca respectively.
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