SPRING 2015
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inside
SPRING 2015 Volume 2 Issue 3
10 Cover Story Feathers are the inspiration for Comox Valley artist’s latest stained glass creations
12
Books of battle
14
Beautiful music
16
One man's Junk…
24
Antarctic bride
29
LUSH for life
12
Island junkyards provide the setting for photographer's Campbell River Museum exhibit
An off-the-rack dress and an unusual guest list make for the perfect wedding for this Cumberland bride
Comox Valley’s own unique community food action society turns 15 - and keeps growing 8
16 S
◗ NOTEWORTHY
24
Comox author Sean Russell uses the French Revolution as setting for his four-book series
Blind singer/songwriter from Comox Valley creating a solid connection with her fans
Terry Farrell, Editor Comox Valley Record editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com
T R IO M AG A Z INE | S PR I NG 2 015
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pring is the season of beginnings; new chapters in the cycle of life - and weddings are all about new chapters. In this edition of Trio, you’ll meet a Cumberland bride more adventurous than most. Jodie Lewis didn’t need a wedding planner for her special day, although a compass might have come in handy. She and her husband, Paul Catherine, found the ideal spot to exchange vows in the Antarctic, surrounded by penguins. If that beginning is any indication, this marriage promises to provide plenty of adventure. Loris Nygaard got the idea for her new chapter in stained glass creation while walking her dog at the beach. Feathers as stained glass? Seeing is believing. Rick James has a new photo exhibit at the Campbell River museum, that focuses (pun intended) on old things specifically old cars. His affinity with junkyards is captured through the lens. In this edition, you’ll get to know Comox author Sean Russell, and how his fiction war novels serve as a subtle reflection on British society. There’s also a feature on LUSH, which is celebrating 15 years in the Comox Valley.
Enjoy.
Kevin Reid 250-897-3999
This gallery has featured exhibitions and sales by established & emerging local artists since 1977. It is a registered non-profit Society composed and operated entirely by volunteers. Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4pm, Sundays 1-4pm, and closed Mondays. Free Admission. New members are always welcome. 1729 Comox Ave., Comox
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SPIRIT FEATHERS TAKE FLIGHT Stained glass artist LORIS NYGAARD
C
omox artist Loris Nygaard got the idea for her latest stained glass creation while walking her dog at the beach. “It just dawned on me, feathers; feathers are a beautiful thing,” says Nygaard, noting she felt immediate enthusiasm for creating spirit feathers as soon as she came up with the idea. “Your mind can be released to all sorts of elevation, flight, fantasy. “What I think is special about them is the spiritual connection people feel either holistically... or for gifts for
births or weddings or new homes, they just have that gift about them... You feel the gift of love.” Colours and symbolism are hugely important to Nygaard. The spirit feathers feature various colour combinations, some designed to make the viewer feel vibrant and energized and some soothing and calming, for example. The feather itself symbolizes a new beginning, spiritual evolution, inspiration and good fortune, according to Nygaard. As well, she clusters feathers with other symbols,
such as antique skeleton keys. “(With a key) you can unlock your future or unlock the door to the past and let it go, or lock it up...,” she explains. “The key symbolizes your control.” Facetted crystals, optical trial lenses from the 1800s, old watch gears and arrows are a few of the other symbolic materials she incorporates with the feathers. Nygaard has been creating art since she was a child and she could pick up needle and thread; she decorated her clothes by embroidering them. When she was a young woman living in Victoria, (where she grew up), she bought a bag of clay, and started creating pottery and firing it at a local ceramic shop. She eventually bought her own kiln and delved deeply into pottery, focusing on using odd shapes and intricate designs in her work. At 30, she moved to Gold River with her then-husband and their kids, and that is where she took a stained glass course and her love of this medium took hold. Over the years, she’s created various lighting fixtures, like table lamps, wall and ceiling fixtures and hanging fixtures, using the light to illuminate her colourful and intricate designs, and splash them onto walls or ceiling space. The light fixtures create differing energies using colour and light therapy, according to Nygaard. She also makes smaller pieces of stained glass art like little angels and a selection of animals. Whatever she’s creating, Nygaard’s goal is for it to be different. “I just don’t do anything common; I’m one of those kind of wild ducks,” she says with a grin, adding that changing and
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519B 5th Street, Courtenay challenging traditional designs and ways of creating art is something she lives by. Making art is fulfilling for Nygaard, who says that seeing each step in a piece’s progress and its completion is extremely rewarding. “A finished product, that’s like just getting yourself a new piano, or guitar or car or dress or shoes or whatever you really wanted,” she says. “It’s a rush.” Nygaard has lived in Comox since 2003. For more information about her and to view samples or her work, visit www.lorisdawn.com.
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BOOKS OF BATTLE SEAN RUSSELL uses the French Revolution as setting for his four-book series
C
omox novelist Sean Russell’s four-book series is filled with battles and adventures set long ago, but it also highlights the intricacies of British society and features complex characters. Set during the French Revolution, Under Enemy Colors (2007); A Battle Won (2010); Take, Burn or Destroy (2013);
and Until the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead (2014) star Charles Saunders Hayden, who begins as a young lieutenant and moves up the ranks of the British Navy, as war rages between the British and French. “The interesting thing about him is he’s half-English and half-French,” says Russell, noting Hayden grew up in both
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countries, is fluent in both languages and feels completely at home in both cultures. “So, he’s caught in the middle of this (situation) where he has family in France, and England and France are at war, and he’s in the Navy.” Meanwhile, the ship the story is set on — a fictional ship called HMS Themis — is a microcosm of British society during the late 1700s. “It’s like British society shrunk down to a ship, to 200 people,” says Russell. "So, you’ve got a hierarchy, a king at the top, and instead you’ve got a captain... and the officers were usually from very good families, they were younger sons of noble families, or middle class families... “And then you had a little class in between
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by Renee Andor | Special to the Comox Valley Record
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eather Hutchison says creating a connection between music and listeners is what making music is about for her. The 26-year-old folk-pop singer, songwriter and pianist recently released the five-song EP Where the Ocean Meets the Sand, which she hopes listeners will feel an emotional connection to. “I think musicians, for the most part, we share our music with the world — it’s a really vulnerable experience — but we do it because we want that human experience and
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that human connection,” says Hutchison. “We want people to say, ‘Yes, I can totally relate to that. I’ve been there too.’ “Emotion is so universal, that maybe I lived a different experience and wrote that song feeling that emotion, but somebody else could relate to that song because they felt the same thing, not necessarily because they lived the same experience.” Hutchison’s life experiences are likely to be quite different than most, as she’s has been blind since birth. She hasn’t let her lack of sight stop her from creating vivid physical descriptions through the words in her songs, a skill she gained from her love of reading. “Words and descriptions of things have always fascinated me,” she says, noting these written descriptions have given her a good idea of how physical objects look. “I actually find it really enjoyable to try to put together descriptions of things in new and interesting ways that will make sense to someone who is actually seeing them.” Hutchison has always been interested in music. She started taking piano lessons at five, and joined a children’s choir as soon as she was old enough, at the age of seven. She also recalls recording songs on cassettes when she was a child. She released her first album, Hello, when she was just 16 years old. Her second album, Charades, was released when she was 19. “There’s nothing that shows me how I’ve changed more than listening back to those (first two albums),” says Hutchison. “You’re kind of in that stage (in life) where you’re a little bit angry at the world and you want everybody to know about it... So, they’re maybe a little more personal to me, whereas I think the new one is still very personal but it’s maybe more accessible to everyone, the experiences are maybe more universal.” Though the title track of Where
the Ocean Meets the Sand is about her wedding with husband Jordan Mann in Comox’s Filberg Park, some of her latest album is about her experiences living in Peru. Hutchison and Mann spent about a year teaching English in Lima, and Hutchison notes she enjoyed Peru and its people so much she didn’t want to leave, but it would be too hard to make a living on a Peruvian salary. She points out the meaning behind Ice Cream in Central Park is often mistaken by listeners, and the song is really about her time in Peru. “Lots of people think it’s talking about a love affair with a person but it’s actually talking about a love affair with a country,” she explains. “And Central Park isn’t the Central Park in New York; it’s actually the Central Park, Parque Kennedy, in Lima.” The five-song EP was released January 23 and features violinist Trent Freeman and guitarist Alexander Flock, among others. Where the Ocean Meets the Sand has received radio play across the country, and though Hutchison’s earlier work has had radio play, this EP has received the most. “It’s pretty exciting,” says Hutchison. “We put in all the footwork and everything, but to actually see it all come to fruition is really exciting.” Hutchison grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. She moved to Vancouver to attend Vancouver Community College, where she earned a diploma in jazz and contemporary music in 2010. Now that Hutchison and Mann have settled in the Comox Valley, Hutchison says they have no plans to leave. Mann plays bass guitar in Where the Ocean Meets the Sand (EP) and the couple also plays as a duo and can be seen performing around town together. For more information, and to check out Hutchison’s music, visit www. heather-hutchison.com.
by Renee Andor | Special to the Comox Valley Record
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ourtenay photographer Rick James was first intrigued by junkyards as a kid looking out the car window. James grew up in Victoria, and during the 1950s he went to Qualicum Beach with his family for summer vacations. Just north of Nanaimo, next to the highway, lay the Gorosh junkyard, stacks of scrap vehicles rusting away, which James looked at with fascination as his family
drove by each year. “It was just incredible,” recalls James. “It was a stack four cars deep, four high... I think it was about 40 cars long, and it was all mostly ’30s cars, a few 1920s, maybe the odd ’40s. “But it was just this architectural wonder, and as a kid going by there I was just intrigued by it, so that’s what really got me going.” As a young man in the late-’60s James discovered his passion for photography,
and it wasn’t long after that he started taking photos of junkyards, one of them being the Gorosh junkyard. From then until now, James has organized each of the photos he’s taken by date, so when he got the idea to put together a collection of junkyard photos taken in the 1970s, he was able pull a large display of his work together. His collection, Rust in Peace: Island Junkyards of the 1970’s, a photographic retrospective, is now on display at the
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“...as a kid going by there I was just intrigued by it, so that’s what really got me going.”
photos by RICK JAMes
Museum at Campbell River. The Gorosh junkyard is one of four mid-Island junkyards displayed in the exhibit. Past Campbell River mayor Ken Forde’s collection at Shelter Point; a collection amongst the trees of an established forest in Merville; and James’ friend Ken Gerberick’s collection in the mid-Island are the other three. Gerberick was actually with James when many of the photos were taken, as the two quickly became good friends when they realized they shared an interest in old vehicles. They met while living in a Victoria head (hippie) house in the late-60’s, but both ended up moving up Island and started visiting junkyards together in the early-70s.
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Gerberick collected old vehicles and parts for what would become his Forest Installation collection, and James helped him, collected parts for himself and took photos. “We were just fascinated with them, seeing these old heaps from the ’20s and ’30s and ’40s, just really intriguing,” says James. “I collected all sorts of junk, so it’s not just photographs on the (exhibit) wall, it’s hubcaps and licence plates... I had this radiator in my garage... off a 1929 Durant and... it was my grandparents’ very first car, 1929 Durant,” continues James, noting the radiator is in the exhibit.
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James says the purpose of the exhibit is to give viewers a chance to reflect and give them some depth about our society’s car culture, and how it’s accepted without a thought, but really is quite short-lived. “It makes you stop and look back at our culture,” he says. “I think, especially someone younger, has no sense of the evolution of the automobile, and it’s really recent. One of the things I point
out on one of the panels as you come in the show is just keep in mind when you look at the photos in the show, this may have been your family’s first or second car, ever.” The exhibit is open until April 20 at the Museum at Campbell River, located at 470 Island Highway in Campbell River. Visit www.crmuseum.ca for more information.
by Renee Andor | Special to the Comox Valley Record
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hat is not to love about hostas? One of the most optimum shade plants, they certainly win high marks from me in transforming tough areas under big shade trees into a pleasing landscape. But how does one make selections from as many as forty-five different species of hostas and well over 3,000 cultivars? Thankfully, there is some help.
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The American Hosta Growers Association (AHGA) has been selecting one hosta to showcase as Hosta of the Year since 1996. All are stellar specimens. I can attest as we have sixteen of the twenty on the list. Another excellent source is the American Hosta Society’s annual Popularity Poll. Their members nominate the best performing hostas in their gardens…which stretch across North America. A list is compiled from those with the most recommendations.
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Top Winners of the AHS Popularity Poll for 2013: 1. ‘June’: Excellent choice! Definitely one I put at the top. It has been on the Popularity List a total of 14 times since 1999…#1 spot nine times. Hosta of the Year in 2001. 2. ‘Sagae’: Large hosta, but slow growing…eventually attains 1.8 m (six ft) in width. Well worth the wait! Hosta of the Year in 2000. Made the Popularity List 18 times. 3. ‘Liberty’: Many claim this cultivar is the finest introduction in the last ten years. It has held the #3 spot since 2008. Hosta of the Year in 2012. ‘Liberty’ is a recent addition to our collection of over fifty specimens. Love this one. 4. ‘First Frost’: Exact opposite colours of ‘June’. Highly recommend.
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5. ‘Sum and Substance’: Very large hosta…one of the few which tolerates full sun, in cool climates. This cultivar has made the Popularity List an astonishing 26 times in the 30year history of the poll. Hosta of the Year in 2004. Also highly recommend. 6. Hosta montana ‘Aureo-marginata’: Another large hosta and a stellar performer. Has also made the Popularity List 26 times. 7. ‘Blue Angel’: One of the very largest blue-leaved hostas. Twenty-four times on the Popularity List. 8. ‘Orange Marmalade’: Unique feature is the orange tinge to the yellow leaf centres in early summer before they fade to ivory cream.
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10. ‘Paradigm’: A sport of ‘Abiqua Recluse’ and originally named ‘Abiqua Paradigm’. Introduced in 1999, this one has made the List every year since 2003. Hosta of the Year in 2007. The rest of the 2013 AHS Popularity List from #11 to #20 are: ‘Guacamole’ (Hosta of the Year 2002), ‘Sun Power’, ‘Halcyon’, ‘Abiqua Drinking Gourd’ (Hosta of the Year 2014), ‘Neptune’, ‘Victory’ (Hosta of the Year 2015), ‘Guardian Angel’, ‘Striptease’ (Hosta of the Year 2005), ‘El Nino’, and ‘Autumn Frost’. Personal preferences definitely take precedence in selecting material for your landscape but it never hurts to check out what others say performs well in their gardens. Happy plant hunting!
Leslie Cox co-owns Growing Concern Cottage Garden in Black Creek. Her website is at www.duchessofdirt.ca and her column appears every second Thursday in the Record.
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n the Sound of Music movie they sing about climbing every mountain. In real life, Lindsay Elms is doing it. Well, not every mountain. But certainly many of them. The Comox resident has scaled summits on seven continents, including several first ascents both locally (he has climbed nearly 300 Vancouver Island peaks) and internationally. Born in Sydney, Australia, Elms' interest in mountaineering began in high school in Christchurch, New Zealand when he joined the tramping (hiking) club. "The teacher saw I was keen on being out there. She mentioned the local mountaineering club was putting on a series of evening courses, and I went along to it. We had a weekend up in the mountains and that was it, I was hooked." Elms was 16 years old at the time. He just turned 57 and has "never given it up. I just want to do more and more. It's probably going to be a never-ending process," he says. While he has set no specific goal to achieve in mountaineering, Elms says
his ascents on the Island have evolved to where he wants to climb everything over 1,450 metres. Elms climbs alone, with groups and with his partner. He figures he's climbed with a thousand people over the years, but says no one climb stands out. "I love every trip I go on. There's always something unique, different. I'm with different people, the weather's different, the view is amazing…nothing stands out. I just love it," the St. Joseph's General Hospital employee said. Elms came to Vancouver Island in 1988 to visit a friend in Victoria and ended up working as a mountaineering instructor for the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training (COLT) program at Strathcona Park Lodge for eight years. When he settled in Comox he discovered long distance running – which led to many podium finishes and some memorable speed ascents. "I started running and I decided to do a marathon. Once I did one of them I realized I was built for these longer run(s). I started doing some ultras, 50, 80 and 100 kms. "But I couldn't give up mountaineering, so I just incorporated that into going into
LiNDsAY ELms top oF mount Logan
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SCALING SUMMITS ON SEVEN CONTINENTS some of the mountains I was familiar with…going in fast and light…and minimizing problems along the way." Elms recalls he and a friend did a round trip ascent of the 2,195 metre Golden Hinde (the highest mountain on Vancouver Island) in a benchmark 24 hours. "I think the record's down to 16 hours and 18 minutes now," he said. "I still run but I'm not racing anymore. I achieved my goal with racing, and I've got a niggling injury … and I'm not getting any younger," he said, smiling. While his competitive running and speed ascents are behind him, Elms has not slowed down in another endeavour – his writing career. He has published two books: Beyond Nootka (1996) and Above the Bush (2012) and continues to collect data about mountaineering for a possible third book. More immediately, he plans to publish a three-part short story next year based on the first ascent of Mount Everest. A regular contributor to mountaineering journals, Elms received the Alpine Club of Canada's Don Forest Service Award in 2013 for distinguished service to the club in matters other than mountaineering. With all that he has accomplished, Elms said there is one climb he would still like to do. "If the opportunity presented, I'd like to go to Mount Robson. "The reason for that is I've done Mount Waddington, the highest in the Coast Range, and Mount Logan, the highest in Canada, with Robson being the highest in the Rockies." by Earle Couper | Comox Valley Record Staff sports@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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here are the types of weddings that take months of planning; ensuring every last detail is just so; checking the guest list three times to make sure no one was missed; sampling and juggling the catering selections, to ensure a satisfying meal for all in attendance, and paying attention to all the fine details that make the day just perfect.
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Then there are the types of weddings where you buy a $100 dress, throw it in a knapsack, cross five continents, then wake up at the South Pole and say ‘yep, this is the place’. OK, maybe saying “types” was a bit of an exaggeration. In order for that word to apply, it would have to happen more than once. It’s much safer to say that Jodie Lewis and Paul Catharine had a “one-of-a-kind” wedding.
One thing is sure; it was a day the Cumberland bride and her groom will remember forever. “We actually didn’t know that we were going to get married,” Lewis said, of their holiday near the end of 2014. “We took a dress but we had no plans of when, where or how.” Jodie and Paul are tour guides. They travel the world for a living, so for the two of them to come back from a trip as
husband and wife was no big shock to anyone who knows them. “Because we travel around the world, we didn’t really want the wedding to be in Canada or England (Paul’s homeland), because we spend most of our time outside (the two countries),” said Jodie. “It was very last-minute but that’s how we are as a couple. We weren’t about to spend oodles of time and money planning a wedding – we just thought we would do it where it comes across as a good plan. We actually only found out we were getting married an hour before we did it.” The two were on a holiday, on the tail end of one of Paul’s
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business trips in South America. They had bought the dress in Victoria and Jodie had tucked it into her pack with her other essentials. They travelled South America for a while, ending up at the southern tip – Ushuaia, Argentina - where a friend of theirs was part of the crew on an expedition ship. “When we boarded the boat, the crew had said (a wedding) was possible but we would have to wait to see how the weather was,” said Jodie. “If the weather was too bad we wouldn’t be able to dock and they wouldn’t be able to get us on land. We
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didn’t really care, but thought it would be best to be on land somewhere, as opposed to the ship.” When the day did come, they were given enough time to get dressed for the occasion, and off to shore they went, for a wedding – complete with a tuxedo-clad wedding party of 200 or more. “We got there, there was a penguin colony on the shore,” said Jodie. “They were very, very easy wedding guests. Actually a ton of fun.” Jodie said she understands this isn’t the kind of wedding that a lot of brides would consider, but in the end, a wedding
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day only has to be unforgettable for the bride and groom. Exchanging their vows on a patch of land in the Antarctic was perfect for Jodie and Paul. “For us, with our jobs, I have been to well over 100 countries, Paul is close to that – we have travelled to more than 40 as a couple, and Antarctica just blew us away because it was so different from anything else we have done. We couldn’t have planned it any better.” by Terry Farrell | Comox Valley Record editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Photography by Rachelle
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he LUSH (Let Us Share the Harvest) Valley Food Action Society is celebrating 15 years of programming and support to help Valley residents access healthy food. Among other things, the non-profit organization runs a fruit tree program that benefits the food bank and other such organizations. Volunteers pick fruit, vegetables or nuts at properties where owners don’t have time to harvest their trees. Last year, more than 20,000 pounds of food was donated to school lunch programs and other causes. The society also operates a monthly community kitchen, a community garden and a young cooks program for those in the 10- to 14-year age bracket. Recently, LUSH acquired the community garden at Sixth and Harmston in Courtenay, which the Dawn to Dawn: Action on Homelessness Society established in 2012. The City of Courtenay donated the site, which yields carrots, onions, lettuce and other vegetables. Excess vegetables help services such as the Sonshine Lunch Club that operates at St. George's United Church. Hundreds of people have been involved in the community garden, which aligns with the society's vision and helps to raise its profile. "Our vision for the future would be to have a building situated beside a large plot of land with a community garden," LUSH board member Jen Wrye said. "That would be our dream. A true community space." LUSH is located on Piercy Avenue off
Cumberland Road. The building contains a sizeable kitchen, and a storefront with locally-produced and fair trade foods. The porch acts as a 'sharing area' where people can drop off food, while the front yard contains a small space for growing and composting. A mini summer market is held Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. "We're always looking for vendors," said Miles Armstead, social enterprise manager. LUSH Valley took shape after a workshop in 1998 that brought to light local issues surrounding poverty and food. A participant was aware of a fruit and vegetable bulk buying program in Ontario called the Good Food Box — which became the first program at LUSH. It ran from 1999 to 2002. That year, the fruit tree program began. The society works closely with the Farmers’ Market to support the local food economy. It also chairs the Comox Valley Food Roundtable — a coalition of nonprofits, local governments and businesses working together to strengthen the regional food system. The society believes a quality food system offers health, social, economic and ecological benefits for the entire Valley and beyond. "The totality of our activities provide that," Wrye said. "We try to provide a service, not for, but with the community." LUSH welcomes new members, volunteers, and financial or equipment donations. Further information is available at the office at 1126 Piercy Ave. Call (250) 3310152 or visit www.lushvalley.org.
by Scott Stanfield | Comox Valley Record | reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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MEET OUR ADVERTISERS Island Dentures offers a full complement of denture services. Our professionals provide you with precision dentures, and we guarantee our work. See our ad on page 11.
RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty is Comox Valley’s #1 Full Service Real Estate Brokerage. See our ad on page 6.
Kevin Reid Coast Realty Group (Comox Valley) A Comox Valley resident for over 40 years. With his years of experience Kevin can provide the insight to the real estate market and is committed to the highest quality service possible. See our ad on page 9 .
Axis Heating & Cooling 2nd generation, family business operated by Kristen & Mikhail Pronick. We are the authorized installation provider for heat pumps, furnaces & generators through the Home Depot & your local Trane & Mitsubishi dealer. See our ad on page 29.
Dynamic Spine, Sport & Wellness By combining Chiropractic, Active Release Technique@ (ART®), Graston Technique®, Registered Massage Therapy and various rehabilitation techniques, patients receive the highest standard of care. See our ad on page 22.
The Mex Liquor Store We take the time to know you. Located next to Super Store at 1003 Ryan Road. We have a wide selection of beer, wine & spirits for you to choose from. Let us make you part of our family. See our ad on page 16 .
Blinds & Bubbles Boutique The North Island’s only Hunter Douglas Showroom. Call us or stop in to set up a complimentary in-home appointment. See our ad on page 3.
Courtenay Appliance Come and visit our luxury appliance showroom which is continually updated, you’ll get hands on experience with our appliances. Our team will help you find the perfect ingredients to cook up your dream kitchen! See our ad on page 15.
Courtenay Toyota Family owned since 1983, Courtenay Toyota is the Comox Valley’s oldest single franchise dealership. See our ad on page 5.
Pearl Ellis A volunteer run non–profit society showcasing local artists all year long. See our ad on page 9.
Graham’s Jewellers Family owned independent jewellery & giftware store serving the Comox Valley by the Big Clock since 1970. Offering a broad range of products and services including jewellery and watch repairs & custom orders. See our ad on page 27.
Thrifty Foods Open 7 days a week our grocery stores are focused on food, driven by our fresh expertise and supported by superior customer service. For those who need assistance ask about the Sendial Program. See our ad on page 9.
Sublime Fashion Collection We offer an inspired shopping experience! Fashion is our business, look wonderful at any age... embrace the decades with exciting looks to love this season shop Sublime! See our ad on page 10.
Berwick Comox Valley is the retirement residence of choice located in the heart of downtown Comox. Offering Independent Supported Living, our hospitality services are designed to offer all the privacy and independence you desire. See our ad on page 13.
Penny Lane Property Management Ltd Providing Property Management and Real Estate service to the Comox Valley since 1995. Whether you are looking to rent or buy, drop by our office for a positive experience. See our ad on page 20.
Daryl Thompson, Investors Group Whatever your plans, our personalized approach to financial planning can help make them a reality. Let us help you provide for the people you care about... now and over time. See our ad on page 12.
Art Knapp More than just plants, Art Knapp carries everything from home décor, furniture, clothing and jewelry for all your shopping needs. See our ad on page 21.
Blue Moon Winery Living the dream on a 24 year old farm and re-thinking fruit by creating award winning wines and soon to be ciders. See our ad on page 7.
Comox BIA Downtown Comox is a wonderful destination with a wide range of services, unique shops and enticing restaurants, cafes and pubs for all to enjoy. See our ad on page 32.
40 Knots Winery In the heart of the Comox Valley, on a slope facing the Salish Sea, 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery crafts wines distinctly shaped by this windswept, sun soaked vineyard See our ads on page 14 & 26.
Odlum Brown We are committed to understanding your investment goals, your risk tolerance and providing you with successful financial and estate planning solutions. See our ad on page 17.
Locals Restaurant Located at the The Old House, Locals menu showcases local foods-bison, crab, oysters, rabbit, venison, duck, artisan cheeses and Chef Ronald’s amazing desserts. See our ad on page 12.
Quality Foods Courtenay & Comox is an award-winning leader in the Canadian grocery industry. See our ad on page 2.
Tria at the Tea House located in the breathtakingly beautiful Filberg Park in Comox, featuring gourmet eats, specialized catering, all created with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. See our ad on page 27.
Francis Jewellers Ltd. Celebrating 80 years serving the Comox Valley. Our customer service combined with our pricing is unmatched by any competitor. We carry a large line of jewellery, clocks, watches and gift ware. See our ad on page 28.
The Comox Community Centre can host your Reception in our beautiful, spacious facility with plenty of natural light and earth-toned accents. Call Cindy at 250-339-2255 for more info. “Come Play With Us” See our ad on page 26.
Courtenay Recreation Facility bookings for large and small events in the historic Native Sons Hall and the fully equipped Florence Filberg Centre. See our ad on page 25.
Yiama’s Greek Taverna offers traditional Greek dishes, from recipes passed down for generations. See our ad on page 4.
Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park is nine acres of waterfront green space,beautifully landscaped gardens and heritage buildings on Comox Bay. A magical venue for life’s’ most memorable events See our ad on page 27.
Canadian Tire Canadian Tire gives you the best of both worlds; box store pricing, but most importantly, the home town feel and service that can only be achieved by a locally owned and operated business. See our ad on page 19.
MEET OUR ADVERTISERS Siefferts Farm Market Open 7 days a week, late May to early November. We have a wide range of in-season vegetables. Located 1 km past the Airport on 720 Knight Rd. Comox 250-339-2988 See our ad on page 20.
Thermo Tec Mechanical A local Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration company in business since 2005. Owned by Shawn Dunn and Mike Nelson who have many years of experience in the industry. See our ad on page16.
Shoebiz Step out in Style at Shoebiz. Let our staff help you choose the perfect shoes for any occasion. www.shoebiz.ca See our ad on page 25.
Pearl Cove Locally owned & operated. A quaint beauty studio with a relaxing atmosphere – the perfect place to refresh & reflect. We offer a large selection of retail products & styling tools. “Walk-ins” welcome – an appoinment is not always necessary. See our ad on page 28 .
Happy Chicken Balloons We Bring Smiles! Balloons for all occasions and themes. Arches, sculptures, and balloon animals. See our ad on page 17.
Corks & Caps The Comox Valley’s original U-Brew since 1983, we specialize in turning fresh or frozen fruit into wine. See our ad on page 25 .
Hot Chocolates/Cakebread Hot Chocolates will work with you to create your own custom shaped bars, coins and other Belgian chocolates perfect for weddings, corporate events, business promotions, custom or employee appreciation. See our ad on page 28 .
Sunwest Auto Centre At Sunwest Auto Centre, the customer comes first, always, no exceptions. Sunwest Auto has been providing the Comox Valley with first class automotive service for 29 years. See our ad on page 23 .
All In One Party Shop Planning a party? From tents & tables to dishes & dance floors we have everything you need to create, decorate & celebrate with family & friends! See our ad on page 24 .
Slegg Lumber Kitchen and Window Blind Design Centre Whether you’re building your dream kitchen or renewing your window coverings, Laura and Tanya offer free in home consultations to help get you started. See our ad on page 18.
5th Street Studio Rachelle and Gerry Cormons have combined the artistic eye of a photographer with the skills of a graphic designer to provide stylish and unique photos of your special occasion. See our ad on page 28 .
Top Quality Music With over 15,000 songs in our library to suit any taste, let one of our experienced DJs deliver the music that makes the night truly memorable! See our ad on page 24 .
Kirk Friederich P h o t o g r a p h e r
Kirk Friederich has been a photographer his whole adult life. After moving to the Comox Valley five years ago, it didn’t take Kirk long to get involved with the Comox Valley Music festival as a photographer, quickly becoming the Festival’s lead photographer. With a huge interest in music and concert photography, Kirk shoots many visiting bands and musicians at different venues throughout the Valley. But his photographic repertoire also includes such diverse subjects as the Valley’s annual swan migration, beautiful Valley sunsets, flowers, and even the Royal Canadian Air Force’s aerobatic team, the Snowbirds. His work can be seen on his website, jkirkphotography.ca
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