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PEARL AUG/SEP 2017

THE GEM OF THE SALISH SEA

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PEOPLE HOMES HISTORY ARTS

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Whether youâ€™re lifting, shifting, lugging, or organizing; and even for those sitting in the power seat directing, moving can mean a whole lot of hustle & bustle for everyone involvedâ€Ś For Sidney SeniorCare, moving means that we can improve our service even more for our clients, by enhancing quality of service, and increasing overall efficiency and communication. In fact, we've never been more excited about a move and we look forward to sharing the benefits with you!

Moving Come visit us at our new location! 201-2400 Bevan Avenue Sidney, BC V8L 1W1 250-656-7176 or 250-589-0010

Beacon Ave.

bigger location right around the corner, above Toast CafĂŠ. We look forward to seeing you there!

Bevan Ave.

Old Location

Third St.

New Location

Fourth St.

of our regional offices and moving to a

Fifth St.

In September, we are centralizing all

CONTENTS

Aug/Sep 2017

8 Editor’s letter 10 A Green Dream 16 Bon Appetit! 22 Born to the Sea 26 Fashion: Set Sail 30 Write on, Read on 34 Walk With Don Prittie 36 History: Fair Play 40 Landmarks 41 Footloose Travel Log 44 Meet the Advertisers 46 Paws on the Peninsula 34

on our cover Model Alison Nikolejsin at Canoe Cove Marina & Boatyard. Photo by Lia Crowe

46 22 GROUP PUBLISHER Penny Sakamoto 250.480.3204 PUBLISHER + ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Lisa Holliday-Scott publisher@peninsulanewsreview.com 250.656.1151 EDITOR Susan Lundy lundys@shaw.ca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan

PHOTOGRAPHERS Don Denton Lia Crowe Hans Tammemagi

ADVERTISING Dale Naftel sales@peninsulanewsreview.com 250.656.1151 Christopher R. Cook chris.cook@blackpress.ca 250.656.1151 Mario Gedicke mario.gedicke@blackpress.ca 250.891.5627

CREATIVE SERVICES Shawn O’Connor Michelle Gjerde

DISTRIBUTION Lindsay Celeste 250.480.3208

PEARL CREATIVE & DESIGN Lorianne Koch

PEARL magazine is published six times a year by Black Press. The points of view or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of Pearl. The contents of Pearl magazine

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

are protected by copyright,

prohibited without written

103-9830 Second Street, Sidney, British Columbia PH 250.656.1151

consent of the publisher.

www.peninsulanewsreview.com

including the designed advertising. Reproduction is

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PEARL Classes & Private Lessons • All Ages Professional Instructors • Adult & Children’s Choirs Royal Conservatory Exams

CONTRIBUTORS

Now Enrolling for Fall

Peninsula Academy Women's Choir

For all who love to sing. Learn eclectic and engaging repertoire. Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:15pm Starting September 12 Highway Church at McDonald Park

ANGELA COWAN

LIA CROWE

DON DENTON

SEAN MCINTYRE

KORINA MILLER

DARCY NYBO

Angela is an award-winning journalist, poet, and freelance writer and editor. She has always been fascinated by other people’s stories, and is excited to be able to more deeply explore the Peninsula in her writing, particularly in her home community of Sidney.

Born and raised in Victoria, Lia spent the first decade of her career working in the international fashion industry, and now has more than 10 years’ experience working on the editorial side of lifestyle magazines.

Call or email to register

778-426-1800 | PeninsulaAcademy.ca | 1662 Mills Rd. North Saanich

Drop by to see our gallery of homes and local artwork

Suzi Jack PREC* is Your friendly, professional realtor: a community focus and a local approach!

Don is the Photo Supervisor for Black Press, Greater Victoria. He contributes photographs to magazines such as Boulevard, Tweed and Monday as well as Pearl and to newspapers including the Victoria News.

Korina grew up in Sidney and has covered art, culture and travel for publishers like Lonely Planet, The Guardian and BBC. She is now based in Victoria but returns regularly to the Peninsula.

Sean McIntyre is a freelance writer from Montreal who now works, plays and enjoys living on Salt Spring Island with his wife Natsuko and their dog Goma.

Darcy is a freelance writer, a multiple award-winning author, book editor and publisher, and a writing instructor. Words are her passion and she knows everyone has a story to tell.

HANS TAMMEMAGI 250-656-5062 (Office) | 1-250-203-3919 (Cell) 9713A Second St. Sidney | docksiderealty.ca Serving Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands 6

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Hans’ writing includes travel, environment and native culture. He has penned 10 books and writes for numerous newspapers and magazines in Canada and internationally.

$ ONLY left to raise!

90,000

Garden lover forever The outdoors, music, art, literature, the things that

Your donation to our Residential Care Unit will

make life rich remain the same, regardless of age.

help us to support new music, art and horticulture

All are essential contributors to a person’s happiness

therapy programs, revitalize the Library and provide

and well-being. Engaging the people who call SPH

personalized equipment for each resident to

home in these lifelong passions can make a

continue enjoying the passions they love.

profound difference in their quality of life, everyday.

Remember, it’s our hospital – and it’s their home.

Your donation will help our residents in care by funding the programs they love & the equipment they need. your community, your health 250-652-7531 sphf.ca

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

EDITOR’S LETTER SUSAN LUNDY

Sailing down Memory Channel

t’s the scents and and the sounds that take me back. In the past few months, I’ve been transported to my childhood three times while stopping at places in the Peninsula. The first occurred during a visit to Philbrooks Boat Yard, when I climbed onto a boat under restoration and the smell of fiberglass launched me down Memory Channel.

fleet of sailboats that bobbed in and out of my childhood that is driven by the sounds and scents of boatyards and marinas. Most memorable was our boat Subra (named by combining my moniker with my mother Barbara’s, causing me no end of grief for a pre-adolescent girl suddenly associated with a … bra!). Our decade with Subra began on the front lawn, when I was about four. My father — one of those handy guys who could build absolutely anything — purchased the hull of a Gulf 29 sailboat, and dropped it into a hand-constructed “cradle” and scaffolding on our front lawn (ahem .. the lawn of our waterfront home in a viewinspired neighbourhood). He spent the next three years building the interior, from the beds in the bow (my mom sewed covers onto the foam mattresses) to the beautiful little galley, undertaking all the brightwork, and making doors, hatch, tiller, handrails. The lingering cacophony of scents included varnish, stain and fiberglass. He worked on it every spare moment — apparently I once asked if he would work right through Christmas Day. Initially, he built a roof on the cradle so he could saw and hammer out there in the rain, but that proved just too much for the neighbours and an official complaint shut that down. My mom recalls a time when the two of them were working on the boat and with a great creaking noise, Subra shifted slightly

MY MOM RECALLS A TIME WHEN THE TWO OF THEM WERE WORKING ON THE BOAT AND WITH A GREAT CREAKING NOISE, SUBRA SHIFTED SLIGHTLY IN THE CRADLE. It happened again as we pulled up dockside in a Zodiac at Van Isle Marina, after my husband, a friend and I decided to spend a Sunday afternoon voyaging to Sidney via water. There it was — the sound of halyards chiming on masts, the creak of the dock underfoot and the slap of water on hulls. Most recently, I walked with Don Prittie in Canoe Cove Marina & Boatyard, and all my senses tingled in memory. The ocean is in my blood. I grew up in a waterfront home, cushioned by sounds of the wind — gentle and mighty — the crash and lap of waves on the rocks and the constant cry of gulls. But it’s the memory of the small

in the cradle. They both instinctively placed their hands against the hull as if they could physically stop it from falling, realizing afterwards that might not have been the optimum maneuver in that moment. But she didn’t fall, and eventually the day arrived when movers lifted her from the front lawn — I remember holding my breath, terrified she would fall — and drove her to Cattle Point, where she was launched, still mast-less, into the sea. We spent many years on Subra, visiting Discovery and Chatham islands off Oak Bay, D’Arcy and Sidney islands off the Peninsula and sailing to various ports around the Gulf Islands. Subra is long since sold and most certainly has a new (less embarrassing) name now. But those days on the water are etched in my memory, destined to whip up like a gentle, summer storm whenever I smell the scent of fiberglass or hear the chime of masts. Many things nautical figure prominently in this issue of Pearl, where readers will meet boatbuilder and Olympic sailor Eric Jespersen and Canoe Cove GM Don Prittie, feast their eyes on a backdrop of boats in our Set Sail fashion story, and enjoy a journey to the seaside community of Brentwood Bay (lots of boats!), where a variety of food and flavours await. Pearl also offers a tour around a glorious “green” home, a saunter through farmers’ markets on the nearby Gulf Islands and a trip through the history of the Saanich Fair. We hope you enjoy this issue of Pearl and if you can read it while rocking gently on a boat — even better.

Susan Lundy is a former journalist and two-time recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster Award. Her award-winning stories have appeared in numerous publications, and she is also the author of Heritage Apples: A New Sensation (Touchwood Editions, 2013). 8

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Sea Home Décor, Gift Boutique & Fashion

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PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

A GREEN DREAM D WORDS DARCY NYBO PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

QUICK FACTS: # bedrooms: 4 — 3 in main home, 1 in in-law suite # Bathrooms: 4 — 3 main, 1 in in-law suite Square feet: 2,000 house, 800 in-law suite Double Garage/Workshop: 750 square feet Concrete used: 120,000 lbs Green Features: solar panels, heat exchanger, Zehnder European Heat Recovery Ventilator (90 percent efficient), Marathon/Rheem 75-gallon commercial grade water heater, underfloor hot water heating on demand.

amon Gray of NZ Builders is the kind of person who can envision a project and create it. He did exactly that when he built his green family home for his wife Annie and their boys. The main building material used for the house was concrete, with some wood harvested off the property added to create many of the furnishings. The exterior of the house is a work of art. Some exterior walls consist of painted concrete, some are plain concrete and the rest look like a grey wood, but are, in fact, concrete. “About half the exterior is architectural pressed concrete that we AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 PEARL

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PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

coloured a dark gray,” explained Damon. “We created all the walls in baking trays — huge baking trays. We’d pour a layer of concrete, then add insulation, then more concrete. When that was done, we laid board forms on the baking trays. Once the concrete dried, they came off easily and created the wood pattern on the concrete. Some of the wood fibre came off which adds a bit of brown to the siding. We also did a maple leaf pattern on the exterior shower floor. Once the concrete is out of the forms, the walls are lifted and attached to create the exterior and interior walls inside the home.” Walking around the spacious yard, it’s hard not to notice even more concrete. There’s a huge family-sized picnic table in the centre of the 1,200-square-foot concrete back patio. Two sets of concrete stairs lead up off the patio and onto the grassy play area. There’s a smaller concrete patio out front that can be accessed from the boys’ room or the dining area. Also at the front of the house, Damon has created a six-by-ten-foot concrete feature wall, which holds a huge stack of firewood. There’s also a 750-square-foot garage located to the right of the main entrance. “When I’m not working, I live in there,” said Damon. “I love it, because I’m a tinkerer.” As we stepped inside, I noticed the polished concrete floors were warm to the touch — thanks to radiant underfloor heat. Most of the inside walls are also mostly concrete, yet the house felt warm and inviting. The entrance feature wall that backs onto the kitchen was created out of concrete to hold thermal mass from the fridge and stove. This time, they left the wood on the concrete.

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“We made it from the reclaimed pallets that our materials were delivered on. We created it by putting the boards down on the trays with the nails sticking upwards. Then the concrete was poured and when it was all dry, the boards were attached and we lifted it into place,” said Damon. Interior designer Robyn Bryson helped pull it all together. “I am good at spatial design,” said Damon, “and Robyn picked out all the colours and all the finishes.” “We had to try several options to get just the right colour for the wood and concrete feature wall. Damon was great to work with,” said Robyn, adding, “The most interesting challenge was to use the lumber cut from trees felled on the property. I loved that it was all done on-site in discussion with Damon and his crew and not on a computer in an office.” There are several gorgeous wood pieces in the home, all built by Damon and his crew. The boys’ bunk beds and the master bedroom bed, side tables and a room-length counter were all made from fir harvested from the property. Damon even took on the huge task of making doors. “All the doors in the home were made from trees on the property. They were planed on the back deck,” he said. “On Robyn’s suggestion, we made the butterfly connectors from purple heart wood. We made 10 doors all together. All the doorways in the home are three feet wide and wheelchair accessible.” When it came to the finishes for an in-law suite, creativity was the name of the game. “The in-law suite has one bedroom and a three-piece bathroom,” said Damon. “We made the back wall of the kitchen and

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two of the bathroom walls by pouring concrete into the trays and then laying recycled old brick on top of it.” “When Damon said he wanted to use the brick wall as one of the shower walls I wasn’t convinced, ” said Robyn. “But it looked great when it was done.” The in-law suite shower isn’t the only room with unique walls. The master en suite has large “Banksy” graffiti tiles covering the shower walls. It’s another fun feature of the home. The concept for the laundry area and mechanical room grew out of sharing ideas on site. Said Robyn: “We wanted to create a functional laundry room that had lots of space and didn’t feel like it was in a hallway, even though it was. We got the oversize doors from IKEA and then had to figure out how to hang them. We used one of the fir beams and mounted the track on that.” “The glass opaque doors hide everything from sight when you enter the room,” said Damon. “There’s a mechanical cupboard and the hot water heater on either end. Then in the middle there’s a sink, a folding area and storage beneath the washer and dryer for sorting clothes.” Then there’s the bright great room, which is comprised mostly of floor-to-ceiling windows, with patios on either end. “The windows are all EuroLine Windows out of Delta. We tried to keep all our suppliers within a 100 kilometre range,” said Damon. “And all windows and doors are triple glazed and R7. The dining room window is 12-by-eight feet and makes it easy to watch the children as they play outside.” There are no exterior window casings, and no trim around the windows.

“It’s all concrete,” said Damon with a smile. “You don’t need flashing with a concrete build.” The fireplace in the living area is electric and flanked by wood columns on either side, both harvested from the property. “We don’t have natural gas on this street, which is why we went with the solar panels. In the summer, they give us about 80 kilowatts per day. There was about a 10 percent premium added to the cost of the build to make it this energy efficient. But if you want to live in a healthy home, it’s worth it.” The kitchen has a very clean, modern look to it, with everything including the refrigerators hidden behind panels and cupboards. The island is 14-by-four feet and made from locally sourced, apple martini green, man-made quartz. All of it looks out through the wall of windows in the dining room. Damon’s wife, Annie, loves the kitchen. “I like how big the island is because the boys can come up and bake and be with us. I also like that the coffeemaker slides out from the wall, which keeps things safe for the kids. My favourite thing is this,” she smiles, balancing a baby in one arm and touching the tap to turn it on. “It certainly makes my life easier.” “The fact that we’ve fit all of this into a 2,000-square-foot home is great,” said Damon. “We have three large bedrooms, tons of storage and the mechanical room — and it doesn’t feel crowded at all. I also love that it faces south so we get the sun in here all the time.” I asked their four-year-old son, Ollie, what he liked best about the house. “I love the windows,” he said, “because I can see everything that’s going on outside!”

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Clam chowder at the Seahorses Café in Brentwood Bay. 16

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

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can appreciate a well-made coffee — the bitterness of the bean balanced with a shot of heavy cream and a spoonful of honey. But while I do indulge in a java hit every once in a while, it’s tea that gets me out of bed in the morning. So when I start this issue of Pearl’s neighbourhood food tour at the charming Brentwood Bay Empourium, I’m thoroughly delighted that they make a fantastic and frothy chai tea latte. The notes of spice are perfect for a leisurely wake up, and hint at cooler weather just around the corner. This shop-café-art gallery is immediately one of my favourite spots on the Peninsula. Vintage rotary phones in saturated hues peek out from behind locally made soy candles, leather flasks, vibrant blue glassware and stacks of postcards. The retail offerings are widely varied and beautiful and unique. Eclectic seems to be the word of the morning. Owners Alice Bacon and John Carswell were told by many that a café and retail space wouldn’t mix, but they just celebrated the business’s two-year anniversary at the end of July, and have loved watching the spot grow into a community gathering place. “We wanted to create a diverse offering,” says Alice, who previously worked in special events. “It’s like a little event every day.” There’s house concerts every Thursday through August, gallery space for local artists that changes over every month, a handful of small bistro-style tables encouraging coffee (and tea) lovers to sit and gab. Sandwiches, salads and from-scratch baking all make it a great spot to grab a bite as well. What I am definitely coming back for though, is one of their signature retro milkshakes. Cold and creamy and thick, served in the classic parfait glass with the extra in a silver mixer on the side, it’s a step back in time.

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“IT’S INCREDIBLE. YOU EAT IT, AND YOU’RE LIKE, WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW!”

Seen here (top, left to right): bison pappardelle at the Brentwood Bay Resort Dining Room; espresso poured at Brentwood Bay Empourium; (bottom, left to right) chocolate milkshake at Brentwood Bay Empourium; mini pies at Breadstuffs Bakery. 18

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

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“It’s very old school, and people love it,” says Alice. Tea latte still in hand, I head over to Breadstuffs Bakery, a staple in the community for the past 15 years. Rita Cooney owns the bakery with her husband, Dale Carter, who is a Red Seal Chef. “Dale has an insatiable curiosity to be creating,” she says, adding that he makes all the soups, breads, pastries and even croissants from scratch. From the chicken gumbo to the bags of Cape Cod oatmeal cookies to the mini pies, everything in the display cases and on the shelves has a wholesome, hearty kind of feel to it. “We say we make real food for everyday,” says Rita. “I want food that’s really good, that tastes like what I want to eat every day.” Serving sandwiches made to order and all the sweets you could ask for, Rita adds, “We’re a great place to get a picnic lunch.” Ah, lunchtime. But that’s still a few hours off, and it’s time to make my next stop, so I head down Verdier Avenue towards the ocean. Conveniently situated beside the Brentwood Bay ferry lineup, Seahorses Café offers a mini getaway on the water. Hanging baskets overflowing with brilliant pink and blue blooms line the dock as fearless sparrows hop along the wooden slats. “You come down to enjoy your time here,” says owner Diana Young, sitting next to me at one of the sun-drenched tables. All around us are tables filling up with locals and ferry-goers. I see a handful of breakfast buns go out on trays, and though there’s clam chowder (a year-round favourite), poutine and a beautifully plated mermaid salad, it’s the bun I want. Fried egg, bacon and cheese on a brioche bun. If you’re water-savvy, this is also a great and inexpensive place to grab a couple kayaks for the afternoon. Experienced folks only though, as it’s entirely self-serve. At just $20 for two hours, I make a mental note to bring my dad for a mini water adventure next time I’m here. For a taste of New Orleans with waterfront views, food lovers should check out nearby Blue’s Bayou Café, open for lunch and dinner. Gumbo, shrimp melts, po’boys, you name it — if it’s Cajun or Creole, it’s here. Just a few minutes from Blue’s is local favourite Zanzibar, with everything from a variety of eggs benedict for breakfast to paninis and specialty salads for lunch, to exquisite entrées of duck, bison and lamb. And all are offered with a focus on sourcing local, exceptional quality ingredients. As the mom of a beautiful and very energetic one-year-old, I’m always on the lookout for kid-friendly eateries, and there couldn’t be any kid-friendlier place than Sassy’s Family Restaurant. Named and built in honour of owner Cory Porter’s granddaughter Sapphira, who passed away suddenly in 2011, it’s got a box of everevolving toys, a great kids’ menu and an all around family kind of vibe. This is definitely a place we could grab a bite with the babe — and they have beef stew served in a giant Yorkshire pudding. A giant Yorkshire pudding. Cue my contented sigh. Moving on, with a dream in my heart of a quiet, romantic dinner (one day), I stop in at the Brentwood Bay Resort to visit their Dining Room. Formerly SeaGrille Restaurant, The Dining Room recently underwent a rebranding of sorts, as well as a complete menu changeover.

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PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Clam chowder at Seahorses Café in Brentwood Bay.

The Mermaid Salad at Seahorses Café.

“We wanted to have the opportunity to play around with some new ingredients,” says Katherine Murphy, food and beverage manager. “It’s more creative and innovative, and the plating is beautiful.” On that new menu, among other delicacies, are sablefish, wild boar and a bison pappardelle dish that Katherine cannot praise enough. Served with wild mushrooms, Parmesan, Dijon, greens and crème fraîche, it’s a spectacular melange of flavours. “It’s incredible. You eat it, and you’re like, what is even happening in my mouth right now!” Katherine laughs. The pappardelle, the desserts — oh, the buttered Glenfiddich pudding — it all nurtures a philosophy of indulgence. “I want it to be luxurious,” says Katherine of the dining, as well as the resort, experience. “For you to feel incredibly well taken care of.” Looking out from the Dining Room patio, at the calm ocean blues framed by thick columns of wild West Coast greenery, that sense of luxury is palpable here. Really, the only thing to do is breathe in the salt air, order a sparkling water with lime and have another look at that menu. Bon appétit!

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PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Eric Jespersen on the sea.

BORN to the

SEA

At work and play with Eric Jespersen WO R D S H A N S TA M M E M AG I PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 PEARL

ric Jespersen leads me deep into a wonderland of boats in Canoe Cove Marina & Boatyard at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula. We are surrounded, overwhelmed by sailboats, powerboats and dinghies. Some, sleek and shiny, are raised onto blocks for renovation. Others are moored along jetties. We stroll along a wooden pier passing countless canvas boat sheds. Unlike me, Eric walks with confidence, oblivious to the rolling of the floating pier. Eric is totally immersed in the sea-faring life. He builds and restores wooden boats at his Jespersen Boat Builders Ltd., a company started by his father. He also races sailboats and is one of the most skilled — and most decorated — sailors on the West Coast. “If I can’t smell the sea I get nervous,” Eric says. “Even on my days off I come to the marina because I love boats.” He enters a large boat shed and shows me a classic: the 62-foot Barlovento, a schooner built in 1932 for the Dupont family, and now under restoration by Jespersen’s firm. Even with her masts removed and tools littering her teak deck, she is impressive, appearing as though she could slice through the roughest of waves with graceful ease. “It’s great fun to see old boats like this come back to life,” he says. Eric Jespersen comes from a family with strong nautical DNA; sailing and boat building are a natural way of life. As his father, Bent once told him, “You can have anything you want, so long as it’s a boat.” Bent was a boat builder in Denmark prior to immigrating to Canada. He worked for several boat companies and then launched Jespersen Boat Builders in Sidney in 1974. Eric grew up and went to high school in Sidney and followed in his father’s footsteps, apprenticing in boat building, and working at his dad’s company. At an early age he also worked aboard a commercial fishing boat, which he credits for teaching him much about west coast waters and seamanship. In 1994, his father retired, and Eric took over. Jespersen Boat Builders has impressive credentials and is, arguably, the best wooden boat builder on the West Coast. Over its 44 years, the firm has built nearly 40 boats and brought countless more back to life. In recent years, the company’s main work has been in renovating and restoring boats. It is known for its quality work, and customers come from around the world. “Being big and strong are definite assets in racing,” says Eric, who is 6’1” and 230 pounds. He started early: at the age of 12, he sailed in his first Swiftsure race. In 1983, at the age of 21, Eric stepped onto the international stage by crewing aboard Canada I at the America’s Cup. He impressed the team when he noticed the trim tab on the keel made the boat exceed the regulatory size, and prevented the boat’s disqualification by working overnight to fix the problem in time for the morning’s inspection. He was a crew member and project manager for Canada II at the 1987 America’s Cup. At the 1992 Olympics, he and his partner, Ross MacDonald, won a bronze medal in Star Class sailing. Two years later, they won the Star Class World Championships — an enormous achievement. Jespersen

“IF I CAN’T SMELL THE SEA I GET NERVOUS. EVEN ON MY DAYS OFF I COME TO THE MARINA BECAUSE I LOVE BOATS.”

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has won numerous other races and is regarded as one of the country’s finest sailors. He was twice named the Canadian Yachting Association Male Athlete of the Year and is an inductee in the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Eric continues to race and, remarkably, at age 55, continues to win. “Being a good sailor is about experience … learning how the winds and tides work,” he says. “And the older you get, the more experience you gain, and the better you get. So I’m still sailing competitively and plan to do it for a long time.” To prove his point, he recently won the 2017 Around Salt Spring Island Race aboard his 32-foot Mischief. He also won in 2016. Eric is close to his family, and his sister also participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as a rower. “Both of us being in the Olympics finally prompted my parents to get a television,” he chuckles. His daughter, Emma, works in the boat business, and his son, Ross, is showing signs of becoming a sailing star. At age 13, Ross competed in the Swiftsure, and at age 15 participated in the Worlds. Eric sees his father frequently as Bent comes to Canoe Cove Marina every morning for coffee. I ask about his happiest memory, expecting Eric to describe his Olympic medal or the day he won the Star Class World Championships. Instead, he describes how he restored a boat called Gallant, originally built in 1947, and then went on to win the 6 Metre World Cup with it. Making the event truly special, however, was that the crew spanned three-generations, consisting of his father, son and himself. As though that moment wasn’t precious enough, the King of Spain subsequently purchased Gallant. Eric Jespersen will be winning for a long time to come.

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M.A.C. (Marion) Farrant, left, and Pauline Holdstock.

WRITE ON, READ ON LOCAL WOMEN IN SPOTLIGHT AT SEPTEMBER LITERARY FESTIVAL WORDS KORINA MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

etween the two of them, Pauline Holdstock and M.A.C. Farrant have enough awards and nominations to sink a sailboat. And as the original organizers and hosts of Sidney’s Reading Series that began in the early 1990s, it seems only natural that these local writers be featured in the upcoming Sidney and Peninsula Literary Festival (September 22-24). While their genres are decidedly unique, there is a bravery in each of their writing styles that makes their work magnetic. If you are thinking of attending the festival, these two writers will seal the deal. M . A .C . FA R R A N T Ask any writer: humour is a tricky genre to get right. Farrant did not set out to be a humourist; instead, it arose in her writing quite naturally. “Humour, for me, has grown out of a kind of world view, a merriness, a delight in living. Like many people, I turn towards lightness rather than darkness, towards that indestructible thread of hope, that lifting of the spirit — and often these things are found in humour and wit.” Farrant began writing as a child, creating plays to be performed by neighbourhood children, where she grew up in Cordova Bay. Eventually settling in Deep Cove, she is a Peninsula girl at heart, with many of her stories set in the area, and many of her ideas drawn from observation, overheard conversations and remembrances. The author of 14 works of fiction, non-fiction and memoir, and over 100 published book reviews and essays, she is well known for her unique voice and ability to bring wit to everyday situations. Her latest book, The Days—Forecasts, Warnings, Advice (2016) is a body of 93 unconventional, very short stories touching on everything from fortune-telling to time passing, love and ordinary days. “It comments on all of these things from the chorus of which everyone is part — the ubiquitous hum of voices that surround us and include us.” She is currently working on the third book in the series of this short form work, titled The Great Happiness, due out in 2019. When she’s not writing, Farrant is often reading. “Right now I’m reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, and re-reading The Cloud Spotter’s Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney.” Her advice to aspiring writers? “Write it down. Take a writing workshop or an evening class. Join a writing group for support and guidance. Our stories are precious and each of us has a unique one to tell.” At the upcoming festival, catch Farrant reading from The World Afloat, The Days and possibly her most popular book, My Turquoise Years. PAU L I N E H O L D STO C K Holdstock has called herself “a fiction writer who can’t lie.” She pulls her ideas from real-life events. “It can be from anywhere. Often in the course of research, I come across some actual fact that’s so amazing I feel it deserves to be explored and amplified. I especially love old newspaper headlines with short articles of just two or three lines — it’s just enough to get the imagination going.” Such was the case with her most recently published book, The Hunter and the Wild Girl. “My ideas came from all directions,” she says, her hands splayed out like roots looking to settle. She wanted to write about the French landscape and came across an account of a wild child who

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had appeared there. “I thought, I need a wild child to come out of this rugged landscape.” Holdstock then visited Le Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in a restored Parisian mansion, where taxidermy wound its way into her story. “There was a lot of taxidermy. In the middle of these beautiful salons with tapestries and furniture, there’s a stag or a wolf standing there.” She goes on to tell of a further discovery: “In a museum in Scotland, I saw a silver plate photograph of a man standing in an empty room. He looked so desolate staring out of a window. The caption said his name and, ‘who shot his only son in a hunting accident.’ That was the key to the whole book.” Holdstock, who has lived on the Peninsula for 30 years, began writing as a small child. She stopped in her teens, and began writing in earnest years later. “My father died suddenly when he was here visiting my first child. He had always said he quite liked the idea of trying his hand at short stories. ‘Someday, someday…’ he’d say. He never did it. After he passed away, I thought I have to start now. I got published fairly shortly afterwards. It was really the beginning of my writing career.” She now has a long list of works of fiction, essays and poetry to her name. “I work in a really unstructured way. I have all of my different ideas and then I just start writing scenes. I don’t always know how they’re going to knit together. With nearly every book, I use The Bedroom Floor Technique,” she smiles. “It’s the one place where I can lay out chunks of novel on the floor and they won’t get too stepped on throughout the

day. I get down on the floor and see where the connections are, what’s missing and what needs to be written. “ She laughs: “It’s certainly not a technique I would recommend. It’s chaotic and difficult. You’re quilting something together. And there’s a terrible moment near the end where you still don’t know where the end is.” Once it’s finished, Holdstock sends it out cold. “I tend not to share out until it’s gone already and it’s too late,” she laughs. “Again, it’s not necessarily something I would recommend. It has a lot to do with ego. If your ego isn’t intact, you probably aren’t going to attempt writing. You have to believe in the art that you’re creating. You have to trust that you’ve worked it to the point where it’s acceptable to the world. If you rely on others, you’re relying on their judgement. I prefer to trust my own judgement.” Holdstock recently completed yet another novel, one she views as different from her others. “It reaches back to 1960s Britain. Most of my other books have had historic settings, so they require a great deal of research; but this book is from my own experience. I know what it was like in Britain at that time so I didn’t have to do so much research.” While it’s not yet published, there’s a chance she’ll read from it in the upcoming festival. “The festival is a really great addition to Sidney’s literary scene,” she says. “A focal point. It keeps everyone’s interest in books alive and gives it a boost.” This is Book Town, after all.

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DON PRITTIE

> General Manager of Canoe Cove Marina & Boatyard for 13 years

WO R DS S U SA N LU N DY

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Nice to meet you, Don. Where were you born, how did you get to the Peninsula, and who is your family?

was born and raised in a small coastal community in West Vancouver. Copper Cove is the little bay just next to Horseshoe Bay. It was an absolutely charming place to be a kid in the ‘50s and ‘60s. I have been married to Janice for 38 years and we have three adult children, two in Victoria and one in Montreal.

You’re known as the GM at Canoe Cove Marina, but what was your career path before that? I started working at Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay when I was 14 years old and have been in the marine business in BC almost the entire time since. I had the opportunity to take over our family automotive business (Langley Nissan), but I didn’t love the car business, so on a very teary day, I told my father I appreciated the offer but I wanted to do something else with my life. He was great about it! I left there to manage a passenger ship in Vancouver and then did my first stint in Victoria with the Oak Bay Marine Group for five years. My first job was as Assistant Manager of Sealand of the Pacific, so all of a sudden, I was taking care of marine mammals! After that I went back to Vancouver and took on the management of the Malibu Club, a large remote kids’ camp in Princess Louisa Inlet for 13 years. Then it was back to the Oak Bay Marine Group as GM of April Point Resort and Marina, and finally as Senior Vice President of the Oak Bay Group immediately before taking on Canoe Cove Marina. You’re also the president of BC Boating — how and why did you get involved with this group? I have tried to stay active with whatever industry I have been part of, so after my time as chair of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, I put my name forward to serve on the board of what was then called the BC Marine Trades Association. I joined the board and a year or so later found myself as president! The organization has been promoting recreational boating and the marine industry for 60 years. We changed the name to Boating BC to better reflect our mandate to introduce the boating lifestyle to new people. I have always felt that working together within an industry makes all members stronger, so I have worked with our board and staff toward that goal. As the owners of the Vancouver International Boat Show, we have opportunities to promote boating and provide educational opportunities that can be quite exciting. What do you love most about the Peninsula? I love a lot about the Peninsula, but I think the greatest thing for me is the fact we are surrounded by ocean! Being a person who loves to look at boats and spend time in marinas, I can go to many different places and visit boats, shoreside eateries and marine services in all sorts of places from Sidney to Brentwood Bay. What trends are you seeing in recreational boating in the area? First of all, many of the baby boom generation are starting to get out 34

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Pearl editor Susan Lundy with Canoe Cove GM Don Prittie.

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of boating and trying other forms of recreational pursuits like RVing or golf. With the high cost of housing, many young families are using most of their income to buy or rent a home and may not be able to afford boat ownership at this time in their lives. This is leading to some new forms of boat sharing and boat clubs. On the other side of that are the people who have significant properties in Vancouver or other places of high value, who are relocating to the Peninsula and are purchasing boats after securing housing here. Demand for space in most marinas on the Peninsula is strong.

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What has been your greatest influence/success at Canoe Cove? When I came to Canoe Cove there were very few services available to the boating public and our marina customers. After spending some time upgrading our facilities, I started welcoming some local marine service providers to come and work out of Canoe Cove. This was the beginning of the Canoe Cove Marine Community where we work together to build a strong and pleasant atmosphere for our customers and a place where boaters can get any repair, maintenance or project work they want completed on their boat, done with one stop.

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What challenges are you facing? The two main challenges we face are the same as many industries in the Capital Region. First of all, getting qualified people to do the jobs the marine industry offers has been challenging. Moving forward, the skilled trades in most industries will be harder to fill and we are no exception. Secondly, the cost and availability of housing for our people. As stated earlier, the real estate boom we are living with has some negative consequences. And for many the cost of housing is a barrier to coming to work and live here. Who is your hero? I am most attracted to people who do amazing things against great odds. Two of my heroes are Terry Fox and Rick Hansen. These people and many others have likely said something like: “I can’t change what happened yesterday, all I can do is make today and tomorrow better.” As a person who has been very fortunate with health and vocation all my life, I can’t help but admire others who persevere with so many challenges or so much pain and make an amazing difference. What brings you joy? I get joy out of my family first and foremost. I also really enjoy working with my hands to create or improve different things. I have been re-building an old fishing boat for the last few years and while I view it as a project that will someday come to an end, I also enjoy the process as a hobby, taking something in rough shape and making it better.

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FAIR PLAY

The rich history of the Peninsula’s Saanich Fair WORDS SEAN MCINTYRE

he Saanich Fair of 1885 may have been especially memorable for a certain Mr. W. Thompson as well as others who attended the annual harvest celebration. Thompson, according to Victoria’s Daily Colonist, is reported to have met with a “rather painful accident” when a “large boar tore off the flesh of his left hand in a frightful manner.” The newspaper article concludes, rather optimistically, by reporting that the victim was “doing as well as might be expected” thanks to the steady hand and stitching skill of a local doctor called McSwain. Other fairgoers had the far more pleasant experience of welcoming Lord Lansdowne, Canada’s fifth governor general, to the Saanich Peninsula. Lansdowne’s visit coincided with rocky times in Canada’s young history. The government, led by Sir John A. Macdonald, faced a scandal associated with construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the charismatic Louis Riel was at the helm of the North West Rebellion and the nascent Canadian economy was on the

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

brink of recession. The governor general’s journey to Vancouver Island was part of a cross-country tour on the newly completed railway to meet and speak with colonists and First Nations people, with hopes of subduing further political troubles. An article recounting the trip reports the governor general was pleased to “find on the western shores of the Dominion so large and prosperous a community of agriculturalists.” Though this community was populated by only a few hundred people, states the article, the fair of 1885 revealed substantial progress in every line of products exhibited, demonstrated the importance of agriculture to securing the “social fabric” and foreshadowed the arrival of many settlers intent on enjoying the grand scenery and health-giving climate of the Pacific Province. Fewer than 20 years before Lord Lansdowne’s visit and Mr. Thompson’s unfortunate mishap with a boar, 10 settlers from the Peninsula paddled across the Saanich Inlet to witness the excitement at the Cowichan Valley’s newly formed agricultural exhibition. Upon their return, the men promptly contributed $5 each to establish an agricultural society, create categories and fund

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prizes for the inaugural Saanich Fair in 1868. Their goal: to promote agriculture and country life in the newly settled and growing region. That kind of money could stretch a long way back then, and Clara Knight suspects the wives of those aspiring agrarians weren’t overly thrilled about the idea. As president of the North and South Saanich Agricultural Society, Knight represents the organization responsible for the fair’s ongoing success. Her family once operated a Holstein dairy farm on the Peninsula, she continues to be active with the local 4-H club, and she can recall attending the fair as young as age five. “My memories are all encompassing,” she says. “Basically the fondest memories are getting together with fellow kids, teenagers and adults, the social communication, and the whole community working together. I just loved it, and I’m still involved.” Knight takes pride in the fair’s time-honoured focus on farmers and their products. Back in 1882, judges officiated over nearly 100 individual categories that included Swedish turnips, best fat pig, barrel beer and homemade straw hats. C. Thomson is listed in the Oct. 20, 1882 Daily Colonist as winning a prize for demonstrating the highest number of blue jay heads. The birds were considered a common pest to farmers and bounties were commonly issued for their destruction. Also published in the newspaper among winners in the “special”

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category is Mr. Wilson Brown’s sheepdog, which, the article reads, “was much admired, but there being no prize on the list, no award could be made.” Just as the fair gave local farmers and their families a chance to socialize, share knowledge and show off their finest root vegetables and rag rugs, it was common for city folk from Victoria to travel north to escape their urban setting for a taste of life in the country. In the words of an advertisement for the 79th-annual fair, “This long-standing event is of proved importance to the Peninsula, upon whose fertile fields the economy of this area depends in large measure … The rural population will be out in force; those who normally stay within city limits should take advantage of the [Labour Day] holiday to visit their close country neighbors. The occasion will be worthwhile.” Fairs often concluded with a large dinner and ball that offered locals an opportunity to celebrate the harvest and enjoy the company of neighbours. “It very much is and was a meeting ground,” Knight says. By 1927, the fair had become firmly established as the longestrunning agricultural exhibition in British Columbia and extended farther back than Toronto’s Canadian National Fair. Unlike many other long-standing fairs in Western Canada, Saanich was unique in that it continued to operate through the First and Second World Wars. In 1993, the fair relocated to its present-day site on Stellys Cross

“BASICALLY THE FONDEST MEMORIES ARE GETTING TOGETHER WITH FELLOW KIDS, TEENAGERS AND ADULTS, THE SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER. I JUST LOVED IT, AND I’M STILL INVOLVED.”

Road. The former location has been renamed Polo Park and a log cabin dating to 1933 houses the Saanich Pioneers’ Society Museum and Archives. “It ref lects the richness of the agriculture community,” says Sylvia Van Kirk. “It’s a real country fair with an emphasis on exhibits.” Van Kirk coordinates the Looking Back in Time Exhibit, a relatively new addition to the fair. The section gives fairgoers a chance to haul

out and dust off artifacts from the early days of agriculture and homesteading on the island. These can include anything from great grandma’s butter churner to garden tools and some truly vintage clothing. “This department highlights a long and proud history,” she says. Van Kirk, a retired University of Toronto professor of history, is fascinated by the colonial period and social history. By writing about the significance of each item on display, she strives to align past technologies and customs with modern perceptions of how life once was on the farm. As organizers of the Saanich Fair look toward the event’s sesquicentennial in 2018, Van Kirk hopes to coordinate the creation of short personal biographies of each of the fair’s founding families, which included households of Robert Brown, George Thomas, J. T. Mcllmoyle, and Peter Emrie of North Saanich, and William Thomson, Henry Simpson, Duncan Lidgate, Thomas Michell, William Turgoose and Captain George Stephen Butler of South Saanich. Van Kirk says that while many of these names live on in places throughout the Peninsula, the contribution of each also runs unseen throughout the region. By retracing the lives of each founder and the generations that followed, Van Kirk says, the public can behold creation of modern-day communities from the start of the area’s settlement in 1852, which predates the creation of BC as a Canadian province by nearly two decades. “These are large families that made a big contribution,” she says. This year’s edition of the fair runs September 2-4. The theme is a salute to Canada, featuring a special focus on heritage breeds and seeds. For further information, visit saanichfair.ca.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 PEARL

PENINSULA

LANDMARKS

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

PEARL PHOTOGRAPHER DON DENTON

explored the Peninsula through the eye of his camera, capturing numbersâ€™ colours, textures and backdrops.

FOOTLOOSE

TRAVEL LOG

Organic, fresh produce abounds at Salt Spring Saturday Market.

MARKET DAY ON THE GULF ISLANDS Abundance of wares in a day-tripperâ€™s paradise W O R D S + P H OTO G R A P H Y H A N S TA M M E M AG I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 PEARL

nder a clear cobalt sky, the Tour des Isles festival celebrated the five southern Gulf Islands, highlighted by convenient and inexpensive travel between the isles. (Take note BC Ferries!) I seized the opportunity and headed to Salt Spring Island. My goal was to visit the farmers’ markets on all five islands. As a vendor at the Pender Island Farmers’ Market, I was curious to see how the others compare and what they have to offer. We reached Ganges and soon I was at Centennial Park where I jostled among the smiling throngs and roamed rows and rows of canopy tents providing cool shade for more than 150 booths. I was in sensory overload. It was clear why the Salt Spring Saturday Market is one of the best in Canada. It’s enormous in size and, furthermore, all goods must be “vendor produced.” Since the island abounds with funky artists and organic farmers, an incredible variety of goods was on display, many of which were highly artistic and ingenious in concept. I loved chatting with the farmers, artisans and chefs about their fairy doors, decorative mushrooms made from recycled glass, all kinds of jewellery, pottery, artisan breads and cheeses, birdhouses from driftwood, freshly picked strawberries, spirits from a new craft distillery, pizzas, sushi and much, much more. Buskers played music at spots designated by chalk circles on the walkway. A Tai Chi class exercised in the park. There was even a dog sitting service. It was heaven. The fine print: • 8:30 am to 4 pm Saturdays, starting with the first Saturday in April and through the last Saturday in October. • Held at Centennial Park, Ganges. • No dogs but dog-sitting is provided. • A smaller market also runs Tuesdays, 2-6 pm, from June to end of October.

•

Mayne Island

I headed to Mayne Island and learned the primary purpose of the farmers’ market — established in the early 1990s — is to forge a closer bond between people and the food they eat. The market encourages and develops an awareness of local agriculture, arts and crafts, and provides a direct sales outlet for locally produced goods. Wandering among the booths, I gazed with big eyes at produce such as vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, fresh flowers, jams/jellies, plants, lamb’s wool, goat’s milk and cheese. I quickly became hungry. A vendor offering organic garlic explained there is always a changing pageant of seasonal offerings. A guitarist strummed in the background, and it seemed every vendor had a story or two A potter displays to tell. creative wares at the Richard DeArmond, market Salt Spring market. manager, said, “The average number of booths is 20, although we’ve had up to 42.” He added, “My favourite part of the market is its great atmosphere; it brings people together and encourages community interaction.” The fine print: • 10 am to 1 pm Saturdays from the May long weekend through Thanksgiving. • Held at the Agricultural Hall in Miners Bay, 430 Fernhill Road. • No dogs. •

Galiano Island

A short boat ride took me to the Galiano Saturday Market where I was greeted by the slogan Meet me at the Market! The tones of a musician strumming on a stage floated pleasantly among the booths. “Each Saturday is a different market depending on what’s fresh,” said a vendor displaying attractive asparagus and plump strawberries. I sat at a picnic table set with a tablecloth and fresh flowers and enjoyed an enormous cinnamon bun and coffee. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday, I thought, surrounded by friendly, smiling people, delicious food, fresh produce and clever, handmade crafts. Alison Colwell, an organizer and long-term vendor, explained, “We strive to make the market an event so people come and spend time here. We have a regular program of music and even had a choir sing last year.

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SINCE THE ISLAND ABOUNDS WITH FUNKY ARTISTS AND ORGANIC FARMERS, AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF GOODS WAS ON DISPLAY, MANY OF WHICH WERE HIGHLY ARTISTIC AND INGENIOUS IN CONCEPT. We’ve also installed these picnic tables so people can sit, eat and stay a while.” Suddenly a conga line snaked past us, led by a bachelorette party having some fun. What a great market! The fine print: • 10 am to 2 pm Saturdays from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving. • Held at the Lions Field, 992 Burrill Road. • Leashed dogs welcome. •

Saturna Island

Although Saturna has a very small population (about 350), it still holds a regular Saturday market. The booths outside the General Store offered something for everyone: preserves, organic local produce, books, gifts, crafts, artwork, wondrous creations and more. And here too, people were smiling and enjoying the day.

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The fine print: • 10 am to 1 pm Saturdays from after Canada Day to the end of August. • Held in the parking lot at Saturna General Store, 101 Narvaez Bay.

Pender Island

The following Saturday — now at the Pender Island market — I arranged my booth with my wares. Around me about 50 other vendors were similarly busy setting up. Lineups formed at the most popular booths, where farm-fresh produce and baked goods quickly sold out. People flocked in. A white bichon licked my hand while its owner chatted amiably. Two girls played violins with an open case in front. The sun sparkled in an azure sky. The Pender Island Farmers’ Market began in 1978 to help Farmers’ Institute members with the marketing of farm products, and was originally held at the Driftwood Centre. It moved to the Community Hall around 1998. Barbara Johnstone Grimmer, the volunteer market manager at that time, said, “From the beginning it was about ‘made, baked, grown’ on Pender Island. The hall site allowed the market to expand.” There is much behind-the-scenes work for a successful farmers market, I learned. To store the tables, tents and fall fair equipment, a barn was built behind the hall. A paid coordinator takes bookings, selects vendor locations and organizes the putting up and taking down of tents and tables. And there is signage and advertising to deal with as well. I strolled to Ewa’s European Cakes and selected a meringue smothered in cream and fresh, seasonal berries. Yum! Another great Saturday on the Gulf Islands. The fine print: • 9:30 am to 1 pm Saturdays from Easter to Thanksgiving. • Held at the Community Hall, 4418 Bedwell Harbour Road. • Leashed dogs welcome. • Also Saturdays the rest of the year, smaller, inside the Community Hall.

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•

MEET OUR

ARDMORE GOLF COuRSE Ardmore Golf Course is an ideal place to play your favorite game, host an event or hone your swing. Join us on the beautiful Peninsula. See ad on page 37.

BEACON BOOkS A general bookstore of good secondhand books, 4,000 sq.ft., fiction and non-fiction, from bestsellers to classics, for all ages. Come in and browse - find your favourite authors. See ad on page 24.

BRENTWOOD BAY PHARMASAVE

BRENTWOOD BAY EMPOuRIuM

Serving the community of Brentwood Bay for more than 25 years, Joe & Colin are proud to be your neighbourhood pharmacist. Joe enjoys sailing around the islands, Colin enjoys cheering for his beloved Canucks. See ad on page 25.

John Carswell and Alice Bacon and their son Will are the proprietors of Brentwood Bay Village Empourium. They are delighted to operate in their own neighbourhood to share their love of food, coffee and community See ad on page 37.

CATEGORY 12 What happens when a love of beer and passion for science collide? Come find out at Category 12 Brewing, where award-winning beers are crafted here on the Peninsula. See ad on page 22.

EYELAND OPTICAL

Pearl

DEEP COVE MARkET

ADVERTISERS

BEACON LANDING LIQuOR & MORE Sidney’s boutique style liquor store offering rare finds of Wine, Scotch & Spirits. See ad on page 17.

BuTCHART GARDENS Open every day of the year, The Butchart Gardens has been enthralling visitors for over 110 years with its stunning 55 acres of floral display gardens. See ad on page 47.

EXPEDIA CRuISESHIPCENTERS

Rosemary Scott, owner of the Deep Cove Market brings her passion for food and shopping to a unique little destination in the country. See ad on page 26.

Elaine Kirwin and her team at Expedia CruiseShipCenters Sidney, have been selling dream vacations to the residents of the Peninsula since 1997. See ad on page 43.

FISH ON FIFTH

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Since 1997 Fima has helped clients with all their optical needs in both our Victoria and Sidney locations. See ad on page 35.

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Island Soapstone is Vancouver Island’s only dedicated soapstone countertop fabrication shop. Our service, selection & quality are top notch - call us for an appointment! See ad on page 32.

Suzi is your friendly, professional Realtor with a community focus and local approach. Drop by our new office in Sidney and see our gallery of homes and featured local Art. See ad on page 6.

Dr. Donald Neal has been practicing in Sidney for over 25 years and together with his son, Dr. Trevor Neal, they provide personalized dental care at the Landmark Dental Centre See ad on page 13.

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MARY WINSPEAR CENTRE

ELIZABETH MAY

Owner, Chris Stephen invites you into her welcoming and fragrant boutique. A pretty plethora of unique finds that are a pleasure to give and to receive. Come and indulge all your senses! See ad on page 9.

The Mary Winspear Centre is the only state-ofthe-art event, conference and theatre facility located at the gateway to Vancouver Island. See ad on page 21.

NORMA JEAN’S CLOSET

ONE STOP FuRNITuRE INC.

Quality ladies vintage and consignment clothing, & Betsey Johnson jewellery. There is something to be said about looking good and living well and you can have both. See ad on page 19.

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PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

More then just your average renovations company, we are your one-stop shop for all your home needs with over 20 years experience. See ad on page 14.

Elizabeth May is the Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands. She was first elected in 2011, and re-elected in 2015. She is also an environmentalist, writer, activist, lawyer, and leader of the Green Party of Canada. See ad on page 42.

PACIFIC PAINT Terri Heal has worked in the paint industry for 22 years and her background includes interior design & decorating as well as fine art painting. See ad on page 35.

PENINSuLA ACADEMY OF MuSIC Life long career musicians Lloyd & Diana English educated, performed, recorded & directed throughout Canada prior to opening the Peninsula’s Music Academy in 2001. See ad on page 6.

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We offer patient centred health care, combining natural and modern medicine. Let our experienced health care team guide you to optimum health. See ad on page 42.

Puppy Love Pet Care Centre and The Cat’s Meow is a full service pet resort and spa designed and managed out of a genuine love of animals. See ad on page 20.

From: karla@readmedia.ca Date: October 13, 2011 12:42:03 PM PDT To: "Sagers" <store@sagers.ca> Subject: H&L Winter 2011 ad proof for approval Please see attached proof as discussed with Bob. Thanks! :) Karla

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Russell Nursery has been providing great plants and good advice to local gardeners for almost 25 years. We love plants and it shows! See ad on page 38.

SAGER’S HOME LIVING Luxury is easy to find when you know where to look, established in 1956, with twelve unique showrooms. Traditional, transitional, and modern furniture styles, with eclectic accents. See ad on page 5.

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Luxury is easy to find when you know where to look

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Pack your bags and get ready to Experience the Southern Gulf Islands! Explore Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring & Saturna Islands! Explore the Islands next door! southerngulfislands.com See ad on page 39.

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Specializing in “French Home Decor”. The more things change, goes the old French saying, the more they stay the same. Trends may come and go, in fashion and decor but the fundamentals are dependable throughout time. See ad on page 19.

Urbana provides discerning homeowners with some of the finest cabinetry available. Whether you are building a new home or renovating, our team of creative designers can help you achieve the look you want for every style and budget. See ad on page 45.

W&J WILSON

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W&J Wilson the oldest family owned clothing store in Canada est. 1862! Now run by the sixth generation Scott Thompson. See ad on page 15.

Serving the Peninsula for over 35 years, we specialize in your home finishing needs. Doors, flooring, mouldings, of course plywood, and so much more. See ad on page 33.

Situated at Tsehum Harbour near Sidney, this well protected marina offers moorage, haulout facilities, winter storage, and a wide range of shops to meet your boating needs. See ad on page 20.

Family owned and operated in Sidney since 2008. Licensed funeral directors Jordan and Leslie keep it simple in your time of need. See ad on page 38.

The

Lair

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 PEARL

PAWS ON

THE PENINSULA

Clockwise from top left: Billy Bob is a 10-year-old Havanese Shih Tzu; Miss Kitty is an 18-month-old Great Dane; Rio is an 6.5-year-old Havanese; Tess is a 12.5-year-old Golden Retriever; Molly is an 8-yearold Chihuahua mix.; Teddy is an 8-year-old Havanese Shih Tzu; Cooper is a 2-year-old Australian Labradoodle.

PEARL AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

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