Special Features - West Shore LIFE + STYLE

West Shore

+ LIFE STYLE

M O D E R N L I V I N G : C O LW O O D

HIGHLANDS

LANGFORD

METCHOSIN

SOOKE

V I E W R O YA L

WINTER 2018

Premiere Issue

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TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING.2018

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18

37

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12

10 6 7 8 10 11 12 16 4

Our Contributors Publisher’s Note Life + Style: Emily Royer Design: Sweet Spot Pub With: David Screech Taco Time!

Family Fit

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28 18 24 28 32 34 37 38

Rooms with a View Love is in the Air Storylines Winter Warm-Up In Love with the Classics For the Love of Dogs Meet the Advertisers

west shore life + style our team

GROUP PUBLISHEr Penny Sakamoto 250.480.3204 PUBLISHER + ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Michelle Cabana michelle.cabana@ goldstreamgazette.com 250.478.9552 Editor Susan Lundy lundys@shaw.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan WS Life + style Creative & DESIGN Lorianne Koch PHOTOGRAPHERS Don Denton, Lia Crowe, Sierra Lundy CREATIVE SERVICES Michelle Gjerde Rebecca Wilde

Advertising Karri Rolofs karri.rolofs@goldstreamgazette.com 250.478.9552

on our cover

Gary Howell gary.howell@goldstreamgazette.com 250.478.9552

Emily Royer, of Life + Style (page 8), is seen at Pacific Landing.

Photo by Lia Crowe

DISTRIBUTION Mellissa Mitchell 250.478.9552

associate editor Lia Crowe WS Life + Style magazine is published four times a year by Black Press. The

contents of WS Life + Style magazine are protected by copyright, including

205-774 Goldstream Avenue Victoria, British Columbia Ph 250.478.9552

the designed advertising. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent

www.goldstreamgazette.com

points of view or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of WS Life + Style. The

of the publisher.

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info@vargasandrose.com | www.vargasandrose.com Shanna: 250.727.1766 | Alex: 250.508.1489 /WINTER 2018

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OUR CONTRIBUTORS WINTER.2018

SUSAN LUNDY Susan is a freelance writer, author and editor of several Victoria-based magazines.

ANGELA COWAN

DON DENTON

Lia spent years in the fashion industry, and now works on the editorial side of lifestyle magazines.

Don is the Photo Supervisor for Black Press, Greater Victoria.

ALYN EDWARDS

HEIDI FINK

Alyn has been a career journalist, communications consultant and lifelong classic car enthusiast.

Heidi Fink is a chef, food writer and culinary instructor, specializing in local foods and ethnic cuisines.

CHELSEA FORMAN

JANICE JEFFERSON

VINCE KLASSEN

Chelsea is a lifestyle writer and has had the opportunity to write stories about people and places around the world.

Janice is an interior designer who creates well-functioning spaces with mix of playfulness and refinement.

Vince is a local photographer, who is never short of finding inspiration from the city’s amazing architecture.�

SIERRA LUNDY

DARCY NYBO

Angela is an awardwinning journalist, poet and freelance writer and editor.

Sierra is a freelance photographer, illustrator and musician.

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LIA CROWE

/ WINTER 2018

Darcy is a freelance writer, an awardwinning author, book editor and publisher, and a writing instructor.

SEAN MCINTYRE Sean McIntyre is a freelance writer who enjoys life with his wife Natsuko and their dog Goma.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE MICHELLE CABANA

ELCOME TO WS LIFE + STYLE — a brand new magazine for the wonderfully diverse area in which we love and live!

As I sit here reviewing my last year, I can’t help but feel grateful for every single one of its 365 days. I take stock in the ups and downs, lessons learned and changes that have allowed me to flourish.

Becoming publisher of the Goldstream News Gazette and starting WS Life & Style from ground zero are by far the greatest feats I attempted this year, and goals I’ve had since walking through the doors of the Gazette on

April 3, 2006.

I moved to the West Shore in 2005 from Ontario to be closer to family and I’ve never looked back. The West Shore is beautifully diverse — from the ever-changing landscape of Langford to the quiet rural farm lands of Metchosin — and I feel I could not have picked a better place to plant my family.

I chose to “Live, Work and Play” in the West Shore because it has everything I need — and I don’t have to suffer through the traffic and parking issues of downtown. The families I have met, and the businesses that I patronize are incredibly warm and inviting.

And even though the West Shore is growing at one of the fastest paces in all of BC, we maintain a small town feel. This is why West Shore is my home.

I can’t help but remain hopeful for what is to come. On behalf of the WS Life & Style Magazine team, I look forward to a positive journey in 2018. WS — Michelle Cabana

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888 Van Isle Way, Langford 250 474 6111 /WINTER 2018

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WS INSIDER [the life + style of …] EMILY ROYER. DIRECTOR OF SALES, MARKETING AND OPERATIONS AT PACIFIC LANDING

by LIA CROWE

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LTHOUGH EMILY HAS ONLY BEEN WORKING AT PACIFIC LANDING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, SHE SAYS IT FEELS LIKE MUCH LONGER. “It’s a family

project. My dad is the developer and he’s a real family-oriented person, so he would keep us in the loop about the property — always running ideas by us. He and I have been talking for years about when the right time would be for me to join the company. And then in 2016, the timing was right for Pacific Landing and for me.”

The 29 year old grew up in Calgary, and then got a business degree from The Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in London, Ontario. She worked in media in Toronto and then in London, England.

“My dad and brother also went to that school, so I accidentally have followed him in his footsteps. I’m also a little addicted to travelling, and I blame my father for that too.”

From working in London, England to working in the West Shore was a huge life change for Emily, but she says, “I love it out here, specifically for its accessibility to nature. There is so much to explore, so many interesting trails. It’s so pretty out here and it feels really peaceful.

Pacific Landing is on a migratory bird sanctuary, so everything in front of the Pendray House [a historic mansion from the original estate] is protected, and there are always the coolest birds here.”

Asked what she loves most about working at Pacific Landing, Emily says, “It’s the product. Selling homes is so satisfying — you’re matching someone with such an important part of their life. I have been in other sales roles in my career, but with this job when you sell someone their home, it’s so meaningful.” WS

Daily uniform:

“Nice pair of dark or black jeans, longsleeved top or turtleneck, Chelsea boots.

In my job, I’m often heading out to the construction site in between sales meetings, so it is important to be comfortable while looking smart.”

All-time favourite piece of clothing piece:

“My favourite piece of clothing is my Burberry trench coat. I received it while living in London. It’s a classic piece that will never go out of style.”

Current favourite pair of shoes:

“My black Nike runners. They’re stylish enough to wear around, look great with jeans and are very comfortable.”

Style icon: “My sister. She has always had an amazing sense of style — effortlessly elegant. I would say probably over half of my wardrobe is directed by her.”

All-time favourite jewellery piece?

“My favourite piece of jewellery is a ring I received from my dad on my 18th birthday. It’s a really unique piece from a jeweller in Calgary. It is a silver square ring with a ruby in the centre and diamonds on either side. I haven’t taken it off since the day it was given to me.”

Fashion piece you can’t live without:

“A good pair of jeans — well fitting jeans go with everything.”

Favourite watch:

“I love my Cluse watch; it’s simple and elegant.”

Necessary beauty product:

“Eyelash curler and really good mascara.”

Favourite scent:

“I love perfume. I am currently obsessed with Picot’s Honey Tobacco roll-on (local to Victoria).”

Must-have hair product:

“A good quality blow-dryer that will keep your hair healthy.” /WINTER 2018

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WS INSIDER [design]

by JANICE JEFFERSON MODHAUS DESIGNS

Sweet Spot Bosc Paleta Armchair 1298.00, Anthropologie

We all love having a comfy spot to rest our behinds at the end of a long day — and doing it in style makes it that much sweeter!

Olive Carlo Mid Century Chair $839, West Elm

Bensen U Turn Chair starting at $2,585, Chester Fields

VEDBO Chair $249, Ikea

Emerald Madelan Tufted Leather Arm Chair $1,715, Moe’s

Luna Chair $738, ScanDesigns

Halo White Snow Chair $1,199, CB2

EQ3 Arie Chair $1,524, StudioYdesign

Vitra East River Chair $3,584, Gabriel Ross

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/ WINTER 2018

We are blessed to live where we do and I am happy to contribute in any way to maintaining that and improving it.

WS INSIDER [ pub with] View Royal Mayor David Screech and WS Life + Style publisher, Michelle Cabana at the 4 Mile Pub.

the View Royal taxes the third lowest in the region while protecting and maintaining the quality of life in View Royal.

DON DENTON PHOTO

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL? Transportation

VIEW ROYAL MAYOR DAVID SCREECH AN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO YOUR BACKGROUND? WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED? I

was born in Vancouver in 1960 but other than a brief stint in England, I was raised in Victoria. I grew up in Oak Bay and attended Margaret Jenkins, Glenlyon and Oak Bay High. We moved to View Royal in 1998.

YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN THE WEST SHORE SINCE 2002.

WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO RUN FOR COUNCIL? Longtime View

Royal councillor John Rogers encouraged me to volunteer for the town on the Parks Advisory Committee. The experience piqued my interest in municipal affairs and I decided to run for Council. I have always felt that local politicians have a great impact on their communities, and I was anxious to take part and work towards making View Royal an even better place to live.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS BEEN AS MAYOR? In my years on Council, I think our biggest

accomplishment has been collectively protecting close to 100 acres of parkland in the Thetis Vale/ Chilco area. This has been done in tandem and through negotiations with developers. As mayor I’m also proud that the casino — now to be called Elements — will remain and is expanding in View Royal. It took perseverance and dedication. View Royal successfully negotiated with BCLC, the Province and Great Canadian Gaming Corp. to ensure that the View Royal casino becomes the premiere gaming destination on the southern island. The spin-off benefits for all of the West Shore communities are significant. I am also proud that we have kept

and housing are ongoing concerns. The transportation issues facing the entire region are paramount and need to be solved collectively. The recent Christie Point rezoning accentuated the complete lack of affordable rentals for families in our region.

YOU’VE ALSO BEEN ACTIVE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WHAT DREW YOU TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR? It really

just happened. I went to work for Gregg’s Furniture in 1983 and ended up being the owner. I enjoy being involved with a long-standing and well-respected local business.

YOU’VE BEEN ACTIVE WITH NUMEROUS ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMITTEES. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO VOLUNTEER? I truly

believe that it is important to give back to your community. We are blessed to live here and I am happy to contribute in any way to maintaining that and improving it.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? I am an avid gardener, so our garden takes most of my free time. I am also a cyclist. I enjoy skiing, boating and camping as well. I am also a big fan of our local hockey teams.

WHO IS YOUR HERO/WHO DO YOU ADMIRE? AND WHY? I am not sure I would use the word hero, but I am a longtime admirer and a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen. I think he will be regarded as one of the best songwriters of all time and I love his music. I also have great admiration for his values and how he strives for social justice in the world. Others that I have great admiration for would include Winston Churchill and Pierre Trudeau. WS WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY? Music, gardening, family (especially our grandchildren) and friends. WS /WINTER 2018

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WS INSIDER [ eat + drink]

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TACO TIME!

Fiesta in February

by CHEF HEIDI FINK photos DON DENTON

LAVOURFUL AND FUN, TACOS ARE THE KIND OF FOOD MADE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. What could be more

enticing at any time of year than a shared meal of sun-drenched foods: spicy salsas, juicy grilled meats and vegetables, warm seasoned beans and sweet corn tortillas?

Tacos are at once homey and festive: easy to eat, casual and still special enough for a party. Every person at the table can tailor his or her own tacos to suit individual tastes, mixing and matching fillings with salsas and condiments to create a personal version of taco heaven.

To make a basic taco meal, choose at least one filling, two salsas and several condiments. To make a full-on fiesta in your own kitchen, invite friends who love to cook, and have every person bring something different to the meal. A selection of at least three taco fillings, two or three salsas and all of the condiments will feel like a feast of summertime abundance.

But for spectacular results no matter what, try your hand at homemade corn tortillas. I love them so much and find them so easy to make, I pull out my tortilla press even in a busy weeknight.

Homemade corn tortillas are the definitive sign that a taco meal has turned into a full on taco party, no matter how small the meal.

TACO CONDIMENTS

Crumbled Queso Fresco OR sheep feta Thinly sliced radishes, tossed in lime juice Thinly sliced onion, tossed in lime juice Thinly sliced jalapeĂąo Salted cabbage

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“Homemade tortillas are easy to make and have an incomparable flavour and texture,” says Chef Heidi Fink, whose directions for making tortillas can be found on the opposite page.

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Remove to a plate and cover with a clean dish towel. Repeat with remaining dough.

Serve tortillas immediately, or let cool and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge. Reheat by wrapping the stack in foil and placing in a warm oven for 10 minutes.

Chopped tomato Chopped avocado Grilled green onions, chopped Thin wedges of lime Grilled bell peppers or chilis, chopped

HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLAS

Makes about 12 soft tortillas Homemade tortillas are easy to make and have an incomparable flavour and texture. They are made with a special corn flour called masa harina, which can be purchased at various grocery stores in town.

2 cups masa harina 1½ cups tepid water Equipment: tortilla press, cast iron or stainless steel skillet Combine masa and water in a medium-sized bowl and mix with a fork or your hands until evenly blended. Let dough rest for 5 minutes. Form dough into golf-ball-sized pieces. Roll each into a ball and flatten slightly. Preheat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat.

Place a flattened dough ball in the centre of a plastic-lined tortilla press (I use a large freezer lock bag, cut open), close and press firmly. Open and gently remove tortilla. Immediately place in the preheated skillet to cook while you press the next tortilla. Cook in the skillet for about one minute; flip and cook for about 40 seconds on the second side.

SALSA FRESCA

Makes 2 cups The proportions of this salsa are not set in stone. You’re looking for a happy blending of flavours, which depends on the sweetness of the tomatoes, the sharpness of the onion, the acidity of the lime and the heat of the chili. Taste as you go, and feel free to make adjustments. ½ small white onion, cut in quarters 2 jalapeños or serranos (seed them if you want the salsa to be less spicy) 1 clove garlic, pressed ¼ to ⅓ cup fresh cilantro ½ tsp salt, more to taste 2 to 3 tsp fresh lime juice 4 large ripe tomatoes, cut in large pieces Combine the onion pieces, jalapeños, garlic, cilantro and lime juice in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the tomatoes and the salt and pulse until tomatoes are chopped and everything is mixed well. Pour into a bowl and taste to adjust for seasonings. WS

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WS INSIDER [ health+ fitness]

family

fit

Boot camp for moms, dads and the kids

by CHELSEA FORMAN photos LIA CROWE

FINDING THE RIGHT KIND OF EXERCISE DEPENDS ON SO MANY PERSONAL VARIABLES AND FOR MANY, FAMILY IS THE NUMBER ONE DETERMINING FACTOR ON THAT LIST.

imply finding the time to exercise when you have a busy family and young children adds an additional element of difficulty when it comes to finding a fitness regime that works for you.

But what if there was an option to include your children on your journey to developing a healthy, active lifestyle?

Kelly Vick, owner of Tone the Zone Fitness on the West Shore, has been an avid fitness lover her entire life. After having children, Kelly found herself struggling to find time to exercise amid the chaos of busy schedules.

She also wanted to find the best way to raise her children to be healthy and active people. The answer?

Kelly decided to launch Tone the Zone Fitness, offering family-inclusive boot camps.

“When I had my second child I decided I wanted to be more flexible with my kids and it was at that point I started a fitness company. I wanted it to be centred around kids. I believe kids will do what they see. They always seem to pick up our negative traits,”

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/ WINTER 2018

Kelly Vick, owner of Tone the Zone Fitness.

/WINTER 2018

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› Boot Camp is a group exercise class that is founded on programs used to quickly get new military recruits into shape.

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› Three Boot Camp moves you can expect wherever you sign up: burpees, quad squats and Cobra push-ups.

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Just like new

The kids can go off and play, but a lot of them will stay with us while we are working out. The older they get, usually five or six, they will start participating and follow along with us.

Kelly laughs, “but having them hang around seeing their moms and dads be active — I think that will be ingrained into them in the future.”

Kelly operates Tone the Zone Fitness out of her fully-loaded home facility on the West Shore. Taking into consideration that not all kids want to participate, Kelly has also built an indoor playroom and outdoor playground to keep kids active while their parents work out.

She believes kids should never be pushed to participate in the workouts, and that just being around active adults will contribute to the development of a healthy lifestyle, “A healthy, active lifestyle needs to start young,” says Kelly. “The kids can go off and play, but a lot of them will stay with us while we are working out. The older they get, usually five or six, they will start participating and follow along with us.”

Kelly originally fell in love with boot camp because of the motivation and sense of camaraderie the activity instills in participants.

“The group dynamic is really important.

There is a real sense of friendship and support.

When people are going through tough times, we are there for each other. We laugh a lot … well … they complain a lot too, but the cheekier they are, the better I know their workout is,” Kelly explains.

Kelly is committed to keeping her classes small, with no more than eight adults per session. She believes this helps her form strong relationships with her students, understand their personal fitness circumstances and be able to offer them more individual coaching in sessions.

Tone the Zone classes are operated six days a week, and with sign-up by session, allowing participants to come as their family schedules permit.

Kelly has effectively cracked the parental issue of finding time to exercise when you have kids. On top of offering a tremendously effective and fun workout, she offers a safe place for children to begin developing a strong relationship with fitness. WS

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WS INSIDER [ smart spaces]

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ROOMS WITH A VIEW

by CHELSEA FORMAN photos VINCE KLASSEN

GINGERLY PRESS A SILVER DOORBELL, THINKING THE EXTERIOR OF THIS HOUSE IS CLOSER TO A PIECE OF FINE ART THAN A COLLECTION OF BUILDING MATERIALS.

Then the door opens, I’m greeted warmly by one of the homeowners and a pair of black Standard Poodles.

“This is Juno and the young one is Emmie,” he tells me.

The dogs are impeccably groomed, and somehow their black coats perfectly juxtapose the soft colours of the home’s interior. Emmie nuzzles gently at my hand and I resist the urge to sit down on the pristine wire-brushed oak floors that sweep the space before me to play with her.

From the front entrance we walk by a home office and descending staircase into the open concept living room and kitchen space. The living room ceiling soars at an impressive 20 feet, with expansive windows showcasing a staggering view off the back of the house. Mount Finlayson feels close enough to touch. A fireplace to our left carries stainless steel from the base all the way to the ceiling.

Joined by the homeowner’s wife, the three of us move into the kitchen and sit around a white quartz island, designed in the shape of the house. This is my first hint at the depth of detail this home boasts. We quickly fall into a conversation about the supreme lifestyle on Bear Mountain.

“I golf every day,” the husband says. “After I golf I come and get the dogs and we go on a big walk. We used to walk from our townhome to this very property. I would lie on the hill and dream about what it would be like to have a house here.”

After the couple acquired the property, they began a six-month design process, followed by two years of building, one of which involved getting the lot ready.

“The property was not ‘build ready,’” he explains, taking his arm and holding his elbow high in the air, his hand pointing downwards: “this was the angle the lot was.”

They brought in Victoria Stonescape, which built a fortress-like wall — 24 feet high — to flatten the property enough to build.

The couple designed the home with Mike Dunsmuir of Step One Design. They didn’t have any major ideas other

This gorgeous Bear Mountain home has a light, airy and open feel to it — not to mention spectacular views and a mountain resort vibe.

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than to “make use of the whole lot,” the male homeowner says.

“There was no defined plan. It came together as we went.”

His wife adds that she did want, “a clean modern aesthetic with a lot of natural light and neutral flow.”

Glancing around, I think the look has been expertly achieved.

The light colour palette in combination with the expansive windows make the home so bright it almost glows.

She goes on to say, “The view is the décor.”

And fine décor it is. The lush green mountains seen from the back of the house provide an attractive emerald pop of colour in the living space. There is no competing furniture to diminish the view.

“Mike built everything in,” the man says. “It was great, we got rid of pretty well all our furniture.”

“And what’s left, is all from ScanDesigns,” his wife says, adding ScanDesigns is known for producing elegant, modern, simple pieces that effectively complement the space but do not compete with it.

The homeowners knew from the day they purchased the lot that they wanted to work with Terry Johal Developments on the build, and Johal says this particular home was a pleasure to work on.

“I’m quite proud of it. It has the real mountain resort vibe. It fits and blends in really nicely to its surroundings,” he says, 22

/ WINTER 2018

adding, “It’s contemporary, without a cold feel. It’s inviting, more than most contemporary homes.”

As we set off to tour the home with Emmie and Juno politely trailing behind us, I take note of the quality referenced by Johal.

Four materials are pulled throughout the house, giving it an appealing consistency — stainless steel, white quartz, wood and glass. The doors even have a stainless steel strip inlay on the main floor, which is subtle but sublime.

In the master bedroom, the white quartz of the kitchen counters has been used on the fireplace mantel and the king bed frame is built in with the same engineered walnut used throughout the kitchen and living rooms. The master bathroom features a Japanese style tub that stands in the centre of the room and is as tall as my chest. As with the rest of the home, the tub is electronically programmed.

Each room has a Control 4 touch screen, which manages everything from temperature to music. It is also connected to a state-of-the-art security system with a series of cameras that monitor the property and can be viewed from a television or cell phone.

“We can watch the rain in Victoria from the sun in Arizona,” the homeowners explain.

As the tour continues, we approach a floating staircase

leading to a space above the garage. Emmie and Juno sit patiently at the bottom.

“When we were designing the home I knew I wanted a man cave, but we also had this empty space where an attic would otherwise be,” the man describes as we ascend the stairs, “So Mike suggested, why not make a woman’s cave up there?”

I like the sounds of this. We enter the space at the top of the stairs where a built-in sewing station appears. The roof is artistically designed with four quadrants dipping down in the corners, and a balcony off the front allows for a peek-a-boo look at the inner harbour of downtown Victoria. The room is luxurious and reminds me of a private atelier.

As we make our way downstairs and turn the corner down to the lower level, Emmie takes off down the hall towards the main living space.

“She had a bad go of these stairs once, so she only uses the other set off the main entrance. She’ll meet us down there,” he explains.

Sure enough as we emerge at the bottom of the stairs, Emmie has already made it down via the main staircase. We cut down a hallway, which has two guest bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom, and enter a large space with a full bar and home theatre to our left.

Directly in front of us is the illusive man cave, visible through a set of glass doors, and framed like a picture. A bat-cave-like garage (separate from the everyday, two-car garage on the top of the property) showcases a pristine, 1967 powder blue Corvette Stingray convertible.

I’m not much of a car girl, but even I can appreciate this car’s beauty. We make our way into the man cave with a workshop all done in glossy cabinetry that Johal calls “Ferrari Red.”

Back outside, admiring the residence, I can understand why Terry Johal’s properties have become a fixture on the mountain. His knack for detail is more than a little impressive.

The roof is an arts and crafts design made from a mix of materials including slate, combined with timber elements to bring in that mountain feel. Anodized Aluminum with metal flashing on the garage doors gives it a crisp modern vibe.

“Everything we did on this home is really high quality and doesn’t need to be highly maintained, from the exterior build materials, to the driveway, to the artificial grass in the backyard,” Johal says. “There is a real quality feeling of the whole home. Every effort was made for it to be the best it could be. The homeowners gave us the freedom to do that and it was worth it.”

The homeowner is equally pleased with Johal: “Walking around Bear Mountain the past few years, I have become very familiar with Terry’s work. I can pick his homes out on any road.”

All too soon I have wrapped up my tour and it’s time to head out.

I shake the homeowner’s hand and he warmly says, “If you ever need some more poodle time feel free to stop by.”

I laugh, but I just may take him up on that. WS SUPPLIER LIST: Builder: TERRY JOHAL DEVELOPMENTS Architectural Design: STEP ONE DESIGN Cabinetry: SOUTH SHORE CABINETRY Flooring: HOURIGAN’S FLOORING Lighting: MCLAREN LIGHTING Hardware: VICTORIA SPECIALITY HARDWARE

A bat-cave-like garage showcases a pristine, 1967 powder blue Corvette Stingray convertible.

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WS INSIDER [ lifestyle]

Take a stroll at Tower Point in Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park.

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Love is in the air Ways to spark romance in February

by DARCY NYBO photos DON DENTON

CABINS

HIKING

DINNER

ELEBRATE LOVE IN FEBRUARY WITH A ROMANTIC GETAWAY AND LOOK NO FARTHER THAN SOOKE AND THE WEST SHORE FOR SPOTS TO PEAK YOUR PASSION. Romance resort

Get away with your sweetheart to the southwest part of Vancouver Island. There are several resorts here, and you can hide away from the world, unplug and enjoy each other’s company. Try whale watching at SookePoint Ocean Cottage Resort or enjoy your own private, clifftop cottage at Fossil Bay Resort.

In between there’s Point No Point Resort, a private cabin resort, located minutes from French Beach Provincial Park, and 25 minutes from Sooke. Imagine lounging in your private hot tub on the deck, taking in the crisp air and beautiful sea views. The cabins all have kitchens, but the resort’s ocean view restaurant is highly recommended. Pamper yourselves with a Romance Package spa treatment right in your cabin with sideby-side massages and a romance gift bag. Or walk the beach and famous red bridge.

WINE

SCENIC STROLLS

Right beside Whiffen Spit is the Sooke Harbour House Resort Hotel where you can have a romantic meal, and/or stay the night.

Each room has a theme — some with Jacuzzi-style tubs right on the balcony. There’s an on-site spa and an award-winning restaurant. Enjoy bistro-inspired items in the Copper Room or just relax and have Tea by the Sea. Amazing views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains complete the experience.

Scenic strolls for hand-holding

Spend time by the ocean with your loved one. Bundle up and take a gorgeous beach walk at the Esquimalt Lagoon. Stroll along miles of exquisitely wild shoreline. Views of Victoria, the Fisgard Lighthouse and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains complete the scene.

(Birds of a Feather B&B is located right on the Esquimalt Lagoon. It has an in-house spa as well as a luxury condo suite and a honeymoon suite!)

Turn around and face the Esquimalt Lagoon for a view of the stately Hatley Castle and its surrounding gardens and old growth forest, now home to Royal Roads University. No matter what the time of year, you’ll find hundreds of birds at the Migratory Bird Sanctuary, including Blue Herons and Bald Eagles. /WINTER 2018

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Feasting on Eggs Benedict for brunch at Mo:Lé on Millstream Road. It’s all part of sparking romance on the West Shore.

BRUNCH

COFFEE

Take a stroll through the grounds of historic Fort Rodd Hill and walk to the Fisgard Lighthouse. The view alone is worth the walk.

Decadent day-tripping

Create a romantic day out with you, your sweetheart and Mother Nature. Enjoy an eclectic brunch at Mo:Lé in Langford and then take a walk around Thetis Lake Regional Park along the easy hiking trails. Breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the light filtering through the towering trees and reflecting off the lake.

Head to Goldstream Provincial Park and challenge your partner to a hike up Mount Finlayson. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Victoria, the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Then take your time walking back down and head to your evening retreat.

After all that fresh air, snuggle down into a room at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa. Find Sante Spa, where your cares will melt away with a BC Beach Stone massage. For more relaxation, take in a yoga class at the Rec Centre. For a romantic dinner, enjoy award-winning dishes at Bella. Wine lovers are invited to join the Sommelier at The Cellar, Victoria’s only cellar on Friday nights from 6 to 7 pm.

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SPA

Metchosin amour No matter the time of year, Metchosin is a place for romance.

Walk Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park, with its scenic creek, waterfall, lagoon, beach and rocky shoreline.

In town, you’ll find stores filled with pottery, wood sculptures, silver and gold jewellery, paintings, gifts, crystals and handmade crafts. When you get hungry, pop in to the MyChosen Café with its quaint atmosphere and great home cooked food.

Coffee lovers won’t want to leave the Broken Paddle Coffee House. Spend quality time over a cup of some of the best coffee on Vancouver Island. It also has a revolving art show and fresh baked goods. But if you’re really craving something sweet, the Sugar Shack is the place to go for chocolatey goodness, cheesecakes, muffins and pastry.

Take your finds back to a cosy room at one of Metchosin’s many B&Bs. The Lodge at Weir’s Beach makes for a great romantic getaway. Stroll through the “Chakra” or one of their other beautiful gardens. Enjoy a yoga class to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Stay in one of their four beautifully decorated suites with private bath and ocean views. WS

WS INSIDER [ at home with ]

Storylines At home with celebrated writing couple Esi Edugyan and Steven Price

by SEAN MCINTYRE photos DON DENTON

SI EDUGYAN STILL RECALLS VISITING HER PARTNER STEVEN PRICE WHEN THE YOUNG COUPLE STARTED DATING NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO. As a 20-something student enrolled in the University of Victoria’s creative writing program, Esi lived in Victoria’s Cook Street village. She didn’t own a car. Travelling to see Steven on the West Shore was always a major expedition.

“I had to take three buses and then, at the end of the last ride, I had to hike up a steep hill,” she says.

Twenty years have brought plenty of changes.

The couple began their lives together downtown but eventually settled in Colwood and started a family, all while crafting impressive literary careers.

Esi is the author of three novels. She emerged onto Canada’s literary stage with the release of The Second Life of Samuel Tyne in 2004. The ominous and moving portrayal of life in rural Alberta was nominated for the HurstonWright Legacy Award. Half-Blood Blues, a story about politics, race, music and relationships in Nazi Germany won Canada’s Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2011 and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for English language fiction, Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the United Kingdom’s prestigious Man Booker Prize. In 2012, the book received the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. Her latest book, Washington Black, is set for release later this year.

Steven has earned numerous honours for his poetry, including the Gerald Lampert Award in 2006 for Anatomy of Keys, which was also named a Globe & Mail Book of the Year.

In 2011, he completed Into That Darkness, a thriller set in modern-day Victoria. Having secured a coveted international book deal, Price then produced what may arguably be his most ambitious work to date. By

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Writers Esi Edugyan and Steven Price at the dining room table in their Colwood home. The map antique map of London, England (on the wall) was a gift from Esi to Steven when he was writing his novel By Gaslight, which was set in London.

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Following our interview at a snug neighbourhood coffee shop, they were off to collect the kids from school.

Picking up the children is a welcome reprieve from their respective writing routines. Both spend up to six hours a day researching projects, trying out ideas, developing characters and unraveling storylines. Esi describes home-office life as providing flexibility but not necessarily the degree of freedom that many office workers might idealize.

First order of business for Esi is digging into a good book, something to get her in the right frame of mind to begin churning out her own narrative voice. Steven jokes that he still has his original writing shirt, its fibres so worn out that he’s had to begin wearing a second one over top just to hold everything together. Neither place much credence in writing talismans, but be careful about grabbing their cherished coffee mugs while you’re paying them a visit!

There are often multiple ideas on the go, only some of which ever live to see a final chapter.

When the kids are home from school, the family adheres to an open-door policy. There is no downtime. No hiding at your desk.

“Right from the beginning we’ve had this open door policy,” he says. “We found that when they felt they could come in and talk with us they didn’t feel the need all of the time.

“A closed door is an invitation.”

The advantage of having a fellow writer under the same roof

to help work through problems, fuel inspiration and offer advice speaks for itself. Each has grown to welcome the chance to act as sounding board, test reader and advice counsellor. It can happen over dinner, on a Sunday drive or in the middle of the night.

“It’s extremely helpful,” Esi says. “Steven is a great editor as well as a great writer, so it’s amazing to be able to pass him stuff. I can’t believe I have this calibre of an editor right at home.”

Coming out of the trance-like space caused by extended periods of creative work, they credit the children for easing their transition back to normalcy.

“It sounds crazy when you don’t have kids of your own, but it’s a wonderful thing that these are your best friends in the world and you’re spending time with them,” Steven adds.

As their family life and careers have evolved so too has the city they call home. Steven recalls a childhood of dirt biking with pals in Colwood’s scrubby vacant lots. His neighbourhood had a gritty, rough-around-the-edges reputation. Not so anymore, as new housing projects and commercial developments reshape the landscape. The City of Colwood doesn’t feel so far away these days.

“It was such a different place back then,” Steven says. “Being somebody who was born and raised here, I think it would be perfectly natural to be disgruntled about all these people coming, but I don’t feel that at all. I feel great optimism.” WS

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Now opeN! Your Vancouver Island RV Dealership With All The RVs for Sale, All The RV Service, All The RV Time /WINTER 2018

31

WS INSIDER [ travel ]

April Point near Campbell River.

WINTER WARM-UP

by SUSAN LUNDY

HAT BETTER WAY IN THE COOL WINTER MONTHS OR NIPPY WEEKS OF EARLY SPRING TO WARM UP THE CORE THAN BY IMMERSING YOURSELF IN SCENTED STEAM, OR RELAXING UNDER THE STRONG FINGERS OF A MASSAGE THERAPIST?

Vancouver Island plays host to numerous award-winning spas, many with creative touches you can’t find anywhere else. Here’s a look at three of them:

Grotto-fication at Tigh Na Mara

Tucked amid swathes of beachside forest in Parksville, Tigh Na Mara offers a mix of ocean view rooms, family-oriented cabins and upscale suites. And for anyone on a spa tour, it dishes up something entirely unique.

When my husband and I arrived early last March, I was battling the lingering cough of a cold that had flattened me for close to six weeks. So I was thrilled to discover a Jacuzzi tub and fireplace in our spacious one-bedroom Spa Bungalow. (Tub, bottle of bubbly, crackling fireplace … my cold felt better already.)

Ranked among the top 100 spas in North America by Spas of America, Tigh Na Mara’s 32

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Grotto Spa offers facials, body wraps, body glows, massages, manicures and pedicures, many with a focus on West Coast natural ingredients.

The Grotto Mineral Pool area includes a whirlpool and “invigorating” cool-splash waterfall. Designed to emulate a natural stone grotto, the 2,500-square-foot warm water pool features natural minerals and trace elements said to detoxify the body. There’s also a poolside lounging area.

The spa offers several packages, including ones created for couples or girls’ getaways, and others for bridal parties and expectant mothers. I happily submitted to an aromatherapy relaxation massage, the

I doubt there’s many places in the world where whales are part of the mani /pedi package — and it capped off a truly delightful experience.

Tigh Na Mara’s Grotto Spa in Parksville(left) and Kingfisher Spa and Resort near Courtenay. resort claims is unique in North America — the spa has over 20 treatment rooms and a diverse spa menu.

Accommodation ranges from the original ocean view and garden view rooms on the upper level of the property to the newer, more luxurious beachfront suites, located on the lower level. A room reservation allows access to the heated outdoor pool, sauna, hot-tub steam cave and fitness room. Great for a warm winter escape. comforting oils and thick scents soothing my coughtrashed body.

But the really unique experience at Grotto Spa was yet to come as, wrapped in robes and donning little slipper sandals, we awaited our table at the Treetop Tapas & Grill, available only for robed spa guests. Guests can choose to sample one or two tapas or, like us, select the endless tapa menu, which dishes up a dizzying array of gourmet tasting plates.

Between the spa, the pool and the tapas tasting — it is true “grotto-fication.”

Steam, jets and warm water at Kingfisher

“I could get used to this,” I thought as I soaked in my own personal tidal bath at Kingfisher Spa and Resort, located just a few minutes south of Courtenay.

The day’s stress had already ebbed away as I moved through the resort’s unique Pacific Mist Hydropath — a shoreline-mimicking pathway of water and steam hydrotherapy stations. By this time, my shoulder and neck muscles had been loosened by Swiss water jets and tumbling waterfalls. I’d basked in eucalyptus steam; been heated up and cooled down. I’d sweated, floated and scrubbed myself in sea salt.

And now I was encased in a warm-water, womb-like tidal bath carved out of rock. Everything took place amid a seascape of sculpted stone, lush flora and beach wood.

Life was good.

Set on the ocean’s edge on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, Kingfisher Spa and Resort is dubbed a “mix of casual luxury.”

In addition to the Pacific Mist Hydropath — which the

A touch of wild at April Point

What a moment.

There I sat, lulled by the sun, in a deckchair perched on the edge of Discovery Passage. My freshly clipped, buffed and painted nails glinted purple in the light as they dried on the armrests, and my feet sat in a pail of warm water. My calves tingled from a quick but comforting massage.

Suddenly, as I looked out across the water, I heard a telltale sound, and watched as a massive grey whale broke the water’s surface. Fellow guests at April Point Resort and Spa rushed to the edge of the water and we all watched the whale make its way down the passage.

I doubt there’s many places in the world where whales are part of the mani /pedi package — and it capped off a truly delightful experience.

I arrived at April Point via a free, 10-minute water taxi shuttle from Painters Lodge, near Campbell River — a three-hour drive from Victoria — and checked into a comfortable, one-bedroom “deluxe ocean view spa room.”

From here, I could feast my eyes upon the ocean as well as the aesthetically sweet spa, which is housed in a beautiful, Japanese-inspired building, set in the centre of a tranquil pool.

Crossing the bridge to the spa, one immediately feels the tension dissipate.

The spa offers a multitude of indoor treatments, including such gems as a rosemary-mint awakening body wrap and fusion plant pure-fume steam shower, plus packages and options for gentlemen as well.

Unfortunately, April Point shuts down for the cooler months.

But it reopens in May, so at least one can book it in the winter and start dreaming. WS /WINTER 2018

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WS INSIDER [ history ]

IN LOVE WITH THE CLASSICS

by ALYN EDWARDS photos DON DENTON

OOKE’S TED FORBES BOUGHT HIS FIRST CAR AT THE AGE OF 14. GROWING UP ON A FARM IN SOURIS, MANITOBA, HE LOVED MACHINERY AND CARS SPECIFICALLY.

The 1949 Meteor coupe he bought for $40 was a first year, Canadian-only car that was really a “badge engineered” Ford with a different grille and emblems.

So his love affair with Meteor cars began. But it was the big cars of the mid- to late-1950s that would ultimately hold his attention.

“The rich kids in my town used to drive up and down Main Street in their mother’s cars. One had a pink and white, 1958 Mercury hardtop with cruiser skirts, the other a white, 1959 Oldsmobile convertible with red rockets [rear fenders ending in rocket-style taillights]. I was just a 12-year-old kid off the farm who was completely smitten,” Forbes recalls.

A visit to his sprawling, Mediterranean-style home outside Sooke reveals garages full of some of the most impressive restored cars in existence from the 1950s. All are fully optioned and painted pastel colours from that era.

He has five prime examples of Meteor cars in his collection — four of them rare convertibles: • The most elusive is a black and yellow 1955 Meteor Rideau Sunliner that he originally missed buying when he phoned too late on an ad placed in the Winnipeg Tribune half a century ago. The man who succeeded in buying the convertible eventually moved to Victoria, and Forbes kept upping his offer until he finally acquired it 10 years ago.

Similarly, he knew the original Victoria owner of his pastel-peach and colonial-white 1957 Meteor Sunliner convertible, and was first in line when the decision to sell was made.

To get a matched set, he restored the remains of a 1956 Meteor Sunliner pulled from a Manitoba junkyard years ago. He calls it “Juicy Fruit” for its unique grove green and saffron yellow colours.

• He restored an equally rare 1956 Meteor Rideau Crown Victoria with its distinctive tiara roof in red, black and white.

• Wanting an earlier example of a Meteor 34

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Ted Forbes in “Pinky.”

“AFFORDABLE AND STYLISH, THE METEOR LINE WAS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET. IT HAD THE FOURTH HIGHEST OVERALL SALES FROM 1949 TO 1959, RUNNING BEHIND THE CHEVROLET, PONTIAC AND FORD. BY 1957, 250,000 METEORS HAD BEEN BUILT IN CANADA.” — Canada Science Technology Museum

“THE METEOR TRULY REFLECTED ITS CANADIAN CULTURE, STARTING IN 1954. THE FORD MODEL NAMES WERE DROPPED. THE MAINLINE WAS NOW THE METEOR, THE CUSTOMLINE WAS THE NIAGARA AND THE TOP-OF-THE-LINE CRESTLINE WAS NOW THE RIDEAU. SOME MODELS USED THE MORE POWERFUL 120 HORSEPOWER MERCURY FLATHEAD ENGINE, ALONG WITH THE MERCURY DASHBOARD.” — Wheels.ca

Above, rear view of Ted Forbes’ 1957 Meteor convertible “Pinky.”

At left, a 1956 Mercury pickup — his summer vehicle.

/WINTER 2018

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Sunliner convertible, Forbes went back to the Prairies to buy three junked convertibles and a 1953 Meteor Victoria hardtop that was once owned by a childhood friend. Using skills honed during his 30 years working all over the world as a superintendent on oil drill rigs and in shipyards, he used parts and pieces to build his 1953 Meteor Sunliner into a world class showpiece. Painted colonial white, the Sunliner features a stunning red and cream interior and every option possible, including a continental kit spare wheel with graphics. He named the car “Canadian Maid.”

Forbes and his late wife Sharon were regulars at classic car swap meets all over North America looking for parts and rare accessories to make their cars special. The couple operated Island Powder Coating for many years.

Some of the other stand-outs in Forbes’ collection include: • A silver and red 1959 Oldsmobile convertible that pays tribute to the car he saw cruising the main street of his home town back in the ‘50s. So is the rose and white 1958 Mercury Parklane convertible, which he tracked down in a junkyard in Williams, California.

Among the cars Forbes is most proud of is his Canadian-only 1958 Pontiac Parisienne convertible and matching Americanbuilt 1958 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, which is awaiting restoration. Although both cars look alike, they are very different. The Parisienne was built in Canada on a Chevrolet platform, borrowing its frame and mechanical components from its sister car. The American Bonneville is larger because it is built on an Oldsmobile platform and is powered by a unique and much larger 371 cubic inch engine. Forbes’ rare example has factory tri-power carburetion.

• Yellow is the theme for two other rare Ford products of the

mid 1950s in the Forbes collection. His goldenrod yellow 1955 Thunderbird roadster has the rare continental kit option as does his golden-glow yellow and colonial white 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner, one of only 603 built with a rare, see-through Plexiglass roof.

• He also has four rare Mercury examples, along with his signature daily drive — a red, Canadian-only 1956 Mercury pickup truck. For 1955, he has a white Sun Valley with Plexiglass roof and a fully optioned coral pink Montclair convertible. His 1956 Mercury Montclair convertible is a showpiece in orangey-red persimmon, complemented by London Gray, and restored with all available options.

“It’s carried us to California and Hot August Nights in Reno four times,” Forbes says.

One of his favourites is the 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible he rescued from a junkyard in Ontario and restored in silver with red accents.

And remembering the gorgeous, Canadian-only 1960 Pontiac Parisienne convertible that a close friend purchased nearly new when they worked together in the Alberta oilfields, Forbes rescued a wrecked example from another junkyard and turned it into a better-than-new jewel.

He doesn’t have far to go to remember the convertible he bought from money earned in his first years in the oil patch. It was a powder blue 1966 Mercury Parklane convertible with bucket seats and full power options.

It was his wedding car when he married Sharon and continues to be a centrepiece of his collection, since he has owned it for half a century.

He’s come along way since that $40 purchase at age 14 in Souris, Manitoba. WS

Sussex Insurance Westshore Autoplan • Private Auto • Home • Travel

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Inside Langford Walmart Tel 250 391 5584 westshore@sussexinsurance.com

WS INSIDER [ for the love of dogs]

SIERRA LUNDY PHOTOS

Dogs Tia and Hallie are 3- and 1.5-year-old rescue Pit Bull crosses, belonging to Alberta in Langford.

Shawna and Mel Taylor of Colwood, with Miley (left), a 4-year-old Morkie, and Riley, an 11-year-old Schnoodle.

Sassy is a 2-year-old Beagle, belonging to Nikki in Colwood.

/WINTER 2018

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ME ET O UR

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ReVIVeD InteRIoRS More homeowners are looking for a simple, clean and less expensive way to revive and restore their existing cabinets, countertops and tiles rather than replacing them. At Revived Interiors, we believe upcycling makes a positive impact on the environment.

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WInDSoR PlyWooD WeSt ShoRe Locally owned and operated, Windsor Plywood West Shore, and Michael Hansen and family are proud to be celebrating 30 years in the West Shore.

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cheRyl BaRneS, Remax Camosun of Victoria works with buyers and sellers of real estate in Victoria.

Cheryl Barnes provides a personal approach to buyers and sellers who are looking to move into the next phase of their lives.

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PaDGett We provide a range of services to handle time-consuming small business accounting and bookkeeping issues so our clients can become more focussed on running their businesses.

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Fred Jenner and the staff at Jenner Chevrolet, located on Island Hwy in Colwood, believe the success of their Victoria GM dealership is directly related to how they care for their customers.

Whether you’re shopping for a new GM vehicle or just dropping by for an oil change, you’ll be treated with the same friendly service.

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At Vibes Fitness Studios we use Whole Body Vibration (WBV) technology to offer a new, effective and efficient workout experience for people of all abilities. Even if you are a total beginner, you can start gently and build intensity as your balance, strength and fitness improve.

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We are a cornerstone of the community where families go to socialize. We house not only the Legion itself, but a variety of social activities and services. Anyone can join! Support your community; support your Legion!

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