September 21, 2022

FALL 2022

th ANNIVERSARY

A GOOD DAY FOR A RIDE

Exploring on two wheels

END OF LIFE

Journey with a Death Doula

SHARON HUBBARD’S ART

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CONTRIBUTORS LISSA ALEXANDER

An editor, writer and photographer who is passionate about this region.

SHIRLEY CULPIN

Freelance journalist and publisher of VancouverIslandBeyond Victoria.com.

BRIAN ARGYLE

A local photographer and writer who offers Photography instruction.

MICKI FINDLAY

164 W. Island Hwy. Parksville

Author, freelance columnist,poet, musician, crafter, digital artist, and grateful Van Islander.

250.951.0509

2-5144 Metral Drive Nanaimo 250.585.5059 www.classickitchensbc.com

CAROL WATTERSON

A local writer, editor and co-principal of Behind the Book, a selfpublishing consultancy.

EVERY THURSDAY IS...

SENIORS’

TERESA BIRD Publisher teresa.bird@blackpress.ca

EDITOR Lissa Alexander: OASISMag@PQBNews.com ADVERTISING Don.Barbeau@BlackPress.ca Lori.Hague@PQBNews.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tammy Robinson CIRCULATION Circulation@PQBNews.com ON THE COVER: Arrowsmith Cycling Club President Jake Friesen gets out on the local trails.

PHOTO BY: Brian Argyle

2A 1209 East Island Hwy, Heritage Centre, Parksville, BC V9P 1R5 Ph: 250-248-4341 Oasis magazine is published quarterly by Black Press. The points of views and opinions expressed herein are those of authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of Oasis. The contents of Oasis are protected by copyright, including the designed advertising. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher.

Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

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WELCOME

A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR As we emerge from the busy summer season and watch the days getting shorter, something occurs to me: we have a lot to look forward to. Yes, we have fantastic beaches that everyone (and their dogs) likes to flock to in the summer, but we also have so much in our communities to keep us healthy and content throughout the year, we just have to look for them. When we started working on our stories to fit with a Health & Wellness theme this issue, I realized that there’s really an endless amount of this stuff in our region, and we’re excited to shed some light on stories and resources that you may not be aware of.

Did you know about the biking trails linking our communities and the many opportunities to get out and ride? We have that covered.

Have you heard of a Death Doula? Having

peace-of-mind around end-of-life planning just makes sense. If you haven’t heard about local artist Sharon Hubbard you’re in for a treat, and you won’t want to miss our eye opening Q&A with Anita Roy at Sexpositive Shop. You’ve likely eaten at Realm Food, but have you tried their health-packed unconventional drinks?

If you like to spice up what you eat, you’re going to love Vancouver Island Hot Sauce Company. And you’ll need some food to put it on. Nutritionist and health-buff Charlotte Crowley recommends some great books to keep you busy cooking healthy food.

Take in all our region has to offer this fall, and don’t forget to send us your story ideas! ~ Lissa Alexander, Editor www.oasislife.ca oasismag@pqbnews.com

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oasislife.ca

FALL 2022

IN THIS EDITION

07 13

17

GOOD DAY FOR A RIDE Exploring the region on two wheels ......................07

MANAGING END OF LIFE A journey with a Death Doula ...............................13

MUST READS: Holistic Nutritionist Charlotte Crowley helps people feel better .........................................17

PHOTO CONTEST .........................................18

21 24

SHARON HUBBARD Escaping pain through art .....................................21

LOCO 4 LOCAL Spicing it up with Vancouver Island Hot Sauce Company ...............................................24

LIBATIONS: Exploring Realm Food Co.’s unconventional drink menu ..................................27

TÊTE Á TÊTE Questions & Answers with Anita Roy at Sexpositive Shop ........................30

Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

27

30 Oasis Magazine 5

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FEATURE: FINDING YOUR PERFECT RIDE

YOUR PERFECTRIDE

FINDING

BY CAROL WATTERSON PHOTOS BY BRIAN ARGYLE TAKING FLIGHT Dust flies as 13-year-old Ethan Surry clears a massive jump.

Ethan lives in Parksville and spends a lot of time on the local trails and at the bike park in Qualicum Beach. But mostly, he’s into dirt jumping. Since Parksville doesn’t have an official riding park, many kids like Ethan seek out areas of vacant land with the best dirt (sand) and carve out their own jumps and courses.

Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

13-year-old Ethan Surry performs a jump.

Like the one that Jake Friesen, President of the Arrowsmith Cycling Club (ACC), has taken me to today, adjacent to the Alberni Highway. Jake says that a sanctioned jumping trail would be great as some of these kids are as young as 12 years old and it’s not the safest environment for them. “There’s a lot of skill going into Ethan’s tricks,” Jake says. “We’ve got 15 kids in his group that can ride like this.”

Oasis Magazine 7

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FEATURE: FINDING YOUR PERFECT RIDE CONNECTING RIDERS OF ALL AGES Ethan is one of 60 kids (age eight and over) who make up the youth membership of the ACC, together with over 100 adults of all ages and riding ability. Everyone pitches in and the hard-working volunteers spend thousands of hours on trail building. “The older guys work at building trails and take on leadership roles for the young riders,” Jake explains. “It’s pretty cool seeing new, young riders sharing the trails with the seasoned pros.” He adds that through integrating academics with outdoor activities, kids who don’t necessarily like school understand the bigger picture. “Biking keeps them happy and in school,” he reveals. “Not many of these kids will grow up to be pro-riders like local legend Jordie Lunn [who passed away in a trail-riding accident in Mexico in 2019] but they have fun riding and the club makes them feel part of something.”

Jake has raised three children who all share his love of the outdoors. He is the Outdoor Education Teacher for School District 69, which includes running the ROAMS program (River Ocean And Mountain School) an outdoor leadership program that focuses on career preparation, work experience, and adventure education. It is one of the top outdoor education programs in Canada. “I have the best job in the world!” Jake says.

BUILDING THE OCEANSIDE CYCLING COMMUNITY ONE TRAIL AT A TIME The region has some first-rate mountain bike trails – Top Bridge, Nile Creek – but Hammerfest is by and large the most popular for ACC members and home to a number of races annually.

Accessible from Englishman River Falls Park, Hammerfest has at least 50 km of trails of varying degrees of difficulty that cross diverse terrain. Each trail is colour marked; green and blue are beginner to intermediate (85) and black and double black diamond (25), with sections of mandatory rock faces, drops, and gap-jumps, are the most difficult. The ACC is in active talks with landowner Mosaic Forest Management to designate Hammerfest as a sanctioned trail system. First, it must follow set standards based on a model pioneered in Whistler. Jake explains that there’s an art to building trails, they need to have a consistent flow, among other things.

“We design and mark the trails so that people know the skill sets required to do them,” he explains. “If you’re a beginner riding a green trail you should expect no surprises, likewise an experienced rider on a black trail is up for challenges.” Once sanctioned, the club plans to build on existing trails, maps, and signage.

ACC recently partnered with BC Parks on a multi-use trails initiative at Englishman River Falls to open up more trails for beginners. “The big thing we do is get older guys riding with young people to help build their skills and follow best practices,” Jake says. “The commonality is whether you are eight or 78, everyone wants to ride a bike.” Jake also reveals that ebikes have been a big game changer for the sport. A lot of their trail builders use Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Top, a member of the Sunday Morning Arrowsmith Cycling Group rides the trails.

Below, Jeanine Simmens of EBT rides an ebike with Bruce and his dog Bacardi (photo Paul Trudeau).

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Oasis Magazine 9

FEATURE: FINDING YOUR PERFECT RIDE

them to get up the trails to save energy and time, and they are getting more riders out on the trails.

Find out more about ACC at arrowsmithcyclingclub.com THE ELECTRIC BIKE TOUR CO IT’S LIKE RIDING A BIKE, ONLY EASIER Not only are ebikes trending in popularity in mountain biking, they’re surpassing non-electric bikes on our local streets and trails too. I met Jeanine Simmens, owner of the Electric Bike Tour Co. (EBT) and her tour manager Paul Trudeau, at the Arrowsmith Brewery in Parksville, the starting point for most of their tours.

They set me up with a fat-tire ebike (beefier tires give a boost of comfort and stability, and allow you to ride on rougher terrain) and after a quick lesson on the mechanics, I’m ready for a test run. As we make our way down a quiet street, I catch on quickly.

It’s exhilarating as we get on a straight stretch of path and I boost the power to level four (not quite the max of five). It takes less exertion to ride an ebike and the ease of the ride frees you up to take in the scenery. An ebike doesn’t modify the activity of cycling; it makes it easier. And, some say, more fun.

CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY BY EBIKE As a fishery biologist, Jeanine travelled globally researching and working on environmental initiatives and giving talks on sustainability. In Europe, she saw first-hand how ebikes became a more sustainable mode of transportation and means of navigating 10 Oasis Magazine

congested city streets and parking. When the pandemic hit she found herself both retired and back in the area on a permanent basis. It gave her time to take stock and decide how she wanted to spend the rest of her time. “It was important to me to share stories and showcase local business,” she explains, adding that people were losing touch with their communities, herself included. From this mindset, coupled with a desire to create something gentle on the planet, the EBT was born.

It was important to Jeanine to hire locals like Paul and his wife Stacey, and Frank Mrack to help run the tours. “There’s so much in this region that people don’t know about,” she explains. “My team has a wealth of knowledge of the area and our tours showcase the best local attractions and businesses.” For local tours, which are typically about three hours long, Jeanine and her team take advantage of the many regional trails connecting the parks and communities of Parksville Qualicum Beach including the seven-kilometre Parksville to Coombs Rail Trail which is ideal for groups and beginners. On their day trip to Denman/Hornby Islands, riders visit galleries, artisans, a winery, a craft cidery or brewery, and cool off in Tribune Bay. The EBT has a fleet of 15 bikes, a mix of fat-tires and hybrids. All levels of riders over 16 years old are welcome. According to Paul, the bikes travel up to 32 kilometers per hour which is the maximum allowable speed for a non-licenced vehicle.

ANY DAY IS A GOOD DAY FOR A RIDE Tours and rentals run from March till October, but they can Fall 2022

oasislife.ca

FEATURE: FINDING YOUR PERFECT RIDE

The Sunday Morning Arrowsmith Cycling Club Group, (photo by Roy Kregosky).

Don Barbeau and his son Koen.

accommodate special groups or requests through the year.

“Any day could be a good day for a ride,” says Paul. “We’re all about flexibility and a willingness to do new things.” Jeanine is proud of the fact that they’ve never received a bad review.

“There’s something about getting on a bike that puts a smile on your face and immediately enhances your mood,” she exclaims.

“When we take someone out of their cars and put them on an ebike to see new places, beautiful scenery, and wildlife, that feeling is amplified.”

mountain bike. “With my fat-tire ebike, not only can I go off road and climb hills and go over rocks, I can keep up with him on the local cycling trails too.” They often ride together on the 13-kilometre Parksville to Qualicum Beach Links community trail that lets them explore without having to ride on the highway. “There are so many different ecosystems on that trial,” Don explains.

“You travel through quiet residential areas, forests, farmlands, a river, and you can grab a drink in town.”

Visit electricbiketours.ca for more information

Don and Koen also ride the nature conservation area of Top Bridge Regional Trail. The trail is five kilometers each way (from Parksville Industrial Park to the Englishman River) and offers an instant getaway to a nature-connected environment. Recently, Don and Koen found themselves a bit too close to nature. “We were riding together when about 100 meters ahead of us as we were going up a hill there was a black bear,” Don recalls. “Either we turn around or stand our ground.” Turns out Koen’s a quick thinker and while Don stayed on his bike staring down the bear, Koen hoisted his bike over his shoulder – like a peacock– and pretty quickly the bear turned around hightailed it out of there.

“There was no way I was picking my 85lb ebike over my head so it was a good thing Koen was riding old school!” Don laughs.

LIFE IS MORE FUN ON TWO WHEELS A recent newcomer from the lower mainland, Don Barbeau, sales manager for Parksville Qualicum Beach News, discovered that cycling was the ideal way to discover the area. A life-long cyclist, last year he made the switch to an ebike. “I’m 65-years old and the ebike changed everything for me,” Don claims. “Even though I still pedal like a normal bike, the ebike gives me a boost on the hills and allows me to go further than I would normally go without worrying about getting back huffing and puffing.”

He can also keep up with his 17-year-old son, Koen, who, according to Don, is a cardio fanatic and rides a regular suspension

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS ON THE TRAILS

For more information on the regional cycling trails and to download a map: visit: parksvillequalicumbeach.com/things-to-do/outdoors/mountain-biking Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Oasis Magazine 11

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FEATURE: LIVING BETTER BY DYING BETTER

Living better

by dying better

BY SHIRLEY CULPIN PHOTOS BY BRIAN ARGYLE No one gets out of here alive. But the way we exit this life can have a profound impact on the person who is preparing to pass away as well as their families and friends. Fiona Holoboff came to realize that during a particularly difficult year when her mother, brother and a dear friend died within months of each other.

Each death incurred a variety of difficult circumstances that got Fiona thinking about how people deal with the prospect of dying, and how someone’s passing affects the people who love them.

“I thought a lot about the impact of those deaths, not just on those who had passed, but on the people who cared about them,” says Fiona. “That prompted me to take a course at Douglas College that certified me as an end of life doula.

Having been through the process of dealing with death so intensely in such a short period of time drove home to me how unprepared most of us are to deal with such an important life event.”

Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

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FEATURE: LIVING BETTER BY DYING BETTER Fiona launched Timeworks Doula Care in 2021, with the aim of providing end of life services to the residents of Parksville Qualicum Beach. Her first assignment though was on Salt Spring Island, where she worked with a single woman with an estranged family. The patient had Lyme disease and was dying a painful, lonely death in a darkened room.

“I was juggling a bunch of things – medical assistance in dying, dealing with the Lyme disease, keeping her comfortable – everything was focused on her and in the end, I felt such a debt of gratitude,” says Fiona. “It totally validated for me that this field is where I belong.”

Being a death doula is an intricate balancing act. While the services she offers are expansive and can be all-consuming, she is cognizant of the fact that everything she does must be geared to the outcome for the client.

“As a doula you cannot be attached to your client’s outcome,” she says. “It’s their outcome, not yours. There is no room for my ego at the table.”

One of the main requirements of being a good end of life doula is to be what Fiona calls a “deep, active listener.” Helping clients sort out priorities can be complicated, with much depending on family dynamics among other things.

TIDYING UP LOOSE ENDS “When someone is faced with a shocking diagnosis, we try to get the anxiety and fear gone, and then we try to tidy up loose ends in relationships,” she says. “Then we move on from there. I can work within any parameters; I try to really listen, take information in and boil it down to something I can articulate to ensure that I understand their wishes.”

Although assisting the dying is a big part of Fiona’s mission as a doula, she also offers services that help the living to plan ahead.

“The best time to start planning for your death is when you are still healthy and mentally competent,” she says. “I can help with advance directives, legacy projects, vigil planning – anything, pretty much. And if there is something I can’t help with directly, I can refer my clients to the appropriate service.”

Fiona says that many people are under the misconception that she is a ‘mercy killer,’ which she is not.

“Death doulas are there to make the end of the client’s life the highest quality possible,” she says. “We don’t kill people.”

Recently Fiona was contacted by the son of a woman who was terminally ill. The son didn’t inform his parents of his idea and it did not go well.

“It made me realize how uncomfortable death really is for a lot of people,” says Fiona. “Here was a thoughtful son trying to ease things along, but his parents weren’t ready to acknowledge that death was on the horizon. It’s more difficult for some than 14 Oasis Magazine

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FEATURE: LIVING BETTER BY DYING BETTER others, so a balancing act for sure.”

Helping children deal with death is another service offered by end of life doulas.

“If a child is of an age with a capacity to love, then they can grieve as well,” says Fiona. “When they don’t know how to grieve, the problems begin. Kids will tell you in their own way when they are having a tough time; the first sign is withdrawal. Helping them understand the concept of dying and grieving is something we can do, for sure.”

THE GIFT OF TIME While receiving news of terminal illness can be devastating to anyone, in some ways it can also be considered a gift.

“When you get a bad diagnosis,” says Fiona, “you are being given a gift of time, because you know. When you learn to die better, the byproduct is living better.”

Fiona feels very strongly that death has, in some ways, become too impersonal.

“We can take death back to our communities and make it ours again,” she says. “Home funerals are becoming more common.

People are realizing the need for change and doing things differently. I would also like to educate employers to become a death-conscious culture; we need to build more support in our communities – not just for the dying, but for those who are grieving. We need to look after each other.”

With that goal in mind Fiona is hoping to present some public workshops that will give people a better understanding of the many facets of the work done by end of life doulas.

In addition to all of the ‘expected’ services, doulas can share their knowledge of topics such as bodily function when a person is dying.

“I can demystify by explaining step-by-step what is happening in the body as things progress,” says Fiona. “For example, many people worry when their loved one stops ingesting fluids and begins to become dehydrated. But by dehydrating the body is building high levels of calcium in the blood, which is a natural sedative. When you understand those kinds of things it eases the stress of worrying about whether the person is suffering.”

In the end, the scope of death doula work is vast, sometimes complicated, but always enlightening.

“The power of the doula community is that it is all heart-driven,” says Fiona. “There are no hard and fast rules about what we do. We start by assessing what the client needs and from there, it depends on how far through the journey they want me to accompany them. The goal is to get people talking, and then we go from there.”

For more information visit timeworksdoulacare.ca Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Oasis Magazine 15

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MUST READS

Healthy Wisdom

WITH CHARLOTTE CROWLEYR.H.N. ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY CAROL WATTERSON

As a registered Holistic Nutritionist, Charlotte Crowley’s goal is simple: To help people feel better, age well, and fully enjoy their lives.

Following a career in business sales and management, Charlotte found herself facing retirement or a new vocation. She chose the latter. “I’ve always been health conscious and enjoyed yoga, aerobics, cycling and hiking,” she explains. “When I discovered the field of Holistic Nutrition everything just clicked for me.” Charlotte studied full-time for two years, devouring countless books on health and nutrition in the process, to earn her Holistic Nutrition diploma.

Charlotte works one-on-one with clients evaluating their symptoms and pinpointing nutritional causes in order to design a personalized wellness plan that optimizes their health. She aims to get to the root cause of an illness or imbalance, dealing with the whole person (mind, body, and spirit), to help the body heal itself.

For Charlotte, the best part of her job is helping people. She radiates a positive energy and offers a good dose of humour along with practical tips. For more information visit healthywisdom.ca

MEALS THAT HEAL INFLAMMATION:

OH SHE GLOWS EVERY DAY:

Embrace Healthy Living And Eliminate Pain, One Meal At A Time

Quick And Simply Satisfying Plant-Based Recipes

BY Julie Daniluk PUBLISHED BY Random House Canada

BY Angela Liddon PUBLISHED BY Penguin Random House Canada

Charlotte’s first book is one she often recommends to her clients.

“Why would you need this book?” Charlotte asks. “Because many of the health issues we face are related to inflammation,” she explains.

“It’s part of the body’s defense mechanism and is an immune response to injury, toxins, allergy, or infection.” Inflammation is involved in “itis” conditions like arthritis, colitis, as well as many common health conditions such as migraine headaches, obesity, irritable bowel, diabetes, asthma, skin disorders, and more.

For clients and her own meal planning, Charlotte often searches online for recipes, but admits that there’s something ultimately satisfying about flipping through the pages of a real cookbook and salivating at photos of delicious looking dishes. “This award-winning Canadian author and recipe developer got me at, ‘Loaded Sweet Potatoes,’ yum, yum, yum!” says Charlotte. According to Charlotte, if you are new to plant-based cooking and unsure of how to produce a nutritious meal without meat, this book will give you over 100 healthy plant-based recipe options.

For those looking for answers, Charlotte suggests diving into the first section, Why Do We Hurt? It contains well-researched chapters explaining the main causes of inflammation, such as stress, and infections, as well as food cravings and allergies, and gets to the root of the pain we experience as a result. Chapter 7, Healing Starts with the Gut, offers a detailed deep-dive into the crux of the nutritional healing journey. The Anti-Inflammatory Menu Plan is your dietary road map, Charlotte explains, and there’s also an elimination diet strategy that targets foods to avoid and pinpoints individual food intolerances along with seven-day omnivore and vegan menu plans. The last section is a toolbox of over 130 wholefood, plant-based recipes to integrate into your meals. “This is not a quick cover-to-cover read,” Charlotte says.

“Go to those chapters that apply to you, follow the simple steps and then incorporate what you can into your lifestyle.”

Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Oh She Glows Every Day is one of Charlotte’s most-reached-for cookbooks because of how easy it is to use, with each recipe organized by meal type. There’s an especially helpful section, ‘Homemade Staples’ that Charlotte claims offers some great ideas and substitutions for tasty and healthy options to fit individual diet needs.

The cookbook is also packed with practical nutritional information. Each recipe has an allergy and preparation label including gluten-free, dairy-free, kid-friendly, and more. Ingredient lists are easy to read, instructions well thought out, and every recipe includes tips, what to expect, and reasons for using a specific ingredient. “A lot of thought clearly went into the design of this book,” Charlotte says. “From the cover to every page – and there are over 350 pages – it is gorgeous.” Not only beautiful, it’s a great resource for anyone wanting to eat healthier – every day!

Oasis Magazine 17

PHOTO CONTEST

AND THE WINNER IS...

Photo by

Morning Light Breanna Woodward Winner of the $100 OCEANSIDE PRIZE PACKAGE

18 Oasis Magazine

Fall 2022

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PHOTO CONTEST ENTER YOUR PHOTOS FOR OUR NEXT EDITION AT www.pqbnews.com/contests

the finalists...

Mike Hackett | Sunset over Mount Arrowsmith

Karul Kuehn Kayaking on Spider Lake Mike Hackett Oh Hello There! Morningstar Farm

Breanna Woodward | This too shall pass

Laura Aitken Spring in the forest

Zoe Kirk | Balancing Act Randy Zinck | Solitude

Judy Doyle | Perfect Aquiline Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Wendy Sears | Last train to Parksville Oasis Magazine 19

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oasislife.ca

FEATURE: THE ART OF SURVIVAL

THE

art OF SURVIVAL The Healing Power of Art

BY MICKI FINDLAY PHOTOS BY BRIAN ARGYLE Qualicum Beach artist Sharon Hubbard is a survivor in every sense of the word. She has experienced multiple life losses – her health, husband, and home – all in one, devastating blow.

point of her life, her husband left her to raise their three children on her own. A single thought kept her from losing all hope;

It was 1985 when a drunk driver changed Sharon’s life forever.

She was left with a broken spine, a fractured skull, partial paralysis, a traumatic brain injury, and two hematomas. At the lowest

“I should not have lived. This is a second chance at a life I want.

I’m not going to waste this opportunity.”

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FEATURE: THE ART OF SURVIVAL

That was the defining moment that convinced Sharon to pursue her love of art. She graduated with honours in the Fine Arts Program at the University of the Fraser Valley. She has not only used art to triumph over monumental challenges, but also to help retrain her damaged brain.

“I create art to escape physical pain. As pain lives in the left side of your brain, and one can only think of one thing at a time, by doing art, you are operating in the right side, so you don’t feel the pain until you stop doing art.”

After her accident, Sharon’s first artistic attempt was to try creating Fabergé eggs. But, when she discovered she couldn’t control her hand movements enough to paint them, she enrolled in Tole painting classes to learn stroke work. This helped her retrain coordination in her muscles. Her determination paid off. Within three years, she was winning prestigious art awards, including the highest one given for Fine Arts at the P.N.E. She has since won over 60 awards.

22 Oasis Magazine

Sharon’s natural talents became blatantly evident to her university art professor. Her pain specialist had advised her to take up sculpting and, after she had finished creating her first piece, the professor told her she was the one student who had executed it perfectly. He then asked her what her background was in sculpture. She thought for a moment and replied, “Children’s birthday cakes.” He just stared at her and walked away laughing.

Sharon loves to re-awaken people to the beauty of nature by weaving it into her work. She is well known for her award-winning, miniature castles she carves out of cottonwood bark, her intricate, wire-wrapped jewelry, and her delightful woodland animals she creates out of soapstone. She also incorporates semi-precious gemstones, glass, paint, and fossils into her multi-media creations. And you can’t miss her striking lighthouse and poppy murals emblazoned on the walls of the Bowser Legion.

Her work has also been featured in various art shows – ‘The Fall 2022

oasislife.ca

FEATURE: THE ART OF SURVIVAL Power of Women’ (Vancouver), Qualicum Beach Art Gallery and the Nanaimo Arts Council, to name a few. Onlookers are often stunned when they discover that just one person is behind such an eclectic mix of creativity. It cracks her up when someone comes up to her and asks, “Is your husband home carving?” Meanwhile, she is standing with the tool in her hand and wood chips at her feet.

The pandemic has taken a toll on Sharon’s livelihood. She is hoping that opening her new gift shop and teaching studio will turn things around. Her belief is, “When life throws a curve ball, it’s an opportunity for something new.” Undaunted by misfortune, she adds, “Now I teach art to children of all ages, and it’s exciting to see them do better than the teacher.”

Sharon Hubbard is an inspiration as to what a person can accomplish if they are determined enough. Her tenacity and amazing attitude are epitomized by this single statement, “If the MVA hadn’t happened, the world would have missed a lot of beautiful art.” Brilliantly and bravely said, Sharon. sharonhubbardarts.com sharonhubbardarts sharonsart@shaw.ca 250-248-2262

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Oasis Magazine 23

LOCO 4 LOCAL

Spicing IT UP

With Vancouver Island

Hot Sauce STORY AND PHOTOS BY LISSA ALEXANDER

Eben Sedun’s love for hot sauce started sizzling in his early twenties, and when he met his future wife Karita a few years later, he was smitten with both. Eben met Karita in Canmore, Alberta, and while she was a moderate hot-sauce user, he was on a whole other level.

“It got to the point that when you opened the fridge, the entire door was a collection of various hot sauces,” says Karita from the deck of their Nanoose Bay home. “And he would take them to people’s houses as a party trick, and line them up mildest to hottest to see who could get through them.”

Eben said that of the hundred or so hot sauces that he had, there was about five that he used regularly. He puts them in three categories: Party Trick, Curious Label, and Flavourful. As someone who enjoys cooking and experimenting with flavours, he decided he wanted to make something that landed in the last category.

together and that’s essentially the inception of what is now our Owl’s Screech [hot sauce].” They called it Red Hot Monogamy.

In 2014, the couple moved to the Parksville Qualicum Beach region, with Eben banking on getting a specialised job based on his experience. When that didn’t work out, they threw caution to the wind and started up the hot sauce business.

“I was like alright, well, let’s just make hot sauce, everyone at the wedding said it was good,” Eben chuckles.

They decided to take the summer and sell their two sauces at local farmer’s markets. Eben made the sauces while Karita designed the labels and took on the administrative side. Vancouver Island Hot Sauce Company was born.

When the couple set their wedding date, they decided the party favour would be a bottle of homemade hot sauce. They had about a year to perfect it.

In Eben’s words, “it went crazy.” Good crazy. They continued selling at markets until time became too scarce. Eben got the job he’d been looking for and Karita continued working, so they switched from markets to selling in retail stores. They are now in more than 40 stores, mostly on Vancouver Island, and they have collaborated with several businesses, including Arbutus Distillery, which has a vodka named Owl’s Screech.

“We started making small batches and having friends try it and seeing what worked and didn’t work,” he remembers. “And then I think I ended up throwing all my favourite flavour profiles

Now with two young children and careers, they are finding it challenging to keep up. But they are excited for the next chapter.

24 Oasis Magazine

Fall 2022

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LOCO 4 LOCAL

RECIPE

“

In Eben’s words, “it went crazy.”

Good crazy.

“

“It’s like a teenager ready to leave the house,” Eben explains.

“We kind of need to let it do its thing and let other people father it a bit.”

Karita agrees. “We know that it could grow. We need another person to help us with the cooking days, so we have more time to focus on getting to the next level.”

THE HOT SAUCES *Note, while many hot sauces use vinegar for acidity, both of these hot sauces use citrus (limes).

Owl’s Screech. This red coloured hot sauce is made with B.C. grown scotch bonnet peppers. It has a citrus base with earthy flavour notes of yam, nutmeg, allspice and rosemary (grown in their garden!). This is good for all your general hot sauce needs: eggs, soup, burgers and pizza.

Breath of Humbaba. This green coloured hot sauce is made with B.C. grown jalapeno peppers. It has full citrus with a three-way lime profile (limes, lime juice and lime leaves) along with lemongrass, juniper, cilantro and a cedar tincture. This is great with Mexican food, seafood and in dressings.

For more information visit vancouverislandhotsauce.com Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Humbaba Dressing 1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro (packed) 1 large garlic clove Juice from 1-2 limes 1 teaspoon sea salt ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon Breath of Humbaba (or more, to taste) Make it extra creamy (optional): 1 avocado, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or ½ cup raw cashews (soaked overnight) Add all ingredients to a food processor or small blender, and pulse until smooth. Try adding on salads, grilled veggies, tacos, fish, chicken... and enjoy!

Oasis Magazine 25

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Fall 2022

oasislife.ca

LIBATIONS

Sipping

FOR SOUND HEALTH at Realm Food Co.

STORY BY LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTOS BY LISSA ALEXANDER, SUBMITTED With culinary training under his belt, James Hannah set out to broaden his horizons at celebrated fine dining establishments around B.C. and Alberta, but his passion for food would eventually lead him back to his Vancouver Island roots.

“I always wanted to come back to the Island, I love it here, but the restaurant scene isn’t quite what it is on the mainland, as far as fine dining goes,” he explains from his restaurant Realm Food Co. in Parksville.

James said that while working at places like the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna, and under Top Chef Canada winner Dale MacKay in Vancouver, he learned the imporOasis 10th Year Anniversary

tance of sourcing local food. “It sparked my interest in building a connection with the farmers,” he says.

After receiving his red seal certification in Vancouver, he moved back to the area and began working as head chef at Crown Mansion in Qualicum Beach, where he enjoyed creating a locally sourced menu. From there, he decided to open his own not-sofine-dining restaurant, that was more accessible to all residents.

“I wanted a restaurant more suited to the every-day person,” he explains. “Eating healthy has always been important to me, so I wanted to use really good cooking techniques combined with healthy eating and whole foods.”

Oasis Magazine 27

LIBATIONS

And along with creating artful, wholesome food with local, seasonal products, James and his team offer a variety of healthy, local and unconventional beverages. For this Libations article, we will focus on those.

THE DRINKS Ever tried mushrooms in your hot chocolate or dandelion in your coffee? The coffee-free lattes include the Reishi Cocoa (chocolate ganache and reishi mushrooms) and the Dandelion Latte (dandelion root, rye, roasted barley, chicory root and sugar beet). Also popular are the Beet Root Latte (beetroot, cinnamon, ginger and clove) and the Golden Spice Latte (turmeric, ginger root, Ceylon cinnamon, lemon peel).

28 Oasis Magazine

James explains that beyond being tasty, the lattes are very good for you. “Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and same with beet, and there are lots of antioxidants. It’s nice to have that option for people who don’t want coffee, you can get that warm coffee vibe but it’s not coffee.” (There are also real coffee options for the coffee-lovers!)

And then there’s the smoothies. Locals love the smoothies, James says, including kids, who often get the Locavore with berries, apple, maple and hemp. Other smoothies are filled with a plethora of healthy ingredients like the Flora with banana, pineapple, mango, kale, dates and hemp milk. Or the Bee You with golden spice, apple, mango, beets, bee pollen, dates and coconut milk. Smoothies are often high in sugar, but not these Fall 2022

oasislife.ca

LIBATIONS

ones. The sweetness come from fruit and the chocolate flavour is raw cacao filled with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

The kombucha flows on tap, and for good reason. “I didn’t want a restaurant that served pop, and kombucha satisfies that craving, and it’s good for you and your gut,” says James. “And it has lots of health benefits.”

There are alcoholic beverages too — all local of course — handpicked by James. Including his friend Dave Paul’s Love Shack Libations beers (one of the only places that has them!) and The Strait and Narrow’s ciders.

James said the restaurant continues to be incredibly busy. “We Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

are cooking as much food as we possibly can from open to close,” he admits. Yet he still has a smile on his face and makes time for interviews with local magazines. At the end of the day, he’s proud of what he’s created.

“Besides the food, I think it’s the sense of community we have here,” he says. “I think it’s really cool that people come to meet here, staff know the customers, and it’s become a community hub for people to hang out.”

For more information visit realmfoodco.com Oasis Magazine 29

TÊTE-À-TÊTE

HOW’S YOUR SEX LIFE?

QA &

With Anita Roy at Sexpositive Shop Mehdi Naimi and Anita Roy

ARTICLE & PHOTO BY CAROL WATTERSON

PLEASURE IS HEALING Anita Roy and Mehdi Naimi are in the business of helping people explore pleasure and celebrate their sexuality. Married for 35 years as lovers, partners, and parents, they are dedicated to sharing their philosophy of shame-free sexual exploration and learning with others through their Parksville store, Sexpositive Shop. Anita and Mehdi have always believed that being alive erotically is an important part of a vital life, at any age, and their shop is a welcoming and safe place where they offer their expertise along with an array of products and workshops.

Q: WHY DID YOU OPEN SEXPOSITIVE SHOP IN PARKSVILLE? A: We moved to Nanoose Bay from Montreal 28 years ago looking for a quieter place to raise our three boys. In 2018, with our children grown, we decided it was the right time to open Sexpositive. Since we didn’t want to move to a big city, or even commute to Nanaimo, we opened our shop in Parksville so it would be close. We believed that our concept was so unique that people would come from outside the area and they have. We have customers from Port Alberni, Comox Valley, and Nanaimo coming to see us regularly.

Q: HOW IS SEXPOSITIVE SHOP DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ADULT ENTERTAINMENT SHOPS? A: At Sexpositive we focus on sexual health and education and don’t know of another business on the Island, or even in B.C. who follows this approach. Of course, sexual health and education also include pleasure. We like to say, “Pleasure is Healing” and firmly believe that the right pleasure, received and given with full consent and communication, is indeed healing and is also lots of fun.

Our bodies were designed — by whoever or whatever you believe in — to receive joy and pleasure. When we have been traumatized by sexual abuse or neglect, as in marriages with no sex or poor sex, the only resolution is to have pleasure safely on our terms.

Other adult sex shops tend to focus on rather juvenile clichés of sex, like nurse uniforms or lacy micro thongs, and while we have no problem with that, they keep sex in a realm of shamefulness.

We view sex as a natural, healthy, and joyful pursuit and want to remove the shame. When we speak of intimacy, we’re not just talking about physical intimacy, but also emotional intimacy. We focus on helping you get what you truly want and deserve sexually. We offer workshops, led by experts, examining topics ranging

from communication to bondage and everything in between.

What’s especially unique about us is that we also offer a free 30-minute consultation on questions of sex, sexuality, and relationships with Mehdi, who is a Somatic Sex and Trauma therapist.

Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW PLEASURE AND SEXUALITY AS ESSENTIAL PARTS OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING? A: Our bodies are what we have to live with. There is no other place we can live. If we have shame programmed into us by trauma or by society, we can’t possibly feel good. And, if we don’t feel good, we can’t be healthy. Science has finally accepted that body and mind are connected and that our physical and mental health is related. When we love our bodies, we love ourselves, and when we love ourselves, we can love others in a better way.

Q: HOW DO YOU HELP THOSE RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA, SURGERIES, AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES? A: Many of our customers are seniors and we can relate to them.

We grew up in a time with very little education on sexual pleasure and sex consisted of a quick warm-up followed by intercourse that finished when the man ejaculated. We now know there is more to it, but it’s difficult to change attitudes and culture without a little gentle encouragement and help from caring professionals.

We open up the possibilities for mutual pleasure, without the use of pharmaceutical prescriptions, when the usual penetration is unattainable or there is erectile dysfunction or vaginal atrophy.

Our workshops offer new ways to enjoy sex beyond the standard intercourse/penetration model. And, there are many toys which can be used to find areas of the body where we didn’t know pleasure existed.

Visit 543 Stanford Ave. East Parksville | sexpositiveshop.ca 30 Oasis Magazine

Fall 2022

oasislife.ca

Walking Club Delivering a Strong Community

A strong community is: • well informed • supports those in need • works together The PQB News is launching a new program for adults who want to contribute to a strong community by delivering the newspaper and donating their earnings to charity.

PQB News has partnered with SOS (Society of Organized Services) to support their work in our community.

Sign up with o a friend to do twfor r e v routes and co n one each other whe is away!

Here is how to join the PQB News Walking Club: • Sign up for a PQB Newspaper route in your area • Agree to have your earnings donated directly to SOS or a charity of your choosing • Get rewarded with swag, event tickets, gift cards and more!

Most routes take about an hour to complete. Papers are delivered to your door Wednesday mornings for delivery that day.

For more information or to sign up, call 250-905-0017 or email circulation@pqbnews.com Oasis 10th Year Anniversary

Oasis Magazine 31

TABLET PHARMACY Parksville location

Qualicum Beach location

#4-154 Middleton Ave, Parksville Tel: 250.947.9929 | Text: 250.927.8032 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 to 5:30 | Sat 9:30 to 1:30 contact@tabletpharmacy.ca

#2-219 Fern Road W, Qualicum Beach Tel: 250.947.1230 | Text: 250.816.7116 Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 to 5:30 contactqb@tabletpharmacy.ca

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