December 13, 2023

WINTER 2023 - comoxvalleyrecord.com

COMOX

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C O U R T E N AY

FROM COURTENAY TO COUTURE Models around the world wearing Valley fashion designer's pieces

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CUMBERLAND

TWO AND A JUICE Unravelling Cumberland's mountain biking history through its trail names

ISLAND LIFE TO OPEN SEAS Valley family completes 13-month Atlantic Ocean sailing odyssey

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22 PUBLISHER ARTUR CIASTKOWSKI

erin.haluschak@comoxvalleyrecord.com As a full-time journalist at the Comox Valley Record, Erin looks forward to showcasing in-depth stories of the culture, community and people of the Valley.

artur.ciastkowski@blackpress.ca As 2023 comes to an end, we have an opportunity to look back and appreciate how lucky we are to live in the Comox Valley. We hope that this inspiring Winter edition will bring you a spark of positivity that is so needed in our busy and stressful lives.

GRAPHIC DESIGN TAMMY ROBINSON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR ALI RODDAM

tammy.robinson@blvdmag.ca Tammy is an award-wining full-time graphic designer for Black Press with more than 15 years experience.

ali.roddam@blackpress.ca Ali Roddam is an experienced photographer, writer, and entrepreneur based in Black Creek.

EDITOR ERIN HALUSCHAK

Trio is produced by:

CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS ADVERTISING SALES ERIN HALUSCHAK Erin.Haluschak@comoxvalleyrecord.com OLIVIER LAURIN Olivier.Laurin@comoxvalleyrecord.com TERRY FARRELL Terry.Farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com CONNOR MCDOWELL Connor.McDowell@comoxvalleyrecord.com JASPER MYERS Contributor Front cover photo by: Devon Carlson 6

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ALLISON BROWN Allison.brown@comoxvalleyrecord.com PETER DIESPECKER Peter.diespecker@comoxvalleyrecord.com TRACEY LAWRENCE Tracey.lawrence@comoxvalleyrecord.com SARA PELLATT Sara.pellatt@comoxvalleyrecord.com

a division of

Available online: comoxvalleyrecord.com/e-editions PHONE: 1-250-338-5811 MAILING ADDRESS: 407-D Fifth Street, Courtenay V9N 1J7 Trio magazine is published quarterly by Black Press Media.

The points of view or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of Trio. The contents of Trio magazine are protected by copyright, including the designed advertising. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher.

Trio Magazine recognizes and respectfully

acknowledges that it is produced on the traditional unceded lands of the Puntledge, E’iksan, Sahtloot, Sasitla and K'ómoks First Nation.

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CONTENTS

WINTER 2023 EDITION 08

FROM COURTENAY TO COUTURE

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MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

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Conductor Helena Jung scaling up the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra

A Comox Valley designer takes centre stage at Paris Fasion Week with her runway showcase

Comox Valley dominates VEX robotics with unified approach

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Unravelling Cumberland's mountain biking history through its trail names

NURTURING THE VALLEY'S AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY

ISLAND LIFE TO OPEN SEAS

Comox Valley Farmers Institute celebrating 150 years

TWO AND A JUICE

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Valley family completes an epic 13-month Atlantic Ocean sailing odyssey

ROBOTICS71 FUELS SUCCESS

SWEEPING CHANGES How the Comox Valley Curling Club is attracting a younger crowd

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Comox Valley designer takes centre stage at Paris Fashion Week with runway showcase

BY ERIN HALUSCHAK PHOTOS BY DEVON CARLSON/SUBMITTED

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andi Barry vividly recalls putting fashion shows on for her mother when she attended G.P. Vanier Secondary in Courtenay.

Earlier this fall, she unveiled her latest collection, Summer on the Seine, at La Galerie Bourbon during Paris Fashion Week 2023 in early October.

Despite catching the eye of Glamour, ELLE and Vogue magazines, Barry recalls starting at the very basics of fashion and design - with a drawing. “(In high school), I didn’t have very many clothes and I was getting made fun of for wearing the same pair of pants every day. So I started drawing myself outfits for the week so that I would look different with my small, basic wardrobe - kind of like a capsule wardrobe idea and take those looks and make them look different and put together.”

After graduating, she studied graphic design and ended up travelling on a sailboat across the Mediterranean. She became inspired

by European fashion, particularly in Italy and France.

The inspiration drove her to create a small collection of six pieces, which she sewed on a friend’s mother’s sewing machine.

“It was very rough. I had no idea what I was doing - I had no idea about garnet construction.”

She applied to Parson Paris, the European branch campus of the Parson School of Design in New York City and was accepted, however, with tuition set at $30,000, she sought a one-year deferral in order to save up for tuition.

After searching the internet for high-paying jobs, she landed upon positions working on yachts as a stewardess. The vessel she WINTER 2023 | TR I O MAGAZ IN E

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worked on travelled from Florida to New York and crossed over to the Mediterranean. Barry ended up in the south of France and eventually took a train to Paris.

She says her experience in fashion school was unmatched.

“If you’re going to study fashion, Paris is the place to do it because you’re just in the mix…all of my instructors worked in the industry and they would all teach one class. My pattern-making instructor would do costumes for the ballet; you’re learning from people who worked for Chloe or these really big fashion houses.”

After school, she returned to the yachting world in Florida in order to save money. While it wasn’t living in Paris, Barry made the most of her opportunity, working with ultra-highnet-worth individuals and their garments, doing garment care, solving problems and looking after their clothes.

Watching how the one per cent live, Barry’s design and fashion background had her experimenting with lightweight and natural fibres such as linen and silk.

“It’s naturally thinking about not just the design but from the silhouettes and the functionality of the garment. Those are all things that have helped; (it was) the perfect marriage between my time in Paris and my time on board yachts.”

She launched her brand Bravo x Romeo (she made the ‘x’ in her brand to be symbolic of the Métis infinity symbol, a reflection of her Métis heritage growing up on Vancouver Island) mostly all resort wear - in the summer of 2021, and participated in Miami Swim Week launching her show on board a yacht.

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editorial and celebrity placements - found Barry through Instagram, she was able to launch Summer on the Seine with 32 looks in October in Paris.

A highlight of the collection was the debut of the ‘toile de sea’ ensemble, a piece that paid homage to the rich history of French textiles. Drawing inspiration from the iconic ‘toile de Jouy,’ a renowned fabric known for its intricate pastoral motifs and historical significance, Barry took the French style and gave it a modern twist.

“Each model had two to three changes each. It was immense.

I had all my friends, most of the girls that were in Paris actually with me helping me behind the scenes, helping dress models,” says Barry of the experience.

The feedback from the show was “amazing and overwhelming,” but she adds the pace didn’t give her much time to think about the experience until afterward.

“I spent like three months sewing these garments, a lot longer getting ready because some of the prints, you know, you have to work with the print, get it ordered, test the fabric…I really thought that I'd be more emotional after the runway show, but everything is just so fast-paced. I just haven't had a moment to absorb it yet. Everyone’s been very complimentary of the looks.”

Barry is hoping to partner with various boutiques both in Florida and in Paris to have some of her pieces in store, and ultimately to focus on buyers from major retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Revolve.

For more information or to shop her collection, visit randibarry. com or @bravoxromeo on social media.

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TWO AND A JUICE Unravelling Cumberland's mountain biking history through its trail names

BY OLIVER LAURIN

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PHOTOS UROC/SUBMITTED

“The reason that Cumberland is so prominently on the map is that it's got all of these wonderful things attached to it,” mentioned Browne.

“The network is huge, it’s right beside the village, it's organized, it’s well maintained, it's grassroots, it's organic. Everybody's happy to go into that forest and come out of there’s happy. It's just a positive space in the world and that's hard to come by these days.”

Photo by Jarrett Lindal Media

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estled within the heart of the Comox Valley lies a haven for adrenaline seekers.

With 200 kilometres of managed trails, spanning more than 6,500 acres, the hills surrounding Cumberland have become a mecca for mountain biking in North America over the years.

in his lifetime, explained that the majority of the time, those who spearhead the trail building get the honour of baptizing the completed project.

“The choice behind a trail name is often a fun, light-hearted, and not-so-serious aspect of trail building,” said Browne.

Each of the 200-plus trails in this natural playground carries a name that hides a rich history, filled with camaraderie, laughter, and stories.

Builders typically draw inspiration from memorable events, humorous anecdotes, historical tales, or any significant experiences they encountered during their journey of creating a new path.

Dougal Browne, executive director of the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC), who built more than 40 mountain biking trails

One of Browne’s favourite trail names is called Two and a Juice.

“A long time ago, there used to be a mine (up in the mountains) WINTER 2023 | TR I O MAGA Z IN E

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and mine workers would come out for their lunch break when they were allowed to stop,” explained Browne. “There was a rather enterprising man who would go up to that mine head with portable lunch packs containing sandwiches and juices. (It’s) said that you would hear the workers shout their order through the forest saying: ‘Two and a juice for me!’ ” However, riders should not be swayed by the whimsical names of the trails when choosing their next path.

“Probably the steepest trail in Cumberland is called Cupcake,” added Browne. “The main trail builder decided to name it this way - he had some leftover cupcakes from his baby shower and he took out the trails (and shared them) with the others.”

Some other bike paths bear the weight of an interesting local lore.

Bucket of Blood pays homage to a now-closed rowdy Cumberland bar that has been the theatre of numerous booze-fueled feuds in its heyday.

"Going down to that bar on a Friday night was considered a night with a bucket of blood because you would often end up in a fight," said Browne.

Perhaps one of the most famous trails in the network, Space Nugget, has a long history dear to the community.

“Before (Space Nugget) even existed, there was a trail called Black Hole (named after some riders) found a huge mine shaft hole next to a path which was covered by logs,” said Browne. “When they threw a rock in it, it echoed down the hole, (hence the name). When Space Nugget was being built, people said that it was in this ‘really lovely nugget of a forest.’

They nicknamed it Space Nugget in line with the space theme of Black Hole.”

In the early 2000s, the Cumberland Community Forest Society successfully raised enough funds to purchase the land through which the trail runs, ensuring its protection from being logged. This effort was part of a major campaign known as Save Space Nugget, which was featured in a 40-minute documentary.

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Influenced by their experiences riding the trails in the mainland metropolis, a group from Cumberland returned home in the early '90s, filled with enthusiasm, and set out to create a community of their own.

What started as a small initiative blossomed into a trail network with 15 mapped trails by the early 2000s.

Today, Cumberland offers one of the largest trail networks in North America, receiving more than 220,000 visits last year.

Yet, the success of Cumberland's mountain biking culture is in large part due to a group of devoted community actors.

Volunteers and grassroots organizations engaged in discussions with logging companies that own the surrounding forest, namely Mosaic Forest Management and Manulife Investment Management, as well as the Village of Cumberland. Together, they spearheaded a benchmark land access agreement, making it the first of its kind in Canada.

“The reason that Cumberland is so prominently on the map is that it's, it's got all of these wonderful things attached to it,” mentioned Browne. “The network is huge, it’s right beside the village, it's organized, it’s well maintained, it's grassroots, it's organic. Everybody's happy to go into that forest and come out of there happy. It's just a positive space in the world and that's hard to come by these days.”

UROC is also set to publish a book - Trail Stories from the Cumberland Network - in December and it will be available for purchase at bike shops around the Comox Valley.

For more information about mountain biking in Cumberland or to know more about upcoming events, visit UROC’s website via unitedridersofcumberland.com, follow the group on Instagram, or join their Facebook page.

Photo by Sara Kempner

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n August 2023, the Holmes family came back to the Comox Valley after a long trip.

Once the family settled back into their home and resumed their normal life, only a few people knew that Stu, Lana, and their daughters, Aria and Micah, had spent 13 months at sea, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, navigating more than 21,000 kilometres.

As a young couple, Stu and Lana left B.C.’s mainland 20 years ago and relocated to the Island. A few years later, the duo fell in love with sailing and took their first sailing lesson when Lana was six months pregnant with their first daughter, Aria. Then came Micah.

As the girls grew up, the family explored the province’s coast from Desolation Sound to the southern Gulf Islands and eventually expanded their adventures by chartering the waters of Mexico and New Zealand.

Gaining an increasing amount of experience over time, the four finally developed the confidence to attempt their biggest endeavour yet: circumnavigating Vancouver Island.

ISLAND LIFE TO OPEN SEAS Valley family completes epic 13-month Atlantic Ocean sailing odyssey

BY OLIVER LAURIN PHOTOS BY ALI RODDAM/SUBMITTED

In the summer of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the four left the Comox Marina and came back six weeks later, successfully achieving their goal.

This experience was a catalyst for the couple's long-held aspiration of crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

“We always had this (idea) in the back of our mind and (told ourselves that we) would like to do it maybe once retired,” said Stu. “But then Covid (happened) and with it came the realization that life is short.

“We had friends who had passed away from certain things that were so unexpected. (That made us) realize that things can change pretty quickly so that really pushed us into thinking that we needed to do what we wanted to do sooner than later.”

It only took one conversation for the couple to translate a dream into a concrete plan.

“One day we just looked at each other and we're like, 'we can do this, let's just make it happen,' and (everything) just kind of came together,” added Lana. “It was a big leap of faith and it was a lot of work and planning, but it was so worth it.”

Once Stu received approval for a sabbatical year from his role as an anesthesiologist at the North Island Hospital, things were set in motion.

It took the family seven months to prepare for the long journey ahead.

In April 2022, Stu flew to Martinique and purchased the perfect vessel needed for their trip: a 2002 Amel Super Maramu 2000.

“It's just a very well-known and reliable boat,” said Stu. “They were purpose-built for crossing oceans and have a very good reputation as being safe, predictable, as well as being a very good family boat.”

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Once in possession of this 16-metre-long sailboat, later rebaptized OYAI by the family, the father of two hired a skipper and sailed all the way to Gibraltar.

It’s at this British Overseas Territory where the family started their adventure on July 4, 2022.

For the next three months following their departure, the family sailed the idyllic Mediterranean Sea, hopping from port to port - travelling from Sardegna to the western Italian coast, cruising along the French Riviera, and exploring the Spanish Costa del Sol. Back in Gibraltar, the family eventually headed south to the coast of Morocco and then east to the Canary Islands.

On Nov. 20, 2022, the Holmeses bid farewell to the safety of Las Palmas’ port and embarked on their cross-Atlantic journey.

For the first few days, sustained winds of 55 km/h rendered the family seasick. However, once the weather tempered down as they were heading south toward Brazil in search of the trade winds, the family swapped their rain jackets for their swimsuits.

Along with the help of two other sailors from the Comox Valley, the Holmeses reached the Lesser Antilles island of Santa Lucia 19 days later, successfully completing their cross-Atlantic trek.

For the next few months, the four would sail from one island to the other, experiencing the best of what the Caribbean had to offer.

In the mornings, the two homeschooled girls would study and explore their surroundings in the afternoon.

Though Stu and Lana repeatedly acknowledged how fortunate their family was to experience this unique way of life, they found joy in simplicity.

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Days on the water would often consist of everyday tasks and routines. In their downtime, the family would often end up reading, engaging in long conversations, laughing together, fishing for their next meal, breathing the saline air, playing improvised games, watching the dolphin race their boat and gazing at the night sky.

In August 2023, 13 months following their departure, the Holmeses finished their journey unscathed in the small fishing village of Oxford, Maryland. After they parted ways with their trusty sailboat, selling it to a family from New York, they flew back to the Comox Valley.

Though the return to normal was appreciated, it required a moment of adaptation for each family member after this one-of-a-kind journey.

“We can’t complain about it because it would feel very disingenuous, but it's very different,” admitted Stu. “When you're out there… your schedule is based on the weather which is week by week.

In regular Western life, our schedule is minute-by-minute; you are scheduled for appointments, the kids have activities, you have to go to work… Your life is essentially a rat race.

“It's not better or worse, it's just very different. We're looking forward to getting back there, but we also missed a lot of things about home. We missed our friends, we missed our family, we missed the Comox Valley.”

When asked about a potential future adventure, the couple sighed and laughed. Still digesting their last journey, they mentioned that they currently have no definitive plans in the works.

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MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC Conductor Helena Jung scaling up the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra

BY JASPER MYERS PHOTOS BY SUBMITTED

H

elena Jung moved to the Comox Valley from South Korea, and has lived here for almost 20 years. Jung is the conductor of the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra and is a cellist herself.

She has been playing music her entire life as her mother was a pianist. At 10-years-old, Jung found her way to the cello.

“I started with the piano”, she recalls. “But one day I saw a cello at a recital and thought ‘Oh, I want to play that instrument!’”

During the pandemic, Jung started learning to play violin and viola to better understand other strings, going as far as obtaining her Suzuki Violin Teacher Certificate. Jung also has two sons, who play cello among other instruments.

Jung was part of an orchestra in Seoul, South Korea, where she is originally from. Eventually, she felt that she was ready for something new.

“I wanted to try some new challenges. I needed some new adventure,” Jung explained. “I realized here I can have more opportunities to share my musical talent and musical journey.”

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When Jung first started teaching cello, there were only about two or three cellists in the Valley. Now, she says there are more than 40.

“That's why I was really surprised, and it's getting better … and bigger. And one day maybe I can make a cello orchestra concert.”

The Strathcona Symphony hosted Christmas on Broadway in December, and have two more concerts this season - Family Fun in March and Tchaikovsky From Dark To Light in May.

Aside from the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, Jung sometimes works with the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra in Nanaimo and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra as a cellist.

She has also started a strings group - Hello Strings - with some other local strings teachers, to teach others how to play string instruments, with the goal of bringing together passionate string musicians in the Valley.

The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra is based in the Comox Valley but has grown to include members from Campbell River to Qualicum Beach.

“We get together once a week for rehearsals. We have almost 70 people now.”

Jung states that her dream is to have a concert hall, or permanent place for the orchestra to practice and perform in the Comox Valley.

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NURTURING THE COMOX VALLEY AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY FOR 150 YEARS

Comox Valley Farmers Institute committed to agricultural excellence

BY TERRY FARRELL |

PHOTOS BY ERIN HALUSCHAK/

COURTENAY & DISTRICT MUSEUM

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he Comox Valley Farmers Institute is one of the oldest setter organizations in the community, having first come onto the scene in 1873.

There were no municipalities back then; no government representation - just a few dozen settlers, who actually did not come to the Valley with farming plans at all.

“Most of them were poor. They had come to British Columbia for the gold rush and had high hopes and no capital, and then decided to stay and see how they could manage,” explained historian Jeanette Taylor. “They came across all this fertile land and thought it would be great. But it wasn’t.

“The struggles at that time were many - lack of transpor-

tation; a bankrupt colonial government… basically the European settlers were all dropped in here (during the gold rush) then all the services that were to be provided to them were not forthcoming.”

The introduction of the Farmers Institute allowed the families to pool their resources, share information, and support each other.

“They were constantly lobbying for a promised road up-Island that failed, promised ship service that took forever - that kind of thing.”

Having no local government representation made times tougher for the original farmers of the Comox Valley.

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“Most of them were poor. They had come to British Columbia for the gold rush and had high hopes and no capital, and then decided to stay and see how they could manage,” explained historian Jeanette Taylor. “They came across all this fertile land and thought it would be great. But it wasn’t.

Sam Piercy farm, ca. 1905. Comox Archives and Museum Society photo.

“The government was reluctant to give them any kind of representation - in fact, they weren’t even part of any electoral district in that first decade, so really had no voice speaking on their behalf,” said Taylor. “They had one government position, which was land recorder, which meant when new people came in, instead of having to go to register for a land grant in Nanaimo or Victoria, they could do it (locally). But that was all they got.”

The original farming lands were on the floodplain of the Courtenay River, before expanding to what was known then as the Upper Prairie and Lower Prairie, along the Tsolum River, which was also hunting and berrying grounds for the Indigenous people, which caused much tension in itself.

“They were, of course, terribly upset, and were asking the settlers ‘Have you no land of your own? You come here and just take ours?’ It had a huge impact on them, losing their hunting areas and their berry-gathering areas. There was animosity throughout, and the farmers themselves, in letters and 30

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columns that were sent in to the Colonist newspaper, also were championing the settlement of claims with the Indigenous Peoples.

So it’s interesting (how far back) this goes - right from the early stages of settling. And these people still haven’t been compensated and it needs to happen.”

What started as a small group of 40-50 settlers has grown to a membership base of nearly 100 local farmers and their families.

Many of the members actively contribute to the food system in the Comox Valley, while others are part of the provincial and national food systems.

Surnames such as the Robb family, the Piercy family, the Carwithens were prominent in the development of the CVFI. According to the Comox Valley Farmers Institute website (cvfarmersinstitute.com) the CVFI is “committed to supporting all types of agriculture, farming and farmers in the Comox Valley and we are an active and important contributor and advocate to the continued success of agriculture in the Comox Valley.”

Haying near today’s Ryan Road, ca. 1890-1900, with the Urquhart farm in the background. Comox Archives and Museum Society photo.

Comox farm scene, ca. 1910. Comox Archives and Museum Society photo.

The website is an invaluable tool for local farmers, not only to keep informed of events such as fairs and farm equipment auctions, but also as an equipment co-op landing space, where members offer equipment for rent at reasonable prices.

Taylor said the introduction of the Comox Valley Farmers Institute was integral to the development and sustainability of the agricultural industry in the Comox Valley.

The CVFI is also involved with the school district, as farmers will connect with students through field trip offerings, where students can learn more about the agricultural community.

“Yes, I think you could say that. Certainly, that was the start of the Comox Valley, in terms of non-Indigenous settlement. It was almost exclusively based around farming - it started as a farm community by the colonial government.”

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@tracyfogtmannrealtor @tracyfogtmanncpmoxrealtor I respectfully acknowledge that we work, live, love and laugh within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the K’ómoks Nation. Bellaphoto warmly welcomes ALL families.

WINTER 2023 | TR I O MAGA Z IN E

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ROBOTICS71 PROGRAM FUELS COLLABORATION AND SUCCESS Comox Valley dominates VEX robotics with unified approach

BY TERRY FARRELL |

T

PHOTOS BY ALI RODDAM

he Comox Valley has long been regarded as a hotbed for VEX Robotics.

In 2023, the Comox Valley sent three teams to the world championship event in Texas.

Robotics is a program where students build robots designed to complete specific tasks. Tournament-style head-to-head competitions are conducted throughout the season, leading to regional, provincial and international championships.

As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers, and SD71 has taken that route, with Robotics71 - a district-wide after school robotics program offered to Comox Valley students Grade 8 through Grade 12.

Teams from School District 71 have consistently excelled in the program.

Two years ago, SD71 incorporated this umbrella-type program, for Vex Robotics teams at NIDES, Mark R. Isfeld, G.P. Vanier and Highland Secondary.

Rarely is the Comox Valley not represented at the world championship tournament, held annually in the United States, and recently, the local representation has increased.

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Now, instead of working individually, and meeting up with one another only as adversaries in competitions, the Comox Valley teams

work together throughout the year, under the supervision of SD71 technology education instructor, Travis Lawrenuk. The students meet every Tuesday and Thursday after school at Highland Secondary, and because there is a paid teacher on staff supervising, the students receive course credits.

“It’s pretty new in the grand scheme of things… a bringing together of everyone under one umbrella. It’s district-supported and so far, it has gone well,” said Lawrenuk, adding that the camaraderie gained by the teams fortifies the strength of the program for the district.

“Of course, it’s competition, and things do get emotional, but at the end of the day, all these kids see it as a win for the club - a win for everybody.”

Lawrenuk pointed to the most recent Island tournament, at the Shawnigan tournament.

The tournament was a “two on two” format, where teams were coupled together to compete against other teams.

There were a total of 34 teams in the tournament, and three of the four teams in the final were from SD 71.

“Everybody wants to win, but at the end of the day, when you see (results like) that, we look at it as a win for the club. At the end of it all there were handshakes, smiles and well wishes all around.”

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According to Lawrenuk, the gamesmanship is left on the competition floor. At the club level, there are no secrets kept.

“I would say that in the club, you are all under the same roof, and it is a collaborative environment, for sure,” he said. “The general consensus is that the secrecies and strategies are kept within the club, and the main fear is designs getting leaked out to other clubs. The kids in here, they all share, they all work together, bouncing ideas off each other. There’s a lot of ‘Hey, what are you doing now? How can we improve things?’ So it’s really good that way.”

In VEX Robotics, each year consists of one type of game. For the 2023-2024 school year, the teams are playing what is called the Over Under game.

Over Under is played in head-to-head fashion. Teams try to move acorn-shaped objects into the opponent’s goal in a time limited game.

There are points given for various achievements, including a skills-type aspect.

The game for the upcoming school season is always introduced at the conclusion of the previous school year’s world championship.

The SD71 teams are recognized as a force in the province, and this school year is no exception. Two of the three Comox Valley teams that competed in the 2023 world championships are intact for the 2023-2024 year.

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Lawrenuk said the reputation is well deserved.

“It goes back to history and support, that has been put in over the years,” he said. “Of course, we have a very talented crop of kids that we get through these doors. But it comes down to the hard work of coaches in the historical sense… It all really started there. The kids are willing and ready but if the program is not there, if the coaches are not there to dedicate their time… There is some incredible talent among the kids, but with the support of the district, to make this happen, it has really blossomed.

As far as the Island goes, it would be a really big upset if we were to not have a really good showing and win some trophies. We really are a top dog.”

For Robotics71, the bigger challenge is when it comes to the manhunt teams. In West Vancouver, for instance, there are academies devoted to robotics, such as the Ten Ton Robotics Academy.

“That has been around for a long time, is very well funded, has paid staff, and they are dominant at the world level because of it,” said Lawrenuk.

He envisions a similar structure eventually making its way to the Comox Valley.

“The word ‘academy’ has not quite been put into place (in SD71) yet, but that is sort of the idea,” Lawrenuk said.

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SWEEPING CHANGES How the Comox Valley Curling Club is attracting a younger crowd

BY CONNOR MCDOWELL PHOTOS BY ALI RODDAM

T

he Comox Valley Curling Centre is rocking a new look.

In the last six years, the club added pickup leagues, upgraded its bar to keep craft beer on tap, and opened on weekends. Membership doubled, a new demographic signed up to play, and local businesses became sponsors.

While manager Keith Parry worked the past six years to expand out the club and improve its value, the average demographic has decreased by roughly 15 years of age, social leagues started on Friday and Saturday, and the bar quadrupled its options to offer eight beers on tap — adding craft brews from across the Island.

A big goal of recent changes has been to attract newcomers into the sport. To do this, having a dark beer, wheat beer, IPA, pilsner or lager, sour or fruity, and a hazy beer on tap doesn’t hurt; but Parry’s

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main focus has been to launch social leagues that give newbies a chance to break onto the ice. “(We’re) opening it up to non-competitive curlers and fun curlers and new curlers, ultimately,” said Parry. “The best way is to have four friends or family or coworkers to join a league but if you don’t, we’ll help you find a team.”

The Gladstone Friday fun league has been a popular addition since Parry started six years ago. It’s backed by sponsorship from the local brewery and facilitates casual competition that allows players a chance to try curling for a season of just five weeks.

In the past, seasons have traditionally ran 23 weeks — making it hard to test the sport.

Continuing the work to appeal to newcomers, the Comox Valley Curling Centre is adding a $10 drop-in and play league in the new year that will run on Saturday afternoons. Leagues have also been added such as mixed-gender leagues and leagues of all-ages play.

of creating sponsorships in the community came from his experience in the music business, the idea of creating social leagues came from his experience working at a club on the mainland, and the idea of upgrading the bar came from living in Vancouver — where he took interest in craft beer.

The hope is that players who like the sport will scale up into more competitive leagues. The new expansions have been successful in breathing new life into the club, but Parry makes sure to emphasize the club still keeps a competitive player base in the higher-level leagues.

Of course, putting new beer in the curling club was also a personal choice.

“It’s not all fun, we have champion-level curlers here,” he said.

“Who… I hope… are having fun when they come.”

Parry said he brought his ideas from past experience. The idea

“There was actualy no beer here that I would drink,” he said with a laugh.

But the real passion for changes at the club is curling.

“It’s a wonderful, fun game. Intellectually challenging, good physical workout, it’s social.”

WINTER 2023 | TR I O MAGA Z IN E

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10 QUESTIONS W I T H D AV I D R E Y N O L D S , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR O F T H E C O M O X VA L L E Y FOOD BANK

BY ERIN HALUSCHAK | PHOTOS BY ALI RODDAM

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Born in Calgary and raised on an acreage in southern Alberta, David Reynolds moved to Vancouver Island in 2000.

With a background in business administration, he spent 18 years holding various leadership positions within the gaming industry on Vancouver Island.

Reynolds switched careers to become the executive director of the Comox Valley Food Bank during the pandemic.

He wanted to be closer to home more often and engage in work that is focused on community engagement.

When not at work, he enjoys camping, golf, hockey and spending time with his daughter and wife.

Why did you decide to take the executive director position of the Comox Valley Food Bank?

I was looking for a different role with a community focus. A lot of great work had been done by the society, laying the groundwork to help those in need of emergency food supplement. My background was a good fit to help the Comox Valley Food Bank expand to meet growing demand within the Valley and across Canada and ensure sustainability for years to come.

Additionally, it takes a considerable amount of courage to ask for help. In our experience, people who access food bank support do not do so lightly or without serious consideration of the stigma, judgement, and shame associated with these services. Compassion, empathy, and curiosity are practices that help us to respond with care and common humanity to those who hold misconceptions, as well as to those who access the food bank.

What is a random fact about you that few people might know?

What is a skill you'd like to learn and why?

I like a good garage sale and collecting antiques.

I would like to further my understanding of non-profit organizations and leadership within the community development and social service space. So many charities in our communities are doing wonderful things. I would like to be a part of the solution to help the community more. I am learning more about how to develop collaborative connections between food security and other areas of society, further enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of the social support network.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

What is one of the biggest misconceptions/ stereotypes you've heard about the food bank?

We sometimes hear the misconception that people use the service when they do not need it. It is important for those who have this misconception to remember that people struggle with many different things, and that struggle is not always “evident” or “obvious.” It is not immediately obvious from simply looking at a family or individual to understand what they are experiencing or what challenges they are facing.

Many people, especially over the past three years, are experiencing short-term challenges and disruptions to their lives, which can have deep impacts and long-term drawbacks. Being able to provide supplemental food support that has considerable impact on people’s physical, mental, and emotional health has positive ramifications for the rest of their lives and can make the difference between their situation improving or deteriorating.

Don’t work your whole life doing something you don’t want to do.

If you could work for any organization in the world, what would it be and why?

Entrepreneur. I would want to go back to my roots and be a farmer. There is something about being self-sufficient that becomes more appealing as I get older.

If you could always have a guaranteed donation of one item at the food bank, what would it be?

Cereal. Shelf stable. Easy to prepare. Good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Comforting.

If you could have a conversation over dinner with one person - living or dead - who would it be?

It would be my grandfather, Bruce. He lived to be 102, and I enjoyed every conversation I ever had with him. It would be nice to have one more.

Coffee, tea or other - what is your go-to drink?

Coffee, black. Beer, cold.

If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

Family photo, family heirloom, Swiss army knife, best-fitting blue jeans and sunglasses.

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