COMPASS MAGAZINE VANCOUVER ISLAND | ISSUE 50 APR MAY 2024 | CELEBRATE

Wake up in Toronto

Direct service from Comox to Toronto, every Friday, all summer long.

Celebration

Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead – Nelson Mandela

Sometimes in life, it takes everything you have to get through the obstacle that is in front of you. It might be health, financial, family or professional issues that seem impossible to solve - in that moment of time. Step back and reassess, and with one foot in front of the other, CELEBRATE each increment you make forward. Little by little, you can achieve and celebrate the smaller milestones that continue to move you through the process of life.

Celebrating these small wins will help catalyst a better mind set and create a positive outlook on the rest of the task. Times are tough right now, and if you are reading this and thinking ‘where do I go from here’, take some time to plan the first two or three steps forward. When you get through those steps, even if it’s just the first one – celebrate it! The roads are not clear right now and each person’s pathway is different with many forks and bends.

Kealy

Kat

Teresa

Shore

If you are lucky enough to be having big wins, celebrate even bigger and take time to share your experience with others who may need help pushing through.

With this issue, Compass Magazine Vancouver Island celebrates its 50th publication. When I reflect back on all the difficulties of yesterday and today, I truly am amazed that this ‘little engine that could’ made it up Hill #50! It has not been easy keeping this project going and we will see what tomorrow brings. If Compass can do it, so can you … with that said, CELEBRATE today and everyday when your eyes open and you remember that you are alive in this amazing world with your journey still ahead of you!

Gilakas’la, Emote, Marsii

PUBLISHER

compassmagazine@ourmail.com www.compassmagazine.ca

Kealy

Quadra Island Studio Tour

WE ARE ART

Quadra Island Studio Tour

KATHRYN MANRY

THE FIRST WEEKEND OF JUNE is always a special time on Quadra Island. The island artists open their studios and visitors can enjoy a glimpse of the magic that happens in these creative spaces. Potters and painters, woodworkers and stone carvers, weavers and glass art – a great range of media is represented by the divers talent of the community. You will find over fifteen painters, a weaver, a quiltmaker, and five artists who work in clay. If you like wood, you can check out Steve Swanson’s unique furniture and Christine Walsh’s beautifully made board games and salt and pepper sets. There are jewellery makers, mosaic artists and more.

Twenty one years ago it all started with seven artists opening their studios and the event has since grown to include more than forty artists in 2024 - either displaying work in their studios or showing it at booths in the Community Centre. This location also hosts an exhibition of work from all participants and is a great starting point to plan the rest of your day. The food concession here also makes the Community Centre a fine lunch destination.

The Studio Tour is the perfect way to explore Quadra. The Tour Map (available on the website or to pick up on the island) guides you from the extreme south tip, with John Hansen’s fused glass and James’ Pottery, to the northern studios situated around Main Lakes Provincial Park. There you will find Perrin Sparks’ printmaking studio and two studios featuring the work of three fine stone carvers. In between you can check out seventeen other studios and take in the gorgeous scenery along the way.

If you bring a picnic, a stop at beautiful Rebecca Spit makes a nice break to the art viewing and a chance to stretch your legs while you take in the view.

Information about the artists is available on the website, where you can browse and plan your tour.

www.quadraislandarts.com

Left : Yuka Morino

Above top to bottom

Pottery : Kathryn Manry

Paintings : Shawna Hart

Woodwork : Christine Walsh

Stone sculpture : Claire Hemingway

See all the artists at quadraislandarts.com

ISLAND CHRONICLES

K'omoks Celebration

KAT FRANK

A LONG TIME AGO, AS VISITORS WERE ARRIVING to the lands of the Pentlatch and K’omoks, there was a noble woman named Qwe7is (born around 1850) and she married a Komoks man named ‘Nangamalis (born 1841). The name Qwe7is is a shortened version of “Qwe7isogut” in the story “Marriage of the Comox” recorded by anthropologist Franz Boas.

Qwe7is and Nangamalis had a son named Billy Frank who was born in 1863 at Kwalicum (Qualicum) Beach. Billy Frank married Mary Humchitt/Nak.

Nak’s father Harry Humchitt was working in Nanaimo loading coal when she was born in 1860. Nak’s mother was also named Mary Humchitt or Waddie. Waddie was born in 1847 in Gwa-Yas-Dums/Gilford Island and as a small child, Mary survived the massacre on her village in Gilford Island. She remained close to the remaining survivors and families.

Nak was one of 16 or 17 siblings and the only child to survive infancy due to sicknesses and circumstances.

Fortunately, Nak was fed by a wet nurse from Nanaimo.

Billy Frank and Nak had four surviving children:

Margaret Frank was the oldest child (born in 1889) and she had an arranged Indian marriage with Johnny Dick of Campbell River. They had 17 children.

Isaac Frank (born in 1895) was the oldest son born in Union Bay near Washer Creek while his father Billy Frank was loading coal. Isaac married Louisa Wilson of Church House and together they had ten children.

Mary Frank was the third born in 1900. She also had an arranged Indian marriage. Then she re-married to Robert Clifton of Hartley Bay.

Andy Frank was born in 1906 and passed in 1972.

Andy Frank was 12 years old when his father Chief Billy Frank passed away of the Spanish flu in 1918. Andy had close ties with the Pentlatch people through both his parents.

There was a Pentlatch Chief named Jimmy Jame Sr. and he lived at the Puntledge and passed his Chieftainship to his son, Jimmy Jame Jr. Unfortunately, Jimmy Jr passed away and Jimmy Sr. redesignated his Chieftainship to his nephew Joe NimNim.

Chief Joe Nimnim took young Andy under his wing and they enjoyed a strong father/son relationship until Nimnim passed in 1940. In those times, it was natural for close relatives to take over the care of children and youth to raise up when a child lost a parent. Andy acquired the Pentlatch Chief position at age 35.

Years later, Andy’s mom Nak was sick in the hospital with a life-threatening ailment. Nak gathered the Chiefs to her bedside in the hospital to discuss the Chieftainship roles and who will carry it forward. In those times, it was natural for a noble woman to determine the next in line for a chieftainship. Noble women were chief makers and the chosen noble men were chiefs by birthright or relationship ties. Nak and the Chiefs made the arrangements for her grandson Norman Frank to assume Andy’s chieftainship. In 1972 Andy did pass away in a fishing accident.

Norman Frank then became the Hereditary Chief of the Comox and Pentlatch people. Norman left the Kuper Island Residential School after his brother died there. Norman began fishing at a young age and eventually became and independent commercial fisherman. He married Barbara Frank and had a son, Kerry and a daughter, April.

Norman continued to honour his Uncle Andy in many ways. Norman and his son Kerry were able to move the publicly funded Centennial Big House from old Fair Grounds on Headquarter Road to its current location, exactly where Andy wanted it. Chief Norman Frank commissioned Calvin Hunt to carve a memorial pole for his Uncle Andy Frank 1989. Andy’s sister Mary Clifton provided many names to her Frank family at this event. Norman then transferred both Komoks & Pentlatch Chieftainships to his son Kerry Norman Frank in 2009 at the K’omoks Bighouse.

When Chief Kerry’s father passed, Chief Kerry understood the cultural work that was required. He prepared for a memorial potlatch, he commissioned Tommy Hunt Jr to carve a 32 foot pole with crests from top to bottom identifying the various ancestral crests. He provided regalia making supplies so all of

his family would have button blankets and aprons for generations to come.

In our view, wealth is not an abundance of valuable possessions or money. Wealth is measured by how generous a Chief and his family can be. The more you give away, the more wealthy and abundant you are. This framework of wealth baffled colonizers who viewed the potlatch as Indians being wasteful by giving material wealth away.

The potlatch represents a physical enactment of our laws. In those times, it was viewed as an obstacle to colonial progress (white supremacy) and this view led to the criminalization of the potlatch in 1884 by way of amendments to the Indian Act. It became a crime to celebrate a marriage, mourn a death, adopt a child, mark the coming of age of a child, address a harm with both the harmed person and the person who committed the harm. Happily, the legislation failed and the potlatch continues today across BC. It continues in Comox, with Chief Kerry Frank.

A baby naming ceremony will take place on June 21, 2024 at Chief Kerry’s property. It is customary for babies to receive names at ten months old because they are then recognized as healthy and will grow to live a long and healthy life.

Chief Frank welcomes all of you to the lands of the K’omoks and Pentlatch people on June 21, 2024, National Indigenous People’s Day, to witness the ceremonies, participate in the workshops, eat delicious food and have a fun day at the beach.

© Joanna Recalma

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Light It Up Blue... and Step Into the Shoes of Autism

APRIL IS WORLD AUTISM MONTH, launched by a worldwide "light it up blue" campaign on April 2nd. If you could make your way around the world on that day, you'd behold the world's icons bathed in blue light: Cairo's pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Big Ben, the Sydney Opera House, to name a few, and closer to home, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower and Canada's Parliament Hill. Why blue? Blue is associated with calmness and acceptance.

World Autism Month is a time when we are encouraged to step into the shoes of someone with autism. It is a time of understanding, acceptance and awareness of the spectrum of needs and challenges, yes, but it is also a time of appreciation and a celebration of the contributions those with autism make to our communities. A keen sense of observation, remarkable attention to detail and an un-

canny ability to recall facts are examples of a neurology that is brimming with potential and promise.

World Autism Month 2024 is also about empowerment. For autistic adults, this may look like support finding a job, a coach on the job site, help making social connections and a placement in a community living apartment. Empowerment is about helping those with autism design and live their best lives.

Local residents and advocates Teresa Hedley and her son Erik have fond memories of Aprils past. In 2016, Erik addressed a crowd on Ottawa's Parliament Hill and spoke about the power of belief and believers in the lives of those with autism. Inside Parliament, Erik and Teresa met with Members of Parliament, shedding light on what it's like to have autism and what it's like to parent a child

KEALY DONALDSON with TERESA HEDLEY

Erik Hedley speaking at the Parliament building in Ottawa

with autism. A conversation with the Honourable Marc Garneau is recounted in Teresa's memoir, What's Not Allowed? A Family Journey with Autism (Wintertickle Press, 2020), a memory she calls "Autism and the Astronaut."

In celebration of World Autism Month, Compass Gallery and Gifts is pleased to host Teresa's book and share her family journey with autism.

Teresa is an educator, an author and the mother of three young adults, one of whom is Erik, with autism. What's Not Allowed? A Family Journey with Autism is an insightful, joyful and inspiring glimpse into the world of autism.

Teresa grew up in the Comox Valley and taught on the north island at CFS Holberg and later in Cumberland before heading to Tokyo to teach English. Teaching stints in Greece, Spain, Canada and Germany followed.

Fast forward to Ottawa, 2014: Teresa paired up with her son Erik to write a mother-son article series "I Have Autism and I Need Your Help" for Autism Matters magazine. The 20-part series was written to build resilience in individuals and in families living with autism. While in Ottawa, Teresa also consulted to families of children with autism.

In 2019, the family moved back to the Comox Valley where Teresa finished writing What's Not Allowed? A Family Journey with Autism

What's Not Allowed? (Erik's first words) takes you into

the headspace of a parent managing a dynamic household and what it's like to parent a child with autism—and also be on the move across Canada via armed forces postings. There are many tips, strategies and points to ponder woven into the stories.

What's Not Allowed? appeared on the Governor General's Literary Awards list, 2021, for creative nonfiction. It is currently being used at Carleton University in Ottawa to teach psychology students about autism from a lived experience perspective.

Teresa and Erik continue to pair up and present to audiences both virtually and in person, illuminating autism and life with autism.

April is World Autism Month. Visit Teresa's website— www.teresahedley.ca—and discover a magic carpet ride where families can fly through the website for an overview of resources they may find helpful on their autism journey. Drop by Compass Gallery and Gifts at YQQ and check out Teresa's book—an opportunity to step into the shoes of autism.

Teresa Hedley with her book, What's Not Allowed? A Family Journey with Autism

'NAMGIS CARVER

An Artist with a Vision to the Future

BRUCE ALFRED DOES NOT SEE HIMSELF AS AN ARTIST WITH A REPUTATION

, yet he has been chosen to participate in some very unique ventures and to contribute to fascinating projects. Perhaps, he has mused, his reputation as an imminent carver in wood is not in his home village of Alert Bay, BC but is outside of it. Bruce is a member of the ‘Namgis First Nations whose work today is known both in Canada and internationally. He received an award from the BC Achievement Foundation in 2008 for artistic excellence. Certainly, his meticulous workmanship is recognizable and that, combined with outstanding designs and vibrant colour makes his work highly sought after. His specialty is bentwood boxes, rattles, totem poles and traditional masks.

Bruce said that from the time he was very young, he always wanted to be a carver. He was raised by his grandmother Axu from the age of three, when his parents, who were married young by arrangement split up. His grandmother did not speak English, and Bruce heard the Kwak’wala language being spoken from a young age. There was a disconnect between generations at that time. Many ‘Namgis elders did not speak English but their children had been at St. Michaels residental school in Alert Bay, such as Bruce’s mother, where they were taught to forget their language and to speak only English. Bruce wanted to learn his people’s language and went about it himself. He asked his Aunt Agnes Cranmer to teach him the Kwak’wala language and about Kwakwaka’wakw culture.

He also pestered Benjamin Dick, known to friends as ‘Blackie’ to show him how to be a carver. Blackie finally relented and gave Bruce the job of sweeping the carving workshop floor and bringing coffee, before he could take up any tools. This was a good introduction for Bruce, but it was later in his youth when he finally began a true apprenticeship. As Bruce says, “When the student is ready, the mentor will appear.”

The apprenticeship program Bruce enroled in was lead by well known carver Doug Cranmer, who became the mentor he needed. Bruce knew Doug as an uncle, and was the first to sign up. The apprenticeship program was the brainchild of Gloria Webster, and had been created in response to a need to house Potlatch masks being repatriated to the ‘Namgis Nation from Ottawa. The masks had been taken by the Canadian government in 1921, at which time the Potlatch was outlawed. The initiative to get the masks back began in the 1950s when a local man, Jimmy Sewid was determined to do something about it. He thought ‘Ottawa’ was

a man, and said he would ‘beat him’ until the pieces were returned to Alert Bay. He went to Ottawa and demanded to see the masks. He asked what it would cost to get them back, and was told ‘$1400.00’.

The cause was taken up again 20 years later by a group including Doug Cranmer and Gloria Webster, and a critical component of the venture was to create a purpose built facility to house the masks. The apprentice carvers worked to build today’s U’mista Cultural Centre and created the art inside the building. All the lumber for the project was milled in Alert Bay.

There was a big turnover of apprentices, but the core group stayed together. “We were like a family,” commented Bruce, that included his nephew Wayne Alfred and Beau Dick.

“Doug was the man,” said Bruce, “He was a giant.” Doug told Bruce at one time that he didn’t feel as if he had made a difference, but his students assured him that he had. “What he instilled in us, was that our mission was to perfect the old traditional ways and to build on that.” Bruce described the rules to Kwakwaka’wakw art, explaining that there are four elements used: the Ovid, the Circle, the S and the U shapes.

When the apprenticeship was over, Bruce, Wayne and Beau did not want to leave, and Doug had them assist with a commission for the Denver Art Museum.

Later, back in Alert Bay in 1996, Doug also oversaw the building of the Big House and Bruce was on the team of artists who worked on the project. In Bruce’s estimation, Doug was a master with the chainsaw, who Bruce commented, could be seen working up high, holding the saw while he had a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Bruce’s own growing reputation garnered opportunities to visit other countries and participate in international projects, and he has been to England, New York, Australia and Mexico. In 2010, he travelled to Manchester, England with Doug Cranmer’s two nephews Kevin and Edgar to assess the repair of a totem pole originally created by Doug in 1967 in honour of Canada’s Centennial year, then visited again a few years later with Bill Cranmer, a ‘Namgis chief. This project lead to a new commission in Blackpool this year, where Bruce created a stunning light screen showcasing First Nations’ designs.

In 2018, Bruce was among a group of West Coast Indigenous artists who were approached by a ‘gazillionaire’ from Belguim to build replicas of traditional houses for his resort, Pair Daiza,

located within the Belgian Zoo in Brugelette. Local French-speaking Alert Bay resident Roland Emery assisted with translation and some of the logistics. Four houses with traditionally designed and painted fronts were created as accommodation. The resort also wanted totem poles and local driftwood to complete the West Coast landscape, and the village became part of the resort’s Last Frontier area.

A recent project in 2022, took Bruce to St. Catharines, Ontario and by an unexpected turn of events, resulted in him engaging with the local Six Nations. He and Cole Speck, who had worked with Beau Dick for nine years, went with him to repair a totem pole. The work, which normally would require six weeks to complete, had to be completed in four, and they worked very long days in hot and humid weather to repair and repaint the pole, part of which had been burned. When Cole had to leave early, Bruce was left to try to complete the work himself. However, members of the Six Nations who were excited about the project had been observing the work. They cheerfully helped Bruce with the final phase of painting. He will be returning with dancers, singers and chiefs from Alert Bay to oversee the raising of the pole.

Bruce’s most recent project involves a different sort of collaboration. Last year he and his daughter Molly Willie travelled to Mexico, to meet Indigenous Zapotec weavers Arnulfo and Arturo in Oaxaca. The meeting was initiated by Duncan Kennedy, who assists First Nations in cultural promotion. Bruce and his nephew Wayne provide the designs and some were created by his late nephew Marcus Alfred, who had worked very closely with Beau Dick. In this truly family affair, his granddaughter Brooke Willie, Molly’s daughter, contributes her accounting and web-savvy skills to the endeavour and will go on the next trip.

Zapotec weavers use traditional techniques for dying the fabrics, and work in cotton and wool. The result is beautiful individualy created pieces that bear Northwest coast Indigenous designs on naturally sourced fibres. Bruce feels that this helps to combat the huge number of ready made goods bearing First Nations designs that are mass manufactured in Asia. The new venture, tumtum threads (tumtum meaning ‘heart’ in Chinook language) has already met with great success. In the first three days of the Kickstarter launch of their new company, they received $10,000 in pledges.

Bruce works tirelessly to promote his culture through art. He has been told that you are considered to be a proficient artist when you have worked for 10,000 hours at your craft. He knows he has easily surpassed this benchmark.

Bruce enjoys sharing his knowledge with local school children, helping them create dance screens, and bringing young people to U’mista where they can see visible evidence of their heritage. “This is yours,” he tells them. And for those who don’t think they can work as hard as Bruce does he says, “If this old man can do it, you can.”

With new projects in the offing, including producing an archway for Michael Reddy who has been creating a sanctuary at Double Bay on Hanson Island for an Orca ‘Corky’ currently in captivity, and taking orders for the culture and language retreat Nawalakw in Bond Sound between Knight and Kingcome Inlets, Bruce, now in his mid-70s, has much to do. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. He has many visions of how to make Kwakwaka’wakw art more visible throughout his own community, and knowing Bruce, he will bring these visions to life.

Bentwood Box at U’mista Cultural Centre © Terry Lynn Gold

Bruce Alfred and Catherine Gilbert © Terry Lynn Gold

October 25,

WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS

Celebrating 100 Years of the Royal Canadian Air Force

“As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), I join Canadians to pay tribute to the generations of Air Force members who have dedicated their lives to defending our peace, freedom, and prosperity.

On this centennial occasion, I invite Canadians to learn more about the RCAF’s many achievements and to take part in activities celebrating this milestone anniversary. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the families who have stood behind RCAF members over the last century, sharing in their sacrifices and triumphs. To all Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, past and present: thank you for your service. Your dedication, courage, and selflessness have kept – and continue to keep – our country safe. Sic itur ad astra.”

PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU

APRIL 1, 2024 | OTTAWA, ONTARIO

100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force

1 APRIL 1924

AUTHORIZATION OF THE RCAF

The RCAF was formed on 1 April 1924. It had three components – a full-time permanent force (regular force), a part-time non-permanent force (air reserve), and a reserve of non-active personnel. No non-permanent units were created at that time as the funding was not available. The RCAF was not an independent organization as it reported to the Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia (the name of the Canadian Army at the time). The RCAF was now a full-time organization with its own orders: the King's Regulations and Orders for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Pay and Allowance Regulations for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Although its role did include the defence of Canada, this role would take a back seat to flying operations performed for other government departments.

19 NOVEMBER 1938 INDEPENDENT

1951 : Flying Officer Marian Neily, one of the original group of Para-Belles trainees.

© Royal Canadian Air Force

From the time of its formation, the RCAF had been under the command of the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the head of the Canadian Militia, as the Canadian Army was then known. On this date, the RCAF no longer reported to the CGS but directly to the Minister of National Defence.

26 AUGUST 1940

NO. 1 (RCAF) SQUADRON ENGAGES IN BATTLE

No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron Engages in Battle with the Luftwaffe on this date. Claiming three enemy aircraft destroyed and four damaged, while losing one pilot, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron became the first RCAF squadron to engage in combat. Flying Officer R.L. Edwards became the RCAF's first Battle of Britain casualty.

25 OCTOBER 1951

THE FIRST PARA-BELLES GRADUATE

The first group of four nursing sisters graduated as fully qualified para-rescue (today's Search and Rescue Technicians). They did not participate in rescues all the time, but only when needed. Because of nursing regulations, they could no longer serve when married. The last Para-Belle retired from rescue duties in December 1956. They demonstrated that women could serve in this exacting trade, although a woman would not participate again until Tammy Negraeff in 1998.

1 FEBRUARY 1968

On 1 February 1968, the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act Come came into effect, amalgamating the RCAF, Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army. The RCAF was broken up to be part of Air Defence Command, Air Transport Command, Materiel Command, Training Command, Maritime Command and Mobile Command. The first four were largely composed of former RCAF units.

2 SEPTEMBER 1975

AIR COMMAND BEGINS OPERATIONS

On 2 September 1975, Air Command began bringing air units under its command and administrative control. It also began to develop air-related policies for all air units and personnel. This was the start of one unified air force again.

4 OCTOBER 1980

MV PRISENDAM RESCUE

The largest search and rescue operation to date was

on 4 October 1980. Search and Rescue aircraft from Canada and the United States Navy and Coast Guard rescued 520 crew and passengers from the cruise ship MV Prinsendam. While sailing in the Gulf of Alaska, the ship had a fire declared out of control in the engine room. The CH-113 Labrador helicopter were operating at the extreme end of their range.

30 JANUARY 1991

CF-188S ENGAGE AN IRAQI PATROL BOAT

While on patrol during the first Gulf War, two CF-188s were diverted to attack an Iraqi fast patrol boat. After two strafing runs with the CF-188s 20 mm guns, the boat was irreparably damaged and later found to have sought safe-haven in Iran. This marked the first time since the Korean War that Canadian pilots had attacked an enemy.

30 DECEMBER 2008

JOINT TASK FORCE AFGHANISTAN GETS CHINOOKS

The transfer of six D-model Chinook medium-toheavy-lift helicopters from the US Army to the Canadian Forces was completed. They already carried Canadian colours and were placed on the inventory of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing. They would soon be flying in support of the International Security Assistance Force in southern Afghanistan. Using the helicopters reduced the opportunities for the Taliban to attack Canadian resupply convoys and thus helped reduce casualties.

26 APRIL 2011

HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN INFORMATION

On 26 April, HMCS Charlottetown observed pro-government fire striking civilian areas of Misrata, Libya, as they were about to begin an offensive. This fire was reported to an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). They, in turn, directed Coalition aircraft, including two CF-188s, to investigate. After identifying the source of the fire and receiving permission, Coalition aircraft were able to destroy several dozen assault vehicles, including a main battle tank and artillery pieces. This was the first time a Canadian warship passed information to Canadians in an AWACS, who tasked Canadian fighter aircraft.

17 NOVEMBER 2021

SUPPORT TO BC FLOODS

On 14 November, an atmospheric river brought two

days of intense rains to southwest British Columbia. There was severe flooding in the Fraser Valley and landslides. Even before the Canadian Armed Forces was authorized to assist on 17 November, CH-149 Cormorants from 442 Squadron had started evacuating what would be over 300 people from isolated stretches of highway. CH-146 Griffons were on the scene on the 17 November, as was one CH-148 Cyclone. A CC177 Globemaster transported three Griffons from 430 Squadron to Abbotsford, while two CH-147 Chinooks from 450 Squadron also took part in the operation. The RCAF had 12 aircraft on the mission rescuing stranded individuals, flying supplies to isolated communities, conducting medical flights, and providing aerial surveying. Operation LENTUS 21-06, as the mission was named, ended on 17 December.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE & INVITATION FROM 19 WING COMOX:

It is a special year for 19 Wing Comox as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

with the return of the Comox Air Show. We are excited to invite the local community (and beyond) to 19 Wing for an exciting and fun-filled family event with opportunities to see a variety of military flying and static displays, a kid’s zone and much more.

Our attendees will be able to see the RCAF Snowbirds and the CF-18 Demonstration Team performing their first official performances of the 2024 Air Show season. Moreover, we are delighted to showcase aircraft from 19 Wing, the RCAF, and our US partners, including our own CP-140 Aurora, CH149 Cormorant, CC-130 Hercules, and CC-295 Kingfisher. It will also be a great opportunity to talk with aircrew, groundcrew, and all the personnel who enable the RCAF to fulfil its operational mission, as well as witness a Search and Rescue technician parachute display.

COL J.P. GAGNON, 19 WING COMMANDER

CWO D. FARR, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 19 WING

For more information, visit rcaf2024arc.ca to learn more about the history and celebration of the Royal Canadian Air Force and its 100th Anniversary.

WELLNESS FEATURE

Nature’s Edge: Where Adventure Meets Wellness

A HAPPY CAMPER

MY EPIC JOURNEY TO NATURE’S EDGE starts with an incredibly scenic two-hour drive from Campbell River, with no traffic lights, and plenty of Kodak moments.

Nature’s Edge, aka Camp Goodtimes, is a humble gem nestled in the heartbeat of the Nimpkish Lake, River, Ocean corridor, in the untamed wild, on Northern Vancouver Island, on the traditional unceded territory of the Kwakwakaʼwakw and Namgis First Nations. Although never ending, this labour of love has taken twoyears to design, build, renovate and landscape.

A first of its kind, Nature's Edge specializes in 2 night and 3 day couples retreats and 2 night and 3 day Recharge Retreats, with an à la carte activities menu that includes yoga, personal training, massage, paddling, biking, hiking, and optional helicopter, boating and ATV tours. To further complement the day’s journey, co-owner Dana

is continuously developing a menu of culinary delights and grab & go creations made with love.

Upon rolling through the gates into the parking lot, a big sigh of relief happens. As I open my car door I’m greeted by a burly bear of a man, and a sparkly eyed goddess.

"Welcome to Nature’s Edge!" echo Marc and Dana, simultaneously laughing as they connect with one another. Marc puts my luggage in the back of his side-by-side and says, ‘hop in’. I happily jump in and we go for a property tour through the trail network.

This place is pure magic,m with amenities that include a full size gym, sports court, outdoor performance centre, lit up running trails, motorbike track, massage box, yoga pod, sauna, plunge tubs, outdoor shower, organic

Co-owners Dana and Marc © Kendra Parnham-Hall, kphphotography

garden, fire pits, several oversized private campsites, and funky bunkies including a grain silo and retro Airstream that is currently under renovation.

Normally a car-camper, I opted to pamper myself and upgrade my stay to the silo, rebelliously perched horizontally above an old rescue box which has been re purposed as a holistic bodywork and meditation space, cantilevered over a heart shaped pond buzzing with dragonflies.

I check my bags and can’t wait to get started on my 2 night and 3 day custom retreat. Dana approaches the silo double fisted, with a few dogs in tow, and hands me the most delightful soul soothing beverage. "Let’s take a walk to the heart and go over the weekend itinerary," she says.

With the game plan in place, I make my way up to the silo nest, complete with king size bed, stargazing roof and private deck wrapped around a towering cedar tree. The next morning I wake up to an orchestra of birds chirping and the scent of caffeine. It’s 6:49 AM and I feel like I’ve won the life lottery.

After a phenomenal full-body workout, I enjoy a deli cious smoothie loaded with superfoods, glance at the area map, and set out on my day of adventure.

Following my ambitious bike ride and leisurely paddle, I take a refreshing dip in the Nimpkish River before returning to the property for a relaxing aromatherapy massage, sauna, some nourishment, and an evening fire with my gracious hosts. A herbal elixir caps off my absolutely perfect day.

It’s official: Nature’s Edge is my new favourite destination. I can’t wait to rebook for seasonal returns; updating and upgrading my diet and exercise programs, and self-care practice, along with some pampering. This solo adventure was top shelf; next time I’ll be sure to invite my partner (hehe).

MARC ST. JULES is a world renowned strength and conditioning coach with 30 years experience in all realms of sports fitness, including manufacturing fitness equipment, designing gyms, and training elite athletes. DANA MAHON is a holistic wellness practitioner and yoga teacher specializing in women’s wellness, bodywork, and healthy food & elixir creations.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Comox Valley Farm Collab

SHORE WOLF FARM

Hello from the Comox Valley Farm Collab! We're a newly formed group of small farms from Black Creek and Merville and we're working together to offer a lovely variety of local farm-fresh, in season produce.

We feature produce from Sweet Spread Farm, Shorewolf Farm, Fitzgerald Farms, Tendergreens Farm, Pendleton Farm, Yellow Boot Farm, Fiddle Creek Farm, Whitaker Farm, and Peas and Love Produce and hope to grow our collaboration to offer produce from more local farms.

Unlike typical fresh food suppliers bringing in food from far away, we're all small farms growing and living within the local area. As individual farms, we offer lots of variety but smaller capacity and volume but together we can offer more.

Sending out multiple fresh sheet offerings, delivering, and invoicing all take time and by working together we're helping each other save time during the busy farming season. We've grouped together to help local chefs by offering more variety and volume in the hopes that we can get more food into local restaurants and make a bigger impact to the local food scene.

The Comox Valley is an incredible place to find beautiful produce year-round and home to many hard-working small family farms. The more that we can support local farms the more resilient our food systems are. All these farmers also offer produce at the Comox Valley Farmers Market on Saturdays 9-1. Please contact Jill for more information at shorewolffarm@outlook.com.

Farmers Markets and fresh collectives are popping up this Spring! A NEW mini market is scheduled to start in late May on Thursday afternoons from 4-7 pm (tbc) at Compass General Store, 1811 Comox Avenue, in Downtown Comox!

Check @CompassGeneralStore Facebook page for upcoming details & registration! Support your local farmer & keep your diet healthy and local!

SHIFT HAPPENS

Intuition

ANDREA WAGEMAKER

HOW IS YOUR ECLIPSE SEASON GOING SO FAR?

This is a potent time for transformation - releasing what no longer serves and aligning with our inner truth (aka intuition).

Believe it or not, we are all born with the ability to sense. The conditioning layered upon us as children, the traumas we have endured in this life and past lives, plus the way our nervous system is wired to believe (or doubt) our intuition, can lead us to feel and believe otherwise.

The Lucia N°03 light is a tool for activating the pineal gland and assisting with increasing our connection to our intuition by relaxing the nervous system (when you calm and centered it is much easier to connect to your truth) AND by creating a increased neuroplasticity in the brain, temporarily allowing us to shift our holding patterns.

The Lucia N°03 is unique as the wide spectrum of

solid light from the central halogen really anchors in a feeling of warmth, safety and wellbeing for the nervous system, then the flickering light joins, gently encouraging the brain waves to harmonically reorganize.

Light sessions build on themselves, opening deeper access to inner sensing, ability to see beyond the veils and into TRUTH itself.

Interested in learning more about the Lucia N°03? We have recently (re)birthed our online community, a space where you can access monthly calls (for light travelers and light guides), share playlists, take courses and receive 1:1 mentoring.

If you already have a Lucia N°03 and haven't joined yet, respond to this email for your personal invitation!

If you haven't made the step towards owning a Lucia N°03 light yet, perhaps now is the time to go in for a light session!

© IgorZh

STAY WELL

Let’s Celebrate… All the Time and Everywhere!

DANA MAHON

THE VERB CELEBRATE COMES from its Latin root celebrare, "to sing praises of." How lovely.

Celebrations are often tied to occasions like graduations, weddings, births, new jobs, milestone birthdays and the like; all fun occasions and certainly reasons for celebration! What if we also created “reasons” like, today is a beautiful day, or I swam in the river or I made a healthy nourishing dinner for myself

What if we practiced celebrating more, without needing an occasion?

As Einstein said, ‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.’ Waking up is in fact a miracle. Being able to get dressed, have conversations, see colours, listen to birds, prepare and eat food…these are all miracles.

When we reserve celebrating for special occasions, when we save the “good china” for the holidays, when we keep that special dress in the closet waiting for the party invitation, we miss out on the many opportunities to honour the sacredness of the present

moments. All we have is now, and now deserves to be celebrated! Not to take away from all of those fun occasions! Let’s celebrate those too and enjoy them to the fullest!

Now, what if your now doesn’t feel like cause to celebrate? You may be experiencing an illness, death of a loved one, the loss of a job, you may be experiencing relationship trouble, or other forms of deep mental, physical, financial or emotional stress.

Living life from a place of celebration doesn’t mean we need to dance through every day. Instead, on those days, in those times, perhaps we can seek and thus create micro moments of gratitude for a beautiful experience, appreciation of something “ordinary” like our breath, a hummingbird paying us a visit, a driver letting us cut in, or a moment where we simply honour ourselves or the loved ones who bless our lives, past or present. Celebrations can be grandiose or simple, public or private.

Celebrating life is a mindset, one that we may need to practice and cultivate daily, until it becomes how we live, daily. How and what will you celebrate today?

© Leah-Anne Thompson

PERSONALIZED TAXI & SHUTTLE SERVICES

Reliable transportation at affordable prices. Our drivers generally take the scenic route when transporting our clients so they can see the landmarks, whale watching sites, trails, and other activities they can participate in. During the trip, we’ll also recommend restaurants, hotels, shops, and other recreational hotspots for people to check out.

As well as tourists, we transport various groups, such as kayak parties, recreational sailors, hikers, family reunion excursions, wedding parties, school groups, and more. Call us today to schedule a precise pickup or drop-off any time of the day or night. We also handle parcel deliveries.