December 2019 Issue 133

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Holiday Market local artisans & vendors 10-3pm Shawnigan Lake School 1975 Renfrew Rd, Shawnigan Lake Rd

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Advent Spiral community family walk arrive 20 minutes early 11am/1pm/3pm Rivendell Yurt 5215 Bills Rd, Duncan info 250748 0734 By donation

Val George talks birding in Ecuador 9:30am Fish Health Building 1080 Wharncliffe Rd, Duncan

Gifts for the Holidays Imagine That! 251 Craig St, Duncan Runs to Jan 31 Heritage Museum 12-4 pm 2851 Church Way, Mill Bay millbaymalahathistory.ca also Dec 8/15/22/29 FREE Wreath Making Workshop Lunch included Sands Funeral Home 187 Trunk Rd, Duncan sandsduncan.ca RSVP 11:302:30 Andrea Superstein Quartet jazz originals 2pm Pat’s house of Jazz Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $15 Discovery Service 10am 3904 Johnny Bear Rd, Duncan VIRetreats.com also Dec 8/15/22/29 FREE RAW-2 Mon-Fri 11-5pm Sat 12-3pm PORTALS Annex 2687 James St, Duncan cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca FREE Runs to Dec 20 Tree of Remembrance Sands Funeral Chapel 187 Trunk Rd, Duncan RSVP 250 746-7034 FREE Runs to Dec 31

Lotsa Lego Mon-Fri 115pm Sat 12-3pm PORTALS Gallery 2687 James St, Duncan cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca FREE runs to Dec 20

Community Acupuncture 4-7pm Pestle & Pins Health Solutions Whippletree Junction 4705 TCH, Duncan pestleandpins.com also Dec 9/16/30 $30-$60 Kaiut Yoga 9:30-10:30am 7999 Glenhurst Dr, Crofton new students 3 classes $15 kathywhiteyoga.com also Dec 9/16/23/30

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Mostly Men Kaiut Yoga 6:307:30pm 7999 Glenhurst Dr, Crofton also Dec 10/17

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Kaiut Yoga 9:30-10:30am 7999 Glenhurst Dr, Crofton new students 3 classes $15 kathywhiteyoga.com also Dec 11/18

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Christmas Tree Light Up Carols Hot chocolate & cookies 6-8pm Cowichan Bay Maritime Society 1761 Cow Bay Rd CVRD Parks & Trails Volunteer Program Welcoming 2-5pm Bright Angel Park 2643 Riverfield Rd FREE Kaiut Yoga 5-6pm 7999 Glenhurst Dr, Crofton kathywhiteyoga.com also Dec 12/19/26

Open Meditation 9am & 7pm 3904 Johnny Bear Rd, Duncan VIRetreats.com also Dec 12/19 FREE

St. Peter Church Christmas Fair & Luncheon family fun crafts Silent Auction music 11-3pm 5800 Church Rd, Duncan

Community Acupuncture 4-7pm Pestle & Pins Health Solutions Whippletree Junction 4705 TCH, Duncan $30-60 pestleandpins.com also 12/19

The Steadies presented by Barely North 7:30pm The Hub 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan $20

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Hilary Huntley Open Studio & Seconds Event 4-8pm George Rd, Cowichan Bay

The Nutcracker Family Holiday Ballet 12pm & 4pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2687 James St, Duncan cowichanpac.ca $28 Family $88

Traditional Square Dance Shady Grove Dance Band All dances Soleil Mannion Open Studio taught All ages welcome The Sale 10-5pm 2645 Mill Bay Rd HUB 2375 Koksilah Rd, 250 soleilmannion.ca 818 7358 $10 Cobble Hill Tree Planting 101pm Quarry Nature Park 3500 Mark Crissinger Solo Show Empress Rd FREE Blues & Roots 7pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton No cover Winter Harp Journey to Christmas Cowichan Westholme Tea Performing Arts Centre Company Open House 2687 James St, Duncan cowichanpac.ca $36 Tea and Sweets 10-6pm 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme BC Swiftsure Big Band 17 piece Santa Paws Pet Photo Shoot band 2pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $20 SPCA fundraiser 10-2pm Sharkare 5321 TCH, Duncan by donation Christmas Candlelight Service 1pm Sands Funeral Home 187 Trunk Rd, Duncan Providence Farm Christmas sandsduncan.ca Craft Fair, 9am to 3pm, 1843 Tzouhalem Rd. Cashew Egg Nog Tasting 114pm Glow Juicery 3-5380 TCH Puppets & Music Tim Gosley Duncan Fraggle Rock & Douglas Hensley 8pm Duncan Holiday Open House tastings Showroom 131 Station St $20/$15 treats gift ideas & music 114pm Unsworth Vineyards 2915 Cameron Taggart Rd, Mill Bay Christmas Carol Sing-Along unsworthvineyards.com 7:30 pm Chr Ref Church 930 Trunk Rd Duncan $10 kids free

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Dark Mountain Project Cowichan Valley Theatre & Art Show responding to global environmental and social disruption 4:30-6pm Duncan Garage Café Group Table jmowatsteven@gmail. com

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Mother of Many Children Film Honoring Alanis Obomsawin 5-7pm Cowichan Library 2687 James St, Duncan FREE

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Top Ten Farm Financial Mistakes & How to Avoid Them 9-3:30 360 Duncan St, $30 with lunch 250 Rossworn Henderson LLP CPA 748 8506 to register

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Blue Moon Marquee Jazz & Ragtime 8pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $20/$25

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Cowichan Station Christmas Market family event music activities 10-5pm The Hub 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan Vancouver Island Vixens A Christmas Extravaganza!

Featuring special guest Gala Vega and guest emcee Miss Good ‘N Plenty Duncan Garage Showroom 7:30pm $25/$30 19+ Messy Church Christmas Pageant & dinner all ages welcome 3:30-6pm St. Peter, Quamichan Church 5800 Church Rd, Duncan Truffle Dinner I Deerholme Farm 4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

Deerholme.com Christmas Carol Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2687 James St, Duncan cowichanpac.ca $28 Family $88

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Daniel Wesley w/ David Bitonti beach music 8pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $20/$25

Candles are Dancing Encore!

Women’s Choir 2:30pm St Michael’s Church 2858 Mill St Chemainus $15/$20 also Dec 15

Winter Wonder Dance Temple 7:30-10pm The Hub 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan $15-$20

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South Cowichan Music Jam 7-11pm Shawnigan Malahat Legion Hall 1625 Shawnigan Lk Rd Truffle Dinner II Deerholme Farm 4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan Deerholme. com

Glenora Christmas Fair Family activities hay ride music vendors 11-4pm 4766 Waters Rd, Duncan Chemainus Classical Concerts Eve Daniell soprano & Rykie Avenant piano 2pm St. Michael’s Church 2858 Mill St ChemainusClassicalConcerts. ca $10/$20/$18

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Dockside Drive 8 piece band 2pm Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $20 Ancient Origins Apothecary Open House 10-2pm 166 Station St, Duncan ancientoriginsmedicinals.com

Heart of Winter Cacao Celebration Chant Sound Bath Astrology Sitar/Dance 7-9pm Providence Farm Chapel 1843 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan bring mat blanket mug kirtanigans@gmail.com $25/$30

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Science Fair Reel Alternatives Film 7pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre 2687 James St, Duncan

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Last day of bidding for the Chemainus Theatre Society auction. Visit online or in the lobby 9737 Chemainus Rd, Chemanus www.chemainustheatre.ca/ auction

Winter Solstice Blitz free tastings 11- 4 pm Rocky Creek Winery 1854 Myhrest Rd, Cowichan Bay rockycreekwinery.ca

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Christmas Boatbuilding 1-3pm Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre 1761 Cow Bay Rd

Fellowship 10-2pm Sands Funeral Chapel 187 Trunk Rd, Duncan sandsduncan.ca

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HUB Film Club The Man Who Invented Christmas PG 7pm The HUB 2375 Koksilah Rd, hubfilmclub@gmail.com

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3 Course Dinner and Live Music by The David Gogo Band Party Favours and Midnight Champagne Seatings at 7pm & 8pm Music 9pm Reservations 250-324-2245 Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Ave, Crofton $40 per person.

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Christmas Day Open House Cider Cookies

Trial By Fire Pottery

14th Annual Open Studio & Seconds Sale

December 6 4-8pm December 7 10-6pm 4695 George Road Cowichan Bay

Potter • Hilary Huntley

www.trialbyfirepottery.ca

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December 2019 Issue 133 Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine Publisher Richard Badman Editor Sheila Badman Contact us at: editor@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 250 746 9319 6514 Wicks Rd, Duncan BC V9L 5V2 Visit us online at www.cowichanvalleyvoice.com Distribution Proofreader Calendar Taryn O’Gorman Diana Pink Angela Sheppard Advertising Enquiries Please Contact Adrienne Richards 250 510 6596 e-mail adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Next Ad Deadline December 15 for January 2019 Issue 134 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next EVENTS DEADLINE December 15 for January 2020 Issue 134 E-mail: Date, Event Title, Time, Location and Cost w/ subject “EVENT” to events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to, omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES Paul Ruszel, Hilary Huntley, Bill Jones, Mark Holford, Sophia Jackson, Ronn Stevenson, Jenny Bradford, Mariah West, Brad Boisvert, Grant Easterbrook, Kelsey Odber, Patricia Berry, Linda Holford, Cheryl Painter, Brandy Mandrusiak, Katie Daniel, Rose Wagner, Jane Spencer, Jessica Schacht, Niki Tatlo Rd Farm, Janet Raino, Katy Bowen Roberts, Soleil Mannion, Anyes deLaat, Alistair MacGregor, Craig Spence, Jaqueline Ronson, Megan Waddy, Jenna Waddy, Dr. Gordon Levin, Reed Gary, Art & Karin Ingham, Dora Wilson, Nejma Belarbi, Venita Chow, Ali Bertin, Debbie Wood, Ted Leischner, Jim Halvorson, Amanda-Lee Knapp, David Suzuki and the lovely Georgia Nicols.

We welcome your story ideas & photo submissions, however Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to omit and/or edit all submissions for space, clarity, content and style. The opinions expressed in Valley Voice Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers or other contributors. Please send a query e-mail with your suggested topic prior to sending your article as space is limited and may not always be available.

Valley Voice Magazine is distributed through 450 + select locations throughout the Cowichan Valley- Malahat, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cherry Point, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Salt Spring Island and to Cowichan Lake, Ladysmith, Victoria, Tofino and Parksville

Put your business in front of over 25,000 qualified readers each month!

Contact Adrienne Richards for 2020 New Year Specials and marketing offers for local businesses. adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com I 250 510 6596 6

OUR COMMUNITY December Events 4-5 Advent Spiral 8 Holiday Market in Shawnigan Lake School 10 Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre Light up 10 The Christmas Season at Sands Funeral Chapel Duncan 11 Glenora Farm Christmas Fair 21 Cowichan Station Christmas Market 27 A Passion For Paper 34 Christmas Cheer with reFRESH Cowichan’s Holiday Hampers 35 Winter Fashion 2019 36 Little Bird for Beautiful Christmas Cards Chocolates Gifts & Décor 36 Duncan Farmers Market 37 2019 BEST OF COWICHAN GIFT GUIDE 40-43 Volunteering and Setting Roots in Chemainus 46 What Makes Cowichan Awesome? You Do! 47 Budly and The Christmas Story 62-63 Alistair MacGregor 64 The Community Farm Store 71 Dads – A Christmas Wish 72 December Forecasts 77 Directory of Local Services 78-79 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK Cowichan Truffle Lore 12 Holiday Pairings 14-15 Beef Wellington 16 Turkey Rolls 17 True Grain Stollen 19 Enjoy Cider Like An Epicure 24 Join Us For a Winter Solstice Blitz at Rocky Creek Winery 25 Nocino 26 Traditional Fruitcake 28 Cozy Cocktails at Old Firehouse Wine Bar 29 Cranberry Apple Pie 30 ’Tis the best cookie ever 31 The Dairy Alternative That is Here to Stay 49 Local Sparklers 66 HOME, FARM & GARDEN Why Choose A Heat Pump 52-53 Christmas Gifts for Gardeners 54 Our Solar Story 55 A Christmas Gift from Winter Bees 65 LOCAL ARTS Blue Moon Marquee 7 Andrea Superstein Quartet 9 Dockside Drive It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing 9 Hilary Huntley Open Studio & Seconds Event 11 Westholme Tea Company Open House 13 The Nutcracker 20 O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy 22 Legends of Burlesque: Trailblazers of Yesterday 23 Choose Hand Made Gifts at Imagine That! 32-33 Yellow Point Spectacular 44 Soleil Mannion Open Studio Sale 45 Cowichan Knitting Traditions with Dora Wilson 56-57 No Humbug in Wonderheads reimagined Christmas Carol 61 Dance in the New Year 67 BODY, MIND & SOUL Why Sheeps’ Wool? 35 So, What is MicroCurrent? 38 Ancient Origins Apothecary Open House 48 Notes on Obstructive Sleep Apnea 50 What Collagen Can Do for You 51 Community Acupuncture 60 Contemplation with Crystals 70 Seven Fallen Feathers Why We Should Read 73 Dance Temple 74 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Lucky Dog Lady Tana Hosts a Party 68-69 Santa Paws Comes to Duncan 69 Seafood Progress Offers Remedy for Seasick Times 76

Joining Blue Moon Marquee will be the talented Morgan Onda & Torben HolmPenderson. The stage is set for a most unforgettable evening.

Also this month, Daniel Wesley with David Bitonti Daniel Wesley’s music has always been a call to live life to the fullest.

And on Beach Music, the West Coast singer/ Blue Moon Marquee - Quartet songwriter’s ninth Special Guests - Morgan Onda full-length album, that call rings out & Torben Holm-Pedersen more clearly than ever. Recorded azz clubs and crowded bar with producer John Raham rooms. Low light and blue at Afterlife Studios, Beach smoke. Sexy and suave...old Music finds Wesley delta blues, swing, jazz, and ragtime. Blue Moon Marquee reaffirming his roots, but also is a Gypsy Blues band born of expanding on his signature brand of reggae-tinged beach the wild rose country. music*.

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They currently make their home in an island shack on the coast of the Salish Sea. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a.

Badlands Jass (vocals/ bass/ drums) write and perform original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves.

Artists such as Lonnie Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Blind Willie Jonson, Charley Patton, Howlin’ Wolf, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Tom Waits, Memphis Minnie, and Django Reinhardt are deeply infused in the soul of their music.

From highly personal tracks like ‘See Your Star’ and Older Now’, to lighthearted offerings such as lead single and post-legalization anthem, ‘Fire’, the common thread on Beach Music is Wesley’s willingness to navigate life Friday, December 20th, 8pm $25 advance tickets at Showpass $30 at door Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton For reservations or shuttle service call 250 324-2245.

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SUNDAY AFTERNOONS December 1 * 2PM $15 Andrea Superstein Quartet

Fusion jazz originals.

Re imagined standards, Debuting this rising Vancouver vocalist and her trio.

Advent Spiral on December 1st

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ne of the oldest rituals we practice is the celebration of the Winter Solstice. Studying the stars and seasons has led to a keen awareness of humanity’s deep, inner connections with the rhythms of the natural world. Advent literally means “the coming of the Light”.

Over the years, the rebirth of the light has been told in song, stories, crafts and the walking of the Advent Spiral. In a tradition once reserved for only children, we present this wondrous event for the enjoyment of the whole family and the whole community.

Local musicians provide ethereal music for this meditative walk through a spiral of green foliage, marked by stations displaying the four kingdoms of Nature: plants, animals, minerals and humankind. At the center of the Spiral sits a single lit candle. As people walk the path they carry their own unlit candle, which is lit once they reach the middle. As they return through the Spiral, these newly lit candles are

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placed on the path to provide more light for those who come next. In this way, we acknowledge that we can all help to lighten the season for everyone. We recognize that the light of others illuminates our own journey. We are all in this together.

Use this ritual as a way to make December sacred again. Walk away from the intrusive distraction and the seemingly inevitable mayhem and commercialism of the season, into a world of wonder. The entire planet is tilting towards the light. This speaks of a reverence we all so deeply deserve. Awaken to the light of Love deep within us, waiting to be reborn again in the dark stable of our own souls. Walk the Path.

Sunday December 1st in the Rivendell Yurt, 5215 Bills Road in Glenora, off of Vaux Rd. There are three one-hour sittings: at 11am, 1 pm and 3pm. Arrive early, at least 20 minutes before your walk.

By donation, road conditions permitting. Info: Lorna at 250 748-0734 or Lee at 250 748-7372.

Andrea Superstein Reimagined Standards, Electro-infused Originals

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ighlighting songs from her 2018 album, Worlds Apart, Vancouver based singer Superstein makes her debut at Pat’s House of Jazz on December 1. Originally from Montreal, Superstein now calls Vancouver her home and her album title reflects her love of both places. Her sound fuses elements of jazz, pop and indie music. The album is an eclectic musical stew backed by powerful vocals and a unique delivery. Songs from her shows range from originals to Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice to Cole Porter’s I Love Paris to Eartha Kitts’ I Want to be Evil.

December 1, 2 p.m.

Dockside Drive It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing Ease into Christmas in style this year with one of Victoria’s top dance bands.

An eight piece band featuring three vocalists, Dockside Drive is guaranteed to get toes tapping and feet itching to get out on the dance floor.

The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy exemplifies the style of music you’ll hear from this band. Covering songs from the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Ray Charles, the Beatles and more, this band swings hard. From hot jive numbers to tender ballads there will be something for everyone during this concert.

December 15 2 p.m.

Admission is $20.

Both of these shows are part of the Pat’s House of Jazz Sunday Series presented by

December 8 * 2PM $20 the Chemainus Valley Swiftsure Big Band Cultural Arts Society Seventeen piece band. Music in the all-ages from the swing era. Feel Osborne Bay Pub, the power of a full orchestra.

1534 Joan Ave. in Crofton.

December 15 * 2PM $20 Reservations are Dockside Drive recommended for 8 piece dance band with 3 vocalists. Swinging jazz, pop both shows. Please and blues from the 20’s - 80’s. call 250-324-2245 The dance floor Is waiting! or visit http:// osbornebaypub.com Osborne Bay Pub for more information.

1534 Joan Ave, Crofton Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m.

Now Open

www.theainslie.ca 161 Kenneth St., Duncan 250-597-3695 9

Holiday Market in Shawnigan Lake School Shawnigan Lake School welcomes the local community to our annual Holiday Market. With amazing vendors from across the Cowichan Valley, this event will showcase local artisans, fashion, cuisine and festive gifts. Enjoy apple cider and cookies while you shop! The Holiday Market is on Sunday, December 1st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shawnigan Lake School Library. We hope to see you there! Check out the Shawnigan Lake School Facebook and Instagram feeds for other community events on campus throughout the year. Shawnigan Lake School 1975 Renfrew Rd., Shawnigan Lake

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Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre Light Up

: The Cowichan Wooden Boat Society is proud to host its 6th Annual Christmas Tree event at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre this holiday season.

The official light-up event will happen on Thursday, December 5th at 6 pm. The occasion will be marked by the Duncan Choral Society choir performing holiday songs and carols. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served for all who attend. Throughout the month of December, the public is invited to come down to the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre to view the decorated Christmas trees which have been sponsored by individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community.

View and cast a ballot for your favorite tree. Trees will be on display throughout the museum and along the pier. Bring a non-perishable food item with you when you come to visit and be entered into a draw for a wonderful basket filled with items donated by the merchants of Cowichan Bay. Watch our lapstrake boat fill up with donations for the Cowichan Valley Basket Society.

The Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Christmas at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre will run from December 1 through January 1. Special thanks go out to participating Christmas tree sponsors All funds raised from the event support the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre’s Pier Reconstruction Project. For more information, please visit classicboats.org.

The Christmas Season at Sands Funeral Chapel Duncan Christmas can be a magical time of the year but also a time of sadness if coping with loss. The “Merrry Christmas”, “ Joy to the World” or simply the sound of a jingle bell can bring more pain than joy. Yet it is important to remember that this season can be a time of peace, hope, and an occasion to celebrate lasting traditions.

This year, Sands Funeral Chapel will be hosting several events including our Candlelight Service, Tree of Rememberance throughout the month of December as well as other special gatherings.

We hope to bring comfort, support and friendship.

187 Trunk Rd, Duncan

Hilary Huntley Open Studio & Seconds Event The 14th annual open studio event is happening on Friday December 6th from 4pm-8pm and on Saturday December 7th from 10am-6pm. There will be lots of signs to help you find the studio on George Road in Cowichan Bay. Trial By Fire Pottery is simple and functional in nature. From dinner bowls to butter dishes, with subtle craftsmanship accents and durable glazes, these unique handmade pots are a joy to use. Sturdy baking dishes, pouring bowls and a wide selection of coffee mugs are definitely going to make a nice, thoughtful gift. Massive and showy bowls that demand a bit more attention are also available along with a carry out service) The studio sale only happens once a year so there are a lot of ‘slightly imperfect’ and ‘oneof’s’ that need a new home and are quite inexpensive. Tea and fresh cookies will be ready and we look forward to helping you find a thoughtful, useful, local, handmade piece of pottery for yourself or a Christmas gift for someone in your life.

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market place. For the last few years we have be fortunate to serve locally cultivated truffles from the Cowichan Valley. Black Perigord n the Pacific Northwest, truffles and Burgundy truffles Oregon is a center for the harvesting of wild truffles. The (originally sourced from white truffle (Tuber gibbosum) France) have been grown in the Cowichan to great success is the most significant but there are also black and brown and the new crop of winter truffles that are available in the truffles will be harvested in December. We are fortunate Bill Jones is an author, chef and food consultant Deerholme.com

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Truffle Cornbread Stuffing

Recipe Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm This recipe is great as a cornbread to eat with a meal, or crumbled and used as a stuffing for turkey or chicken. The juices of the turkey soak into the bread so make sure the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches at least 150 F (66 C), Truffle paste is available in specialty stores or on line. If you are fortunate enough to have real truffles, add them to the stuffing after it has been removed from the bird for serving.

Serves 4 Oven at 375 F 1 1/2 Cup medium-grind cornmeal 1/2 Cup all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 1/4 Cup buttermilk 1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp.

1 2 cups 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp 2 Tbsp.

sugar egg corn kernels (fresh or frozen) fresh garlic, minced truffle paste or real truffle oil olive oil

In a mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix the egg into the buttermilk and pour into the dry ingredients. If the mixture seems dry add a few more spoons od buttermilk until a thick batter is obtained. Fold in the corn, garlic and truffle paste.

Place oil in a cast iron skillet or casserole dish and distribute around the pan. Pour the batter on top and smooth with a spatula or spoon.

Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Test with a toothpick and bake until it comes out clean of batter from the center of the cake.

When cake is cool, crumble into chunks and stuff in the cavity of the bird. Roast with the turkey until thoroughly cooked. Can be made up to 2 days in advance or frozen for up to 1 month.

Upcoming EVENTS Truffle Dinner I December 14

Truffle Dinner II December 21

For full details visit www.deerholme.com

BY RESERVATION ONLY

4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

For ReservationS 250 748 7450 12

to be one of the few locations serving these rare and valuable black nuggets.

The aroma that helps us find the truffle is also the key to its charm and value. The chemicals necessary to develop the odour are created only after the spores are mature enough for release.

Truffles reproduce by means of fungivores (animals that eat fungi). It makes sense that the aroma peaks when the truffle is ripened and ready to produce spores.

Cowichan Truffle Lore

Truffles are often harvested with the aid of truffle dogs, which are able to detect the strong smell of mature truffles underneath the surface of the ground. The female pig was often used as they become excited due to their similarity of the truffle scent to male pig pheromones. The use of pigs has fallen out of favour as they are difficult to control and they tend to eat the truffles before they can be wrestled away by the handler.

Dogs have proven to be much more reliable.

We find wild truffles locally along the Cowichan River,

usually in February when they ripen. Local cultivated black truffles usually mature in December and January.

The industry is just out of the starting gate - so expect to hear much more about this in the future.

Deerholme Farm will be holding two truffle dinners in December featuring local black truffles and a few local wild mushrooms thrown into the mix. December 14th and 21st will showcase our local truffle harvest in a variety of farm to table dishes featuring delicacies like house-smoked salmon mousse, local truffle honey, quince and grass fed beef. We also welcome vegetarian and special diets for this unique dinner. Details at www.deerholme.com

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Westholme Tea Company Open House

ou are invited to Westholme’s annual open house Friday+Saturday+Sunday December 6+7+8 from 10am-6pm. This is our way of saying thank you to the community who continues to support our dream of creating

the home for tea culture in the Cowichan. Share the warmth of the season by the wood stove as you enjoy complimentary teas and delectable sweets. We will not be offering our usual tea pairing menu service during the open house.

This is a great opportunity to bring a friend and see the tea garden and experience organic loose teas, handbuilt ceramics, farm grown Canadian tea, local honey, artisan jams, beeswax candles and more. Relax and enjoy finding that the perfect local gift.

Westholme Tea Company, 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme 250 748-3811

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Holiday Pairings For Unsworth Vineyards 2018 Sauvignette Tradizionale, as the name suggests, is made in the traditional champagne style. It has the traditional elegance of a classical champagne - without the traditional price tag! With a rich toasty flavour and festive bubbles, it pairs beautifully with roast turkey and bittersweet cranberry sauce.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery Quill Off-Dry White 2018 This medium bodied wine boasts generous aromas of granny smith apple, peach and citrus. The palate picks up flavours of sweet peach, pear and honey to complete this nicely balanced wine.

Enjoy with with roast turkey or a dessert of lightly poached pears. $22 + tax

Ham or Turkey Rocky Creek Winery Sirius Red Cabernet Foch 2017 After 14 years, Mark is making his estate grown serious(Sirius?) red.

Earthy notes with black current, plum and roasted peppers. 100% estate.

Small batch release. Good for holiday ham. Medium Bodied, similar to Cabernet Franc in body and flavour. $40/bottle

Zanatta Winery Tradizionale

Alderlea Vineyards 2017 Pinot Noir This Pinot Noir shows true varietal character, with aromas of sweet cherry and allspice combined with hints of eucalyptus and leather, balancing similar flavours and a long finish. It is well paired with holiday turkey and all of the trimmings. $25.40

Valley Cider Winter 6.5% Just in time for the seasonal change...

Winter: Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, maple molasses, maple syrup and vanilla bean, blended with hand-crafted cider. Tastes like a wink, a smile and a hug. Pairs perfectly with curling up under a blanket in front of the fire, and being warmed by thoughts of all that is good in the world. $4.99 + tax

Tradizionale, as the name suggests, is made in the traditional champagne style. It has the traditional elegance of a classical champagne - without the traditional price tag! With a rich toasty flavour and festive bubbles, it pairs beautifully with roast turkey and bittersweet cranberry sauce.

Tasting Room Open

Saturdays 11am - 5pm or by appointment.

250 597-4075 6798 Norcross Rd, Duncan

Averill Creek Vineyard Joue Red Field Blend With many rich, salty, and sweet components on your plate, you’ll be seeking a medium-bodied, low-tannin wine with plenty of fruit. Look no further! We have a jolly partner for your roast turkey dinner: juicy and refreshing, the Joue Red will leave you wanting another bite of food, another sip of wine, and repeat. $25

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Beef Wellington Courtesy Mark Holford, Rocky Creek Winery Ingredients: 1.5 kg Beef tenderloin Roast 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 400g – 500g mushrooms (a mix of wild/crimini work well) 1 clove of garlic 1 medium white onion or 2 shallots 100g butter 1 tsp thyme (fresh is even better)

150 ml dry white wine (Pinot Gris works well) 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 12 slices prosciutto 500 g pack of puff pastry (thawed) ¼ C flour for dusting 2 egg yolks

1. The beef tenderloin needs to be seasoned generously with salt and pepper. Heat a pan on medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and sear the roast on all sides (5 minutes on each side – 20 min total). Use a good digital meat thermometer and make sure the roast is getting to Rare to Medium Rare in the middle (115 - 125 deg. F). Remove from heat and let rest.

Chill in the fridge for half an hour.

2. Next make the duxelle. Chop the mushrooms as finely as possible. They should be the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.

You can use a food processor, but make sure you pulse the chopping blade, don’t allow it to turn it into a paste. Mince the garlic clove and finely chop the onion/shallots.

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil and 50g of butter in the frying pan and fry the mushrooms, garlic and onions on medium heat. Add the thyme and cook for about 10 minutes until the mushrooms have softened. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and add the white wine and cook for an additional 10-15 mins until all the wine has been absorbed into the mushrooms. The mushroom mixture should be dry enough to hold it’s shape when stirred. Remove the mushroom duxelle from the pan and let it cool.

3. Take two 50 cm lengths of cling wrap and overlap them on a cutting board. Take the 12 slices of prosciutto and lay them, overlapping, in a double row on the cling film. (2 rows of 6 slices, overlapping each other, and both rows also overlapping.). Spread the dijon mustard all over the outside of the beef tenderloin. Spread the duxelle over the prosciutto. Place the chilled beef tenderloin on top of the duxelle. Use the cling wrap to bring the prosciutto around the fillet, so it is encased in duxelle and prosciutto. Twist the ends of the cling wrap to create a sausage shape of the wrapped beef fillet. Put back in the fridge to chill some more.

4. Meanwhile, dust a work area with some flour and roll out the puff pastry until it is about 35cm wide by 45 cm long.

Unwrap the cling wrap from the fillet and place the fillet on the puff pastry. Gently roll the pastry around the whole fillet.

Beat the two egg yolks with a tsp of water and brush the edges where the pastry will join, and press all the seams together.

Take two more lengths of cling wrap, overlap them and place the puff pastry encased fillet onto the cling wrap and roll the wrap around it, and twist the ends to tighten the whole sausage and give the whole roast a nice shape. Chill the whole thing for a couple of hours, or overnight.

5. Pre heat the oven to about 400 deg. F. About 1 hr before serving, unwrap the roast from the cling wrap, place on a baking sheet. Glaze the pastry all over with some egg wash (egg yolk with a little water). Place the roast in the oven and cook until the pastry is golden brown and crisp (30 mins). Remove from the oven and let stand for 15 mins.

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L

et me start by saying best wishes to everyone during this holiday season.

Christmas is perhaps my favorite time of year; the vineyard is dormant, and once Christmas hits our tasting room is closed for a few months. In addition to taking some down time to relax and recharge the batteries, it is a time to spend with family and enjoy great company, great food and great wine. Speaking of food, one of my favorite meals is Christmas dinner. In our house we’ve moved away from the traditional turkey dinner.

We found it required the whole afternoon on Christmas day to make, on a day when we wanted to spend time doing things with our family, not spending the whole day in the kitchen.

So what to make that is tasty, decadent, but doesn’t take tons of time to prepare? Well we’ve found a new favorite Christmas main course, and it’s something that can be totally prepared the day before, and just cooked an hour before serving. It’s a real show-stopper, and lets you channel your inner Gordon Ramsey. What is this dish you ask? Beef Wellington. If you’ve watched Hell’s Kitchen, you’ve seen Gordon yelling at the chefs over this dish many, many times. However, it’s actually a breeze to prepare, and makes a dish to impress friends and family alike. The entire recipe

Bacon Preserve Lemon and Sage Stuffing Courtesy Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artesian Meat and Cheese

Beef Wellington can be prepared the day before, and wrapped in cling wrap and put in the fridge until you are ready to cook. Speaking of great wine, Christmas time is a great time to serve local wines with your holiday meals. Some aromatic whites to serve with seared scallops, pinot gris to serve with prawns, pinot noir to serve with salmon, sparkling with practically every meal! And with the main course, a nice deep red wine. Anyone who knows me, knows my long term goal has been to make a big, bold red from only island grapes. Well this Christmas we are finally releasing our first “Sirius red”.

It’s made from our cab-foch grapes, and has similarities to a Cabernet Franc wine. Beautiful deep colour and rich flavors to go with a Christmas dinner, like a beef welly.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Mark Holford, owner, winemaker Rocky Creek Winery Cowichan’s most award winning winery.

Holiday Turkey Rolls Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

12 cups Cure dry bread cubes 3 tablespoons Cure preserve lemon chopped 12 ounces rendered Cure bacon cubes, and rendered fat 2 tablespoon Cure beer mustard 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery 3 teaspoons Vancouver Island salt 3⁄4 teaspoon pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon sage 1 cup melted butter 1⁄2-1 cup hot Cure chicken broth *All ingredients in italic print are signature products made inhouse at Cure

Method:

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foodies dream - Cure has been making stuffed turkey rolls to help with gourmet holiday catering.

Essentially a turkey roast but better. The turkey roll is the best of both worlds.

Light and dark meat in one.Using a salt, sugar, water and spice solution, we brine- a skin on boneless turkey breast and pound it out flat. After brining it is stuffed with a in house sage and garlic sausage stuffing made from the dark leg meat of the turkey, then it is rolled up and smoked. Crispy skin, dark meat, light meat- YUM. Suggested serving size is 200g per person and cooking time depends on size. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until internal temperature reaches 165F Great accompanid with turkey gravy, extra stuffing and don’t forget to pick up some some Cure house mulled wine cranberry sauce when you are in the store. Happy holiday feasting from Cure. Cure is located at Valley View Centre, Cowichan Bay. For turkey or ham pre orders call 250 929-2874.

Holiday hours December 24 9am- 4pm December 25,26,27 closed, December 28-30 10-6pm, December 31 9-4pm.

January 1 closed

1. Combine cooked bacon and fat, lemon, mustard, onion, celery and all seasonings. Add melted butter.

Toss gently to mix. Then add hot broth to moisten to desired consistency (but be careful NOT to make it soggy; a little dry is best since it will retain juices from cooking inside the turkey).

2. Pour all into a large casserole and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes, not letting the top get too crispy.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes.

DECEMBER 7 • 7:30 I $20

THE STEADIES

featuring Wide Mouth Mason founding member Earl Pereira Live at the Hub at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Rd

JANUARY 10 • 7:30 -10pm

RYAN MCMAHON Live in the Chapel

“The complete package. Singer.

Songwriter. Performer.

Troublemaker. Passionate human being. For me… priceless.”

Terry David Mulligan

The Chapel at Providence Farm 1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan Tickets TBA

Gift Baskets Gift Certificates Meat & Cheese Platters Tourtiere/Ham/Turkey Italian Specialty Foods

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True Grain Stollen

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id you know the tradition of making stollen goes back more than 600 years?

The first official mention of stollen was in 1474, but some historians think the traditional German Christmas cake dates back as far as 1329.

Stollen’s most famous city is Dresden, where Christmas stollen has been baked since the 15th century and where every year is held the annual Stollenfest.

On the Saturday before the second advent, a stollen weighing between three and four tonnes is paraded in a carriage through the streets of Dresden to the Striezelmarkt, the oldest Christmas market in the world. One of the bakers then ceremoniously cuts the cake with an enormous metre-long, 12kg silver-plated knife, after which pieces are served to the public by donation to local charities.

Part cake, part fruit bread, stollen is made with a yeastleavened dough, to which is added candied citrus, rum-soaked raisins, almonds and warming spices such as cardamom and cinnamon.

Running through the cake is a core of rich marzipan. When the cake is still warm from the oven, it is brushed lavishly

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with melted butter and rolled in sugar to seal in the flavour.

Ideally the stollen will age at least a few weeks in a cool dark place, to let all the flavours properly mingle. It’s then dusted with icing sugar before being presented in all its glory to be eaten.

We believe a stollen should be served as part of a robust feast, attended by those of stout hearts and minds, and suitably paired with a BC dessert wine.

Like everything baked at True Grain, the stollen are made with organic flour farmed and milled in BC. Other holiday favourites include an array of organic shortbread as well as the ever popular Lebkuchen Gingerbread, the ultimate seasonal cookie to pair with a hot chocolate. Then there are the fruit and nut cakes, the rich fig loaf, and a myriad of tear and share bread centrepieces to adorn your dinner table.

We’re proud to carry on hundreds of years of handcrafted history in our bakeries, and to share our creations with you.

True Grain Bread, Cowichan Bay 250 746-7664 Submitted by Sophia Jackson

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Glenora Farm Christmas Fair

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xperience the magic of The Nutcracker with the family when the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre presents the Royal City Youth Ballet’s performances, Saturday December 7 at Noon and 4 pm.

To accommodate family’s attending this much-loved

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The Nutcracker Comes To Cowichan ballet, two matinees are available for the first time.

The Royal City Youth Ballet’s production features 100+ dancers taking to the stage as magical soldiers, mice, a Sugar Plum Fairy, snowflakes, Snow King and Queen and many other enchanting characters.

Performed to Tchaikovsky’s

beautiful ballet music, The Nutcracker has been a family favourite for over 100 years because it’s perfect holiday entertainment.

Royal City Youth Ballet The Nutcracker Saturday, December 7, noon & 4 pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Tickets $28

Family Package $88 (2 adults, 2 children) Tickets are available in person at the Cowichan Ticket Centre, 2687 James St. or by phone (250) 748-7529 or online at cowichanpac.ca.

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s the days grow shorter, and the darkness closes in, the turning year brings us once again to a lovely holiday tradition – the Glenora Farm Christmas Fair!

For the past 21 years, old and young alike have been coming out to savour the joyous, festive ambience of the event. This year we will be having a slightly smaller, more intimate event – the happy reason for this is that we are currently in the middle of construction of a beautiful new farmhouse, and Harvest Hall is full of construction materials and equipment. But do not fear; we will still have a great selection of incredible vendors to meet all your giftbuying needs. From organic body products, beautiful hand blown glasswork, handmade, Waldorf-style gifts for children, jewellery, ceramics, hand-turned wood art, wooden flutes and locally made bamboo clothing, to a delicious selection of edible treats, this fair has something for everyone! There will also be a wide range of children’s activities, including a cookie cave, crafts, and a live puppet show. Come and sample our home-baked goodies, take a walk along our enchanting forest pathways, meet our cows, sheep and pigs, and take a scenic hayride with Bo

and his tractor. Try your hand at dipping your very own beeswax candle, or watch the visiting blacksmith plying his trade, and warm up with something tasty from the outdoor barbeque. Savour a bowl of hearty soup in our cozy café while enjoying a program of varied live musical performances, capped off with a recital by the incomparable Glenora Farm Bell Choir.

This year’s fair will be on Sunday December 15th, from 11 am - 4 pm, at 4766 Waters Road, Duncan. For more information, please call the Glenora Farm office at 250-715-1559, or email us at admissions@glenorafarm.org.

One of our regular vendors calls this “the warmest, most magical Christmas event of the year” … come and see for yourselves!

We have healthy green gifts for everyone on your list.

• BC Beeswax Candles • Cosmetic Gift Sets • Body & Beauty items • Essential Oils and Diffusers • Himalayan Salt Lamps • Wonderful Local Products • Holiday Food and Snacks • Eco Fabric Clothing • Fairtrade and Organic selection of Coffee, Tea, Chocolates, Cocoa • Specialty Food for Special Diets • GIFT CERTIFICATES and more!

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 930-530 • Sun 12-4 Closed Stat holidays

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F

ans of Monty Python, Mr. Bean, and Dr. Seuss...

Grab your Teacups!

From the unbridled imagination of beloved British comedy duo James & Jamesy comes the rollicking holiday comedy O Christmas Tea. Reminiscent of classic British pantos, O Christmas Tea is rich with wordplay, comic physicality, and cleverly crafted interactive elements; however, it is James & Jamesy’s boundless imagination and endearing chemistry that bring to life the magic of this unique festive experience.

Already a tradition for thousands of theatre-goers each year, O Christmas Tea will be steeping its uproarious

brand of immersive theatre in Courtenay on November 27th (Sid Williams Theatre) and Nanaimo on December 12th (Port Theatre).

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During the action-packed production, a Christmas wish for tea is fulfilled in titanic proportions. The world floods with tea, leaving the duo to find innovative and hilarious solutions to keep them afloat as they try to make their way back home.

“The Christmas season is a magical time of year that brings people of all ages together; a time when we are encouraged to dream big, embrace imagination, and celebrate a childlike excitement for merriment,” explains Alastair Knowles

Paul Jutras

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O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy (Jamesy), the eccentric half of the award-winning duo.

Redefining immersive theatre, these masters of physical comedy—with over 20 comedy awards to their name—take their audience on a jolly aquatic escapade

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in this joyous celebration of friendship at Christmas.

December 12 at 7.30pm Port Theatre, 125 Front St, Nanaimo, Tickets: tickets.porttheatre.com or 250.754.8550 ($27-$42)

Legends of Burlesque: Trailblazers of Yesterday

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lassic burlesque is often considered the pinnacle of burlesque; performers showering the stage with personality, tease, and rhinestones. When the public reflects on the artform, they often think of glamour, luxurious feather fans and boas, and that classic Vegas showgirl. Through the years it has expanded into creating space for body positivity, community, politics, and expression. None of which would be possible without the trailblazers of yesterday hustling to leave their glitter trails behind.

Burlesque stars who were active before the 1990s and today’s new wave of neo-burlesque are known as burlesque legends.

Legends are the innovators who transformed striptease into what many know today. Because of the times historically, performers had

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to follow strict nudity laws which frequently hindered their performances... though they continually broke these rules when given the chance. These performers often faced the most discrimination for their work which is still present in some circles nowadays. It is the perseverance of these legends that burlesque is more widely accepted today.

The days of classic burlesque were about making headliners out of performers. The industry was filled with the talents of women who were pushing boundaries and the art form. Performers would travel for extravagant productions filled with chorus lines and straight men (comedians) which took place in theatres and gentlemen clubs. Many names like Lily St. Cyr, Tempest Storm, and Sally Rand are the women of yesterday whose stories are

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The Vancouver Island Vixens are Duncan’s very own sirens of striptease: bringing their own twist on the classic burlesque since 2014. Some of the troupe’s biggest inspirations include burlesque legends Toni Elling, Judith Stein, Tana Louise, and Lilly Christine. These legends have influenced the troupe’s unique brand of striptease that has captured audiences across Vancouver Island. The Vixens are returning to the Duncan Showroom stage this December for “A Christmas Extravaganza!” Featuring special guest Gala Vega and guest emcee Miss Good ‘N

Plenty! Escape the snow and join the showroom for a night of intimate and cheeky burlesque. This show is the perfect present all wrapped up in one glittery bow!

December 14th, Duncan Showroom (131 Station St.) Doors 7:30pm / Show 8:00pm Tickets $25 General Admission / $30 VIP / $30 at the door 19+ event

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Cobble Hill Cake Company

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Enjoy Cider Like An Epicure

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ider is an extraordinary stage for natural flavors to perform feats of deliciousness for you. This time of year is a particularly good example of how this can work. Harvest celebrates what’s been grown, followed by the series of good times that peter out into the New Year. Seasonal drinks reflect the joy in these events with flavors we associate with them. However, one addition we enjoy during this period is sugar, which intensifies flavors to deliver a strong jolt up front. This sweetness is not for flavors themselves, but rather to deliver them quickly onto the palate which doesn’t actually need the help. A small amount of sweetness will enhance your enjoyment, but more can have the opposite effect, fatiguing your palate until the drink simply becomes an alcohol delivery mechanism.

More people are enjoying products that don’t include these sweetness levels, and are learning to savor the

experience. Valley Cider’s Winter cider was created to respect the beauty of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and star anise, and the maple syrup, maple molasses and vanilla beneath them. Lacking excess sweetness, Winter’s flavors grow in clarity as you drink, not in strength since it doesn’t force them onto your palate, allowing the first sips to be followed by the full bouquet (consumed from a glass, of course!). Is this worth being preoccupied with? Yes. Welcome to ‘Craft’. Welcome to Winter. Welcome to simply different. Welcome to what happens when you blend consideration, intention and action to share something you love with others. Don’t drink things just because they’re cheap and sweet. You should know by now that doesn’t end well. Or I suppose if you don’t, save this article and reread it in January. www.valleycider.com Bruce McKinley, owner Valley Cider

Candied Salmon and local cheeses to enjoy. Weather permitting stay longer and enjoy outside.

We will have live music during the day with Mary Egan, who has a wonderful voice, some of you may have met her in the tasting room this year. She will be doing lovely acoustics.

We are so excited to have a very special wine after 14 years in the making. Try our brand new “Sirius” red. We will have that available to taste and purchase. Mark has had the passion and patience to wait until our vineyards developed enough fruit to create our bolder red. We are also hoping to have our sparkling ready for that time frame also, which always does so well. Come enjoy, let’s create some great memories and stock up for the holiday season. Cheers. www.rockycreekwinery.ca

Join Us For a Winter Solstice Blitz at Rocky Creek Winery

Make your Christmas shopping easy this season with Soul Escape Organic Spa & Boutique Gift Certificates.

109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) Soul Escape Organic Spa and Gift Boutique 250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca

Food wine and lasting memories!

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e were open most of the year this year and we wanted to celebrate the end of the season with our first annual open house. We named it Winter Solstice Blitz. Come join us for food, free tastings and much more.

Our Island has so much to offer around our area, so we are taking little bits of what’s around here to enjoy our season. Cobble Hill Cake company offers so many wonderful cakes decorated to match the season. There will be cake to pair with our wines, even a “cheese” cake which is a fun way to display cheeses. We have Cure Artisan Meats, St. Jean

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the perfect time to pick the walnuts, preparing them and knowing how delicious the resulting recipe will be in the winter - a silver of summer captured, and then the rush to get it all bottled and labelled in time! With the return of Nocino! we dream of sipping this traditional take on an Italian bittersweet liqueur fireside, but it also gets our creativity flowing. Here I’m sharing three recipes for Nocino! to see you through this holiday season.

Nocino! makes a fantastic substitute for sweet vermouth with its bittersweet characteristics. Try it in gin or whiskey drinks.

Nocino!

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he holidays are here and we are hunkering down with loved ones and special treats. One of my favourite special treats? Nocino.

It’s a traditional Italian bittersweet liqueur made from green walnuts harvested just after the solstice. It’s a labour of love to pick each walnut, chop it, steep it, spice it, and sweeten it. Like many of the traditional amaro style spirits there is a unique spin on a recipe, different from household to household.

Some recipes call for orange or coffee, others (like Nocino!) for lemon and cinnamon. Each expression reflects the mood of the maker. At Ampersand we wait all year for Nocino! to be ready. It’s much like preparing gifts for the holidays. There’s waiting until

schoolrooms would have been full of the same anticipation from the children for Christmas a century ago.

Cowichan Station Christmas Market

Nocino! Negroni 1 oz Ampersand Gin 1 oz Nocino!

1 oz Campari Combine ingredients in a rocks glass filled with ice and stir. Garnish with orange peel.

Ronn Stevenson is the the Facility Coordinator at The HUB at Cowichan Station.

1

Nocino! Manhattan 2 oz bourbon or rye 1 oz Nocino!

Dash of orange bitters Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and stir. Strain and serve in a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with cocktail cherry.

Raise a glass to the ones you love and remember to imbibe responsibly this holiday season. Cheers!

And of course, it pairs with that perfect holiday classic, eggnog. You can add it to some, or get creative and mix your eggnog and Nocino! with some ice cream for a boozy holiday milkshake.

Nocino! Nog 1.5 oz Nocino!

3 oz eggnog Combine Nocino and eggnog in a mug or rocks glass filled with ice and stir.

Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Jessica Schacht Ampersand Distilling Co. ampersanddistilling. com

00 years ago Christmas in Cowichan Station in the Cowichan Valley was a very different place. It had a railway station, a post office, a hotel, a church for Christmas service and local stores and markets where presents and holiday supplies could be purchased for the upcoming season.

It also had a school. Cowichan Station Elementary School. The school was operating for almost 100 years until it closed in 2006.

The community, having lost many of the amenities mentioned above, looked to create a space which had been the centre of their village.The Cowichan Station Area Association (CSAA) was formed and the former school after much volunteer blood, sweat and tears from hard work and fundraising, it became the new community run community centre; The HUB at Cowichan Station.

The holidays there were rural and populated with many European traditions.The ideas from England, Scandinavia and Germany were central to the celebrations. Although they would have had mail order from

26

Victoria and beyond, delivered by post and train, like many small villages and towns on Vancouver Island it was about local community.

Gifts were made locally by talented craft people and family members.

Many former students have returned back to Cowichan Station for a more sublime lifestyle and sense of community.

One such person is Hilary Else, President of the Cowichan Station Area Association.

Christmas Market this year.

‘I’m looking forward to hearing the carolers roaming from room to room and chestnuts roasting and children and families lighting up with all the food and goodies that go with this time of year.’

The newly renovated upstairs

With Santa set up on the main stage and lots of local gift ideas, crafts, food, music and fun just before the big day it won’t be hard to get that magical Christmas Spirit again in a wonderfully peaceful rural small village setting in Cowichan Station for the festive time of year when we all collectively look for the joy of the holidays with family and friends.

Cowichan Station Christmas Market Saturday, December 14th, 2019 10am-5pm Free entry The Hub at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan programs@cowichanhub.ca Cowichanhub.ca

Hilary probably didn’t expect to be back at the same school she left so long ago (she’s not that old!). Alas, community spirit is still very strong in Cowichan Station. Ms. Else has steered the CSAA for the past few years and will be taking part in the upcoming Christmas Market as a vendor with her Merino Wool clothing she makes locally under Elsewear Clothing.

‘When I was a student here at The HUB we all looked forward to Christmas because we had more free time to rehearse for class performances and to create Christmas ornaments and crafts’ she perked up recently when asked what it was like at this time of year at the School. ‘It was a magical feeling. Led by our beloved teacher Lois Pharis, who recently passed.’

Hilary is excited to experience this at the Cowichan Station

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T

he Old Firehouse Wine & Cocktail Bar is a cozy little food and drinks spot here in the Cowichan Valley, in downtown Duncan. Owner and mixologist Jeff Downie creates cocktails from a variety of inspirations, be they fresh local herbs and fruits in season, or to pair with a fresh culinary feature from the kitchen, or even with ideas even from our own guests. And winter is a great time to develop new creations.

Traditions of Fruitcake Submitted by Jenny Bradshaw

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t would probably take an entire book to tell the long and complicated history of fruitcakes. For thousands of years, through many countries and many religions, the most special and expensive ingredients have been saved to be prepared for important

feast days. Dried fruits, since fresh wasn’t possible, have usually featured in midwinter celebrations.

At the Duncan Garage, we start our fruitcake process in late August or early September by soaking fresh local and dried organic fruits in rum and wine, to sweeten and preserve the fresh fruit and plump up the dried. We never use ‘candied’ or artificially coloured fruit of any kind.

We have to bake our Dark Fruitcakes by early November, so they can have a little sleep, soothed occasionally by a light brushing of brandy, before they’re ready for sale in December.

This means we have already baked all

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JOIN US FOR DINNER

OPEN Tuesday to Saturday

look for our daily specials on 40 Ingram Street

www.theoldfirehouse.ca 28

Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

we can for the year, so pick up what you want as soon as you can. They easily last a year or more tightly wrapped in the fridge (we like to save some slices for the heavy spring gardening dig-fest, when tea and fruitcake make the perfect afternoon pickme-up.)

Dark fruitcakes are more fruit and nuts than cake; there’s just enough unleavened spicy butter and molasses batter around the morsels. We make them with a no-gluteningredient blend of flours or with wheat flour.

Light fruitcakes don’t need to age; they’re ready to eat as soon as they’re cooled from the oven. As soon as we’ve made the Dark cakes, we soak up a new batch of fruit with a focus on fruits such as pineapple and blonde figs that are naturally light in colour even when dried.

The Light fruitcake batter is much lighter in both colour and texture; it incorporates whipped egg whites and is literally zested up with fresh orange and lemon rind and subtly enriched with ground almonds.

We make both wheat and no-gluten-ingredient options

Come see our wonderful selection of Christmas baking and gifts

ORGANIC & NGI PIES, CAKES, BREADS, ROLLS & FRUIT CAKES

Cozy Cocktails At Old Firehouse Wine Bar

“I am inspired in the winter by rich, bold flavours, with lots of depth,” says Jeff.

for light fruitcakes too, and we cover them with a lovely layer of marzipan to seal the goodness in. Store them tightly wrapped in the fridge.

We also do a vegan fruitcake; it started as a wartime rationing recipe when eggs and butter weren’t available, but it’s a really nice spiced cake. We make them and sell them from our retail freezer because they are more likely to go stale than the more traditional types of fruit cakes.

Duncan Garage Cafe and Bakery 330 Duncan St, Downtown Duncan 250 748-6223

There is a Happy Hour from 3-5pm and 9-11pm daily, with wine, beer and cocktail specials prices each day. Plus a special, brand new cocktail creation each week, for only $8.50 all day.

“I love Ampersand Gin and use it in a number of cocktails at the bar,” says Jeff. “Apart from being an amazing product, it also came along as we were substantially expanding our cocktail program. Having a fantastic new local product made it a great choice.”

“And it’s really a beautiful choice for many kinds of cocktails, I find. It’s one of the best gins I know of that you can freewheel with for new creations. It’s very versatile!”

Recipe: 1-1/4 oz Ampersand Distilling Co. Gin 1/2 oz Ampersand Distilling Co. Nocino (Green Walnut Liqueur) 3 dashes Top Shelf mint bitters 1 oz housemade sour black cherry, ginger & allspice syrup 1 oz fresh lemon juice

Open 7 days a week to nourish you during shopping with warm, delicious & organic home made food.

Shaken over ice, then strained into a cocktail glass, dusted with grated nutmeg and served with a marasca cherry The Old Firehouse Wine & Cocktail Bar, 40 Ingram St, Duncan (250) 597-3473 Mariah West has worked at the Wine Bar for almost 6 years, and is responsible for making many of The Old Firehouse’s signature housemade syrups.

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Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station, 225 Canada Avenue Downtown Duncan Ingredients For Filling: 1 1/4 c. white sugar 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 2 c. cranberries 5 apples - peeled, cored and sliced 2 Tbsp. Cranberry Pear White Balsamic 2 Tbsp. Cinnamon Pear Balsamic 1/4 c. maple syrup

Ingredients for Crust: 2/3 c. Butter Olive Oil 1/3 c. water 1 tsp. of salt 2 c. all-purpose flour

Pie Crust Whisk Butter Olive Oil and water with fork for 2-3 minutes until emulsified. You will know it is ready when Olive Oil and water have become one and created a cloudy appearance.

Add salt and flour continue mixing with fork. Spread on floured cutting board to finish combining by hand. Once mixture becomes tacky and well combined wrap in plastic wrap and place in fridge to rest. Can rest for up to 24 hrs in fridge before using, or minimum 10 minutes.

Filling In a large saucepan, whisk together white sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and salt. Stir in cranberries and maple syrup, Cranberry Pear white balsamic and Cinnamon Pear dark balsamic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. When mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir apples into simmering mixture, and continue to cook for 5 minutes, or until apples are tender. Remove from heat, and stir in walnuts. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.

To Bake Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll out dough and place over pie plate, cutting off edges. Save edges for top crust or lattice on top of pie. Poke bottom of pie crust a few times with a fork, then bake bottom crust for 20-30 minutes with pie weights or dried beans to prevent bubbling.

Place filling in pie and cover with top crust and lattice if using. Bake in preheated oven until top lattice is golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Note: Try any other flavoured balsamic in the fruit filling to give your take on this delicious pie!

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’Tis The Best Cookie Ever Cheryl Painter Yonge is head chocolatier and co-owner of Chocolate Pearl

T

he notion of preparing treats for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is an established tradition in many cultures. For example in Denmark, a bowl of rice pudding is often left for him.

In Chile, he might expect to enjoy a piece of “pan de pascua” (rum cake filled with nuts and fruits). In other countries, it’s Santa’s animals that get spoiled – like in the Netherlands, where carrots and hay are left for Sinterklaas’ horse. Now, if you grew up in Cowichan, or anywhere else in North America, the treat you probably left out for Santa on Christmas Eve was a glass of milk and a plate of home made chocolate chip cookies.

And it was no different in my household. My Mom Cheri has always baked the

best ever chocolate chip cookies for the whole family, including me, my sister, Santa/Dad and now Nigel and our kids. So, I asked her if she might share her famous Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookie recipe with Valley Voice readers. Here it is.

DOWNTOWN

DUNCAN

Grandma Cheri Painter’s famous Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 cup mixed peel (Christmas cake fruit) 1 cup raisins 1 cup nuts, chopped 1/2 cup coconut 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 cup milk 1 cup oatmeal 1 tsp vanilla Method Blend butter and sugar. Add

• Skin Care Services • Esthetics Services • Natural Sugaring Hair Removal • Onsite Gel Nail Artist • Facial Bar

250 510 8700

#105 80 Station Street - Please use Craig St entrance eggs, milk & vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon together then add oatmeal. Stir in mixed peel, raisins, nuts, coconut and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350º for 12 minutes

couvertures (chocolate chips) we have at Chocolate Pearl.

Chocolate Pearl 133 Craig St, Downtown Duncan 778 422-2462

Regarding the chocolate chips, yes, you can get them at the grocery store. But if you’d like to elevate your chocolate chip cookies into the “extraordinary” level, consider using the baking 31

because I have always loved creating things from an early age.

Glass has become my medium of expression.

I love the way different light changes what my art looks like. I think, in an age of technology and most things being made by machine in far-off countries, it’s wonderful to receive something beautiful that a local artist has put their heart and soul into.”

Artist Ken Broadland

Exquisitely hand-crafted works of art Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs 251 Craig St., Downtown Duncan

imaginethatartisans.com I 250-748-6776

Choose Hand Made Gifts at Imagine That!

Katie Daniel is an artist member at Imagine That!

WILLOWANDORCHID.COM

Weekly and monthly floral subscriptions • Weddings & Events • Customized Gift Crates • Floral Design Classes and Workshops • Sympathy Arrangements • Online, Telephone and Email Ordering • Delivery 101 Station Street Downtown Duncan 250-748-9868 willowandorchid@gmail.com

Canadian Cancer Society, 103–225 Canada Ave (Canada Building) Duncan

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The giving and receiving of gifts for the holidays is a timehonoured tradition. Who doesn’t love the anticipation of what might be in a brightly-wrapped package under the tree. When you finally untie the ribbon, remove the paper and peek inside the tissue, your joy is increased many fold if that gift happens to be one that is hand-made by a local artisan.

That joy is the reason why Imagine That! exists. Since this artist’s co-operative began 26 years ago, the key ingredient for success has been a carefully selected array of fine quality work. Shoppers at Imagine That! notice and appreciate the dedication and craftsmanship required for hand-made pieces, and they have demonstrated that commitment time and again.

Not only do they frequent the shop for their own purchases, but they bring friends and family in as well. This strong customer endorsement has a tangible,

positive impact on the local economy, and is a tremendous vote of confidence for creative talent. When you choose handmade, your decision feeds back into the economic and social fabric of our Island community.

For the more than 70 artists whose work is featured in the shop, the importance of handmade is clear, and there is a personal story behind each piece they create. Artists come from as close as a few blocks away, from throughout the greater Cowichan Valley, as well as from some of our adjacent smaller islands.

Each artist has transformed their passion for creativity into beautiful and functional pieces.

Master wood turning artist Ken Broadland creates magnificent bowls and is a perfect example of an artist who believes that hand-made is a good choice for our environment. Says Ken, “As a woodturner, I take great pleasure in taking a rough piece of wood from a salvaged tree and enhancing nature’s artistry by turning it into something both beautiful and useful for people to enjoy. As with most artists and artisans, I would rather be in my workshop than anywhere else! The creative process is very therapeutic and rewarding, whether it is working with wood, sculpting in stone, brushing paint onto a canvas, forming and firing clay, working with textiles or

molding metal into a new design.

In giving unique, handmade gifts, people are supporting the local economy at the grassroots level and in a sustainable way. It’s a real win-win for everybody.”

For stained glass artist Joyce Leroux, hand-made means made from the heart. “I create my work

As an artisan who works primarily with textiles, I believe that hand-made means unique. I learned very early, when I first started to sew my own clothes, that by choosing the right fabric and the right pattern, I could create unique wearables that no one else had. Since then, the idea of a gift that is mass-produced isn’t really an option for me. I am also concerned with both

recycling materials in new ways, and in creating things that have long durability. I make “rag” rugs which respond to both of those ideas. I’m using fabrics that might otherwise be discarded to make something special and functional that will last for decades.

Lest we take ourselves too seriously, artists at Imagine That! are always bringing new work that pushes at the creative edge, keeping things lively and fresh.

Jewellery made from unexpected materials, wind chimes from salvaged pieces of silver service, bird houses that incorporate found objects, pottery that finds new expression in form and function. Such pieces allow for a bit of fun and quirkiness, also a trademark of hand-made.

Finally, at Imagine That! you have an opportunity to make a personal connection with the artists, a perk you won’t find elsewhere. On every visit you meet at least one of the artists whose work is in the shop.

This gives both you and the

creator the chance to develop a relationship, fosters a deeper understanding of what goes into the creation of work, and often sparks an idea for something new.

During December, our window displays feature a sampling of the abundance of beautiful handmade pieces you’ll find inside.

Especially at this time of year, our artists have also created very affordable options for many budgets, including stocking stuffer ideas for the holidays, lovely art cards, and more.

Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs Cooperative, 251 Craig St, Duncan 250 748-6776

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and mailing letters and cards to loved ones.

Through my business I’m surrounded with beautiful writing sets from England, exotic handmade gift bags from India, delicate Japanese Chiyogami papers accented with gold, leather bound journals made with cream textured Italian paper & pretty wrapping papers on large rolls so any amount is available, etc.

A Passion For Paper

E

ver since childhood I have had a real love for paper.

Now with Christmas time coming there’s more reasons to use paper than usual.

Simply put, paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibres of cellulose pulp made mainly from wood, fabric or grasses and dried into flexible sheets.

That’s where the simplicity ends, as what you can do with paper is almost endless.

I remember the appreciation and respect I had for the wrap on my Christmas & birthday gifts. I would never tear through and discard it like I saw others do, I would be sure to carefully undue the ribbon, peel the tape off the paper, smooth it, fold it and we’d pack it to be saved and reused again (and again!) My parents having gone through the war always encouraged us to reuse what we could.

That appreciation has grown, and over time has led me to open a store where I celebrate paper and regularly meet customers who feel passionate about it too.

I frequently talk to people wanting to keep alive the creative expression of writing

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The versatility of paper encourages artistic expression involving sculpting, stamping, illuminating, painting, printing and drawing on, Origami folding, cutting & tearing and of course cards and gift wrapping to name some uses. You can even make paper kites - the sky is the limit!

One of the best things about paper is when you’re done creating or enjoying it, it can be recycled, which gets the most out of every resource possible, and keeps it out of the landfills.

I say - Paper..Write on!

Little Bird 163 Station St, Downtown Duncan 250 748-6861 Submitted Rose Wagner

Spread A Little Christmas Cheer This Year with reFRESH Cowichan’s Holiday Hampers

I

t wasn’t a far leap from the work we do daily ensuring that everyone in the Cowichan Valley has access to good nutritious food, to coming up with the idea to do a little more to help a few

families this holiday season.

Every week, from now until the end of December, reFRESH Cowichan will be giving away a healthy Holiday Hamper filled with lots of nutritious and

Submitted by Anyes deLaat, Soul Comfort Sheepskin and Sheep Wool

raise secure children by keeping mum and dad close even when they are away.

W

ool is a hollow fibre that absorbs and wicks away moisture. It assists the body in maintaining a core temp of 37 degrees, which in turn fosters healthy circulation. Wool will cool you down in summer and warm you up in winter, so I always say that “ it has a kind of intelligence all it’s own.”

Did you know that on average per hour the body looses 2 ounces of vapour moisture through our skin alone, which means we can loose up to a liter of water every night! There’s no debating that as the largest organ of the body, our skin needs to breath, and wool bedding is what promotes an ensures this healthy sleeping environment.

We hold our little bundles of joy to our chest, allowing them to sense and feel our smell , our heartbeat and warmth. This is how our babies recognise us.

Wool has a body heat of it’s own, taking on the smell of mommies, daddies, and our homes. In this way and many others, wool helps

delicious food to families that can use a little extra.

Located in downtown Duncan, the reFRESH Cowichan store is a warm and inviting space where the whole community can benefit from healthy, affordable foods.

We carry fresh produce, frozen meals, dehydrated fruits/ snacks, freshly pressed juices, herbs & spices, and a line of preserves/ value-added products, all at accessible prices. Operating as a social enterprise, reFRESH Cowichan offers these products and services to generate revenue that allows the food recovery program to continue fulfilling our mandate of increasing community access to healthy, low cost food.

In addition, reFRESH helps local artisans display their talents and generate income by selling their many great gift ideas for

the holiday season. With handcrafted wooden toys, all-natural salves, sprays and lip balms, pottery, bird houses, dog treats and much more, we have your whole list covered!

So not only can you do all your holiday shopping, you can also help others in our community by making a donation to the hamper program. In addition, when you purchase a reFRESH frozen meal, CGC will contribute another $1.00 to the program. until December 31.Shop locally this year and support an amazing program at the same time! reFRESH Cowichan 360 Duncan St, Downtown Duncan

Submitted by Kelsey Odber Cowichan Green Community

You can have 20 carpets in the house, but you will most often only find your pet sleeping on the one that is made from wool. It’s naturally bacteria resistant so it won’t take on unpleasant odours, and of course, wool provides natural cushioning comfort and warmth for any senior pet’s aging joints.

Damp socks around mid-day is a common occurrence. Wool socks and insoles will prevent dampness that cause fungus like Athletes foot and odour. You will always be cooler in the summer wearing a wool t-shirt rather than cotton. Cotton sticks to you , whereas wool creates the air flow needed to keep you cool and comfortable. So what do fisherman, lumberjacks, and farmers in the prairies know that we don’t? They wear their Stanley’s year round!

Wool is amazing in preventing and alleviating: Amputation, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer,

Why Sheeps’ Wool?

Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Frailty, High Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Skin Conditions such as Dermatitis, Pressure Points, and Ulcers just to name a few.

Soul Comfort Sheepskin & Sheep Wool 190 4 St, Downtown Duncan 250 737-1281

If there was only one fiber left on earth, let it be wool! It meets our needs from our very first breath to our very last. Wool truly is a miracle fiber.

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F

T

hose saturated, fabulous colours we have enjoyed outside this Fall, have all made their way into the closet too. I am crazy for the ‘spice’ colours this season, showing up in suits, knits and scarves. Think East Indian spices such as cinnamon, saffron and paprika.

Cashmere in turmeric is divine with eye popping hot pink trim and you’ll instantly heat up. And not to worry if this palette isn’t for you. How about classic navy?

Rich vanilla or plum or tangerine?

or this past year I’ve been writing articles on behalf of the Duncan Farmers Market because I believe we are lucky to have such a special market in our community- one that is so vibrant and even goes yearround! The focus of my past articles was often about food and farmers, but this holiday season I want to put a shout out to another important component of our market: all the artisans!

Des Petits Hauts

Winter Fashion 2019

And for all us Cowichan Valley girls, plaid is very much in. If you are a plaid lover (like me) it was never out. Besides shirts, the plaid is now showing up on jeans. Down the side seam or stitched on the bottom of the hem. If you remember the Bay City Rollers, this will either make you cringe or smile!

Me?! I loved them and made my own. So what am I wearing right this very minute? Yes, I am, but I didn’t make them this time. Driftwood Jeans from the US does a very nice version.

And they make me smile in that nostalgic kind of way.

Speaking of jeans, anything goes.

Skinny, wide, cropped, cropped and wide, raw edge, straight, boot cut. Yes, anything is in, so relax. Wear what feels good.

They are jeans after all and isn’t that why we wear them? I am loving the raw edge hem myself and a little wider in the leg. A small percentage of people are opting for the zero stretch, no lycra jeans. For me, I couldn’t go

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back. My note on jeans should be comfortable. We need to eat and Christmas is coming.

At Fabrications we have a big love for sweaters! We have been very excited over the past few years to see many of our long time brands, become so much more environmentally conscious not only in the sourcing of materials and ethical working conditions but also with a commitment to working towards a zero waste footprint.

It is one of the main factors in selecting brands to bring into the shop and also a reason to let some go. Our obligation as a merchant should be and is to, make the planet healthier. Before the consumer can make eco and ethical conscious, choices, it’s up to the retailer, to first have a voice. You’ll find organic cotton, ethically sourced cashmere, (from “Happy Goats”, as one of our brands tag states), recycled polyester, Italian dyed, small farm Mohair and natural dyes, in our shop brands. At Fabrications, we are excited and proud to be part of this movement in fashion, to make the world a healthier and happier place and we still get to be us! I love doing the research on our brands, so any questions?

Always ask!

The designs in knit wear this season are fun! You’ll now find polka dots, stripes and geometric patterns woven in cashmere. Like plain and simple? Yes, we have that too!

Cashmink® scarf - made in Germany by Fraas

A sweater isn’t complete without a scarf. Fraas, from Germany, makes beautiful , recycled polyester scarves that they call Cashmink. They look and feel like cashmere, but are incredibly well priced. I have quite a few myself and they feel so nice against my skin.

And they are made in Germany.

How nice to see that on a tag!

Cashmere, silk, cotton and wool also make fine scarf yarns. Big blanket wraps right down to those little neck chief scarves are all a go this season.

A scarf can be where you feel daring! Want to jump in on a crazy colour, but don’t want to invest in a sweater? A scarf let’s you with a small price tag. Want to show your personality? A scarf can be a wink, a big statement, a juxtaposition of clashing colours or just that cozy piece that puts a smile on your face (or those that pass you by) as you head out for the day.

If you’re looking for some truly unique gifts this year, look no further than the Duncan Farmers Market! With a rotation of approximately 50 different artisan vendors each week you can find a wide array of gifts including artwork, pottery, wood carving and hand-turned bowls, jewelry, knitting, sewing and textiles, leatherwork, and more! All of these are made locally by the very person selling them (talk about “meet your

them unique gifts from the Cowichan, things they would never see out there… Plus I feel good about supporting local artisans.

Feel Good and Have Fun Holiday Shopping at the Duncan Farmers Market maker”!), so they have a low carbon footprint and many of the products are made using local, recycled and up-cycled materials.

And for that person who already has everything, don’t forget about the wide array of consumable gifts! These include items like soaps

and candles, as well lots of different food and drinks such as sauces, preserves, spice mixes, wine, gin, cider, teas, and locally roasted coffee.

Plus you can find holiday bouquets and wreaths, baking and sweets!

We have a lot of family members who live out east and so it is a real joy to send

So come on out to the Duncan Farmers Market on Saturdays, 10:00 – 2:00. The days might be a bit chillier than in summer, but I promise the shopping experience is just as enjoyable. Get your holiday shopping done in a local, lively, beautiful openair environment, and feel great about supporting local artisans!

Niki is the co-owner/ operator of Tatlo Road Farm, and proud member of the Duncan Farmers Market.

The Winter 2019 colour palette provides such an array of stunning choices, you will find a favourite and make it your own.

Jane Spencer, Owner of Fabrications

Fabrications 125 Kenneth St, Downtown Duncan 250 746-4751 37

MicroCurrent is simply micro-level (teensieweensie) electrical impulses that mimic the natural, positive current in your body.

It is holistic and extremely effective!

M

So, What is MicroCurrent?

icroCurrent is FDA approved and has been used therapeutically for decades to alleviate pain and swelling & to treat Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis). It is also used as needless acupuncture and increases the benefits of acupressure treatments.

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And what is MicroCurrent Facial Rejuvenation? non-invasive (such as micro-needling) injection-free (and much cheaper than) painless (actually extremely pleasant) energizes and clarifies skin, & retrains underlying muscle tissue - it’s like passive yoga for your face!

Plus, it stimulates production of your body’s own ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), resulting in elevations of Collagen and Elastin can produce immediate pro-aging results, & be cumulative, when done consistently creates instant gratification physically, emotionally & spiritually!

What might you notice after an intro treatment? An energized feeling in your face. Minor corrections to facial symmetry.

Minor improvements to skin clarity. An uplifted sense of wellness.

What might you gain from ongoing treatments? Same as after an intro treatment, and often with; improved tautness of skin & muscle; reduction in crease depth & lines; pronounced evidence of facial symmetry & skin clarity and other benefits unique to each individual.

What results have others experienced?* Whiter, more open & lifted eyes... improved skin density & clarity... reductions in fine lines, wrinkles & folds... lightening up of age spots... lifting of cheeks, jowls & mouth corners... plus more! *Treatment results are cumulative & vary by individual, according to age, genetics & lifestyle.

Do you value natural methods of increasing your well being

& your appearance? Would you enjoy having an uplifting experience that comfortably initiates your body’s rejuvenation process? Do you wish to feel more content with yourself as you continue to age? Then you’ll LOVE a Lift Facial Rejuvenation Treatment!

Give yourself a LIFT! Purchase your treatment package before December 31,2019 and receive an extra-special discount, plus save the GST! And YES, Lift Gift Certificates are available!

Call Janet at 778-356-2846 to discuss MicroCurrent Facial Rejuvenation Treatments.

(Remember to ask about the other protocols available for relief from acute and chronic conditions.) or visit www. janetraino.com/lift Janet (Jacobsen) Raino, Recovering PerFectionist, ProAging Advocate MicroCurrent Treatment Provider

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2019 BEST OF COWICHAN GIFT GUIDE

2019 BEST OF COWICHAN GIFT GUIDE

Wild Blackberry n/v Rocky Creek Winery The “wow” factor and great with cocktails or alone. It our show stopper.

1854 Myhrest Road, Cowichan Bay www.rockycreekwinery.ca

Jelly Cat children’s books.

Great for gift giving and always popular. From enchanting Unicorns to Jungle Sloths and fearless Octopuses. Chemainus Theatre Gift Shop 9737 Chemainus Rd, (250) 246-9820

Handmade upcycled wood crates filled with our jams, jellies, chutneys or pickles!

Duncan Garage Cafe 330 Duncan St, Duncan (250) 748-6223

100% natural, botanical perfumes for him or her, made right here in Cowichan. Wild Coast Perfumery Ltd. 1721 Cowichan Bay Rd., www.wildcoastperfumes.com

Gift baskets filled with 1 or 2 bottles & special offerings from our restaurant from $75 and up. Unsworth Tasting Room 2915 Cameron Taggart Rd, Mill Bay www.unsworthvineyards.com

Give an organic weighted blanket to a restless sleeper. Oh so comforting and temperature neutral.

Resthouse Sleep Solutions 126 Station Street, Duncan resthouse.ca

Beautifully scented Mistral french milled soaps from France. Embellish Home Decor 115 Kenneth St, Downtown Duncan

Handmade, exquisite jewellery from Ayala Bar. The new collection, featuring earrings and necklaces. Fabrications 125 Kenneth St, Duncan FB fabricationsclothing

Westcoastees Your local holiday shopping destination Island inspired, locally made and affordable art, gifts , clothing for your entire family and friends. 277 A Government St, Duncan, (250) 597-0030

Juice yourself to Health! A Glow Juice Cleanse makes the perfect stocking stuffer! #3 5380, Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan (250) 597-2595

Vancouver Island’s Most Unique Fine Jewellery Store....

More than just Words!

Impeccable Jewellery 211 Craig St. Downtown Duncan impeccablejewellery.com

Find that special gift of original artwork at the Art Coop at the Old Farm Market, just off Hwy 1. Featuring Morgan Saddington, Pauline Dueck Julie Nygaard, Janet Magdanz and Beverley Russell @ ArtCoop Duncan, 5164 Francis St, Duncan.

For the cook in your life --- salad bowls, utensils, boards, vessels. Local woods.

Food safe. Heartwood Studio, 5846 Curry Road, Duncan www.heartwoodstudio.ca

Cowichan Blackberry Dessert Wine Made with 100% wild blackberries that abound in the valley. Cherry Point Estate Wines 840 Cherry Point Rd, Cobble Hill www.cherrypointestatewines

The Venetian Earth Ultrasonic Diffuser provides a calming environment, and emanates a soothing warm glow. Two modes: continuous and intermittent. Lynns Vitamin Gallery 180 Central Rd unit #4, Duncan (250) 748-4421

Celebrate a made-in-BC Christmas with a handcrafted Stollen from True Grain. 1725 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay www.truegrain.ca

Give the Gift of fresh delicious local milk! $10 or $20 tearcard for local glass-bottled milk & cream at the Farmstand.

Cowichan Milk Company 4590 Koksilah Rd, Duncan www.cowichanmilk.ca

Margit Nellemann Ceramics Handbuilt, functional ceramics, including cups, plates and teapots, created with love and care for your every-day enjoyment. 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme www.westholmetea.com

Give the Gift of Wellness Hellerwork Bodywork and Counselling 90 Min Session 30% off. Enjoy 3 Sessions Buy 3 get the 3rd 50% Off Enjoy 5 90 Min Sessions Buy 5 get one Free www.islandhellerwork.com

Check out our gift guide..

24 pages of great gift ideas Buckerfields 5410 Trans Canada Highway Duncan 250.748.8171

2016 Pinot Noir Reserve From our oldest vines, an elegant classic to savour with friends and family. Alderlea Vineyards 1751 Stamps Rd, Duncan www.alderleavineyards.com

Along the E&N: A Journey Back to the Historic Hotels of Vancouver Island by Glen A. Mofford $22.00 PB Volume One Bookstore 149 Kenneth St. www.volumeone.ca

Turkeys to treats, we have all your catering needs covered this holiday season.

Call today!Cowichan Green Community Catering 360 Duncan Street, Duncan cowichangreencommunity.org

Nocino!, made from green walnuts & local honey, is a great addition to your holiday bar. Grab a bottle at the Duncan Farmers Market. www.ampersanddistilling.com

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2019 BEST OF COWICHAN

GIFT GUIDE

Contemporary Art? For Christmas? YES PLEASE! Original works & commissions available. See website for details. Donovan Rose at The Ou Gallery 3091 Agira Rd, Duncan www.donovanrose.ca

Our CSR program gives members 5x 3 course dinners or 10x 2 course lunches for $225.

Unsworth Restaurant 2915 Cameron Taggart Rd, Mill Bay www.unsworthvineyards.com

Tea Pairing Experience with Menu Gift certificates for 2 or 4 people. Westholme Tea Company, 8350 Richards Trail, Westholme 250.748.3811 www.westholmetea.com

The ultimate west coast gift sustainably harvested seafood from Michelle Rose CSF. Wild salmon, Prawns, Octopus... fb:Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery www.michellerosecsf.com

Chose green gifting with Enviro Glass Straw. Practical, local, affordable. The perfect gift for all! Enviro Glass Straw 250 743-7585 www.enviroglassstraw.ca

Carefully selected local artisan goods tastefully displayed in a beautiful wooden box.

Willow & Orchid, 101 Station St, Downtown Duncan Call to order 250-748 9868 order online www.willowandorchid.com

Handmade in store, our sparkly wire tiaras & crowns are unique, beautiful & customizable! Little Bird 163 Station Street Downtown Duncan www.littlebirdonline.ca

Mugs, mouse pads, book covers, puzzles and more! The best passport photos in Town!

Peacock Copy & Restoration 231 Jubilee St, Duncan www.peacockphoto.ca

Folk Festival tickets make great gifts! Early Bird Weekend tickets are $110 ($95 for CFG members) and $55 for youth aged 13-18 (12 and under free) www.islandsfolkfestival.ca

Give the gift of flavour with grab and go gift packs from The Olive Station 225 Canada Ave #7, DowntownDuncan www.theolivestation.com

Treat the pooch in your life to a day at the spa! Steph Stew’s Dog Do’s at Lucky Dog U Bath, 1059 Canada Ave, Duncan. Facebook @ Steph Stew’s Dog Do’s 250 597 7364

Give the gift of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in! The ultimate gift for new and busy moms! Clean Choice Eco Friendly Cleaning Services www.cleanchoicecleaners.com

Traditional Food Organic Canadian wild rice. Packaged for gift giving. 1lb (454 grams) $12 Westcoast Metis Cultural Society metis19@telus.net or call or text 250 732 4911

Make it an experience with a gift card. Take advantage of our gift card sale!

Farm Table Inn 6755 Cowichan Lake Road, Lake Cowichan www.farmtableinn.ca

Meat or Cheese Wood Gift Boxes Salami, cheese, condiment all packed in a wooden gift box Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese. 5-1400 Cowichan Bay Road, Cobble Hill 250-929-2873

Pamper your special ones with a gift certificate to Soul Escape Organic Spa & Boutique Est. 2006 2763 Beverly St #109, Duncan On-line at www.soulescape.ca 250 748-2056

Keep beer fresh with this carbonated insulated growler 2L & 4L Small Block Brewing Co 203-5301 Chaster Road Duncan 250-597-0045

Functional gifts! Beautiful handmade mugs, plates, bowls and more handcrafted, glazed and fired by potter Colleen Underwood. Mudroom Clayworks, 1725 Cowichan Bay Rd cowbaymudroom.com

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H

ave you booked tickets yet for this Vancouver Island holiday favorite?

Another year and another new show! It’s full speed ahead to the 13th annual Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular.

What better way to celebrate the season than with tickets to this dazzling spectacle.

It’s fast moving and colorful.

It will take you on an emotional journey through a wide variety of music and dance from rock & roll to Broadway, jazz and classical, interwoven with touching readings and stories.

This year’s show includes musical medleys of well known songs by Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, a nostalgic war time set, a Broadway medley of Singin’ in the Rain songs, music from Amelie, Bing Crosby’s classic ‘White Christmas’ as well as many more classical hits and

Christmas favourites.

Beautiful costumes in a variety of styles have begun to arrive. “Once I had completed the task of selecting the music for the 2019 show, I turned my head towards the visual colors of the stage. After researching the many styles of music that you will experience this season, I was able to start selecting costumes.”

Says Creator, Producer and Director, Katy BowenRoberts.

The cast was selected in June after several days of auditions in Vancouver. “We are lucky to have so much incredible talent in BC. One of my goals with this show has always been to provide employment for some of these artists right here on Vancouver Island”, says Katy who spends all year working on the creation of each new show but the cast are only together for 5 weeks. “I am

SOLEIL MANNION

Yellow Point Spectacular excited when the ensemble will finally be together and we can actually see our work on the stage.”

Tickets are now on sale. The production runs in Courtenay at the Sid Williams Theatre (December 9 & 10), in Victoria at the McPherson Playhouse (December 14 & 15) and in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre (December

Open Studio Sale

17 – 22). A favourite among bus tour groups, staff parties, family and friend reunions, and festive celebrations.

Book early so you don’t miss this exciting holiday event!

Saturday, December 7 10am-5pm 2645 Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay 250-709-3868

Visit www.yellowpoint christmasspectacular.ca for more info and online ticket links.

soleilmannion.ca

Soleil Mannion Open Studio Sale

S

oleil Liberta Mannion was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Vancouver.

She has studied and taught theatre, dance, costume design and fine arts in Europe and North America. Since 2011 she has been teaching art at Brentwood College School and instructing private and group adult art and creativity classes. Her own art is inspired by her unique life experience which seamlessly combines elements of classical beauty and modern technique. Mannion’s

paintings are in collections around the world. Her patrons include a prominent British stage actor, a world famous West Coast singer-songwriter and the renowned cellist YoYo Ma. This holiday season why not consider gifting something unique and original?

Oil painter Soleil Mannion is just 20 days away from packing everything up and selling the rest to pursue a whirlwind Italian art adventure into central Italy’s Tuscany region, Siena. She has been offered a dream opportunity to apprentice with a master artist to study

Trial By Fire Pottery Studio

In gratitude for all the support that the Cowichan community has given to her and her family for almost two decades she is selling ALL her works at vastly discounted prices.

The funds generated from the sale of her work will go towards funding her trip to Europe and all the expenses along with studying a new practice there for the next few months.

“I love the colours, the dance of the brush, the scrape of the pallet knife, the smell of the paint, the textures, the challenges. I could paint

every day, all day.

When I stand with my brushes and paint, I am one with the universe, I am complete. I walk on beaches in my paintings, I smell roses, gaze on stars, moons, storms, waves, wild horses. I feel truly alive. As Walt Whitman would say: ‘I defuse my flesh in eddies and drift in lacy jags. I defuse myself in paint and drift in azure glazes.’ “ Saturday December 7th from 10-5pm 2645 Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay 250-709-3868 * If you miss this Open Studio Sale and would like to view Soleil’s work privately you you may book a private viewing appointment up to the 15th of December.

Clearwater Studio, on Clearwater Farm

4-6 Week Wheel Classes

Open By Appointment or Sundays, 11am to 4 pm, June through September.

Visit clearwaterstudio.ca

www.trialbyfirepottery.ca I 250-710-8758 www.trialbyfirepottery.ca

3915 Clearwater Road, Cobble Hill

Hilary Huntley

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sculpture and be his assistant.

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Chemainus Theatre Society Auction Chemainus Theatre Festival is pleased to present its 2019 annual silent auction. Featuring fine art, excursions, gift baskets and one-of-a-kind experiences, there’s something for everyone and it all wraps up December 19th - just in time for a spot under your Christmas tree.

How does a Vancouver theatre getaway sound, including travel

by Helijet, tickets to Kinky Boots at the Arts Club and accommodation at the Sheraton Vancouver? Or how about two nights at the Sheraton Grand Seattle with Taproot Theatre tickets and passes to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden & Glass? Looking to add a family heirloom? An original artwork is a perfect forever gift and there are beautiful pieces on offer from fabulous artists such as JD Stevenson, Pieter Molenaar, Johnny Lee, Laurel Hibbert and Roger Jackson. There are 25 auction lots in all up for bid online at www.chemainustheatre. ca/auction or in the upper lobby at the Theatre. All proceeds to the Chemainus Theatre Festival Society.

Volunteering And Setting Roots In Chemainus

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ike most people I meet, I’m a relative newcomer to Chemainus. Four years ago, my wife and I decided we wanted to move to a place where we could actually own a house, instead of a mortgage. So, we set aside our love of Victoria, and ventured up-coast in search of the nextbest-affordable-thing.

We almost bought in Nanaimo; came within a whisker of completing a deal in Ladysmith; and finally bought a corner lot, complete with house, finished workshop and peekaboo ocean view on Cook and Humbird streets in what we call ‘suburban’

BEADS BEADS BEADS

Etc!

9752c Willow St

Chemainus

250 324 2227 Open 7 days a week

Best prices on the island • HUGE Selection • Workshops & Classes Beading I Kumihimo I Bead Weaving I Viking Knit I Herringbone and more!

Chemainus.

We own our Chemainus property outright; in Victoria, I’m pretty sure the price of a similar house would be nudging the milliondollar mark; in Vancouver, you’d have to sell your mortal souls to a mortgage broker, and throw in the souls of your kids and grandkids too, to afford anything even close to what we’ve got here.

But we are discovering every day that affordability isn’t the only desirable attribute of Chemainus.

It wasn’t long before we learned it’s common practice for people to actually say hello to oneanother here; and care about their neighbours; and pat each other’s dogs; and stop to ask an elderly gent if he needs a lift, when they see him lugging groceries up Victoria Road, and...

The economics of home ownership drew us to this town; but its genuine sense of community is what will keep us here, and make us care, and get us involved as ‘citizens’ to a fuller sense than we have before.

We’ve a whale of a good reputation!

• Pool installs, service & maintenance • Hot tub service, including bio-film flushes • Equipment repair/replacement & supplies • Inspections & consultations Mention this ad for a 10% discount on service or supplies

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The Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, and its subsidiary Rainforest Arts, are two organizations both Di and I volunteer for. As artist and writer, it’s obvious why we’d want to put our energies into organizations whose mission is to support creative enterprise and appreciation in this community.

What isn’t so obvious is how much pleasure we get out of volunteering. When you give time, energy and expertise, simply because you want to make your community a better place for more people, what you discover is you’re feeding the roots that make you a part of the place you call home.

So, go for it. There’s plenty of community organizations that would welcome your contribution, and I’m pretty sure you’ll find, if you connect with the right one, the giving is its own reward.

CraigSpenceWriter.ca

Contact Mike, owner & certified technician

CALL: 250-466-4050 TEXT: 778-837-0138

EMAIL: orcaspaservice@gmail.com

www.orcapoolandspa.com

What Makes Cowichan Awesome?

You Do!

T

he secret is out: the Cowichan Valley is an amazing place, full of wonderful people, beautiful landscapes and hidden gems.

No wonder the region expects to welcome more than 20,000 newcomers by 2050.

The Discourse Cowichan is telling stories that connect us and contribute to our shared understanding of this place we call home. Sometimes that means hard-hitting investigations, and sometimes it means introducing neighbours to each other and building bridges between all of us, new and old.

In that spirit, we recently launched a survey to our readers, asking about the changes in their communities, and stories they would like to see journalists tackle. We also asked what makes their neighbourhoods awesome.

We heard, of course, about the beauty and access to nature. And we heard about the community spirit — the volunteers and groups that look out for all of us.

Here’s some of what you told us:

“The community spirit of how people help each other when needed, and how close to nature we are with hiking and boating right there.” - Valerie Russell, Maple Bay “The sea lions are super cool, but a hidden gem is really just the sunset in the summer over the ocean, they are so incredible.” -Jasmine Hache, Cowichan Bay “The proliferation of notfor-profits and the resulting thousands of people stepping up to volunteer and support their work.” -Ann Andersen, Duncan “I have lived in Crofton for almost 40 years. To me, it is paradise. Good people, great school for K-6, community center with outdoor pool (summer only). The seawalk is fantastic. People always say hello or good morning when I’m out walking. I just feel relaxed here.” -Ed Bergen, Crofton “Cave exploring, mushroom picking, paragliding, spectacular views. A community that has not been completely gentrified.”

-Emily McKim, Youbou “During the 58 years that I have lived here, the thing that stands out the most for me is the sense of community that is all around us.” -Murray

McNab, Yellow Point Want to hear more from your neighbours, and continue to explore the Cowichan Valley with us? Sign up for The Discourse Cowichan newsletter at TheDiscourse. ca/Cowichan. We’ll send you local news and events, plus stories you won’t find anywhere else, straight to

your inbox.

Jacqueline Ronson is a community reporter for The Discourse Cowichan. jacqueline@ thediscourse.ca

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S

ister duo Megan Waddy, Medical Herbalist and Jenna Waddy, Naturopathic Doctor would like to invite you to an open house event to explore the Ancient Origins Medicinal herbal apothecary and learn about herbal medicine.

Megan and Jenna share a passion for supporting individuals in their healing journey through the use of plant medicines and holistic therapies that support shifting root imbalances within the mind, body and spirit. As a licensed naturopathic doctor and medical herbalist, they understand the importance of supporting the physical body and identifying imbalances on both scientific and energetic levels. In order to invoke healing and change, they are proficient in the current scientific knowledge while holding true to their ancestral roots.

The Dairy Alternative That’s Here To Stay

Ancient Origins Medicinals Apothecary Open House

Zak Stolk Violin Maker

25 Years Experience of Lutherie in the Italian Tradition.

Making, repair and restoration of Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, and all manner of Stringed Instruments.

250-749-6563 zakviolins@shaw.ca www.zakviolins.com

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The old English word apothecary derives from the Latin word ‘apotheca’ translating to storehouse and the traditional ‘pharmacists’ whom prepare and prescribe herbal medicines. Megan and Jenna will offer a FREE introduction to herbal medicine workshop, and will be available to answer questions. Participants will have the opportunity to somatically experience the plants through tasting herbal teas, tinctures, syrups and more! Megan and

Jenna are passionate about offering the highest quality medicines to their clients.

All of the medicines in the apothecary are organic and biodynamically harvested, with the majority grown and ethically wildcrafted in the Cowichan Valley.

10-11am: Introduction to plant medicine FREE lecture

by Medical Herbalist Megan Waddy and Naturopathic Doctor Jenna Waddy 12pm-2pm: Questions, tea & herbal tincture bar December 15, 10am-2pm 166 Station St, Duncan (Collective Space) For more information, please visit: ancientoriginsmedicinals.com

Brandy Mandrusiak Owner of Glow Juicery cafe Duncan

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ut mylks are one of the fastest growing beverages used as an alternative to dairy milk. One reason for this is because many people are now switching to a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Another reason people are turning to these alternatives is due to health issues and/or the inability to digest lactose or casein found in dairy.

Coconut and other nut mylks are popping up quickly on the shelves of almost every grocery store nowadays. However, it is hard to find a raw, soaked and sprouted (easier to digest) mylk and unfortunately, most contain flavours, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. It is best to make your own or find a local organic café or restaurant that can make them for you.

Nut mylks are made by soaking, preferably overnight, any type of nut. Then blending it in a blender and straining it through a mesh nut mylk bag. It’s that easy, and now you have a dairy free mylk, high in plant-based protein and amino acids. One cup of nuts can make 2 litres of mylk but if you prefer it creamier, just use more

nuts. It is important to only use organic nuts, especially almonds, as nuts are highly sprayed with pesticides. According to many studies, pesticides can lead to organ damage, so we do not want to be drinking non-organic nut mylks.

At Glow Juicery we make sprouted almond mylk, coconut mylk and cashew mylk. Unsweetened as well as flavoured. Some of our favorite flavours are mocha, lavender, chocolate, vanilla and during the holiday season we love our Cashew eggnog! Raw mylks and sweetened with maple syrup.

These mylks make great lattes, smoothies, bulletproof coffee’s and even an on the go snack all by itself.

If you’ve been searching for an organic, delicious and healthy dairy alternative, call us at Glow Juicery and restaurant in Duncan, and pre-order your favorite flavoured mylk. Unflavoured mylks do not usually require a pre-order. Three different sizes to choose from and we are now taking Holiday Cashew eggnog orders.

Sunday December 8, 11am 4pm Cashew Eggnog Tasting Preservative and refined sugar free, vegan, organic and nongmo. Glow Juicery and Raw

Food Cafe #3 5380, TransCanada Hwy, Duncan For pre orders of nutmylk egg nog please call 250 597-2595.

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VALLEY DENTAL CLINIC Dr. Gordon Levin DMD Dentist Detailed screening for sleep apnea with dental appointments Qualified Dentist American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

# 101-321 Festubert St Duncan, British Columbia V9L 3T1 250-746-9697

reception@valleydentalclinic.ca

Swarn Hardy, MA, RCC Registered Clinical Counsellor Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy for • Trauma & Abuse • Anxiety & Depression • Relationship Issues

250-709-3744 swarnhardyrcc@gmail.com www.innerlighthealingarts.com

Diana Pink I 250 597-2102 I afreshstart@shaw.ca

Notes on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A

s obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) becomes more commonly talked about and more often diagnosed it is inevitable that people will come across a wider array of proposed solutions. Since OSA is widely regarded by medical doctors and patients alike as a potentially very serious health risk it is evident that good solutions need to be sought out, and not so good solutions avoided.

Besides continuous positive air pressure or (CPAP) devices and oral appliances (OA’s) a variety of surgical intervention have been used over the years to attempt to alleviate obstructive sleep apnea. One procedure involving removal of the uvula (that little thing that hangs down at the back of your throat) and other tissue of the soft palate is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), the notion being to tighten up the collapsible airway.

Studies have clearly shown this procedure to be of only modest success in about 30% of cases.

Not great.

Another procedure involving advancing the lower jaw (mandible) and often also the upper jaw (maxilla) surgically has much greater success.

However, in my view and most dentists and doctors I have discussed this with, the risk of complications with this surgery are too great to make a widely used procedure in treatment of OSA. Another area of interest in our breathing is the nasal passages.

We can all agree that having unimpeded ability to breathe through the nose is essential.

As such the simpler procedures provided by skilled ear, nose and throat doctors (ENT’s) is removal of polyps (fleshy growths) and reducing the turbinates in the nose (convoluted boney

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passages). These are much less invasive procedures and can very often leave the patient able to comfortably breathe. These procedures do not solve OSA, but they sure help with the problem.

One other thing to consider for treatment of OSA is the underlying feature of the majority of sleep apnea, significant overweight and often obesity. This is a difficult area in which to help people. There is so much emotion and perceived stigma associated with excess weight that it makes this a very often” touchy” subject.

However, knowing that even a 10% reduction in body weight can produce up to 50% improvement in sleep apnea to me dictates that as providers of any other treatment we have an obligation to try to help patients achieve realistic weight loss. If approached with dignity and compassion the problem can be addressed.

One final comment I recently saw a full page advertisement from a publication in California with the huge headline “Snoring Kills!”.

The ad was placed by a dentist promoting laser treatment of the throat to “cure” the problem of not only snoring but sleep apnea.

The ad explained that this dentist is the only provider offering this laser treatment. There is no reliable peer reviewed research to support these claims but it is not illegal to advertise them.

A good piece of advice to keep in mind is the age old adage, “if something looks too good to be true… it probably is”. There will always be someone trying to sell us something new and we have to research carefully before buying.

Wishing everyone a good night’s sleep.

Dr. Gord Levin DMD Diplomate American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine 250 746 9697

What Collagen Can Do For You

I

t is said that one of the benefits that we achieve from heading into our advancing years is the wisdom we have gained, a sideeffect of our many interactions and experiences. That may very well be true, but there is another side to the ageing coin that is less pleasant, and that is the wear and tear inflicted on the body over years of use....It is doubtful that anyone really enjoys this part of the process. But there is hope, and it comes in the form of collagen.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is found in the bones and connective tissue of both people and animals, and provides the skin, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and skeletal system with crucial support. It holds us together, literally. When we are young, we produce a lot of it, and our skin is firm, our hair is thick, our joints are springy, and life is good. As we age, however, production starts to slow, and it shows. Our skin sags and furrows, our hair is thin and lifeless, and our bodies creak and groan in protest when asked to perform

tasks they used to do with ease.

This is where collagen can help.

Back in the day, products like face cream used to add collagen and say that it would help the skin regain its youthful appearance.

Unfortunately, it turns out that applying it topically was not the way to go, because the molecule is too large to be properly absorbed deep in the skin where it is needed.

Better results by far have been found through taking collagen internally.You can ingest it from food sources, most likely in a broth made from simmering bones and water on a stove for long periods of time. Actual food sources of collagen are limited and do not appeal to everyone.

It is also thought that collagen found in food is not abundantly bioavalable, so you would need to be consuming a lot of it to get the benefits, of which there are quite a few. So what is the best way to take collagen?

The way to reap more of the

benefits available from collagen is to take it in its hydrolzed form. This process involves separating it into amino acids, which makes it much easier to absorb. Supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen will get you much further ahead in your efforts to see improvements. And you will see them. After just a few weeks, skin texure improves significantly, including fewer wrinkles, increased elasticity, and improved hydration. Hair loss is slowed, and the hair that grows in is healthier and stronger. Collagen is increased around deteriorating joints, slowing the progression of age-related damage and lessening the severity of pain and stiffness.

People who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome or leaky gut notice an improvement in their symptoms. Other benefits include stonger nails, improved liver health, and better wound healing.

Something that has been noticed is that people who buy collagen for one reason, such as skin health, notice improvements in other areas, such as joint

flexibility. Due to further research on the properties of collagen, companies are now able to provide a product that will focus on the areas you wish to improve.

You can take one made especially to help with muscles, or joint health, or the beauty aspects of hair, skin, and nails. Or you can go with a full-spectrum product that will address multiple symptoms.

Collagen is easy to take, dissoving quickly into any liquid, and is completely taste-free. It can be a very uselful weapon in the battle for healthy aging. Completely stopping the steady march of time is not possible, of course, but we can make the time we have more pleasant and productive. The effects can be far reaching; when the joints are not so painful, a person is able to move more and do more, and this will improve the quality of life. We have all heard it said that it is the life in your years that counts. Collagen is a supplement that can help us look, and feel, and be at our best, for many years to come.

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- CanPrev uses only the cleanest, 100% Grass Fed, farm to bottle collagens from Switzerland!

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their home. Average annual heating cost is around $460.

Reed Gary, Owner 360 Comfort Systems, Duncan

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inter thus far in the Cowichan Valley has been somewhat mild compared to previous years.

That being said,Valley homes still need to be heated between the months of September and April.

Depending on what sort of heating system you use, you may have been comfortable with your heating costs and your level of home comfort or maybe one of those is giving you grief. Let’s talk about the different ways Cowichan residents keep their homes comfortable from Fall to Spring.

One of the most common ways we West Coasters heat our homes is with a heat pump. A heat pump is a

CELEBRATING

10 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN THE

COWICHAN VALLEY Heronwood Custom Cabinetry Inc. Is a local custom cabinetry shop located in the Cowichan Valley.

Why Choose A Heat Pump? device that extracts heat from the outdoor air and converts it to thermal energy which is then transferred to the air inside our home. This is a very efficient way of heating homes and our place on the globe is very conducive to the use of heat pumps. The average cost of heating a Cowichan Valley home with a heat pump is $520 for the heating season.

Another method that is commonly used to heat our homes is with the use of a natural gas furnace. Natural gas is becoming more popular every year since the cost of natural gas to the homeowner has been going down and the cost of electricity has been going up. This makes the potential savings of heating with natural gas lucrative to anyone who is looking at a different heating source for

An option that is more prevalent in homes that are older than 30 years is electric force air. Electric forced air furnaces provide a comfortable home but not a comfortable monthly cost of operation. Many homeowners are sometimes shocked to find that a single month of heating with electric forced air cost them $500 or more. This cost of operation is similar to that of our next common heat source, electric baseboard heaters.

Electric baseboard heaters are also very common in the Cowichan Valley due to the low cost of the initial install. Unfortunately, the cost of operation is also very high in comparison to some other options. Some other drawbacks of electric baseboard heaters are that

Call us to see our full range of blinds

they provide no airflow and can have the potential of being a fire hazard if objects are left too close to the heater.

The average annual cost for heating with electric forces air or electric baseboard heaters is $1865 The last popular option that I will talk about is the common oil fired furnace. Oil fired furnaces are much more common in rural areas where natural gas is not available and where a home may not have the electrical capacity to run anything other than oil.

Oil furnaces are generally 60% to 70% efficient and insurance companies are becoming increasingly strict on oil tank replacement and other stipulations. The average cost of heating with oil annually is $1625.

Whichever systems and fuel source you use to keep warm, regular maintenance must be performed. Maintenance costs are small in comparison to the cost of a new system, but the benefits are huge. Lower operating costs, cleaner indoor air and longer system life expectancy are just some of the benefits.

Our Designer Discount ensures you of a competitive price every time.

Tina 250.709.1610 / Mike 250. 701. 2009 www.tinamoizerdesigns.com tina@tinamoizerdesigns.com

I have not even come close to listing all of the different heat sources used to heat homes in the Cowichan Valley, but I hope that I have can give you the info you need in order to make an informed decision when choosing what heat source keeps you and your family warm.

Heronwood is know for its meticulous craftsmanship and creative design.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM

E4-4970 POLKEY RD. DUNCAN

250-597-4701

heronwoodcabinetry.ca 52

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G Gifts for Gardeners Open until Christmas Eve

Stocking Stuffers • Hand Tools • Garden Themed Giftware • ‘Fairy Garden’ Accessories for Miniature Gardens • Indoor Christmas Flowers • Trees! from Live Table Tops to Quality Cut Trees GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR GARDENERS! See our table for ideas on hardy winter planters. www.dinternursery.ca 5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

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ardening is a popular and healthy outdoor activity that spans every generation.

You are likely to have a gardener on your gift list or if you are a non-gardener, you may be looking for suggestions. With a little thought, you should be able to find a present that will be remembered for years to come.

The most valuable garden tool is literally found on your belt; a good quality pair of pruners tucked into its holster. High quality brands such as Felco will last a lifetime and with a holster it never gets lost. If they already have one, a good folding saw will fit into the pocket, ready for the larger cuts. Every visit to the garden finds something that needs trimming and early in the New Year, the serious pruning season starts for many trees and shrubs.

If there is an outdoor living space, it can be enhanced with decorative wall art in attractively shaped and painted metal sculptures.

To add the element of sound, the gentle ringing from a wind chime sets the mood. Consider

OUR SOLAR STORY Art & Karin Ingham live on their family farm in Cobble Hill.

Christmas Gifts for Gardeners adding some whimsey with small concrete sculptures peering out from under the plants. They can be gnomes or other cheerful little creatures.

Do not forget others that inhabit the garden and are attracted to birdhouses, bat houses and blue mason bee homes. These all play a useful role in creating a healthy garden and add an interesting dimension to life in the garden.

Finally, if you are not sure what the recipient is longing for, a gift card is a welcomed treat as they dream of what is needed for spring. In our coastal climate, spring often seems to arrive soon after the festive season.

Bernie Dinter, Dinter Nursery 2205 Phipps Rd, Duncan dinternursery.ca

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e were sitting around the kitchen island going through a long list of infrastructure updates that we would need to undertake in coming years on our family farm (new fencing, replace the barn roof, etc.) when we got on the topic of solar panels. As charming as the old farmhouse is, it is definitely not efficient when it comes to heating and energy.

As the cost of furnace oil and our hydro bill increased we were looking for a way to reduce or eliminate these expenses. My daughter-inlaw had heard of local solar energy co-operative, Viridian, and sent them an inquiry that day. We heard back quickly and setup a site visit to review our needs, and to see if solar was financial feasible for us. Viridian was fantastic to work with from day one. We contacted Viridian in April 2019 and at the beginning of May we started doing

necessary electrical upgrades in order to install the panels.

Our plan was grid-tie 22 solar panels to start (6.82 kw), with the potential to add 11 more to the garage roof and add batteries in the future.

We were happy to see that the cost was reasonable and we had the flexibility to go with the maximum 33 panels or scale it back for our first install (which we did) and add more in the future. We did hit a road block with BC Hydro which stalled us for the months of May, June, and July due to the size of the transformer and secondary conductor coming in from the road. Kuan and his team dealt with all of this while communicating what was happening to us, as this was the first time they had run into this issue and we were simply at the mercy of BC Hydro’s timelines. The delay was unfortunate, but once we had the go ahead from BC Hydro, Viridian installed our solar panels in 1 day! On July 22 they were hooked up, and by early August we were net-metering. We can check on our solar system and our BC Hydro net-metering from our iPad, and have

really enjoyed the sunny days where our solar production surpassed our energy usage.

This summer we also installed a duct-less heat pump so we could say good-bye to our oil powered furnace. As electric technology advances, we would like to replace our gas/ diesel powered vehicles with electric where our solar panels

are our ‘gas’ station. Solar power is more financially accessible now than ever before (more so than we thought). It has reduced our electricity bill, eliminated our oil powered furnace, reduced our carbon footprint, and has us thinking solar powered electric for the future of our farm and our family.

250 715 6174

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C

Cowichan Knitting Traditions with Dora Wilson

owichan Elder Dora Wilson carries knowledge of a knitting tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Her sisters and herself have been learning the craft and science behind knitting from start to finish since they were children, not by ‘being forced too’ she explains, just by watching, and playing. Dora’s mother

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and Grandmother turned freshly sheered wool into a sweater from raw material to finished product, a continuation in craft we seldom see these days. The children witnessed, carding, washing, drying, spinning and finally knitting the final product. “We used to watch my mother do all of this and help her wash the wool, we were just playing, but she told us, never waste any wool, if a piece falls always pick it up”.

Dora explained that every Cowichan family has a pattern that is specific to their lineage; these designs are passed down from one generation to the next and Cowichan knitters hold this knowledge as part of their craft. Although each traditional design is unique, there are specific colours associated with Cowichan sweaters; the natural wool colours are usually white, beige, grey and brown. The wool is never dyed, to protect the integrity of the natural materials, but there are certain methods to alter the natural colours, for example to achieve a brighter white, the wool is kept in the sun for a longer period of time. Another unique aspect of this traditional craft is that none of the pieces are

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

sewn; each item is knitted as a whole from beginning to end.

measurements to finish she said 1 week!

Cowichan sweaters are known around the world, and Dora has received orders from as far as Australia, Germany and Scotland.

Dora has taught her daughter and granddaughters who have been creating new styles and designs. Recently, Dora’s daughter knitted a special piece from recycled wool for a climate change event happening in Victoria early next year. This piece is uncharacteristically dyed in hues of blue and red, but as she puts it, it is in our style and design, but is an art piece for a cause hence the allowance of dye in the sweater. Her piece will be displayed at the Robert

She sources her wool locally from sheep farmers, travelling all over to meet the sheep and assess the quality of the wool. She explained that if wool is too short, it will break, and be lumpy, hence why she visits the farm every year. The wool is then carded and she spins it into yarn before knitting it into beautiful items. The process of spinning takes her about 9 hours in order to have enough wool for one sweater. When asked how long it would take her to knit a sweater from

Bateman Gallery in 2020 and tells the story of the Salish Sea, displaying Orcas, Salmon and Salmon eggs to commemorate one of the most significant cycles in the Pacific Ocean.

It seems important to note that often, store bought Cowichan sweaters are made of New Zealand wool rather than locally sourced wool.

The biggest issue being that in the carding of New Zealand wool, much of the lanolin is stripped from the fiber, and it is the lanolin that both protects the wool from wear and tear, but also the main component that makes these sweaters coveted for their natural water repellent properties.

“These sweaters can last up to 50 years, as long as they are taken care of” she explains that cedar chests are the best way to store them, moths being the main culprits in degradation.

Dora has been creating different designs with the help of her daughter, and her knitting has expanded from sweaters to vests, ear warmers, Tams (berets) socks, slippers, bags, mitts,

scarves, blankets and my favourite, a toque design with a draw string for long haired ponytails.

Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong) Gentle movement Calms your mind Heals internal organs Develops flexibility Mondays 9~10:15am (Rivendell) Wednesdays 10:15am-11:30am Thursdays 8:45am-10am (HUB) Fridays 10am-11:15am (Victoria) Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan Dynamic movement Improves posture Increases energy Strengthens bones Tuesdays 6pm-7:15pm Wednesdays 9am-10:15am

When asked about the importance of family designs, and the protocols 250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca around non Cowichan www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com peoples wearing them, Dora explained that it is absolutely fine for people to wear them, but not to knit them.

Cowichan knitting style Enamelling on Copper and Steel has an important traditional and cultural significance and there have been many attempts to appropriate this intellectual property from various overseas companies, Jewelery • Vases • Journals • Guestbooks copying style and traditional Frames • Bookmarks • Magnets • Lightswitch Plates designs, but Cowichan knitters were quick to address Available locally at: Imagine That Artisans the appropriation of their Rainforest Arts • Artzi Stuff • TOSH intellectual property and 250 746 8446 continue to work on keeping quaylecard.inddwww.margotpage.com 1 8/8/2011 3:23:00 PM this age old tradition within Cowichan Sweaters page on family and community.

This holiday season, I would Facebook, or can she can be very much encourage the gift contacted at d.wilson.42@ At 77 years old, Dora is of Dora’s knitted creations, hotmail.com amazingly talented, not only her prices range $40 + for does she produce beautiful scarves, hand bags, head sweaters and knitted goods, bands slippers and socks she also actively transmits Nejma Belarbi to $450 + for sweaters. A is a Herbalist, this important cultural craft Ethnobotanist blanket can be anywhere to the next generations all Writer and an from $1100 to $1500. Dora the way to her great great advocate in social and environmental takes orders online on Dora grandchildren!

Margot Page

sectors.

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Sol-Centre & The Freya-Sophia Waldorf Store ~ A Community Farm Store Initiative”

Sol-Centre & The Freya-Sophia Waldorf Store ~ A Community Farm Store Initiative”

Located in the Sol Centre ~ Adjacent to the Com munity Farm Store ~ 5380 Hwy 1, Duncan, BC

• All things natural and beautiful for you and your children • Beautiful and inspiring books for all ages and levels of interest • Wonderful organic merino/silk, wool clothing from age 0 - adult • Wooden toys, puzzles, games, silks, dolls, cards, calendars, prints • Birthday rings, craft kits, musical instruments and much more.

• Painting, drawing, knitting wool, beeswax & handwork supplies • Resources for Parents, Teachers, Carers and Homeschoolers Our store and it’s selection of all things warm and wonderful is growing and growing! More clothing, toys, books, cards, prints and handwork supplies. Bring your questions and your children. We have a lovely gnome-home where your children can play while you browse.

Winter Woolens have arrived!

Come see our huge selection of Disana wool leggings, sweaters, baby wear as well as the wonderful boiled wool coats, skirts, hats and outer wear. Many beautiful new colours and sizes to choose from. Come soon for best selection!

www.urielpharmacy.com Ask about our bestselling Uriel Aurum Lavender Rose Cream with Peat, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Ongoing knitting, handwork and doll making classes.

This month learn to make Fleece angels.

Please inquire.

250-597-4763 Regular hours: We are open

10 a.m. — 4 p.m.

Monday - Saturday Closed Sundays And Stat Holidays

DISCOVER THE DISANA WOOL LEGGINGS !!!

These knitted leggings have been a huge hit in our community. Made from 100% organic merino wool; soft and light and can be worn indoors or outside. Kids love them!

The fine ribbed knit make the leggings especially flexible and a gentle elastic in the waistband keeps them up without pinching. The leggings come in bright col-ours and are a great mix and match with Disana wool sweaters, cardigans and jackets. Many colors and sizes to choose from. Sadly, they are not in adult sizes. Yet …. :)

Proudly carrying toys, clothing, books and supplies from Mer-curius ~ Warmth and Weather ~ Floris ~ Wynstone ~ Ostheimer Wooden Toys ~ Grimm’s ~ Sarah’s Silks and much more!

Disana’s knitted and boiled clothing line feature classic designs that are both warm and wonderfully lightweight. Merino Wool is great for indoor or outside play as it breaths and modulates body temperature, unlike synthetics and cotton fibres. For more information about the benefits of wool and details about this remarkable clothing line visit www.warmthandweather.ca

Closing at 2 p.m. Dec. 24th

Find us on Facebook @ freyasophiawaldorfstore Follow us on Instagram

Call for details on our handwork classes

2nd Disana item 10% off , third item 20% off *in stock items only 58

DEC. EVENING SHOPPING: Wednesdays 10—7 + Fri., Dec. 20th, 10—7 + Mon., Dec. 23rd, 10—7

CLOSED

Dec. 25th—Jan. 1st Regular hours resume Jan. 2nd, 2020 59

ommunity Acupuncture is when your treatment takes place in a small group setting. People are welcome to make an appointment or drop in and relax in our zero gravity recliners and receive acupuncture with their sleeves and pant legs rolled up. More than a treatment, the community style creates a sense of community as people are gathered together to take time for themselves and heal.

Community Acupuncture also makes treatments affordable. We believe that your economic status should not be a barrier to getting acupuncture. As such, treatments are offered on a sliding scale of $30-60; you decide what you can afford, no questions asked.

The sliding scale makes it more affordable for patients who need frequent treatment as well as those who just want to give acupuncture a try. Just like eating your vegetables and getting regular exercise is better for you the more you do it, the effects of acupuncture are cumulative in nature.

The more acupuncture you have during the initial phase of treatment, the more its benefits accumulate. With all acupuncture, community or private sessions, it is ideal to keep the momentum going rather than wait too long between appointments and have your symptoms return.

Community or Private, what’s the difference?

For many patients, both styles are effective. But for some, privacy is an important factor or they may be unable to fully relax around others.

These people might find private sessions better suited for them. Often though, patients find it useful to use a combination of both types of acupuncture to directly

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Community Acupuncture address areas and access frequent treatment.

For example, a patient with back pain or shoulder pain could easily benefit from a private session. With privacy, it’s appropriate to remove their shirt and have the sore muscles treated directly.

While in Community, we can treat back pain or shoulder pain using points below the knees, between elbows and fingers, and even points on the head and ears to keep the momentum going.

Fertility patients, as another example, greatly benefit from a combination of both methods. Private sessions allow us to use acupuncture points on the lower abdomen to promote fertility (for women and men) and community treatments builds on that progress by balancing the constitution, regulating hormones, and releasing stress.

Currently we offer Community Acupuncture on Currently we offer Community Acupuncture on Monday (December 2, 9, 16, 23, 30), Tuesday (December 3, 10, 17) and Thursday (December 5, 12, 19) evenings from 4-7pm.

For more information please visit www.pestleandpins.com and follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Submitted by Amanda Knapp R.TCM.P. & Kevin Ianson D.TCM

isual storytelling relies on actors’ body language and expressions to offer “season’s greedings” Duncan, BC November 19, 2019—Renowned theatrical imagineers, the Wonderheads, present their whimsical reimagining of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, Saturday, December 14 at 7 pm.

No Humbug in Wonderheads’ Reimagined Christmas Carol

The multi-award winning company brings Scrooge’s haunted Christmas Eve journey to life with masks, puppets, music and fantastical theatrical invention. Not a word is actually spoken in the 70-minute show.

Explains co-head Andrew Phoenix, “Our take on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a meaningful examination of greed and compassion that includes glowing ghosts, joyful giants and the sweetest Tiny Tim ever seen. We’re aiming to make each audience member laugh, cry and gasp with wonder.”

Wonderheads is the creative fusion of theatre graduates Kate Braidwood and Andrew

Phoenix. Their passion for masks and quirky characters has gained them critical acclaim with original shows such as Grim and Fischer and The Wilds. A Christmas Carol is Wonderheads first nonoriginal production.

The Wonderheads have been praised by CBC as “pure magic” and the Globe and Mail wrote their productions are “powerful, surprising and moving.”

Audience members have described the show as watching animation come to life. Co-founding artistic director Kate Braidwood embraces the live-action Pixar comparison. “Like Pixar, we create really entertaining and heartfelt shows with elements that both kids and adults love.”

A special family package is available at $88 for two adults and two children.

Recommended for ages 5+.

A Christmas Carol is the

second Wonderheads production presented by the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. Wonderheads A Christmas Carol, Saturday, December 14, 7 pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre Tickets $28 Family Package $88 Tickets are available in person at the Cowichan Ticket Centre, 2687 James St. or by phone (250) 748-7529 or online at cowichanpac.ca.

Kurtis Howes 250-210-1705

C

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Budly and The Christmas Story

O

Submitted by Ray Travers

nce upon a time a little boy and little girl, who lived way out in the country, were worried. It had snowed and snowed so much they were unable to mail their letters to Santa.

How would Santa know what they wanted for Christmas?

More important how would Santa know that they had been good? They made their beds every morning, helped out with breakfast, and even brushed their teeth and went to bed without complaining.

Now it was too close to Christmas for a letter to reach the North Pole. so the children knew that their only hope was to find an Elf. But where does one find an Elf? The little girl and the little boy were sad. They sat out in the back yard not even building a snowman. But suddenly they heard a toot toot. .. toot tooot. It was Budly the train car!

“Hi” said Budly. “I heard from your Dad that you were worried and sad because Santa won’t be getting your letters in time for Christmas, and you don’t know where

three more comers.

to find an Elf to deliver your letters to.”

And there, just like the wise owl said was an Elf, leaning against the whistle post with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Well,” said Budly, “tell and Mom and Dad that you are going for a ride with me, so they won’t be worried about where you -are, and then climb aboard and we will go find an Elf! And so the little boy and little girl climbed aboard Budly and set off to find an Elf. Well. they went passed fields covered in snow, passed trees with their boughs bent under the weight of winter, and even passed a lake where there were children ice skating.

“Hey!” yelled Budly to the skaters, “have you seen an Elf?” “No” they shouted and waved goodbye as as Budly and the boy and girl continued on their search for an Elf. ‘Tm getting hungry”, said the little boy.

“Me too” said the little girl.

“Will it be much further?” she asked.

“Well, there is a beaver working on his dam, let’s ask him if he’s seen an Elf’ “Not me” said the beaver,

“now if you will excuse me I must get back to work”. ‘’Boy, he is sure rude” said the little boy. ‘’Beavers are very hard working and don’t like to be disturbed” said Budly.

“Look”, said Buclly, “there’s a moose. We’ll stop and ask him. Moose are very smart.”

“No, not me” said the moose, shaking his mighty antlers. “but you might want to ask the wise owl who lives down the track, over the bridge, past the crooked fir tree, and beside the old trappers cabin.”

“Thank you very much” they all said and hurried down the track over the bridge past the crooked fir tree, and there beside the old trappers cabin,

was the wise owl.

“Hello” they shouted, “have you seen an Elf?” “Whooooo me?” said the wise owl.

“Yes you,” said Budly.

“Well as a matter if fact I have, but that is only because I am such a smart owl.”

“And a very conceited one” whispered Budly.

“Hi there I hear you have been looking for me? Well here I am.”

“An Elf, a real Elf’ shouted the little boy and little girl excitingly, “and look he’s even wearing green pants jut like Mom and Dad said. Can you take our letters to Santa for us?” they asked. “we’ve been very good all year.”

“I know,” said the Elf, “I have been watching you two all year, just like I watch every little boy and girl.”

And so it came about that they gave their letters to the Elf, who in turn promised to deliver them to Santa right away. And Budly took the very tired, and very very happy, children home just in time for dinner.

Providence Farm’s Annual Christmas Craft Fair Providence Farm’s Annual Christmas Craft Fair is on December 7, from 9am to 3pm. Come and enjoy this community event that is full of Holiday fun for everyone! Vendors, Farmmade gifts, hot food, hayrides and Santa photos too!

1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan www.providence.bc.ca Farm Fashions will also be open for the day, and as always, filled with some fine fashion treasures!

1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan www.providence.bc.ca

“As I was saying” said the owl while glaring at Budly, “yes I know where to find an Elf. “He is just around three more comers and you will find him leaning against the whistle stop sign.”

“Thank you very much” they shouted, and then headed down the track and around

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Alistair MacGregor is the MP for Cowichan-MalahatLangford and the federal NDP’s Critic for Agriculture

Release trapped emotions Resolve sleep problems Manage stress and pain Achieve self-confidence 250-597-3686

I

First appointment free!

David Yaeger

Certified Emotion Code Practitioner davidyaeger650@gmail.com https://discoverhealing.com/practitioner-map/ (find me just north of Duncan)

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So much to offer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Wellness Reiki Wellness 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology Flourish Hypnosis 250-929-0202 Stop Smoking, Lose Weight, Remove Fears, Boost Confidence

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Food Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements

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am humbled and grateful to the people of CowichanMalahat-Langford for their vote to re-elect me as their representative in the House of Commons for the 43rd Parliament. I want to sincerely acknowledge the trust that has again been placed on my shoulders. I pledge to work hard in the weeks, months, and years ahead to ensure our riding continues to have a strong voice in Ottawa.

I also want to again acknowledge my fellow candidates: Alana Delong (Conservatives), Lydia Hwitsum (Green), Blair Herbert (Liberals), Rhonda Chen (PPC), and Robin Stanbridge (CHP). I enjoyed being on the campaign trail with each of them, and thank them for their role in actively strengthening our democracy.

On October 21st, Canadians elected a minority Parliament, requiring the governing Liberals to now actively work and collaborate with opposition parties to pass legislation and determine budget priorities. Having spent four years across the aisle from a majority government, I welcome this change, and I look forward to working and making sure we embark on a path of effective policies and solutions to tackle the twin threats of climate change and growing inequality.

Our riding’s communities have always been very

important to me. When I was first elected in 2015, I resolved to make sure that my constituency offices were always there to help and that I was involved at the local level. This community involvement and participation will continue to maintain its importance, as I am resolved to ensure I am always speaking with an authentic voice for our constituents’ concerns.

Our pursuit of environmental justice will not be successful unless we also tackle economic justice and social justice. I believe this statement resonated strongly with many residents in our riding, and it’s what will guide me as my NDP caucus colleagues and I work to set conditions for our cooperation with the minority Liberal government.

People want action on climate change – a real and scientifically-backed greenhouse gas reduction plan with a legitimate and achievable path for transitioning away from fossil fuels. This action plan must also take into account and recognize the extreme inequality and poverty that exists in Canada, and the very real struggle faced by many on basic affordability issues.

These challenges are going to be difficult to overcome, but that’s why now, more than ever, we must find a way to put aside partisan differences and work together. I look forward to working on your behalf to advance solutions to these problems in the new Parliament, and I welcome any opportunities to talk with you when I’m out and about in our beautiful riding.

A Christmas Gift from Winter Bees Ted Leischner at Plan Bee Now!, Duncan

W

hen we first enter the room when we visit relatives or friends at Christmas, we are always attracted to the colorful lights and décor of the Christmas tree and the bright red shiny berries on Christmas holly on the mantle, symbols of the joy of the season. On the carefully prepared dining room table perhaps there is a decadent Christmas fruitcake elegantly displayed along with other cookies and such. It is nothing without the dried or candied cherries, currants, and orange peel or in times past, candied colored squash it contains. Beside the cake, in a carved wooden bowl, are hazel nuts and almonds ready for cracking. Then there is the cornucopia of colorful flavor

dense jams, yummy pies and wines made from blue berries, raspberries, salal berries, thimble berries, salmon berries, huckleberries, blackberries.

Roast turkey would not be the same without cranberries and apple salad with real whip cream.

For all of the winter foods that I list, even the holly berries and the whip cream, none are possible without the pollination and seed set by bee pollinators.

The whipped cream in the apple salad or ice cream for pies is not possible without cows feasting on well-made alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay requires alfalfa seed. Alfalfa seed only grows when fields of alfalfa flowers are pollinated/set by special leaf cutter bees as honey bees cannot pollinate alfalfa effectively. All of the berries listed above have been pollinated here for 10,000’s years mostly by bumble bees, orchard mason bees, and illusive digger bees, not by the introduced European honeybee. Not only have they sustained the bounty of food for our indigenous cultures but have created a huge food supply for our many birds, mammals and other wildlife, it looks GORD FROST like our native bees COLLECTOR / are going to become HOBBYIST more valuable than what most people SERVING VICTORIA & think possible, maybe SOUTHERN more valuable than VANCOUVER ISLAND gold.

WANTS TO BUY YOUR UN-USED, UN-WANTED FIREARMS Instructor / Examiner Estate Appraisals Phone: Gord Frost 778-676-7253

The presence of bees on this planet is no longer guaranteed.

The sad observation by bee researchers and pollination ecologists around the world is that

bee species are disappearing.

It is not only the honey bee that is declining, so are many native bees like orchard mason bees, bumble bees etc. and the 100’s of species of digger bees that live in Cowichan Valley.

Perhaps honeybee hive loss numbers are beginning to lower but pollinated crops continue to expand to feed a population of 9 billion people on this planet.

Costs of beekeeping are soaring and more honey bee parasites and diseases are knocking on our door so it is unlikely the honey bee will recover from all they have had to endure.

They will likely need help. We are in this situation because we have been putting our eggs in a one species pollination basket and this is not the norm in natural pollinations assemblages. Usually many species of bees, butterflies and flies pollinate a given species of plant. This brings us to the good news part. BC has 500 species of native bees that are actually more efficient pollinators than the honey bee.

Add the diversity of our syrphid flower flies greatly empowers this asset. Pollination ecologists worldwide confirm that, our time tested native bees will become our best insurance policy for sustained (commercial) pollination services for future food production and ecological

health since commercial pollinators (honeybees and mason bees) will not be enough to do the job. But to keep them healthy requires massive habitat protection and restoration in our gardens and on our farms.

Yes, bee and wild flower decline and the building pollination deficit have been confirmed worldwide as being very real and needing immediate response by everybody. This means that to have the bounty of the kinds of foods we have become accustomed to for Christmas’s to come, will require better care of bees of all kinds, our honey bees and our native bees from the smallest bee now sleeping in old raspberry and black berry canes to the huge bumble bee queens now asleep in their spherical 2-3 cm diameter winter hibernaculum under a logs, pile of leaves, tussock of grass or hedge in your yard.

The good news is that when whole communities embrace our bee and wild flower decline issue and respond with effective bee pollinator conservation education, bee decline can quickly be reversed and our communities become significantly beautified and our Christmas bounty is assured for years to come. For more information, call Ted and all the bees at Plan Bee Now! Duncan www.planbeenow.ca

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Zanatta Winery Allegria

Local Sparklers to Bring in the New Year!

The name “Allegria” means happiness or joy, and our Allegria is a sparkling rosé. I can’t think of a more fitting wine to ring in the New Year! Here’s to a joyful 2020, sparkling with potential and rosy with happiness!

Blue Grouse Estate Winery Estate Paula Sparkling 2016 This Brut style sparkling wine is truly representative of what Blue Grouse delivers. The nose offers aromas of green apple, toast and a bit of earthy mushroom and the palate follows with flavours of caramel and creamy lemon curd, all accented by a fine mousse.

Rhis well-balanced bubbly can open your holiday meal with oysters or light seafood and then close it with either cheese or a light citrus dessert. Look for our new 2017 sparkling vintage coming in 2020!

Averill Creek Vineyard Averill Brut 2010 Reflect on the decade with Averill Creek’s hidden gem: the 2010 Averill Brut. Made in the traditional Champagne method, our Brut has developed tremendous complexity in our cellar.

With ample citrus, green apple, toasted and savoury notes, this is a one-of-a-kind bubbly to ring in the New Year. $35 + tax

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of his abilities separate, but he features both on the new album.

Unsworth Vineyards 2015 Cuvée de L’ile Cuvee De L’ile is one of Unsworth’s smallest production wines. After tank and neutral barrel aging, the wine is lees aged in bottle for a further 15 months before hand riddling and disgorgement.

This is followed by a further 6 months aging before release. A truly special wine for a very special occasion.

Rocky Creek Winery Katherine’s Sparkle New vintage from a blend of all our vineyards. Wonderful notes of granny smith apple, bosc pear and hints of winter spices. Delicate acidity and crisp and refreshing. Perfect for any occasion or mix it with our wild blackberry for a “mure” royale.

“Our sparkling is made from sustainably grown, Cowichan Valley grapes. It’s a wonderful wine to ring in the “20’s”.

Treat yourself with authentic, local sparkling this year.” Mark Holford, winemaker $25/bottle

Dance in The New Year

D

ine in luxury with a three course dinner prepared by our executive chefs. Dance in the New Year with Live Music by The David Gogo Band. With the release of his fifteenth album 17 Vultures, bluesman David Gogo continues his blues rock crusade by pushing himself forward, yet again. Not that looking back on his career is a bad thing.

He has performed on stage with the likes of BB King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, and Otis Rush. He has been chosen to open shows for ZZ Top, George Thorogood, The Tragically Hip, Little Feat, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Robin Trower and Wishbone Ash. His songs are featured in films and television and have been covered by a variety of artists, most notably Buddy Guy. Never one to be pigeonholed into a strict blues category, this may be his most diverse release to date. Although initially known for his ability to rip it up on lead guitar with his electric performances, Gogo has also built up a solid reputation over the last decade as an acoustic performer with his solo shows that feature his vintage National steel guitar chops, as well as his entertaining stories from the road. Usually he keeps these two sides

In the past, I was afraid that if I mixed my acoustic songs with my more rocking material, it would be confusing for people. I don’t think I was giving people enough credit. I was listening to The White Album

by The Beatles recently and thought...well, the diversity shown on this collection didn’t seem to hurt!

[Gogo] This was the approach that Gogo took during the writing and recording of 17 Vultures. Backed by a core rhythm section of Pat Steward on drums (Bryan Adams, The Odds, Colin James, Jimmy Barnes) and Ben Dwyer (son of jazz legend Phil Dwyer) on electric and upright bass, the collection of songs range from traditional blues to very heavy contemporary influences. Along with five new original songs by Gogo, the choice of cover songs are an interesting variety with cuts by The Beatles, Barbecue Bob, Doug And The Slugs, and Bob

Bickford Acupuncture

Diana Bickford BSW RAC Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

250-888-9241 (By appointment only)

2949 Mount Sicker Road, Chemainus

www.dianabickford.com

Alleviate Pain • Restore Health

Services Offered: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Formulas, Cupping, Tuina Frequency Specific Micro-current for recent injury, strains, sprains, post-op healing Chronic conditions: carpal tunnel, whip-lash, shoulder & back, sciatica, post concussion, post stroke recovery, scar reduction Energy/Light Facial Rejuvenation regime: combines micro and colour light Dylan! Dinner: $40 per person your choice of appetizer, main, and dessert Show: $25 per person – David Gogo Band @ 9 pm Party Favours and Midnight Champagne.Seatings: 7:00pm

& 8:00pm Reservations Required Call 250-324-2245 For more info visit osbornebaypub.com Don’t miss the best New Year’s Eve Party in the Cowichan Valley!

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Lucky Dog Lady Tana Hosts a Party Debbie Wood is a certified Small Animal Naturopath and can be reached at 250-597-7DOG.

T

SPACIOUS SUITES • PICKUP AND DROP-OFF SERVICE • KITTY CAMS Cowichan’s Exclusive Boarding Resort for Cats

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his year was Lady Tana’s turn to host the annual Christmas party for her friends. Last year her neighbor Miss Nanny Goat hosted the party and Lady Tana was disappointed at the vegan buffet. Lady Tana is a dog, after all. She politely nibbled on arugula and nosed at the quinoa salad, but left feeling famished and immediately after going home had a proper cheese platter and roast beef sandwich.

The year before that was no better. Hosted by her longtime friend Mrs. Sheep, the party was packed. Dozens of Mrs. Sheep’s friends had shown up. But wherever Lady Tana went, the sheep would run away from her. Lady Tana couldn’t talk with anyone there. And the food was limited. No meat, no cheese, just green salad after green salad.

So, this year Lady Tana was determined to host an inclusive party for her friends.

Salads yes, but meat and cheese platters for her and the Fox twins. A bowl of grubs and fruit for Lord and Lady

OPEN: 9am to 9pm! 7 Days a Week

Badger. A basket of acorns for the pack of squirrels that always crashed every party.

And a pail of oats for Old Mr. Pony. She would save some mice for the Owl family when they showed up after dark.

Miss Cats was not invited.

The one year she had Miss Cats over, the feline guest spent the whole party pushing things off the tables and laughing. The worst was when the hot cheese fondue was flipped onto the floor and Lady Tana had to clean it up right away and ended up with blisters on her tongue.

The party was only two weeks away and Lady Tana had sent out the invitations. She had to clean her house and decorate.

She had to get the food and have the dreaded bath.

To clean the house, she waited for a windy day and opened the doors.

Decorating was done with some chewed holly branches and a small tree festooned with her cheese label collection.

The day of the party came and Lady Tana was ready for her guests. She started to lay out the food as her friends arrived.

Grass for the Geese. Feeders for the Hummingbirds hung from the ceiling. Bark strips were on the floor for the beaver family. Lady Tana was confident that this was going to be the best Christmas party ever.

And everybody came to her party. They ate, they laughed, they played games.

By the time it was dark and the Owl family swooped in the only food left was the mice and two huge platters of cheese. This was curious.

After carefully choosing her

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favourite cheeses, Lady Tana was disappointed that none of it had been touched by her friends.

Then a break in the music and conversation left the room silent for the smallest moment. Lady Tana felt a rumble in her chest and a heard a growl in her ears. To her surprise and horror, she had been growling at any one that came near her cheese plates! Nobody else seemed to notice her very poor manners.

She slowly backed away from the cheese platters and still nobody tried her delectable cheeses.

She felt ashamed in front her friends, but managed to continue being a gracious host for the rest of the night.

As her friends slowly left her

home, they each gushed about what a successful party she had thrown, but Lady Tana was still heavy hearted.

It wasn’t until the last guests were fluffing up their coats for the cold outside that she felt brave enough to ask her best friend, Bonnie Dog, about the cheese incident.

“Oh that!” Bonnie Dog laughed.

“You’ve growled at the cheese platter at every party. That’s why Mrs. Sheep and Nanny Goat don’t even serve cheese; your growling makes them nervous. But we are your friends and we love you. We accept your love of cheese and would never consider not inviting you to our parties or eating any cheese at yours.”

Lady Tana’s sour stomach was replaced by a heart full of love for her friends. She felt so grateful to be accepted; flaws and all. After closing the door when her last guest was outside and safely trotting down her driveway, she looked at the messy room, still smelling of all her friends.

Lady Tana shed a happy tear as she took her platters of cheese to bed with her and ate.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Praise cheeses…

LUCKY DOG U Bath or

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250 597-7DOG

www.luckydogubath.ca Just north of

1059 CANADA AVE DUNCAN Power Lunch been known to pop by and join the fun! Donations will help local animals with their medical needs, food, shelter and re-homing. Our sponsors, Buckerfield’s and Shar-kare, help make this a special and fun event year after year with festive backdrops, gift bags, snacks and lots of love!

Santa Paws Comes to Duncan

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anta Paws will be coming to Duncan this holiday season, and your good boy or girl can have their holiday photo taken in support of the Cowichan SPCA and animals in need. All pets are welcome to come spread the holid​ay cheer by getting their festive photo with Santa to help raise funds for our local SPCA shelter. Dogs, cats and even miniature ponies, gerbils and chickens have

Buckerfield’s held a successful photo session in November, and the December event at Shar-Kare is coming up December 7th. All photos are by donation, and these much-needed funds will help bring peace to the lives of animals in our community.

Please contact the Cowichan SPCA for more information.

Santa will visit with wellbehaved pets on a leash on Saturday, December 7 from 10am - 2pm at Duncan SharKare. All digital holiday photos by donation.

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Venita Chow is an Integrative Energy Healing practitioner & Crystal keeper at CFS for the SOUL.

As Winter draws nearer and the days become shorter, our natural rhythms begin to slow down, turning our energy inward- making this time of year a perfect opportunity for contemplation and reflection of the year gone by and for cultivating inner space to dream new visions for the year ahead- releasing what no longer serves in our lives and realigning with what resonates. Crystals can bring supportive energy to any meditation practice, here are a few stones that we love to work with: Amethyst is recognized for its ability to quiet the mind and inspire a heightened meditative state, so wisdom and guidance of the intuitive

self can surface. It encourages the mind to be humble and surrender to that which is greater than itself in order to gain an understanding of how the energy of the universe can direct and guide one’s life.

Its beautiful purple hue vibrates at a high frequency, which can help clear the aura of negative energy or attachments- creating a protective shield around the body, allowing one to remain clear and centered while opening to spiritual direction.

Amethyst also helps relax tension from a long stressful day, making it a wonderful ally for a good night’s sleep!

Selenite is an ideal stone for meditation, as it holds a calm and peaceful energy and can help one soothe and clear the mind. The pure white light vibration of this stone is amplified

The Community Farm Store Pages — Your Organic Health and Whole Food Market in Duncan — 250-748-6227

Contemplation with Crystals during meditation elevating the conscious mind to a heightened state of awareness, some even claiming to gain access to realms beyond this dimension. Using a selenite wand during meditation will assist the flow of white light energy and help attune this energy to your highest self.

Celestite is beneficial for calming fears or stilling a chaotic mind and helps provide clear focus and a smooth transition into meditation. It is a gentle but powerful crystal, which emits a soft, positive energy that

can be used to cleanse the surrounding environment or heal one’s aura. Celestite is highly conducive for dream recall and can connect one with the angelic realm. This crystal teaches patience and perfect trust in the Divine process.

If you’re giving gifts this holiday season, choose to share gifts that make a difference in the lives of those who made them. Ethically sourced items like chocolate, coffee, tea, and Baraka baskets are wonderful to give, and ensure that the growers & makers can work safely and be paid fairly. Choosing to buy local supports our community, which is full of talented artisans, food producers, tea curators, coffee roasters, chocolatiers, kombucha brewers and more. We love to give locally made Beewick’d Beeswax Candles, Organic Fair Chocolate, Enviro Glass Straws, Botanical Bliss Skin Care, Vancouver Island Salt Co Gourmet Salts, Goodbite Bars, Coastal Hive Beeswax Wraps, hOMeGrown Living Foods, and Westholme Tea to share a little west coast flavour.

Visit the CFS Mezzanine!

Delicious Holiday Entertaining

Our beautifully renovated space is ready to welcome you.

Visit us for your organic entertaining essentials from the charcuterie platter to the main event! We offer fine cheeses, plant based options, kombucha & cocktail mixers, baked goods & chocolate, and more!

CFS for the Soul has come home!

We’re open 11-3 on SundayThursday with extended hours on Fridays & Saturdays 11-6 until Christmas.

CFS for the Soul, located in the Community Farm Store mezzazine, 5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan

The Farm Store Café is on the Way! We have teamed up with Drumroaster Coffee to create our own Community Blend, which we are serving in store.

Pair that with Chef James’ ever increasing gourmet offer-ings and the great new seating area, and we have magic!

The Community Farm Store Organic Health & Whole Food Market

www.communityfarmstore.ca TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:

HIGHWAY #1 250-748-6227

DUNCAN GARAGE 250-597-3644

CFS HIGHWAY #1 250-748-6227 2-5380 Hwy 1 Next to Sol-Centre

8—7 Monday 8—7 Tuesday 8—7 Wednesday 8—7 Thursday 8—7 Friday 8—7 Saturday 10—6 Sunday ~HOLIDAY HOURS~ December 24th 8-5 December 25th Closed December 26th Closed December 31st 8-7 January 1st Closed

CFS DUNCAN GARAGE 250-597-3644 330 Duncan St. Downtown

8-5:30 Monday 8-5:30 Tuesday 8-5:30 Wednesday 8-5:30 Thursday 8-5:30 Friday 8-5:30 Saturday 9—5 Sunday ~HOLIDAY HOURS~ December 24th 8-5 December 25th Closed December 26th Closed

10,000 square feet of one-stop organic, planet friendly, family friendly, market-style shopping - here to serve you 7 days/week!

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Dads - A Christmas Wish

A practice focused on health solutions through Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Online booking & direct billing.

Kevin Ianson R.Ac, R.TCMP, D.DTCM

4705 Trans Canada Hwy I 250-889-9066 I www.pestleandpins.com

T

his Christmas season, Dads and Moms will be building and strengthening our families, our community, in unison.

I see I have managed a number of politically incorrect thoughts in only 1 sentence. Apparently I’m good at that. Hard to keep up with the times.

Delicious East Indian Cuisine

Butter Chicken Curry Chicken Vegetarian Specialties Chana Masala Pakoras Samosas

The Daily Grind Dine in or Take Out 3218 Sherman Road • 250-709-2299

Fathers are what everyone of us has. Dads are what we need and deserve. Dads now often embrace the all hands on deck approach to family, who change diapers, wipe away tears, take paternity leave ( yes it is a thing, though Google still asks if I really mean ‘maternity’), volunteer, coach their kids, mentoring a path of responsibility and purpose.

I am a modernish Dad. Also one of your emergency physicians. We came to the Valley with a dream of raising our kids on a working farm.

My youngest was born here and, with his 2 siblings, became a keen explorer of worms, frogs, deer, lambs and hay lofts. Things were going swimmingly. The divorce was unexpected. A disorienting campaign of denigration, innuendo, entitlement and rights swirled forth. A river that pulls you in and never lets go.

As with so many Dads, the courts viewed my parenting as a revokable privilege easily replaced by a monthly cheque, with every second

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many hundreds of kilometres from their families and communities for an education, and the loss of community protection and culture that many of their parents, grandparents and relatives experienced in residential schools in the 19th and 20th centuries.

weekend access, in a town 2 hours away where the mother/mom wished to start a new career. Astonished to suddenly realize how many similar marginalized Dads we have, I was most amazed at the profound silence of our media around these issues.

I followed the children and tried to work within our family law system to remain a hands on Dad. Access was regularly denied and more money regularly demanded.

I asked the court for more space with my children.

This cost our large family farm, and all my emotional and financial reserves. The children were challenged, their childhood diminished.

I have spent my first Thanksgiving now unable to reach my youngest. Perhaps Christmas?

My new wife and I are working on rebuilding now, in Sahtlam. A place of blissful peaceful quiet.

Kids need both parents, and they need both to be parents.

It is time to disentangle our children from the quagmire of entrenched gender rights, and give them back both their parents.

This Season consider celebrating the Moms and the Dads in your lives. Consider reaching out and asking those mothers and those fathers, who may have once fallen short for you, back into your circle. Rebuild with them. For you. For our community.

Submitted by Jim Halvorson

The reader is made aware of historically underfunded education and health services to Indigenous children on reserve.

Coupled with that, she chronicles the recently documented systemic racism of the Thunder Bay Police Service. Indigenous children, away from their cultures, are put into situations that are opposite to “Indigenous approaches to justice and social and communal welfare”.

When students encounter difficulties, rather than being believed, they are led into the criminal justice system where Indigenous Peoples are not represented in the Canadian jury system. These true stories highlight the ongoing prejudice and racism that Indigenous Peoples face today within different levels of Canadian society and its governing structures.

250 746 0706 24/hr Service

Why We Should Read

T

he title of Tanya Talaga’s book is well chosen.

Seven Indigenous students die while attending high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

They are there because a high school education equivalent to that commonly offered in nonIndigenous communities is not available to them in theirs. The disappearances draw wellorganized search teams from distant reserve communities.

Meanwhile, the deaths are not seriously investigated by authorities.

Recounting the details encircling these deaths, Talaga states onerous truths that acknowledge Canada’s complex relationship with Indigenous Peoples. She draws on the history of Indian Residential Schools, the Indian Act, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She exposes the parallels between 21st century Indigenous youth travelling

Talaga quotes Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, who states that “the group that has always, throughout history, let

ROWAN HAMILTON MEDICAL HERBALIST

Diploma in Phytotherapy, MNIMH, SCS, DTCM

at a healing place...

250 510 0062 Indigenous people down is the Canadian public”.

She goes on to say that we Canadians make a practice of not noticing inequality within our own borders. Seven Fallen Feathers is a clear example of independent investigative journalism that must be protected in Canada. The story is true, stark, and a compelling read.

Cowichan Valley

The Warmland Book and Film Collective – explore, celebrate and learn from Indigenous authors and filmmakers – meeting the 2nd Wednesday/each month.

VIRL 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Next meeting is December 11th and we will view the Alanis Obomsawin film Mother of Many Children. Questions? warmlandcollective@gmail. com 73

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Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

Judy Johnstone, Reiki Master 250-661-0192 www.hiddengemreiki.com

Sands Funeral Chapel

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan

by Arbor Memorial

Janice Winfrey Funeral Director

tel: 250-746-5212 • fax:250-746-7034 sandsfuneral.com/duncan email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1

The 108 Bells Ceremony is a Reflection on our past year, the January 1st Ceremony is the GanTan Joy Ceremony

Dance Temple

ance Temple is a style of free form ecstatic dance in which the beat and your feet are the teacher.

This style of dance has no structure or steps to follow or any particular rules as to how to move. Let the music take you on a journey. When we dance together, we are tapping into the tremendous power of the collective consciousness.

The music ranges from tribal and world beat, electronic and house and explores multi genres. Sometimes accompanied by live percussion, cello, didgeridoo or singing depending on the event.

Ecstatic dance, conscious dance, dance temple & 5 rhythms has exploded into a global movement around the planet.

It is a judgement free zone where you are your own medicine. No previous dance experience is required. For all ages and all abilities.

Behind the scenes of a dance temple event the DJ can easily take 15 hours to prepare an amazing journey of music that takes participants through a wave of music inspired by the 5 elements. Beginning with the slow flow of Water, to the tribal beats of Earth, the

impassioned trance and fierce drums of Fire, then expanding through the heart inspired element of Air and arriving in Ether where the dance turns to prayer and stillness.

Ecstatic Dance releases old, stagnate emotions and can elevate you to high vibrational states that have profound healing effects.

The wildness of dance as an expression of primal freedom can relieve stress from modern day living and re-vitalize tired bodies. It is gives us the opportunity to literally “shake” it off, release what burdens us and make space for transformation and healing to happen.

The trick is to let the body drop into its intuitive knowing of the right movement at the right time, to release energetic blockages, increase body awareness, deepen the breath, de-stress, get out of the head and into the cells and soften the muscles in a way that is needed right now. Simple medicine from yourself for yourself.

December 20th we are having a special edition Winter Solstice dance @ The Hub from 730-10pm. $15-$20 (sliding scale)

December 31st - 108 Bells Ceremony - 7:00 PM January 1st - New Years Day Lunceon GanTan Ceremony - 11:00 AM Bring a Friend Come ReJoice - Celebrate

Nichiren Peace Center, a Buddhist Community www.VIRetreats.com / Txt/Ph: 250. 710. 7594 74

Call For Singers

We’re Excited to INVITE YOU TO SING with us for this Special Event (Especially for those who want to perform with professional musicians and a large collective choir, made up of other guest choirs and singers) - Unzip the Horizon Join in Lila Community Choir Concert with Special Guest Moira Smiley 1st rehearsal INFO session. Wednesday December 18th, 6pm at Lila Music Centre For more Info Email Director, Cari Burdett joythroughmusic@shaw.ca www.joythroughmusic.com

A STYLISH EXCUSE TO BE SUSTAINABLE

CERAMIC TRAVEL CUP

Home for Christmas

Internationally acclaimed soprano Eve Daniell, “a real find” (Opera Magazine), returns to her beloved Island with a festive program to brighten the season.Joined

by Rykie Avenant at the piano, she offers a selection of oratorio arias, English art songs and seasonal favourites in her signature warm and engaging manner. Sunday

December 15, 2pm at St. Michael’s Church, Chemainus Tickets: At the door $20.

Under 18: $10 In advance: $18. Available at: Owl’s Nest Bistro, Chemainus; Ten Old Books, Duncan; Salamander Books, Ladysmith; and Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn or by phoning 250-748-8383 chemainusclassicalconcerts.ca

TOFINO www.danielapetosa.com

Client Centred, Client Focused

FAIZAL CHARANIA

Licensed Real Estate Consultant RE/MAX of Duncan - Mill Bay 472 Trans Canada Highway Office: 250.748.7200 www.faizal.charania.remax.ca • Residential • Agri Business • Strata I mobile (250) 732.5250 75

O

ceans hold a lot of mystery, even for people who study them. But it’s no mystery why they’re in trouble. We’ve been using them to hide our waste — dumping oil, plastic, toxic chemicals, radioactive sludge, sewage and fishing gear into them for decades. Oceans also absorb much of the atmospheric heat from our indiscriminate fossil fuel burning. And we’ve been taking everything we can from them, including fish, seaweed, plankton, minerals and oil.

We’ve exploited many fish stocks to levels so low they can no longer be harvested. Ocean acidification and warming water from climate disruption are wiping out corals, shellfish and reef fish at a shockingly rapid rate.

We depend on oceans for so much, including half the oxygen that keeps us alive! They’re also a primary source of protein for millions of people worldwide.

If we want to continue to enjoy all that oceans provide, we

need to do everything we can to protect them and the life they support. Some people argue we should no longer eat seafood.

We’ve reached that point for some species and are nearing it for many others, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can ensure the seafood we eat is caught and produced in ways that don’t compromise stocks, the environment or human rights.

I still eat fish and have fished all my life. When I was young, my dad and I would catch salmon, sturgeon and halibut from the shores of English Bay and the Fraser River. Now there aren’t enough fish left. I still enjoy being on the water — catching, cleaning, preparing and eating fish — but I’m aware many species are declining. I don’t fish as often as I used to, and I make sure I catch from sustainable stocks and use the entire fish, but as populations plummet there are fewer sustainable options.

Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to be able to catch their own fish, which means having sustainable options at the store is

critical. As public and corporate awareness about the risks posed by overfishing and uncontrolled aquaculture expansion have grown, food retailers in Canada have developed sustainable seafood policies and commitments. Many started sourcing eco-labelled products so consumers could see which products were the best choices.

Despite promising first steps, some sellers and suppliers have become complacent about seafood improvement plans. As a result, achieving sustainability throughout the seafood industry supply chain remains a work in progress.

To help provide incentives to retailers and information to seafood lovers, SeaChoice (a collaboration between the David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Centre and Living Oceans Society) has developed Seafood Progress, an online resource. It makes it easier for consumers in Canada to find out retailers’ policies on sourcing sustainable seafood, whether they’re adhering to those policies and how they’re performing compared to their peers.

In its recent second assessment, Seafood Progress found retailer performance improved.

Some was due to increased transparency, including two new companies that signed on to provide previously unpublished information.

Positive new initiatives also helped, including more regular disclosure of performance against commitments, publishing information about where products come from and how they’re produced, and new actions to support improvements for seafood commodities that continue to have sustainability concerns.

But retailers must do more to ensure their seafood products are environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. This means expanding the scope of their commitments to cover all seafood products they sell, in all their stores. It also requires continuing to work with suppliers and producers to improve practices across the board and make sure

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Georgia Nicols M.A. is Canada’s most popular astrologer. A Buddhist, this Vancouver-based astrologer is featured in regional papers across Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. www.georgianicols.com

Seafood Progress Offers Remedy For Seasick Times the sustainable seafood supply meets consumer demand.

Unsustainable seafood is common in the Canadian marketplace. But it doesn’t have to be. Canada’s major retailers have a responsibility to meet their customers’ expectations that seafood production doesn’t take more fish than can be replenished, harm or kill marine animals unnecessarily, pollute watersheds and wetlands or exploit vulnerable people.

Meaningful commitments to sustainable procurement

by Canada’s largest seafood businesses will go a long way toward achieving this. It’s no mystery that if we want to continue to eat fish, we must do it responsibly. Seafood Progress has invited seafood retailers, suppliers and consumers to join in pushing to achieve this goal.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and cofounder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Editor and Writer Ian Hanington.

Learn more at davidsuzuki. org.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Pack your bags because this month, you want to get outta Dodge. You need a change of scenery and you want adventure! If you can’t travel, then explore your own backyard. Or instead, you might be thrilled to take up a new study that transports you into a whole new reality. The underlying note of your entire month includes an amplified sex drive. Woot! In fact, some will begin a romance with someone “different” or from another culture. (Fun way to learn a new language!) Oh yeah.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This month is complicated.

Fiery Mars is opposite your sign, which means you will be annoyed with partners and close friends. Meanwhile, the Sun will heighten your focus on shared property, inheritances, insurance issues and anything that you own jointly with others. This combination could trigger conflict with someone.

Fortunately, Venus and Jupiter will soften things and attract money, loans, mortgages and inheritances to you. Yes, it’s your turn to get richer!

Venus will also guarantee that romance is swee and passionate.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You will need more sleep this month Ironically, even though you may have less energy to keep up to your schedule; Mars is now moving into the part of your chart related to your job, which means you will have lots of energy for work! Go figure. In fact, you will want to work so hard in the next six weeks, you will start to dictate and delegate work to others as well. “Move that mountain!” Relations with partners and close friends will be warm and cozy and the silly errors at work will reduce.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This month, your ambition is to get better organized in every aspect of your life. You want to do what you can to feel you’re living right and making good choices. The more you conquer loose ends in your world, and the more you feel you are in control, then the happier you will be.

Conflict with kids might be likely for the next few weeks.

Nevertheless, you personally want the freedom to express to others about what and who you are. Romance will be passionate and physical!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You are entering a lovely month full of opportunities to party and socialize with others. Yay! Sports events along with playful activities with kids will appeal. Romance will sizzle! New flirtations are likely, mostly because you feel sexy and good about yourself.

Creative activities will also appeal because you need to express yourself through some kind of creative work.

Meanwhile, your home scene will suddenly be topsy-turvy because of visiting guests, redecorating projects or renovations, or residential moves. There will be great activity where you live!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This month is about home, family and your private life.

You will cocoon in personal surroundings. However, in conversations with others, you will be surprisingly strident and forceful! Your confidence and talking to others in the weeks ahead will help those of you in sales, marketing, teaching, acting and writing.

Because you will identify strongly with your ideas and opinions, be careful not to coerce others into agreeing with you. Nevertheless, if you have to defend yourself – you will do so with energy and style!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Heads up because you’re heading into a busy month.

The pace of your days will

accelerate with appointments and visits plus short trips and increased reading, writing and studying. Your everyday surroundings and activities will be pleasant. At a deeper level, you will discover there is more love in your everyday life than you knew. You might identify with your wealth. If you have money, you feel you’re a good person. If you don’t, you feel discouraged. But it’s obvious that you’re not your bank account. (Of course, you are your car.)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This month, you will be more attuned to money, cash flow, earnings and finances, which will prompt you to reflect upon your values. In other words, what really matters?

As you survey your assets and movable belongings, take note of whether or not you are in charge of what you own. Do you own your stuff or does it own you? This will make you want to have greater control over your life through the things you own. Meanwhile, this week fiery Mars moves into your sign, making you proactive. Expect great activity and a desire to work hard to get ahead.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The Sun will be in your sign this month giving you a chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. You will attract people and favourable circumstances to you. This is a great month to buy wardrobe goodies for yourself, which might be wise because you want to project a confident image to your world before you start to earn more money next year! However, a hidden activity might take place that makes you feel vaguely irritable. Guard against little, self-defeating facts. This could be because someone is working against your best interests.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Two contradictory influences are at play this month. One influence encourages you to be low-key and work alone. By contrast, the other

influence will push you to be involved with groups, clubs and organizations.

In particular, you might be physically competitive through athletics; however, you will achieve your goals by working cooperatively with others. This is an excellent time to set goals for the future. Don’t worry if you feel pulled in two different directions – this is appropriate.

Just go with what feels right at the moment.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You will love the next 4 to 6 weeks because the Sun is in the part of your chart that is “your home”. This makes you notice your friends and interact more with clubs and groups. Friendships and group relationships are suddenly important. In addition, this will be the best time for you to work and cooperate with others to achieve your goals.

You see that it’s important to establish who you are among your friends. Meanwhile, your ambition will be aroused! You will be gung ho to accomplish something and nothing will stop you. (All the more reason to get “a little help from your friends.”)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You make a fabulous impression this month! You don’t have to do anything special: People just admire you. Obviously, you can use this to your advantage and ask for what you want.

Push your agenda because doors will open! You look so attractive to bosses, parents and VIPs, some will strike up a romantic relationship with a boss. All of you will enjoy good press and others will ask for your creative input and your creative ideas about something. Meanwhile, travel appeals! You are excited about the possibility of doing something that will expand your horizons and your experience of the world. Bon voyage! www.georgianicols.com

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DIRECTORY

Valley Voice Magazine readers directory a great way to discover local services and businesses. 2 sizes of ad space are available to suit every business message O F L O C A L S E R V I C E S and budget. Affordable, stylish and straight to the point.

Directory Size A - 1 logo + 8-12 word listing Full Colour 1 X $63 6X $53 12X $43 Black & White 1 X $52 6X $42 12X $32 Contact Adrienne Richards for more info 250 510 6596 or by phone to adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Deadline for January 2020 Issue 134 - December 15

Acupuncture

Open By Appointment or Sundays, 11am to 4 pm, June through September.

Visit clearwaterstudio.ca

Kevin Ianson R.Ac, R.TCMP, D.DTCM

3915 Clearwater Road, Cobble Hill

Ayurveda

Advertising

Choose us to promote your business and services. Over 20,000 readers!

Ayurvedic Life Transformations

Uniquely Tailored Explorations Into The Self

Contact Adrienne Richards

Coaching, Counselling, Yoga Therapies & Bodywork

Asrael 250 597 3973 www.ayurvedicbliss.com

250 510 6596

adrienne@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

Cat Care

Natural Beauty

Cowichan’s Exclusive Boarding Resort for Cats

Prudence

SPACIOUS SUITES • KITTY CAMS

THE PROFESSIONAL MOBILE SPA THAT COMES TO YOU!

Let us help you with:

•downsizing •support networks •family meetings

www.greatcircleplanning.ca

Lexington Spa

• MANICURES Cindy Beam, Owner • PEDICURES • REFLEXOLOGY 250 514-1380 lexingtonspa@shaw.ca I www.lexingtonspa.ca

Help Wanted

Call Helga 250-732-7988

What’s your story around body image/ food/health?

Did you know?

It’s not so much WHAT you eat that affects you, but what’s EATING YOU! Lifestyle Mentor I Certified Eating Psychology Coach

AMANDA CHARTRAND

778 678 1705 I mbodympowermbrace@outlook.com

The good news is that Eating Psychology can help you understand.

Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

Judy Johnstone, Reiki Master 250-661-0192 www.hiddengemreiki.com

Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis • PRIVATE ONE ON ONE SESSIONS • WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS • 2.5 HOUR INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS www.FlourishHypnosis.com/WeightRelease

Restore your digestive system with Colon Hydrotherapy.

Your health is the only wealth that matters!

Michelle Bird Colon Hydrotherapist

250-510-3540 Sol Centre 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan I www.thecleansingroom.com

ISLANDROLFING.COM

Restoring Fascia Health and Wellbeing

Advanced Rolfer™ Visceral Manipulation Practitioner

BRETT HOLLAND I 250.920.8818

Reflexology by Joy

Stop Smoking Hypnosis

Relax and rejuvenate each and every part of your body, including the glands and organs.

• Private 2 hour session (just one!)

• Corporate Group Sessions Available • Lifetime Guarantee

specializing in toes•calves•lower legs• knees jstalinski@shaw.ca I 250 246 1401

www.TheStopSmokingLady.com

Discussion Group on 5G

Mt. Brenton restaurant & lounge looking for servers. Please call 250-701-8593 or send resume to viec@shaw.ca

A concerned group of citizens in the Cowichan Valley are looking for a moratorium on 5G until proven safe for our communtiy. If you are interested in more discussion on this topic with others please contact dorotheasiegler@gmail.com

Food & Nutrition More than a Meat Shop Gluten Free/Organic Pasta’s, Organic Meat, Homemade Sausage, International Foods.

The Duncan Butcher 430 Trans Canada Hwy 250 748 -6377 78

FEEL BALANCED & CENTRED

www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca

End of Life Care

Kathryn Lowther - Biomagnetism & HUE Energy Healer 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

naturalheelingreflexology.com

Sunday 11-4pm, Monday to Thursday 10-5pm Friday 10-5:30pm • 155 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan

www.ThatCatHotel.ca

* Boost the immune system *

Prevent illness & fatigue * Feel healthier

REFLEXOLOGY

Natural Skincare & Cosmetics

250 749 6263 hbcathotel@gmail.com

Bioenergetic Balancing with Magnets & Energy Healing

Indian Head Massage Enabling your body to heal itself, naturally.

Clearwater Studio, on Clearwater Farm

4705 Trans Canada Hwy I 250-889-9066 I www.pestleandpins.com

•advance care plans •celebration of life •legacy projects

Customizable Organic Mattresses, Pillows, Linens Locally made Platform Beds and Furniture 126 Station St. 250-597-REST (7378) www.resthouse.ca

Artist Studio

A practice focused on health solutions through Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Online booking & direct billing.

That Cat Hotel

Health and Healing

Pet Care & Grooming Lucky Dog U-Bath, Duncan Now accepting new grooming clients.

Book online www.luckydogubath.ca Or call 250-597-7364

Psychic

Modern Day Oracle * Spiritual Mediumship * Energy Healing

* Card Readings * Empowerment Sessions

Call Sacred Silence 250-710-5287 www.sacredsilence.net or facebook: Sacred Silence 79

Are you concerned about the water quality in Somenos and Quamichan Lakes?

S

ince the beginning of time, Nature has provided us with food, shelter and medicine. It has inspired and facilitated one’s connection to the World. And yet, we easily forget how delicate

and fragile Nature’s balance is. For the past thirty years, the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society has been monitoring and protecting one of Cowichan’s most incredible jewels: The Somenos Marsh and its watershed.

As a result of our restoration efforts, the Clean Water Action Project (CWAP) was launched last fall in partnership with the Cowichan Land Trust.

Through targeted restoration practices involving invasive plant removal, shading of the creeks and native species planting, the CWAP aims to increase landowners’ capacity to improve fresh-water and habitat quality around

Somenos and Quamichan Lakes. Since July 2019, 28 landowners benefited from our expertise and restoration recommendation reports were produced for each site. This Fall, we begin hands-on restoration efforts with property owners and volunteers from the community.

On October 24th, we will be celebrating International Climate Action Day with a Native Biodiversity Planting event in partnership with the Wildwings Nature and Art Festival (www. wildwingsfestival.com) (10am-1pm, meet at Somenos Creek Dog Park on Beverly Street, Duncan).

This November, Feel-GoodFridays volunteer event series is coming back!

Four Fridays of hands-on habitat restoration at various locations throughout the Somenos watershed! And don’t miss the Wildwings Nature and Art Festival starting October 6th and running for three weeks.

For its 10th anniversary, the festival will feature some of the most remarkable artists and traditional knowledge

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holders. Don’t miss a chance and flag your calendars!

Whether you are a property owner hoping to improve your riparian area’s health, or a keen volunteer looking for opportunities to engage in ecological restoration work and water monitoring. Visit our Facebook page, website www.somenosmarsh.com or contact us at programs@ somenosmarsh.com for dates, times and more details for each event and activity. Come join us!

Elodie Roger | Program Manager, Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society

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