November 2023 Issue 180

owichan

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE 180

FESTIVE EVENTS I BUY LOCAL GIFT GUIDE I SEASONAL FOOD I COMMUNITY

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NOVEMBER EVENTS

Period Poverty Photovoice Exhibition CVAC Studio 2687 James St Duncan runs to NOV10 Panel Install 1bySolar Demonstration sponsored Cowichan Carbon Busters

7:30pm Heritage Hall in Cowichan Community Centre

Fall Food Forum 1&2 Food Skills Workshop Series 10-4pm

CVRD Local Area Plan 5 Ideas Fair Diamond & North Oyster 11am&12:30pm

North Oyster Community Hall FREE Chemainus Classical Concerts: DieMahler String Quartet 2pm Duncan United Church $30/$10 Reserved $23/$25 250-748-8383

Reading & discussion 6 group “Final Report of Cowichan Branch Library 2687 the Inquiry into Missing James St. FREE

Kids Learn to Sew 1&3 8-12 yrs (6 weeks) $190 info@thespoolyard.ca HUB Cafe Fridays Coffee/ 3 Fresh baking/Lunch 8:302pm The HUB at Cowichan Station 2375 Koksilah Rd +NOV10/17/24

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Cowichan South Arts Guild Maker’s Circle 1-3:15pm Shawnigan Lk Community Centre

Clay Hub Pottery Sale 4 10-3pm 2375 Koksilah Rd Cowichan Station FREE Talk on Navigating Climate Crisis w/kids 0-18, 7-9 pm The HUB @ Cowichan Station, Adults only $15-$30

Dungeness Crab Larval Trapping w/Bill Heath 9:30am Fish Health Building 1080 Wharncliffe Rd FREE Maritime Radio 6&7 Operator Certificate Course 6:30pm CowEx 250710-2726 +NOV13&14

Sherrard Keith King: Works 7 on Paper Old & New CVAC Annex 2687 James St. FREE runs to NOV18

Soul Escape Holiday Shopping Event - All Day No Tax! Door Prizes & *Gift Bags

Merridale’s Craft Spirit & Cocktail Festival 6-9pm 1230 Merridale Rd $65

Reading Book Club, “We Measure the Earth with our Bodies” 6:30-8:30pm South Cowichan Library Mill Bay

Adult Acoustic Jam all instruments & skill levels 3:306:30pm Mill Bay Community Hall

Warmland Book & Film 8 Collective 5-7pm zoom link and info WarmlandBFC@

CVRD Local Area Plan Ideas Fair Saltair 11&12:30pm Saltair Community Centre FREE

Men’s Group 7pm-9:30pm 416 Jubilee St Duncan 250710-1056 $5 + NOV 22

gmail.com

Brendan Isaak, Osborne Bay Pub Crofton 8pm Reservations 250-324-2245 Tix@Eventbrite

Teen Learn to Sew 13 - 16 9 yrs (6 weeks) $290 info@ thespoolyard.ca

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Fearless Friday 9&23 Art Circle 12:453:15pm Mill Bay Community

Lila Community Choir Fall Season Thurs 6:30-8pm $20 series/$25 drop-in Etransfer to cari@cariburdett. com +NOV 12/19/26 Times They Are A Changing Exhibit 11-3pm Heritage Museum 2851 Church Way by donation +NOV12/19/26 Book Launch: “Your Body was Made for This” readings and lively discussion 2pm Duncan Showroom FREE

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and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” 1:30-3pm Cowichan Library 2687 James St FREE +NOV13/20/27

Hall

CSAG presents music 10 w/Trevor Davies & Tyler Lieb 7-8:30pm Shawnigan Lk Community Ctr

Veteran Cemetery Tour 11 & Tea Doors 1:45pm/ Tour 2pm St. Peter’s Cemetery 5800 Church Rd.

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NOVEMBER EVENTS

Daniel Wesley, Osborne Bay Pub Crofton 8pm Reservations 250-324-2245 Tix@Eventbrite

It’s a Wonderful Life 17 Opens at Chemainus Theatre Festival

Cowichan Valley Museum open after Remembrance Service at Cenotaph 12-3pm 130 Canada Ave by donation

South Cowichan Music Jam w/Turnip The Beet 7-10pm Malahat Legion, 1625 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd

Cowichan Folk Guild presents Uke’s Misbehavin’ 7pm Duncan United Church Hall $10/$5 members

Learn to Quilt 10-1pm (4 weeks) $375 info@ thespoolyard.ca

chemainustheatrefestival.ca

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Festive Lights 17-19 and Tasting Delights 2-6pm Blue Grouse

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Fabric Collage Demo w/ 18 Diane Durrand 1-3pm Rainforest Arts 9781 Willow St

Fiesta World Craft Fair 104pm Queen Maragret’s School Founders Hall, 660 Brownsey Ave Nature Connection, Ancestral Skills Families Welcome Adults $40 incl. most materials chldn by DON reg. Cari@cariburdett.com Loves Triangle Community Kirtan 2:30-4pm St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall 5800 Church Rd by donation lovestriangle108@gmail.com Duncan Myth Club Join Stephanie MacKay for stories and the teachings they carry.

Pre reg stephanie@fianna.ca $30 no one turned away New Moon Intention Setting Walk with Dianna Graves 1-2:30pm Chemainus Lk Park Reg eventbrite.ca FREE

Estate Winery 2182 Lakeside Rd Duncan

Chemainus

Sip & Shop Night Market 3-7:30 pm, Waterwheel Park, 9799 Waterwheel Cres., Chemainus, FREE Warmland Calligraphers Art Show Open House 1-3 pm 2785 James St FREE Unfaithful Servants, Osborne Bay Pub Crofton 8pm Reservations 250-324-2245 Tix@Eventbrite Students celebrate Canada Music Week, 1:30 & 3pm concerts, Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St. FREE

Caregivers Coffee Adult Learn 13 18&19 Club 10am Mill Bay to Sew (2 full Community Hall @ Kerry Park days) 10-3pm $375 info@ FREE

thespoolyard.ca

Tour through the Songs & Stories: Tom 14 20 Grades @ Sunrise Cochrane. The Duo. Waldorf School 8:40-9:50am 7:30–9:30pm Cowichan 2148 Lakeside Rd RSVP admissions@sunrisewaldorf. org

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Kindergarten Open House @ Sunrise Waldorf School 2:30-4:30pm 2148 Lakeside Rd RSVP admissions@sunrisewaldorf. org

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O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy 7:30pm Cowichan Performing Arts Centre www.OChristmasTea.com

Christmas Chaos 16-19 Arts & Craft Market Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St FREE

Performing Arts Centre cowichanpac.ca

Cowichan Watershed Board Speaker Series presents Tom Gleeson 7-8:30pm VIU 2011 University Way Lecture Hall 140 FREE

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Teeny Tiny Art: Show and Sale CVAC Galleries Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St FREE runs to DEC16 100 Women Who Care Cowichan 7pm Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn, 6457 Norcross Rd. 100womencowichan.

Wordpress.com

Annual Open House + Envision Healing 25 Makers Market on 10am 21 Centre Grand Opening -3pm Dinter Nursery 5km Event 11-3pm 100-481 TCH Duncan

south of Duncan on TCH FREE

Juliet Pendray presents “En-lichen-ment”! Learn all about lichens 7:30pm via Zoom cvns@naturecowichan. net

Duncan United Church Used Book Sale, 9:30-1:30, 246 Ingram St., Duncan FREE

HUB Film Club “The 24 Quiet Girl” 7pm The HUB @ Cowichan Stn 2375

Koksilah Rd by membership or donation hubfilmclub@ gmail.com Downtown Duncan Christmas Kick-Off 5-8pm Duncan City Square & Station Street Common FREE

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Sunrise Waldorf Winter Faire w/Food, Festive Activities, Silent Auction & Artisan Market 10-3pm Cash only 2148 Lakeside Rd. Sampler Adult Workshop Métis beadwork w/Brigette Furlonger 9:30-12:30pm Shawnigan Lk Community Ctr Painting Demo w/Elissa Anthony 1-3pm Rainforest Arts 9781 Willow St Chemainus

Augie Dawg’s Good Times Roll: A Tribute to The Cars Osborne Bay Pub Crofton 8pm Reservations 250-3242245 Tix@Eventbrite 26 Georgia Top 10-2pm $135 info@thespoolyard.ca Reel Alternative feature 27 film ‘Past Lives’ 7pm CPAC, 2687 James St. $17 250-748-7529

Rora Xiao bai Chinese 29 Calligraphy Art show & more! CVAC Studio Cowichan Community Centre 2687 James St FREE

OUT OF TOWN 18 O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy Nanaimo’s Port Theatre at 3pm & 7:30pm www.OChristmasTea.com 24 & 25 Vancouver Island Harvest Sale nuts,seeds,dried fruit and more! 9-5pm/7pm (Sat) Mary Winspear Centre Sidney

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OUR COMMUNITY November Events 4-5 The Clay Hub Collective Annual Pottery Sale 9 Peacetime Service and Sacrifice 12 Remembrance Day 13 Toys Toiletries & Toques: Help Make Christmas Merry 18 Fiesta – The Fair With a Thousand Stories 19 Chemainus Sip and Shop Night Market Event 34 Best of Cowichan 2023 Holiday Gift Guide 36-37 Sunrise Waldorf Winter Faire 40 St Peter’s Winter Wonderland 41 Winter Bazaar Features over 90 Artists and Makers 42 We Love the Rain it’s Our Most Favourite Season 62 Georgia Nicols November Forecasts 69 Community Directory 70-71

November 2023 Issue 180 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 Stephanie Sayers Diana Pink Stephanie Sayers

LOCAL FOOD & DRINK The Marriage of Miso and Curry 20 Easy Pre-Made Fall Meals 21 Recipe: Carrot, Cumin and Ginger Soup 22 Vancouver Island Harvest Sale in Sidney 23 Mushrooms as Medicine 25 Canapes and Appetizers 28 Recipe: Chicken Liver Mousse Canape 28 Holiday Caterers Extraordinaire 29 Chai - A Cup of Comfort 39

Advertising Enquiries Please Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for A rate card, monthly offers and print ad specials.

Next Ad Deadline November 15 for December 2023 Issue 181 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next EVENTS DEADLINE November 15 for December 2023 Issue 181 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 THE FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES Alistair MacGregor, Rebecca Hazell, Brenda Burch, Craig Spence, Midori & Neko, Bill Jones, Barrie Agar, Grant Easterbrook, Sonia Furstenau, Marcy Ross, Chris Turyk, Chef Brad Boisvert, David & Ranji, Cari Burdett, Tanya Trafford, Bernie Dinter, Kyle Chirobokow, Allysa Simmons, Laura Stephensen, Dr Joanne Welham, Amy LuckMacGregor, Chris Worgan, Stephen Robert Disher, Dawn Howlett, Tina Foster, Patty Abbott, Madeline Southern, Shiloh Badman, Debbie Wood, Madelaine McLeod, the lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, and the wonderful staff at the Community Farm Store.

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 email 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 Cover image: Peace Dove 2023, Mixed Media Tiller Badman

Interested in a Valley Voice business feature?

Request our 2023 monthly print ad rates card for more details. Next ad deadline: November 18

NOW BOOKING HOLIDAY ADVERTISING

DECEMBER ISSUE - Deadline Nov 18 Contact us at: info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Phone: 250 746-9319 Text: 250 709-8846

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HOME & GARDEN Grow Some Local Apples 24 Unsworth Harvest Update 26 Foragers Galley Grow-At Home Mushroom Kits 32 The Winter Garden 46 The Old Farm Garden Center’s Holiday Extravaganza 48 How’s Your Soil Structure? 57 What is Drought Mitigation and Why Do We Need It? 59 LOCAL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT O Christmas Tea 8 Rainforest Demos Get People Into The Art 10 CVAC Arts This Month 14 Eloquent Silence: Subtle Subversion in Soviet-Era Poland 15 It’s A Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play 16 Unfaithful Servants at Osborne Bay Pub 17 Tom Cochrane Concert in Duncan 38 BODY, MIND & SOUL Why We Should Read: Truth Telling 31 Backyard Sessions, Nature Connection & Ancestral Skills 33 Kama Soap at Chemainus Health Food Store 34 The Gift of Handmade 44 The Pinnacle of Comfort: Wool 47 What’s the Writers 4-UM 50 Valley Voices: This is a Time Worthy of Despair 51 TMJ Dysfunction 53 Reiki Master Debbie Shkuratoff 55 Subtle Senses 60 The Mighty Milk Thistle 64 Why We Walk the Advent Spiral 65 Bad Comix 66

PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Everything’s connected: groundwater, streams, climate and you! 56 San Poncho As Local As it Gets 58 Let’s Keep Soft Plastics Out of Our Landfills and Oceans 63 Barnacles 66 Lucky Dog: Getting Crafty for Christmas 67 Be A Mental Health Hero: Giving Tuesday 68

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Tea, we bring together multiple generations in the theatre, laughing and enjoying each other’s company — and ours.”

Community Supported Restaurant (CSR) Unsworth’s Community Supported Restaurant (CSR) program is back! The Unsworth team are again working with local farmers and producers to create unique and changing menus.

Members can enjoy three, five or ten x 3-course meals, redeemable through March 20, 2024.

Reservations are always appreciated but no longer mandatory. Each dinner, valued at $85, includes tax and an 18% gratuity.

Buckle Your Theatre Seats!

Holiday Favourite Floods Vancouver Island with Laughter

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ancouver Islanders rejoice! British comedy legends James & Jamesy bring their wildly popular holiday classic O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy back to Vancouver Island this holiday season.

For over a decade the 3-time London Impresario Award winning duo James & Jamesy (aka Aaron Malkin and Alastair Knowles) have been flooding theatres with joy and laughter in their wildly popular multi-award winning tea-themed comedy.

Reminiscent of classic British pantos, O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is rich with wordplay, comic physicality, and cleverly crafted interactive elements, yet it is the duo’s boundless imagination and endearing chemistry that provide the real magic of this play.

“The Christmas season is the time of year when we are encouraged to dream big, embrace imagination, and celebrate child-like excitement for magic and merriment,” says Alastair Knowles, who plays Jamesy. “With O Christmas

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James and Jamesy have already won just about every comedy award they can, and the reason is obvious: these two are exceptional. Already a holiday tradition for thousands across Vancouver Island, the duo are excited to welcome returning and new audiences alike to this year’s festive tea party.

“No other holiday show does what O Christmas Tea does. You emerge from it invigorated, rejuvenated, and joyful that the child in you is now awake,” says reviewer Christopher Hoile (Stage Door Toronto) in his five-star review of the show.

Fans and critics alike are in awe of the duo’s ability to elicit a sense of play in a room full of adults. By juxtaposing British propriety with an unabashed love for the unexpected, O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy casts away the conventions of theatre and joyously breaks the fourth wall. In fact, just about the only thing these two don’t break is their Royal Doulton tea set in this wonderful evening of play and whimsy.

O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy plays all over Vancouver Island and beyond, with a stop at Duncan’s Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on November 16 at 7:30pm and Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on November 18th at 3pm and 7:30pm. Leap to get tickets! www.OChristmasTea.com

Werner Ostermann

Werner Ostermann

The Clay Hub Collective Annual Pottery Sale

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he Clay Hub Collective was established in 2014 by a handful of creative, passionate, and communityminded women, and despite its small size, has become a roaring success. The intention of the Clay Hub is to be a source of training and practice for all aspects of operating a pottery studio.

We are open to the public and inclusive to a whole range of artists; from those just starting out, to those recharging their artistic life and those seasoned veteran artists who have so much to share and teach. We welcome everyone from children to seniors and offer a large variety of classes to match your level of experience. We hope to enrich the culture of art and contribute to the artistic wellbeing in the Cowichan Valley.

This fall we will be hosting our 8th Annual Pottery Show and Sale. This sale evolved from a few Clay Hub members looking to showcase the range of creations made and an opportunity to sell their work.

Saturday, November 4th, from 10 am to 3 pm, the Clay Hub invites you to attend our event and be inspired by the talent.

It is a great opportunity for friends and family to support local artists and the studio and have some fun. Maybe you will even find a Christmas gift for those special someone’s in your life. We hope to see you there!

Please visit our website @ theclayhubcollective.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 Jasmine Oberste

187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1

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What is art, and why is it important for us to not only take in the creativity of others but to engage in creative activity ourselves?

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etween now and the New Year, Rainforest artists will be putting on a series of demonstrations, sharing their skill, joy, and passion with the community, and—according to current research— showcasing activities that can get people into the “flow”, a state of mind that helps them ‘imagine a more hopeful future’.

“People can come in, take in all of the wonderful artworks, and get a rare opportunity to chat with various artists about their work and their mediums,” said Rainforest Manager Stephanie Allesia.

The lineup is still being finalized, but so far there will be demonstrations of: fabric collage by Diana Durrand (November 18); working from a photograph in oil on canvas, Elissa Anthony (November

Rainforest Arts Demos Get People Into The Art Elissa Anthony met people and talked about her art during her Up Close and Personal show at Rainforest Arts.

25); abstract painting, Barry Strasboug-Thompson (Dec. 2); whimsical clay figurines, Carol James (December 3); children’s book illustrations, Bernice Ramsdan Firth (Dec. 7); painting with acrylics, Astrid Notte (December 9); hand painting earrings, Robert Cerins (December 14); and ceramic metallic paste on glassware, Lori Schiersmunn (Deember 16).

“The idea behind the demos is that it’s a great way to invite the community into Rainforest Arts and offer a glimpse behind a particular

artist’s process,” Allesia said.

“These demos celebrate some of the talented artists from the area who show their work at the gallery.”

Offering the demos will help Rainforest Arts determine what kinds of workshops to plan in the coming year.

Introducing the arts to the community through interactive workshops is one of the goals of Rainforest Arts and the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society.

An article posted to the National Public Radio network (NPR.org) says ‘making art helps your brain’.

People who engage in ‘artsy’ activities imagine a more hopeful future, activate the reward centre of their brains, lower stress levels, and are able to focus more deeply.

Artistic activities put people in a state of mind called ‘flow’ says Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy. “It’s that sense of losing yourself—losing all awareness. You’re so in the moment and fully present that you forget all sense of time and space,” she says.

All the Rainforest Arts demos will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. The gallery is located at 9781 Willow Street, Chemainus. For information and updates on Rainforest and CVCAS events, visit cvcas.ca/events.

Margot Page

Enamelling on Copper and Steel

Jewelery • Vases • Journals • Guestbooks Frames • Bookmarks • Magnets • Lightswitch Plates

Available locally at: Imagine That Artisans Rainforest Arts • Artzi Stuff • Millstone Gallery

www.margotpage.com

quaylecard.indd 1

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250 746 8446

8/8/2011 3:23:00 PM

Spotlight audience! Between them, they play guitars, keyboard, pedal steel, bass, and sing… songs which have been described as “sweeping, lyrical, instant, tender and anthemic.”

And for more music, we’re partnering to present another music jam: with Turnip The Beet at the Malahat Legion, 1625 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd on November 17, 7-10 pm

NOVEMBER EVENTS November 3 & 7 1-3:15pm Makers Circle Bring your creative projects!

Shawnigan Lk Community Ctr

November 4 3:30-6:30pm Acoustic Jam

All instruments, skill levels (adult) Mill Bay Community Hall 1035 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd

Cowichan South November Events

November 7 6:30-8pm

Navigating the Climate Crisis with Kids Ages

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ith the abundance of programs and events that your Cowichan South Arts Guild hosts each month, we’d like to focus on describing these two for this month: the spotlight evening on November 10 and the Sampler Arts workshop on November 25.

Our spotlight evenings happen four times a year, featuring local musical talent in a relaxed ‘club’ atmosphere at the Shawnigan Lake Community Centre.

The event is low-cost with annual CSAG membership (a bargain at $15 individual, $20 family). On Friday, November 10th local multi-instrumentalists Trevor Davies and Tyler Lieb are combining their talents to bring a wide range of expertise & original music to the

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t is our job to help our children feel safe, yet how do we offer security when the future is so uncertain?

How can our understanding of children’s emotions help them adapt?

What is climate distress, and what is age-appropriate?

A fundraiser for the Elders Farm and Food Program. With Hannah Auer (Cowichan Green Community) and Teddy Kellam (Good Grief Network).

November 4 Talk on Navigating the Climate Crisis with Kids Ages 0-18, 7-9 pm, The Hub, Cowichan Station, $15-$30 Sliding scale no one turned away for lack of funds. Adults only.

Limited space, RSVP teddy@ goodgriefnetwork. org

Now Accepting New Patients Caring For You & Your Smile

Dr. Gordon Levin, DMD 250-746-9697

#101-321 Festubert Street Duncan, BC, V9L 3T1 Email inquiries to:

reception@valleydentalclinic.ca

‘Inspired By Reading’ Book Club ‘We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies’ South Cowichan Library, Mill Bay Centre

Nov 9 & 23 12:45-3:15pm Fearless Friday Art Circle Come on down!

Mill Bay Community Hall

November 10 7-8:30pm MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Trevor Davies & Tyler Lieb

Shawnigan Lk Community Ctr 2804 Shawnigan Lake Rd

November 17 7-10pm South Cowichan Music Jam with TURNIP THE BEET - join in!

Malahat Legion, 1625 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd

November 19 1:30-3:30pm Inspire! Youth Explore & Create a Spiral Calendar Evergreen School, Salal Room 3515 Watson Rd Cobble Hill

November 25 9:30-12:30pm SAMPLER Adult Workshop Métis beadwork-Brigette Furlonger Shawnigan Lake Community Ctr

Most events FREE for CSAG Members!

MEMBERSHIPS

YEARLY $15 FAMILY $20 For more info contact: hello@ cowichansouthartsguild.com 11

Peacetime Service and Sacrifice

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Alistair MacGregor is the NDP Member of Parliament for Cowichan-MalahatLangford, and the NDP’s Critic for Public Safety.

very year, on November 11th, Remembrance Day, Canadians are proud to honour the ultimate sacrifice made by men and women in service to their country. This year I will be honouring them at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford.

What’s often overlooked is the number of service men and women who sacrifice their lives while on Canadian soil during peacetime. Tragically, this summer, Capt. David Domagala and Capt. Marc Larouche joined the over 2,600 names to be memorialized when their Chinook helicopter crashed during a nighttime training exercise.

In Canada, it is estimated that up to 10% of war zone Veterans—including war-service Veterans and peacekeeping forces—will go on to experience a chronic condition known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since 2013, more than 54 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have died

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because of PTSD alone.

On October 22, 2014, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, was shot and killed.

Since then, and every year on October 22nd, Bob Collins, a former member of the Queen’s Own Primary Reserve infantry regiment in Winnipeg, and current member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 134 (Malahat), stands at attention at the Cobble Hill cenotaph to recognize Canada’s service members who have died during peacetime. The vigil annually closes with a ceremony at 11am.

Having first attended this ceremony in 2016, and perennially since, I was moved

by Bob’s efforts to bring attention to this omission from Canada’s annual remembrance traditions. And so, in cooperation with veterans’ groups and Legion organizations in our riding, I introduced Private Member’s Bill C-333, The Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day Act. Bill C-333 aims to mark the 22nd day of October as “Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day”, as well as lower the national flag of Canada on the Peace Tower of the Parliament Buildings on this date.

This issue affects many Canadians, and I firmly believe that the Government of Canada has a responsibility to honour those who gave their lives for our country during peacetime.

Should you wish to get involved, you can contact my office, sign the petition on my webpage, or contact Canada’s Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, and ask him to support Bill C-333.

With this call to action, I sincerely hope that you will support our efforts to make Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day a reality.

November 11 Veteran Cemetery Tour & Tea

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he

Cemetery Committee of the Anglican Parish of St. Peter, Quamichan are pleased to be able to welcome the community back to the first November 11 Tour of Veteran Graves since 2019, due to the pandemic.

Since 2001, volunteers have made November 11th a special time of year. Every second year a guided cemetery tour has featured some of the known veterans. In 2023, the cemetery literally blooms with 273 veterans being honored with a white cross featuring 3 poppies.

6 who were killed in action are remembered by a poppy placed on their parent’s graves.

The tour is followed by tea and fellowship in the church hall.

The crosses will be on the graves

by November 1st for visitors to stroll through this well kept cemetery giving respect to the men and women who served their countries, some in military action as long ago as 1857.

This historic cemetery, dating back to 1866, is often visited in the Spring when lilies and other wild flowers grace this Garry Oak meadow but in November it is easier to see and enjoy the inscriptions on the headstones as the leaves fall gently.

All are welcome to this special event, please wear walking shoes and dress for the weather.

St. Peter’s Cemetery, off Maple Bay Rd. 5800 Church Rd. Duncan, Doors Open 1:45 Tour: 2pm.

Debbie Guthrie

a consistency that’s hard to find in most other aspects of modern-day life.

There is something truly so important about Ceremony.

But, I don’t think Remembrance Day is just about looking back at history; it is about reflecting on how we can actively work towards a more peaceful world in the here and now.

It is a call to action, imploring us to nurture the spirit of peace within ourselves and in our communities.

Remembrance Day Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley, Elected House Leader BC Green Party

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his month, as the Big Leaf maples paint the landscape with golden hues, we have an opportunity for solemn reflection; on November 11th, we come together to honour veterans, and remember those men and women who died in service to our country.

Through parades, ceremonies, and the iconic red poppy, we pay our respects to those who lived - and died - through the horrors of war.

Every year on this day, I go to the Cobble Hill Remembrance Day service. It’s a moving and poignant event.

The hall is always packed with local people, and I recall being moved deeply by some excellent speeches over the years. I feel so grateful to join my community for these touching services. This particular annual event is marked into my calendar with

In our everyday lives, this might mean staying curious, and holding empathy for people who are different from us. It might mean dedicating time to acts of community service, or bravely reaching out to resolve some conflict in your personal life.

Now more than ever, we need to renew our commitment to peace.

OPEN ON REMEMBRANCE DAY NOVEMBER 10 -4 PM Free drip coffee for veterans and those in service.

Come in and warm up with a hot drink or bowl of nourishing soup!

The truest way to honour our veterans is by actively participating in the creation of a more peaceful, harmonious world. The stories of those who served should remind us of the cost of conflict, and the value of diplomacy, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence. November 11th is a reminder that the pursuit of peace is not just a distant ideal; it’s a duty that falls on our shoulders today, in our communities and in our relationships.

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ARTS THIS MONTH Cowichan Valley Arts Council sends wishes for happiness, hope and joy to everyone. We’re grateful to be the nexus where artists, volunteers, businesses and funders weave art into the fabric of Cowichan.

Teeny Tiny Art Works Show & Sale

Teeny Tiny Art Works Show & Sale (TTaW) Gallery and Annex, Until December 16 TTaW has tons of beautiful, original, one-of-a-kind gifts to choose from. These exquisite tiny items are easy to give, easy to display, and recipients love them! Teeny Tiny is also a CVAC fundraiser –so your holiday shopping doubles as a good deed and supports community art!

Calligraphy and More by Aurora Xiao Bai Studio, November 29 – December 15 Artist Aurora Xiao Bai show features Chinese calligraphy, fashion, acrylics and more.

There will be a traditional Chinese calligraphy studio set up in part of the Studio

and Aurora is hosting demonstrations throughout the show.

Check out the website for dates and times to meet the artist and try your hand at Chinese calligraphy.

Nuts’a’wuqw Lego Show Main Gallery, December 18 – 22 This is a family event, suited to Lego enthusiasts of all ages. There are creations by individuals, families, groups and school classes. This year’s theme comes from the students at Alexander Elementary School – it’s Nuts’a’quqw which means “community”.

Please come by and see the community-themed creations by our Lego artists.

OPEN CALLS Register on the CVAC website

Aurora Xiao Bai

Artist Card Sale Annex, December 18 – 22 The Artist Card Sale runs concurrently with the Lego Show – so you can shop and enjoy Lego creations. Artist cards are perfect for someone who has everything – they are beautiful, personal and encourage graceful, written communication that means so much!

Youth Arts Showcase: The theme for this year’s youth art show is Embrace Imperfection.

The show celebrates the artistic talents of Cowichan Valley youth aged 13-21.

Participation is free and CVAC waives commission fees.

Youth artists can register individually, or check with you art teacher.

Games People Play: We invite artists to submit works considering the complexities of human behaviour and/or what board and computer games tell us about ourselves.

Old to Art: Artistic interpretations of renewal through art.

Pieces considering our 150-year history & future also welcome.

Information about these events and more available at: www.cowichanvalley arts council.ca

About Us Founded in 1971, CVAC is a registered charity dedicated to enriching our community through the lens of arts & culture. We provide 30 art exhibitions per year and arts-themed programming for all ages. We recognize that we operate on the unceded territories of the Hul’qumi’num-speaking peoples who have resided here from time immemorial.

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Eloquent Silence Subtle Subversion in Soviet-Era Poland

pressed into service or gravitated toward public art. It became an artform through which to express a full range of release, from rage to satire. The constraints of the state fell away. The images rendered are shockingly bold and inventive.

n the 1960’s, Polish artists had to follow the dictates of Soviet Realism, bolstering a totalitarian regime, or be excluded and virtually silenced. Several artists circumvented Soviet restrictions by creating posters for motion pictures that were haunting, surreal, sad, sometimes funny, but always outrageous. Their silence was eloquent.

Our favorite artist was Andrzej Pagowski. Candles emerge from the top of a head, birds nest in the hair, stairs climb from the nose and eyes become keyholes.

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After Poland regained independence, these posters became popular with collectors, including Norm and Peggy Aylsworth Levine. Norm described how they found these gems: In Los Angeles, my wife Peggy and I noticed a photo of the poster for the film, Chinatown. We were taken by the curl of a smoking cigarette which became the hair of the female lead.

In Toronto a short time later, we sought out a shop which carried movie posters. The owner referred us to a man whose collection of Polish posters were his astonishing ware. We were enthralled by these images.

During the communist era some of Poland’s finest artists were either

Many were recognizably American movies; others European cinema. The art spoke volumes.

A totalitarian regime engenders either sheepish compliance or an underground of subversion.

Art is necessarily oppositional. It challenges the margins set down by a society that has settled for a conforming order.

The posters were of a moment in time, oppressive yet a crucible for a new artistic expression.

In a time when books are being banned, art is being cut from curriculums, and libraries as well as teachers are being directed to limit what they can provide, these posters are poignant reminders that even in difficult times, artists always find new avenues of expression.

Rebecca Hazell is a Board Member of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery.

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B

ased on the beloved holiday movie with a clever twist: the story is staged as a live radio broadcast. Actors portray numerous characters and take on sound effects. George Bailey, a generous and well-meaning man, has become too downcast and tired to continue living. It will take help from a lovable angel to show George what life would be like if he wasn’t born for George to have a change of heart and understand the true spirit of the holidays.

BREAKFAST I LUNCH I DINNER PANINIS • SOUPS • SALADS

HOT & COLD BEVERAGES • SMOOTHIES

Dine In, Take Out, Order Online

Bringing Frank Capra’s classic film to the stage began almost twenty years ago when longtime friend and teacher Frances Kondziela asked me to pen an adaptation for her high school ensemble. After the premiere of this original incarnation, the piece was produced by TheatreWorks in New Milford, CT, and was then chosen for its first professional production at the legendary Westport Country Playhouse. When the budget of this (still full-scale, literally putting the film on stage) production skyrocketed and was dropped from the slate, the concept of staging the piece as a live radio play of

the period was born. This radio play adaptation was originally mounted at Stamford Center for the Arts in 1996, and has been performed there since with great success. It was at Stamford that the play was fine-tuned and took shape as the piece published here. Through word of mouth alone, productions have since taken place around the country, including the noted Chicago premiere at American Theatre Company. My thanks to all those who have been involved since the beginning of the this journey, including Frances Kondziela, Jim McKenzie, Julie Monahan, George Moredock, Doug Moser, Jane Desy, Barbara Meyer, Cathy Mulligan, Kevin Connors, Colin Eastland, Achilles Tsakiridis, Doug and everyone at Playscripts.com and my loving and supportive parents, Paul and Mary, sister Hope and brother Tom. And thanks to you, dear reader, for your interest in retelling this timeless tale. – Joe Landry (August 2006) Runs November 17 to December 23 Tickets available at the Chemainus Festival Theatre Box Office 250-246-9820 or online chemainustheatrefestival.ca

SOMATICS

Somatics classes on Zoom Somatic Yoga at Cowichan Community Centre Individual appointments

23 Kenneth Street, Downtown Duncan

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Unfaithful Servants

T

he Unfaithful Servants have gained a reputation in Western Canada as a mustsee act. With an original and exciting approach to acoustic music, the group serves up explosive instrumentals, compelling story-telling and high-powered vocals. As Kelly Nakatsuka (Islands Folk Festival, CBC host) describes “The Unfaithful Servants are one of the most exciting bands from Vancouver Island in some time... gorgeous harmonies and fine song writing, beautiful instrumental interplay and some seriously rippin’ solos.”

With critically acclaimed performances under their belt (Vancouver Island MusicFest, Salmon Arm Roots & Blues, The Islands Folk Festival) and a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination (New Group of The Year) they continue to build upon that buzz.

American born mandolinist Jesse Cobb could be described as a virtuoso on his instrument. Jesse has recorded and performed with Bela Fleck, David Grisman, Lee Anne Womack, Dirks Bentley, John Cowan, Jim Lauderdale and others.

He’s held residency on the historic stage of The Grand Ole Opry and has toured the world. His exceptional talent is widely recognized in the

bluegrass world and he is an innovator of the instrument.

Dylan Stone is a restless songwriter who is constantly pursuing new sounds and collaborations. A modernday troubadour, Dylan has lived and toured across Canada and toured the West Coast extensively. On fiddle, Quin Etheridge (Quin With One N) has already made a big impact on the Western Canadian music scene while still in his early years. His skill and talent bring a fresh new addition to the Servants sound and help elevate the band to new musical heights and pathways. Louis Rudner joins the band on bass and his ease and experience has helped him find an immediate belonging in the group. Louis’ technical skill and masterful ear adds a new edge to the Servants sound and helps to drive the band even further sonically. The Servants are very excited to begin performing and touring with this new assemble. After a hiatus to re-group the band is now poised to push the limits of their capabilities in the Canadian musical landscape.

Unfaithful Servants, November 18 Osborne Bay Pub 1534 Joan Avenue, Crofton Tickets at Eventbrite. ca Reservations 250 324-2245

Westview Learning

Technology Classes for All Ages Where: 3248 Cowichan Valley Hwy “The Old Somenos Hall” Contact: Heather@westviewlearning.ca 250-701-3359

Visit www.westviewlearning.ca to learn more

Beginning November Onsite at WestView Learning

• Using Your SmartPhones/Tables - Mondays 2:00 -3:30 • Using Your Mac Laptop/Desktop - Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 Private Lessons are available upon request. Cost $45/hr

November/December 2023 - After School for Kids

* Thursdays - Coding Smorgasbord 3:30 - 5:00 * Fridays - Coding Smorgasbord - FJCC 4:00 - 5:30 * Saturdays - Intro to Office 365 - FJCC 2:00 - 5:00

Christmas Craft Sale and Tea Saturday, December 9th

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Toys Toiletries & Toques Help Make Christmas Merry

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oys Toiletries & Toques is underway for our 13th year of collecting NEW non-food items for those that need items for a better holiday season. This year we collect at 11 Drop Off locations across the Cowichan Valley in November and distribute those donations to local Food Banks later in the month. Donations are also accepted on-line on our website throughout the year.

Huge thanks to the donors right across the Cowichan Valley for donations including bicycles, beautiful teddy bears and lovely little packets of toiletries, much-needed toilet paper, sanitary products, diapers and other baby items, handmade toques, sweaters, scarves, gloves and more.

Any type of NEW non-food donation is gratefully received.

We have some awesome donors who have supported us with beautiful donations yearly.

We also collect cash donations on-line through the website and these funds help buy experiences such as movie passes, swimming passes, skating passes, gift cards to local restaurants and more for local families in need this holiday season. All items collected get distributed through the local food banks.

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Please consider donating: NEW Toys – baby toys, educational toys and toys for teens and families.

NEW Toiletries – soaps, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, baby items such as diapers and wipes, sanitary products, hairbrushes, razors NEW Toques & Warm Clothing such as gloves, jackets, mittens, scarfs, blankets, boots.

Our Drop Off locations are throughout the Cowichan Valley from Chemainus to Lake Cowichan to Mill Bay. They help us to promote the program and encourage people to donate. Our website www.toystoiletriestoques.ca has suggestions for what to donate, how to donate online (it’s easy), who the Elves and the Supporters are, who and where the Drop Off locations are, what type of tickets we buy, and more!

Our goal at Toys Toiletries & Toques has never changed.

We collect and distribute NEW, non-food items to food banks in our region who distribute to those who need a boost to enjoy a better Christmas season. Perhaps you could visit our Facebook or Instagram pages and share one of our posts? Campaign runs to November 29th info@toystoiletriestoques.ca www.toystoiletriestoques.ca

Peruvian felters making animals for Spectacled Bear

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Fiesta – The Fair With a Thousand Stories

he 11th Annual Fiesta World Craft Fair is a fun global shopping experience.

As you wind yourself around Founders Hall at Queen Margaret’s School on Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12 from 10am to 4pm you will find yourself learning about the artisans, their families, and their quality, handmade crafts.

The 25 vendors come from the lower mainland and Vancouver Island, and are passionate about fair and direct trade, and the marginalized people they support.

Almost all the wares are made of natural or recycled materials. Global Village Nanaimo surprises with an eclectic selection of household items. Carolyn of Mondo and Company has again found new

products that allow women to use their many skills to empower themselves, such as repurposing saris, or creating whimsical Christmas ornaments. Batiqua of Zimbabwe specializes in designing handcrafted textiles for home decor. Manzoor of Cashmere Crafts will “wow you” with contemporary designed small carpets and pillow covers. Chosang of Tibetan Crafts is back with cuddly shawls. Mystic Lotus has lots of items for children, including unusual musical instruments. The pop-up 3D cards from Vietnam,

Made by the ladies above in Peru for Spectacled Bear.

the colourful wire baskets from South Africa, and the Rwandan sisal baskets are all showstoppers!

We are welcoming some new vendors this year. Blythe of Kenana Kanada is bringing delightful stuffed animals and creative cell phone stands.

Valentina of Indiarts Creative Collective sells bags and jewellery from Columbia. Ba Cisse is back, with his popular shea butter skin lotions, and Lovena of Gathering Place Trading will have you stocking up on spices, teas, and dried fruit.

The Yellow Submachine will be serving coffee and

tea and gourmet, submarine sandwiches, and for dessert decadent mini donuts.

Fiesta has something for everyone on your list and the vendors will tell you stories that will connect you to the creative, talented and hard-working people who will be grateful you shopped with your heart and made a difference. Fair trade is good for people and mother Earth!

Fiesta is a warm breeze of positive energy at a time when we could all do with a hug!

Fiesta World Craft Fair, November 11 & 12 10am -4pm Queen Margaret School, 660 Brownsey Ave, Duncan.

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The Marriage of Miso and Curry

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e are a restaurant that offers authentic Japanese-style ramen, but at the same time, we are creating new flavors that have never been seen before for the multicultural people of Canada.

Actually, our chef used to be a French cuisine chef a long time ago. The young chef started learning French cuisine in Winnipeg, with a dream. After returning to Japan, he opened a small French cuisine restaurant.

However, in Japan where numerous dining establishments competed, the restaurant business proved to be very challenging, and he had to give up on his culinary dreams. That was about 30 years ago. He has now fulfilled his dream of having his own restaurant here in Canada.

Leveraging his extensive experience and knowledge, the chef is always on the lookout for what dishes are popular. At Neko Ramen, the chef’s original ramen is also a favorite. One of the signature dishes is the “Green Curry Ramen.” This ramen, with its oriental flavor using green curry paste, is a popular menu item at our restaurant and often sells out.

Green curry is a Thai dish made from a base of ‘green curry paste,’ which is a blend of fresh herbs such as green chili peppers, lemongrass, coriander, ginger, garlic, and spices.

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It is prepared by adding coconut milk, vegetables, and meat.

Green curry is typically served with rice and is a popular choice among Thai cuisine enthusiasts.

It is known for its spicy and flavorful taste, making it an enjoyable option for those who appreciate Thai cuisine.

At Neko Ramen, we offer two menu options featuring ‘Green Curry’: ‘Green Curry Rice,’ served with rice, and ‘Green Curry Ramen,’ served as a ramen noodles.

Building upon this popular menu, we are continually exploring ways to enhance it. Our noodles are made from fresh and preservativefree ingredients.

Our miso is also homemade.

Very few ramen shops in Japan offer handmade miso because the process is labour-intensive and time-consuming.

Our miso is a labour of love, crafted by the chef with great care and aged for a rich and flavorful taste.

This time, we have decided to introduce the original “Curry Miso Ramen,” incorporating our special miso and curry. The previously introduced ‘Green Curry’ is a different curry-flavored ramen.

It features the original flavour of Neko Ramen, which combines traditional Indian curry powder with our unique miso, setting it apart from the traditional ‘Green Curry’. It’s a new and unique flavour that combines the essence of chicken and pork broth with miso and curry.

For our vegan customers, we’ve also prepared the “Vegan Curry Miso Ramen” using vegetable broth, curry, and miso.

Visit us at Neko Ramen, and enjoy our exciting evolving creations! 171 Canada Ave, downtown Duncan,

Midori/Neko Ramen

Cabbage rolls being prepared in the kitchen at Farm Table Inn in Skutz Falls. Photo courtesy of Chef George Gates.

Easy Pre-Made Fall Meals

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henever November rolls around and we get back into our cool weather routines, schedules can become busy with school activities, homework, and work schedules. We are always surprised by how complicated it can be to find the time to do something as simple and as necessary as preparing a nutritious meal. Luckily Cow-op has a handful of incredible folks who provide prepared meals that just need to be warmed up and served. We’re talking cabbage rolls, hand pies, pot pies, mac n’ cheese, empanadas, lasagnas, soups and more. Plenty of gluten-

free and vegan options too, all made right here in the Cowichan Valley.

Did you know that cabbage rolls have historical roots in many cultures? Egyptian, Polish, Romanian, Jewish, Ukranian, and Scandinavian cultures all have variations on this traditional dish. In fact, you can look for cabbage rolls in virtually any culture and find a delicious looking dish! It is easy to understand why; cabbage rolls with a blend of sweet, sour and savory flavours, are the very definition of comfort food.

This dish would adapt to what was being locally grown

and harvested at that time carrots, onions, garlic, grains, spices and maybe even some minced meat depending on the region. Also, unwashed cabbage heads could be stored well in root cellars for several months after harvest, making this a dish that could be relied upon through the winter months and into the early spring.

You can find delicious cabbage rolls on Cow-op’s shop page from local food processors Farm Table Inn and Thorsten’s Authentic Food, both located right here in the Cowichan Valley!

Each offers a unique take LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS?

on cabbage rolls and is a perfect option for a nutritious weeknight family dinner or to serve for holiday entertaining.

This warm and comforting meal pairs well with braised greens, mashed root vegetables or fresh salad for a lighter side dish.

To support Cowichan Valley’s local farmers and food processors visit Cow-op.ca.

You will find ready made meals, produce, meats, baked goods and more and you can have your order conveniently delivered right to your door!

Cow-Op Marketplace

We grow plenty of them!

A&S MICROGREENS t.250-710-6135 www.asmicrogreens.com

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Carrot, Cumin and Ginger Soup

Courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station

Ingredients: 6 tbsp of Medium EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive oil) 3 tbsp Honey Ginger Balsamic Vinegar (for finishing drizzle) 1 white onion, diced A small (half-an-inch) knob of ginger, peeled and chopped finely 2 pounds of carrots, peeled and chopped roughly 1 tbsp of dried cumin powder 1 quart of vegetable stock 1 bunch of fresh parsley, chopped finely Sea salt and pepper (to taste) Preparation 1. Gently sweat onion and ginger in Arbequina or Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil, until soft. Add carrots, garlic and cumin, stirring on low heat for a few minutes.

2. Add stock -and equal volume of water- and simmer for about 35 minutes or until the carrots are completely soft.

3. Blend with an immersion blender in the pot on the stovetop. Depending on your preference for thick or thin consistency of soups, add more water to help thin out an overly thick soup. Check the seasoning is where you want it, add salt and pepper to your taste.

Serve hot with a drizzle of the EVOO and the Honey Ginger Balsamic Vinegar.

Finish with a healthy sprinkling of parsley.

Enjoy!

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Vancouver Island Harvest Sale in Sidney

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utumn is our favourite time of year because that is when we get to bring our New Crop products fresh from harvest direct to you! While it is possible to order on line, Rancho Vignola Harvest Sales offer an opportunity to purchase on site and taste the difference when it comes to freshly harvested nuts. This year once again we will be at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney- November 24th and 25th. Friday 9am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm.

It is such a privilege to be able to share our passion for quality ingredients with our community on Vancouver Island. From walnuts so fresh that they taste like cream, to all-natural, flavourpacked dried mangoes to our premium chocolate covered nuts, there is something for everyone! Whether you have been buying from us for many years or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you, sharing ideas and helping you discover the world of Rancho Vignola’s seasonal, new crop nuts, dried fruit, seeds and more!

Our Growers We have travelled far and wide to learn from and connect with the people who grow and produce our food.

While many suppliers won’t sell new crop at harvest (they prefer to sell the remainder of the previous year’s crop) we have been fortunate to establish strong relationships with suppliers who appreciate our unique business model— they are the reason we can offer such a vast variety of premium quality, new crop products.

At our community Harvest Sales you will be able to purchase products in any of our available pack sizes, including 1 lb (454 g), 2 lb (907 g) and 5 lb (2.27 kg), as well as full cases. There is also a great selection of our Gourmet Gifts for tasty Christmas gift-giving ideas!

In addition we’ll have some live music, some cooking demos, a Gourmet Gift Basket prize draw and you can take home recipe cards for some delicious inspiration!

Join us at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney where we bring you the highest quality new crop, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and more!

Sidney Harvest Sale Friday, November 24 9am7pm and Saturday, November 25, 9am-5pm 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney www.ranchovignola.com

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Apples require a pollinator, another apple to ensure fertilization, and this must be a different variety. Fortunately most apples are now on dwarfing or semidwarfing rootstock, so you can fit more into a smaller space, and diversify the number of varieties you grow. The smaller trees are also advantageous for ease of pruning , picking, maintenance, and early bearing although they may need to be staked.

Espaliering, or growing against wire on one plane is becoming more popular, and while more work pruning wise, gives very good yields.

Local Apples are Delicious

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•Functional Medicine and Nutrition Consultations •Lab Assessments/Education •Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans 250-931-0012 sageheartnutrition@gmail.com www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com 24

pple season is on us with a vengeance, and everywhere I look I see trees laden with fruit, bowing down the branches, red apples glowing against a blue sky.

Can you have too many? Not in my opinion, and here in the nursery one of the most commonly asked questions is “What is the best apple?”

The answer to that is “The one you like the best” While there are a few qualifiers to that answer, having your own trees is a way to obtain apples that may not be common in the grocery stores. Apples such as Gravenstein, an early well loved apple, ripens early and does not ship or store well , and as such is disdained by the commercial orchardists. But grown in your own garden, ready to hand as it ripens, its unique juicy flavour cannot be beat. Apples seem to inspire a certain nostalgic appeal. People remembering childhood forays into orchards often ask for MacIntosh, a Canadian apple that tastes best picked off the tree.

The next most commonly asked question is “Can I plant at this time of the year?”, and indeed autumn is the best time. The air is cooling down but the soil is still warm. This allows the plant to concentrate on root growth as opposed to shoot growth, and the tree will be in a better position next Spring. While you may still have to wield the hose to keep it watered, it is not an onerous task, and is one that will shortly be taken over by autumn rains.

While container grown trees may be planted at any time, as we move into Winter, avoid planting during periods of heavy rain or frost. Also as stocks in the nursery thin down, Spring will offer a better selection of varieties.

Barrie Agar Head Gardener (Retired) at Royal Roads Gardens, President of BC Fruit Testers now at Dinter Nursery.

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Mushrooms as Medicine Bill Jones is a chef, author and food consultant based at Deerholme Farm.

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ne of the emerging trends is the rise in awareness of the power of certain mushrooms to have positive impacts on the body. Mushrooms are different than most plants and animals and some contain characteristics of both – particularly at the genetic (ie DNA) levels. Some mushroom compounds act as poisons, some chemicals interact strongly with brain function (for example the hallucinogens in magic mushrooms) - many more mushrooms have positive impacts on body functions and generally boost the immune systems (or help the body perform functions more efficiently). Keep in mind one of our most powerful antibiotics is based on the penicillium mold (a simple form of fungi).

Medicinal mushrooms do not have to be complicated. One of the more common edible and beneficial mushrooms is the Shiitake. Available fresh or dried, these mushrooms have been used as a health tonic and immune system booster in China for several thousand years. In our local wild mushrooms, several edible varieties have been shown to have measurable effects on our bodies. Oyster mushrooms are indicated as having anticancer (slowing tumor growth)

activities, chanterelles are strongly anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and Cauliflower Fungus are linked to increased brain activity and have memory strengthening properties.

Much research is now focusing on the effects of fungi on metabolism and you can now find a wide array of dietary supplements based on mushrooms, the most popular of these are the Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail and the Cordyceps. Each of these mushrooms has specific functions in the medicinal world – but they have been associated with affecting our body in positive ways. Even the common button mushroom has multiple benefits, providing health promoting nutrients and aiding in digestive processes. Everyone has a slightly different metabolism, so the dosage and effects might not be consistent for everyone.

It also should be noted that a small percentage of people sometimes have allergic reactions to common mushrooms – with a wide range of symptoms from itching and hives to neurological effects like disorientation and tremors. Care should be taken if you add any new mushroom to your diet. Even so, edible mushrooms have proven to be a safe (and at least benign) way to add flavour and healthy benefits to your diet.

Korean - Style Mushrooms

Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm

This is a fresh style of kim chee made to be mixed and eaten quickly.

The spice level is low, so you can pump it up as much as you want.

Great as a side dish with a variety of tapas or grilled beef.

Ingredients 1 lb

mushrooms (chanterelle, cauliflower fungus, hedgehog, button, etc) 1 tsp miso or Korean miso-chilli paste 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil 1 tsp hot sauce 2 Tbsp rice vinegar 1 Tbsp garlic, minced 1 Tbsp Japanese soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Clean mushrooms and rip into pieces. Heat oil in a skillet until hot. Add the mushrooms and sauté until liquid is released. Saute until liquid is evaporated and add the vinegar, soy, miso, hot sauce, garlic and sesame oil. Heat through until seasoning are absorbed. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm or chilled.

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Unsworth Harvest Report

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s we press the last red wines off their skins, taking stock of the 2023 growing season is a natural practice. Right from an early bud break in the Spring, fingers were crossed, and outlooks were positive for the Spring and Summer. A dry and warm Spring resulted in plenty of early vegetative growth in the vineyards. Flowering occurred in June which is generally considered on-time.

Temperatures were warm, not hot, and with less rainfall than during the previous seven Junes.

Flowering is an incredibly important and sensitive time for fruit development; conditions in June led to a longer flowering phase with some variability with cluster sizes and weights, but overall, an average yield was predicted. The favourable weather conditions also signaled the beginnings of immaculately healthy fruit.

In the glass, consumers can expect wines from the 2023 vintage to resemble 2021 and 2016 wines. The degree of flavour and phenolic ripeness now expected from Cowichan wines is quite exciting and 2023 will be no exception. When compared with the 2022 growing season, 2023 had a warmer and drier spring, but with similar and, now predictably dry, July and August conditions. September 2023 was not as dry as 2022 but still with less than average rainfall. With the overall high health of the fruit, the few rain events in the back half of September were not threatening enough for significant worry and the remaining fruit fared well. These growing conditions

resulted in the bulk of harvest occurring a full month earlier in 2023 compared to 2022. The wonderful growing season wasn’t just ideal for mature vines, but young vines also benefited. By Cowichan standards, a rather significant area of vineyard was planted in 2023. Having a relatively dry Winter and dry Spring meant that the ground could be prepared early in the calendar year and baby vines could be planted early to get a jump start on their lives of producing premium fruit from our outstanding region. Most of the vineyard acreage planted throughout Cowichan in 2023 was Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with smatterings of Pinot Gris.

As the quality and reputation Cowichan has for producing truly meaningful wines grow, our sustainably farmed fruit will grow with it. As an industry we are hugely proud of what we are collectively accomplishing and rewards like the 2023 growing season are something we raise a glass to – Cheers!

Chris Turyk DipWSET Director of Marketing & Sales Unsworth Vineyards

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Gift Baskets Meat & Cheese Platters Gourmet Foods Italian Imports Take Home and Serve

Canapes and Appetizers Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

Cowichan Station Creamery “Come taste the difference kindness makes.”

4354 Howie Rd, Duncan I Open 11-5 Fri-Sun www.cowichancream.ca

Chicken Liver Mousse Canapé

Courtesy Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

Ingredients

100 ml Whipping Cream 200 grams Chicken Liver Pate 10 ml 4-year-old balsamic 10 ml Brandy 2 tsps Snowdonia Chutney to garnish Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. In a mixing bowl with a whisk, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form.

2. In a different mixing bowl, crumble up pate, add brandy, salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.

3. Fold whipping cream into the pate mixture until light and fluffy.

4. Spoon onto Vancouver Island Salt * crostini or pipe into pre-made canape shells. Garnish with a small bit of Snowdonia Date and Cognac Chutney*. * Available at Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

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s the weather changes and the year ticks on, and with that, right around the corner comes the cooler months full of holiday entertaining and parties. Though everyone loves a good get-together with family and friends, the holiday season can also be a time of worry about the effort required to prepare tasty and meals and snacks.

is quick and easy to serve up a recipe that makes for a sophisticated party appetizer, such as a baked brie. We suggest serving up a whole wheel of baked brie, complete with fresh herbs, a dollop of homemade cranberry sauce or local chutney a drizzle of truffle or local honey, and some smoked almonds. For the extra touch, you could serve up baked olive oil and sea salt crostini. This is a surprisingly easy appetizer to prepare, and your guests will love the rich and decadent flavours.

What is the easiest way to take some of that worry and stress away? Serve up some simpleto-prepare, delicious canapes and appetizers that every guest is sure to love. While guests are enjoying your pre-prepared canapes, you will have some extra time to mingle and still be confident that your hard work guarantees you serve up one of the best parties of the season!

Another simple canapé appetizer recipe that will take the stress out of hosting, and your guests will think you made some magic in the kitchen. Take our par-baked baguette out of your freezer – bake at 350 F for ten minutes, cool, slice and add some oil Lala tapenade, a thin slice of Pecorino Romano cheese, and a drizzle of 8-year Dodi balsamic.

Using the simple combination of items found in the cheese case and on the shelves it

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese Valley View Centre 250 929-CURE

Prioritize your future with a free financial review!

Kristy Landry | Financial Advisor | (250) 743-1259 | Kristy.Landry@edwardjones.com

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www.edwardjones.ca

Smoked salmon canapés by Barnes and Maracle

Holiday Caterers Extraordinaire

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s dedicated boutique caterers, Barnes and Maracle specialize in curating top-tier culinary experiences using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Our service offerings range from simple yet sophisticated options for more laid-back festive affairs to opulent and luxurious choices for extraordinary holiday events when you aim for nothing but the best. What

sets Barnes and Maracle apart is our commitment to working closely with our clients, personalizing each catered menu to their distinct preferences and event requirements. We offer Buffet Style (set up only), Family Style (full service) and Plated Style (luxury full service).

View our sample menus online at www.barnesandmaracle.com.

DUNCA N FAR M E R S ’ M A R K E T READY TO HEAT AND ENJOY MEALS

HEAT & ENJOY MEALS • Farm Table Inn • Nourished to Go • The Drift Meat & Seafood • Pappy’s Creton • Scorpion Chef

SOUPS & SIDES • Ed’s Soup Shack • Seafire Soups • Rockin’ Risotto • Fat Chili Farm • Kilrenny Farm

ALCOHOL

• Ampersand Distilling • Cherry Point Estate Wines • Deol Estate Winery • Enrico Winery • Esquimalt Vermouth & Aperitifs • Stillhead Distillery Inc.

DESSERTS

• Bite Me Cookie Company • Dreamy Donuts • South Island Saskatoons

CHARCUTERIE & JAMS

• Brenda’s Kitchen • Bean Boy Creations • Pickles’ Pantry • Island Jerky • That’s My Jam • Haus Sausage Company Ltd. • Cowichan Station Creamery • Hermeneutics Preserves • Truffula Tree Nut Creamery • Pickle & Ponder • Two Crows Craft Foods • IXIM Foods Inc.

BEVERAGES

• Westholme Tea Company • Peaks Coffee • Island Guy with Chai • Misty Ridge Coffee • Kettle & Hive

SWEET TREATS

• Beaver House Fudge • Folklore Chocolates

SATURDAYS Y E A R R O U N D

Downtown Duncan at the Market Square x Ingram Street 29

Open 7 nights a week at 5 pm

WATERFRONT DINING

Check our website for our new fall/winter menu and for our fixed price group booking menu

Sunday to Thursday nights

add an appetizer to any entree order to receive a 5oz glass of house wine or a half pint of Mount Arrowsmith beer for free 1701 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay Reservations (250) 748-3714 www.themastheadrestaurant.com

Christmas Open House ‘Tis the season! Join us for our annual Christmas Open House as we welcome the holiday season with beautiful trees and wreaths, twinkling lights and good cheer. From 10 am to 3 pm we are joined by some incredible local businesses for our “Makers Market” to help make holiday shopping super easy while supporting local. Door prizes and a gift of one free small poinsettia with any in-store purchase! Saturday, November 25th, 2205 Phipps Road.

folding, cutting and weaving -- to create a world of stunning star variations.

Each of the forty projects is illustrated with step-by-step instructions and graded for difficulty to allow you to progress confidently. The authors Ursula Stillerm Armin Täuber and Gudrun Thiele are craft experts who live in Germany. Beautiful Paper Stars and a big selection of other seasonal craft books are available at the Freya Sophia Waldorf Store, 5380, TransCanada Hwy, Duncan 250 597-4763

Paper Crafts Create a sparkling universe of stars with paper and imagination... stunning star garlands, fairy lights, gifts and decorations to brighten you home throughout the year! Detailed instructions and clear diagrams for every star project. Learn to make a range of stars from glittering Christmas wreaths to glowing light shades and tree ornaments, to spring garlands, making paper stars will brighten your home in every season. The book includes six different traditional methods of star-making -- including 30

Canada Music Week Canada Music Week will be celebrated by approximately 40 students of piano, voice, harp and violin, ages 6 to 86 as they perform works

by Canadian composers and arrangers. These free concerts will be held Saturday, November 18, 1:30-2:30 and 3:00-4:00, at Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram Street, Duncan. Everyone welcome!

calculated that the compensation she received as a result of class action lawsuits filed against the government amounted to a paltry $13.69 for every day she suffered the neglect and abuse of an uncaring system. Contrasting this with much larger settlements typically received by nonIndigenous plaintiffs in lawsuits, Good argues convincingly that this is but one example of the structural racism tainting Canada’s relations with Indigenous people.

Why We Should Read

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n this compelling collection of essays, Governor General’s Literary Award-winning Cree author, poet, and lawyer Michelle Good confronts many of the topics which have been contentious in the national conversation about reconciliation between the Indigenous peoples and settlers in Canada. Despite their brevity, each chapter presents an issue cogently, supported with data both historical and contemporary.

Throughout the book Good discusses such wide-ranging issues as the emergence of Indigenous literature, structural racism, and the growing number of “pretendians.” She weaves them together with the unifying idea that “… non-Indigenous Canadians tend to view the implementation of the TRC as a charitable act instead of seeing it as the righting of a massive historical wrongdoing.”

In one particularly personal essay, Good describes her experience of years spent in the child welfare system after being one of the thousands of Indigenous children removed from their parents in the Sixties Scoop. She

Discussing perhaps the most sensitive issue of all, the restoration to Indigenous peoples of political and economic sovereignty over their ancestral lands, Good begins by confronting the basic fear of many Canadians saying, “no, we don’t want your cottage.”

Pointing out that only eleven percent of the Canadian landmass is privately owned, Good argues that fair and equitable land settlements can be made using only lands held by the Crown.

Works of Art

ARTHUR VICKERS

A SELECTION OF IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL WORKS

Located in the Seaside Village of Cowichan Bay the gallery is a curated collection of the exceptional and the exquisite.

The Arthur Vickers Gallery is a destination to be discovered.

Representing the Artist’s Collection of Works of Art that capture the essence of our coast.

This is a book which you will find rewarding whether you are new to or already acquainted with the ideas presented. You may well go away thinking about things differently and, more importantly, motivated to act.

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – next meets online November 8 to discuss Valley of the Birdtail

by Andrew Stobo Sniderman & Douglas Sanderson. Books available through VIRL. Email WarmlandBFC@gmail.com for zoom link.

Submitted by David & Ranji, on behalf of the WBFC

Showcasing locally created, magnificent wooden bowls that are truly awe inspiring; the epitome of functional beauty.

250-748-7650 1719 Cowichan Bay Road Always by appointment... or by chance.

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properties, it is often hailed as a “natural nootropic” for its cognitive-enhancing effects.

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health All Classes in the Cowichan Valley *unless stated Wild Goose Qigong (Chi Gong) Gentle movement • Calms your mind • Heals internal organs • Develops flexibility Mondays 9 -10 am Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm (combined Qigong and Chun Yuen) Wednesdays 10-11:15 am Fridays 10-11:15 am (Victoria)*

Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan

Dynamic movement • Improves posture • Increases energy • Strengthens bones Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm (combined Qigong and Chun Yuen)* Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

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FORAGERS GALLEY GROW-AT-HOME MUSHROOM KITS Enjoy the freshest possible mushrooms and experience their rapid life cycle by easily growing them yourself.

Foragers Galley Grow-atHome Kits are the perfect gift for any mushroom or cooking enthusiast. Everything you need is included, no special equipment or prior knowledge is necessary. PlentiFILL Refillery now carries the full selection of Mushroom Growat-Home kits.

Lion’s Mane: Renowned for its remarkable medicinal

Chestnut: An approachable grow kit that yields small, earthy-flavored fungi with a rich, brown color and nutty taste Golden Oyster: These mushroom kits yield substantial harvests of exquisite bright yellow golden mushrooms.

Pink Oyster: These mushrooms boast a unique flavour profile, often described as meaty. When fried, they can serve as a popular substitute for bacon.

Now available at PlentiFILL Refillery, 163 Kenneth Street, downtown Duncan.

Backyard Sessions Cari Burdett is committed to service in community through music, bridge building and voice work.

I

t’s a Sunday Morning, you’ve watched the sunrise and you are now excited to get a thermos of tea ready, lunch and snacks to attend the monthly Backyard Sessions. If you have children you get them warmly dressed to be outside for the morning and are all excited for the morning of exploration.

When you arrive, there are happy, curious folk sitting around a fire, some are working with cattails, some working on their bow drill fire skills and some brought their burn bowl from a previous session. It feels alive and authentic. All ages are weaving their voices in and out of catching each other’s stories and listening with curiosity. It’s a small village, bustling around excited to dip into the theme of the day.

Suddenly a dynamic movement game of ‘foxtails’ has begun and warms everyone up and wakes up the awareness in each of us. A song gathers everyone around the fire and soon harmony surrounds the flames. It is the magic of the voices and joyful spirit that awakens a kind of aliveness in the soul. A moment of quiet reflection then emerges of listening to the birds and feeling your own breath moving in your body. The talking piece gets sent around as each person shares their name and

something they are grateful for in that moment. After all those small, yet meaningful gestures of connection, there is a tangible change in the atmosphere, no longer are the people gathered there strangers, instead they realize they are all there in this circle together to deepen their curiosity, knowledge and connection with Nature.

Soon the energy focuses on learning about the new skill or core routines of the 8 shield path of Nature Connection, ancestral and bush craft skills, basket making, candle dipping, fire making, shelter making, plant education, wild food harvesting, carving and so much more. We divide into the groups we are drawn to and immerse ourselves for a few hours of learning. We feel satisfied with the morning of working, learning, crafting, singing, playing, seeking, exploring, witnessing, listening, and so much more.

For closing we return to the central fire, to share a song and to share a tiny portion of the “Story of the Morning”. It is a good feeling to hear everyone take a turn, while others genuinely listen from their hearts and minds. You hear say “See you soon, looking forward to seeing what we learn next month.”

Mackay for four of those Sunday’s to offer her epic storytelling from 2 - 5pm.

November 12th, December 10 and January 7, February 11th, March 3, April 14th, May 5th 2024 Check out https://www. joythroughmusic.com/backyardsessions/ for more info or email cari@cariburdett.com

This arc of Backyard Sessions runs for seven months, on Sundays 10am - 1pm. We are excited to also host Stephanie

Cari leads music, choir, nature mentoring, voice and healing sound sessions on her farm near the Quwut’sun Stat’lo.

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Every product contains only pure essential oils for all the health benefits they can provide which are too numerous to detail in this account. Oils such as eucalyptus which is included in a few of the the soaps, restorative mineral bath and peppermint eucalyptus candle, has shown to contain substances that kill bacteria, it may also kill some viruses and also acts as an expectorant which means it helps coughs by loosening phlegm. The remarkable thing about all the essential oils is that not only do they have healing properties but they smell amazing!

Kama Soap at Chemainus Health Food Store

K

ama soap was developed out of a personal need for truly natural, high quality, plant based products.

The end product came about after painstaking trial after trial around 1995. This was before the internet, its bounty of information on everything imaginable, was available to all of us.

Once we were satisfied that we had created the soap we had envisioned, other products were developed.

Mineral baths, body powders (no talc, which should probably not be inhaled), various balms including a healing, invigorating foot balm, baby balm with calendula infused oil known for its soothing properties for such things as diaper rash, and soy candles which infuse the air with the beautiful essential oils and provide a very long candle burn time.

We continue to produce and sell all of our products after 26 years because we love what we do and we have a very loyal customer base.

- Sharon, founder Kama Soap “KAMA soaps has been our top selling soap for years and we are happy to support their small business.” shares Lulu Vegh, co owner Chemainus Health Food Store Find Kama soap, bath soaks, baby products, candles and gift sets in Chemainus at the Chemainus Health Food Store, 9738 Willow St. downtown Chemainus.

KAMA SOAP Collections

Chemainus Sip and Shop Night Market Event

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he Night Market features local and seasonal vendors, offering an array of crafts, unique products, one-of-a-kind treasures, and local libations. Discover handcrafted jewelry and cozy winter knits, perfect for holiday shopping. For food and drink enthusiasts, local liquor, beer, and cider vendors are ready to tantalize your taste buds at their market stalls, while a dedicated spirits, beer, and wine garden offers a leisurely place to unwind and sip with friends.

Local businesses are pulling out all the stops, offering deep discounts, specials, and sales for this one special night. It’s your chance to grab fantastic deals while supporting the small business community.

Enjoy mouth-watering dishes from local restaurants and gourmet food, and don’t

forget the s’mores for charity, where every bite supports a local cause.

Sip & Shop is set to create a new tradition, uniting the community for a night of shopping, sipping, and bonding. Come together with friends and family to immerse yourself in the warm, welcoming atmosphere that Chemainus is renowned for. Whether you’re seeking unique gifts or a delightful night out, this event has it all. Join us for an incredible community gathering that you won’t want to miss!

Visitchemainus.ca for more information.

Chemainus Sip and Shop Night Market - Saturday, November 18 3-7:30pm www.visitchemainus.ca

Natural Soap I Bath Soaks I Baby I Candles I Gifts

Kama Soap has been committed to providing luxurious, hand made, plant based soap and body care products using pure essential oils for scent and herbs and grains for color and texture since 1997.

9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 BIG selection of natural products, cosmetics, Hours Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM Closed Sundays & Stat holidays organic produce and so much more!

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BEST OF COWICHAN 2023 GIFT GUIDE

TRUE GRAIN ORGANIC CRAFT BAKERY Classic Gingerbread…the rich warmth of honey & molasses, mysterious spices, and irresistible organic icing. Village Centre, Cowichan Bay www.truegrain.ca

40th ANNIVERSARY ISLANDS FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS (19842024) The ultimate experience in music & community. 3 days of live music, camping, food, friends, vendors and beer garden. Presented

by Cowichan Folk Guild. July 19 - 21 2024 www.islandsfolkfestival.ca

BLUE GROUSE ESTATE WINERY This holiday season, enjoy sustainable wines, complimentary gift wrapping, discounts, and local products in the Tasting Room. 2182 Lakeside Rd Duncan 250 743-3834

THE COMMUNITY FARM STORE Best selection ever of beautiful Fair Trade handmade African Baskets; a perfect gift for friends and family.

2, 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan 250 748-6227.

WESTHOLME TEA COMPANY Chai Gift Set $60.00 For the lover of warm masala spices and comforting cups of tea. Gift set includes: Six different chai blends.

8350 Richards Trail, Westholme www.westholmetea.com

MEDI HEADY GLASS CO Beautifully handcrafted - One of a kind. Gifts that will last a lifetime. Ornamental and functional collection of artisan glass.

181 Station Street, Duncan 250 709-0454

ITALIAN KITCHEN & DELI AT GROVE HALL FARM Give the gift of food this Christmas with a custom or house made Italian gourmet food basket! 6159 Lakes Road, Duncan www.grovehallfarm.com

COWICHAN VALLEY RUNNING Shine like a beacon! HyperNight LED Vest makes sure you’re seen on the road or trails when you’re out after dark. 155-2720 Mill Bay Road, Mill Bay cowichanvalleyrunning.com

MERRIDALE’S SpeakEasy Club is an exclusive holiday experience.

Explore one-of-a-kind craft spirits and curated cocktails that can’t be found elsewhere. 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill www.merridale.ca

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BEST OF COWICHAN 2023 GIFT GUIDE

WILD COAST PERFUMERY Natural, artisan perfumes they will love. All made in Cowichan Bay Synthetic & Cruelty Free 1721 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay. www.wildcoastperfumes.com

FREYA SOPHIA WALDORF STORE Warmth, Wonder, Wisdom: Beautiful natural dolls, toys and books for all ages and stages, a never ending inspiring selection. Located by the Community Farm Store in the Sol Centre: 3, 5380 Trans Canada Hwy. Duncan 250 597-4763

REIKI WELLNESS Give a beautiful gift of self care with a relaxing Reiki Balancing session, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Detox Foot Spa - Relax Packages and Gift Certificates available. Valley View Centre 250 743-8122 www.reikiwellness.ca

AMPERSAND DISTILLING COMPANY Nocino! 2021 Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year! Made from green walnuts & local honey. Grab a bottle at the Duncan Farmers Market 250 999-1109 www.ampersanddistilling.com

THE OLIVE STATION Give the gift of flavour with an expertly curated Olive oil & balsamic vinegar gift pack! available in-store or online.

225 Canada Ave #7, downtown Duncan 250 597-8808 www.theolivestation.com

OUTLOOKS MENSWEAR Secrid wallets are made in Holland, with great care. The patented mechanism slides out your cards with one simple motion. 53 Station Street, Duncan 250 597-2848 outlooksmenswearduncan.com

EMINENCE ORGANICS SKIN CARE at SOUL ESCAPE SPA Merry and Bright! Give the gift of beautiful glowing skin this winter with Eminence. Limited edition gift sets available. #109-2763 Beverly Street Duncan soulescape.ca

MARGIT NELLEMANN HANDBUILT CERAMICS Handbuilt, functional and decorative ceramics, including cups, mugs, bowls, teapots, vases and lanterns - created with love and care for your every-day enjoyment.

8350 Richards Trail, Duncan 250 748-3811

RESTHOUSE Sleep is the gift that keeps on giving. Filled with either organic rubber or wool, Kakūn pillows can be easily adjusted to fit any sleeper. They come travel-sized too! Local pickup and free shipping.

250 597-7378 resthousesleep.com 37

Tom Cochrane remains one of the only three male Canadian singer-songwriters to have a diamond certified album in Canada.

Canadian rock icon, Tom Cochrane, announces concert in Duncan The Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee brings his Song & Stories: Tom Cochrane.

The Duo tour to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre with Ryan McMahon to open as special guest.

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he Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and Gee Dan Productions are proud to present Songs & Stories: Tom Cochrane. The Duo on Monday, November 20 at 7:30pm. Opening the performance is special guest, Vancouver Island-based singersongwriter, Ryan McMahon.

8350 Richards Trail, Westholme, BC | 250-748-3811

WESTHOLMETEA.COM

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With a fabled career of forty years, Tom Cochrane has rocked stages as both the lead singer and songwriter for Red Rider, and as the solo act that launched him into the global success he is today.

Having helped shape the musical landscape for future generations of Canadian artists,

His 1991 Mad Mad World album, featuring hit singles “Life Is A Highway,” “Sinking Like A Sunset” and “No Regrets”, pitched the singer into stardom after the acclaimed album swept the JUNOs that year with 4 wins, including Album of the Year, Single of The Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.

After claiming 8 JUNOS across his expansive career and countless award wins, Cochrane has secured his place as an inductee to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Achieving honours both onstage for his outstanding contribution to the greater recognition of Canadian music, and off stage for his humanitarian efforts and lifetime of charity work, Cochrane continues to set the bar of what it means to be a Canadian icon.

Vancouver Island’s Ryan McMahon (co-founder of Lion, Bear, Fox) will be opening the performance for Cochrane this November. Ryan has toured Canada countless times, released five full-length albums, and seen his music licensed nationally and abroad.

He has shared the stage with an extremely wide-variety of artists, ranging from Lisa Loeb and Buffy Ste. Marie to Nickelback and Mother Mother.

Tickets to Songs & Stories:Tom Cochrane. The Duo are $85 for Tier 1 and $70 for Tier 2. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 250-746-2722 or at the Ticket Centre at 2687 James St., Duncan. For further show information visit our website at www.cowichanpac.ca.

Chai - A Cup of Comfort

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id all the beautiful golden, brown and red Fall colours draw inspiration from the spices that make up a Masala blend or is it perhaps the other way around?

In any event, there is hardly a better time than Autumn to enjoy the warming comfort of a steaming cup of chai.

The contents of a masala blend depend on a few factors – the destined use of the spices (curry, tea, dessert, etc.), the location or region, and last but not least, the family. Each family in India will have its own Masala blend and there is no set recipe for a proper masala mixture.

Chai means Tea Did you know that when we say ‘chai tea’ we are actually saying ‘tea tea’?

That being said, a traditional Indian ‘Chai’ will consist of Assamese black tea and a variation of the following spices – ginger root, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper and sometimes star anise and fennel.

The word ‘tea’ comes from the Chinese word ‘cha’.

In Hindi the word for tea is ‘chai’.

The Origins of Chai in India.

When tea plantations were first established in India under British Imperialism, the prices for pure black tea were prohibitively high for most locals so any tea leaves made available were cooked with traditional spices, fresh milk and sugar to make tea more affordable.

This is how chai came to be and chai was adopted and woven into the vibrant fabrics of Indian culture.

Today Chai merchants, known as Chaiwalas are a staple on Indian streets all through the country. Chai stalls are hubs for socialization – people of all ages and backgrounds gather to mingle and converse. Chai is a welcoming conversation starter in India and no matter the season Chai will be served steaming hot.

What Is Masala?

The word Masala refers to the spice mixture used to make chai.

Masala dates back millennia, originating from traditional ayurvedic practices of using herbs and spices for healing.

The colours, the fragrance and the unique flavours of all these spices have been an inspiration to the many chai blends we have created at Westholme Tea Company.

For our traditional Masala Chai, we went through several spice combinations before we settled on our current recipe. This one is as close as you can get to buying a steaming cup of freshly made chai from a chaiwala in India.

The exotic fragrance of ginger, cardamom and cinnamon combine perfectly in this black tea base.

The black pepper and cloves add an exciting touch at the end.

If you prefer to savour all the exotic spices without any added caffeine, there are numerous herbal and non-caffeinated chai blends available including our very popular Rooibos Chai, Nettle Chai, Golden Chai, or Pure Spice.

Most of our Chai blends can be prepared in either of two different methods – steeping it like any other tea, or the traditional Indian cooking method.

To cook your Chai, use the following simple method: • One heaping teaspoon of Chai per cup of liquid (8 ounces) using a ratio of half water to half milk/milk alternative.

• Bring the water and Chai to a full boil for three minutes.

• Add milk/milk alternative, return to a boil and let simmer for a few more minutes.

• Strain and sweeten to taste.

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Peek inside the Enchanted Garden

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Experience The Magic of The Season at The Sunrise Waldorf Winter Faire

own the road from Cowichan Station, on a small piece of property with a wide view of hills and valley, stands a little school with a big heart. Sunrise Waldorf School is the happy hub of learning for some 150 students and their grateful families.

TEN OLD BOOKS

Always something for everyone

Great Selection of Used & New Books • Bestsellers & Award Winners • Classic Novels & Timeless Favourites • BC & Canadian Authors Plus Local Cards • Crafts • Children’s Books • Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas and More!

102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383 Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage

GLENORA

STORE & CAFE

CAFE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

JOIN US FOR TACO TUESDAY! PLUS DAILY SPECIALS & SOUPS BREAKFAST, LUNCH, BAKED GOODS, DRINKS, TREATS, GROCERIES AND MORE!

5090 Indian Road (corner of Glenora Rd & Indian Rd) 250-746-5313 I glenorastore@gmail.com 40

The school boasts many wonderful seasonal festivities throughout each year, but perhaps the most beloved and eagerly anticipated event is the magical Winter Faire. Falling this year on Saturday, November 25, the Winter Faire promises to be as special a day as ever.

Tickets will be sold in front of the school for food and activities. Enjoy a treat from the magical Cookie Cave and a little gift from the Enchanted Garden, dip your own beeswax candle or make a sweet, winter craft in one of our peaceful ‘workshops’.

Take a walk around the school

grounds in the chilly air to the wreath-making station, and then browse the Winter Market in and around the school hall, featuring lots of local vendors selling gorgeous handmade gifts and goodies!

Enjoy a serene moment in the beautiful kindergarten, where the teachers will be performing a puppet play for young and old alike. And don’t miss the Silent Auction, which promises luxurious and local treasures and experiences up for bidding.

Learn more about Waldorf education in the Cowichan Valley. Perhaps this is the educational opportunity your family are seeking. Our Admissions Director will be available to answer questions from prospective families, and student work will be on display, demonstrating what really sets Waldorf education apart.

As the days shorten and the nights darken, come join us as we make a bit of light and magic to carry through the cold season!

Come celebrate with us at the magical Winter Faire, Saturday November 25, 10am – 3pm Sunrise Waldorf School, 2148 Lakeside Road, Duncan. www.sunrisewaldorf.org

St Peter’s Winter Wonderland

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he Anglican Parish of St. Peter Quamichan is hosting a Christmas Wonderland Luncheon and Sale. This event is open to all ages! Our traditional festive lunch will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The

menu is gluten-free and it will feature baked ham with tasty sides dishes and a seasonal dessert. Tickets are $25 each and must be reserved and paid for in advance. This can be done by calling the church office at 250-7466262 or emailing admin@ stpeterduncan.ca In addition to the lunch, visit our Sweet Shoppe and Craft and Gift Stall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the Sweet Shoppe, you’ll be able to purchase boxes of homemade Christmas cookies. Each box (priced at $12) will contain an assortment of the holiday classics like Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies, Coconut Macaroons, Thumbprint Cookies, Sugar

Cookies and more. There will be a limited number of the cookie boxes so to guarantee that you’ll get one (or more), you can call or email the church office ahead of time.

The Craft and Gift Stall will sell jams and jellies, useful handsewn items like cosmetic travel bags, key fobs, and passport travel pouches along with craft kits for kids of all ages. Perfect gifts to fill ALL your Christmas Stockings!

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the Cowichan Valley on Saturday December 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Peter Quamichan located at 5800 Church Road (off Maple Bay Road). We hope to see you there!

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Superfriends Workshop

The Winter Bazaar Features over 90+ Local Artists and Makers

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xperience the enchantment at the Winter Bazaar on December 2nd & 3rd, 11 am - 5 pm, held at the picturesque Gorge Park Pavilion (1070 Tillicum Rd. Victoria). Immerse yourself in the allure of the newly unveiled LEEDS building set amidst Japanese Gardens, hosting an array of 90+ Artists & Makers.

the studio today. Emma believes handmade objects carry a special energy, so she and her team take great care to hand make each piece with love and joy.

The Aunty Collective

Paige Coull Blackbird Pottery

Vendor highlights at this year’s event: The Aunty Collective is a fully Indigenous owned and operated venture centering Indigenous women, youth, 2SLGBTQIA+ participation that offers a safe space to explore culture, ceremony and art.

Victoria’s contemporary fine jewellery company Emma Glover Design has been capturing the hearts of clients locally and internationally alike. The designs are pulled from nature and are infused with inspiration from ancient art forms and techniques that have been used to make jewellery for thousands of years, many of which are still used in

Paige Coull Blackbird Pottery is a functional ceramist based on Gabriola Island. The botanicals are drawn from the herbs in the garden, the animals are native to the places she’s lived. The dark bold colours of the winter forests are rich with the memories of her families and adventures. Step into her world and create space for pause in your own.

Atelier Tame line ranges from classic to unconventional designs using new and upcycled material that are made in limited numbers.

Handmade bags, bow ties and accessories. If you’re looking for something fun and unique, Viny may have what you need!

Flore. Sensual olfactory stories with a unique and ever changing collection of luxury niche natural Emma Glover Design

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perfume, plant potions, candle and alchemically distilled essences.

Intricately wild crafted and formulated on Vancouver Island using old world french perfume techniques including distillation, tinctures, infusions and enfleurage by artisan perfumery Stacey Moore. Hand blended in small batches with both locally sustainable gathered ingredients & ethically sourced rare oils from around the world.

Pizza for Breakfast Designs

Pizza for Breakfast Designs are inspired by retro and vintage styles, bright colours, bold streetwear—and of course, that little life-loving, smirk-wearing, rebellious slice in all of us that wouldn’t think twice about cracking open a box of Pizza for Breakfast. Our resin earring designs and Jesmonite home decor are crafted in Victoria and are made to funk up any earhole and space they meet.

Jake Pruim’s art finds inspiration from the exciting patterns of the 60s and 70s. He explores these ideas through a unique style influenced by classic cartoons, retro styles, nature, and street art.

St. Evans Hattery

St. Evans Hattery re-introduces hand-made artisanal hat-making, producing high-quality, bespoke fur-felt hats made with timehonoured practices, tools, and materials. While the methods are traditional, St. Evans’ hats encompass a wide variety of styles – from classic to unique; historic to modern.

As the story goes, my heart skipped a beat, grew three sizes and thus my inner child unzipped and climbed out from her adult skin suit. The feeling of making

those first (and all subsequent) Superfriends was pure MAGIC. It touched my soul, and nurtured me in a way no other creative project had. And so, Superfriends was born. Since then I have let my inner child guide me, she whispers to me her ideas and I create them. Everything I create is hand plucked from the ethos and brought to life from sketch to plushie. All friends are one of a kind, hand sewn and brought to existence for the sole reason of sparking childlike joy and wonder.

Kid Sister frozen delights are locally made with a commitment to artisanal production methods.

All of our products are churned in small batches at our Esquimalt kitchen where we make unique flavours of ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt, vegan sorbet, plus ice pops, fruit cream pops, and more. We partner with Promise Valley Farm in Duncan for organic grass-fed heritage breed Guernsey dairy, and we source fruit, produce and edible flowers from local family-owned farms.

Indulge your senses with handcrafted Mellifera wonders, Bees curated by local Indigenous artists, exquisite jewellery, pottery, botanical perfumes, chic local clothing designers, masterful hat makers, adorable baby and kids clothes.

Monsters, artisan honey, decadent chocolates, delightful treats, artisanal beer, festive swag and wreath making workshops and a charming silver Tintype photo booth.

Immerse yourself in the world of Utilitarian Art, savour Japanese treats, relish Kid Sister Ice Cream, sip on Routine Coffee, enjoy Vagabonds Pies, Churro & Amor, and partake in a captivating Gin Tasting. Be prepared for surprises, including special guests and outof-town rock star artists!

Accessible to all, the event boasts full wheelchair accessibility with the convenience of an elevator.

Don’t miss this opportunity to revel in artistic brilliance and festive delights at the Winter Bazaar—a celebration for all to enjoy!

Artisan Winter Bazaar, December 2 & 3, 11-5pm Gorge Park Pavillion, Two Floors of vendors 1070 Tillicum Rd, Victoria @thefernwoodmakersparty

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you can be sure that there is nothing out there quite like it.

• Affordable: With a sprinkle of imagination, it is possible to make something without spending a lot of money.

• Eco-Friendly: Upcycling or repurposing materials for gifts is a great way to do your part in protecting the environment.

NOVEMBER

EVENTS We are an open textilebased studio located in the heart of the Cowichan Valley.

NOV 1 & 3 1pm/3:30pm

Kids Learn to Sew 8-12 yrs (6 weeks) $190

The Gift of Handmade

NOVEMBER 2 6-9pm

Adult Learn to Sew

(4 weeks) 6-9pm $375 NOVEMBER 4 2-5pm

Boxer Shorts $95 NOVEMBER 9 3:45 -5:45pm

Teens Learn to Sew

13 - 16 yrs (6 weeks) $290 NOVEMBER 17 10-1pm

Learn to Quilt (4 weeks) $375

NOV 18 & 19 10-3pm

Adult Learn to Sew (2 full days) $375

NOVEMBER 25 10 - 1pm

Button up Shirt/Jacket (3 weeks) $275

NOVEMBER 25 10-2pm

Georgia Top $135

Enquiries: info@thespoolyard.ca 250 710-1165

WWW.THESPOOLYARD.CA 44

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here is something magical about receiving a handmade gift. It’s a physical reminder that someone cared enough about you to put in the time and effort to create something special just for you. And here’s a not-so-secret secret: it feels just as wonderful to be the one giving the gift! As the holiday season approaches, here are some reasons to consider making or choosing handmade gifts for your loved ones.

Handmade gifts are: • Thoughtful: The recipient knows you were thinking about them and the kind of things that they like.

• Personal: Making something unique is a creative way to let someone know how you feel about them.

• One of a Kind: If you made it yourself,

So go ahead–unleash your creativity and show your love and appreciation for those in your world. You too will reap the benefits. If you don’t feel you have the time or inclination to make something yourself, you can support the Cowichan Valley’s economy by choosing items made by local artisans.

Watch for notices for upcoming holiday markets and craft fairs in your area.

Still looking for ideas? You could give a friend or family member the gift of learning to sew by signing them up for one of The Spool Yard’s very popular Learn to Sew classes. We have classes for all ages–kids, teens and adults. A gift certificate works too. Or come into the studio and check out our samples of upcoming workshops of things you can make yourself. We will have lots of new offerings in November and December, including pre-made kits you can assemble during Open Sew sessions and classes featuring new and upcycled materials. We’d love to help you find or make the perfect handmade gift for everyone on your list.

Tanya Trafford is an instructor at The Spool Yard, where she inspires young students to discover the joy of making things themselves.

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Beauty Berry

PLANTS FOR THE WINTER GARDEN

The Winter Garden

ENJOY A 4 SEASON GARDEN

Bernie Dinter, Dinter Nursery.

Family owned and operated since 1973

T • Winter flowering camellia

• Winter flowering heather (Erica)

• Himalayan Sweet Box • Chinese Witch Hazel • Christmas Rose (Hellebore) • VIburnums • Japanese Skimmia • Red Twig Dogwood • Paperbark Maple • Himalayan Birch • Firethorne • Cotoneaster • Wintergreen EMPTY PLANTERS? See our display of colourful hardy plants suitable for winter planters.

Visit us Saturday, Nov. 25.

Annual Open House and Maker’s Market (10-3pm) Open every day 9-5pm.

Serving local gardeners since 1973

www.dinternursery.ca 250 748-2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

he winter months are also a season for enjoying the garden. Some plants have shed their foliage to reveal interesting stem structures and colourful bark. A few examples are Himalayan Birch, Paperbark Maple, Red Twig Dogwood and Contorted Hazelnut. Weeping forms of Japanese Maple and Young’s Weeping Birch create shelter for birds seeking protection under an attractive branch structure. Make sure that these plants are located where they can be seen in winter such as by the house or driveway. One does not venture into the back garden during the short misty days of winter.

Some plants such as Firethorn, Pernettya, Beauty Berry and Skimmia have colourful, long lasting berries. Eventually,

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Deborah Carruthers BA, BSW, MA Counsellor and Wellness Practitioner To book a session or view upcoming events and workshops, please visit: www.harmonywellnessevolution.com

250-715-1773 360 Duncan St #103, Duncan 46

many of these berries get devoured by hungry birds. European Mountain Ash is an example of a berry that the birds quickly feast on.

There are few plants that flower in early winter.

An exception is the evergreen Camelia sasanqua with its range of colourful bloom in November and December. Some varieties of Viburnum such as Spring Bouquet start their blooming during mild spells of winter weather. Early spring blooming plants set attractive flower buds in fall such as Pieris, Japanese Mahonia and winter heather or Erica. The Mahonia is a Japanese Mahonia favourite of our overwintering Anna’s Hummingbird. After New Years we have a colourful sequence of flower opening such as Chinese Witch Hazel, Viburnum Pink Dawn and the very fragrant Himalayan Sweet Box. As we get into February, the winter blooming heather or Erica are blooming followed by Pieris or Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub. With the cooler temperatures, these plants can have long blooming seasons.

With a little planning and foresight in selecting plants for winter interest, one can have a garden that brings pleasure and interest through all four seasons.

natural frequency.

Organic cotton (70 to 110 mHz): Organic cotton offers a vibrational frequency that closely mirrors the human body’s energy. It is both comfortable and nurturing for sleepwear and bedding.

The Pinnacle of Comfort: Wool

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ur curated collection, focusing on natural wool products, is designed to revolutionize your sleep experience. Wool, with its remarkable vibrational frequency of 5000 mHz, stands out as the pinnacle of comfort and well-being for sleepwear and bedding. Not only is it incredibly comfortable, but it also promotes your overall wellness.

Comparing Vibrational Frequencies Let’s take a closer look at the vibrational frequencies of various textiles: Wool (5000 mHz): Wool, the ultimate choice for sleepwear and bedding, closely aligns with the human body’s natural frequency, offering exceptional comfort and well-being.

Linen (5000 mHz): Linen boasts a natural high vibrational frequency, providing a cool and breathable sleep surface that harmonizes with your body’s

Non-organic cotton, bleached, and/or dyed (40 to 70 mHz): This cotton variation has a lower vibrational frequency, which may not align as closely with the body’s natural energy.

Rayon, Polyester, Spandex, Lycra, Elastane, Nylon, and Silk (up to 15 mHz): These synthetic fabrics possess a lower vibrational frequency, making them low-energy materials that can strain your body if worn for extended periods.

A sickly, nearly dead individual’s frequency is about 15. Any healthy individual with a frequency of 100 wearing lowenergy fabrics will have a strain on their body.

At Soul Comfort, we are committed to your well-being.

Our natural wool products prioritize comfort and boast a vibrational frequency that aligns with your body’s energy, creating a nurturing sleep sanctuary. Our thoughtfully designed wool bedding materials offer the same holistic benefits, building a sleep environment that enhances both your physical health and emotional well-being.

LINDSAY CAMPA, RMT • REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY •YOGA THERAPY thehealingbody.ca Valleyview Centre #39-1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Cobble Hill 250-466-4607 lindsay.campa@gmail.com

Don’t miss out on the lifechanging transformation that Soul Comfort’s wool sleep offerings can bring. Take full advantage of our November Sleep Sale, where all sleeprelated wool products are offered at an unbeatable 15% discount. Rest easy knowing that you’re investing in a wellinformed choice that elevates your sleep to new levels of comfort and revitalizes your physical health and energy.

exclusive range of vibrational wool sleepwear and bedding.

Elevate your sleep, indulge in unparalleled comfort, and awaken the radiance within you.

At Soul Comfort, your wellbeing is our top priority.

Visit our store or explore our website to discover our

Submitted by Kyle Chirobokow for Soul Comfort Sheepskin

Sleep soundly and wake up refreshed with the perfect frequency all night. Discover the ultimate comfort and safety of Soul Comfort for thriving days ahead.

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It’s time to be merry!

The holiday Extravaganza is here

November 23rd

1:00 pm - 7:00 pm 5174 Francis St, Koksilah GIFT BAGS* AND DOOR PRIZES PROVIDED *limited quantity

The Old Farm Garden Center’s Holiday Extravaganza

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chill is in the air, Christmas trees are glowing, hot apple cider is flowing and you have finished your Christmas shopping before the end of November!

The Old Farm Garden Holiday Extravaganza is back for another year - grab your closest friends and come join us for a night of festive cheer and shopping on Thursday, November 23.

While you may not check everything off of your Christmas list you can

expect to find great deals on everything in store! All outdoor pots, giftware and seasonal/home decor will be 25% off! Enjoy these deals and find the perfect gift to brighten your loved ones’ smiles this Christmas.

Find amazing deals on everything in store, including; gifts, pots, fresh Vancouver Island greenery and wreaths, as well as beautiful holiday decor.

Come celebrate the season with us and enjoy festive treats, warm drinks and tons of holiday fun! We will be having a raffle for everyone who stops by, as well as a customer appreciation gift with the first 75 purchases.

We will be collecting items for Toys, Toiletries and Touques for the month of November, be sure to bring a donation item to the Holiday Extravaganza for an extra entry into our raffle!

This is a fun and festive night and we always love celebrating the season with our community! We hope to see you there!

Allysa Simmons

Yam & Pumpkin Facial with 20% Enzyme Peel $115 Join us Tuesday, November 7th 9am- 5pm HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT All Day- No Tax! *Complimentary Treatments All Day* *Door Prizes & *Gift Bags

Tues-Thurs 9-5pm (By Appointment Mon & Fri) Closed Sat & Sun and Stat Holidays 109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) 250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca 49

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elcome to the Writers Forum. In the coming months, we’ll be sharing ideas about writing fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

This space—a collaboration between Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine and the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society—will be used to encourage ‘story telling’ by sharing techniques and strategies.

We can begin with the statement that: Writing isn’t just about writing.

It’s about sharing experiences in ways that entertain, inspire, explore, celebrate, deplore, challenge, and amaze with descriptions of life in all its forms, manifestations, motives, moods, and actions.

For some, it’s a cyclical vocation that arcs from beginning to beginning with occasional breathers in places called ‘The End’.

What is commonly referred to as ‘writing’—the skillful organization of those whirling streams of consciousness into works of literary art

What’s the Writers 4-UM that captivate and engage readers—is part of that cycle.

And perhaps ‘audiences’ is a better word to use than ‘readers’ for describing who we want to reach because, in this day and age, we have to take our stories beyond “a set of written, printed, or blank pages fastened along one side and encased between protective covers”— thefreedictionary.com definition of a book.

Books and e-books will remain the reader’s choice for a long time to come.

But we will also consider

alternative formats—novels published as websites, audio and video readings, Zoom sessions—because they offer opportunities to reach new audiences and to promote and sell books effectively in online venues.

We miss the point of writing if we begin too soon or stop before we’ve reached our goal—a gripping work of literature coming to life in the minds of readers, listeners, and viewers. Over time, most writers develop a cycle that might include: inspiration; exploration of

theme, character, plot, setting, and structure; story mapping and outlining; research; audience identification; writing (initial draft); story editing and rewriting (second draft); proofing and rewriting (final draft); final final draft (and so on); prepublication production and sharing; final publication and production; promotion and sales; promotion and sales; promotion and sales...

The most successful writers are excited and creatively engaged at every stage in their process. From the inspired outset they believe in their stories and are enthusiastic about getting them read, heard, and shared.

In our next instalment we’ll talk about inspiration. Where does it come from, how do we capture it, and what do we do with it? If you have any comments or questions about that, or any other facet of the writer’s life, contact craigspencewriter@shaw.ca.

The Vanilla Frankincense Collection available for a limited time

269 Craig Street, Duncan • 250-746-5454 50

“This is a time worthy of despair,” says cheery Margaret Wheatley on national radio, her hopefulness floats through the fuzz of poor reception, rattles the hammer inside my ear— clang clang.

Hope is a dirty word in my head in 2020, this segmented time defined by climate despair, protest and pandemic.

Her aim to arouse inherent virtue, flourish goodness calls me to churn the origin of my hope’s rejection.

Confronting our surrender arouses grit, when all future feels slaughtered we’re left with the needs of now.

“I’m not afraid of despair,” I hear Wheatley, this trainer of warriors say. Temper fight-flight-freeze with generosity; a war for the human spirit.

But what if I’m spiritless?

A quote from Margaret Wheatley “Sane leadership is the unshakeable faith in people’s capacity to be generous, creative and kind. It is the commitment to create the conditions for these capacities to blossom, protected from the external environment.

It is the deep knowing that, even in the most dire circumstances, more becomes possible as people engage together with compassion and discernment, self-determining their way forward.” from Who Do We Choose to Be?

We mail our spit to genome databases, each bloodline, traced back to some abstract era, these visible links aid little illumination to my own cyclical audit of personality— I exist free and bound, carefree and anguished, here and then, somehow.

No forged heritage to cling to, merely North American.

Mix all of Western Europe and maybe one drop Indigenous, like most colonizer’s great-offspring, I’m just lost and white.

Spirit is invisible tension thumping between DNA’s unconscious legends and fatalism.

Mammals perform an adrenal cortex directive, need discipline to repress stress.

Ancestors traded all hope continental. And now I’m left to become a “warrior,” left to blunt my temperament relative to despair, in case the aerosol of individual bloodlines get sprayed when we taste fear meeting the air.

Laura Stephenson 51

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Located at #12 - 740 First Avenue, Ladysmith (above the Library) Contact us at 250-802-2812 or visit www.pacificpearl.ca 52

be a cause of her headaches. She told me that she had been suffering for over ten years with constant daily headaches. She had been to fifteen different specialists to try and diagnose the problem. When I looked at her jaw and told her I could help, she started crying. Clearly, I thought, there are not a lot of people who understand the power of this complicated joint.

TMJ Dysfunction

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hen I was in Chiro College we had to memorize a series of orthopaedic tests for the joints of the body. It was a huge list of evaluations, for only one course out of seventeen.

Study time was at a premium, and my study buddy opted to nix the TMJ evaluation.

If the TMJ was chosen for his exam, he would pull an automatic fail.

On the exam day, he pulled the “shoulder” as the joint to evaluate. He passed the exam. I pulled the TMJ as the joint to evaluate. I got an “A.” Thus began my careerlong study of this unique joint.

The temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) can cause multiple problems if it does not function properly. There was the woman who saw me “because the whistling in her head made her want to run down the street screaming.” We resolved the problem and her need to run down the street. There was the man who “woke up the entire marina at night with his snoring.” At least his wife said he did. At our last visit, he said that his wife had woken him up in the night because “she was scared when he was so quiet.”

My most recent TMJ patient saw me after her dentist suggested to her that a problem with her TMJ might

The TMJ is influenced by many different parts. The jaw bone has two prongs on each end. While one prong is flat and somewhat pointy, the other prong is bulbous. It is called a “condyle” and it fits into a cup-like portion of the temporal bone. This is the joint that makes up the TMJ. The TMJ is unique in that the condyle sits on a “disc.”

Picture a kneeling pad that you might use to pull up weeds from garden. When we open our mouth, the condyle rolls on the disc, and then together, the disc and the condyle slide down the socket. If the condyle doesn’t roll, or the disc doesn’t slide, our mouth doesn’t open. At least not very far.

The TMJ is unique in that one side completely influences the other side. The jaw is one bone. If one side is not seated well, it must follow that the other side is not seated well.

This can cause headaches when muscles get tight or get stretched.

Dr Joanne Welham is a Chiropractor with a special interest in cranial and TMJ adjusting.

Esther Hamar, Reiki Healer at Purely Wellness www.purelywellness.com

250-748-0053 101 - 15 Canada Ave, Duncan

Chiani Wellness Centre Dr. Joanne Welham B.A., D.C Chiropractor 250.743.6616

#3-2990 Horton Road, Mill Bay www.yourfullpotential.ca I info@chianiwellness.ca

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Men’s Group Meets Twice a Month in Duncan

New Moon Intention Setting Walk

Join a confidential, supportive space where men gather to deepen their personal development journey. Based on the principles of the Mankind Project and facilitated through authentic conversations and powerful exercises, we explore vulnerability, accountability, and leadership, fostering genuine connections and personal growth.

November 8 & 22 Men’s Group: 7pm-9:30pm. 416 Jubilee St., Duncan $5 For more info: 250-710-1056

New Moon Intention Setting - Lacking clarity in your life and feeling stuck? Wondering how to change your life to feel sure and focused? Come learn a simple yet powerful way to shift your mindset by creating an intention to feel and see changes during the two week cycle of the new moon. Join 5 like minded women as we walk, self-reflect, and share, while connecting with the rhythms of mother nature. Chemainus Lake, November 12 Sunday, 1 pm to 2:30. Free with Dianna Graves. Register at DiannaLeeGraves.com or Eventbrite.ca

Reiki Master Debbie Shkuratoff Reiki Wellness

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ebbie opened Reiki Wellness in the fall of 2004 after a few years of studying energy work, healthy living, and other alternative ways to assist the body to wellness after watching her young son suffer with Asthma, and other ailments with family and friends. Reiki Wellness was opened with the intention of assisting others in finding alternative therapies to assist their body, mind, spirit in finding health and happiness.

Debbie is a truly exceptional healer, whose expertise in Reiki is matched only by her passion for helping others heal. With multiple Reiki Master Levels under her belt, starting from the traditional Usui system, she has honed her skills and knowledge in various Reiki styles, making her a beacon of light in the realm of alternative healing practices. Through her platform, Learning Reiki Debbie, she shares her wealth of knowledge, offering individual and group Reiki instruction at all levels, creating a space for others to embark on their healing journeys.

Beyond her impressive credentials, what truly sets Debbie apart is her genuine passion for Reiki.

Her dedication to the transformative power of

this ancient healing art illuminates the path toward healing for those she touches.

With a deep understanding of the mind, emotions, and spirit, Debbie goes beyond just providing treatments and workshops. She is a compassionate guide, empowering individuals to rejuvenate their body’s life force, release blocked energy, and find relief from pain, anxiety, and depression. Her approach fosters profound emotional release and instills peace of mind in those she works with.

Debbie’s commitment to empowering others and her unwavering belief in the healing potential of Reiki make her not only a great healer but also an inspiring mentor and guide for anyone seeking holistic well-being.

Book in with Debbie at Reiki Wellness #13-Upper Level, Valley View Centre, Cobble Hill 250 748-8122. www.reikiwellness.ca

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hat do we share with forests, farms, fish, frogs, and our furry and feathered friends? We all depend on water to live, eat, and fulfill other aspects of living. Have you ever stopped to consider the essential work of water, our relationships with water and our reliance on water to continue living in the valley?

Some connections are easy to recognize: we all drink, bathe, swim, and grow with water. We see rain fall, streams flow, and puddles form. When we dig a hole at the beach, we expect that hole to fill with water from underground.

Other connections we often don’t think about include: changing weather patterns, roads and building construction, ditches and dugouts, cisterns and culverts, and other land activities and infrastructure.

Are you curious to grow your connections with the place you call home?

Join us for an informative and interactive talk with hydrogeologist Tom Gleeson to discover the importance of groundwater, streams and climate in our lives. Learn about groundwater-surface water connections, the water balance, seasonal and biophysical factors that influence the availability of water and consider how all these factors interact locally. We’ll talk a lot about the late summer when the watershed is at its driest, and groundwater is most important to maintaining flows.

Can’t join us? Here are a few other ways to connect with the watershed now: • Visit the watershed. Notice when water flows, how warm, cold, deep or shallow it is, and where water travels. Explore changes in the landscape, turn over rocks, watch wildlife, and wonder.

• Exchange water stories with neighbours and friends. What are you noticing in the watershed?

What is similar and different about

Residents monitor stream flow and observe flora and fauna at a creek in Glenora. Photo: Jennifer Shepherd

Everything’s Connected: Groundwater, Streams, Climate and You! your experiences?

• Read short articles about groundwater-to-surface water connections in the Xwulqw’selu Sta’lo (Koksilah River watershed) at xwulqwselu.uvic.ca • Sign up to monitor streamflow next summer. Email jshepherd@ uvic.ca or call Jennifer at (236) 800-9011.

• Reflect and respond. Consider the effects you want your actions to have and work together with the biological workforce for water. Observe nature, preserve habitats, conserve water, plant seeds or seedlings, and

grow plants for food or other functional purposes.

Everything’s connected: groundwater, streams, climate and you! November 20 from 7-8:30pm VIU Cowichan, 2011 University Way, Duncan, Lecture Hall 140 – FREE talk, offered as part of the Cowichan Watershed Board Speaker Series Everyone is welcome - water nerds and newbies alike!

Jennifer Shepherd (she/ her/ hers) Community Researcher, Xwulqw’selu Connections

Residents record stream flow data on a free community science app while observing flora and fauna in the upper reaches of the Xwulqw’selu Sta’lo (Koksilah River watershed) Photo: Kristina Disney

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How’s Your Soil Structure?

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Amy LuckMacGregor Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician

t’s always seemed to me like we have a water storage problem, rather than a drought problem, here on the Island. Ask any permaculturalist or regenerative farmer the best way to store water and they will tell you, hands down, that it’s in the soil.

Storing water this way requires good soil structure, and for that we rely on beneficial (“aerobic”) soil organisms. Bacteria glue themselves to organic matter and other bits and pieces, forming micro aggregates. Along comes the fungi, weaving and gluing and pulling these

microaggregates into larger aggregates. Pore spaces, airways and passageways are created, forming a spongelike structure something akin to chocolate cake. Billions of microbes go about their daily business here, with roots easily accessing the water stored within this giant sponge.

Out at the Hope Farm corn experiment, we used water infiltration testing as one way to look at changes in soil structure with various management techniques.

You can measure your own baseline too, and repeat periodically to see if water is sinking in faster over time. If so, congratulations, you are regenerating your soil and increasing your yields! If not, then you are likely short on beneficial microbes.

Here’s how: 1. Take a tube 6 inches in diameter and 6 inches long, ideally a piece of metal pipe with one edge sharpened.

But you could use PVC pipe, or even a 1 gallon pot if compaction isn’t an issue.

4. Time until the last of the water disappears into the soil

2. Pop a piece of wood over top and use a mallet to drive it 4 inches deep into the soil

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 twice more. The first inch is to wet your soil, the second inch is your likely measurement, and the third can be your reading if your soil is very dry. If infiltration takes longer than 12.5 minutes, call me… runoff problems and evaporation of precious rainfall is imminent!

3. Lay some recycled plastic on the soil surface, edges coming up and out of the tube. Add 1 inch of water (or pour in 450ml), then gently pull out the plastic and start timing

VI Classic Auto Detailing Brian Shkuratoff Owner

250 743-1150 shop 250 709-1990 cell/text

3061 Renfrew Rd, Shawnigan Lake VIClassicAutoDetailing@gmail.com

www.VIClassicAutoDetailing.ca 57

San Poncho Founders Chris Worgan and Coco Lien

is usually tight fitting and made for intense outdoor activities, their garment aims to provide the same level of weather protection but with everyday use in mind and for a more accessible price point.

Coco and Chris thought ‘it’s the fabric that keeps you dry’.

So, they sourced the best leading-edge fabric they could, stripped away all the unnecessary features of a technical jacket and fashioned a simple silhouette.

The resulting garment was affordable and surprisingly stylish, yet still dependable and practical.

San Poncho As Local As it Gets!

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orn out of relentless rain and a quest for affordable rainwear, is a refreshing new take in a world often dominated by over-designed technical outerwear. Chris Worgan and Coco Lien sought simplicity and functionality, using top-tier waterproof/breathable fabric to craft oversized rain jackets with an elegant poncho vibe.

Embracing the pandemicinduced pause, together they navigated uncharted waters, finding reputable manufacturers to materialize their minimalist design. The ‘Legacy Poncho’ is their testament to practicality for everyday life along BC’s coast.

Designed to be oversized and loose fitting, the Legacy Poncho is made to pair well with a multitude of layers, even thicker ones like knit sweaters or puffy jackets.

Compared to high-end expensive outerwear that

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Fully boot strapped and selffunded, they invested their savings into a small run of 200 units.

Launching in November of 2020, they had sold out within 3 months, solidifying the concepts success. With their day jobs temporarily on hold due to the pandemic, they leveraged their available time to build up the business for a broader launch in the winter of 2021. Quickly they earned the trust of independent retailers up and down the island, like that of Laura Shand with Cowichan Valley Running.

Popular in both outdoor stores and in Lifestyle boutiques, there seems to be a part of the poncho that appeals to almost everyone. Not least of which is simply the ability to just stay dry. www.sanponcho.com Photo credits Allison Kuhl

What is Drought Mitigation and Why Do We Need It? on the amount of water available in the landscape, thus making our region more resilient.

This is the work of Rain Coast Earthworks.

BEFORE - stormwater sheets off landscape during storm events.

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My experience in studying and practicing whole systems design and permaculture has shown me that solutions to land management are often

he drought that we experienced this past Summer is a brief introduction to what the future of our region may look like. What this means is that there will be less water available in the landscape - for habitat creation and for human consumption.

This is a problem.

Water restrictions, AFTER - Stormwater permeates soil during dry wells and the storm events extremely low water levels on found through observing the the Koksilah and Cowichan landscape and how it wants to Rivers are, unfortunately, function. realities that we are all going Similarly, my previous to have to accept and adapt to. experience on job sites as a landscaper, stone mason and The good news is that there excavator operator has shown is a solution to this problem. me the practical and technical The solution to this problem aspects of how to make these exists in our damp, rainy solutions happen. winters.

Rain Coast Earthworks Our region is blessed with an overlays these two lenses abundance of rain throughout to solve the problems that the Winter and periodically our region faces. Rain through the year. By shaping Coast Earthworks offers the land to capture and Consultation, Design direct water we can recharge and Installation services. groundwater. This solution For clients interested in prolongs the health of our receiving a Consultation, a wells, crops, ponds and simple 1-hour assessment streams. We can design land of your property and a brief to have a positive impact document of our professional

Rain Coast Earthworks • Drought Mitigation • Site Excavation • Drainage Solutions Consultation, Design and Installation services for residential landowners committed to sustainable water management in our region.

Stephen Robert Disher 250.920.6712 admin@raincoast-earthworks.ca

www.raincoast-earthworks.ca

recommendations will provide you with what you need. For others, drafting a Design of how and where to capture, redirect and store water on your property will give you the ‘how to’ manual of building climate resilience into your property. And finally, we offer Installation services which can look as simple as us installing a rain barrel or cistern below your gutters, installing xeriscape gardens, or excavation of your property to re-shape

the land by installing ponds, swales and other water catchment tools.

We are serious about building climate resilience into our region. Call us today to explore what climate resilience could look like in your own backyard.

Stephen Robert Disher is the owner/operator of Rain Coast Earthworks. www. raincoast-earthworks.ca

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Subtle Senses

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n my integrated counselling and energy healing practice I work a lot with my subtle senses. For example: intuition, empathetic resonance felt as an emotion or physical sensation, inner visual images, and using my hands as energetic tools to assess and treat. In my way of understanding, subtle senses are a natural technology within the human system that receives and communicates information more subtle or energetic than physical. Like physical senses, they work without conscious awareness – and they can be trained and developed for more clear and conscious use.

Subtle senses are fine-tuned to the interconnected web of life.

And to the “magic” of life. By magic I don’t mean illusion or manipulation, but what is more wonderous and complex, non-linear, multidimensional, and intelligent than what my rational mind can map.

When I was young, I loved to hear and read stories about subtle senses and the magical worlds they revealed. Stories about relationships between humans and their relatives “on the other side,” or with angelic or nature spirits; stories about telepathic / non-local communication among various species. I was also increasingly aware that these stories were not part of the “real” world I was being

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taught to live in. I was careful about with whom, and how, I spoke about them – and about my own sense that life was more magical than I was being taught.

I eventually followed these stories into university religious studies, a seemingly safer place to be with them. Here my engagement was confined mostly to reading books and essays, listening to lectures, to rational thinking, and being graded on that. The stories further led me to go and be with people who were telling them, who were living them.

So I went into hospitals, into mental health, acute and end of life care, as a spiritual health practitioner (formerly “chaplain”).

Over 20 years, I heard and witnessed many stories of subtle senses: dying people who felt the presence of their ancestors; staff who had an intuition, premonition or “feeling” about their patients, later confirmed; visitors who sensed the presence of an “energy” in a room; “miraculous” healings with hands-on methods.

Over those years, I also saw subtle senses largely dismissed and kept outside the institutions of healthcare by what I came to understand as colonial norms and biases: e.g. human-centricity, racism,

“substance” use.

individualism, materialism, scientism, rationalism, commodification of nature, disconnection from ancestry.

Even many generations-long established and researched systems of knowledge and practice with subtle senses, often called “complementary and alternative” or “traditional” medicines, were excluded. I saw this in the treatment of Indigenous and cultural systems, and of people carrying them.

Because of those colonial norms and biases, many of these stories shared with me in hospitals were done so quietly, cautiously. I met people on psychiatric units whose stories had been interpreted as a sign of mental illness. Lacking support and mentorship for positive understanding, and safe ways of working with their subtle sensitivity, some experienced it as confusing, overwhelming, shameful, fearful. And I met some people who’d had sudden, big openings of their subtle-senses through use of plant medicines or psychedelics, whose need for support and mentorship was further challenged by the taboo and stigma around

I see a huge need for safe, healing spaces, and communities of practice, for normalizing, exploring and developing subtle senses. This is a big intention underlying how I work with people as part of the Ancient Origins Medicinals team – and in support of re-storying and embodying a more whole, relational, multidimensional and magical way of life.

As I’ve been taught across a variety of subtle sense trainings, this work begins with: • deepening self awareness, compassion and appreciation • unwinding patterns of tension, relaxing • strengthening connection with our bodies • patient, quiet ‘listening’ • opening to relationship, while holding respectful boundaries • nurturing imagination

YOUR LOCAL FARM AND FOOD TRUCK Find us at a farmer’s market near you or contact us for event catering.

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For an inspiring, encouraging story about subtle senses: I highly recommend the documentary The Animal Communicator (52 mins, photo below). This can be found on Anna Breytenbach’s website, on the “Media & Articles” page: www.animalspirit.org/mediaarticles Marnie Roper practices counselling and energy healing with Ancient Origins Medicinals

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We Love the Rain it’s Our Most Favourite Season

Valley View

Centre So much to offer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Wellness

Food & Drink

Reiki Wellness 250 743-8122

Country Grocer 250 743-5639

Island Hellerwork 250 661-1687

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese 250 929-2873

Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology

Deep Tissue Bodywork, Somatic Transformation

Healthcare Services Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698

Friendly, Family Practice We Welcome New Patients!

Island Pharmacy 250 743-1448

Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs.

Resonance Hearing 250 743-3337 Life Changing Hearing Solutions

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Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements

Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Pizzeria Prima Strada Cobble Hill 250-929-4655 Wood-fired pizza local wine & craft beer

Liquor Plus 250-929-1999

Wine, beer and spirits on the Upper Level.

Fitness Valley Health and Fitness 250-743-0511

Full service gym/classes

Art 1.Take a walk through the Cowichan Public Art Gallery where art captures the imagination located on Ingram Street in the historic Green Door building in Duncan. info@cowichangallery. ca or 250-215-2823 for more info.

2. Excellent Frameworks Gallery home of the E.J. Hughes Gallery the Gallery offers original and reproduction works of E.J.Hughes and original art from Canadian artists. Located in pedestrian friendly downtown Duncan at 115 Kenneth St. 3. CVAC Cowichan Valley Art Council located in the Cowichan Community Centre lobby near the library. Check out their web page for classes and art shows.

Games and Sports The Fort Game Café located at 250 Jubilee Street in Duncan offers over 150 board games to play. Do you want to try out Virtual Reality Games (VR) or some nostalgic 64? They have you covered.

The Tee Box-Cowichan Valley Golf Simulators located at 5869 York RD. in Duncan is the ultimate indoor golf experience.

Why not make it a date night. info@cvteebox.com for more info.

The Hangout Climbing Centre located at 1065 Canada Ave, in Duncan Hangout is a space for you to try your hand at climbing.

It offers bouldering and rope climbing to all ages. Contact 250701-6660 Check out the newest Cowichan Fall Recreation Guide with

activities being offered to all age groups. Whether you are interested in swimming, skating, or learning another language they have you covered. Check out all that they have to offer.

Duncan Lanes Bowling Centre is a great place for friends and family fun. Duncan Lanes is a perfect place for hosting a birthday party or reserving lanes for friends and don’t forget about their Glow Bowling at night and weekends.

Live Entertainment Cowichan Performing Arts Centre thrives to provide diversity in all its performances. Subscribe to the newsletter or follow on Instagram @cowichanpac or Facebook @ CowichanPerformingArtsCentre to be kept up to date on upcoming performances.

Chemainus Theatre Festival live theatre entertains you with Comedies, Cabarets, and Musicals. As the holiday season approaches why not join them for It’s a Wonderful Life A live radio play which opens on November 17.

Take in live music at The Duncan Showroom in the heart of Downtown Duncan. It’s all about the music showcasing local, national, and international entertainment. Follow them on Facebook at Duncan Showroom.

Patty Abbott, nature lover and avid outdoor person. Love where we live.

H

Dawn is a professional organizer who loves promoting sustainability Reach her at closetstocastles.ca

ave you started putting aside soft plastics to take to the recycling depot?

If you haven’t yet, it’s very easy to add it to your current collection system.

Soft plastics still make up a large percentage of what ends up in our landfills and oceans, so diverting what we can makes a real difference.

You see, many kinds of soft plastics can now be recycled back into the manufacturing process. That includes crinkly plastic, net bags (for veggies and fruit) and shrink wrap to name a few. Even squishy cushion packaging (polyethylene foam often used instead of styrofoam), bubble wrap and even our used up yellow recycling bags. All can be recycled together now, and diverted from our landfills. Although this does not address the need for more plastic bans, it’s important we repurpose what we can until we get there.

Island Return It Charity of the Month Deadline Coming:

Let’s Keep Soft Plastics Out of Our Landfills and Oceans Recycled soft plastics are sent to Vancouver facilities where they are shredded into small pellets and shipped to manufacturers who will reuse it. Since most of the products we purchase these days still come in plastic wrap, it’s more crucial than ever to gather it up to be reused. This is where Island Return It is there to help. There are soft plastic bins just outside the front doors of the Duncan and Cobble Hill branches, where you can drop these off at no charge. Make sure it is clean and dry please.

Please note that the following are not recyclable: • Vinyl bags (often used as packaging for pillows and comforters)

• Carry Bags with PVC/ Vinyl mixed (the kind sold at grocery stores) • Plastic bags made for disposal (garbage bags, compost/leaf bags) • Plastic squeeze tubes (toothpaste) • Crinkly cellophane wrap (most commonly used for flower arrangements) • Any packaging labelled biodegradable, compostable or oxo-degradable These last two are worth noting, as more and more biodegradable packaging replaces plastic, these will need to be thrown in the garbage, so they can degrade in the landfill.

We will all need to keep learning and adapting as

Are you a non-profit that could use a boost to your fundraising efforts? Island Return It “collects” money that recyclers choose not to pocket after dropping off their returnables, which gets set aside for local charities (one per month).

Apply by Dec.10th for the chance to be chosen as one of the lucky dozen (randomly selected out of a hat).

See the Island Return It website under the fundraising tab for more details. Good luck! innovations continue and plastic packaging is replaced with biodegradable and compostable alternatives.

Check your labels rather than guessing. Ask Island Return It’s staff if you need help, as mixed recycling can sometimes be tricky to identify.

Now you get to celebrate your garbage output shrinking to a fraction of what it used to be.

Thank you for continuing to recycle.

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M

ilk thistle or Silybum, is a well-known and time-honoured herb, a genus of two species of thistles in the Asteraceae/daisy family. Milk Thistle has been well-studied for improving liver function, and thus aiding in liver-related health issues (which are many!).

It has the capability of increasing survival in people with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis- two of the more severe liver disorders.

The liver is our powerhouse and must process all that comes into our digestive system and bloodstream including foods, drugs, toxins/chemicals, environmental tidbits and more. It helps absorb nutrients from diet, produces bile for fat digestion, and filters out the blood. It’s a busy busy organ! And so a great idea is to regularly do a milk thistle/formula detox, taking it consistently as

directed for 1 month, every 3 months or so. Additionally with supplementation, you can do a better liver-reboot by incorporating the following suggestions: • Drink less alcohol and better yet take a break • Cut out artificial foods and reduce packaged meals and cook from scratch, reduce sugar intake, and as always eat a whole foods diet = healthier body, mind, and liver!

• Drink lots water and exercise daily (will help flush out toxins) • Ensure proper digestion by going easy on excessively fatty foods, chewing thoroughly, and taking digestive enzymes with meals • Reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, including quitting smoking(which is linked to liver cancer) • Evaluate and adjust any dependance on OTCs and prescription drugs if possible, and explore natural options

The Mighty Milk Thistle

JOIN US

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY look for our daily specials on 40 Ingram Street

www.theoldfirehouse.ca 64

Downtown Duncan

(250) 597-3473

Milk thistle is the go-to herb in a cleanse/detox routine and for healing the liver from alcohol or high prescription drug use. It works well as an extract prepared in liquid/ tincture form, or in a liver/ combo with other liverhelpers(such as artichoke, NAC and glutathione, dandelion root). Milk thistle is also found in teas, however for a more effective protocol as discussed above, an extract is best because the properties in milk thistle are not watersoluble. An extract in tincture form or capsule is a good way to go. These will contain the active constituent silymarin for liver cell regeneration and damage repair. Take your supplement for 1-3 months,

depending on severity of liver overload (which will vary at different seasons on your life).

Marvelous milk thistle has many other benefits, much of which stem from its liverregeneration actions!: • liver and kidney protection *supports detoxification, digestion, and elimination • aids bone mineralization • neural brain function and protection • helps clear skin • lowers blood sugar • breast milk production • antioxidant and antiinflammatory Your liver is a dear friend, so treat it with respect, love, and care.

Essential Remedies 141 Craig St, Duncan 250 748-9632 www.essentialremedies.ca Good health to you! Tina Foster, RHN Essential Remedies

Why We Walk the Advent Spiral

T

he winds blow cold reminding us all that the chill of winter is coming. The days continue to darken and so we begin to bank the fires of our home life that will help nurture us through the dark winter’s cold.

Advent is approaching: a time for inner preparation as we look forward to kindling the inner light that glows within us all. At the Waldorf School of Cape Cod as well as in many other Waldorf schools there is a tradition of the Advent Spiral. It helps us to prepare for the peaceful celebration of the winter festivals (Christmas among others).

The Advent spiral began in the 1920s when a curative nurse brought it into a group home dedicated to the care of children with disabilities. She had been inspired by the custom from long ago in Bavaria, where farmers would bring moss and twigs into their homes and fashion a

garden on a table, which was lit with candles in apples. For them it was an expression of an old parable of Paradise. Later the festival was brought to Waldorf Schools all over the world.

Evergreen boughs (a symbol of life everlasting) are placed in a spiral form on the floor with a large candle in its center. The room is darkened and the mood is peaceful. The spiral begins; one at a time each child walks into the spiral with a lantern in which sits an unlit candle.

They walk with or without help from teachers and or parents depending on their needs and make their way to the spiral’s center. There they find the large lighted candle and from it light their own. They place their lantern with care and with help if needed somewhere along the spiral’s path and then they walk their way back to their seat.

TEN OLD BOOKS

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102-330 Duncan St 250 -715-1383 Find us inside the historic Duncan Garage

Providing the Cowichan Valley with Raw Cold Press 100% Organic Juices & Nut Mylks NEW Bone Broths with Medicinal Mushrooms!

Available EVERY DAY at The Community Farm Store or WEEKLY online at cow-op.ca. Direct orders can be placed to hello@euphoricjuicery.com It is a special moment to watch a young child wend their way through the spiral’s path and find the universal light that they then take back to give to the world.

The experience of the Advent spiral reflects the human experience at this time of the year; entering a time of darkness, of shorter days and longer nights and going forward with hope to welcome the light of the sun after the winter solstice.

Join your community for this meditative walk to kindle our Inner Light for Christmas. There will be live music for all sittings.

Date: Sunday December 3rd 3 limited seatings: 10:30 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm MUST RESERVE: All are welcome, but space is very limited. If you are certain you can attend, please contact: Lorna: awesomelorna@gmail. com

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definitely nothing like their final form. As the barnacles grow, they begin to sink and eventually land on a solid surface.

’s e Ado l b a n ai

Sust

Edible Landscapes Yard Maintenance & Organic Garden Care

Ado Grimwood-Adam Ado is an organic gardener, foodie and father of three living in the Cowichan Valley. He holds a Certificate in Permaculture from Langara College, and is passionate about sustainability, food security, climate change and organic gardening.

Whether you need yard maintenance, or want to establish Edible Landscapes, Ado is a reliable, friendly and helpful person to work with.

Services offered include: ~ Edible Landscapes ~ Yard Maintenance ~ Organic Garden Care

Call or text for a free on-site consultation!

250.815.5789 Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

Judy Johnstone, Reiki Master 250-661-0192 www.hiddengemreiki.com Bad Comix Try this new bandage.

You can swim, water-ski, surf, Kiteboard and scuba dive with it on.

Barnacles

B

arnacles… Curse them or love them, either way they’re part of our ecosystem.

These masters of intertidal survival can be found in a variety of marine ecosystems. Some live on whales, others live on rocks, logs, boat bottoms, wharf pilings, in pipes that have a connection to sea water. You can even find them way up high on a beach where you wouldn’t think that sea water would reach (branches & roots).

Barnacles have evolved a two stage life cycle to help them cope with changing conditions.

The first stage in a barnacle’s life is the zooplankton stage. During this stage, barnacles swim around in the water looking for all the world like little aliens and

by shiloh badman That’s great! I couldn’t do any of those things before I hurt myself.

The second stage of a barnacle’s life is the solid form that we are familiar with. Once settled on a solid surface the barnacles stand on their head and glue it to the surface they landed on.

After that, they slowly build a calcium wall around themselves.

During that phase, the barnacle undergoes metamorphosis and develops two hard pieces of shells which are attached to its body. These act as a door to let the barnacle put its now feathery legs out to feed on plankton or close up to form a watertight seal that can withstand long periods of time without water.

I won’t go into detail about how barnacles reproduce, as it would offend some of our readers, but I will say that not only are barnacles hermaphrodites, but they have rather impressive and long reaching reproductive organs that would make many humans feel distinctly inadequate.

Of the approximately 900 known species of barnacles worldwide, the most common barnacles we have in our community are the small acorn barnacles. In less protected areas, you can find the Giant Barnacle, Thatched Barnacle and a couple of different kinds of Gooseneck Barnacles.

Beach etiquette: Please be gentle with all creatures you find on the beach. The ocean is a hard place to live. If you turn a rock to look underneath, please turn it over and put it back exactly as you found it. The creatures that live under rocks need their homes to survive.

Please use extra caution when observing barnacles. Their calcareous shells are sharp and unforgiving. www.cowichanestuary.ca

Madeline Southern Education Coordinator, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre

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LUCKY DOG

STEPH STEW’S DOG DO’S Professional Small

U Bath We-Bath Toe Nail Trim

Dog Grooming

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LuckyDog UBath

also a nice gift for your dog’s friends. Who doesn’t love home baking?

And speaking of gifts for friends, have your dog make some nice paw print art suitable for Grandma’s fridge door.

on Youtube for braiding and splicing a length of rope into a new lead, or you can start from scratch and make a new rope lead from smaller cordage. Use a collar clip from an old frayed leash you have around.

For more advanced crafty people, you could knit a nice sweater. I did this once and it was easy. The results were adorable. Or get a sewing pattern from the internet and sew a nice warm jacket, maybe use an old jacket or blanket of yours for the fabric.

This will be a frugal Christmas for most of us.

Your dog won’t notice. You can make a big (recycled) bag of goodies for your bestest doggo and she’ll be thrilled.

Happy crafting!

DUNCAN

LUCKY DOG Getting Crafty for Christmas…

stuffing is your jam, use more of that old fabric. If your dog is a heavy chewer, things like a piece of fire hose with a heavy rope knotted to it should do the trick. We use old wheelbarrow tires in the daycare and the are impenetrable.

very year we buy our dogs And rope toys… why buy an E some toys for Christmas expensive rope toy when you and they last how long? In my can purchase rope by the foot house stuffing and squeakers are surgically removed from the toy’s body within minutes.

We have options!

at the hardware store? Pro tip: Make the knot before you cut the ends so can really get those knots tight.

You can hand make toys for your little buddy. Cheap and sweet. Play toys can be as simple as a used plastic water bottle with that crinkly sound shoved into an old sock. Tie it shut and voila! Your dog doesn’t care that you got creative. Her friends won’t tease her in school.

Let’s not forget Christmas treats. It’s easy to dehydrate meat treats in the oven if you don’t have a dehydrator. Thin slices of a favourite boneless meat slowly baked for hours in a warm oven will have your dog knowing that he was a good boy this year.

There are lots of dog cookie recipes on the internet. Get baking. You can get creative and make fun shapes, but a dog does not eat with his eyes like we do. Little squares will do the trick. These are

Squeakers can be purchased in bulk through Etsy. Sew them into any old piece of fabric you have around.

No stuffing needed, but if

luckyd

Debbie Wood owns Lucky Dog U-Bath.

She can be found on trails in the Cowichan Valley with her BF, Bonnie.

How about a new leash for Christmas? There are tutorials

Collectibles Eclectibles Estates & More!

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Support Cowichan Family Life with a donation to match an early commitment by Garden House Foundation for GivingTuesday

November 28th

Donations Through Canada Helps www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ cowichan-family-life-association/

New address #102, 481 Trans Canada Highway (St. Julian Plaza) Phone 250-748-8281 email: cfla@cowichanfamilylife.org We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Every Act of Generousity Helps Be A Mental Health Hero

G

ivingTuesday is the world’s largest generosity movement, with over 90 countries participating. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day set aside following Black Monday to encourage people to do good: make someone smile, help a neighbour or stranger, show up for an issue you care about, or give some of what you have to those in need.

This grass-roots initiative was embraced in Canada in 2013, and Cowichan Family Life has been a partner for the past 6 years. This year CFLA is looking for donations or partnerships to double an early commitment from the Garden House Foundation through their October Book Sale. We are looking to raise $5000 which will go to support our affordable counselling program.

Today’s global issues are finding their way to Cowichan. A recent study found that climate-related anxiety are linked to insomnia and poor mental health. A global study found 45% of respondents indicated climate change was negatively impacted their daily functioning. Studies also suggest that coverage of the ongoing crises in the Ukraine and now Israel/ Gaza, which followed two years of countless reporting on COVID and other weighty issues contributed to mental

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distress. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reminds us that in times of heightened stress and anxiety, it is important to safeguard your mental wellness.

Cowichan Family Life has been the cornerstone agency in the Valley offering affordable counselling. Our skilled team uses a solutionfocused model to help people thrive. We rely on grants, our Garden Tour fundraiser, and community giving to continue to provide the services we do. Our intake numbers have grown exponentially: referrals are up 400%; client numbers up more than 45% over last year. Unfortunately, the impact from rising costs to pay rent or buy groceries is reflected in our need to subsidize more clients as revenue from our fees for service has dropped almost 30%.

We encourage you to support people in our community who are struggling with mental well-being. Donations to GivingTuesday can be made to CFLA through the CanadaHelps portal at https:// partners.givingtuesday.ca/ partners/cowichan-familylife-association?lng=en www.cowichanfamilylife.org

Madelaine MacLeod, Executive Director, Cowichan Family Life Association

Georgia Nicols M.A. Georgia’s book, You and Your Future is a best seller with international printings in 3 languages. georgianicols.com

Aries (March 21-April 19) This month is more passionate and intense in every aspect of your life -- not just physical intimacy, but also your feelings dealing with partners and friends, especially about financial matters and shared property. You might get your belly in a rash over disputes with insurance companies and banks. There will be challenges to your peace of mind. Lie low because you are a warrior sign, and when the proverbial caca hits the fan, you’ll be tempted to overreact. This friction is temporary. Let it go.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You will need more sleep this month because the Sun has moved opposite your sign. Since the Sun represents energy, and it is now as far away from your sign as it can get all year (in your chart) – you will be more tired.

Meanwhile, this polarized position of the Sun will create a stronger than usual focus on spouses, partners and close friends. The upside is it will give you more objectivity into how you relate to others.

You can learn a lot. You can improve your closest relationships. Bonus!

Gemini (May 21-June 20) With the Sun, Mercury and fiery Mars all in your House of Employment, this is a high-energy time for you.

Oh yes, you’ll be productive this month! You will work hard, even if you’re retired.

You will set yourself high standards to accomplish a lot.

In particular, you will want to work efficiently and effectively because you want your efforts to count. (No slackers!) You might also redecorate at home and entertain. When needed, do what you can to keep the peace with family and friends.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Life is favourable for you this month because the Sun is now moved in your fellow Water sign of Scorpio. This means the energy will be supportive to you. Furthermore, the Sun will be travelling through one

of the most fun parts of your chart, which is why you will be more playful, creative, artistic and eager to have good times and fun with others, especially children. (Yay!) This is a lovely window to slip away on a vacation if you can.

By all means, enjoy sports events, socializing with others and expressing your creative talents.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Home, family and your private life are a strong influence for you this month because the Sun is at the bottom of your chart. (This happens once a year.) Some of you will be more involved with a parent.

You will certainly be more hands-on with home repairs as you deal with increased chaos, activity and tension on the home front (especially this weekend). Meanwhile, you can attract money to you!

Enjoy buying beautiful things for yourself and loved ones.

You look “mahvelous” to everyone!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be careful and pay attention to everything you say and do this month because this window of time will be busy and fast-paced! You might be inclined to speak or act without thinking. (Ouch.) Short trips will be the order of the day. Plus, you will see new faces, new places and be full of new ideas! It’s an excellent time to learn and study. Many of you will be more involved with neighbours, siblings and relatives. You will also want to travel, if you get a chance.

With Venus in your sign, you’re charming and diplomatic.

you’re retired.)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) This month is your chance the time to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year! You will pursue activities that rejuvenate and replenish you, even if it’s exercise or yoga and meditation – both ends of the spectrum. With fiery Mars in your sign now, you have an increased energy to add to the energy of the Sun. (Look out world!) And Mercury in your sign makes you talkative and eager to reach out to others.

You will also be busy, active and keen to take short trips.

Venus will promote warm interactions with friends and groups.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Because your birthday is looming ahead, this is a quieter time for you. Use this “downtime” to think about what you want for your new year ahead (birthday to birthday). Identify some goals for the next year. Goals give you a clearer focus on what is important. They give you more clarity in decision-making.

They give you better control over your future. And they certainly, give you a sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Venus at the top of your chart sweetens all your relations with authority figures, including parents. (Nice.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Everyone wants to see your face this month, so get ready!

Buy something new to wear so you feel confident and pleased with yourself. This is because your interaction with friends as well as groups, clubs and

organizations will definitely increase. Expect to hang out more with younger people.

This is an excellent time to set goals for the future. (Read Sagittarius above to see the advantage of making goals.)

Travel will also appeal to you, so if you can get outta Dodge – by all means, do so!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) This month the Sun is at the top of your chart casting you in a flattering spotlight, making you look wonderful to others.

People are impressed with you even if you don’t do anything special. (Good lighting is everything!) Obviously, while this curious, magical phenomenon is at play, now is the time for you to make your pitch and go after what you want! Financial benefits from others will come your way.

(Excellent window of time to seek out a loan or mortgage.)

During the Full Moon, do what you can to keep the peace.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Your ruler is Neptune, and Neptune rules the ocean. As the nights get longer and the weather gets colder – many of you will long to walk barefoot in white sand, sipping a drink with a pink parasol in it, while you gaze at the moon light shimmering on the ocean.

The perfect escape! If you can travel in the next four weeks – do so! If not, you can explore avenues in publishing, the media, medicine, the law or higher education. You might take a course or go back to school. www.georgianicols.com

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This month heightens your involvement, interest and fascination with money, earnings and cash flow.

You will work harder to earn money. You will have moneymaking ideas. You will also spend money, perhaps large! The is weekend the Lunar eclipse might create some kind of financial angst for you. Something might literally come to a head.

It could relate to debt, inheritances, wills, estates or the wealth and resources of someone else. Of course, you’re working hard, which ties in with your focus on money and earnings. (Even if

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Food 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

Dog Grooming Lucky Dog U-Bath, Duncan Now accepting new grooming clients.

Book online www.luckydogubath.ca Or call 250-597-7364 70

Rental Wanted Rental Wanted: Small home in nature’s setting Single female business owner and extremely well behaved mascot golden retriever.

236-594-9697

Holistic Health and Healing BIOMAGNETISM & ENERGY HEALER Recover your health & well-being focus on root cause of illness Pets and Remote Sessions offered Kathryn Lowther 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

Reflexology I Swedish Massage Lymphatic Release Technique

Enabling your body to heal itself, naturally.

Book online at www.naturalheelingreflexology.com

Call Helga 250-732-7988

Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

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

Reflexology by Joy

Relax and rejuvenate each and every part of your body, including the glands and organs.

specializing in toes•calves•lower legs• knees jstalinski@shaw.ca I 250 246 1401

ACUPUNCTURE 268 THIRD STREET MASSAGE THERAPY DUNCAN HERBAL CONSULTATIONS BOOK ONLINE:

thirdstreetwellness.janeapp.com thirdstreetwellness.ca 250.532.6362

GRATITUDE TO THE RAINFOREST FLYING SQUAD FOR THE DEDICATED WORK TOWARDS PROTECTING WHAT REMAINS OF OUR OLD GROWTH FORESTS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND. THANK YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.

Nutrition

Marketing & Promotions

•Functional Medicine and Nutrition Consultations •Lab Assessments/Education •Individualized Lifestyle and Wellness Plans 250-931-0012 sageheartnutrition@gmail.com www.sageheartnutrition.wordpress.com

In Flanders Fields 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Reach the locals!

Monthly Print Advertising with Valley Voice Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

by John McCrae we lie, In Flanders fields.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Take up our quarrel with the foe: Loved and were loved, and now To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

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