September 2021 Issue 154

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SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE 154 ONE WORLD FESTIVAL I SEASONAL RECIPES I ARTS & NATURE

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September 2021 Issue 154 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

Shannon Faughnan

Proofreader Diana Pink

Calendar Angela Sheppard

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

Next Ad Deadline September 15 for October 2021 Issue 155 *Non Profit Community Ad Rates available please enquire.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE! Next EVENTS DEADLINE September 15 for October 2021 Issue 155 E-mail: Date, Event Title, Time, Location and Cost w/ subject “EVENT” to events@cowichanvalleyvoice.com Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine reserves the right to, omit and/or edit submitted listings due to space limitations SPECIAL THANKS TO FOLLOWING VALLEY VOICES Craig Spence, Chris Turyk, Chef Brad Boisvert, Grant Easterbrook, Jonas Rey-Sierro, Greg Mason, Susan Down, Bill Jones, Renée Fulsom, Genevieve Singleton, Brenda Isaak Takao, Tina Lee Foster, Emily Graham, David & Ranji, Paulina Kee, Hina Charania, Shayna & Ado Grimwood-Adam, Kendra Thomas, Tim Mock, Blair Herbert, Lia Versavel, Mark Hecht, Tyler Hoffman, Alistair MacGregor, Brittayn Taylor, Cynthia Montgomery, Cathy Simons, Dr Bill Nielsen, Robin Round, Sabine Almstrom, Bernie Dinter, Jane Nares, Rekha Sharma, Madelaine MacLeod, Silvia Graber, Shiloh Badman, Debbie Wood, Janet (Jacobsen) Raino, Venita Chow, Stephanie Cerins, The lovely Georgia Nicols, Nicolette Genier, Cindy Jolin 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

NEXT VALLEY VOICE DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 15 for OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 155 AD DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 18

info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com 4

OUR COMMUNITY September Events 5 The Cowichan Valley Newcomers Club welcomes you! 9 Cowichan Exhibition 13 The Kids of Summer 19 Fall Registration 26-30 We’re Back to The Polls 36 One World Festival: Honouring Cultural Diversity 38-41 Things I Will Consider in Preparing to Vote 43 2021 Election Candidates 44-45 So What Happened? A Tale of Two Land Use Plans 47-48 Free workshop for Cowichan Businesses 49 3 Tips to Weather a Financial Storm 51 Fall into Something Special at the Public Market 52 Cowichan Valley Probus Club 62 Jump Into Music 69 September Forecasts 77 Directory 78-79 LOCAL FOOD & DRINK Farming in the 21st Century 14-15 Very Special Sandwiches 16 The Joy of Picking Fruit With Fruit Save 18 Hunting the Elusive Porcini 21 The Shopping Cart Project: Success! 22 Darsana Tea 23 The Importance of Our Microbial Friends 70 HOME & GARDEN Canna Classes With Robin Round 56 Re-wilding with Native Plants 58 Flowering Bulbs: Nature’s Gift That Keeps Giving 59 Selecting Exterior Colours 61 LOCAL ARTS Artists’ Demos Offer Glimpses Into Creativity 6 Celebrating Arts and Nature in Lake Cowichan 8 Can We Talk? 20 Flower Pot Art Show Sale and Garden Walk 55 September Arts 64-65 BODY, MIND & SOUL What is a Life Coach? 31 Boost and Preserve Brain Power 32-33 Cowichan Women’s Health Collective 34 Why We Should Read: Indigenous Poetry 37 Creatively Writing Our Recovery 42 Sleep Makes You Smarter 50 How Human Design Can Help You 54 What is Iboga? 57 The Other School Supplies 67 Helping Our Kids Cope 68 Managing Changes With Ease 72 Soothing Stones for Shifting Times 73 HeartMath Can Help You 74 PETS, RECREATION & NATURE Popular Hikes for Families in Cowichan 10-11 Quw’utsun Sta’lo’ Skweyul, (Cowichan River Day) 24 The S’amunu/ Somenos Watershed- A watershed in Trouble 25 Waterfalls in The Fall 63 Lucky Dog: Rare Dogs 71

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

1 Mycelium Forest art show Cowichan Valley Arts Council Annex 2687 James St, Duncan Mon-Fri 11-4pm Sat 12-4pm Runs to Sept FREE

1 Fabric paint accordion book workshop 10-4pm Cowichan Valley Arts Council 2687 James St,Duncan $35 1 Moroccan Tea Culture Experience 10am & 3pm 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan $35/ person www.westholmetea.com also Sept 8 1 HeartMath® Group Meetings Stephanie Cerins 1pm or 7pm $15 to register happinessishealthy@gmail.com also Sept 8/15/22/29 2 Gallery Reception Janine Duns printmaker & Margit Nellemann ceramist 7-9pm 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan www.westholmetea.com FREE 3 Deadline to RSVP for Cowichan Valley Newcomers Club Meet & Greet Blue Grouse Winery on September 8 4-6pm info@

cowichanvalleynewcomers.com.

4 Claire Christinel see the artist work her oil painting magic family friendly 1-3pm Aquamaris Art Gallery Upstairs Duncan Garage 330 Duncan St 5 Tea Tour+Tasting 9:30am 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan $75/ person www.westholmetea.com also Sept 12/19/26 5 The Times They Are A-Changing Exhibit 1-3pm The Heritage Museum 2851 Church Way Mill Bay by donation www. millbaymalahathistory.com also Sept 12/19/26 7 Cowichan Valley Probus Club 10:30am All Welcome Pease call Bob Skelton 250929-4079 for meeting details cowichanvalleyprobusclub.ca 8 Spiritual Upliftment & Conversation three Baha’i friends Topic: Spiritual Value of Education Laurice, Tim & Lee 250 748-2585 for details 8 Rally for Climate Action 4:305:30pm Duncan City Square non-partisan organizers https:// www.facebook.com/events/ 609130953600064

8 Candidates Debate on Climate & the Environment 7–9:30pm Zoom & FB live https://www.facebook.com/ events/399179728221426

21 Circular Cowichan Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy 10-11:15am virtual ecdevcowichan.com/circularcowichan-business-workshop FREE

9 Art Show Opening for Volunteer & Watershed shows 4-6 pm CVAC Gallery 2687 James St, Duncan FREE

22 Cowichan Family Life AGM renew memberships 5:30pm Details TBA Please contact cfla@cowichanfamilylife.org for details to PHO 250 748-8281

10 Meet & Greet artists Janine Duns & Margit Nellemann 1-3pm 8350 Richards Trail, Duncan www.westholmetea. com FREE 11 Art Supplies Sale gently used CVAC Studio 2687 James St, Duncan 10-4pm 250-746-1633 11 I Wish I’d Said That Art show painting sculpture & fabric CVAC studio 2687 James St, Duncan Runs to Sept 25 FREE 18 & 19 153rd Cowichan Exhibition Vendors, Midway, Entertainment, Concessions 7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan Grounds open 9am Carnival opens Noon 19 Making Cannabis Oils & Ointments 1-3pm 6119 Lakeview Dr, $40 Register www.botanicalbliss.ca

COWICHAN BAY KAYAKING

Canoeing Adventures Youth Programs

22 Spiritual Upliftment & Conversation three Baha’i friends Topic: Toward a Just Global Order Laurice Tim & Lee 250 748-2585 for details 24 Kin Park Movie Night farm tours 6 pm Movie 7pm 5789 Alderlea St, Duncan $10 kids FREE 25 Quw’utsun Sta’lo’ Skweyul Cowichan River Day Celebration Cowichan Tribes & Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable 10-2pm meet at 222 Cowichan Way FREE 26 Making Cannabis Oils and Ointments 1-3pm 6119 Lakeview Dr, $40 Register www. botanicalbliss.ca 27 Six of the Best fabric design show Cowichan Valley Arts Council Annex 2687 James St, Duncan

ADVENTURE CENTRE All Levels of Paddling • Birding • Wildlife Tours • Rentals • Lessons • Scheduled and Custom Tours • Sunset and Bioluminescence Tours Wildlife Tours

Kayak & SUP Rentals

On the Dock at Bluenose Marina, Cowichan Bay

cowichanbaykayaking.com 250-597-3031 info@cowichanbaykayaking.com 5

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Artists’ Demos Offer Glimpses Into Creativity Gallery Manager Stephanie Allesia said a series of demo videos, showing the work and techniques of local artists, are a ‘toe in the water’ for Rainforest Arts.

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ainforest Arts is offering A Peek into the Artistic Process from the perspectives of members, who braved the limelight to demonstrate their approach to making art.

“It’s a great way for people to kind of get a taste of various artistic avenues that they may not know very much about,” said Rainforest Arts Gallery Manager Stephanie Allesia, who organized a one-day shoot

where seven demo videos were recorded.

“We worked with a fabulous local videographer Keyworks Designs,” she said.

“We were there for eight and a half hours, with set up and take-down and filming, and we just shot right through. It was a fun day.”

‘Fun’, despite the jitters some of the artists felt stepping in front of the camera. “It’s something that most of them haven’t done a lot of, online demos and online work,” Allesia said. “But everyone had a great time. It was a lot of fun.”

The demos, which can be accessed from the menu of RainForestArts.ca, include: Cim MacDonald - Watercolour, incorporating the added element of wax.

Brenda Isaak Taylor - Mixed Media on canvas using acrylic ink, stencils and paper.

Robert Cerins - gave an artist’s talk on getting the mind ready to begin creating.

Lori Schiersmann - Ceramic paste on glassware.

Sarah Brunt - Quilling, rolled paper strips used to create decorative designs.

Margot Page - The ancient form of enamelling art onto sheet metal.

Lorraine Taylor - Hand-painting on silk.

Diana Durrand - Mixed media, incorporating fabric into paintings with acrylics.

“The videos are not meant for full tutorials,” Allesia explained. “They’re meant for a taste, or a peek into an artistic process, or a particular style.”

For Rainforest Arts this project has been an experiment. “Other places have been doing a lot online, but for us this is a toe in the water, and we’d like to see how it goes,” Allesia said, adding that she’s optimistic online presentations will become part of the RFA mix.

The project was made possible by funding through the BC Arts Council and the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, the parent organization of Rainforest Arts.

Up next at the RFA gallery: Big Art, a group show of larger art pieces that will be on display from September 1 through November 15. Keep up with the Chemainus Valley and region arts scene at RainforestArts.ca, or on RFA’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Rainforest Arts is located at 9871 Willow Street.

Make contact at 250-246-4861 or info@ rainforestarts.ca

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Cowichan Lake Tenors

Drew Barnes of Nighthawk

(Loretta Puckrin, Acrylics and watercolour, Kathie Fielding, Printmaking and others to come) and vendors selling their art.

These vendors include Rommy Verlaan of Heartstrong Flutes, Brenda Morrison of Earth Mother Quality Herbs, Drew Barnes of Nighthawk Carving, and Cathi Jefferson, with her fine pottery, to name only a few.

Check out Gerard’s (Dutch treats and lunches) or Gondola Gelato when lunch or treat time comes around.

Celebrating Arts and Nature in Lake Cowichan September 4

A VERY SPECIAL INVITE TO OUR MEET AND GREET SOCIAL EVENT for any interested, new and returning members

Wednesday, September 8 4-6 PM Please RSVP by Friday, Sept. 3 to info@cowichanvalleynewcomers.com

• learn more about the planned activities for the 2021-2022 season • meet or reconnect with new and old friends • complimentary appetizers provided by the CVNC • wine (glasses and bottles) and wine tastings available for purchase

www.cowichanvalleynewcomers.com 8

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owichan Lake Arts and Culture Society (CLAC) invites you to a fun, free, family event in Lake Cowichan, Celebrating Arts and Nature.

Nature influences Art in so many ways, and we live in such a naturally beautiful area. Many of us moved into this area because we loved being outdoors, and are inspired by the nature around us.

That was the spark that started this event – to celebrate nature’s impact on the arts.

Fish printing, with Genevieve Singleton, is an activity geared to the younger crowd, beginning at 11am until 3pm with a break for lunch. In addition, you can paint plaster-cast fridge magnets, and create nature prints on cards.

There is an opportunity to make music – and take home a small musical instrument, or blow gigantic bubbles.

All the while, there is live entertainment. The 4 Cowichan Lake Tenors, David Darling, Brad Bergen, Elvin Hedden and Casey VanDalen, will be performing on stage, as well as Music Together Mid Island, Thomas Waldron and the Tzinquaw Dancers. Also on site are en plein air artists

This is the first time in a long time that we have been able to gather outside and will be a great opportunity to have a little fun!

This is the last long weekend this summer, so hope for great weather!

Starting September 16 (and held every 2 weeks) the CLAC watercolour classes begin. We start with a very limited palette of colours, explore colour and technique and above all have fun with watercolour paints. No drop-ins are refused instruction but the entire series is for CLAC members (membership is $20 per year). The classes will be held in the library. Bring your own paper, brushes and paints.

For furthers email to: info@ cowichanlakeartsandculture.org.

Join us on September 4th, 11:00 – 3:00, at Ts’uubaa-asatx Square, next to the Lake Cowichan Library, and make it day for the entire family and children of all ages. cowichanlakeartsandculture.org FB:cowichanartsculture

Fish printing, with Genevieve Singleton

VALLEY DENTAL CLINIC Dr. Gordon Levin DMD Dentist

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

ARE YOU FEELING THAT IT IS TIME TO GET OUT AND ABOUT? The Cowichan Valley Newcomers Club welcomes you!

Who Are We? We are a Social Group consisting of individuals (singles and couples) who have moved here from far away, or just around the corner – or who have been here all along.

Our aim is to give members the opportunity to expand their social life, meet new people and explore the Cowichan Valley (and beyond) regardless of whether they are working, semiretired or retired people.

What Do We Do? Monthly events provide opportunities to socialize with other Newcomers. Usually they take place in the Cowichan Valley; sometimes we venture further afield.

There is a range of monthly activities such as Book Clubs, a Knitting Group, Monthly TGIF, Hiking, Card Games, Dining In, Lunching Out and much more. We are always interested in new ideas you might wish to contribute.

The Club’s Directors-

at-Large organise special events throughout the year. In the past, these have included visits to a local Distillery, to the Yellow Point Christmas Extravaganza, to special exhibitions at Art Galleries in Victoria, a Cowichan Valley Quiz Night, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at a local winery, a tour of old cemeteries, community outreach activities, an evening with the Victoria Symphony in Cowichan Performing Arts Theatre, a tour of the Butchart Gardens.

Please see our YouTube Video: “How We Made Our Dental Office Completely Safe for Patients and Staff “ https://youtu.be/tMvTDHfTP10 Qualified Dentist American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

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

reception@valleydentalclinic.ca

The Club welcomes suggestions from the members for future special events.

What Do We Offer?

We provide a friendly, comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone at all of our functions. A monthly newsletter that outlines the planned events is emailed to members.

We serve the communities of Chemainus, Maple Bay, Duncan, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Bay, Cowichan Station, Crofton, Genoa Bay, Honeymoon Bay, Mill Bay, Glenora, Lake Cowichan and Shawnigan Lake For any interested, new and returning members join us for a very special invite to the

Visit our

FEATURING Assorted Greens located by the Plants Providence House Local Eggs roundabout $5 dozen 1843 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan I Open Daily 9am - 3pm

FARM STAND

Cowichan Valley Newcomers Club Meet and Greet Social Event.

Learn more about the planned activities for the 2021-2022 season meet or reconnect with new and old friends complementary appetizers provided by the CVNC wine (glasses and bottles) and

wine tastings available for purchase.

Wednesday, September 8, from 4-6 pm, Blue Grouse Winery, 2182 Lakeside Road, Duncan Please RSVP by Friday, September 3 to info@ cowichanvalleynewcomers.com.

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missed during those two days is a great line up of exciting entertainment.

The big draw on Saturday evening will be the music on stage. Fair favourites Black Moon Valley and Backyard Elephant are returning.

Following them, headliner David James & Big River will be presenting their popular tribute to Johnny Cash.

During both days, fairgoers hoping to strike it rich can pan for gold with Yukon Dan; elsewhere they can keep an eye out for Amira, the stilt walker. We are also thrilled to welcome Funkanometry, the energetic duo who did the Island proud at NBC’s World of Dance competition.

COWICHAN EXHIBITION

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ircle September 18 and 19 on your calendar -- that’s the weekend the Cowichan Exhibition is opening the gates for its 153rd Fair! Not to be

Performances of a different nature will be what matters to fans of the Old English Car Show.

When you’re ready to sit down after admiring the garden produce, hobbies & crafts, baking and cannabis exhibits and art show in Mellor Hall or the quilts in the barns, find a bench near Ian Johnstone, a musical ambassador to kids. In no time at all you’ll be tapping your toes while he plucks his banjo!

Down in the midway field, we are excited to have West Coast Amusements here for four nights of thrilling carnival rides. Up on the main level of the grounds, it’ll be the 4-H Horse Club who’ll be riding their project steeds in the Light Horse Ring.

Also displaying their year’s work will be members of fibre arts, sheep, beef and small

engine clubs.

From hall exhibits to animal displays, from carnival rides to food trucks, you’ll definitely want to pack up your family and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to the 153rd Cowichan Exhibition. We can’t wait to see you!

September 18 & 19 7380 TransCanada Hwy, Duncan Open Saturday: 9 am to 9 pm, Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm Mellor Hall Open Saturday: 9 am to 8 pm, Sunday: 9 am to 4 pm Carnival Open Thursday: 4 pm to 10 pm, Friday: 3 pm to 11 pm Saturday: 12 pm (noon) to 11 pm, Sunday: 12 pm (noon) to 7 pm

www.cowex.ca

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Farming in the 21st Century

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Chris Turyk - I love wine, a lot. I’m a Certified Sommelier, WSET Diploma graduate, and get in everyones way at unsworthvineyards.

umans revel in the ability to categorize expansive topics into clean little boxes.

Certifications exist showing consumers that farm production methods follow established criteria judged at a higher environmental standard than that status quo conventional farm.

Well intentioned though they are, perhaps they run the risk of eroding potential for uncertified growers to express the positive impact their practices have. The silent salesman stamp on the back label can never do justice in expressing the efforts farmers make in crafting the best possible product.

Borrowing a political analogy, the far right represents some of the largest companies on the planet, whom all but control the commodity wine trade. Swing over to the idealist left where we celebrate connection to nature, are in touch with lunar cycles, apply homeopathic remedies and endure mountains of physical work. Where does that leave the majority of those who are left of centre? After all, in that cohort, generally the most interesting solutions originate. Without colourfully

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extolling the benefits of a vineyards’ recent conversion to Demeter Certified Biodynamics, expressing farming techniques to the well read wine drinker is daunting. Contrary to popular belief, agricultural practices are not a pyramid with Biodynamics resting above Organics with lutte raisonnée below followed by conventional agriculture pulling up the rear. Purchasing a bottle of wine that doesn’t degrade our planet doesn’t mean choosing Biodynamics or nothing.

Advances in equipment and technology, next to vineyard sprays, represent the least sexy part of wine. They also represent the future of viable viticulture. Sprayers are not all created equally. During visits to any agricultural region, all witness sprayers in operation. A visible plume of vapour blasting up from the middle of a row may solidify the image. This illustrates a substandard sprayer in dire need of retirement. The plume only visible because the spray, whether kelp or a systemic botrytis spray, is being applied everywhere but on the plant where needed. The best sprayers on the market straddle the canopy, have ultra fine nozzles which lightly and evenly coat the desired area. Many feature a vacuum on the opposing side filtering and reusing any excess spray which may permeate the canopy. When I read, “farmed using traditional practices” and other such vague claims on a back label, I don’t envision horns of silica and manure, or dynamizing Equisetum arvense. I picture an ancient tractor burning oil while indiscriminately blasting broad spectrum sprays

which may or may not contain heavy metals into the local ecosystem.

Farming challenges, much like Burgundian bottle price, can vary greatly from one side of a slope to the other. In high disease pressure growing regions, achieving Certified Organic status might force higher CO2 emissions due to fossil fuel intensive inputs. Harvesting healthy fruit by certification worthy standards likely requires broad spectrum biological sprays with limited longterm efficacy forcing frequent reapplication.

Copper Sulphate, a foliar spray permissible by Biodynamics and Organic standards, is under heavy, near glyphosate level, fire as of late. Copper is, after all, a heavy metal and becoming a major concern in areas where its pervasive use results in soils becoming saturated with its presence. Surely soil toxicity due to heavy metal use counters the higher meaning by which these standards are meant to assure. Regardless of which product one chooses, all applied via the same mechanism - the almighty tractor, which for now, requires diesel. Wherever a tractor goes, soil compaction and exhaust emissions follow.

Although as pastoral as draft animals are in vineyards, I’ve yet to encounter a horse with a PTO (power take-off) shaft, severely limiting implements they can utilize. Quantifying a broad, frequent approach against a deft, calculated, targeted and perfectly timed systemic spray approach with minimal applications is a question only individual farms can answer.

Mowing between vineyard rows appears benign in the grandiose world of vineyard management.

In the Okanagan, where I spent a year farming, leaving every few rows un-mowed has many benefits. Longer grasses will provide insect habitat, increase biodiversity and may provide a little extra protection from wind eroding the topsoil. Depending on which pests are around animals which feed on the pests can mitigate one’s need for insecticide or conversely make undesirable insect problems worse. On Vancouver Island,

where I have spent the majority of my growing career, leaving every few rows un-mowed has different effects. Due to fertile clay loam soils, grass can be seen growing - yes, that type of grass too. In 10 days, waist high, moisture retaining forage bolts which noticeably increases unwanted diseases pressure.

Regular mowing also forces the cover crop to regrow and metabolize more water out of the soil hitting deficit earlier in the season. Water deficit results in earlier vine signalling to produce riper fruit with more flavour development as apposed to vegetative growth. Contrast this with clear cultivating which certainly dries out the soil quickly, thus hitting that same goal of early water deficit but at the risk of wind and water erosion not to mention virtually eliminating anything but vines from growing.

Every region wrestles with unique challenges. Farming pressures and consumer demand guide the wine industry more than I realized prior to joining it. Harvesting immaculately healthy fruit worthy of fine wine often requires intervention of some type. For good reason consumers are skeptical of these interventions. I argue the vast majority of Canadian wineries are very sensitive to the effects they have on their own air, soil, groundwater and community.

As such they do what they can, given their unique challenges, to use as light a hand as possible to craft their luxury products.

Wine from your local region also possesses the distinct advantage of not incurring the carbon emissions of transcontinental shipping - a debate in sustainability unto itself. Thank heavens for no simple answers in wine; I’m in it for the diversity and nuance. If your priorities are enjoying wine free from poison (besides the unavoidable 8.5%16% ABV), don’t want to leave scorched earth, a toxic ecosystem and undue atmospheric carbon behind you, consider this adaptation from someone we all respect - Drink wine, not too much, mostly local.

SHOP WITH US Tuesday - Friday 11am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs 251 Craig St., Downtown Duncan

imaginethatartisans.com I 250-748-6776

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The Story of The Sandwich Chef Brad Boisvert, Cure Artisan Meat and Cheese

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

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hile the sandwich had many forms before it was called the sandwich, from when the ancient Jewish sage Hillel the Elder is said to have wrapped lamb and herbs in unleavened bread in the manner of a modern wrap. To the middle ages where large pieces of bread know as tranches were used as plates then eaten, and we must not forget the open face sandwich from the Dutch.

But the true naming of the sandwich did not come into play until the eighteenth century when John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an eighteenth-century English aristocrat. It is said that he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread. It was said that Lord of Sandwich was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue playing cards, while eating, without using a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands. Then the sandwich’s popularity increased in Spain and England dramatically during the nineteenth century, with the rise of industrial society and the working

classes made fast, portable, and inexpensive meals a way of life. In London, for example, at least seventy street vendors were selling ham sandwiches by 1850; during that decade sandwich bars also became an important form of eating establishment in western Holland, typically serving liver and salt beef sandwiches.

In North America, the sandwich was first promoted as an elaborate meal at supper. By the early 20th century, as bread became a staple of the American diet, the sandwich became the same kind of popular, quick meal as was already widespread in the the rest of the world. Now sandwiches are enjoyed at all times of the day, breakfast, lunch, snacks and at picnics. Also, today our sandwiches are a lot more elaborate than liver and salted beef or just ham. A sandwich can be whatever you make it to be in between bread.

At Cure we recommend you choose good bread from True Grain Bakery then put some of our in house cured, smoked, or roasted meats.

From pastrami to smoked turkey, house smoked hams and many more. Do not forget some cheese and of course the condiments…

Greek Salad with Romaine Lettuce

Recipe courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station 225 Canada Avenue, Downtown Duncan

Ingredients

1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and torn into bite size pieces 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced in half 1 cup cherry tomatos, cut in half 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 small red onion, separated into individual slices (for garnish) 1 tsp dried mint Dressing: 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup Milanese Gremolata olive oil 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 3 tbsp Oregano white balsamic vinegar sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare the greek salad dressing first by combining the Milanese Gremolata olive oil, lemon juice, Oregano balsamic vinegar, and garlic.

Whisk together and refrigerate for 15 minutes so the flavours blend.

Meanwhile, you can prepare your lettuce and vegetables and place in a large bowl.

Just before serving, pour the dressing over salad, sprinkle with sea salt and ground pepper and toss.

Add the Kalamata olives and feta cheese and lightly toss again.

Garnish with the red onion slices and sprinkle the mint over the top

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The Joy of Picking Fruit With Fruit Save

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t was a summer afternoon and I was at Shawnigan Lake with some friends, just enjoying the sun and the water. The beach was full of people, we truly had a hard time finding parking. On my way back to our car, I walked beside a bush packed with blackberries. I stopped, surprised.

The bush was very close to the beach and the volleyball field, full of young people and family.

There must be hundreds of people that had walked in front of those blackberries, why had this bush been so ignored?

When I first started to be in charge of the Fruit Save program in June, I wasn’t totally conscient of how much uncultivated food grows in the Cowichan Valley.

Where I’m from in Quebec, I can barely make tomatoes grow. I remember how proud my father and I were when we succeeded in growing three hot peppers after two years of hard labor. To see all the riches that the exceptional condition of the Cowichan Valley can give was really exciting! But to see a backyard covered with abandoned and unpicked cherries felt like a deception.

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I’m proud to have been a coordinator for the FruitSave program. I’m grateful for the hard work of all the volunteers that helped to save and redistribute the food that would have been forgotten.

“I have been a fruit picker with Fruitsave for many years. I had been picking my neighbors’ fruit trees as well as local berries with my little kids. I was amazed by the incredible volume of fruit that just a few trees produced. There are so many backyard trees in our valley that homeowners are not able to pick; Fruitsave helps to keep this abundance from going to waste. Fruitsave is a viable solution to food scarcity issues in the Cowichan Valley.

Picking for Fruitsave checks so many boxes for me. Fruitsave offers flexibility for me as a volunteer; I can choose which picks to attend. I am able to bring my kids to picks teaching them about where their food comes from and the importance of volunteering. I help to provide local produce for folks in the community, my own family, and friends. Additionally, as a picker, I get to meet new people and learn more about the Cowichan Valley. I am grateful to be a part of this initiative!”

Jonas Rey-Sierro is an intern from Quebec that is working at Cowichan Green Community for all summer.

The kids of Summer

by Greg Mason Summer life started when we finished school in late June. The vacation time seemed like it lasted most of the year. It was the season of making summer friends and stories to tell once school started again in the fall.

The excitement of the summer this year wasn’t camping in a tent. It was going to a summer camp for two weeks with other kids. I saw this as a time of child’s play, living outside and having fun. We arrived to find we would sleep in a bunkhouse shared with other boys.

We had mandatory activities, different everyday for boys and girls. We shared the lake with the girls though. The one day per week we all gathered together was Wednesday.

Wednesday was movie matinee day, and we received 15 cents to spend however we liked. It could be while at the movie or the local store after. Movies were fun, but cool things like balsa gliders and plastic jets, which you could launch with an elastic band attached to a hand-held stick, were in the store. A 15 cent toy, one for each child, was a special treat. No sharing required.

Balsa gliders required assembly, with a plastic piece that connected the wings before clipping onto the main body. You could slide the wings forward for long glides or back for fighter plane stunt mode, which was our preference. Even though they were gliders, we accompanied flights with jet sound effects. Made from balsa, they were fragile, so hitting hard in a nose dive often caused the wings to come off. A few of these deadly landings and the wings wouldn’t clip in anymore. Being balsa plane mechanics, we learned to cut away wounded parts and freshen up the wings so they would attach again. This repair breathed new life into ageing fighter planes. One week we chose the plastic jets. We soon learned to launch them up, or they quickly flew out of sight into bushes or trees, un-findable. We settled on the balsa planes, they came home after every flight.

The girls were there too, doing other activities, but we didn’t care, as they were girls. They were always entertaining at the nightly campfire, the first to lose their marshmallows to the flames. A lost marshmallow was always lamented with bloodcurdling shrieks, like you’d expect in a horror movie – you couldn’t tell the difference?

Nighttime brought out the fears older boys used frequently and unsparingly to trigger the younger campers. Of course there was a green monster prowling the forest, especially after the lights went out. You could hear growls, groans, and other sound effects that the older kids had perfected, mimicking sounds of monsters from TV shows that we were too young to watch. Young kids just knew

fear. That’s how summer camp was, only safe in daylight, and I never wanted to go home.

Two weeks at camp was an eternity, which had an ending too.

Saying goodbye to newfound friends was a tearfull time. We had suffered, learned and endured a lot together in two weeks..

As it came to the final day, I was preparing myself to start grade two.

Greg Mason lives in Chemainus and is a member of the CVCAS Writers Circle. Go to CVCAS.ca/literature for a video-reading of The Kids of Summer.

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Mycelium Forest, acrylic on canvas, 32”x 32 “, Susan Karrow

Can We Talk?

F

rom emojis on text messages to urban murals on warehouse walls, visual images are a way to strengthen our messages. Visual artists know that the impact goes beyond speaking or writing, like the proverbial picture equalling 1000 words.

Communication appears to be the theme of all the art shows at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council this month. And not just human communication. In our smaller Annex gallery, the first show is called Mycelium Forests, devoted to the beautiful patterns of mushrooms and fungi (depicted by local and Haida Gwaii artists). Turns out, according to researchers, their roots form a mycelial network that is the wi-fi of the forest world, allowing trees to communicate with one another.

And we think we’re the best communicators of the natural world! In fact, many humans seem deaf and blind to the strong messages the environment is sending us. To help those messages get through, the major show in the CVAC Gallery all

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month is Watershed: Through the Lens of Art. The show features fine art by painters and photographer as well as work by groups such as the Cowichan Green Community and the Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society.

The other two shows in the Annex gallery deal with the same theme. I Wish I’d Said That features the fabric art, clay and painting from Lesley Comassar, Janet Magdanz and Pauline Dueck. The whimsical show title refers to some famous quotations that the group used for inspiration. The final Annex show is Reflections, featuring paintings and drawings that dwell on powerful memories by Astrid Notte and Doreen Green.

If you want to express yourself artistically, in addition to the ballot box or the coffee shop rant, consider coming to the used art supply sale at CVAC, on Saturday, September 11. Get a great deal on supplies (paints, brushes, vintage picture frames, and more) while supporting the programs offered by CVAC. Susan Down is managing director of the Cowichan Valley Arts Council.

taste is one of the best things I know and the texture is soft and sensual. It is the stuff of culinary dreams.

Hunting the Elusive Porcini

O

Bill Jones is a chef, author and food consultant based on Deerholme Farm.

ne of my favourite local mushrooms is a beauty called the Boletus edulis.

Around the world it has many names, Porcini (piglet) in Italy, Cepe in France, the Steinpilz (stone mushroom) in Germany and variations in many other countries. It also occurs in China, South America, New Zealand and South Africa to name a few more countries. It is considered the king of mushrooms and sometimes referred to the King Bolete locally. The mushroom tends to grow large with a beefy stem and thick cap, under lain by a soft sponge like substance under the cap. The sponge is actually a series of many tubes which provide a mechanism for the fungi to release spores into the environment.

Why is it so beloved around the world? Because it has an incredible, sweet and nutty flesh that is aromatic and soft in texture. Most often people will have come in contact with the dried mushroom pieces.

Dehydrating concentrates the flavour into something deep, rich and smoky, with a hint of caramel and spice. The fresh mushroom is relatively perishable, so drying is a necessity to preserve the mushroom beyond its short season. The fresh mushroom is a rare and wonderful treat. The

In the field, you will find porcini in a range of Vancouver Island environments. On the east side of the island, they favour low areas near treed areas above the beach. Usually there are plants like Douglas Fir and salal around to shade it.

In the higher altitude hills of the central island, look for steep slopes with a mixture of trees like Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Sitka Spruce. As you head toward the west coast of the island you will see increasing numbers of Sitka Spruce and cedar - probably the prime habitat for porcini on Vancouver Island. And finally when you reach the shore of the west coast, look for porcini above beaches, near the treeline of salal, hemlock and Sitka Spruce trees, nestled in the salal but loving patches where a little sunlight shines through.

If you hunt for the Porcini, be prepared for a little heartbreak.

The aromatic quality of the mushroom also attracts insects like the fungus gnat which lays eggs on the mushroom as a future home for the larva that will hatch and tunnel throughout the flesh.

The best luck will be in sunny days after a rainy stretch in September and early November.

The cool nights of the fall will limit (or at least delay) the onset of insects devouring the fruiting mushrooms. There are also a few other boletes around the island, some cause gastric upset when eaten in quantity. These trouble boletes usually stain blue when cut or bruised. There are also cousins like the suillus and leccinium species and recent science has split off some of the other sponge capped fungi into a number of new categories. But back to the porcini - it is defined by the enlarged and firm base, the top can be light brown to dark brown in colour. Younger specimens will be very firm and the sponge will appear pale

PRESERVED PORCINI MUSHROOMS WITH OLIVES AND CAPERS Courtesy Bill Jones, Deerholme Farm

This is a wonderful use of porcini, but honestly any mushroom type (like chanterelle, oyster or even regular button mushrooms) would be excellent. The preserve is a stellar topper for grilled bread or as part of a cheese board. ¼ cup olive oil 1 onion, finely dice or minced ½ lb chopped porcini mushrooms

(or button, etc) – about 4 cups/1 L 2 Tbsp garlic, minced 1 cup stewed (and crushed) tomato ½ cup olives, pitted and minced 2 Tbsp capers (small leave whole or larger chopped) ¼ cup lemon juice and zest (or white wine vinegar) 2 Tbsp sage, chopped salt and pepper to taste In a frying pan, add about 2 Tbsp (30 mL) of oil and the onion, saute until the onion softens and begins to brown. Add the porcini and garlic. Sauté until the mushrooms lose moisture and just begin to brown.

Add the stewed tomato, olives, capers, lemon juice and sage.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato reduces to a thick paste. Remove from the heat and add the reserved olive oil (about 2 Tbsp/30 mL) and season well with salt and pepper.

Allow to cool, serve at room temperature with grilled bread or with a cheese board. You can place it in mason jars and refrigerate for up to one month. almost whitish in colour, turning yellow, then greenish as it ages.

If you find one, search online or find a good guidebook to verify the species. And of course cut it open before you get too excited -

to make sure the worms haven’t beat you to the punch.

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W

Please visit the website for current info about upcoming events, dinners, workshops and classes Gift Certificates Available

The Shopping Cart Project: Success!

For full details visit www.deerholme.com

BY RESERVATION ONLY

4830 Stelfox Rd, Duncan

For ReservationS 250 748 7450 locally grown, organic and delicious

Ol’ MacDonald Farm Sungold cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, basil, pesto, salad mixes, free range eggs and more!

Delicious, local food grown with love.

Available Saturdays at the Duncan Farmers Market.

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hat a joy it has been to watch the community support the Shopping Cart Project. For those of you who don’t know, this is a new program that provides fresh, organic, locally grown food to local mothers and their families who wish to have extra support.

Participants sign up weekly on Facebook through Healthiest Baby Possible, a prenatal nutrition program operated through the House of Friendship.

Every Saturday they come to the Ol’ MacDonald Farm stall at the Duncan Farmers Market to pick up a gift bag containing the best of our produce and eggs.

We started with a prayer and a donation of ten bags at the June 5th market and then simply asked our customers to follow suit. Our faith in the generosity of others was rewarded tenfold that first day when to our delight the donations poured in, covering more than 60% of the projected 20 week program.

Since then, the Healthiest Baby Possible has paid for an extra ten bags during some weeks, and our weekly donation jar has continued to fill, such that the program is almost already paid for at just the halfway point.

We are now faced with the opportunity to extend the program further into the fall or to add more bags for pick up each week.

We are truly grateful to all those who donated or who cheered us on. We are blessed to live in a place where so many are willing to help each other. To the mothers who pick up their bags, to the folks who donated online, to the other vendors who offered in kind donations and to the customers who continue to drop donations into our jar we say a huge thank you If you’d like to be involved see Ol’ MacDonald Farm, Duncan Farmer’s Market macdonaldcam@gmail.com

Darsana Tea

M

y name is Renée Fulsom and I am the founder and creative behind all that is Darsana Tea. In 2003 I opened a small café in Edmonton focusing on organics in teas and coffees. During that time my love for creating blends developed and since then I have taken many classes towards becoming a tea sommelier, in learning the art and science in blending herbs and teas that are not only good tasting but good for you.

Last year I had the opportunity to move to Duncan with the plan to open a retail location to do my custom blending. Duncan’s vibrant downtown location seemed to be the ideal spot.

Shortly after the move from the mainland that opportunity got put on hold and I began to look again at other options to get my teas to market. I love the Cowichan Valley for its diversity in people and agriculture, Canada’s 1st tea plantation and of course all the cideries and vineyards.

I eventually hope to connect with those that grow herbs to create blends specific to the plants of the region.

I recently completed the Cowichan Food Innovation Program, organized by Economic Development Cowichan and facilitated by Spring Activator. The program has been a wonderful resource and networking opportunity for a new person to the Cowichan Valley to meet and network with other business owners within the community and discover what other opportunities may lie ahead. My passion for herbal tea is in the blending - combining fruits, roots, flowers and leaves making it pleasing to look at with colour, with flavours that are satisfying to the taste buds and of course good for you.

My dream in opening a retail location is still there, to build on

the family of products related to the 7 primary blends – just waiting for the right location and the right time. Until then,

Darsana Tea can be purchased online at darsanatea.com, with shipping available across Canada.

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NATURE RAMBLES Quw’utsun Sta’lo’ Skweyul, (Cowichan River Day)

“R

ivers are the arteries of our planet: they are lifelines in the truest sense.”

Mark Angelo We are blessed in Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Valley with many rivers, streams, creeks and tricklets (tiny creek). Our rivers are taking a bad hit this year with the effects of a long drought and climate change. Our salmon and all the other river plants and animals are suffering. We are fortunate that the Quw’utsun is one of the few rivers on the east coast of Vancouver Island to have a weir. This allows water to be held back and released to assist salmon outcomes. Other rivers such as the Koksilah, which do not have a weir and no lake to draw from are even worse off than Quw’utsun. What can we do? Educate ourselves and become engaged.

Millions of people around the world celebrate World Rivers Day on the last weekend of Saturday. This event was started in 1980 in BC by Mark Angelo, river conservationist, and the BC Outdoor Recreation Council.

From there Mark’s vision has encircled the globe. In 2017 and 2019 Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable co-hosted Quw’utsun River Day. Cowichan Tribes is the largest band in BC and is active on many fronts doing river stewardship. Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable

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was founded with Cowichan Tribes and conservation groups 19 years ago. It is a grass roots group promoting collaboration on solving watershed issues. Together they have teamed up to offer a fun day on Saturday, September 25, 10-2, meeting at 222 Cowichan Way for a short walk to the site.

The day will be opened with the talented Tzinquaw Dancers. John George, Cowichan elder, will be our MC for the day. Dr. Shannon Waters, our public health officer, member of Stz’uminus Nation and strong advocate for water will be sharing her thoughts.

There will be many activities including Cowichan elders and knowledge keepers sharing skills used for millenia such as carving, cedar weaving and traditional medicine. Opportunities include learning about why a new weir is needed, meeting Raptor birds from NW Pacific Raptors, watching fishery biologists do a river seine and countless other activities.

Are you wondering what is the different language in this article? This is Hul’q’umi’num’, the first language of our valley. I am a beginner learner and I am blessed with my teacher Philomena Williams and Merle Seymour. I believe we should be using our local language as much as possible.

Contact me at cowichansteward shiproundtable and 250-701-1054 for details.

Volunteers needed! www. cowichanstewardship.com Genevieve Singleton, Nana, Mum and Wild about Nature, co-chair of Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable Contact her at twinflower4@gmail. com

T

he S’amunu/ Somenos watershed, a large sub-watershed of the Cowichan Watershed drains a significant portion of the Cowichan Valley, including a large part of the Duncan/ North Cowichan urban area that surrounds Somenos Lake. Three streams drain the watershed into Somenos Lake as well as play host to spawning salmon.

All three streams all suffer from poor water quality, storm surges and diminishing riparian areas.

The S’amunu/ Somenos WatershedA watershed in trouble

Somenos Lake is almosteutrophic due to excessive phosphorus levels that contribute to summer algae blooms.

Somenos Creek is the highway into the S’amunu Watershed for spawning and migrating salmon. Parrots Feather, an Invasive aquatic plant grown in home aquariums and ponds, now occupies 80% of the creek, which drains the S’amunu Watershed into the Cowichan River, a Canadian Heritage River.

We don’t yet understand the impact of Parrots Feather on this migration.

The S’amunu watershed has historically held a great cultural and economic value for the Quw’utsun people.

The watershed headwaters are home to provincially blue-listed Coastal Cutthroat Trout (CCT). and Somenos Lake is home to the Pea Mouth Chub, a species washed over with Fraser River freshet (the flood of a river from heavy rain or melted snow) an unknown time ago.

To begin the process of bringing the watershed back to health the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society has initiated the GreenStreams Community Stewardship Project (GreenStreams) in collaboration with our GreenStreams partners, Cowichan Tribes and the

Municipality of North Cowichan.

The primary purpose of the GreenStreams initiative is to restore the riparian corridors and improve the water quality of Somenos watershed streams and lake for the benefit of wildlife, fish, and people, while at the same time, preserving important Cowichan Tribes cultural areas within the stream drainages for all time.

GreenStreams secondary purposes include: educating, informing and enlisting streamside property owners to support riparian area improvements on their properties; collaborating with local governments to improve their riparian area protection policies; and to create a step-bystep resource guide that can be used by other groups seeking to restore their watershed streams.

Help is always appreciated, whether as supporting members or active volunteers working in the field alongside us. More info on these opportunities can be found at www.somenosmarsh. com.

A fun way to support our work is to attend any of our WildWings Nature & Arts Festival Events during the month of October.

You can find out more about these events on the events page at www.wildwingsfestival.com.

Reservations and ticket sales open September 7th.

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FALL PROGRAMS - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

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 9:30 -10:30 am Wednesdays 10-11:15 am Fridays 10-11:30 am (Victoria)*

Northern Shaolin Chun Yuen Quan

Dynamic movement Improves posture Increases energy Strengthens bones Tuesdays 6 pm - 7 pm Wednesdays 9 am - 10 am

250 748 4060 rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca

www.WildGooseQigongCentre.com

Harmony Yoga Instructors and Facillitators

HARMONY YOGA DOWNTOWN DUNCAN Harmony Yoga and Wellness has been serving the valley for 10 years! Supporting students at all levels and offering a range of classes including: Yin, Somatics, Gentle Flow, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Happy Hips and a morning yoga practice that offers customized sequences for each student. Perfect for anyone new/returning to yoga, working with an injury, as well as those seasoned students looking to advance their practice.

We hold Yoga Teacher Training and a variety of workshops including: Ayurveda,Yoga Nidra, Plant Spirit Yoga, Community Acupuncture, Meditation and more! Visit our wellness practitioners offering Ayurvedic consultations, massage, reflexology, and counselling. 250-597-1919 360 Duncan St, Duncan harmonyyogaduncan.com

MUMMA MAGMA YOGA WITH TAMU MILES Mumma Magma Yoga offers online and in-person classes in Mill Bay, Shawnigan Mumma Magma Yoga

Trial By Fire Pottery Studio Pottery Classes

NEW ONLINE SHOP AND FARM STAND www.trialbyfirepottery.ca I 250-710-8758 www.trialbyfirepottery.ca 26

FALL PROGRAMS - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Lake and Victoria. Owner Tamu Miles teaches various modalities available within the Hatha tradition, including vinyasa, restorative and yin.

Each class is designed to help build strength, mobility, and balance in the body, and restore equilibrium to the mind and nervous system.

Registration for fall classes is open now through Kerry Park Recreation, Shawnigan Lake Community Centre, Esquimalt Recreation Centre, The Beat Dance Studio and UVic Recreation. For more information and full calendar, visit mummamagmayoga.com.

Breathwork, Aromatherapy, Herbal Medicine and many more powerful tools that will teach you how to regulate stress. Bringing more resilience, vitality and connection in your life. Please visit www. embodiedroots.com to learn more about our course.

Lee Masters, Wild Goose Qi Gong

www.emobodieroots.com

WILD GOOSE QI GONG LEE MASTERS NOURISHING YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM Nourishing Your Nervous System ~An essential toolkit for working with stress and your nervous system.~ Join 5 internationally known women for this amazing 5 module online course.

Featuring Dr. Sharon Stanely, Andrea Larsen, Mukti, Melissa Brown and Christy Greenwood. This course is packed with hands-on tools and somatic practices to help you start your journey of embodiment and regulating and nourishing your nervous system. During this course you will learn Somatic Theory, Developmental Neuroscience, PolyVagal Theory, Meditations, Yoga, Tapping, Gut-Brain Connection, Somatic Movement, Chi Gong,

Qigong is Chinese exercise for good health. These beautiful, gentle movements are designed to balance the energy in the internal organs, releasing old, stale “Qi” (energy) and gathering fresh healthy Qi to store in the body. By developing our Qi, the practice of Qigong provides the best environment for us to improve our health and build up our immune system, thus avoiding illness and strengthening weaknesses we may have inherited: like soil, sunshine and water for our seed. Local classes are currently held outdoors weather permitting, otherwise online. Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays in Glenora, Duncan. Fridays in Victoria. rivendellrhythm@shaw.ca wildgooseqigongcentre.com

Welcome Back!

The studio is open.

Yoga Basics • Mysore • Core, Hips and Hammies • Happy Hips • Yin Flow • Studio Somatics • Vinyasa Flow • Gentle Flow • Ashtanga Flow • Yang to Yin • Ashtanga Fusion • Yoga Basics Register for classes online

250-597-1919 360 Duncan Street, Duncan

www.harmonyyogaduncan.com 27

FALL PROGRAMS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Steps Ahead Dance Photo credit - @sheenadaviesphotography

Kathy Lassche 250.709.2541 Music Education Specialist VOICE & PIANO

www.mulberrylanemusic.com

STEPS AHEAD DANCE Steps Ahead Dance has been inspiring young people through the art of performance and dance in the Cowichan Valley for over 20 years.

We offer Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatic Arts, Street, Conditioning, Musical Movement, Broadway, And Both Local And International Performance Opportunities.

Come in & check out our sweet new Gallery space featuring originals & prints from local artists + weaving + handmade wire tiaras!

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 28

We have spent the summer renovating our studio space at Whippletree Junction and are ready to welcome you and your dancer to an elevating year of inspiration and creativity.

Our faculty includes 5 young, talented women, representing varied and inspirational backgrounds.

Artistic Director, Lorraine Blake (RAD FISTD) shares a lifelong passion and love of dance with her students. Her 35 years of experience and awards, including a Duncan Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Award (Art in Business, 2018) and status as an international examiner for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, ensure your dancer will be in the best of hands.

To register call 250 701 0203 www.stepsaheadbc.com

MULBERRY LANE MUSIC Mulberry Lane offers Piano lessons and Voice lessons for children, youth and adults in a beautiful studio located close to Maple Bay School. Lessons are available in-person or on-line and are taught by Kathy Lassche an experienced music teacher who has been teaching piano and vocal coaching for

FALL PROGRAMS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Chops Drum School

Rock I Funk I Blues I Reggae I Latin I Metal

Paul Jutras

DRUM KIT AND HAND PERCUSSION LESSONS 35+ years experience- Private / One 2 One / Customized / Fun

Beginner to advanced - In your home or in my studio in Duncan

250-732-7735 I chopsdrumschool@gmail.com 27 years. She is currently accepting new students into her studio. The spaces are limited so please contact her phone 250 709 2541 or email mulberrylanemusic@shaw. ca or facebook Kathy Lassche to register and secure a spot.

She offers new students a free consultation and lesson. You can also check out her new website for more details. mulberrylanemusic.com

Chops Drum School

CHOPS DRUM SCHOOL CHOPS is a fully equipped drum studio offering lessons for the beginner to the advanced. Specializing in a one to one private, customized, fun, advanced level of learning for personal, live or recording studio playing. Half hour, 45, or 60 minute instruction available.

As a new student no experience is needed.

You’ll be playing by the end of the first lesson. As an intermediate or advanced student, add more skill to expand your strengths.

With 35+ years as a working professional, I offer classes in Rock, Funk, Blues, Reggae, Latin and African styles.

For registration and information contact Paul Jutras, chopsdrumschool@ gmail.com Cell 250 7327735.

JUMP INTO MUSIC If you know a little person 6 mo - 4yrs of age, have some fun with them and join ‘Jump Into Music’. It’s a quality music and movement program that enlivens, engages and educates.

Join us! Registration is now open, contact the Community Centre near you to enrol.

Siblings are welcome at 25% off and drop ins are also welcome space permitting.

Wednesday, 9:30am September 15 - October 27 Shawnigan Lake Community Centre, Thursday, 9:30am September 16 - October 28 Duncan Cowichan Community Centre Friday 10 am, September 17 - October 29 Ladysmith Community Centre Got a question? I am here for you, message me at orith@ jumpintomusic.ca or go to www.jumpintomusic.ca.

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FALL PROGRAMS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Violet Reynolds,RDYT500 Somatic Educator

Teaching classes since 2008 HEART MATH MONTHLY WORKSHOPS

In person classes Zoom classes - live & recorded Inquiries - somayogaviolet@gmail.com

Bring the Joy of YOU to Your Life

Brenda Isaak Takao

blueseedstudio.com

Activation Method Life Coaching 250.709.4874

Island Hellerwork & Somatic Counselling ALIGN - CONNECT - EMBODY

Heal Trauma Increase Vitality Improve Posture & Alignment Freedom From Chronic Pain & Injury Improve Movement & Flexibility Heal Anxiety & Depression Better Sports Performance

islandhellerwork.com I 250-661-1687

Somatic Yoga Violet Reynolds

SOMATICS WITH VIOLET REYNOLDS In Somatics class you will be guided to mindfully engage in slow, gentle movements. Students will gain self-knowledge and self-management techniques that will help them relax their nervous system, manage stress, improve mobility and decrease pain. Somatic Yoga blends Somatics with a slow, gentle yoga practice. Violet is certified as a RDYT500 and has been teaching Somatics and Somatic Yoga since 2008.

Violet offers weekly Somatics classes on Zoom Friday 9 10am. Live or recorded Somatic Yoga classes are coming soon.

Private and semi-private classes available.

To register or for inquiries somayogaviolet@gmail.com

To have new solutions to old issues join us for one of three HeartMath® Groups.

HeartMath® uses “in the moment’ techniques that help you be your best self in all situations, business or personal. Stephanie hopes to help you discover new ways to calm your worried mind.

Groups run in September November on Wednesdays.

One group at 1:00pm, one group at 7:00pm and on Thursday we will meet online at 7:00pm. To register call 250-732-4599 www.happinessishealthy.com

THE CLAY HUB COLLECTIVE The Clay Hub collective is a non-profit society that is 100% operated by volunteers. We are a place for people to come and learn pottery and work as a community. Visit our website to learn more about our great space at the Clay Hub and discover opportunites to be part of the Cowichan Valley clay community. Fall Class details and registration information available online at theclayhubcollective.com

The Clay Hub Collective

Fall Classes and Open Studio registration happening now

www.theclayhubcollective.com 30

What is a Life Coach?

Y

ou may have heard the term “Life Coach” before, but many people are not familiar with what they do.

Essentially, Life Coaches are a relatively new breed of mentor/educator that seek to uplift, enable and re-story the clients that they work with.

By this I mean they want to help their clients achieve their goals by giving them a better sense of their value, abilities, and motivation.

Coaching can be helpful for just about anyone. Whether you are struggling with an issue, working toward a goal, going through some sort of transition, or just wanting to bring a little extra joy into your life or relationships, a Life Coach can be invaluable.

A good Coach will take the time to get to know you and help you know yourself a bit better. Then, they will work with proven strategies to assist you to make the changes you decide are important. If you are goals focused, they will work within your unique set of needs to identify obstacles and set realistic goals for overcoming them. If you want help to understand or deal better with a transition you are going through, they will use strategies that tap into your strengths to give you the insight you need to decide how best to deal with your changes. They will uplift and give you tools to see things from a perspective that enables and encourages.

Likewise, a good Coach will never use shame or guilt to try to make you do anything.

I certainly would not stick around to listen to shame or guilt in any relationship, and neither should you!

A good coach is client centred. They always focus on what you decide is important. It also means that they are looking for the strengths that you already have, but have not learned to access or adapt to your current goals.

One thing to be aware of however, Coaches are not trained or licensed to treat issues of mental health involving a diagnosis, and if you present with something that looks like one, they should refer you to a medical health professional.

Would you love to be more resilient in stressful situations?

Be empowered by your heart to make choices in your life that bring you joy?

Then HeartMath is for YOU! HeartMath strengthens your connection to your intuitive wisdom. Join Stephanie Cerins for a once a week group of only 10 lucky people who want to give themselves emotional mastery!

The group will be held in Stephanie’s home at lovely Fuller Lake. Every Wednesday in September, October & November of 2021. There are two classes available, one at 1:00 pm and one at 7:00 pm.

The fee for the classes is $15.00 each or $150.00 if you pay upfront and you get three free gatherings.

Call Stephanie at 250-732-4599 or email happinessishealthy@gmail.com to reserve your spot

We all have resources hidden within ourselves, but sometimes we need help to access them. Life Coaching works to help you find within yourself the clarity, direction and courage to take the action you need to make your best life a reality. If you have something you are struggling with, a Life Coach might be just the person to help you break free. blueseedstudio.com

Brenda Isaak Takao is an innovative artist and life coach working to seed the world with wonder and joy.

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Boost and Preserve Brain Power

By Tina Lee Foster

T

here are some key lifestyle aspects to keep in mind and to practice, while we age along with our brains. And this goes for people of ALL ages, from children learning new things in school, to older adults hopefully still learning valuable skills and lessons of life!! Engaging our mind helps develop different areas of our brain and strengthens it. What we eat, how much we exercise, sleep habits, stress levels and what/how we think, are all of definite importance if

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we are to help out this oh so vital complex organ- and even boost its power!

1. Diet: eliminating processed foods, ensuring proper digestion, and eating a natural whole foods diet while avoiding what you are negatively sensitive to. Add in extra antioxidants such as more raw colourful fruits and green vegetables, and nutritional addins like superfood powders daily.

The more antioxidants the better, as these will combat those free

radicals that are constantly being produced in the body through natural processes, stress (physical or mental), toxins in the environment, etc. Oxidative stress leads to dis-ease anywhere in the body and the brain is particularly susceptible. Help it out!

2. Exercise: Keep moving! Aim for 30 minutes extra activity such as walking, hiking, biking, etc. most days. This will not only keep bones and joints strong and flexible, but also will enhance circulation throughout the body including your brain. Purposely exercising also requires brain

power, and thus gives your brain a little workout also. Exercise of course makes us feel great and benefits mental health!

3. Engagement: mind activities, and hobbies you enjoy. Stay connected with good people and participate in social activities.

Also practice mindfulness, and positivity, which are excellent for our brains, health, and our life outlook. Sometimes what we need is to DIS-engage, meaning take a time out and chill. With an over-stimulating world and lifestyle, we need this daily- take a break from your activities

and to-do list, and meditate or just zone-out while taking deep breaths. This helps recuperate the body and mind, while recalibrating the hormones and brain center. Finding personal meaningful purpose is brain nourishing.

4. Extra Nourishment: Take Supplements and ensure adequate minerals and vitamins, amino acids, greens and superfoods!

Some proven and VERY beneficial supplements to consider: 1. Ginkgo Biloba: Increases circulation to the brain and also your peripheries. Protects the neurological system. Proven to aid memory and mood.

2. Omega 3 fatty acids: Omega3s: Shown to aid brain development, learning and cognition, mental health, and preventing decline (dementia). High DHA is important for young ones and those experiencing depression. It is available as a high-quality fish oil, or for vegans an algae oil.

3. Vitamin D: Protects against cognitive decline and dementia.

Many people are deficient and low blood levels of D are linked to brain health specifically, including depression, behaviour, and learning difficulties.

4. Curcumin/Turmeric root: Promotes brain health and lowers Alzheimer’s risk. Top antiinflammatory medicinal spice. Use an extracted curcumin supplement and/or turmeric root added to food(particularly a fat-containing food will increase its absorption, and/or along with black pepper.

Heating it and fermentation also increases absorption!) Consume turmeric root in this way every day for its brain and whole body benefits.

5. B vitamins: B12, folate, and B6 lower homocysteine levels, which in excess is a toxic substance that makes the brain more vulnerable to beta-amyloid plaques found in Alzheimers.

These B vitamins also help lower the rate of brain shrinkage that occurs with age. After age 50 especially, very little B12 can be absorbed in the gut, and absorption here is tricky anyways. Best to supplement with the methylform which is pre-converted and dissolves sublingually under the tongue and right into the bloodstream. B12 also improves energy, mood, nerves and so many other facets of health.

6. Amino acids: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play an important role in body functions. They are needed for many vital processes like the cell building and synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). If you do not get adequate assimilable protein in your diet or perhaps you are lacking in certain key amino acids, you may want to supplement with an easy to digest protein powder(vegan or not), and/or an easy to take powdered or capsuled amino acid such as tryptophan, tyrosine, acetyl-Lcarnitine (a certain form of carnitine), which are all brain supporters including for cognitive and mood support. Additional amino acid neurotransmitters such as gaba, glycine, and L-glutamine are popular choices for these purposes as well.

7. L -theanine and Green tea: An amino acid derived from the tea plant and is most prevalent naturally in green tea. It acts as a neurotransmitter, promotes relaxation, helps with concentration and focus, memory, mood, and cognition. Drinking more green

tea is very beneficial and should be included in your anti-aging regimen, and also is a wonderful anti inflammatory!

Essential Remedies 141 Craig Street Downtown Duncan (250) 748-9632 33

B Here We Grow, a

local mom and baby program, is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and open space for parents through pregnancy and the first couple of years to connect with one another through their triumphs and struggles. Facilitated by full-spectrum doulas Kaya Edwards (Cowichan Doula) and Samara Ferguson (Wyldfern Doula), the weekly meetups, monthly workshops, and online community have grown substantially during the past 18 months as families seek support and connection during these isolating times. As of September 1st, the new home, of Here We Grow will be moving into Unit F at Whippletree Junction where they will be hosting parenting workshops, classes, dropin groups, doula services, and more!

For more information about upcoming events visit: www. herewegrowcowichan. com

Cowichan Women’s Health Collective

eing pregnant can be challenging in the best of times, but in a pandemic it becomes even more so. Fortunately, many people working remotely have had the flexibility to deal with pregnancy exhaustion, morning sickness, and the general discomfort of pregnancy in the privacy of one’s own home.

However, there remain many challenges that can affect your mental health. Support has often been harder to come by with less in-person appointments with your care provider, feeling isolated in the weeks after bringing baby home, and not to mention, online birthing classes are just not the same.

That said, there are some easy and helpful ideas for creating and fostering connection during pregnancy and the early postpartum days.

Celebrating pregnancy in a virtual world ● Virtual baby shower. Zoom parties can be an outpouring of support. By sharing food, games and well wishes means we can still experience the connection that is present in a tradition baby shower. ● Entrust a family member with your ultrasound results, and arrange a piñata for a livestream surprise gender reveal. ● Regular check-ins. it’s probably the weekly socially-distanced coffee date or a walk with close friends that makes biggest impact on mental health.

The best gifts for a pandemic pregnancy ● For new parents their ‘first child’, may be a dog! A cool dog care kit can be key to relieving “dog mom” guilt when bringing home your new baby. ● No hospital visitors due to COVID-19 means lots of pictures. Comfy nursing pajamas can be the perfect gift. Not only are they cute for postpartum photo ops, they’re also fully functional for breastfeeding. ● A good wireless charger is a blessing when your hands are busy with baby other tasks. A wireless pad with fast charging capabilities allows multiple devices to stay charged and keeps you connected!

Supporting new moms from a distance ● Meal delivery are a lifesaver and meal kits that work best postpartum are often ones that required minimal prep. ● Give the gift of laundry! A diapers service or even having the rest of the household laundry picked up dirty and dropped off clean feels like magic to new parents. ● Self-care! Getting an hour to yourself each day makes all the difference to postpartum mental health.

Getting a DIY care package from a friend can be the best present ever.

These things combined ensure that, no matter how physically isolated someone is, they aren’t navigating their pregnancy alone. While the pandemic certainly changes the experience for a mom-to-be, it can help those stepping into parenthood know they have love and support of family and friends behind them.

And that is the always greatest gift of all.

Submitted by Emily Graham mightymoms.net

The Cowichan Women’s Health Collective acknowledges our settler relationship to the unceded territory of the Hul’q’umi’num’ speaking peoples upon which we live.

PRACTITIONER & SERVICES AT MATRAEA CENTRE: Dr. Rikst Attema, ND and Dr. Jenna Waddy, ND--Naturopathic Medicine; Sophie Barbant-Hayward, M.A., RPC--Substance Abuse Therapy; Sonia Furstenau, MLA—Cowichan Valley Constituency Office; Kate Koyote, RM—Midwifery Services; Candice Wray, RN--Two Moons Lactation Consulting; Amanda Slydell--Tax Preparer Extraordinaire; Amber Burwash and Erin Sheen—The Place to Mortgage; Hayley Sinai, M.A— Youth and Family Counselling and Intuitive Reading; Pamela Boechler - Physiotherapist and Kendra Thomas, CVAP & Warmland Women’s Support Services Society--Sexual Assault Support and Crime Vicitim Assistance Advocacy

www.matraea.com I 170 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan I 1-844 Matraea 34

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We’re back to the polls, and I need your help to continue fighting for you

Violet Reynolds, RMT Now practicing at CN Health & Wellness 715 Canada Avenue, Downtown Duncan Practice focuses on pain management, Somatics and Stress Reduction

To Make an Appointment 250 597-3959 or somayogaviolet@gmail.com

dine in I patio service I take-out

fresh cut kennebec fries • crispy battered fish • delicious tacos • pizzas • poutines • burgers and more!

Sunday- Thursday | 11:00 - 9:00 Friday & Saturday | 11:00 - 10:00 111 jubilee st, duncan I 778 • 422 • 3000 menu online at: freshkennys.com 36

Alistair MacGregor is the NDP Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, currently seeking re-election during the 44th General Election

I

t has been an honour and a privilege to represent this riding over these past six years, and I’ve worked hard to make sure your voices are well represented in Ottawa.

Whether it’s protecting our coast against anchorages, tackling climate change, or protecting our watersheds by getting funding for the Cowichan weir, I’ve been working hard to make sure your voices are represented in Ottawa.

Indigenous rights, better agricultural policy, and effectively combating the opioids epidemic have also been top priorities for our riding. In ensuring a recovery from the global pandemic that sees our communities and small businesses bounce back stronger and prosper, I’ve been advocating for policies that will create jobs, lead to better healthcare, and build more affordable housing under the leadership of Jagmeet Singh.

And now – I’m asking for your help to continue working for our community, by sending me back to Ottawa!

The past six years of Liberal government have left a lot to be desired. Since the global pandemic, it has been harder to keep up as wages stay the same, and good jobs with benefits become harder to find.

The evidence of climate change is all around us, and we are rapidly running out of time for real action. But the Liberals are clinging to Stephen Harper-era climate change targets, investing billions of dollars in fossil fuels, and are committed to sinking billions more into the TMX pipeline expansion. With the climate crisis reaching irreversible stages and threatening everything we hold dear, going back to the way things were simply isn’t good enough. That’s why I need your help to take bold action on combating the climate crisis.

There have been plenty of opportunities to take concrete action against stagnating wages, sky-rocketing housing costs, unaffordable childcare, stifling student debt, and ballooning prescription drug prices. Outof-pocket healthcare costs are rising, but the Liberals joined with Conservatives to defeat NDP initiatives to establish national pharmacare and dental care systems.

If we want different results, we need to stop making the same failed choices in our government. We need the courage to act together, to lead us to a better place, and that is exactly what NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and I are offering to Canadians.

Alistair MacGregor, Member of Parliament 126 Ingram Street #101, Downtown Duncan

Wagamese’s “old woman” tells us: The moon, stars, rocks, trees, plants, water, insects, birds, mammals. Your whole family.

Learn about that relationship.

How you’re moving through time and space together.

That’s why you’re alive.

Poems instantly bridge the gaps between us, going straight to our hearts, allowing us to see the humanity in those we have othered.

WHY WE SHOULD READ

Indigenous Poetry

The Warmland Book & Film Collective – a response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – next meets September 8th online. Email WarmlandBFC@gmail.com

With just a few words or the turn of a phrase, a poem broadens our awareness and transforms our vision.

Whether decades old or contemporary lyrics like the Snotty Nose Rez Kids’ Bougee Natives, Indigenous wordsmiths offer powerful lessons.

In a selection by Indigenous poets, we are enlightened by the sharp humour of Marylin Dumont’s ‘Letter to Sir John A. McDonald’; graced with nature’s beauty in Randy Lundy’s ‘Watching Blackbirds Watching’.

Tenille Campbell introduces us to ‘Thick Indigenous Women we are curves spilling stories / against your lips’: we hold joy in every round shoulder laugh loudly drawing all eyes In Embers, Richard

We leave you with the Cowichan Valley’s own Cassandra Blanchard’s ‘Native’ from her collection “Fresh Pack of Smokes” which won the 2020 ReLit award for poetry.

“I’ve seen so many downand-out Native people, it hurt my heart to see them drinking Listerine and cheap wine, constantly drunk and redfaced; as an Aboriginal I have to admit it shamed me that I had become another statistic as if I proved to racists that Natives were just alcoholic drug addicts, we have feelings and loved ones and stories and struggles and fears, we are people and we have dreams, people see roughlooking men and women swaying while walking maybe talking to themselves and smelling like shit and see only the outside, I saw myself as a stereotype going around smoking crack and drinking and not respecting my body or mind and forgetting the power of my culture, I see generations of dysfunction and trauma, souls destroying themselves through drink and crack and heroin and how people turn away not wanting to look.”

CHARITY BOOK SALE Saturday Oct. 16th 9 am to 3 pm Sunday Oct. 17th 9 am to 2 pm GEORGE BONNER SCHOOL

3060 Cobble Hill Road, Mill Bay

20,000 BOOKS mostly 50¢ to $3 NEW: Pay with CARDS or CASH Help support Cowichan Family Life, the SPCA, and Cowichan Women Against Violence…FOREVER

GARDEN HOUSE FOUNDATION

For information call 250-743-4627 www.gardenhousefoundation.wordpress.com

Submitted by David & Ranji

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C

owichan Intercultural Society is proudly hosting this year’s One World Festival in a mixed format of online and in-person events. Celebrate the Valley’s rich cultural diversity and Cowichan Intercultural Society’s 40 years of service at this exciting two-day festival.

Guests and participants can expect to experience the joy of connecting with people and cultures from around the world in a way that is safe and fun for the entire family.

Activities will range from a “One World skate”, fun and interactive workshops, and a cultural dress showcase.

Additionally, there will be an online panel to discuss Cowichan Intercultural Society’s important research on racism in the Cowichan Valley. There will also be screening of the compelling film, “Free Trip to Egypt”, followed by a live discussion with film creator Tarek Mounib. The festival activities include:

One World Festival: Honouring Cultural Diversity in the Valley

REIKI WELLNESS 250-743-8122 Debbie Shkuratoff Reiki Master-Teacher-All Levels Usui-Karuna-Komyo-Seichim

SARA TILLIE ACUPUNCTURE 250-812-9813 Sara Tillie Registered Acupuncturist Traditional Chinese Medicine

Reiki Therapy & Classes - Detox Foot Spas Acupuncture - Amethyst Mat - YL Essential Oils Daytime • Evening •Weekend • By Appointment Only #13- Upper Level • Valleyview Centre • Cobble Hill www.reikiwellness.ca • reiki-wellness@shaw.ca

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

September 25 ● One World Skate: 1:00pm - 2:20pm at the Cowichan Community Centre ● Cultural Craft Workshops: 2:00pm - 3:30pm at the Cowichan Community Centre ● “Researching Racism in the Cowichan Valley”, An Online Panel Discussion: 4:00pm 5:00pm ● “Free Trip to Egypt”, Online Movie Night with Q & A: 7:00pm

8/8/2011 3:23:00 PM

September 26 Cultural Dress Showcase: Tune in live from the Chemainus Theatre for music, dancing, and a cultural dress showcase: Time TBA To learn more and register for the events, please visit: www. oneworldfestivalcowichan. com/schedule About Cowichan Intercultural Society “In its 40th year, Cowichan Intercultural Society builds inclusive communities by helping newcomers to Canada successfully integrate into the Cowichan Valley. Our vision is of an inclusive and welcoming community, where every person feels valued and has a sense of belonging. We also offer intercultural fluency training, intergenerational leadership programs, and community outreach. Learn more at cowichanintercultural.org For more informaiton please contact Paulina Kee paulina@ cis-iwc.org 250-748-3112

SEPTEMBER 25 & 26 Celebrate the rich cultural diversity in the beautiful Cowichan Valley Join us for two fun filled event days with in-person and interactive online activities! activities

Online

• Panel Discussion: “Researching Racism in the Valley” • Screening of “Free Trip to Egypt” followed by Q & A with Creator/Producer Tarek Mounib • One World Festival Showcase- In partnership with Chemainus Theatre Festival Tune in for live performances of Music, dancing, and our cultural dress showcase

to u o y nk T ha enerous our g nsors! spo

In Person

• One World Skate, Cowichan Community Centre 1 pm to 2:20 pm Family Friendly Event All are welcome to pre-register online at reccowichan. ca or call the Ticket Centre at 250 748 7529.

Registration opens 72 hours in advance.

• Cultural Craft Workshop: 2 pm to 3:30 pm in Heritage Hall, Free admission

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ONE WORLD FESTIVAL EVENTS I WWW.ONEWORLDFESTIVALCOWICHAN.COM SEPTEMBER 25

SEPTEMBER 26 Researching Racism in the Valley 4 pm - 5 pm Acknowledging our collective responsibility, as a community to end individual and systemic racism and discrimination, the Cowichan Intercultural Society is launching a community-wide research project. No data exists currently on racism in our Region. Base-line data will ensure positive impacts from interventions to prevent and address racism.

Join us for an online panel discussion exploring antiracism research, ways of stewarding that data (grandmother principle), and a look at our local context as well as similar research in other communities.

To join discussion please register on Eventbrite at https://www.oneworldfestival cowichan.com/schedule

Free Trip to Egypt Online Screening followed by Q & A with creator/ producer Tarek Mounib 7 pm What would happen if you brought together two groups of people from two different cultures, often presented by politicians and mass media as 40

mutually hostile?

When this question occurred to Canadian-Egyptian Tarek Mounib, it marked the start of a quest to find out if kindness and connection could overcome division. The drive to find an answer to this question would take Tarek from his home in Switzerland to the United States, with a unique offer for willing Americans who were fearful of Islam: an all-expenses-paid vacation to Egypt.

Free Trip to Egypt takes audiences on a remarkable journey, in which an unlikely group of travellers to the Middle East find themselves transformed by the power of human connection.

Join us for an online screening of the film with a live Q & A with Tarek Mounib!

One World Skate 1 pm to 2:20 pm Welcome newcomers to our community and celebrate our rich cultural diversity with this Canadian tradition. We invite you to wear cultural clothing or your country’s colours while skating to a world music playlist. Please note: clothing must be safe for ice skating. Preregistration required.

Saturday | Sept 25 | 1:00 p.m.

- 2:20 p.m.

Admission $2 | Rentals $3.25

Online One World Festival Showcase in partnership with Chemainus Theatre Festival 2pm Amid the pandemic, the Chemainus Theatre Festival continues to find creative ways for theatre goers to enjoy performances.

Cowichan Intercultural Society is pleased to partner with CTF for the One World Festival this year, allowing our community to enjoy the music, singing, and dancing from members of our own community who are of this land and from far away.

Also featured is the popular Cultural Dress Showcase. www.oneworldfestival cowichan.com/schedule For the most up to date information on this year’s festival please visit us on facebook or visit our website www.oneworldfestival.com

Cultural Craft Workshop 2 pm to 3:30 pm Join us for a fun aft​ernoon of cultural crafts. Meet new people and widen the circle of our inclusive community.

Origami, henna, and Chinese calligraphy. Free admission in Heritage Hall.

Ragnhild Richter-Struebe Photography

SHARING OUR RECIPES OF THE WORLD Daal Chawal

Recipe Courtesy Hina Charania Ingredients 1 cup Black gram lenti (soaked for 2 hours If not using a pressure cooker), boiled and drained.

2 thinly sliced shallots 1 1/2 tsp ginger/garlic paste 1 cup canned tomatoes (diced) 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 tsp whole cumin seeds 1 tsp coriander powder Red chili pepper powder to taste (not optional) 3 Tbsp oil Salt to taste Handful cilantro leaves, chopped

For Tempering:

2 Garlic cloves, sliced Whole green or red chilies (optional) 1 tbsp oil

Rice:

1 1/2 cups rice (soaked for 30 mins) 2 1/2 cups water 1 tsp Whole cumin seeds 1 tsp oil salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a pan, add the whole cumin. Once it starts sputtering, add sliced shallots. Fry till golden brown. Add, ginger garlic paste, cook for a minute, then add remaining dry spices; salt, turmeric, red chili pepper, coriander powder. Mix together. Add the canned tomatoes, mix well and let this mixture simmer until most of the tomato juices have been cooked, and the oil has come to the surface. At this point, add the boiled lentils, with a little bit of water (about 3/4 cup) and mix well.

Cook mixture on a medium slow heat, for about 15-20 minutes (the texture should be like oatmeal). Turn off the heat for the lentil pot. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a small frying pan, add the garlic cloves and whole chilies. Fry till the garlic is golden brown. Pour the tempering oil with the garlic and chilies on the cooked lentils. Add cilantro before serving.

Filipino Kalamansi Juice Recipe Courtesy Paulina Kee

Ingredients Wash as much kalamansi fruit as you want.

Even 1 is powerful and you can harvest when they are green or orange.

Method Mash the fruit through a sieve and catch the juice in a beaker. You can mash the peel. It won’t make the juice bitter.

In fact, it’s more medicine. Add as much water as you want to juice and sweeten with your sweetener of choice.

You may also drink it hot by adding hot water.

For an immune boosting drink add honey, ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper.

Kalamansi juice is big medicine. When I drink it I feel cherished and witnessed - like the person who gave it to me knows this tiny Philippine lime has the power to brighten, soothe and strengthen my spirit. Its delicate floral scent and subtle citrussy sweetness transports me to the wonderful childhood memories I have of the Philippines - so long ago and yet right here.

Thankfully, you can grow kalamansi in the Cowichan Valley. A kalamansi tree will flower and fruit throughout the year. My husband got us a tree the year our daughter was born.

That same year our little tree was laden with fruit when my parents and sister were visiting and so my husband made us kalamansi juice.

Local kalamansi juice! Imagine our surprise and delight. I felt cherished and witnessed and very lucky.

Rice:

In a medium pot, cook rice on medium high heat with cumin seeds and salt, until the water starts boiling. Turn heat down to medium low, cover and cook for about 12 minutes. Check on the rice to see if all the water has evaporated. Add 1 tsp of oil, when all the water has evaporated. Gently mix with a fork and cover the rice for a few more

minutes.

Lentils and rice (daal, chawal) has a very special significance in every South Asian’s heart.

This is a very humble dish, that can be made special or left plain, depending on the social event or the financial background of the home it is being cooked in.

I never realized, that this humble dish can be both vegan and gluten free, before I moved to Canada, dietary restrictions (other than those posed by religious affiliations) were never a “thing” in Pakistan, where I grew up. I am an immigrant from Pakistan, hailing from one of the most densely populated cities of the the country. I love sharing my food and culture and learning about others here. Happy cooking!

Paulina Kee was born in Canada and is of Filipino/Chinese heritage. She works at the Cowichan Intercultural Society and is coordinating the One World Festival for 2021.

Traditional Ugandan Peanut Sauce

Recipe Courtesy The Cultured Chefs Ingredients 2 cups of fresh mushrooms (substitutions possible*) 1 medium yellow onion 2 tbsp Coconut Oil 1 medium tomato 2 cloves garlic 1 tsp madras or red curry powder 3 cups of ground organic peanuts Sea salt to taste sharp knife Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 15 mins Method Chop mushrooms, dice onion, crush garlic, dice tomato and set aside. Top ground peanuts with enough warm water to turn into thick paste, and set aside.

Turn pan on to just below medium (4) and let warm. Add coconut oil and onion, and cook slowly (not allowing onion to brown).

Add garlic, mushrooms, and curry powder, and stir fry until aromatic (3-4 mins). Add tomato and stir fry for another 2-3 minutes.

Add peanut paste to pan, scraping the bottom and stirring consistently so it doesn’t burn. Head to low simmer, adding water to adjust thickness as needed for 5-10 minutes.

Add sea salt to taste, remove from heat and serve.

Traditionally served with steamed green plantain or steamed sweet potatoes, this recipe can be served with quinoa, brown rice, noodles or enjoyed on its own.

Traditional substitutions include dried mushrooms, fresh spinach, smoked meat, smoked fish, or eggplant This recipe is ketogenic, gluten free, organic, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and high in protein.

“Growing up in Uganda we didn’t have a lot, however our culture focused around food, family and happiness, all of which we had in abundance. This peanut recipe was an affordable, healthy meal, that my Mother often made for our family, and we shared with anyone who was around home that day. Healthy, whole foods based, and versatile, this recipe can be made with meat, fish, vegetarian, or vegan.”

Shayna & Ado GrimwoodAdam are the founders of The Cultured Chefs, a based private chef and nutrition service business in the Cowichan Valley. They live and work in Cobble Hill, where they raise their three beautiful children. www.theculturedchefs.com

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I

’m overwhelmed! I need to get grounded!” (but what does that look like?) “I need to calm my mind!” (how do I do that?) “I need to find my truth!” (and where will I find the time?) Let us share some thoughts to update your toolbox.

Compassionate inquiry, curiosity, and mindfulness are key tools for effective self-reflection that moves us through various states of fight/flight reactivity and post-traumatic stress because they are comforting attributes, easy to work with, and not overwhelming.

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing conscious attention on physical sensations and feelings in the moment without interpretation or judgment.

This practice relaxes the body and mind to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia, improve attention and engage the world around us. Mindfulness practices create moment-to-moment awareness that encourages attention to the present moment where we have influence and choice, as opposed to reliving the past and/or futurizing where we

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Creatively Writing Our Recovery cannot affect change because our influence is diminished.

Mindfulness practices replace problematic responses to triggered states such as dissociation, denial or numbing out with replenishing life affirming coping strategies.

Creative art externalizes the experiences of trauma. Art can enable us to safely test a variety of options. Art does not have to be perfect. Art can help us to heal and live meaningful lives with less impact from traumatic stress. Inner responses to trauma can be expressed in

visual metaphors which can then be modified or transformed.

Changes in these metaphors can reflect changes in personal beliefs or behaviour. Transforming art images is unquestionably easier than transforming behavioural patterns, attitudes, or actual life situations, but the experience of making changes through art can nonetheless help us to manage traumatic stress and make positive life changes.

Writing is a powerful tool of self-discovery, expression and ultimately integration and transformation. Through

the writing process, we begin to claim our story and have agency over our traumatic experiences, instead of living in a state in which our trauma has control over us. Because traumatic experiences are often stored in the body outside of verbal language, concrete tools such as creative art and gentle mindfulness practices work with the body to create new pathways between mind, body and in the brain itself.

Mindfulness, creative art and journaling centres us in our own decision-making. Guidance that comes from our intuition builds the resilience needed to overcome adversity. We discover personal strengths and begin to believe in ourselves.

The attributes of mindfulness empower lifestyles that liberate our spirit and foster positive relationships with Self and others.

For more information on “Creatively Writing Our Recovery”, contact Kendra Thomas of Warmland Women’s Support Services 250-710-8177 kthomas@warmlandwomen.org

Spiritual Upliftment and Conversation

Things I Will Consider in Preparing to Vote

A

s a Canadian I feel blessed to live in a country where I am free to vote as I wish within a democratic system. This is not the case for many, even for those living in some socalled ‘democratic’ countries.

Elections represent our greatest opportunity to have a say in where our government puts its focus, how it will function and serve, and the actions it will take during its time in office.

At election time I think more about the kind of country I want to live in. I want it to be more just, to be truly based on the rule of law; I want it to be generous, where no one is left behind and those who are currently behind become the focus to receive what is missing (whether it be respect, education, food, health care, clean water, safety, economic sustainability).

As Baháʼu’lláh, Prophet/ Founder of the Baha’i Faith stated in The Hidden Words; “Oh ye rich ones on earth!

The poor in your midst are My trust, guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.”

I also think about the role we, as a prosperous and democratic nation, should play in the world. Whether we wish to admit it or not, we are co-stewards of this planet with rights and responsibilities equal to, but not greater than, every other person on it. Therefore, I want to see a government that acts

decisively on issues such as climate change, global health issues, and environmental degradation for the longterm good of all. Again, Baháʼu’lláh tells us that “The earth is but one country, and Mankind its citizens”.

But, above all, I think about the points clearly expressed in this paper from 1995: “No single principle of effective authority (aka governance) is so important as giving priority to building and maintaining unity among the members of a society and the members of its administrative institutions.” This includes “the intimately associated issue of commitment to the search for justice in all matters. Clearly, such principles can operate only within a culture that is essentially democratic in spirit and method.” The Prosperity of Humankind: A Statement by the Bahá’í International Community, March 03, 1995.

As a Baha’i, I look forward to the day when we, as a single body politic, will choose, through consultation and reflection, the issues of greatest importance and vote for individuals that we believe can best work together to address them. In the meantime, I will vote on September 20 (or before) and express my choice about who I wish to represent me in the next federal parliament.

Submitted by Tim Mock

Join us in offering prayers for the healing and upliftment of the world, and conversation on topics that challenge the establishment of unity and peace.

We are three local Baha’i friends who currently meet on Zoom.

7:30 to 8:30 on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month

All are invited and welcome, whatever your spiritual path.

Please call us for details and link:

Tim and Laurice Mock – (250) 748-2585

SEPTEMBER TOPICS 09/08: Spiritual Value of Education 09/08: Toward a Just Global Order

So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.

Baháʼu’lláh 43

2021 COWICHAN I MALHAT I LANGFORD ELECTION CANDIDATES

LIA VERSAVEL

Green Party of Canada https://liaversaevel. wixsite.com/mysite

Lia.Versaevel@GreenParty.ca I’d like to tell you why I am hoping to represent you as your MP in Ottawa. As a lifelong lover of science, I have studied Climate Change in depth. For the sake of our children, grandchildren, and many generations to come, we must reverse these trends.

We need liveable communities where we can locally access goods and services. We need a basic, liveable income for all. The TransCanada Highway has choke points in several places, yet a rail corridor and the ocean is at our eastern seaboard.

We can learn much from indigenous cultures.

We can create infrastructure for vehicles that do not rely on fossil fuels. We can return to the local production of most of our food and support the distribution of produce throughout every community in our area.

Medical services can continue to be provided via remotely, as they have been in the North for decades. We can reduce our importation of cheap goods from overseas, and rely on local production and craftsmanship. This will also reduce marine traffic using the waterways around the southern gulf islands as free parking lots. We can increase our wood fibre value by adding a manufacturing component instead of shipping out raw logs. We can halt the logging of ancient forest ecosystems. We can stop fracking and serving as a back door to the export of coal.

I am a mediator and work full time in Advocacy for Cowichan Women Against Violence Society. It’s so gratifying to work with women and their families in their time of need.

I’ve worked in three countries, visiting dozens more, have raised three children and know how privileged I have been as a first generation Canadian, child of WWII refugees. I have known poverty, as well as a comfortable standard of living.

Join me and let’s turn another swath of the Island Green!

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MARK HECHT

People’s Party of Canada www.markhechtppc.com mark@markhechtppc.com

Dear Cowichan Valley residents, I would like to introduce myself and extend an invitation to stop by my campaign office at the corner of Ingram Street and Canada Ave. I am a former university instructor and writer with a passion for freedom, protecting the environment, and common sense.

A great concern for the erosion of our democracy, the rise of cancel culture, and obvious corruption in government has propelled me into politics.

Like many Canadians, I have a deep love and appreciation for our great country and wish to see it prosper. As a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada, I am proud to stand with the only federal party that is against vaccine passports and believes that the right to choose what is best for oneself, should be respected by our government.

Having worked for the Nature Trust of BC in natural habitat management, among accomplished biologists, hunters, and the wisdom of elders, I wish to see our natural environment, including the Cowichan River, restored and vibrant.

Homelessness and drug addiction need a new approach and our youth need to be offered visions of a bright future, instead of despair.

I look forward to meeting you and hearing how we can work together to reunite Canadians.

WE MUST VOTE ACTION ON

Every election has important issues. This election the mother of all issues, intersecting with every other issue and affecting everything that matters in our lives, is the climate emergency.

This June’s “heat dome” smashed high temperature records, causing over 500 heatrelated deaths in BC. Widespread forest fires and smokefilled skies here in the Cowichan Valley and across the province immediately followed. The fires continue. The climate crisis is at our doorsteps.

Last month the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a rigorous review of the science showing the Earth on an accelerating path to 1.5 degrees of global heating by the early 2030s, with more and worse heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms to come.

UN Secretary General António Guterres called the report a “code red for humanity”.

He said, “the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.” The report also said that if top-emitting countries like Canada respond to the IPCC’s alarm bells with aggressive efforts to curb carbon emissions, the worst climate outcomes remain avoidable.

To stay below 2°C this century global emissions must peak sometime in the middle of this decade. In other words, we need to elect federal leaders

2021 COWICHAN I MALHAT I LANGFORD ELECTION CANDIDATES

FOR CLIMATE SEPTEMBER 20

who will mobilize and invest to reduce emissions and transform our society at the pace and scale required in this unprecedented emergency. Every candidate running in this election needs to hear this.

Canada has yet to meet any of its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. This must change. What our federal government does to reduce emissions and limit climate disruption in its next mandate will affect everything – our water, our health, our food systems, our resilience as a society, and our children’s future.

Whoever governs next– in a majority or minority– must act urgently. They need to hear our voices. On September 8th join a non-partisan rally for climate action at Duncan City Square at 4:30pm. See: facebook. com/CowichanClimateHub. Then hear what our local candidates have to say at 7pm at an all-candidates’ debate on the climate crisis and the environment. See facebook. com/100debatesCML/.

And vote for our children’s future on September 20th.

Jane Kilthei, One Cowichan, Stephanie Lindstrom, Cowichan Valley Earth Guardians, Ellen Robson, For Our Kids Cowichan Adrienne Brown, Chemainus Climate Solutions, David Slade, Socially Responsible Investing Cowichan, Sandy McPherson, Transition Cowichan for the Cowichan Climate Hub

BLAIR HERBERT

Liberal Party of Canada blairherbert.liberal.ca voteblair2021@gmail.com I am Blair Herbert; I am a local businessperson and farmer, and am honoured to represent the Liberals.

The two main issues motivating me are climate change and the economy.

Farming has given me a front row seat to the impact of climate change.

The Liberals have made significant progress for the environment; we must keep going. The announcement by the Liberals protecting BC’s old growth forests is one example of how we’ll work to secure the environment’s future.

The pandemic wreaked havoc on our economy. I want to be part of the plan to rebuild. The Liberal initiative of $10/ day daycare is just one example of how we’ll do it.

Why vote for me? Unlike the incumbent in this Riding, I am not a professional politician. I am just like you. I have worked in different sectors and have weathered some difficult economic storms, including the pandemic. I have raised a family of four children, with sleepless nights doing so. I feel the impact of climate change. In short, I can relate. And, in my mind, relating to my constituents is the most important part to serving them. I ask for your vote and will not let you down.

ALISTAIR MACGREGOR

New Democratic Party of Canada alistairmacgregor.ndp.ca alistair.macgregor@ndp.ca Let’s Continue this journey, together: NDP’s MacGregor I’m asking for your help to continue working for our community, by sending me back to Ottawa!

Since I’ve been your MP, we’ve been through a lot. It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent this riding over these past six years, and I’ve worked hard to make sure your voices are well represented in Ottawa.

You already know me: From protecting our coast against anchorages, to tackling climate change, or defending our watersheds by getting funding for the Cowichan weir, I’m on your side! I’ve been working for pharmacare and dental care, Indigenous rights and true reconciliation, better agricultural policy, and using my voice to combat the opioid epidemic.

We can’t wait longer for the Trudeau Liberals to eventually deliver on empty promises.

What’s need is the strength and courage to act – together. That’s exactly what NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and I are offering with the NDP’s Ready for Better plan.

Send me back to Ottawa. Let’s continue this journey, so that we can all prosper.

Let’s do it - together!

Alistair MacGregor is the NDP Member of Parliament for Cowichan-MalahatLangford, currently seeking re-election during the 44th General Election. alistair. macgregor@ndp.ca 45

Photo credit: Ken Barnes

VOTE GREEN! LIA VERSAEVEL COWICHAN MALAHAT LANGFORD

Authorized by the Official Agent for the Campaign to elect Lia Versaevel 46

SO WHAT HAPPENED? A Tale of Two Land Use Plans

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or the last few years, the Municipality of North Cowichan has been engaging residents in the creation of a new Official Community Plan (OCP) to form a vision for future land use. Ten years ago, the MNC Council of the day pursued a similar path of constructing an OCP for North Cowichan. They asked the public what features of the Valley they most cherished.

Responses of the day were described by the facilitators thusly: The importance of the rural setting to the image of North Cowichan as a place cannot be overstated, with virtually all participants citing natural or agricultural landscapes, views to forested

mountains, fields or ocean, travel on rural roads, working farms and forests and the proximity and ready access to nature being among the most highly valued aspects.

With this in mind, the 2011 OCP confirms the value of these qualities.

(2.1.4.1.c) Any change from the existing visual condition of existing landforms and features (eg, through the clearing of forest cover for a suburban development) should be difficult to perceive from key viewpoints.

And yet, the visual condition of Mt. Tzouhelem, one of our pre-eminent landforms, has since then been continually altered by the removal of much of its forest cover, first for a failed golf course, then clearing over one hundred hectares more for a new development.

So what happened?

The 2011 OCP states: 2.1.4.1.b) Site grading will

The Kingsview development is on the right. You can also see how a slope off Genoa Bay Road was also devastated.

be minimized to protect native vegetation and drainage patterns. And yet, time and again, we see developers scraping the surface of the land clean of all topsoil, trees, and every last bit of vegetation, hindering natural regeneration. These ‘moonscapes’ are sometimes left desolate for many years.

So what happened?

Recognizing that development on steep slopes poses a risk of landslide and erosion, BC’s Local Government Act (919.1) requires municipalities to protect development from hazardous conditions such as So What Happened? A Tale of Two Land Use Plans continued on pg 48

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So What Happened? A Tale of Two Land Use Plans continued from pg 47

steep slopes over 20%.

In steep or flood prone areas, the subdivision or development of land or the removal of vegetation may destabilize the areas, cause environmental damage or pose a risk of loss of life and property.

And yet, since 2011, much of the new development on Mt. Tzouhelem is in areas that are shown on MNC maps to be hazardous steep slopes, now almost treeless. In the last ten years, thousands of mature native trees have come down on some of the steepest slopes on Mt. Tzouhelem, on well over 100 hectares, to prepare for development.

So what happened?

In Section 2.2.2 ‘Air Quality and Noise Pollution, the 2011 OCP states: a) The Municipality will

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minimize the risk to public health from noise pollution…(and) will endeavor to avoid and prevent the creation of new sources of noise pollution…

And yet, shortly afterward, the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, with its continual soul-crushing auditory onslaught, was approved adjacent to the longstanding residential settlement of Sahtlam, causing a great deal of personal distress and loss of property value for the local area.

So what happened?

This is what happened: the Council that approved the 2011 OCP did not approve a supporting Zoning Bylaw before its term ran out. A zoning bylaw is necessary to give teeth to the OCP and thus make it a reality. As a result, the outdated Zoning Bylaw of 1997 is still in effect to this day.

This situation is in danger of happening again! The OCP that is now being completed could become as worthless as the 2011 OCP without a supporting zoning bylaw.

And time is running out.

You may have participated in the recent Growth Survey asking residents to choose between three Growth Scenarios for future growth.

The majority of residents chose a plan that would allow growth while leaving natural and rural areas untouched.

But there is already push-back from some on Council.

The faction in our midst that wants to see unlimited development believes that more taxpayers will mean lower taxes and that needed infrastructure upgrades will be funded by all those new taxes from new residents.

But it doesn’t work that way. You have to build the infrastructure first.

Campbell River recently refused occupancy permits

for a freshly completed development because the city lacked the needed sewage capacity. New infrastructure is expensive and taxes go up, not down! Fast-growing Surrey raised its tax rate by 11% last year.

But most residents don’t concern themselves with municipal matters. When it comes to local Council, their eyes glaze with boredom.

Then, suddenly, they find a high-rise going up beside them or a racetrack across the street.

If you would like to support the work of the QLNA, please email us at quamichanlna@ gmail.com. Our scope is the Quamichan Lake watershed, but anyone who shares our values is welcome to join.

Cynthia Montgomery is a Director of the Quamichan Lake Neighbourhood Association

all of which are powered by renewable energy. The circular economy offers significant opportunities for businesses in all sectors to reduce their environmental impact and create green jobs for the future.

Free workshop for Cowichan businesses to explore ‘circular economy’ opportunities

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ollowing a hugely popular Circular Economy Lunch n’ Learn in January 2021, Economic Development Cowichan has once again partnered with the Synergy Foundation and Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce to further the circular economy movement in Cowichan. Business leaders are invited to attend a free virtual workshop on Tuesday, September 21 from 10 – 11:15 am entitled Circular Cowichan: Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy.

Our world is only 8.6% circular. This means that of all the products, materials, and resources in existence, only a small percentage are re-entering the economy.

All other waste is either landfilled, incinerated, or left to breakdown in our waterways or on our land.

In a circular economy, resources and manufactured goods are designed to remain in the system through innovation, reuse and repair, redistribution, reconditioning, and recycling processes,

Register for the free workshop to take a deep dive into the circular economy and identify specific opportunities for businesses within the Cowichan Region.

This interactive virtual workshop will cover: 1. A brief overview of the circular economy 2. Case studies of local businesses who have implemented circular principles 3. Assessing your business’s circular opportunities through discussion and worksheets, including how to: a) Evaluate current material flows b) Identify circular solutions c) Create your action plan, set meaningful targets, and track your progress

Quamichan Lake Neigbourhood Association

To advocate for the natural environment, scenic beauty, historic and rural character of the Quamichan Lake neighbourhood and for the collective stewardship of the Quamichan Lake watershed.

For more information Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qlna.cowichan/ Email: quamichanlna@gmail.com

Spaces are limited, so please visit ecdevcowichan.com to register.

About Synergy Foundation Synergy Foundation is a Victoria-based non-profit with a mission to share ideas, spark innovation and activate change to steer our economy and communities towards a more regenerative future.

Through one of their core programs, Project Zero, they are working to bring more circular economy concepts to British Columbia to support economic equity, advance the quality of life, and eliminate waste & pollution from our systems.

Submitted by Brittany Taylor

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SLEEP MAKES YOU SMARTER

ow complex is your brain?

That’s easy. Your brain has 25 times more cells than there are people in the world, and each of these cells is connected physically to up to 10,000 other cells. What a network!

The network is constantly changing, remodeling and self- improving. But it requires an awful lot of upkeep. Brains boast an estimated 86 billion nerve cells called neurons, and an equal number of supporting glial cells that hold it all in place. Glia is the Greek word for glue, and while it was first thought glial cells merely hold the neurons together, we now know these fatty little beasties with names like astrocytes and Schwann cells are very, very hard working and active. They support, manage and maintain

the vast networks of neurons in the Central Nervous System. If the glia is injured, as occurs in multiple sclerosis, the nervous system runs suboptimally.

Neurons are your basic nerve cells. They interconnect and stimulate each other via small molecules called neurotransmitters that jump from cell to cell like biting fleas from one dog to another, stimulating the receiver. The supporting neuroglial cells make insulating lipid tissue called myelin that enrobes the neurons, like insulation around a copper wire. Myelin ensures accurate and precise transmission of the impulses throughout your brain and entire nervous system. No sudden crashes (or seizures) when the glial system is working the brain’s computer effectively.

Sleep and nutrition greatly affect brain growth and function. The importance of sleep in brain health cannot

be overemphasized. Sleep allows cells to do their physical revisions and maintenance.

During the waking state, a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline maintains arousal. While awake, neurons are firing, burning up glucose and wearing themselves out.

But as soon as you slip into the sleep state, the glial system springs into action to gobble up debris from fatigued cells. Glial cells neutralize free radicals and refurbish energy stores for tomorrow’s activity. Result next morning: - I can take on the world today!

number and quality of brain connections. Learning makes new nerves and new pathways in old nerves. Learning a language, learning a song, practising math - all measurably affect brain structure. That ability of the brain to rework and improve itself is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the term for how brains change, learn and heal. Sleep is so important to the brain’s function that major diseases like schizophrenia, dementia and autism are influenced by poor glial function during sleep.

Sleep is when your memories are made. Sleep is when learning is consolidated.

Learning, in turn, refines the

Dr Bill Nielsen has been practising in Duncan for thirty years

What will you do when you win the next Hospital Foundation 50/50 draw? www.cdhf5050.ca Actual odds depend on number of tickets sold. BC Gaming Event License #128046 Know your limit, play within it. Problem Gaming Help Line 1-888-795-6111 www.bcresponsiblegaming.ca

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3 Tips to Weather a Financial Storm Tyler Hoffman is the Founder of OnPoint Employee Benefits www.onpointbenefits. ca and the Executive Producer at www. deliberatewealth.com

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he recent heatwave that burnt some of my garden is a good reminder that things happen out of our control.

This month we’re exploring my top three things you need to do when the stock market goes wonky.

If your investment portfolio took a 20% dip today, it would take you five years to recover from that downturn.

Imagine your investments going down so far in value that it hinders your ability to retire on time or even stay in retirement. Here are my top three tips to weather the proverbial storm.

Upgrading the quality of your portfolio is essential. It’s a perfect time to take a look at what is working well inside your portfolio. You want to look at the types of funds you have. You want to look at the amount of risk you’re taking on inside your portfolio. Is it necessary? Is it unnecessary?

Are you paying fees that you don’t need to pay? Assessing the quality of your portfolio through a portfolio review with a qualified advisor is a good thing to be doing during this time.

Maintain a long term perspective. When markets drop off a cliff, they cut deep, their losses are significant but know that the markets generally come back. So have a long-term perspective rather than just look at the downturn that you’re currently in, and feeling the pain that you’re currently experiencing. Look to the possibilities down the road.

Make sure you’re finances and life plans are still on track. Whenever the market and the economy do a major correction, it leaves our financial and investment plans off track. Variables of change, elements of change inside our lives and our businesses, and inside our portfolios, and so the first thing that you’ll want to do is make sure that your retirement plan and your financial plan are still on track, giving the new variables that are putting pressure on all of your holdings and ability to earn the income that is needed for daily living.

Finally remind yourself that after every bear market, there’s a bull market.

Meaning at the end of every bad market, there’s a good market. At the end of every good market, there’s a bad market. At the end of every bad market, there’s a good market. At the end of every

Sands Funeral Chapel

Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan

by Arbor Memorial

Janice Winfrey Funeral Director

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

good market, there’s a bad market…you kind of get my drift. It’s the cycle of life when it comes to investing. If you’re still unsure, confused

or don’t know where to start get a second opinion with a trusted Advisor from an unbiased firm.

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Clover Clothing

ith another wonderful season sneaking its way toward us, why not slip into something special from Clover Clothing located inside The Public Market!

Clover Clothing is a unique boutique featuring a carefully curated collection of specialty new and “new to you” clothing and accessories. This quaint shop aims to be both Hal and Berg

FALL INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL AT THE PUBLIC MARKET wheelchair and financially accessible. As disabled owners inclusivity is a top priority featuring an accessible change room and carrying all sizes. The welcoming owners have a special story of their own as well.

Berg and Bennett have had life altering events in recent years. Berg sustained a brain injury seven years ago that resulted in mobility issues and a seizure disorder.

Bennett has had two transplants and a bilateral amputation.

Spending time with these individuals while you shop in their elegant store is always a unique experience.

Bronwyn Berg and Hal Bennett consider themselves lucky, despite their daily challenges, and aptly named their new business Clover Clothing Co. They are currently expanding the store within the Market and will be bringing you an expanded line of beautiful new clothing.

There is always something new every time you visit, just like the rest of the fabulous shops in the exciting Public Market. After finding that perfect new dress, don’t forget to check out Periwinkles right across the hall, where you will find a wide array of interesting items to compliment home and heart. Then saunter around the corner to find all your beautiful body care

Periwinkles Gift Boutique

needs at Indulge Enjoy, specializing in exquisite bath and body items.

Just a taste of what you will find inside…come and explore to see so much more!

With so much to see and do, don’t forget your appetite and treat yourself to a burger and shake at Archies 50’s Retro Diner or Captain Andy’s Fish & Chips Seafood Restaurant .

We all look forward to seeing you soon at The Public Market in Chemainus!

The Public Market is open 7 days a week for your shopping delight! Please check out our new website at www.chemainuspublicmarket. com

A big THANK YOU to our customers and community for all the support, words of encouragement and gratitude we have received during our 14 years in business!

Lulu, Sherry, Sonja and Karen Come in for great natural products, organic produce and so much more!

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9738 Willow St, Chemainus 250-246-9838 Hours Mon-Sat 10-5 • Closed Sun & Stat holidays

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HUMAN DESIGN SYSTEM UNLEASH YOUR TRUE & UNIQUE SELF Seeing your unique design through the lens of Human Design is a gift, and the recognition of your child’s unique nature is where miracles can happen.

Living your Human Design brings more ease, beauty and awareness into your life.

Cathy has been studying and living her design for 10 years.

Certified Professional Human Design Analyst www.crystalclearawakening.com 54

H

uman Design is the Science of Differentiation.

With your birth data you get to see in your body graph a precise map and user guide that gives you access to how you are genetically designed to engage with the world and how your unique inner guidance system operates. It is a way to see not only yourself clearly, but is especially useful with raising children according to their inborn nature. It is a gift to see where the challenges in your life have arisen from and to see where the potential struggles may arise in your child’s life experience. Having this information regarding your true nature allows the letting go of what you are not, but strived to be; emerging back to who you were born to be. With this knowledge your child can be raised according to their true nature and be relieved of finding themselves in their later years. Having an awareness of your own design and of your child’s brings an incredible relief from worry and trying to figure out what is happening in times of stress or conflict. Seeing this way can show you an easily repairable dynamic that is likely taking place. I have experienced this with my own children and grandchildren.

In my years of study and living through the lens of Human Design, I have realized the depth and scope of the knowledge available and it is truly remarkable. One of the most helpful aspects to my health and wellbeing has come from experimenting with my own unique design. HD is like candy for the mind but by following my Strategy it has given me access to my Inner Authority. Having the ability

How Human Design Can Help You to acknowledge and trust the inner guidance from my body has helped tremendously in my decision making, taking away the uncertainty and doubt from the mind. Human Design is about living with a deep connection to the intelligence of the body, and giving the mind it’s appropriate role.

Releasing the mind’s control over the life while freeing it to be an incredible gift of service to others.

We are living in very transformative and uncertain times and to have the ability to make a correct decision for yourself and your children’s health and wellbeing has possibly never been more imperative. Navigating as your true-self and having access to and trusting your inner knowing is an incredible tool in this constantly changing world.

If you feel a response to this introduction to Human Design and would like to know more, please feel free to contact me and check out my website for more information. crystalclearawakening.com Cathy Simons is a certified Professional Human Design Analyst.

dance and fight at the feeder while the young and mature eagles vie for a perch in the cottonwoods.

It is also great fun to watch canoeists, kayakers, and scullers enjoying the lake.

Welcome to a treasure hunt. It will be a surprise to find hidden garden sculptures tucked away amongst the flowers, rhodies, sacsofradge and 120 flowerpots.

Mollyanne Baker is an Island girl, born and raised in Victoria.

She has thoroughly enjoyed 45 years of exploring the mediums watercolor, oils, acrylics, mixed mediums and collage. Diversity is always a challenge and never boring.

These mediums are used in Mollyanne’s portraits, land and seascapes, still life and impressionism. Now on to the most unexpected surprise of all of creating garden art and household treasures, all one of a kind. The tricky part at first was handling the glue gun, it had a mind of its own but she conquered it!

Flower Pot Art Show Sale and Garden Walk

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un is what you will find when visiting Mollyanne and Ian’s garden. Overlooking Quamichan Lake the birds and bees love this place, but add Art and the humans love it too. Visitors are welcome to explore the back yard where they can pull up a chair and relax and enjoy the garden, forest, mountains and beautiful Quamichan Lake. This is the quiet place where one can hear the birds chatting and playing in the trees. The hummers

Mollyanne’s guest artist, Susan Jean Whyte, has been making jewelry for twelve years. She is inspired by the forests of Vancouver Island. Susan takes impressions from the bark of Cowichan Valley trees and uses these molds to create the textures that she designs her bronze and silver jewelry around. For forming the metal she uses the technique of metal clay. Tiny particles of metal are mixed with an organic binder and can be worked just like clay (thus the name). The pieces are formed, using the tree bark molds to create texture and then hand formed into pleasing shapes.

The metal clay is then fired in a kiln where the binder burns off

LOOKING FOR MICROGREENS?

We grow plenty of them!

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

OLD FOREST CAMPGROUND

ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

SALT SPRING ISLAND Where the Cowichan Valley meets the Salish Sea!

Large Park • Trails • Seaside Walk • Awesome Destination Gallery/Gift Shop • Hardy Plant Nursery • Variety of Campsites

Mid Week Islanders Special MONDAY – WEDNESDAY Stay 2 nights get a 3rd night free

To Reserve call Shayne or Shirley 250-537-4346

gardenfaire@saltspring.com

www.gardenfaire.ca and the metal particles sinter together. Out of the kiln comes a perfect pure piece of metal.

Welcome to the Flower Pot Art Show, Sale and Garden walk,

Saturday September 11 and Sunday September 12, 10:00 – 5:00 at the home of Mollyanne Baker 1725 Westlock Rd, off Maple Bay Rd, below the properties.

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Giving you back the luxury of time and a naturally clean home to enjoy it in!

Providing professional, eco friendly cleaning services.

250 929 8381 www.cleanchoicecleaners.com Licensed - Insured - Bonded

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 56

re you curious about growing your own medicine? Since cannabis became legal in Canada three years ago, many of us have begun to grow it to treat conditions including chronic pain, arthritis, insomnia, nervous conditions and more.

The legal ability to grown four plants per household in BC has the potential to ensure personal supply, save a lot of money, grow organically, and to avoid the pesticides, herbicides and radiation used on commercial crops.

Cannabis can easily be grown outdoors (they don’t call it ‘weed’ for nothing!) or in a greenhouse, then harvested and dried in October and turned into a wide range of medicine to suit your needs.

Specific strains with elevated levels of non-psychotropic CBD can be grown for those who wish to avoid or limit the “high” associated with the THC found in cannabis.

For those who prefer not to smoke or vape it, cannabis can be easily heated in the oven to cure it (known as “decarboxylation”), then infused in vegetable oil or butter for ingestion by mouth or capsule and for use in cooking, baking or massage.

Cannabis has a history dating back 10,000 years as medicine, paper, rope, sails, fuel, machine oil, clothing and more. Cannabis was grown by the French and English in Acadia (now Nova Scotia) in the 1600s.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew cannabis on their plantations.

Cannabis was banned in the 1920’s in North America after US corporate interests aligned against it to protect their timber, plastic and oil markets.

Cannabis is only now beginning to be appreciated as a powerful medicinal plant again. Cannabis is a gift to us all, particularly as we age, and learning how to grow and

Canna Classes With Robin Round use it medicinally is a skill we can easily acquire.

Want to learn more? Botanical Bliss will offer 4 classes on “Making Cannabis Oils and Ointments” in Duncan this fall (Sept 18, 25, and Oct 3) for $40 (+GST) each.

You will learn the history of cannabis, plant components (THC/CBD) and their action, how the plant works to heal, what conditions cannabis treats, what plants to grow for what purposes, and tips to maximize the potential of your plants for healing uses.

All classes are ADULTS ONLY. Class registration is on line at www.botanicalbliss.ca or call Robin at 250-710-276 during business hours.

Robin Round is President of Botanical Bliss, a Duncanbased herbal plants and products company. She is a Chartered Herbalist and Aromatherapist with over 25 years of experience working with, caring for, and loving plants.

Iboga What is Iboga?

Known as “the greatest hunter for truth inside of us”, this sacred plant medicine has been used and cherished for centuries within West Africa by the Pigmy and Bwiti people. Held within sacred ceremony, they have been able to truly connect with the spirit of the medicine, allowing for self-discovery and deep healing, on many levels.

Within more recent years, as with many sacred medicines and ancient teachings, Iboga has made its way to the west.

Being that this new culture carries with it its own unique troubles and wounds, the medicine’s healing spirit has proven to see no borders – helping countless people in overcoming a wide variety of physical, emotional, spiritual and mental issues.

How does Iboga work?

In a held space with an experienced facilitator, one is eased into a ceremony.

Orally ingesting the appropriate amount of the

plant’s dried up root bark; a “journey taker” will be led on a psycho spiritual journey. How this looks varies for each individual, and an experience can also drastically differ each time one revisits the medicine. It is most important for one to go into this experience with clear intentions, as we are after all working with the spirit of the medicine as well as our soul, and we very much get what we give from this. Questions like “why do I do this in my life” or “how can I be more successful at this” are ideal.

Participants have commonly shared stories of having the ability to access childhood memories or receive vivid insight into their lives; this may come in as visions or simple realizations. Another interesting aspect that sets Iboga apart from other teacher plant medicines is how the medicine continues to work after a ceremony.

Once ingested, one of 13 alkaloids Ibogaine, gets converted through the liver into a metabolite called NorIbogaine, and is stored in the body’s fat cells. Commonly reported is a “supportive presence” from the medicine that lingers for months or even years after they have completed a ceremony. This is particularly beneficial to individuals who are having problems breaking addiction or bad habits.

It is most important that the

facilitator of the ceremony shapes it in such a way that it is suitable to their demographic. After all, the harsh ways of a Gabonese ceremony, including multi day fire dancing and heavy ingestion of the medicine, would simply be too harsh on the average westerner. People such as my wife Geraldine and myself (Johnny), at Get to the Root, who are experienced and dedicated to facilitating Iboga healing retreats, are of paramount importance. We ensure that our guests are fully supported, from our initial intake, through ceremony and up until their aftercare, well after the retreat. Our work also extends beyond Iboga. We also include other supportive practices such as

an initial guided grounding and centering meditation, one on one coaching and holistic breathwork.

As facilitators of this practice, we truly believe in the healing abilities that this sacred medicine holds. As many have a limited awareness of Iboga and what it does, we are happy for this opportunity to introduce it to those who are interested.

For more information on Iboga, retreats or casual local “Iboga park talks” feel free to visit www.gettotheroot.ca Johnny and partner Geraldine are dedicated to helping you live your best life.

Shift Intuitive/Psychic Readings “Leigh is a very gifted psychic. I was in a transitional time in my life when I first met Leigh for a reading. She was able to translate what she was “getting” into concrete and practical applications for my life. That reading helped me to move forward with confidence that I was in the right place at the right time.” Denise

Call 250-619-3815 or email Leigh at: shift123@shaw.ca 57

Mountain Sneezeweed in foreground, Douglas Aster back right, Canada Goldenrod back left, all locally native plants.

Re-wilding with Native Plants – A New Perspective For Your Yard Sabine Almstrom loves helping our wild bees and birds through gardening with native plants.

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s a nature lover who has enjoyed native plants for many years, I have noticed that the vast majority of gardens feature hardly any native flora in their designs.

Even more intriguing is the fact that this includes the gardens of people who genuinely care for our natural world and understand the urgent need to preserve wildness.

The most likely reason is our conditioning, from childhood onwards, by gardens around us, which focus only on the decorative value of plants, never ecological function. Nurseries strengthen this cultural mantra by promoting showy flowering species native to Asia, the Mediterranean, the tropics and so on.

And why not? I hear you say.

After all they are beautiful to look at. Plus, one might add, they garner respect and admiration from neighbours and visitors, enhancing our status. Regarding native plants, the cultural imperative seems to be: not in my backyard…

But here’s s the big catch: introduced plants are not good at providing food for the native animals that drive our ecosystems.

A full third of our wild bees are specialists, meaning their

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larvae, the next bee generation, can only feed on the pollen of certain native plant lineages.

Over many thousands of years they evolved with those local plants in a win-win relationship.

Bees get pollen, the food for their larvae, from specific plant genera or even a single species, while the plants ensure their pollen is spread mostly in their own genus, guaranteeing seed production and propagation.

Now picture a little newly emerged specialist bee, singlemindedly searching for the particular native flowers it needs to rear its brood. If this mother bee can’t find those plants, it cannot fulfill the purpose of its short life: nest-building, egglaying and provisioning the babies with a pile of pollen food. When this little bee dies, so will all future generations with it.

This scenario is happening around us countless millions of times, around the neighbourhood, around the country, and sadly, around the world.

For wild specialist bees, the most stunning introduced plants might as well be made of plastic. Our love affair with foreign plants is killing our bees by leaving them without food. To make things worse, many common introduced garden plants like periwinkle, mountain bluet, yellow archangel and many more have become invasive inside and outside of gardens, forming smothering carpets that may otherwise be populated by native plants

supporting ecosystem function.

Generalist bees like mason bees, bumblebees or the non-native honey bee fare a little better, as they can make use of the pollen and nectar of some introduced plants. But along with most other insects all are doomed by pesticides and insecticides we liberally apply to our gardens for the sake of sterile prettiness and a perfect lawn.

Is it any wonder that a dreadful insect apocalypse is happening everywhere?

And yet, we don’t have to despair. There are some powerful positives that can fuel a turnaround: We are lucky because insects, although gravely decimated, are still around.

We control what grows in our gardens and can choose biodiversity over ecological destruction.

We can replace parts of our lifeless lawns and ornamentals with native plants, including shrubs and trees that are the host plants for caterpillars, which are the indispensable food for baby birds. Introduced plants are essentially useless at supporting the caterpillars of our native moths and butterflies.

We can opt against chemical poisons and for a natural variety of insect life, without which, by the way, we humans would quickly be “toast”.

Oh, and did I mention that we have the most stunning native plants right here on the Island?

They grow in my garden, but we hardly see them in nature anymore. When did you last notice such beauties as Woolly Sunflower, Farewell-to-Spring, Camas, Yellow Monkeyflower or Mountain Sneezeweed in the wild?

Let’s bring them back, and the wild bees, along with countless other insects, will find them. Let’s endow our native plants with the high status they truly deserve!

For free help with your garden or more information, please contact Sabine Almstrom at sabinealmstrom@gmail.com

www.dinternursery.ca

FALL BULBS

Flowering Bulbs: Nature’s Gift That Keeps Giving Bernie Dinter, Horticulturist and owner of Dinter’s Nursery

Flowering bulbs herald the arrival of spring and complement the blooming season of many trees and shrubs, creating a colourful pallet in the garden at the end of the drab days of winter. Most naturalize easily and are drought tolerant and deer resistant. They fit into any size garden from small rockeries to large drifts in meadows. Once planted, most will multiply, giving larger shows of colour as the years pass by. With a little understanding of their habits, select and plant your bulbs by November. Here are some of the favourites that every garden should have.

Winter Aconites are one of the first to bloom in January with a low carpet of yellow that captures the winter sun. Plant a few of these odd shaped bulbs and in a few years, they become spreading clumps.

Snowdrops are familiar sight in most gardens. Start by planting a few groupings around the garden and in time they become lovely patches of colour to herald the arrival of spring.

the retreating snow line. In our climate it forms lovely carpets of star shaped flowers from February onwards.

Dwarf Narcissus make a striking show in small scale garden beds and rockeries where the larger varieties we are familiar with will overpower. These deer proof plants naturalize into drifts of colour over time.

Nerine is sometimes described as a ‘floral firework’ as the 16” stems explode out of the garden with a starburst of bright pink petals in September.

Always a surprise to the gardener, these plants can grow in dry, well drained locations.

These are just a few of the many types suited to our area and will easily adapt to long dry summers in their dormant state underground.

Nature’s Gift That Keeps Giving Plant your spring colour now.

Narcissus Tulips Hyacinths Crocus Snowdrops Iris Bluebells Flowering Onion and many other unique varieties Serving local gardeners since 1973

250 748 2023

5km South of Duncan on Hwy 1

Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) comes from the Mediterranean mountains and blooms behind

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Introducing new Eminence Botanical Peptide collection!

Botanical Peptide Facial with eye and lip treatment $98

Monday-Friday 9-5pm Saturday, Sunday and Holidays – Closed 109-2673 Beverly St., Duncan (Thrifty’s Plaza) 250 748-2056 I www.soulescape.ca 60

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hinking about painting the exterior of your house? Fall is a good time for such a project, in between the high heat of the summer and the rain setting in. Make the most of it!

The first question to ask is, does my house have any elements that will not be changing and will affect the colour choices? There are at least two – the roof and the window colours. A third one could be any existing stone on the exterior. This is a big one to deal with as it becomes a “bossy element” with the undertones setting the direction for your colour choices.

Design Services & Colour Consultations Specializing in Bathrooms & Kitchens Aging in Place READY TO START YOUR DESIGN JOURNEY?

www.janenaresdesigns.com I 250 252-0501

Selecting Exterior Colours

Another thing to consider is the age and style of your house. Do you have an historic home? An Arts and Crafts new build? Or a modern or Westcoast style home? Drive (or walk!) around your neighbourhood looking at similar houses and colour choices. What do you like and not like?

The current trend is white with or without black. Gone are the greys. But timeless is better than a trend, for obvious reasons. Painting the exterior of a house is backbreaking work if you’re doing it yourself and expensive if you’re hiring someone else to do it. Likewise, selecting the correct colour is important for the same reasons.

Don’t forget the trim colour, including the garage door, and then there’s the front door. The colour for this should be the one that looks the best on your home and flows with your interior and exterior decor. Landscaping will make a big difference

to the curb appeal of your house. Changing the colour will make a big difference but plan for landscaping to add visual interest, if not already in place Don’t use too many colours; the general rule of thumb is a maximum of three, historic homes can take more.

Make sure you test your new colour before committing to painting the full house.

Most paint stores sell tester pots. Always test colours on a white surface or board so you don’t end up visually comparing your new colour to the current one. If you’re painting a new colour over your existing siding, add a strip of white paint around the edges of the new test paint area.

Bringing someone in for a colour consultation may boost your level of confidence in moving forward. Make an informed decision and then go for it!

Jane Nares is an Interior Decorator based in Ladysmith. janenaresdesigns. com 250-252-0501

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W

e’re back!

Are you retired, semiretired, or nearing retirement? The Cowichan Valley Probus Club welcomes you to our monthly meetings in our exciting new venue! We meet on the first Tuesday of each month, now at the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in the beautiful Mt. Baker Room. Our meetings begin at 10:30 with doors opening at 10:00 for some meet-and-greet chat time over complementary coffee, tea, and water.

Cowichan Valley Probus Club

The name “Probus” is derived from “Professional” and “Business”, and our current membership stands at 73 and growing. Our members come from all walks of life, creating opportunities for stimulating conversation and camaraderie. We are one of some 25 clubs on Vancouver Island alone, with over 38,000 members in 255 clubs across Canada.

Meetings consist of a few minutes of business updating the various club activities, followed by a

1-hour presentation from a monthly speaker on a topic of interest. September’s’ topic will be “Climbing Mt. Denali in Alaska”, and in October, “Nourish Cowichan: fighting child hunger in our community”. Recent presentations have included such exotic travelogues as “Antarctica and the Falklands”, and “Iran” and an update on The Hamlets residence in Duncan. Some members (and often the speaker) remain for an optional lunch at the golf club.

Our club activities include a cribbage club, a hiking group, a book exchange, a 50-50 draw, a summer picnic in July (this year at the Zanatta Winery), a Christmas luncheon, two finedining evenings, a monthly luncheon out, and occasional group excursions to area places or events of interest.

Our current dues include a $20 one-time initiation plus a special offer of a full membership valid until September of

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2022 for $30. All are welcome to attend their first meeting as a free “guest” introduction to the club.

For added information, please see our web site: cowichanvalleyprobusclub.ca or call our club President Larry Ridley at 250-212-8239 or Bob Skelton at 250929-4079. For more in-depth information about Probus, log in to probus.org.

Meeitings are the first Tuesday of each month. Next meeting September 7, 10:30 am Given changing Covid regulations, please call the numbers above or check our website to confirm.

Explore Local Waterfalls This Fall 1. Manley Creek Park is located off of Aros Road in Cobble Hill. This little Park can also be accessed from Ratcliffe Road near Arbutus Ridge Golf Course.

It is not a big park but boasts lovely little creeks and a beautiful waterfall. Take the stairs down to Cherry Point Beach and do a little bit of beach walking. Picnic tables are located throughout the park with beautiful ocean views.

2. Skutz Falls off of Highway 18 towards Lake Cowichan is part of the Cowichan River Provincial Park system. The rapids are located at the end of Mayo Road and can be viewed from by walking out onto the bridge. Later in the season salmon make their way upstream towards Lake Cowichan with the help of fish ladders and can be viewed from this same vantage point.

Stocking Creek

3. Stocking Creek which is home to Stocking Creek Falls is located just north of Chemainus near Saltair. This trail is ranked as easy to moderate with some stairs and inclines and you are able to do lots of meandering around and enjoy so many aspects of this little gem. The highlight though are the falls and they will be surely magnificent with the fall rains. The road to the park (Thicke Road) can little difficult to find so keep your eyes open for a blue small arrow sign pointing you to the park.

4. Holland Creek in Ladysmith is easily accessible off of Dogwood Drive or at corner of Sixth Avenue and Methuen Street. The fall rains make this a beautiful spot to walk along the creek with moss covered trees. It is very close to town but you feel you are far away in nature. Crystal Falls are spectacular when the rain comes and another

highlight is the Collier Dams. A perfect place to enjoy nature.

5. Christie Falls Trail has an amazing waterfall. In the wetter months the water cascades over a lovely rock face. It is just north of Ladysmith and it’s best if you check directions first on a trail app before heading out. This moderate hike to Christie Falls is an eight-kilometre loop and takes approximately two hours to do. The first couple of kilometres are relatively easy then become slightly more to a difficult hike. If you love waterfalls then this is a must do hike.

Patty Abbott, Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre

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A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community

E.J. HUGHES AT EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS

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Above Shawnigan Lake

ughes remarkable career as an artist, spans 70 years and encompasses his work as a gifted printmaker, successful muralist, outstanding Canadian war artist and prolific painter.

His paintings depict land, sea and small moments of daily life with a rare clarity and vividness. Hughes has a distinguished reputation

for work underscored by a passion for the beauty of the west coast of Canada.

“Hughes is at his best depicting British Columbia’s unique beauty”, said Ian Thom. “Hughes has a deep affection for the British Columbian landscape and a vision that is unmistakably his own.”

Despite the changing face of the visual arts, Hughes has remained steadfast in his exploration of a unique and personal approach to realism.

The artist’s distinct style, marked by the use of flattened space, skewed perspective and simplified shapes, defies parallels with other artists or easy categorization within artistic genres.

Hughes was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and spent a significant part of his

childhood in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Raised during the Depression, E. J. Hughes studied at the Vancouver School of Applied Art and Design. E. J. Hughes graduated in 1933. His talent was recognized early on in his career. One of his teachers was Frederick Varley of the Group of Seven, and another member, Lawren Harris, recommended him for the inaugural Emily Carr Scholarship.

Hughes’ paintings are best known for their strong and appealing images of the landscape and seascape of British Columbia. Because of such, Jack Shadbolt described Hughes as “the most engaging intuitive painter of the BC landscape since Emily Carr.”

The Koksilah River

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His distinctive style of painting is marked by the use

Arbutus Tree at Crofton

“I have painted in the Cowichan Valley for fifty years and it is the most beautiful place on earth”

E. J. Hughes of flattened space, skewed perspective, and simplified shapes. The paintings combine compelling clarity with a sense of the unknown and an appreciation for natural surroundings.

Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan (250) 746-7112 www.ejhughes.ca

MEET THE “STILL LIFE DIVA” - CLAIRE CHRISTINEL Inspired by the quality of light and shadow on an object, awardwinning artist Claire Christinel combines the colour, pattern and sets the mood of a scene, turning ordinary objects into objects of extraordinary beauty, striking the balance between realism and painterly interpretations.

End Of The Day, Acrylic on Canvas, 40”x40”, Jutta Kaiser

FEAST FOR THE ART LOVER’S SOUL AT AQUAMARIS ART GALLERY

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ate summer’s bounty of new artwork arrivals at Aquamaris Art Gallery is sure to please the senses as we transition into autumn.

From the colour-saturated abstract paintings and poetic semi-abstracted landscapes by Jutta Kaiser and Susie Cipolla, magnificent, large, expressive works by Gail Johnson, soft and breezy oil paintings by Sally Chupick, delightful still-life

by Claire Christinel, to the newest and exquisite stainless steel bumblebee sculpture by our master metal artist Ian Lowe - the art lovers in the Valley and the gallery’s visitors

are in for a treat.

Furthermore, we are poised to continue with the “Meet The Artist In Residence” series scheduled to take place on select Saturdays by the back patio, affording an opportunity for the general public to observe guest artists at work, learn about their process and feel inspired by the passion behind their art. As our guest painters Sally Chupick and Claire Christinel fold their easels in the late afternoon of the last Saturday in August and the first Saturday in September respectively, our gallery will be infused with the sweet sounds of guitar in the virtuous hands of our special guest and a true connoisseur of this romantic instrument – Brian Gauci.

Claire will be the guest “Artist In Residence” at Aquamaris Art Gallery on Saturday, September 4th. Stop by to say “Hi” and enjoy a family-friendly, free opportunity to see Claire work near the back patio by the gallery from 1:00 3:00 pm.

For details, check the gallery events page at: https:// aquamarisartgallery.com/events/

SEPTEMBER ARTS EVENTS AQUAMARIS ART GALLERY

Saturday, September 4 Artist In Residence a family-friendly opportunity to see Claire Christinel paint near the back patio by the gallery from 1 3pm (FREE) Upstairs in the historic Duncan Garage Building (Level entry from the back) September Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10 am - 4 pm Saturday: 10 am - 7 pm Suite 202 330 Duncan Street 250 597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com

EJ HUGHES GALLERY & EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS

Stop by to pick out a favourite local scene by EJ Hughes.

Choose from larger reproductions, open edition giclees on canvas, poster prints, limited editions, and art cards. Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112

Shadow and Light, Oil on Canvas 24 x 18 Claire Christinel

VISIT THESE DOWNTOWN DUNCAN GALLERIES Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca ejhughes.ca

Aquamaris Art Gallery in the historic Duncan Garage Building Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street 250-597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com 65

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

• Art and handwork supplies, craft kits.

Proudly carrying a full line of school and art supplies from Mercurius along with quality organic baby and children’s clothing from Engel and Hocosa; Great selection of wooden toys, puzzles, play cloths and games from Sarah’s Silks, Londji, Grimms, Holztiger, Ostheimer, Eco-Parade, Camden Rose and more. Amazing ointments and Home Remedies from Uriel; Beautiful cards and hundreds of book titles for children and adults from Wynstone Press, Floris Books, Steiner Press, Hawthorn, Lindisfarne, Mercury Press, Temple Lodge and more.

Our magical store has something for everyone. We are happy to take orders by phone or by email.

Call us at

NEW HOURS FOR FALL 2021

250-597-4763,

MONDAY SATURDAY

send us a facebook message, or email fsws@community farmstore.ca.

BOOKS, SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, HOMESCHOOLERS, CARERS AND ALL STUDENTS OF LIFE (SOL). BOOKS FOR EVERY AGE, EVERY STAGE — NEW TITLES ARRIVING WEEKLY!

10—5 DAILY

Starting Sept. 8th.

Closed Sundays and Stat Holidays Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for updates.

Here at the Freya-Sophia Waldorf store we are inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner and committed to meeting the soul needs of our children and our community by providing books, toys, supplies, resources, classes, workshops, instruction, inspiration and conversation to those who visit us. We are here to help and to support. To be on our email list for event notifications please email fsws@communityfarmstore.ca.

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The Other School Supplies

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nother summer is coming to a close. For some of us, that means back to school. It is a time to be exposed to new ideas...as well as unfamiliar germs that are always present when humans gather in groups. There are some important weapons that can be used in the arsenal of health to improve your child’s immune system and ensure proper growth and development.

We all encourage our children to eat a proper diet, but at times this can also be a case of “easier said than done”.

This is where a multivitamin created specifically for the littles can be added to ensure your child has the building blocks to grow and develop.

A once a day multi can help the body, the brain, and the immune system to function well.

Vitamin C is such a useful, versatile nutrient. As well as being an important immune system booster, it is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues.

It is involved in the formation

of collagen, the absorption of iron, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. It is a water soluble vitamin, and thus must be replenished through diet and/or supplementation each day.

Vitamin D, known as the “Sunshine Vitamin”, has an important role to play in supporting strong bones, fighting disease, and helping to maintain a positive attitude.

In winter, when sunlight is scarce, it becomes even more important to supplementwith this vital nutrient. Luckily it can be found in three childfriendly forms in a dose of four hundred international units: Chewable tablets and a flavoured liquid.

Natural Factors is a Canadian company that has been making their “Big Friends” supplements suitable for (and appealing to) children aged three and up for many years.

Products like these, as well as many others for people of all ages, can be found in Health Food Stores such as Lynn’s Vitamin Gallery in Duncan.

You can rest assured that your child is going back to school supplied with everything needed for a happy, productive, and healthy year.

Submitted by Rekha Sharma

Every Kid needs a Big Friend Nutritional supplements formulated specifically to match the needs of growing children 250-748-4421 4-180 Central Rd, Duncan - Village Green Mall www.lynnsvitamingallery.ca 67

worry. We as parents are emotionally invested in making sure our children have happiness in their lives, but when the challenges become too much, or our child has a problem they can’t cope with alone, CHILD & FAMILY or when problems affect how our kids COUNSELLING feel, or act, or what Helping Our Kids Cope they do, it could be time to get support ometimes things get in from those with expertise the way of the healthy Counsellors who work with happy lives we want for children teach them it’s ok to our children. Sometimes have conflicting or confusing situations occur that you feelings and give them skills simply can’t ‘fix’ on your to manage them. They use own. A new school year is different activities such as art a huge emotional and social or play therapy, journaling, rollercoaster our children physical exercise, and learn are going to have to ride. how to name their emotions This year is going to be particularly challenging as the and engage in positive selftalk. Kids learn by doing, by COVID pandemic continues talking through feelings and to impact family, social and working to solve problems. community lives.

Counsellors offer a safe space for kids to process their There are many challenges thoughts and emotions, and that can sometimes be too can help children find the hard for our children to cope strength to cope in a world with. They can be a change that is not ok. in routine such as a move or a new baby in the family; Cowichan Family Life is they can be traumatic events once again offering Child such as being bullied, or from and Family counselling grief, or from divorce. at their agency beginning We can often recognize when in September, thanks to someone is struggling with new funding support from negative issues in their lives the United Way Central & – adults will work longer Northern Vancouver Island. hours, or develop addictive This is intended for children behaviours to escape an ages 5-12 who are impacted unhappy home life. Teens by complex issues including tend to deal with problems by spending time on their phones divorce, separation, substance abuse, anxiety, fear, grief/ and social media, or playing loss, bullying, challenging video games to escape. behaviours or negative peer With children, changes in influences. One on one their general behaviour can sessions are one hour long indicate they are struggling to and held weekly for 8 weeks; cope with an issue. It might cost is $30 per session. Please be unprovoked aggression, sleeping difficulties, difficulty reach out to us for more information. adjusting to new situations, www.cowichanfamilylife.org sudden changes in their performance at school, Submitted by Madelaine MacLeod, perhaps over anxiousness or Executive Director of Cowichan

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Wed, Sept 15 - Oct 27 Shawnigan Thu, Sept 16 - Oct 28. Duncan Fri, Sept 17 - Oct 29. Ladysmith

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY

THE GLENORA STORE & CAFE IS A LOCAL CORNERSTORE WITH A TWIST! Stocked with basic groceries and produce.

The cafe offers fresh baked goods, hot lunch specials, drinks, and snacks. We also sell hand-woven products, beeswax candles, and prepared herbs from Glenora Farm Outdoor heated seating 5090 Indian Road (corner of Glenora Rd & Indian Rd)

250-746-5313 I www.glenorafarm.org

Family Life Association

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eptember is a time to get back into routine. If you have a little person in your life 6 months to 4 years of age, consider enrolling in ‘Jump into Music’.

It is more than a music program, it’s also therapeutic by which it holds space for connection and belonging with others. Now that covid is getting under control, it’s important for our children to resume being socially curious creatures. There is an expression I’ve heard among parents that their kids are ‘Covid Children’.

It’s time to balance the scales and reintegrate in our communities, while doing so safely.

Jump Into Music for Connection

As a facilitator of music and movement classes since 2009, I have observed that people shine when engaged in creative expression, regardless of our skill level or age. We enter the present moment in a way that allows our authentic nature to be known by self, and be seen by others. It helps us put down our stress and welcome a new moment to be enjoyed with our loved one. It’s a mood changer and refresher.

Do you see your body as a musical instrument?.

Since the beginning of time ancient cultures have made the most of using their voices and bodies to express themselves. Today this isn’t as central to our current times, sure we watch people sing and dance on TV, but how much do we allow ourselves to experiment? Part of my mission is to create opportunities for people to use and get to know their own voices in a safe and harmonious setting. Like our ancestors, I believe we were

meant to sing and move our bodies in community, simply because it makes us well and soothes a longing in our soul.

I encourage you to get involved in cultivating more musical literacy for you and your family. The sooner your child gets exposure to this universal language, the better. Here’s some of things we’ll do in class; sing, dance, move, build very practical skills (coordination, memory, fine motor), explore a wide range of instruments, engage in ear training and music rudiments, learn about world cultures, bond, try new things and most importantly, celebrate life.

Wednesday, 9:30am September 15 - October 27 Shawnigan Community Centre, Thursday, 9:30am September 16 - October 28 Duncan Cowichan Community Centre Friday, 10 am September 17 - October 29 Ladysmith Community Centre

We are pleased to again offer child and family counselling services for families of children ages 5-12 starting September 2021. No referrals necessary.

CFLA has been providing affordable counselling services in the Valley since 1970.

COWICHAN FAMILY LIFE

Suite 28, 127 Ingram Street, Duncan BC V9L 1N8 Phone: (250) 748-8281 Visit our website and our Facebook page! www.cowichanfamilylife.org

Our Child and Family Counselling program is supported in part by United Way British Columbia.

WE HAVE WHAT YOU NEED FOR BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCHES! DELICIOUS BREADS, MUFFINS, COOKIES WHOLESOME SNACKS & TREATS

Registration is now open, please contact the community centre near you to enrol Siblings are welcome at 25% off, Drop ins are welcome too (space permitting). Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions, please email me at orith@jumpintomusic.ca. I am here for you!

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Human milk itself, is filled with a unique substance that babies can’t digest without the help of the microbiome they develop in their guts.

The Importance of Our Microbial Friends

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Silvia Graber, Registered Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner specializing in digestion and mental health.

icrobes, a micro-organism nearly invisible to the naked eye, have existed 90 percent longer than we humans have, invisibly evolving for millions of years. Every square inch of space contains billions of microbes. Before humans, microbes were the only life form on Earth. Microbes not only impact the shape of many of our organs, they replace dying and damaged cells and help our bodies absorb and store nutrients and fat. Plants, animals and humans would die without these lifelong microbial hitchhikers.

From the moment of birth, microbes have helped to bolster our immune systems, helping our bodies learn to live with virus’s that enter our bloodstream.

Find us at the Duncan Farmer’s Market on Saturdays!

In some cases, microbes are simultaneous deadly and healing especially if allowed to overgrow.

So what can happen to disrupt this delicate balance in our guts?

Modern farming practices are a big contributor, among many.

Chemical herbicides and pesticides have stripped our food of essential nutrients and are contributing to intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut.

The chemical Glysophate that is found in trace amounts in most conventional foods, puts a strain on the immune system, and kills microbes by interfering with the metabolic pathways of plant bugs, and also, our own gut bugs.

Can you imagine the long-term consequence of this?

Scientists hypothesize that a decrease in the diversity of microorganisms in the soil driven by industrial farming methods could contribute to loss of diversity in the human gut microbiome, decreasing immunity and contributing to chronic health conditions.

The nutritional value of many foods is also specifically affected by the quality of the soil. This can have important consequences

Charcuterie, Grazing Boxes and Entertaining Ideas

www.picklespantry.ca I 250-266-2464 for human health. The effects are less evident in processed foods, which are often artificially supplemented with minerals and vitamins.

As our health statistics show us, we are living longer, thanks to technology, but we are collectively getting sicker, not healthier.

Presently, the lack of a rich microbial ecosystem, especially in our sterile hospital environments, and now, in many people’s own homes and workplaces, might be causing more harm than good, leading to drug resistant strains of powerful super-bugs and infection-causing viruses.

The overuse of antibiotics, and more recently, hand sanitizer, and antiseptic cleaners, is also impacting our ability to maintain a balance of healthy microbes in our bodies and environments.

Studies continue to prove that harmful species will exploit areas with too few good bacteria to

bad comICS

fight back. Sterility should not be our goal.

What can we do to improve this scenario? We can start with our own microbiome. Feeding our beneficial bacteria with foods that nurture our gut linings, and sustain a strong army in our own bodies, that is capable of fighting off even the most aggressive of bullies. High fibre foods such as raw vegetables, fruits, sauerkraut, natural home-made yogourt, raw butter, and fish oils are all good examples of gut-friendly foods. Avoid foods that rob our bodies of nutrients and cause inflammation, such as processed, refined foods and ‘junk food’. We can also adjust our environment and lifestyle by switching to all natural non toxic home and beauty products.

Eat organic, farm fresh food, especially from our own garden or someone local, and eat them unwashed! Yes, a little dirt is okay and actually may be beneficial for our own microbial diversity. And finally, we can expose our hands and feet to the earth sometimes whether its from gardening or walking barefoot. Exposing our bodies to a diversity of beneficial bacteria, weather its from a probiotic, or preferably from nature, is one of the most important ways we can build immunity and strength in our own body, and keeps us connected and ultimately, helps us remember where we came from...

You can book a consultation with Silvia at sageheartnutrition@ gmail.com or visit her website at sageheartnutrition. wordpress.com

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by Shiloh Badman

LUCKY DOG Celebrating 8 Years!!!

U Bath or WE Bath

Thank you to all our clients!

LUCKY DOG RARE DOGS…

Debbie Wood owns Lucky Dog U-Bath.

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

W

hen we are surrounded by so many popular dogs; Doodles, Frenchies, Labradors; we may see a different looking dog and assume it’s a mutt. But some of these dogs are purebred novelties. Take the Chinook, for example. Bred in New Hampshire to be a powerful sled dog, these handsome dogs look like any old “Cowichan Special”.

They are great family dogs, powerful athletes, intelligent, and devoted. Yet there are fewer than 500 of these beauties on the planet.

A not-so-rare dog, but still interesting is the Lagotto.

This medium sized curly

coated dog is usually mistaken for a small doodle, but these purebred dogs are from Italy where they were bred as truffle hunters. I suppose because it’s much nicer to have a dog rather than a pig in your kitchen after a day’s work in the forest.

I’ve never met a Vallhund that I didn’t like, (I’ve met only three). These charming little dogs are from Sweden and they look like a cross between a corgi and a German Shepherd. Happy and active, this breed was made over a thousand years ago to herd cows. Brought back from near extinction in the 1940’s, it is sometimes called the Vikings Dog, but there isn’t any evidence that they go back that far.

The Stabyhoun is found almost only in the Netherlands. It is one of the top five rarest breeds in the world and I don’t know why.

They are a gorgeous dog looking like a cross between a retriever and a spaniel. A loving family dog known for its patience, soft mouth

• Affordable Drop Off Services • Large Capacity Machines • Ask About Pick Up Service

1606 Joan Ave Crofton 250-324-2249

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

We have professional grooming!

ALL BREEDS + SIZES

250 597-7DOG

Book online!

www.luckydogubath.ca 1059 CANADA AVE DUNCAN and loyalty; I’d take on a Stabyhoun.

The Norwegian Lundehund is a cool little athlete designed to scale cliffs and catch puffins. They have a supporting fifth toe on their front paws and they can fold their ears forward over their head! Mostly a companion dog now, these groovy guys suffer from inbreeding issues that include Lundehund Dog disease. A nasty genetic intestinal disease causing a short lifespan and high puppy mortality. I’m sure the puffins are grateful.

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

Just north of Pots & Paraphanelia

Other interesting dogs that are rare for us to see include the Finnish Spitz (I met one once) the Otterhound (resembles a longhaired Bloodhound) and the English and American Foxhounds. These last three have likely fallen out of favour because otter and fox hunting just aren’t a thing anymore, and scent hounds can be difficult house pets.

When you have a minute, Google rare dog breeds and check out the Mexican hairless, the New Guinea singing dog, the Skye Terrier, Pyranean Shepherd, the Lowchen. All of them are cool dogs with people who love them.

Collectibles Eclectibles Estates & More!

Come Snoop Around!

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Managing Changes With Ease

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o here we are amidst big changes as we all navigate the “new normal”, plus anticipate the onset of Fall (cooped up indoors again), along with perhaps going back to school or work.

Be a Well Being!

778-356-2846

www.warmlandwellness.ca WILLOWANDORCHID.COM

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

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

First appointment free!

David Yaeger

Emotion Code Body Code and Quantum Touch davidyaeger650@gmail.com

https://discoverhealing.com/practitioner-map/ (find me in Duncan)

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Maybe you’re in the throes of a relocation, changing homes?

Or, have offspring leaving (or returning) to the nest? New baby or other addition to the family?

Any change to what is familiar is sure to trigger some level of stress or anxiety for you, your loved ones and even pets.

So, rather than enduring the stress, you might like to know that within the Bach Flower Remedies is a tincture that people turn to when they are anticipating and going through changes.

It’s the Walnut tincture which is not made from the fruit/ nut but from the flower using strict guidelines established

by Dr. Bach in the early 1900’s. Dr. Bach was a highly-respected scientist, bacteriologist, immunologist and physician, plus he was very spiritual and in tune with the power of healing available through nature.)

Each of the 38 tinctures within the Bach Flower Remedies line has what is called a positive potential – which describes how they neutralize specific emotional discomforts and help bring the person using the tincture(s) back into balance.

Walnut can help induce the ability

to adapt, move forward, and make changes in your life with a sense of constancy. It is also very helpful for those who might be exposed to peer pressure.

All the Remedies are completely safe to be used by anyone in any stage or phase of life, from newborns and mommas to those in their latter years. Even pets will benefit.

Dosage is easy-peasey! Use as directed.

Remedies can be taken singly, or mixed as custom formulas as needed for more complicated emotional discomforts. For a custom formula consider conferring with a trained practitioner.

Visit www.warmlandwellness. ca for more info and “Be a Well Being!”

Janet (Jacobsen) Raino, Recovering PerFectionist, ProAging Advocate MicroCurrent Treatment Provider

W

hen the waves of life leave us feeling unsettled, it can be challenging to operate to our fullest capacity physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Aside from spending time outside amongst the trees, mountains and rivers in our beautiful Valley, making space for rest and solitude (even if only for 5 minutes!), moving our bodies and eating nourishing foodCrystals can be wonderful allies to add to our toolbox of self care when life gets rocky.

Here are our top 3 stones for soothing, grounding and calming during shifting times:

Soothing Stones For Shifting Times

Lepidolite is an excellent stone for soothing frayed nerves, releasing stress and worry. It can help one to find acceptance in the face of life challenges and bring peace and calm to stormy ‘emotional weather’. A stone of serenity, Lepidolite can help bring balance to one’s emotional body. Adding a couple pieces of tumbled Lepidolite to a warm bath, can enhance its calming properties and allow its soft soothing energy to permeate the aura and nervous system.

Lithium Quartz is a wonderful heart healing stone- working to alleviate stress, calm nervous energy, and help one to relax and center in the heart. It’s an excellent stone for children to use at the end of the day, to help them calm before bedtime and assist them in drifting into a peaceful sleep (also helpful for adults who are having

a hard time decompressing and sleeping at night!). It may also work to reduce the intensity and frequency of panic and anxiety attacks.

Tourmaline has the ability to transmute and purify energyand is particularly helpful for diffusing stressful energy in the home or workplace.

A grounding stone, Black Tourmaline is extremely effective in creating a grounding circuit with the Earth’s energetic field, helping one to stay anchored and connected to the Earth.

It can also help to counter chronic stress or worry.

Find these and other magical stones at CFS for the Soul, upstairs in The Community Farm store- open MondaySaturday 10am- 5pm* (starting September 7th*).

Venita Chow is a Crystal Keeper at CFS for the Soul, Creative Alchemist & Energy Healer.

Valleyview

Centre

So much to offer!

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Wellness Reiki Wellness 250 743-8122 Reiki, Foot Detox, Infrared, Acupuncture, Reflexology

Healthcare

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

We Welcome New Patients!

Cure Artisan Meat & Cheese 250 929-2873 Charcuterie, Cheese House Made Pates

Island Pharmacy 250 743-1448 Open 7 Days a week for all your pharmacy needs.

Valley Health and Fitness 250-743-0511 Full service gym/classes

Cobble Hill Dental 250-743-6698 Friendly, Family Practice

Fitness

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HeartMath™ Can Help You

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f you are looking for new techniques to deal with your current problems then HeartMath techniques could be for you.

Learn to calm your frustration and grow the amount of time you feel content.

the people in your life can hear.

HeartMath helps you to be able to breathe appreciation, love and compassion into your everyday situations which creates in your heart a feeling of emotional mastery.

HeartMath is a system of simple and powerful self-regulation techniques which are easy to learn and designed to be used “in the moment”, whatever the situation, meaning that you can bring your best self to your professional, social and personal lives. To me HeartMath science proves that it is more important to listen to my heart than my head when making decisions.

The heart is the first organ formed in the body even before the brain. HeartMath reminds everyone that the heart’s wisdom is necessary to have a meaningful life.

Allowing yourself to believe there is another way to cope with your issues is the first step to having new answers to your old problems. Changing your perspectives with new ideas encourages you to experience your obstacles with a feeling of courage and hope.

Stephanie became a Certified HeartMath Mentor to be able to bring HeartMath’s “in the moment” self-regulation techniques to the people of the Cowichan Valley. Being able to regulate your emotions with breathing techniques and activating the power of your wise intuitive heart increases your chances of being truly content.

NEW LOCATION! Visit us in the Coastal Offices building 103-255 (Unit 212) Ingram St, Duncan 250 715 5649

www.cowichanvalleyacupuncture.com

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Being able to communicate in a calm and clear manner in times of stress allows you to share your concerns in ways

In this HeartMath group we will practice time tested techniques in a supportive atmosphere. What is shared in the group stays in the group. You are welcome to join the group anytime in the 13 weeks of the group. I would be happy to connect with you on a one on one to catch you up on the techniques you missed.

The three groups will be held in Stephanie’s home at lovely Fuller Lake. Every Wednesday & one on Thursday in September November of 2021. Fee $15.00 each or $150 for whole session.

Call 250-732-4599 or email happinessishealthy@gmail.com.

Stephanie Cerins Writer, Speaker, Reflexologist and Reiki Master

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

Get nourished at the CFS Café We offer delicious weekly features made with seasonal, locally sourced organic ingredients.

Enjoy fresh housemade sandwiches, soups, salads, poke & falafel bowls, pasta, and more.

Our kitchen is now open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-3; enjoy the coffee bar until 4:30.

Sip on classic & speciality coffees, Westholme tea, tonics & tinctures, and nourishing broths.

The Community Farm Store Organic Health & Whole Food Market

2-5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan BC (250) 748-6227

www.communityfarmstore.ca Follow us on Facebook & Instagram CFS Hours Monday-Saturday 9-6 ~ CFS Café Hours Tuesday-saturday 10-4:30 75

MALAHAT LEGION NOW OPEN The Malahat Legion is now open Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Come see our new look. We now have a beautiful, safe place for our members and guests to come. Our meat draws are on Saturdays from 3 – 5pm Thanks to the volunteers who worked our bottle drives and the amazing community support for their donations we were able to pay for our essential utility bills during the pandemic. Our bottle drives will continue on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. until further notice. 1625 Royal Canadian Legion Branch 134 Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd, Shawnigan Lake

Kin Park Movie Night, Farm Tours Farmers, foodies, families and friends in the Cowichan Valley, we invite you to join us for a cozy, outdoor movie night! This event begins at 6 pm with tours of our humble urban farm, so attendees can learn about our growing practices and food philosophy. Homemade snacks

and beverages will be available to accompany you in your sunset view of the park. Prizes and goodies will be up for grabs.

Our chosen film “Symphony of the Soil” will begin at sundown.

Bring your blankets, chairs and favourite company. No alcohol permitted. September 24, Kin Park Movie Night, Farm Tours 6 pm, Movie 7pm, Kin Park, 5789 Alderlea Street, Duncan, $10, kids Tickets sold online @ kpyouth and in-person at ReFresh Marketplace. FREE.

COMFORT FOOD TO COOK AT HOME With Fall around the corner, it will soon be the season for yummy comfort food! The Farm Table Inn’s Farm Store is the perfect place for those house-made take and bake offerings – choose from a variety of lasagnas, pot pies, soups, cabbage rolls, macaroni and cheese, perogies and many more items. Shop the on-site store Wednesday to Sundays or shop on-line at cow-op. ca Farm Table Inn/ 6755 Cowichan Lake Road/ Lake Cowichan/ 250-932-3205 / www.farmtableinn.ca

around town...

100 Debates - AllCandidates Debate on the Climate & the Environment Hear what our local federal candidates have to say about action on the climate crisis and the environment. This event has a simple mission: to make the environment an issue that no party and no candidate can ignore by organizing nonpartisan, all-candidates in debates on the environment in ridings across Canada. In October 2019, was the first 100 Debates. Local community organizers held 104 candidates debates launching a nationwide conversation that brought climate change and policy to the forefront of the election, fostered environmental leadership, and accountability in federal politics.

Local United Churches in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding are the non-partisan hosts of this Oonline All-Candidates - part of the Canada-wide “100 Debates on the Environment” happening in 100 or more ridings across the country. September 8th, 7 – 9:30pm – via Zoom and FB live Registrations open at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/100debates-on-climate-environmentin-cowichan-malahat-langfordriding-tickets-168329146007

Getting Creative with Soleil Mannion We will explore painting, drawing, collage, storytelling through art, and generally making a fun-sort-of-mess.

Do you want to feel inspired, alive, balanced and excited about life? Creativity requires focus and an open mind, it requires playfulness and flexibility and promotes thinking outside the box. In this course, I will help you do just that. I provide a safe environment and a structure that encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and experience the joy of being creative. At the end of this course, you will feel comfortable and confident expressing yourself through art. You will have the tools to become adventurous, inspired, and most importantly more connected to your true self.

Thursday Mornings 9:30-11:00 October 7- December 9 (10 Classes) In the comfort of your home via Zoom Cost: $150 Registration opens September 7.

Please register via email: soleilispainting@gmail.com

Help Fight Child Hunger in our Community WWW.NOURISHCOWICHAN.CA I 250 597-7760 76

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) Some of you are still in party mode. You want to play! You want to escape on a vacation!

You want hot, sizzling romance! You might also be more involved with sports and fun activities with kids.

However, if you are an earlier Aries, you have been playing; and this month you want to get back to work and get organized. You’re ready to work hard and work smart because you want the best bang for your buck. Not only do you want to be productive and efficient, you also want to be healthier and pumped! (I’m impressed.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You’re entering a month of fun!

Barbecues, good times at the beach, vacations, romantic get-togethers and playful activities with kids are on the menu. Grab every chance for a stimulating getaway, even for a weekend. Make fun and pleasure your motto. However, if you were born after May 10th, these good times await while your focus is on home, family and dealing with increased chaos. Fear not, you can pull it all together. And after you’ve succeeded in creating order at home – then you will enter your stretch of fun and play!

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Later Geminis continue to enjoy a busy time of errands, appointments, increased time with friends, siblings and relatives, plus reading and writing. (You’re running around with an outboard motor on your butt!) Fortunately, you like stimulation because you don’t do boring. However, for most Geminis, this month is about home, family and your private life. You might be more involved with a parent. Expect increased chaos and activity at home. Don’t worry; you can cope because you’re flexible.

Family conversations. Home repairs. Be patient with loved ones.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Cancers born after July 4th, still have a strong focus on money. You might spend more than usual. This is a good time to reorganize what you own – (and believe me you own lot because you can’t throw anything away.) If you were born before July 4th, the tempo of your daily life is accelerating because you’re busy with errands, short trips and tasks.

You might read and write more.

Very soon, all Cancers will be busy. Your communication skills will be tops, which means this is a strong time for those in sales, marketing, acting, teaching and writing. You will be heard!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) For those born after Aug. 10th, this continues to be a powerful time as you attract people and favourable situations to you.

Those born before Aug. 10th, will focus on money, cash flow and earnings. You might have excellent moneymaking ideas.

You might also make some major purchases. At a deeper level, something will occur that makes you think about what’s really important in life. (Later Leos will experience this in a few weeks.) Take a realistic look at your possessions and figure out what to keep. Some things are not worth the effort.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This month, the Sun is in your sign. Yay! This happens only once a year and when it does, it means it’s your chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. This is a fortunate blessing! You will attract people and favourable situations to you; and you will be empowered and energetic.

Your confidence will grow. This is the one time of year when it’s appropriate to put your own

needs first. Think about it. If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you be a strong resource for others? But right now – It’s all about you.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) This is a time of limbo for you because your personal year is ending but your new year has not arrived. Therefore, this month is for serious thinking.

What do you want for your new year ahead? Ideally, it’s time to set some goals because they give you a clearer focus on what is important to you. Goals also give you more clarity in future decision-making. They offer better control over your future and give you a sense of purpose. Make time to sit down and define what you want for yourself in the future and how you want next year to be different from last year.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Most of you will enjoy increased popularity. You’re eager to communicate to clubs, groups and large organizations. You will interact more than usual with younger people. Some of you will be physically involved, perhaps in competitive athletics because there is definitely a competitive energy present between you and a friend, or you and a group, or working with a group.

This is also an excellent time to formulate goals because goals will give you a clearer focus on what is important to you and make future decision-making easier. Goals help you stay on target.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Those of you who are born after Dec. 10th, might still be travelling or making travel plans. Higher education might be a strong focus. This month is very powerful for your sign

because the Sun is at the top of your chart casting you in a flattering spotlight. This can happen only once a year and when it does, almost as if by magic, you look fabulous in the eyes of bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs. People admire you.

This is timely because your ambition is aroused and you’re ready to talk to the head honcho. Good luck!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This month is a mix. Many of you are still tying up loose details with inheritances, taxes, debt and shared property. Take care of this because “loose details” don’t suit you. When it comes to money – you like tidy.

Basically, your month ahead is full of travel opportunities and chances to broaden your horizons. Many of you will learn more either through formal education or signing up for a course, or you might educate yourself in the ways of the world. This moth promotes study and heady topics like politics, religion and racial issues will appeal.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Some of you will continue to need more sleep, especially Aquarians born after Feb. 10th.

(Yawn.) Your focus on close partnerships is still intense.

Nevertheless, in the broader picture, this month brings passionate issues related to shared property, inheritances and the wealth and resources of someone else. There might be disputes. There will certainly be discussions. While all this is going on, secretly, you want to travel somewhere and “get away from it all.”

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) This month the Sun is opposite your sign. In your chart, this is as far away from you as it can get all year, which means you will need more sleep because the Sun represents your energy.

Don’t push yourself. Take it easy.

Very likely, you will be focused on partnerships. Expect intense discussions, and possibly – disputes because Mars is opposite your sign. This makes you easily annoyed with others.

Consider this an opportunity to practise patience. Not always fun to do but a valuable trait to cultivate and own. www.georgianicols.com

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DIRECTORY

A great way to discover local services and businesses.

2 sizes of ad space are available to suit every business message and budget. Affordable, stylish and straight to O F L O C A L S E R V I C E S the point.

Directory Size A - 1 logo + 8-12 word listing Full Colour 1 X $63 6X $53 12X $43 Black & White 1 X $52 6X $42 12X $32 Contact us at sales@cowichanvalleyvoice.com for more information about print ads or to book a directory listing for the next issue. Deadline September 15 for October Issue155.

Advertising

Contact group re 5G

Monthly Print Advertising Reach the locals!

Contact us at info@cowichanvalleyvoice.com

A concerned group “Cowichan Citizens for Safe Technology” has printed materials related to safe technology use. To connect with current information re radiation concerns drop

by Thursday at noon at Glow for any in person updates.

Art Classes

Trial By Fire Pottery Studio

GLASS ART SUPPLIES GLASS ART CLASSES STUDIO DROP IN KILN RENTAL 566 David Street, Victoria I 250-382-9554

Pottery Classes

NEW ONLINE SHOP AND FARM STAND www.trialbyfirepottery.ca I 250-710-8758 www.trialbyfirepottery.ca Beauty

www.vicartglass.com I www.glasscampus.com

Specialized Consulting

Prudence

Collaborative design towards ethical sustainability • workshops • consulting • grant writing terraethics@gmail.com

Natural Skincare & Cosmetics

Open: Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm Sundays 12 - 4pm • 155 Craig Street, Downtown Duncan

www.prudencenaturalbeauty.ca

Clay

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

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

The Clay Hub Collective

Fall Classes and Open Studio registration happening now

www.theclayhubcollective.com 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

Visit our

FEATURING Assorted Greens located by the Plants Providence House Local Eggs roundabout $5 dozen 1843 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan I Open Daily 9am - 3pm

FARM STAND

THANK YOU RAINFOREST FLYING SQUAD FOR TAKING A STAND FOR THE LAST STAND https://laststandforforests.com/ 78

Health and Healing Bioenergetic Balancing with Magnets & Energy Healing

* Boost the immune system *

Prevent illness & fatigue * Feel healthier

Kathryn Lowther - Biomagnetism & HUE Energy Healer 250-891-5138 www.biomagcanada.ca

Reflexology I Indian Head Massage Lymphatic Release Technique Enabling your body to heal itself, naturally.

naturalheelingreflexology.com Call Helga 250-732-7988

Customizable Organic Mattresses, Pillows, Linens Locally made Platform Beds and Furniture 126 Station St. 250-597-REST (7378) www.resthouse.ca

Hidden Gem Reiki Studio

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

Linda Hay RN Certified Hypnotherapist Anxiety, Weight, Smoking, Phobias, Pain, Insomnia, Healing VIRTUAL SESSIONS MP3’S Free 30 min Consultation 236-464-6026 Info@lindahayhypnosis.com www.lindahayhypnosis.com

TAI CHI CLASSES

FOR BEGINNER OR CONTINUING STUDENTS DUNCAN and CROFTON locations

Contact: duncantaichi@shaw.ca

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

What’s your story around body image/ food/health?

Did you know?

It’s not so much WHAT you eat that affects you, but what’s EATING YOU! Lifestyle Mentor I Certified Eating Psychology Coach

AMANDA CHARTRAND

778 678 1705 I mbodympowermbrace@outlook.com

The good news is that Eating Psychology can help you understand.

Restore your digestive system with Colon Hydrotherapy.

Your health is the only wealth that matters!

Michelle Bird Colon Hydrotherapist

250-510-3540 Sol Centre 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan I www.thecleansingroom.com

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

Ayurvedic Life Transformations

Uniquely Tailored Explorations Into The Self Coaching, Counselling, Yoga Therapies & Bodywork

Asrael 250 597 3973 www.ayurvedicbliss.com Help Wanted

Psychic

Modern Day Oracle * Spiritual Mediumship * Energy Healing

* Card Readings * Empowerment Sessions

Call Sacred Silence 250-710-5287 www.sacredsilence.net or facebook: Sacred Silence

FULL TIME or PART TIME BARISTA WANTED TIN CUP ESPRESSO & COFFEE 30-35 Hours a Week Starting at$16/hr + tips. Priority for applicants with coffee shop experience.

Email resume to:tincupbar999@gmail.com

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