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Photo by Samantha Duerksen
Cheers
TO RETIREMENT
BySamanthaDuerksen
"It's a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday afternoon; there's nobody around except for retired folks and it's not crowded, or crazy and noisy. You can sit back and enjoy the product and have fun," Jay says.
There are several draws for them. First, they love to try local. Second, they've found some exceptional products, all part of a changing culture that's seeing more innovation, flavours and styles from small businesses.
"There's some really, really excellent local products made, particularly beer," Jay says. "The days of the big breweries in Canada are long gone as far as I'm concerned."
Visiting these places allows them to learn interesting facts about the products they love, meet the makers, and connect with the land.
"You just come out of there knowing so much more about the bottle in your hand," Terri says.
Retirement can be the perfect time to explore all that Vancouver Island
has to offer in this realm. As Destination Greater Victoria notes, Victoria B.C.'s unique climate makes it home to award-winning wineries, cideries, and distilleries.
The industry has seen an explosion of innovation in the last few years, driven in part by community support, a renewed focus on quality, social media marketing and an experience-driven market.
With years of exploring under their belts, Jay and Terri have their favourite spots. The Cowichan Valley, with over a dozen wineries in the area, is one of their favourite day trips, particularly for the Cowichan Valley Wine Festival in August.
Closer to home, they recommend Driftwood Brewery, Macaloney's and Sea Cider, where they enjoy the events and views, not just the cider.
To get started, check out these suggestions for Greater Victoria below – ultimately just a drop in the bucket of all that the region has to offer.
ON THE PENINSULA
Category 12 | industrial complex in Saanichton With a doctorate in microbiology and biochemistry under his belt, head brewer and founder Michael Kuzyk has put his science-oriented mind into this passion project he started in 2014. From the logo with a beaker to the taproom’s bright and playful decor that pays homage to science fiction, Michael and his wife/business partner Karen Kuzyk bring creativity to the customer experience. Features include an outdoor patio, bistro and events like comedy nights and beer-pairing dinners.
Pair with: a visit to the Butterfly Gardens or Butchart Gardens.
Small Gods Brewing | Sidney Located in the heart of Sidney, this family-oriented brewery takes inspiration from the world of literature. Co-owner Sierra Skye Gemma is an award-winning journalist and writer, and together with her partner, Chris Bjerrisgaard, they opened the shop with a theme to fit in with Sidney’s Booktown culture. The taproom offers a selection of books, artisan sandwiches, a patio, author readings, literary trivia nights and a book club. Adding to the whimsy: all the beers are named after books relating to their ingredients or origins – Neverending, for instance, is a German pilsner named after The Neverending Story.
Pair with: shopping in Sidney, a movie at Star Cinema and a walk down Sidney Pier.
Sea Cider | Saanichton The Peninsula’s cider scene is destination-worthy and considered one of the top agri-tourism attractions on Vancouver Island. Saanichton’s Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, which, in addition to its award-winning ciders, has a beautiful view of the Haro Strait, Mount Baker and a 10-acre farm home to over 1,300 apple trees. The cider flights pair beautifully with organic cheese and other light, local fare on their menu.
Victoria Cider Co. | Saanichton Victoria Cider Co. started in 2021 in North Saanich and focuses on English and French cider apples. Their award-winning keeved cider, a traditional French-style cider with notes of butterscotch, is notably special due to its time-consuming production process. Enjoy the light, bright and farm-rustic tasting room and an open lawn with picnic tables, willow trees and games.
Deep Cove Winery | North Saanich Nestled between the Horth Hill Regional Park and Deep Cove beach, this family-owned winery is located on a gorgeous vineyard and operates as a venue, offering occasional live music, large outdoor spaces and a lounge menu offering pizza, charcuterie, and elegant starters with seating both inside and outside overlooking the vineyard. Their Schonburger, a full-bodied rosé, is popular, as is their white wine Queen with notes of pear and apple.
Pair with: horseback riding in the area and a visit to John Dean Provincial Park.
Roost Farm Winery, Bakery and Bistro Enjoy a Tasting Room
Bar and a Vineyard Bistro with inside and fireside patio seating overlooking the farm, a vineyard and koi fish pond. The atmosphere is country-style with an extensive brunch menu and educational farm tours that explore their wheat and milling operation, bee program, chicken bus and pumpkin carriage.
VICTORIA
Moon Under Water
Specializing in German lagers, wheat and sour beers, Moon Under Water is a small brewery with a distillery, dog-friendly patio and laid-back lounge with a full food menu and frequent events. Try their White Moon Vodka that won Gold with Distinction in the Contemporary Vodka category at the Artisan Distillers Canada Awards.
Spinnakers
June 16, 1984 - that's the date it served its very first beer in Victoria, making it the oldest brewpub in the city. Try the Mitchell's ESB, which has been brewed continuously for the 40 years it's been in operation. On site is a taproom with a view of Victoria's Inner Harbour. There's also a growler filling station, a daily cask special and a line of sparkling mineral waters sourced from an aquifer 225 feet below the Spinnakers Brew House.
Pair with: a walk on the Songhees Walkway,
Macaloney's Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
Vancouver Island's most awarded craft distillery is home to three 'World's Best' and 10 'Canadian Best' whiskies including Canadian Whiskey of the Year and Canadian Single Malt of the Year. Founder Graeme Macaloney is from Scotland. Enjoy a tour, the lounge and events in a warm, welcoming, and authentic Scottish pub-like setting.
Pair with: a visit to Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary or a hike at Elk Lake
WEST SHORE
Sheringham Distillery
Sherringham Distillery offers a cozy tasting room with complimentary tastings. Be sure to try their flagship "Seaside Gin" inspired by the coastal flavours of the Pacific Northwest, including Nootka rose, lavender and sustainably harvested winged kelp. Embossed in every bottle is their signature sailboat based on "Favourite", a resident schooner that once sailed the wild Salish Sea.
Bad
Dog Brewing
This craft microbrewery in Sooke is considered a hidden gem in a forested setting. Enjoy flights and unique beers like the Octodog Apocalypse made with cuttlefish ink or the Kona, a coconut red ale. Tasty food can be had via the Hot Diggity Dog Food Wagon.
Pair with: an easy hike at East Sooke Regional Park via the Aylard Farm access point
PIPPA BLAKE
WOMAN WITH MS FINDS ‘GREAT FEELING’ AT VICTORIA THERAPEUTIC RIDING ASSOCIATION
BySamanthaDuerksen
Sometimes life throws things our way that we could never have planned for and puts us on a new path where we are forced to adapt and dig deep for courage.
In the late ’80s, Pippa (Philippa) Blake had plans to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp with her sons when her plans were thwarted by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Despite becoming quickly wheelchair-bound, Blake ended up going on the journey anyway, nearly two decades later.
In 2007, a team of friends, family, sherpas and porters, along with a device called the trailrider, worked with Blake to successfully get up the 65 km climb. The highs and lows of the difficult journey are documented in the short film Rise Above Barriers Everest Base Camp. At one tense point, the thin air started to drain the energy from Blake and the crew. However, the group persevered and accomplished the incredible feat.
“It’s extraordinary what you can do if you really believe you
can do it,” Blake said in the video. “I hope that this makes people realize that you can do more than dream but you have to believe in yourself and dig deep.”
Almost twenty years later now, Blake, 74, has found a new love for an activity that fits her active and adventurous spirit; horse riding at Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association (VTRA).
“It’s a bit frightening but you feel great sitting up on the horse. You feel quite in charge, quite grand … it’s a great feeling,” she said. “Here you have endless, amazing people around who are so supportive, and the horses are without a doubt so kind and so gentle. I get quite swept away by it and the horses all have their own personalities.”
“I was nervous but I fell in love with Danny, the beautiful horse I rode and we sort of bonded,” she said.
Blake has always led a very active life. Before her MS diagnosis, it was full of skiing, tennis, hiking and more. After her
Continued on page 14
diagnosis, she said she felt sad and got “fed up with just sitting around” so she began to seek active and adventurous activities that could accommodate disabilities.
When Blake, British-born, first moved to the Island in 2001, she discovered the VTRA in Saanichton. At the time, riding wasn’t high on her list of things to try. Before that, she had worked on an Albertan cattle ranch when she first moved to Canada in 1970 and hadn’t ridden again until she discovered VTRA. Her love for horses was what eventually led her to decide to enrol.
“Plus, my name – Philippa – actually means lover of horses. So I thought, ‘I’m supposed to go riding!’” she said.
VTRA is a non-profit charitable organization which provides therapeutic riding experiences to children and adults with diverse abilities. The organization is made up of a volunteer board, a small team of six staff, professional instructors and more than 275 volunteers. Its central focus is recognizing the therapeutic benefits that horses bring and the health benefits.
“I can’t say enough about this whole organization. It’s just extraordinary. All the people are involved are just so committed. The volunteers give up huge chunks of their day for us, we’re very lucky,” Blake said.
“I always go home with a huge grin on my face.”
Some of the other benefits that Blake sees from riding are that she gets to use muscles she normally wouldn’t when sitting
PippaBlakeandCherry
meet Princess Anne after Cherry’seyeoperation
in a wheelchair, and she also gets to meet other people with disabilities, like Sarah Hansen who uses a walker.
“That’s what’s so good is you come here and we see other people that have similar challenges and they’re so positive,” Hansen said, referring to Blake.
Pat Coverdale, a volunteer with the company for close to 25 years, noted the skills that Blake, Hansen and the other women in the group have developed in riding over the years.
“You should see these four ladies. It’s amazing how well they ride,” she said.
Blake does a horse show every June, which involves a dressage pattern – a predetermined sequence of movements, displaying the horse’s obedience, athleticism, and agility.
“I get frightfully into it. They give you the pattern and I go and practice in my wheelchair in the parking lot behind the school where I live,” Blake said.
Blake also got to have a very special moment with horse Cherry when Princess Anne came to visit VTRA. “I had the honour of riding for Her Royal Highness on May 6, 2024,” she said.
Dealing with a disability is incredibly different for everybody, as Blake states, with different levels of mobility and challenges, but she knows what has worked best for her.
“I know I feel better if I attempt something because I do disabled sailing as well and sit skiing. You’re always nervous when you start and then after you’re so glad you did it.”
Unlike independent living or assisted care facilities that often require residents to move when their health needs evolve, Cherish with our unique age-in-place philosophy, brings the care to you. Whether you need a little support or more comprehensive personal care, services are available right in your suite. It’s a perfect solution for couples, ensuring you can stay together no matter what life brings.
But Cherish is about more than just care — it’s about living well. Our Executive Chef and culinary team prepare all meals from scratch, using fresh, whole ingredients. With four homemade food services daily, residents enjoy delicious, nutritious dining options in our elegant dining room or the privacy of their own suite. Our thoughtfully designed, pet friendly one- and two-bedroom suites are bright, spacious, and comfortable — a true place to call home. Each suite features modern finishes, natural light, and plenty of room to relax or entertain - our luxury suites are simply gracious.
Beyond your front door, you’ll find a vibrant community and top-tier amenities. Enjoy movie nights in the cozy theater, get moving in the fitness room, express yourself in the art studio, or unwind in the sunny courtyard lounge. Flat short walk to shops, cafés, and services just steps away — everything you need for a full and engaging lifestyle. At Cherish, we believe seniors shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to comfort, care, or community. Here, you can live independently, with the support you need — when you need it — all under one roof.
CLUES ACROSS
1. Container weight
5. Reprimand, with "out"
9. Swallows water eagerly
14. Didn't have enough
15. Deep purple, edible berry
16. Wagner work
1 7. Refusal to interfere
20. Boston newspaper
21. Dorm room staple
22. Sign of summer
24. A British gentleman (Archaic)
28. Snowman prop
31. Diarist Samuel
34. Maple genus
35. Trick taker, often
36. Abysmal test score
37. Ancient city NW of Carthage
38. Private property
42. Leisurely walk
43. Send to the canvas
44. Drink from a dish
45. Impulse transmitter
46. Physics particle
48. Half a matched set
49. Lampoons
51. Australian runner
53. Inflammation of the ear
56. Cremona artisan
60. Conceited
64. Unfit for Jewish consumption
65. Bubbly drink
66. Season to be jolly
67. Bakery supply
68. Bow
69. Prize since 1949
CLUES DOWN
1. Chinese dynasty
2. Gone wrong?
3. Ashcroft's
4. Like some mushrooms
5. Dracula, at times
6. Air force heroes
7. Dermal development
8. Vivacious
9. Dead duck
10. Current 11. Floral necklace
12. Adept
13. Gabriel, for one
18. Formerly known as
19. "Aeneid" figure
23. Airy
25. Tapered, frozen formation
26. Fruit juice
27. Understands
28. Greek surname
29. Mountaineering tool for frigid conditions
30. Being
32. Big time
33. Lively Bohemian dance
36. Animal house
37. Amateur video subject, maybe
39. Well wishes before a vacation
40. Listening device
41. A bag-shaped fish trap
46. Bon mot
47. Improved selling pnce
48. Caring
50. Brown ermine 52. Fortify
54. Knowing, as a secret
55. Fodder holder
57. Bit
58. Abound
59. One way to stand by
60. Dump
61. " ...___ he drove out of sight"
62. Grassy area
63.___grass
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
It's in our
blood
StoryandphotosbySamanthaDuerksen
'Some of us couldn't get it out of our blood': Meet Victoria's silver-haired skateboarders
Three men, close to sixty or beyond, explain why they're still doing an inherently risky sport
Douglas Charlton Farr had always looked at skateboarders with quiet envy. But time slipped through his fingers – he found himself 30 years old, contemplating it again.
"I'm too old at this point," he told himself.
But 28 years later, at age 58, he saw a skateboard at Costco and his long-lost fantasies hit him in a rush of nostalgia. "If I don't do it now, it'll be too late," he thought. From there, he never looked back.
As a past gymnast who competed provincially, he picked up skating quickly thanks to his natural gift for agility, balance and bravery. Though, of course, it wasn't without its challenges.
Now at 70, Farr has been skateboarding for 12 years and still loves it.
"It's a feeling of freedom. When you watch a bird, they're scooping along and flying. That's basically what you're doing but you're on the pavement."
Turns out, Farr is not the only grey-haired skateboarder in Victoria. When Living 60+ put out a social media call for skateboarders in their older years, it wasn't hard to find them.
Farr came to skateboarding late. But for others, the passion never faded.
I meet up with friends Ricky Jak, 59, and Terry Orr, 62, at Topaz Park where they frequently still meet up, boards covered in stickers, elbows and knees heavily padded. Both have been skateboarding since the late '70s and have the stories to back it up.
"Most of us older skateboarders are punks. For years, it was illegal to ride skateboards on Victoria streets. They would confiscate your board and fine you. We rode the streets anyway," Jak recalls.
Orr's claim to fame is that he once made it on the cover of Thrasher, a popular skateboarding magazine, and opened up Spine Grind Skateboards on Discovery Street, the first skateboard shop in Victoria.
Jak started skating in '79 and has seen the scene change – drastically.
He first started in Saanich Skatewave, part of Cedar Hill Park, but injuries and late-night partying prompted Saanich to shut it down and bury it after several years. No skate parks were built until 20 years later, but that didn't stop some from holding on.
"[The community] was big. Then it died... but some of us couldn't get it out of our blood," he said. For them, "it is a lifestyle."
The scene was all "underground," and skaters relied on DIY ramps in friends' backyards.
"It was just us hardcore few. We were freaks," Jak said.
"We've seen it go from a total criminal activity to being quite popular now," Orr added.
Now, there are several new multi-million-dollar parks in the city like Topaz, which opened in 2022. Skating there is like their teenage dream come to life.
While skateboarding may have once been a counterculture movement, the sport has become far more accepted. Even as the culture has shifted, the new generation embraces older skateboarders, the three told me.
Less Cleaning,More Living forSeniors
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When Farr first started, he began tentatively in his driveway, learning quickly what it felt like to slam into concrete. He ventured into skateparks during school days when no one was around. When kids saw him at the park, they asked him questions, thinking he must be a pro. They were in for a surprise, he said. But so was he.
"I was completely unprepared for how cool the skateboarding community is," he said.
Meanwhile, he's not sure what his family and friends think, but he assumes they probably assume he's "going through a phase."
Regardless, he said he gets a variety of responses that are "almost overwhelmingly positive."
For Jak, he feels embraced by the next generation. "Certainly. We skate with all the kids," he said. "They stoke us, we stoke them."
It's a community where he's always found his people.
"Many of my friends are skateboarders. If I need something done in my regular life, there's usually a skateboarder who can help me out ... It's kinda like being a Freemason... we take care of each other."
Orr added that the sport is like a guaranteed friend-finder.
"I've made friends up and down this coast, all the way to California, via skateboarding," Orr said.
At Topaz Skatepark, Jak and Orr take on the bowl multiple times, dropping in and then slowly building momentum by going back
and forth, up and down, until they can skim the top. A few times, Jak takes a huge wipeout from the top and slides down on his knee pads with a thud. He lets out a loud groan.
"It's getting harder these days because, of course, pain is a major factor. Probably one of the most painful sports ever created," he tells me beforehand.
"You don't see too many 60-year-olds hurling themselves off a 10-foot wall into the concrete, and that's what happens if you don't land the trick."
As much as it hurts, it also helps them stay in shape. Jak has a favourite phrase that comes to mind.
"You didn't quit skateboarding because you got old. You got old because you quit skateboarding."
I ask them what they can do to manage the pain and how they take precautions at this age.
"Ibuprofen. And there's always the pub afterwards," they said.
"My bag of tricks over the years has gotten smaller and smaller. So, tricks equal pain because you're going to wipe out on a trick."
But despite the groans of pain, Jak is quick to get back on his board again and again, and each time he makes it look effortless, like he is a free bird gliding on the curves. It's easy to imagine how incredible it must feel to be able to do that, and to understand why they hold onto it after all of these years.
"For me and Terry, it's our life. It's a religion," Jak said.
SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD ANSWERS
66%ofCanadianfamilies haven’tdiscussed their finalwishes*
