Issuu

ISSUE 104 SEP/OCT 2026

STYLE ISSUE

yammagazine.com

THE Best OF FALL This season we’re loving rich colours, warm textures and smart takes on everything from better posture to desk lunches.

Travel in Style

Premium European linen and more

1017 Government Street Victoria, BC 250-383-3393

103-2506 Beacon Avenue Sidney, BC 778-351-0790

W W W.G L A M A N D FA M E .C O M

One of a kind homes, tailored to your lifestyle. MLS 1037238 - 2985 Baynes Road, Saanich, BC UN IQUE O P P ORT UNIT IES N EW L I ST I N G

N EW P R I C E

$11,750,000

$9,995,000

$7,200,000

377 Seymour Heights, Salt Spring Island BED: 7 | BATH: 8 | 7,324 SQ.FT. 71.00 ACRES | PARKING: 10 Victoria Luxury Group 250.857.0609

8440 Lawrence Road, Central Saanich

250.857.0609

1708 Woodsend Drive, Saanich BED: 7 | BATH: 8 | 12,099 SQ.FT. 10.91 ACRES | PARKING: 8 Eileen Harper 250.888.5133

R EC E N T LY SO L D

SO L D

$1,295,000

$999,900

$975,000

$949,500

412-999 Burdette Avenue, Victoria BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 1,390 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2008 | PARKING: 1 Peter Crichton 250.889.4000

11-2558 Ferguson Road, Central Saanich BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 1,419 SQ.FT. 0.19 ACRES | PARKING: 4 Andrew HobbsΔ 250.884.2766

304-550 Michigan Street, Victoria BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 967 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2021 | PARKING: 1 Myrtha Deschamps 581.337.0738

3-1559 Ash Road, Saanich BED: 3 | BATH: 4 | 1,990 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2026 | PARKING: 1 250.833.1090 Alan FullerΔ

SIN G L E FA MILY HOM ES I N T RO DUC I N G

$3,990,000

$3,150,000

$2,888,000

2230 Chelsea Place, Nanoose Bay

977 Grandview Street, North Cowichan BED: 3 | BATH: 4 | 4,164 SQ.FT. 0.56 ACRES | PARKING: 6 Danyliw & Associates 250.710.6844

1188 Garden Gate Drive, Central Saanich BED: 5 | BATH: 4 | 5,044 SQ.FT. 2 ACRES | PARKING: 6 MacLeod Group 250.686.3385

250.686.2375

SIN G L E FA MILY HOM ES I N T RO DUC I N G

N EW P R I C E

$1,950,000

$1,899,000

$1,888,000

$1,860,000

1345 Readings Drive, North Saanich BED: 4 | BATH: 3 | 3,900 SQ.FT. 0.99 ACRES | PARKING: 5 Andy StephensonΔ 250.532.0888

424 Pelican Drive, Colwood BED: 6 | BATH: 3 | 3,349 SQ.FT. 0.81 ACRES | PARKING: 3 Piercy McGee Group 250.744.0505

4961 Lochside Drive, Victoria BED: 5 | BATH: 4 | 4,186 SQ.FT. 0.27 ACRES | PARKING: 2 Beth Hayhurst 250.896.0766

317 Bessborough Close, View Royal BED: 3 | BATH: 3 | 2,274 SQ.FT. 0.17 ACRES | PARKING: 2 The Wildman Group 250.818.8522

N EW L I ST I N G

R EC E N T LY SO L D

$1,349,999

$1,349,000

$1,099,900

$1,089,900

3568 Honeycrisp Avenue, Langford BED: 5 | BATH: 4 | 2,819 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2018 | PARKING: 4 250.744.7136 Don St GermainΔ

855 Linkleas Avenue, Oak Bay BED: 3 | BATH: 2 | 1,895 SQ.FT. 0.12 ACRES | PARKING: 2 Tanner Vanin 306.526.7577

1004 Adeline Place, Saanich BED: 3 | BATH: 2 | 1,650 SQ.FT. 0.16 ACRES | PARKING: 4 The Wildman Group 250.818.8522

3959 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Saanich BED: 6 | BATH: 2 | 2,369 SQ.FT. 0.23 ACRES | PARKING: 5 The Wildman Group 250.818.2006

SIN G L E FA MILY HOM ES

Victoria 250.380.3933

Salt Spring Island 250.537.1778

Bear Mountain 877.455.6035

Vancouver 604.632.3300

West Vancouver 604.922.6995

Interior BC 250.469.9547

Calgary 403.254.5315

MLS 1004643 - 2230 Chelsea Place, Nanoose Bay, BC

N EW L I ST I N G

$5,900,000

$4,000,000

$3,750,000

$3,250,000

1081 Aspen Road, Malahat BED: 5 | BATH: 6 | 4,692 SQ.FT. 5.79 ACRES | PARKING: 3 Piercy McGee Group 250.213.7489

1662 Stamps Road, Duncan BED: 6 | BATH: 6 | 6,785 SQ.FT. 14.51 ACRES | PARKING: 8 Niko Mavrikos 250.588.9523

6429 Bryn Road, Central Saanich BED: 4 | BATH: 4 | 4,413 SQ.FT. 5.05 ACRES | PARKING: 5 250.514.1966 Lisa WilliamsΔ

1848 Myhrest Road, Cowichan Bay BED: 4 | BATH: 3 | 3,653 SQ.FT. 16.23 ACRES | PARKING: 10 250.686.0279 Dean InnesΔ

SO L D

$585,000

$548,000

$275,000

$819,000

312B-456 Pandora Avenue, Victoria STUDIO | BATH: 1 | 540 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2016 | PARKING: 1 Jacob Garrett 236.562.7047

204-610 Johnson Street, Victoria BED: 1 | BATH: 1 | 682 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 2010 | PARKING OPTIONS Shaelyn Mattix 250.908.0184

6-4305 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace BED: 3 | BATH: 1 | 4,251 SQ.FT. 0.10 ACRES | PARKING: 1 604.505.7477 Heidi AsgarΔ

9-850 Parklands Drive, Esquimalt BED: 4 | BATH: 3 | 2,201 SQ.FT. 0.06 ACRES | PARKING: 1 Sandy Berry 250.818.8736

N EW P R I C E

$2,575,000

$2,385,000

$2,299,000

$2,199,000

683 Steamer Drive, Central Saanich BED: 3 | BATH: 5 | 3,504 SQ.FT. 43,560 SQ.FT. LOT | PARKING: 4 MacLeod Group 250.661.7232

1326 Bombardier Crescent, Langford BED: 4 | BATH: 3 | 1,798 SQ.FT. 0.06 ACRES | PARKING: 3 Harley Shim 250.881.3601

846 Birch Road, North Saanich BED: 4 | BATH: 4 | 2,750 SQ.FT. 0.57 ACRES | PARKING: 5 Victoria Luxury Group 250.588.2466

1110 Totem Lane, Saanich BED: 4 | BATH: 4 | 4,959 SQ.FT. 0.23 ACRES | PARKING: 4 250.727.5448 Brad MaclarenΔ

N EW L I ST I N G

N EW P R I C E

$1,760,000

$1,725,000

$1,499,000

532 Sentinel Drive, Mill Bay

209 Marine Drive, Cobble Hill BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 1,871 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 1993 | PARKING: 2 Sandy Berry 250.818.8736

7708 West Coast Road, Sooke BED: 3 | BATH: 2 | 1,832 SQ.FT. 2.94 ACRES | PARKING: 4 Victoria Luxury Group 250.588.2466

N EW L I ST I N G

250.514.7214

I N T RO DUC I N G

N EW P R I C E

$1,050,000

$999,000

$460,000

$22/SQ.FT.

1760 Haultain Street, Victoria BED: 4 | BATH: 2 | 1,804 SQ.FT. 0.17 ACRES | PARKING: 3 | DUPLEX Leslie Manson 250.888.6806

1591 Cowichan Bay Road, Cowichan Bay BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 964 SQ.FT. 0.27 ACRES | PARKING: 6 Christine Whitbeck 250.618.3539

128 Camas Lane, View Royal BED: 2 | BATH: 2 | 1,711 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 1997 | PARKING: 2 Terry Calveley 250.589.6247

660 Johnson Street, Victoria BATH: 2 | 3,607 SQ.FT. YEAR BUILT: 1890 | RENOVATED The Wildman Group 250.893.9976

Δ Personal Real Estate Corporation Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage. Real estate agency. Independently Owned and Operated. E &O.E: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal.

S O T H E B Y S R E A L T Y. C A

Your Local Experts Alan Fuller Δ

Andrew Hobbs Δ

Andy Stephenson Δ

Anna Sterloff ◊

Beth Hayhurst *

Brad Maclaren Δ

Brayden Klein Δ

Brian Danyliw Δ

Christine Whitbeck ◊

D’Arcy Harris ◊

Dean Innes Δ

Don St Germain Δ

Eileen Harper ◊

Glynis MacLeod Δ

Grace Shin ◊

Harley Shim *

Heidi Asgar Δ

Jacob Garrett *

Kirsten MacLeod ◊

Leslie Manson *

Robyn Wildman ◊

Lisa Williams Δ

Samantha Chisholm *

Logan Wilson Δ

Sandi Piercy ◊

Louise McGee Δ

Sandy Berry †

Myrtha Deschamps ◊

Shaelyn Mattix ◊

Tanner Vanin *

Niko Mavrikos *

Peter Crichton ◊

Terry Calveley ◊

Exceptional heritage. Pioneering expertise. Experience extraordinary service tailored to your lifestyle. 752 Douglas Street, Victoria * Sales Representative ◊ Sales Associate Δ Personal Real Estate Corporation † Associate Broker E.&O.E.: Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is Independently Owned And Operated.

S O T H E B Y S R E A L T Y. C A

AN ICON

Reimagined

The newly renovated Q at the Empress blends heritage architecture with refined coastal elegance. Inspired by Vancouver Island’s seasons, waters, and harvests, the menu celebrates pristine seafood, local ingredients, and signature dishes, paired with a thoughtful cocktail program and curated wines.

Open daily from 11:00am. Dinner reservations recommended. Visit qattheempress.com to reserve your table.

FEATURES

p. 22

Artist Carey Newman’s evocative vision of sea life at Telus Ocean; menswear that works; lived-in beauty trends; the best Canadian fall fiction; a farewell to the man who inspired us to plant fig trees; why you should be lifting weights. Plus: the YAM contest.

By YAM Staff

20 IN PERSON

FALL 2026 FASHION REPORT

p. 28

It’s all fun and games and popculture-inspired design in this stunning rumpus room. By Joanne Sasvari

By Melissa Gignac

By Eva Rachert

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED Reimagining Tofino Botanical Gardens as a hub for conservation, culture and Indigenous learning. By Carolyn B. Heller

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

36 STYLE WATCH

46 LIFE AT HOME

Too much wind. Too few elves. How a bucket-list trip to Iceland forced our writer to embrace uncertainty.

Sitting at your desk is bad for your spine. Here’s what to do if you’re in a slump.

By David Lennam

Styled by Janine Metcalfe

OF PUFFLINGS AND PERSEVERANCE

POSTURE PERFECT?

Salt Spring fiddler Olivia Barrett has the world on a string with a new album and two major award nominations.

Add serious style to all your outdoor adventures this fall with standout pieces that combine fashion and function.

By Joanne Sasvari

10 EDITOR’S LETTER 15 HERE + NOW

Set your living room’s centre stage: How to choose the right type of table and follow décor’s “rule of three.”

Fall 2026 fashion is all about building a lasting wardrobe with gorgeous pieces you’ll love for years to come.

STYLE ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

THE ARTFUL COFFEE TABLE

INVESTMENT DRESSING

SEP/OCT

Contents

67 FOOD + DRINK p. 62

The best of harvest season: quintessential quince, road-tripworthy restaurants, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and other events, restaurant news, desk lunch recipes, a chef’s delicious homecoming, lager love.

80 SCENE

Victoria’s about to host the country’s best live-music party with BreakOut West. Plus: Culture Calendar. By David Lennam

82 PERSPECTIVE

Look closer: The butterfly effect of milkweed floss. By Joanne Sasvari

Island vibes, Kiwi style.

Fly non-stop between Vancouver and Auckland Air New Zealand flies non-stop between Vancouver and Auckland, year-round. Our direct, overnight service makes the South Pacific closer than you think. Experience our award-winning service and warm Kiwi hospitality. Book today with your local Vancouver Island travel advisor or at airnewzealand.ca

EDITOR'S LETTER

FALL 2026 FASHION? IT’S IN THE BAG

Own your finances. Shine through life.

do not need a new handbag. I practically have a whole closet full of handbags already: bags for evening and bags for work and bags for travel and bags that serve no real purpose except to look pretty. I do NOT need a new handbag. And yet. Have you seen this season’s gorgeously slouchy shoulder bags and structured top-handled satchels, all luxe in burgundy and chocolate and caramel? I don’t need a new handbag, but I might just need one in glossy warm brown leather. I could build a whole wardrobe around it, a new look, a different persona. That’s the power of style. Or maybe it’s fashion. Technically, fashion is all about industry trends, while style is all about personal expression, but sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the two, especially when there’s a major cultural shift happening as there is right now. I mean, how do you know if the season’s trendy funnel-neck jackets are your style until you’ve tried them, right? Given that we dress ourselves every day, you’d think it would be easy to define our personal style. Not so. That’s why there’s such a huge industry of style experts happy to guide us. Take a quick online quiz and you can find out whether you’re an Autumn or a Summer, what archetype you are (Mother, Maiden, Huntress, Queen or Sage) or which of the 13 Kibbe Body Types fits you best. (Once you identify as, say, a spunky Gamine, you will never feel quite right in the voluptuous ruffles of a Romantic.) Apps like Indyx track your wardrobe so you can build a better, more streamlined one. And if you’re lucky, you have an opinionated friend who will gently let you know when something just isn’t working for you. But in the end, the only one who can truly determine your personal style is you. And a season like this one is a good opportunity to try on different personas and explore new looks. If you have a wardrobe packed with black and grey, for instance, this is a good time to experiment with colour. If you’ve been living in yoga pants since March 2020, maybe try a tailored blazer or ladylike set. If your go-everywhere sneakers are starting to look a little down-at-heel, why not step out in a stylishly slouchy suede boot instead? And if you just happen to come across the most absolutely perfect, sturdy-yet-elegant, caramel leather satchel, well, I sure won’t stop you. Because maybe it’s just what you (and by “you,” I mean “I”) really do need after all.

Shine Financial Group is a unique wealth management firm that specializes in working with women who are divorced, widowed or single by choice, with the desire to thrive through their own financial success.

Charlotte Paul, CIM, Portfolio Manager 250-590-0603 cpaul@assante.com shinefinancial.ca Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

RAG & BONE HUDSON BAG

Book your complimentary goals assessment today — because when your finances shine, your life will follow!

Joanne Sasvari, Editor-in-Chief editor@yammagazine.com

SAY “I DO” HOST YOUR WEDDING AT THE WESTIN BEAR MOUNTAIN HOST YOUR WEDDING AT RESORT & SPA, VICTORIA It’s a destination whereBEAR weddingsMOUNTAIN become unforgettable THE WESTIN experiences. Surrounded by the natural GOLF RESORT AND SPAbeauty of Bear

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Monumental presence and achievement.

All-new

Q9 The 2027 Q9 arrives as Audi’s new flagship model and first full-size SUV. With powered automatic doors, a Bang & Olufsen 4D Premium sound system, and 1.5 square meter panoramic sunroof, up to 7 occupants can revel in business class comfort on every drive. Arriving soon. Contact us to learn more.

Audi Victoria

Audi Nanaimo

2929 Douglas St, Victoria BC, +1-250-590-5849

2468 Kenworth Rd, Nanaimo BC, +1-250-585-2834

Vehicle images for illustration purposes only. See Audi Victoria or Audi Nanaimo for details. “Audi”, “Vorsprung durch Technik”, and the four rings emblem are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. ©2026 Audi Canada. To find out more about Audi, visit Audi Victoria. DL4991427 #31246 Audi Nanaimo DL4991424 #40379

BEAUTIFUL, DURABLE AND EASY TO CLEAN

Chilewich placemats are perfect for every table — indoors or out.

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos Georgina Camilleri EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joanne Sasvari

Made with 25% vegetable content and phthalate free

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Hamilton ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Deana Brown Jennifer Dean Van Tol Brenda Knapik ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Rebecca Juetten DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Lauren Ingle FASHION EDITOR Janine Metcalfe COPY EDITOR Lionel Wild CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julien Johnston-Brew, Gillie Easdon, Melissa Gignac, Carolyn B. Heller, David Lennam, Eva Rachert FINANCIAL ANALYST Allison Villacis EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Julien Johnston-Brew CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS James Dow, Melissa Gignac, Mary McNeill Knowles, Carey Newman, Owen Perry, Joey Senft, Liam Wake CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 31, 52, 59, 60, 62, 74, 75, 79. 82; Pexels p. 25; Living4Media p. 25; Stocksy p. 17, 28, 29, 58, 70, 78; Unsplash p. 24

muffetandlouisa.com

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SEE US BEFORE YOU GO

ON THE COVER Style Watch, page 36 Photo by Jeffrey Bosdet

SHOP THE ISLAND’S LARGEST SELECTION

IN STORE OR ONLINE AT FLUSHBATH.CA

Published by PAGE ONE PUBLISHING 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca Printed in British Columbia by Mitchell Press. Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Page One Publishing Inc. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement, and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not the publisher. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in all or part, in any form — printed or electronic — without the express permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #41295544

ADVERTISE IN YAM MAGAZINE YAM is Victoria’s lifestyle magazine, connecting readers to the distinctive lifestyle and authentic luxury of the West Coast. For advertising info, please call 250-595-7243 or email sales@yammagazine.com

Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250-655-7732 14

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

HERE + NOW

OCEAN VIEW

CAREY NEWMAN

At first glance, the new Telus Ocean building on lower Douglas Street is just the latest in sleek, contemporary design, but step a little closer and you will suddenly realize that its aluminum girders are simply swimming in sea life. The shellfish, mollusks and seaweeds are all part of a remarkable installation by Carey Newman, a carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker of Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish heritage. Called Memories of Xwsзyq’әm, it’s an homage to the sea life that thrived here when the Inner Harbour was still a mudflat known as xwsзyq’әm, before the early 1900s when it was filled in and the Lekwungen people displaced. It’s a recognition of the layered histories of this land, carved beautifully and evocatively in aluminum as a haunting reminder for future generations.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 15

HERE + NOW

Menswear That Works

The season’s best looks for men are tough, functional and all decked out in a cool vintage vibe. These five pieces will instantly upgrade any gent’s wardrobe.  WARM LAYERS

A heavyweight flannel shirt like the ones by Anián is a must when it comes to autumnal layers, whether worn as a jacket over a T-shirt on warmer days or, when the weather gets chiller, layered with a pullover, hoodie and functional outwear. One classic layering piece that’s enjoying a moment right now is the gilet, a quilted vest that can even be worn under a tailored jacket.

Warm layers from Anián: the Field Florenzia overshirt and, below, the quilted wool vest or gilet.

 WORK PANTS

Jeans are classic (straight-legged mid-wash is the way to go right now), but a pair of work pants is just as tough, even more versatile and looks especially great with the season’s heavy-duty knitwear. Look for pants with a straight leg, extra pockets and thick cotton drill or twill fabric, like Carhartt’s Double Front Dungaree.

 A TAILORED BLAZER

A blazer will take you from work to most social events, and pairs as well with jeans and a tee as it does with dress shirts and tailored trousers. What’s modern is nipped-in waists, soft shoulders and tactile fabrics, especially supple tweeds, herringbone and Prince of Wales checks. Local menswear specialists like Outlooks for Men or D.G. Bremner can find blazers for even the hardest to fit, or try the Canadian-made ones by Montreal-based Tristan.

Carhartt Double Front Dungaree

 CHUNKY KNITWEAR

Out of Ireland merino cabled sweater

Lean into your “poet-core” era with a cozily textured sweater that evokes the intellectualism and refinement of a bygone era. We like the merino cabled crew neck in oatmeal from Out of Ireland, best accessorized with a pipe and a slim volume of verse. But cableknit, tweedy, Fair Isle, mohair, full- or quarter-zip styles all speak to the trend, the chunkier the knit the better.

 HARDWORKING FOOTWEAR

Fall and winter are expected to be especially wet and rainy, so keep your feet warm and dry with a pair of leather work boots or a sturdy, thick-soled shoe like Timberland’s 3-Eye Lug Deck Shoe. They not only take a beating, they look great with autumn’s jeans, flannels and knitwear.

Tristan fitted blazer

Timberland 3-Eye Lug Deck Shoe

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

3 ESSENTIAL FALL READS

FALL MAKEUP TRENDS

Moody and a Little Messy

Three of Canada’s most intriguing authors take us on journeys mysterious, magical and timebending.

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (HarperCollins Canada)

Summer’s “clean girl” esthetic becomes fall’s lived-in “tired girl” look. Here are three key trends to add to your makeup bag. SERGE FILIMONOV/STOCKSY

The Station Eleven author returns with a requiem for the present set in a not-toodistant future torn by civil war. In a post-American Los Angeles, a man’s mysterious disappearance leads to a weapons dealer’s elegant Greek seaside hideout, the domed city of Paris, a colony on the moon and a reckoning with the perils of a surveillance state. Available September 15.

Statement Lips

Flushed Cheeks

This season, lipstick is designed for women with something to say. Pair blurred liner with velvety matte or ultra-glossy lips in dark, vampy hues of deep plum, chocolate brown or muted reds like oxblood.

This fall we’re “blush draping”: applying cool pink colour high on the cheekbones, then sweeping it upward and outward toward the temple for a young, lifted look.

How to wear it: Keep the eyes minimal with a little eyeliner and let the lip colour do the talking.

How to wear it: Generously applied and with anything.

Try: MAC’s Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Avant Garnet.

Seen-It-All Eyes “Indie sleaze” is a messier, more rock ‘n’ roll take on the classic smokey eye. The “tired girl” look, on the other hand, features kohl-heavy liner worn along the waterline and lower lashline, artfully smeared just as if you’d slept in your makeup. How to wear it: Pair an indie sleaze eye with a nude lip and dewy skin; meanwhile, a tired girl eye goes with everything, but pairs especially well with a statement lip. Try: Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl Long-Lasting Eyeliner Pencil.

Try: Elate’s Blush Balm in Love, a bright neutral pink.

Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny (St. Martin’s Publishing Group)

A mysterious phone call sends Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the quirky Three Pines characters to the mythical Lost Nation, where a dead body leads to a missing ship, an eccentric Victorian botanist and a long-lost plant that may either kill or cure. In this ghost story, only solving the crimes of the past can avert catastrophe in the present. Available October 20.

The Atlas Keeper by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (HarperCollins Canada)

In the latest novel by the author of A Recipe for Bees, a young woman finds a magical atlas that can transport her both backward and forward in time, leading to unexpected consequences and discoveries about her true self. If you had the choice between the familiar or the uncharted path, which would you, should you, choose? Available now.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 17

JEFFREY BOSDET/YAM MAGAZINE

HERE + NOW

pillows | duvets | covers | sheets | sleepwear Great selection from Daniadown, St Genève, Cuddle Down and more! DOWNTOWN 636 Broughton St 250.383.6133

MAYFAIR CENTRE 226-3147 Douglas St 250.590.3319

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Stylish umbrellas for every occasion PLUS A GREAT SELECTION OF CANES & WALKING STICKS

4 FAN TAN ALLEY, VICTORIA

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

7 78-265-67 71

THEUMBRELLATORIUM.COM

A FRUITFUL LIFE Victoria bids farewell to Bob Duncan, who encouraged us to plant lemon trees and so much more.

ob Duncan believed we could grow just about anything here in Greater Victoria, and the home/nursery/demonstration orchard he ran with his wife Verna for the past 30 years was proof. If you dropped by to, say, buy a plum tree for the backyard, he’d happily take you on a dizzying tour of fruit trees, including figs, cherries, apricots, lemons, oranges, olives, yuzu, pomegranates and more. Sadly, Duncan passed away on July 20, at the age of 78, after what his family describes as “a very rapid decline in health due to a previously undiagnosed cancer.” His loss marks the end of an era for this community. He does, however, leave an impressive legacy. After a long career as an entomologist for the federal government at Victoria’s Pacific Forestry Centre, Duncan dedicated himself to cultivating the North Saanich property where he and Verna raised their family and grew as many different temperate, citrus and Mediterranean fruit trees as local conditions could sustain. Eventually, he developed techniques for over 500 different varieties of tree fruits in their home orchard. At Fruit Trees and More, he and Verna taught and inspired customers (who inevitably became friends) to grow a huge range of fruiting bushes and trees all over Greater Victoria. He was a founding and active member of the BC Fruit Testers Association, and became locally, nationally and internationally renowned for his pioneering fruit-growing techniques. In an email, Verna explained that, with Duncan’s loss, Fruit Trees and More would be closing and selling off its remaining nursery stock, likely this month. “Please plan to visit and bring a piece of this remarkable nursery home,” she wrote. For details, visit fruittreesandmore.com.

RESISTANCE IS ESSENTIAL

here’s aging, and then there’s aging well. If you want to be a spry senior who can pick up your grandbabies and get up from a low chair without an assist, no matter how old you are right now, you should be doing resistance training. More and more, research shows that muscle strength is associated with greater independence in old age. Muscle loss, on the other hand, increases the kind of frailty that leads to broken hips. Resistance and strength training doesn’t just give you toned abs and guns that pop. It increases bone density (which may protect against osteoporosis), boosts metabolism (which helps manage body weight), protects joints from injury, improves balance, reduces stress, makes daily tasks easier and may even reduce inflammation in the body. Almost every gym around town will have resistance-training equipment, including free weights, barbells, kettle bells, bands or machines. But if it’s been a while since you lifted a dumbbell or you have no idea how to work the cable machine, you need someone who can spend time with you, so find a place with qualified trainers on staff. Start small, take your time and you’ll be lifting your own groceries well into your golden years.

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RESISTANCE GEAR FOR HOME GYMS

Vinyl-coated dumbbells in weights ranging from two to 12 pounds, available from sportdirect.ca. Resistance bands like the ones from Montreal Weights.

Kettlebells, available in weights ranging from 10 to 30 pounds, available from Canadian Tire.

For serious lifters, barbells with adjustable weights, available at fitness stores like Flaman Fitness.

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swanlake.bc.ca YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 19

IN PERSON

Olivia Barrett Breaks Out With her ethereal blend of traditional and contemporary technique, the Salt Spring fiddler is poised for some major recognition. By David Lennam | Photo by Jeffrey Bosdet

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

here’s Irish. Then there’s Salt Spring Island Irish. Olivia Barrett is the latter. But hear her play the fiddle on her debut album, Elsewhere, and she definitely sounds more the Irish kind of Irish. Those familiar with the tradition of Celtic instrumental music will tell you her playing has that certain Irishness. Or “the language of something more ancient,” as celebrated Victoria guitarist Adam Dobres, who played on Elsewhere, notes. Raised in a family of Irish descent, there was a hint of Hibernia in her DNA. Barrett learned to speak that musical language at an early age, but was truly introduced to the whole vocabulary during her master’s degree studies in Irish traditional music at the University of Limerick. “I remember hearing The Chieftains for the first time when I was a little kid and that was it,” she recalls. “I didn’t even play fiddle at that point, but I loved it so much and it just was like a passion that has never gone away. It’s been the number one thing forever.” That passion, especially for composing her own songs, has evolved into an album nominated for both a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Western Canadian Music Award for instrumental solo artist of the year. (Winners in the latter competition will be announced at BreakOut West here in Victoria, September 30 to October 4. See page 80 for more on that.)

NOTES FROM ELSEWHERE

Spring fiddle upbringing … I remember telling her that her original pieces to me felt timeless. Has this not been around for hundreds of years? Oh, you wrote this? OK.” Barrett says there’s “the old stuff” and then what she plays — rooted in antiquity, but with its own modern spritz. “It has elements of contemporary in it that even your average person can kind of tell. That’s not quite the old stuff.” Then she laughs. “There are certainly purists who, if you’ve written a tune in 7/8 then no, that’s not traditional. I’m not the only person who plays or writes that way.”

A LIVING TRADITION A 13-year-old Barrett got her first violin out of the back of a salesman’s van. No, really. A travelling salesman, selling violins, made the rounds on Salt Spring back in the day. “People always think, ‘Oh, she’s got such a great sound she’s got to be playing a Stradivarius or something,’ ” she says with a laugh. “The regular violin I’ve had for a long time is Romanian. It’s really not special.” Barrett does quietly reveal that she is in receipt of a new instrument from a luthier in Powell River named Laura Wallace. (“You need to mention her,” Barrett tells me.) It’s a special five-string violin with an added extra-low C string, like a viola, giving access to that lower range. I mention the huge effort musicians have to put into their online presence and I can see Barrett’s eyes roll over, even though she seems to be excelling at developing her social media presence, albeit somewhat reluctantly. “The average watch time on Instagram is about three or four seconds before someone swipes by. You have to somehow present your work, grab people’s attention, dance around or be semi-clothed or do some super-creative dramatic reveal or something. Really? That’s where we are now?” It’s ironic that someone enthusiastically embracing the old ways — tackling that canon of trad music, the stuff we imagine old men, their beards frothed with Guinness, performing in pubs in films like The Quiet Man — would have to succumb to this ultra-modern obligation. But it’s how tradition keeps breathing. A living tradition that welcomes the introduction of new music in a vintage style from when a time was measured by calendar pages rather than likes, swipes and clicks. “If you’re only going to play the old tunes, where do you draw the cutoff line?” Barrett asks. “Like anything past 1870? One of the most beautiful parts of it is that you have people carrying on this tradition and injecting it with new and contemporary [elements] so that it continues.” And that’s what appeals to today’s young players, children with their first violin looking for a new hook on a classic. “Your average older tune doesn’t have any syncopation,” explains Barrett. “A new fiddle tune can and that’s something that pricks people’s ears and now you’ve got a whole group of kids who are all playing your tune and that’s how you keep traditions alive. You keep children and young people interested.” Just like that first spin of an old Chieftains record.

“One of the most beautiful parts of it is that you have people carrying on this tradition and injecting it with new and contemporary [elements] so that it continues.”

Elsewhere is 10 tracks blending Barrett’s original material with traditional tunes, featuring the backing efforts of harpist Ellen Gibling, Dobres on guitar and multiinstrumentalist Adrian Dolan, who also produces. It’s an album with a growing sense of permanence as Barrett’s compositions get picked up and played by that tight (but geographically diverse) community of trad fiddler purists adopting these new songs into a canon hundreds of years old. Someone suggested the album summons a wave of modern nostalgia, a sound Barrett has gently cultivated. “I think it has just evolved to be that, not consciously trying to create that, it’s just what it is and so I don’t know how versed you are in Irish traditional music,” she asks me. “The average person I come across is not. They go, ‘Like Great Big Sea?’ And I go, no, but OK.” Elsewhere isn’t that yo-ho-ho stuff, nor is it the rowdy foot-stomping of, say, Ashley MacIsaac. Barrett is softer edged. “Intricate, but understated,” adds Dolan, a fiddler himself delivered from the Dan Lapp/BC Fiddle Orchestra womb. “Those are kind of my favourite qualities as a fiddle player. When I got into it, there was a lot of flashy, overblown fiddle playing getting a lot of recognition. This is fiddle music for fiddle players on one level, but there is kind of an ethereal mystical element that people pick up on when you hear these modal Irish sounds.” Dobres agrees, calling Barrett’s playing spacious and open and inviting … and Irish. “Before I knew she studied in Ireland, I could almost tell that influence. I’m not sensing a purebred Salt

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 21

THE ARTFUL COFFEE TABLE Forget the clichés. Consider this your stage for personal expression.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

By YAM Staff

North America’s very first coffee table dates back only to 1920. It was actually a dining table, its legs sawn off to more comfortably accommodate people sitting on a sofa and sipping, yes, coffee, but also tea and other beverages, just as others had done for centuries at the low-slung tables of the Ottoman Empire. Within just a few years, coffee tables became a standard element of home décor. Today they are more than just a place to rest your pour-over or flat white between sips. They are places to play games, eat snacks, do some work, sort the mail, rest our feet (until someone makes us remove them, and rightly so) and leave our remote controls, phone chargers, books, magazines, reading glasses, cereal bowls and other detritus of daily life. Coffee tables are also an important visual centrepiece to our most livedin spaces. As with everything in home décor, there’s been a pretty big shift in coffee table design the last few years, away from the overly curated clichés of the noughties and teens, and towards a fresh, creative and very personal esthetic. If your own coffee table is in need of a refresh, here’s what you need to know.

The Maitake Table is a modular and organic design by architectural firm Patkau.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX 1. Classic Herman Miller Noguchi Table (grshop.com) 2. Pierce & Ward hexagonal ottoman in Evergreen Heritage Stripe (westelm.ca)

JAMES DOW / PATKAU ARCHITECTS INC

3. Eira glass coffee table (mobilia.ca) 4. Live edge maple table from Willow Groove’s Fire in the Hole series (willowgroove.com)

FIRST, CHOOSE THE TABLE The right coffee table is the one that suits your space and the way you use it the best. You may love an oversized rectangular glass coffee table, but if you have small children with sticky fingers, it might be too dangerous, breakable and highmaintenance for your home. Coffee tables have also got a lot more features these days than just four legs and a flat surface. Many incorporate storage, whether it’s shelves, drawers, lids or lift tops that double as work surfaces and covers for hidden compartments. Soft-close features reduce the racket in your home and prevent drawers from pinching fingers. Rounded corners protect shins from sharp edges. Durable, easy-clean finishes are handy for spills by overexcited sports fans. Casters and easy-glide feet let you move tables around to create more versatile spaces. Some coffee tables even have cable-friendly features so you can charge your devices while catching up on the new season of Apple TV’s Slow Horses. Probably the most notable change, though, is the softening

of coffee table design. Sharp angles are shifting to gentle curves, cold metals to warm woods and hard materials to soft ones. We’re especially loving the so-called cocktail ottoman, an upholstered, often tufted, piece of furniture that also works as a storage unit. We also love the trend to using vintage trunks as coffee tables, or using two smaller tables rather than one large one, for greater flexibility. And some coffee tables are actual works of art. Among the most artful of coffee tables: Vancouver architectural firm Patkau’s Maitake Table is a modular and organic design that evokes mushrooms growing in the wild. The Herman Miller Noguchi Table is a rounded glass triangle balanced on a distinctive interlocking wood base, designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi in 1944, manufactured by Herman Miller in 1948 and available today at Gabriel Ross. Meanwhile, local woodworker Dave Duckworth is inspired by the forms and materials of the West Coast to create his Willow Groove wooden furniture, which can feature live edges, wood burl or resin insets.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 23

COFFEE TABLE BASICS You loved your new coffee table in the showroom, but once you got it home discovered it was too big, or too small, or the wrong shape, or visually too bulky, or just indefinably but very clearly not quite right. Next time, ask yourself these questions and get it right the first time.

How will you use your table?

What material should you choose?

List the jobs your coffee table needs to do and look for features that align with those. For instance, if you entertain a lot, you probably want a bigger, easier-to-clean surface (or at least plenty of coasters). But if you have kids, you may prioritize rounded corners, a durable finish and storage for toys. Speaking of storage, you If you have little ones, consider a table without sharp edges, have multiple options, ranging like Sundays’ round Field coffee table. sundays-company.ca from open shelves to drawers to lift tops for workspaces that hide compartments for laptops and other gear. Meanwhile, vintage trunks, wooden chests and upholstered ottomans are handy for corralling blankets, toys, seasonal décor and the like.

Wood and wood veneer are the most popular choices for coffee tables, and for good reason — they are versatile, work with almost any style of décor and just need a little polish to maintain. Look for a style and finish that complement the other pieces in your living room, but aren’t too matchy-matchy. And consider the intricate, swirling grain patterns of burl, which is more fashionable now than it has been since the 1970s.

Instead of a big rectangle, a pair of smaller round tables may be more effective if you have an L-shaped modular sofa.

In general, your coffee table should be one-half to twothirds the length of your sofa, with 16 to 18 inches between the sofa and table. It should also be either the same height as your sofa seat or just a little (no more than two inches) lower. While seated, you should be able to comfortably cross your legs and reach your glass of wine; you should also be able to walk around your coffee table easily without turning sideways.

In general, these are the standard sofa/coffee-table guidelines:



Coffee table: Rectangular or round 48-60 inches long 24-30 inches wide

Coffee table: Rectangular or oval 40-54 inches long 18-24 inches wide

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

•P lastics: fun and practical, especially if you have young children. •M etal: for a modern, industrial or rustic vibe. •S tone, marble or sintered stone: for a resilient but high-end look. •U pholstered cocktail ottomans: for a lush, soft note.

Is your room really small? In a small space, consider features that visually disappear, like glass, light colours and slim metal frames, as well as rounded edges (which are easier to walk around). In many cases, a small oval or square coffee table might work better than a rectangle. And if your space is very tight, consider nesting tables, a lift-top table or two poufs instead of one bigger surface.

Sofa: U-shaped conversation group



Sofa: L-shaped sectional



Sofa: Standard three-seater (78-86 inches long)

•G lass: light and airy, ideal for smaller spaces.

Coffee table: Square or round 26-48 inches long 30-36 inches wide

HANNAH BUSING/UNSPLASH

ARTICLE

How big should your table be?

Other options include:

ARE MEDIA/LIVING4MEDIA

CREATE YOUR DISPLAY

When it comes to decorating your coffee table, use the “rule of three” as your starting point: one stack of books, one sculptural object and one living one.

It’s not just the tables that have changed; so have the ways we decorate them. As with everything in décor these days, it’s all about personalization. Gone are the days when you could just set out the same designer books and fancy candles as everyone else and call it a day. Now the idea is to add layers of meaning that tell a story — your story. Vintage and antique pieces, charming travel souvenirs, family heirlooms — these are all lovely items to work into your coffee table décor. So are framed photos and books with personal meaning. A beautiful tray is a handy way to corral decorative elements. It creates an attractive frame for all the different pieces while allowing you to easily whisk everything away if you want to serve drinks or host a games night. And if your coffee table is an upholstered ottoman, a tray also provides a stable surface for glassware and coffee mugs while protecting the fabric from spills. That tray could be wood, silver or, for the most up-to-the-minute look, lacquer — a lightweight material covered in multiple coats of high-gloss, intensely pigmented colour. Lacquer adds shine, colour and texture that is at once playful and sophisticated. Not sure how to decorate your coffee table? Start with the “rule of three”: Combine one stack of books, one sculptural object and one living element, such as a rustic vase of flowers or a small potted plant. Arrange them on a tray, vary the heights and make sure to leave enough room for cups and remotes. That said, there’s a bit of a trend to a majorly maximalist look, with stacks of books, multiple objects and layers and layers of personality covering nearly every inch of your coffee table. This is a great way to show off a fabulous personal collection, but it may be challenging to maintain on a daily basis. Most of all, remember that your coffee table is both a canvas for displaying your personal sense of style and one of the best-used pieces of furniture in your home. And, of course, a place to rest your cuppa joe.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 25

Welcome to

In Tla-o-qui-aht territory

Autumn’s golden light feels different in Tofino. Sunrise beach walks, arts and culture, seafood harvested steps away and a memorable day trip to Hot Springs Cove... Simple pleasures come easily here.

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The energy is palpable, whether it instills adventure, relaxation, or a deeper sense of reflection. Feel the connection to the land and sea in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, with the sand beneath your feet and the wind in your hair. Tourism Tofino extends our heartfelt gratitude to the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) and ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) First Nations for the privilege to work, learn, and welcome visitors on their unceded territories that they have stewarded for millennia.

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430 430Campbell CampbellStreet, Street,Tofino Tofino(behind (behindRhino RhinoCoffee) Coffee) www.TofinoBeachCollective.com TofinoGalleryofContemporaryArt.com Instagram Insta@TofinoGalleryofContemporaryArt @TofinoBeachCollective ART: DAVID ELLINGSEN ‘DRIFT NO. 1’

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APPAREL

FALL 2026 FASHION REPORT

This is the year to start building a wardrobe that will last for years to come. By Joanne Sasvari

INVESTMENT DRESSING 28

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

f you, like so many of us, have peered into your overstuffed closet recently and thought, “I’ve got nothing to wear,” this season is for you. Fall 2026 is all about building a wardrobe that’s both beautiful and functional, one that combines refined basics with signature pieces from last year and the best trends of the new season to create something truly lasting. It’s not so much about fashion as it is about style and, more importantly, about feeling confident and well pulled together. Consider it fashion’s reckoning. Like the rest of us, the industry hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic, when we lived in yoga pants and Birkenstocks. It’s not just some questionable design choices over the last few years (think: brat green, designer microbags or the many, many crimes against denim, from overly baggy to overly distressed to overly embellished). There’s been a revolt against both the highest and lowest ends of the industry. Consumers are as offended by luxury labels’ soaring prices (for instance, Chanel’s classic flap bag

now retails for $10,500 to $16,500, up from around $6,000 in 2019) as they are by the wastefulness of cheap fast fashion. At the same time, it seems that almost every major design house has someone new at the helm, and not every debut has been a smooth one. But take a look at the Fall 2026 runways. More often than not, the clothes shown on them are designed for women who have

MODEL IN SUIT: SERGE FILIMONOV/STOCKSY

SUITS YOU

places to go and things to do. They feel at once luxurious, modern and wearable. The suit is back, and nothing will carry you through the world more easily and stylishly. So is layered dressing, which is both playful and practical, designed for complex weather situations and for a perimenopausal generation unwilling to grin and bear discomfort. There’s no more exposing your bare legs to the wintry elements; in other words, yes, you really do need some proper hosiery and a good pair of tall boots. And, after what seems like decades that veered vertiginously between funereal black and girly pastels, this fall is rich with deep, lush and flattering hues of burgundy, brown, cream, green and even pink. Some of last fall’s key looks have made a return, among them pencil skirts and animal prints, which means you can also work those pieces into your new fall wardrobe. After all, we all crave something new and beautiful at this time of year, but isn’t it nice to keep wearing the things you already love, too? The big fashion message of Fall 2026: This season is one to invest in, starting with the key looks on these pages.

Lanvin

There is nothing — nothing — that gets you out the door faster and better dressed than a suit. And this is a great season for suit dressing, whether it’s pinstriped and menswear-inspired or refined, ladylike and grande-dame-ish. Skirt suits are the big news, belted, colourful, lighter and more modern than in the past, and designed for day or evening. But there are also plenty of trouser suits and blazers, too, perfectly aligned with back-to-work mandates and today’s more serious, get-down-to-business vibe. Unlike the last few seasons of oversized menswear, though, these are more sharply tailored, and best styled with a gorgeous coat tossed over your shoulders.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 29

THE NEWS IN HUES When it comes to the best colours of Fall 2026, think rich, luxurious, flattering and — this part is key — not black. Over the past few seasons dark brown has become a serious challenger to black as, well, the new black, and this fall you will likely find yourself craving boots, gloves, a handbag and all your key basics, from trousers to sweaters to coats, in chocolate and espresso hues. Brown also works beautifully with the season’s other top colours: luscious and versatile burgundy, cream and greens in hunter, olive or sage. At the same time, this is a pretty and somewhat surprising moment for every type of pink from ballerina to rose to fuchsia. Perhaps this autumnal blush is inspired by the 20th anniversary of Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette — does that mean macarons are making a comeback, too?

YOU NEED A NEW COAT This is a great season for outerwear. There are the classics, of course, like the trench (though you might find it in punchy purple) or car coat (though you might find that in fun patterns like plaid or animal print). What’s especially of the moment, though, are brocade topcoats, Dries van Noten bomber jackets (in luxe fabrics and chic proportions) and delightfully fuzzy, furry, touchable textures. That could mean bouclé or faux fur, cut slim and sleek, in full coats or on collars, cuffs and muffs. But mostly it means shearling, so much lighter and more refined than in days of old, worn long and lush with drama. These are major statement pieces to shrug on over a pair of jeans and a turtleneck for the utmost in careless elegance.

LUXE LAYERS

Missoni

Balenciaga

Missoni

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

More is more this fall, especially when it comes to layering. Follow Missoni’s lead and pile on the cardigans and blazers and bombers and coats. Then throw a shawl or scarf or cape over it all. Mix colours and patterns like Marni. Stay warm in knits, tea dresses, shearling bombers and hosiery like Rabanne. Combine sporty jackets and silk skirts like Prada, or top an evening dress with a peacoat like Alaïa. The key is to keep these layers loose, informal and playful, even a little bit dishevelled.

PICK A PATTERN If you love a bold pattern, you’ll fall for this season’s powerhouse prints. Checks and plaids are fall staples, and this year sees them oversized and colourful on capes, coats and separates of all sorts. Animal prints, too, have become a classic for fall and winter, and each year sees new patterns added to the menagerie. This year, look for leopard, cheetah and zebra, especially on outerwear. We’re also loving this year’s bouquet of dark, moody florals, which bring the botanical drama to evening wear, skirts and outerwear, especially in luxe brocade and velvet.

Acne Studios

Dior

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ROMANCING THE DRESS For those occasions when nothing but a dress will do, you have choices. On the one hand, there’s sleek minimalism à la Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, often sporty, simple and midi or maxi length (from Gucci and Calvin Klein). On the other, there’s full-on romance, whether it’s the folky boho of Chloé and its tiered mousseline, quilted florals and billowing silhouettes, or the Gothic fairytale of Erdem (black leather, brocade and florals) or Simone Rocha (velvet bows, lacy ruffles, silky lace-ups and decadent textures). For evening, velvet is a major message in evening dressing, either sleek and strapless or corseted and full. So is black leather, tailored to perfection. And then there is the retro Deco charm of 1930s-inspired dressing, with dropped waists, satin fabrication and vintage-style embroidered embellishment, from Chanel, Altuzarra, Tory Chloé Burch and Canadian label Alex S. Yu.

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ACCESSORIES FOR ALL When it comes to the finishing touches, things are just a bit more formal this fall than they have been in recent years: more structured, more embellished, altogether more dressed up. The big accessory news is all about the leg. No more baring your naked gams to the wintry elements — hosiery is back, big time. Look for tights and socks in colourful, patterned and textured styles. And when it comes to footwear, a knee- or even thigh-high, pointy-toed stiletto boot in black leather or chocolate suede is an instant update and best worn with the Simone season’s many gorgeous skirts. Otherwise, step out in Rocha the “modern heirloom” look of retro sneakers, loafers, Mary Janes and pumps with high vamps, two-tone styling or embellishment. Other key accessories include: oversized floral brooches; bow details for both day and evening; velvet accents; Khaite Olivia the long, elbow-length hobo leather glove; playfully bag maximalist jewelry (long pendant necklaces and bold sculptural shapes); and suede everything, especially shoes and bags in shades of brown. If you’re in search of a new handbag, the trends lean toward slouchy and boho (crescents, hobos and the like) or structured and vintage, or at least vintage inspired. One thing that’s out? Logos. This is not the season to be flaunting your CCs, LVs and GGs.

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ESSENTIAL PIECES

If you’re looking to build your fall wardrobe, but not sure where to start, these are the essentials for Fall 2026. Look for basics in rich or dark earth-toned neutrals such as chocolate brown, espresso, terracotta, camel or dark olive green, then accent them with lighter, more vibrant hues of cream, oat, burnt orange, burgundy and sage. Begin here, add pieces you love, and you will always be well dressed and ready for anything.

1 An investment-quality overcoat, ideally

7 At least one cashmere turtleneck or

2 A more casual bomber or car coat. 3 Suit dressing, either a skirt suit, trouser

8 A chunky knit sweater. 9 A ruffled, feminine blouse or structured

4 Wide-legged trousers in pinstripes or a

10 Leather boots in glossy black or brown

in bouclé or shearling.

suit or simply a tailored blazer.

neutral colour.

5 A polished pair of jeans, either straight, bootcut or barrel-legged.

6 A midi-length skirt, either pencil, slip or a fuller, boho style.

crewneck sweater.

tie-neck shirt.

suede — chunky-heeled ankle styles are more practical than trendy tall stilettos.

11 “Modern heirloom” footwear like pumps

with high vamps or retro-inspired sneakers.

12 Hosiery.

Clockwise from top left: Stand Studio, Dries van Noten, Nour Hammour, Rag & Bone, Veronica Beard, Chloé, Frame

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

OPENS SEPT 18

SEE SCHEDULE AND GET TICKETS

STYLE WATCH Fashion Stylist: Janine Metcalfe Photographer: Jeffrey Bosdet

Fashion Adventures Fall is the best time of year for getting out and having fun in the wilderness around Greater Victoria. You might as well do it in style.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Work It Covert half-zip-neck fleece sweater in Larch Heather, Sonii utility vest in Salt, black T-shirt, Leutia softshell women’s pants and Bird Head toque, all by Arc’teryx and available at Arc’teryx stores. Opposite page: Wade In Keb GTX lightweight, waterproof jacket in Fossil, Keb fleece hoodie in Deep Forest, black Abisko trail trousers and High Coast crossbody in red, all by Fjällräven and available at Fjällräven stores. Outbound hip waders available at Canadian Tire Hillside Mall.

Entrenched Taupe trench coat, peach hoodie and tights, all by Uniqlo and available at Uniqlo Mayfair Mall. Iconic bucket hat by Tilley Canada, available at Tilley. Nike fanny pack, available at SportChek Mayfair Mall. Classic waterproof rainboots, available at Canadian Tire Hillside Mall.

Bug Off Airflo Mosquito LMT5 hat in khaki olive and Allterrain Anorak in stone, both by Tilley Canada and available at Tilley stores.

Weather Proof Antora hooded rain jacket by The North Face, available at SportChek Mayfair Mall. Uniqlo tights, available at Uniqlo Mayfair Mall. Oakley sunglasses, available at Maycock Eyecare. Classic waterproof rainboots, available at Canadian Tire Hillside Mall.

Faux Sure Cropped faux fur vest in truffle by Luisa Cerano, SorayasPW argyle pullover sweater by Part Two, rust-coloured Part Two fleece jacket, cream-coloured pants by Raffaello Rossi, all available at Bagheera Boutique.

Model: Maja Deng/Lizbell Agency Hair and Makeup: Erin Bradley

BUSINESS PROFILE

ISLAND EYECARE The future of eye care, reimagined

WATCH VIDEO

or Dr. Anita Narang, exceptional eye care begins with looking deeper. At Island Eyecare in Victoria, that philosophy has shaped a practice that goes far beyond the traditional eye exam. What has emerged is a modern treatment centre where advanced diagnostics, emerging technologies and highly personalized care come together in an environment designed to feel as exceptional as the experience itself. From the moment patients arrive, the difference is apparent. Soaring ceilings, refined finishes, curated interiors and a calm, polished atmosphere create a sense of understated luxury. Sophisticated diagnostic and treatment technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the space, creating an experience that feels less like a conventional clinic and more like a destination for modern eye health. Under Dr. Narang’s clinical leadership, Island Eyecare has developed a growing focus on complex conditions affecting comfort, function and vision. Dry eye disease remains an important

part of that work. Rather than simply addressing symptoms such as itching, watering burning, redness or fluctuating vision, the team evaluates the tear film, ocular surface, eyelids and oil-producing glands to better understand what is contributing to each patient’s condition. For patients living with age-related macular degeneration, detailed retinal imaging, ongoing assessment and newer technologies allow for a more proactive approach to supporting visual function and long-term quality of life. But Island Eyecare’s vision extends well beyond any single condition. The practice is continuing to expand into advanced areas of functional eye care, including blink mechanics, eyelid function and tightening, ocular surface health and new treatment technologies designed to support the structures surrounding the eye. As innovation changes what is possible, the clinic is being built to evolve with it. “The future of eye care is not simply about seeing clearly. It is about preserving

function, understanding change earlier and having more options to act.” Patients are shown their imaging, guided through their findings and given a clear understanding of why treatments are being recommended. Technology provides the detail, but thoughtful interpretation and individualized care remain at the centre of the experience. Island Eyecare is becoming something distinctly different: a treatment centre of excellence built around precision, innovation and the belief that modern eye care should continually move forward. For Dr. Narang and her team, the goal is simple: see more, understand more and raise the standard of what eye care can be.

1059 Fort Street | 250-383-3937 island-eyecare.ca

BUSINESS PROFILE

COSMEDICA

The art and science of rejuvenation

fter months of sunshine, outdoor adventures and long summer days, skin can begin to show the effects of the season. Uneven pigmentation, sun spots, texture changes, fine lines and overall dullness are often more noticeable as summer comes to an end. For those looking to restore their skin, fall can be the ideal time to reset.

At Cosmedica in Victoria, Dr. Tess Peters combines her expertise in dermatology with an artist’s eye to create personalized treatment plans designed to address the visible effects of sun exposure while supporting healthier, more radiant-looking skin. One of her go-to treatments for post-summer rejuvenation is Fraxel, an advanced fractional laser treatment that

targets damaged skin while stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. By treating microscopic columns within the skin, Fraxel can improve the appearance of sun damage, pigmentation, uneven texture, fine lines and acne scarring while leaving surrounding tissue intact to support the healing process. Fraxel is particularly valuable as part of a comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation. Depending on an individual’s concerns, Dr. Peters may recommend combining laser treatments with other technologies or injectable and regenerative treatments to address multiple aspects of skin health and create more harmonious results. Her approach is never about simply treating a single imperfection. As a dual board-certified dermatologist, medical illustrator, artist and clinical instructor, Dr. Peters brings together medical expertise, an understanding of facial anatomy and an appreciation for the subtle details that contribute to beautiful, natural-looking skin. Cosmedica offers a range of advanced technologies and esthetic treatments, including Fraxel, BBL, Clear + Brilliant, Ultherapy and Fotona 4D, allowing treatment plans to be tailored to each patient’s skin, lifestyle and goals. For patients considering a postsummer skin reset, the change of season offers an opportunity to address accumulated sun damage and invest in long-term skin health. With the right treatment plan, the goal is not simply to reverse the signs of summer, but to reveal skin that looks brighter, smoother and refreshed. Because when science provides the foundation and artistry guides the approach, exceptional skin is never one-size-fits-all.

#201-1990 Fort Street 250-598-3300 | cosmedica.ca

BUSINESS PROFILE

THE UNION CLUB OF BC A place to look and feel your best

he pillars of a healthy lifestyle are well known: balanced nutrition, regular exercise, stress reduction and social connectedness. There are myriad ways to live your best life. But what if you don’t have a social network you can rely on? What if a typical commercial gym isn’t your cup of tea? What if you value peace and privacy but still crave activity, leisure and social interaction? Imagine a place you can escape to after a busy workday to enjoy excellent service and a menu full of healthy dining options. A place to relax without being subjected to other people’s loud chatter, TikTok videos and noisy phone conversations. Maybe your ideal lifestyle includes the opportunity to join a walking club, attend an art gallery tour, unwind in a steam room after a workout, attend a spectacular event, learn to play backgammon or snooker, or simply read and relax. Maybe it involves spending time in a setting designed entirely to enhance your quality of life. There is a place in Victoria where you can live such a life by your design.

The Union Club of British Columbia is a welcoming private members’ club located in the heart of the city’s most picturesque scenery. Tucked slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the Inner Harbour, the Club is a treasured oasis that remains close to everything. Ask any member what they value most about belonging, and they will often say, “This place is my sanctuary.” Grounded by a sense of history and subtle tradition, the Club can become your home away from home. Here, a private gym, healthy dining options, leisure and entertainment activities, spaces to read and relax, and social

connection all exist inside one beautiful piece of architectural history. Walk through the doors and enter an unplugged, unhurried world of relaxed elegance. Yes, there is a dress code, but this too is designed to elevate the experience and cultivate an atmosphere of thoughtful self-expression. Come explore how membership at the Union Club can help you look and feel your best. For information about how to become a member, or to book a tour of the Club, contact sales@unionclub.com or call 250-384-1151 ext. 320.

805 Gordon Street | 250-384-1151 Toll Free: 1-800-808-2218 unionclub.com

BUSINESS PROFILE

Fall looks different from here Just 35 minutes from Victoria, a fall afternoon can feel a world away. Wander through the West Coast forest and along the elevated TreeWalk before reaching sweeping 360-degree views and The Overhang, a world-first enclosed glass cube experience high above the canopy. Then slow things down in Tower Plaza with lunch, a local beer or cider and nowhere else to be. With art, nature and seasonal experiences woven throughout, Malahat SkyWalk is an invitation to take the scenic route — and stay awhile.

901 TransCanada Highway | 1-833-625-2428 | malahatskywalk.com

BUSINESS PROFILE

Focused on you For more than 20 years, locally owned and operated Eye Etiquette Optical has been helping the community see — and look — its very best. Its knowledgeable staff takes the time to understand each client’s vision needs, lifestyle and individual style. The store offers a thoughtfully curated collection of premium designer and independent eyewear, paired with quality lenses and expert craftsmanship. From personalized styling to precise fittings and exceptional aftercare, every detail matters. It’s this commitment to genuine service, trusted expertise and lasting relationships that has made Eye Etiquette Optical a destination for quality eyewear for two decades.

189-2401 C Millstream Road | 250-474-1941 119-3039 Merchant Way | 778-432-3344 | eyeetiquetteoptical.ca

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 45

LIFE AT HOME

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Rumpus Room Revival

It’s all fun and games in this sophisticated basement with a cool speakeasy vibe.

By Joanne Sasvari | Photos by Mary McNeill Knowles

hen Kelly Hitchins decided it was time to renovate the “chopped-up” lower floor of his family’s home, he wasn’t actually planning to create the ultimate rumpus room. He just wanted a more usable space. But here he is, with a sprawling, sophisticated, speakeasy-inspired man cave that includes a custom-designed bar, pool table, media centre and poker room. Jealous yet? “We absolutely love the space down there,” Hitchins says. “It’s beautiful, but also functional. It really suits our needs, and when we have our kids and their friends over, it really can handle a lot of people.” The project was a collaboration between designer Deanna Reddy of Mångata Interiors and the team at White Wolf Homes. “I’ve done a few man caves, and there’s always some level of fun to it, but this one is definitely one of a kind,” says Kyle Velikovsky, owner of White Wolf Homes. “It’s really personalized, and there’s some bold design choices that specifically relate to the client.” Those “bold design choices” include the moody colour palette that’s inspired by the signed poster for The Wall, the movie based on Pink Floyd’s album of the same name, which has pride of place in the main room. “It had rich tones, moody contrasts and that depth that just created the emotional direction for the room,” Reddy says. “The vision of the space, it was like a speakeasy vibe, but reimagined for residential living. That was our goal.”

With its moody purple hues and pop-culture cred, a signed Pink Floyd poster at the bottom of the stairs became the design inspiration for this basement makeover.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 47

‘A FUN SPACE’

Above: Two bedrooms were combined into one space that is both a poker room and arcade room, with a Murphy bed that can be pulled down to create a handy guest room. Below: In the central area, a bathroom was moved to create the bar, which features Vancouver Island marble countertops, custom metalwork by BLR Fabrications and clever detailing added to disguise the awkward height of the ceiling. Throughout, LED lighting highlights the features the owners love best.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Before the renovation, the space was divided into a bedroom suite, a small kitchen area, two other bedrooms and “a little, tiny rec room,” Reddy says. “[The homeowners] have two young adult boys who still live at home and they just wanted a fun space for them and their friends to kind of hang out. And for them to enjoy as well.” Hitchins laughs. “Our original vision was just to open up a section of it and just have a little bit more usable space for us. And then it turned into a complete transformation.” Reddy was largely given free reign with the design — her only directive was to include space for a poker table, a pool table, a bar and a high-level stereo system. Working with White Wolf, she ended up preserving the suite, but tucking it behind a hidden door in a slatted wall, while opening up the rest of the space. “We tore down some walls. We put the bar where the original bathroom was and moved the bathroom to where their old bar was,” she says. They also combined the two bedrooms into “one guest slash games arcade room slash poker room” with a Murphy bed that tucks away when it’s not needed. Reddy is particularly pleased with the bar. “I was really pulling inspiration from hotel bars and speakeasy bars where they’re really moody. There’s a lot of contrast. There’s all of the cool accent lighting.

The clients were really interested in making sure that everything was lit up appropriately, so everything had their LED strips, the appropriate lighting to showcase the work.” The bar features Vancouver Island marble countertops, a well-stocked back bar with custom metalwork by BLR Fabrication, including a brass backsplash, foot rail and cocktail tables, as well as a custom curved ceiling that she worked closely with the drywaller to create. “I love creating or adding curves to my designs,” she says. Someone standing behind that bar would look out across the pool table and custom-designed banquette to the ocean views outside the window, which presented their own challenge. “Being on the water, the amount of light and windows in that space and then the reflection of the light off the ocean really creates a lot of challenges in terms of making sure the drywall finish is perfect,” Velikovsky says. He adds: “It all just came together so well. Deanna did a really good job in terms of making it elegant and functional at the same time.” What really elevates the space is the attention to detail, especially the high-quality finishes, which range from the walnut used for the slatted walls to the velvet material used for its acoustic properties in the bedoorm to the Venetian plaster in the bathroom. “And then adding those rich colours and those statement pieces you don’t get to design every day,” Reddy says.

‘EVERY GUY’S DREAM’ As with any renovation, things didn’t always go to plan. What started as a fairly modest project found the White Wolf team digging out the home’s foundation and adding new supports when it turned out the wall they needed to remove was a load-bearing one. (Reddy

Among the thoughtful details in the new bathroom is the Venetian plaster on the walls.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 49

designed the banquette around the new posts.) Moving the bathroom meant a whole new configuration of plumbing. Inconvenient beams and awkward differences in ceiling height required thoughtful details to hide them. “And then, because of all of those different height differences, we had to add the staircase as an additional scope of work,” Reddy says. “It was never originally going to be in the design, but was something we had to kind of just quickly get done.” For Velikovsky, one of the biggest and most satisfying challenges was creating the slatted wall with its secret door. “That’s probably my favourite part of that place. Pulling it off properly was quite challenging just to make sure that door was as invisible as possible,” he says. What made it all work was a rare rapport between homeowner, designer, builder and the trades who A pool table was among the owner’s requests; here it is flanked by a custom-made banquette that disguises the new supports that had to be added when the builders dug out the foundation.

The Forget-Me-Not Bracelet

worked on the project. “As with any project this size, there were some hiccups along the way … but they handled the bumps in such a way that they smoothed them out and everything just turned out fantastic,” Hitchins says. That rapport started with the design. Hitchins and Reddy connected the moment she saw that Pink Floyd poster. (He’s a big fan — “I think their music is timeless,” he says.) “We were very excited to acquire it and it’s very prominent. We have it displayed right when you come downstairs,” Hitchins says. “The first time Deanna was in the basement, that was literally the first thing that caught her eye and I think she got a lot of inspiration from that as far as the colour palette.” He adds: “We were fully on board with going in that direction. We wanted kind of a darker, moody theme down there, the speakeasy kind of thing, and I think she really came through, really nailed that aspect of it.” Now, rather than a forgotten part of the house, this revitalized rumpus room is where everyone hangs out, the sons with their friends and the parents when they want to watch TV, listen to music or shoot a game of pool with their kids. “They love it,” Reddy says. “They’ve said that they are probably down there more than they could have ever imagined.” Adds Velikovsky: “It’s kind of like every guy’s dream, what that basement is. It’s not very often we see that square footage given to the fun room.”

PROJECT HELP Builder: White Wolf Homes, project manager Jeff Pollock Designer: Deanna Reddy, Mångata Design Electrical: Flex Electric Systems

Plumber: Orchard Plumbing and Heating Millwork: Thomas Philips Woodworking Countertops: Matrix Marble & Stone Flooring: Hourigan’s Flooring Metalwork: BLR Fabrication

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

WHERE THE WHERE THE TREES MEET TREES MEET THE THE TIDE TIDE

Made by Phillips' Fermentorium Distilling Made by Phillips' Fermentorium on Vancouver Island, Canada. Distilling on Vancouver Island, Canada.

AVA I L A B L E N O W A T CA T H E D RA L G I N .C O M AVA FI LOALBLLOEW N@OCA W TAHT ECA T HLE_DGRA D RA I N L G I N .C O M F O L L O W @ CA T H E D RA L _ G I N

DESTINATION:

ICELAND

Of Pufflings & A WINDSWEPT SOLO ROAD TRIP THROUGH ICELAND HAS OUR WRITER RELINQUISHING CONTROL AND FINDING PEACE IN UNCERTAINTY. By Melissa Gignac

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

MELISSA GIGNAC

Perseverance I wince against the icy fingers of frozen rain slapping my face. Somewhere around my clavicle my skin is afire with confusion. The toasty, sulphuric waters of Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River prickle my submerged body, heating flesh numbed by the seemingly sideways rain that soaked me on the nine-kilometre, drudgingly uphill hike to get here. Despite the less-than-ideal weather for this soggiest of side quests, for the first time in weeks I am utterly at peace. I have an overwhelming feeling that I am going to be OK.

PRE-DEPARTURE That sentiment was unimaginable only two weeks earlier. I had just lost a job about which I had complicated feelings, but that provided health benefits I desperately relied on. I was weeks away from turning 49 and suddenly forced to think in very real terms about what I want to be when I grow up. What I want to do with my remaining years of this impossibly short, improbably precious life. Months prior, I’d booked a solo road trip through Iceland, a trip that now seemed both incredibly frivolous and entirely necessary. I’ve long dreamed of driving the Ring Road route that circumnavigates the island. Until a little more than a year ago, it was an impossibility — I was a late bloomer behind the wheel, obtaining my licence at the advanced age of 47.

Above: Soaking in Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River brought a moment of peace well worth the arduous journey to get there. Left: Our writer had long dreamed of driving the Ring Road that circumnavigates Iceland. The reality was at times more of a nightmare.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 53

Now, tempered by a chronic illness that leaves me incredibly fatigued, I decide it’s safer to be more conservative, planning a route that will take me from Keflavik to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west, through the famed Golden Circle, and east to Hofn, with a pop over to the Vestmannaeyjar Island of Heimaey in the south.

Upon landing in Keflavik I stop at Happy Campers to pick up a peppy little Renault Kangoo I dub Ren, and then drive north to Reykjavik. Late that evening I’m picked up by Troll Expeditions for a northern lights tour. The lights are barely a pastel smudge in the sky, while wind fills my rain gear like an inflatable sumo costume. There will be no influenceresque selfies tonight. In the morning, I rise before the campground wakes, wipe copious condensation from Ren’s windows, scarf down the first of many servings of Iceland’s gloriously rich, creamy, yogurt-like Skyr, and hit the road for the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. For hours, the wind bats Ren like an invisible cat playing with an injured mouse. The wind will become a trip theme, morphing plans, chapping my face and making me battle to keep the driver’s side door attached. I am too exhausted to enjoy the otherworldly landscape, and near tears at the thought that I have made a huge mistake. I’ve only had my licence for a year. I’m chronically ill. This is too much. I pull into the Snæfellsnes Visitor Centre, pay a few krona to use the washroom and crawl into Ren’s cozy womb for a nap. I spend the afternoon deleting as many stops from my itinerary as I visit. I’m quickly learning that less is more when one is doing all the driving. Yet the driving is spectacular. I pass black lava fields, glaciers and volcanoes, and endless kilometres of rugged coastal cliffs. At Ytri Tunga beach, I watch tourists harass the seals and have my flabbers ghasted when a man steals what appears to be a whale vertebra from a set on the pathway. At Lóndrangar basalt cliffs, two Brits clamber over a safety rope for a marginally better selfie, proving that no matter where one is, tourists are going to tourist.

This sheep’s woolly coat offers protection from the relentless winds on Heimaey.

COURTROOM CASE: COURTROOM CASE:

MELISSA GIGNAC

A HUMBLING START

COURTROOM CASE: COURTROOM CASE:

VERDICT ON THE REAL ESTATE TEAM KNOWN AS

COURTROOM COURTROOM CASE: CASE:

VERDICT ON THE ESTATE TEAMTEAM KNOWN AS AS VERDICT ON REAL THE REAL ESTATE KNOWN Mark McDougall, PREC*, Erica Coling, Unlicensed, Cindy Palmer, REALTOR® Mark McDougall, PREC*, Erica Coling, Unlicensed, Cindy Palmer, Mark McDougall, PREC*, Erica Coling, Unlicensed, CindyREALTOR® Palmer, REALTOR®

Charged with the following offenses: 1. PROFESSIONALISM:

Charged with the following offenses: Charged with the following offenses: a. Refined the art of house hunting 1. PROFESSIONALISM: 1. PROFESSIONALISM: b. Rap sheet longer than MLS listings a. Refineda. the art ofthe house Refined art ofhunting house hunting 2.sheet THOROUGHNESS: b. Rap longer MLSthan listings b. Rap sheetthan longer MLS listings

a. Leaving no stone unturned 2. THOROUGHNESS: 2. THOROUGHNESS: b. Leaving Attention to detail a. Leaving no stoneno unturned a. stone unturned b. Attention to detail to detail b. Attention 3. SKILLFULNESS:

3. SKILLFULNESS: a. Finely crafted negotiation prowess 3. SKILLFULNESS:

a. Finely a. crafted prowess Finely crafted negotiation prowess to clients’ benefit b. Usingnegotiation 50+ years of experience b. Using b. 50+ years of years experience to clients’ Using 50+ of experience to benefit clients’ benefit

4. FUN FACTOR:

4. FUN 4. FACTOR: FUN FACTOR:

a. Injecting fun into stressful process

a. Injecting fun into fun stressful process process a. Injecting into stressful b. Memorable adventures on property tours b. Memorable adventures on property tours tours b. Memorable adventures on property

Y Y T Y T L T L I I L U I U GGU YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

C o a s t C a pCCi otoaals stRt Ce C a lpat iypt ai tl aRl eRa el tay l t y

H o m e s a nH do mB eu sy earns d T Be ua yme r s T e a m Homes and Buyers Team e m a i l @ h oe m ea si la@n hd ob m uyers.ca e m a i l @ h oe ms aensdabnudy be ur sy. ec ar s . c a 2 5 0 - 5 8 8 -2 85 80 5- 85 8 8 - 8 8 5 8

250-588-8858

At Dritvik Cove, I overconfidently face the famous Aflraunasteinar (lifting stones), once used to test the strength of sailors. I’m crushing 92-kilogram deadlifts in the gym, I should be able to easily hoist the 54-kilo Hálfdrættingur (half-carrier), which would qualify me to be an oarsman, should the need arise. I quickly determine that barbell strength does not translate to heaving gripless, egg-smooth boulders. Hálfdrættingur slips from my hands. I have conquered only the 23-kilo Amlóði (weakling). My ego is as crushed as my shins are bruised. I call it a day early and pull into the first available campground. I am asleep before the stars come out.

GIVING WAY TO WONDER

MELISSA GIGNAC

By morning, the previous day’s toddler tantrum has lifted and I am now teary behind the wheel, not with exhaustion, but with sheer overwhelm at the beauty of the landscape and my good fortune to be exploring it. If Vancouver Island is spectacular for its abundance of trees, Iceland is striking for its lack of them. With not much more than moss and grass covering the ground, the scars of the earth straining against itself and the sulfurous breath it belches from its subterranean gut are constantly visible. I am witnessing the earth reform itself. There is a feeling of the eternal, of what was here before and what will remain when humans have scorched themselves from the Earth. It is both comforting and disquieting. I overnight in Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park after exploring its trails and marvelling at Almannagjá fault, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates have slowly pulled the land apart over millennia, creating a deep chasm. In the morning I gear up to snorkel the park’s Silfra Fissure, where clear glacial waters offer an underwater view between the two continents. The water is frigid — between two and four degrees Celsius. My Troll Expeditions guide Vicky helps me manouevre the required dry suit over my woollen thermals and my group penguin-walks into the water. I am immediately transported to a planet painted turquoise and yellow ochre, where near-endless visibility exposes jagged cliffs coated with the neon green

Melissa Gignac snorkelling in the Silfra Fissure at Thingvellir National Park.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 55

algae known as troll hair. Vicky ecstatically points out an Arctic char, noting that fish are rarely seen in the fissure. It is the antithesis of snorkelling at home, where Vancouver Island’s coastal waters are rife with flora and fauna. Worn out from cold, I am (again) in bed before night settles in and the northern lights come out to play.

Farther down the coast I am disappointed to find the cliffside puffin nesting sites barren, the million-strong colony already navigating their way across the North Atlantic Ocean. Leaving the nesting site, I run into Julia, a German woman also staying at the campground. Julia tells me she has just released what she believes to be her 250th puffling (baby puffin). Every night, well after I am bedded down, Julia emerges from her chilly tent to join the locals on Puffin Patrol as they round up grounded pufflings who have mistaken the town’s streetlights for moonlight. I curse my fatigue and resign myself to a puffling-free visit. I am, therefore, utterly delighted to be approached later by an elderly man holding out a weighted-looking toque. “Would you like to see a puffin?” he offers, his English bobbing with an Icelandic lilt. He holds open the toque, revealing a fist-sized puff of white and charcoal feathers. I am instructed to take the puffin in my hands and gently loft it toward the ocean. The little puffling takes flight, heading out to join its colony on the distant waves.

I spend the morning attempting to organize Ren. This is not the romantic, Insta-worthy version of #vanlife that suggests a clean-haired, yogic woman stretching leisurely atop a cozy bed while taking in the view from open back doors. While the views are incredible, the lived experience of being in a van is less than glamorous. Rather it is a constant battle to stay afloat in a shifting tide of belongings and bedding. At this point I’ve stopped bothering to pull closed the curtains to conceal the underwear drying on a line stretched the length of the van. I am slowly turning feral.

TAKING FLIGHT ON HEIMAEY After a short drive, a 45-minute ferry ride from Landeyjahöfn lands me on Heimaey, where I stay two nights at my favourite campground of the trip. Vestmannaeyjar Glamping and Camping is nestled in the crater-like Herjolfsdalur Valley on the northwest side of the island and a short walk to Elephant Rock, a natural formation in the coastal basalt rock that resembles a gigantic elephant submerging its trunk in the sea.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

MELISSA GIGNAC

THE UNROMANTIC REALITY OF VAN LIFE

“WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A PUFFIN?” HE OFFERS, HIS ENGLISH BOBBING WITH AN ICELANDIC LILT.

WHAT THE WIND GAVE ME Leaving Heimaey the next day, the ferry is delayed for hours. Eventually wind diverts it to Þorlákshöfn, several hours to the west, scuttling my plan to reach Hofn, and forcing cancellation of my planned glacier hike. The wind, I am finding, is always in charge. Iceland demands flexibility of its guests, and those who find opportunity rather than dissatisfaction in its shifting agenda are

Our writer with her trusty steed Kgölur, on the lookout for elves.

YOUR HOST CATHY SCOTT

APRIL 22 - 30, 2027

rewarded for their outlook. Without the ferry’s rerouting to the west I would not have had time the next day to clamber those nine kilometres through the icy rain to Reykjadalur and its thermal river. I would not have had the mindsetshifting moment of clarity. I would not have found peace.

RIDING TOWARD THE FUTURE On my last full day before departure I head to Eldhestar for a Horses and Hotsprings Tour. Our guide Elin assures the group that, despite freezing rain and winds gusting over 90 kilometres an hour, we’ll be perfectly safe atop our hardy Icelandic ponies. Once suited up in Eldhestar’s orange rain gear, I appear as a pylon trotting across the landscape. We are warned to look out for elves and, when passing rivers, to be particularly vigilant for Nykur, a shapeshifting water horse with backwards hooves, determined to lure riders into a watery death. I hope my steed, Kgölur, is up to the task as I spend much of the tours with my eyes battened shut against the pelting rain. Despite numb hands and icy feet it is exhilarating to be so exposed crossing the barren landscape and experiencing Kgölur’s gentle tölt, a four-beat lateral gait exclusive to Icelandic ponies. With an early departure the next day, I bid farewell to Ren and spend my last night at a hotel in Keflavik. After nights mummified in layers of merino atop a thin foam bench it is a luxury to starfish in the centre of a queen-size bed. Yet somehow the room feels too expansive, too removed. While living in Ren was cramped and at times frustrating, the immediacy of stepping every morning from my home on wheels into the wind and wilds of Iceland’s everchanging landscape made the trip feel bigger than the little corner of the country I explored. I leave with the assurance that I will be back. I leave with the peace of knowing I can persevere when life feels hard, that I can navigate the road when the destination is constantly changing.

BC Reg. 63139

MELISSA GIGNAC

Explore Southern Italy, Puglia & Matera WITH CATHY SCOTT

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 57

POSTURE

PERFECT?

From stretches to standup desks: What to do if you’re in a slump. By Eva Rachert

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

nti-inflammatories. Ice and heat. Weightlifting. Posture-correcting back braces. Orthotics. Yoga, Pilates, swimming, jogging, stretching. If you’re hoping to correct your posture and find a solution for back pain, the sheer amount of potential remedies can be overwhelming. As many as one in four Canadians experience chronic back pain at some point in their lives — and while there are a variety of influencing factors, sedentary lifestyles, especially for those who work in office jobs, encourage poor posture and increase the risk of back and neck injury. With so many different schools of thought about the best way to achieve proper posture — and what “proper posture” actually is — it’s easy to feel like fixing your posture and preventing pain is a full-time job. In reality, though, healthy posture is an acquirable skill. In the office and at home, a few new daily activities and work habits can fix your posture and protect you from stress injuries.

ANI DIMI/STOCKSY

THE MYTH OF POSTURE

WHAT IS GOOD POSTURE, ANYWAY? Good posture is all about alignment — keeping your head above your shoulders, and your shoulders in line with your hips, with your weight distributed evenly on both legs. Improper, misaligned posture doesn’t fully engage your muscles, so they weaken over time. The spine has three natural curves in the vertebrae of the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower back) spine, which together form an S-shape. Far from being completely straight, healthy posture maintains your spinal curves. Your entire musculoskeletal system contributes to your posture, so poor posture can cause pain in multiple areas of your body. Slouching and jutting your head forward, as you might do while you’re working at a computer, can strain your neck and back and contribute to tension headaches, tingling and pinched or compressed nerves. If left unchecked, poor posture can cause persistent pain and limited mobility. Even if you’ve been slouching for years, it’s not too late to start correcting your posture. A few quick changes to your dayto-day life can go a long way to reducing and preventing pain.

“Perfect posture” might bring to mind military drills or etiquette classes — and there’s a reason for that. The stereotypical YOUR DESK AND YOU rigid, upright image of perfect posture If you frequently end the workday is a relatively modern concept, and isn’t achy and sore, your workstation could necessarily as healthy as you might think. be the culprit. In an office, you might be “Proper posture is a bit of a using an improperly sized chair or have misconception,” says physiotherapist poor lighting — and if you work remotely, Troy Clare, founder of Victoria-based there’s a good chance you do at least clinic PhysioClarity. When trying to some of your work from a dining table or remedy poor posture, “you’ll feel better a couch, leaning forward or curling over before you look better.” your computer. Our rigid image of ideal posture was While redoing your workstation might born in Victorian England (1837-1901), seem like a big undertaking, “there’s no The spine’s natural S-shape is created by the where upright, straight posture was point in seeking treatment and then going vertebrae in the neck (cervical), mid-back embraced as a standard of refinement back to the workstation that’s creating (thoracic) and lower-back (lumbar) regions, and respectability. Eventually, this the pain in the first place,” says Marina as well as the sacrum, the triangular bone at esthetic posture became conflated with Uzelac, a doctor of chiropractic and owner the base of the spinal column that is formed muscular and spinal health, without by five vertebrae that fuse together in young of local Wholistic Chiropractic & Wellness adulthood. much research to back it up. in Oak Bay. “If your job is to be in front of Without the corsets and tight vests a computer for eight hours a day, you have worn by the Victorians, this posture can to invest in a situation that will allow you be hard to maintain. Trying to jump straight from full days of to work without being injured.” slouching to achieving Victorian-perfect posture will probably To craft a good workspace, try following the 90-90-90 rule: leave you frustrated and sore — without a fix for your back • Your knees should be at a 90-degree angle, level with your hips. problems. • Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle and in line with Proper posture, then, isn’t just about looking good. “If our only your hands. metric for proper posture is how the posture looks, people are • Your feet should sit flat on the floor, with your ankles at a going to get discouraged and defeated,” says Clare. “I start with 90-degree angle in line with your knees. trying to decrease pain, stress and tension.” For Clare, like many • You should be able to sit against the back of your chair and other physical therapy professionals, “those metrics are just as maintain these angles fairly naturally. If this setup feels important as how somebody looks.” awkward, try adjusting your chair.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 59

Additionally, the top of your computer monitor should be directly in front of you and just below eye level. If you use a laptop, which likely sits far below your eyeline, consider elevating it with a laptop stand and connecting it to an external keyboard.

MOVE! “It’s cheesy, but I always tell my clients ‘motion is lotion,’ ” says Uzelac. “Moving changes the angles of your joints and helps the flow and circulation of lymph and synovial [joint] fluid.” Moving regularly while you work is key for both your posture and musculoskeletal health. Schedule time during your workday to stand and leave your desk. Even just small adjustments to your daily activities — walking from your desk to the break room every half hour, or stretching — can be incredibly beneficial to your overall musculoskeletal health. Both Clare and Uzelac find frequent movement critical to improving posture. Unlike longer periods of exercise after the workday, these small, regular movements throughout the day engage your muscles and give your body an essential chance to reset. Two stretches Uzelac typically recommends integrating into the workday: Chest openers: Start by standing and putting your hands on your hips. Put your chest out, superhero-style, squeezing your shoulder blades together. After this, round your back like a

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

To prevent back pain and poor posture, the top of your computer monitor should be just below eye level. A standing table keeps you moving and upright, which also encourages better posture.

FOR WALKS, WAGS, AND REALLY BRIGHT DAYS FOR WALKS, WAGS, AND

cat. Slowly repeating this creates movement, engages your mid-back muscles and massages your vertebrae. Wall side bends: Stand perpendicular to the wall and brace your closer elbow against the wall. With your other arm, reach over your head to touch the wall, expanding the rib cage. Hold this position, then repeat with the other side of your body. For Uzelac, “movement is the antidote to the damage done by chronic sitting.” Incorporating movement into your work life might also mean rocking back and forth, changing your sitting position and repeatedly contracting and releasing your muscles. Ultimately, imperfect posture with regular movement is healthier in the long run than sitting all day in perfect posture.

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PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT Back pain is influenced by any number of factors. If your posture is consistently poor despite attempts to correct it, if you’re experiencing pain or if you just don’t know where to start, you might benefit from professional support. Physiotherapists, massage therapists and chiropractors can help identify and address factors causing poor posture. Uzelac, who studied kinesiology and worked as a registered massage therapist before pursuing chiropractic medicine, finds that postural-related pain is often best addressed through a combination of treatments. “Osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractors — all of us are trying to do the same thing. We’re all trying to rebalance the body to function optimally,” she says. Depending on the source of your pain and your long-term goals, a typical treatment plan could include manual therapy, an exercise regimen and acupuncture or dry needling alongside an ergonomic workplace assessment and strength and resistance training. Professional treatment can be useful in both remedying and preventing chronic pain. If you’re worried about your postural health, in-clinic treatment can give you the tools to correct your posture and prevent pain.

Dr. Peddle with his two pups George and Penny.

MayfairOptometric.com

RECHARGE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

CHIN UP! There’s no shortage of potential solutions to improper posture. Alongside an ergonomic workstation, regular movement and professional support, you may benefit from using flexible kinesiology tape on problem areas to enforce healthy posture, following a low-stress exercise regimen or ditching your desk chair in favour of an exercise ball or a standing desk. What works for someone else might not work for you, so don’t be afraid to try a variety of different tools and solutions. Remember that our idea of perfect posture is largely a myth, and you can protect your body without wearing a corset or marching in the army. By moving throughout the day, stretching and constructing an ergonomic workstation, you’re setting yourself up to stay healthy and pain-free at work and at home — and look good doing it, too.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 61

Everything is Connected The former Tofino Botanical Gardens have been reimagined as a hub for Indigenous learning. By Carolyn B. Heller

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

OWEN PERRY

hen Tofino resident George Patterson opened the Tofino Botanical Gardens in 1997, the 12-acre property was not intended to be a tourist destination. Instead, Patterson conceived the gardens as a space for education. This year, the property, which extends through the rainforest to the Tofino mudflats just south of town, reopened as the Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens, part of the Clayoquot Campus, a hub for a slate of Indigenous-run conservation, innovation and education programs. “Naa’Waya’Sum is a Nuu-chah-nulth word that talks about sharing knowledge from one generation to the next,” says Eli Enns, the Victoria-based cofounder and CEO of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation, the Indigenous-led non-profit organization that is overseeing the gardens’ management. Enns, who describes Patterson as a mentor, explains that “George educated me on his idea of building the education sector in Clayoquot Sound, which didn’t just focus on people going on vacation, but on students coming to learn about temperate rainforest ecology.” Today, Enns says, the Clayoquot Campus is enhancing that educational foundation with Indigenous knowledge about environmental, social and ecological systems. The organization has established an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), one of dozens now in place across Canada that are incorporating Indigenous teachings into conservation efforts.

The gardens are now part of the Clayoquot Campus, a place of learning from people like Joe Martin, a master carver and member of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation.

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OWEN PERRY

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INDIGENOUS ART AND MEDICINES

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As the gardens welcome the public, the organization is working to extend its educational mission to a broader community. Visitors are welcome to walk the rainforest trails and along the shore of the mudflats, with views across to Meares Island. At the same time, staff are rethinking the gardens’ plantings, with a goal of eliminating nonnative varieties and highlighting those that are important to the Indigenous communities. “You can’t grow Indigenous medicines with the western way of gardening,” Dorward says. “It’s not intact with the biodiversity of the flora of the rainforest.” In addition to the gardens themselves, the Clayoquot Campus includes a carving studio, a café and “a learning lodge.” While the carving facility, a high-ceilinged space at the gardens’ entrance, will provide a place for local artists to work, it has an educational mission as well. “The main purpose will be passing on skills and knowledge from one generation to the next,” Enns says. A small gallery space is hosting exhibits by Indigenous artists.

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“Here at the gardens, we try to educate folks about our teachings, our ways as Tla-o-qui-aht peoples,” says Terry Dorward, president of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation board. With the programs that have been offered over the past several years, even before the gardens’ public reopening, the Clayoquot Campus “has been a learning hub for other nations to start thinking about how we evolve as Indigenous peoples, looking through our cultural lens, our language and our teachings.”

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

“...how are we going to leave this place in a better condition for those generations to come? ” “The arts are so important, as Nuu-chahnulth peoples, to express themselves,” says Dorward. Artwork can invoke feelings or convey concepts that may be difficult to communicate in words. Tla-o-qui-aht master carver Joe Martin led the team of carvers who crafted a totem pole, called NaWas, that was raised on the garden property. Dorward says the pole’s purpose is to highlight the exchange of knowledge between generations, not only from grandparent to grandchild, but also from grandchild to grandparent. Stars carved throughout the pole represent “future ancestors.” “Thinking about 500 years into the future,” Dorward asks, “how are we going to leave this place in a better condition for those generations to come?”

COME, LET’S FEAST The gardens’ restaurant is now known as čukʷaa haʔuk (CHOO-kwa ha-OOK) cafe, which means “come, let’s feast!” Lisa Ahier, who for many years ran Tofino’s SoBo Restaurant (which began as a food truck at the gardens), is the café’s opening chef. Ahier’s famous wild salmon chowder is on the menu here, along with other light meals, freshly baked pastries, coffees and teas. The cafe is part of the educational mission, too. As Dorward explains, in the Nuu-chah-nulth tradition, “People would go door-to-door knocking, and they would call ‘čukʷaa haʔuk,’ come and eat. And that’s when a lot of our teachings would be taught.” He adds: “Feasting is part of Nuu-chahnulth protocols. When you have to do any dispute resolution, or if you want to educate folks, a marriage proposal, anything to do with a gathering of people, first you feed them.” The campus is hosting events that include both food and informational presentations or discussions.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 65

Rewilding the land is crucial to its transformation into the Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens.

IISAAK OLAM FOUNDATION

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Surrounded by the forest, the former “Ecolodge” has been renovated and renamed the “IISAAK Learning Lodge.” While its main mission is to house educational programs or group retreats, the 10 guest rooms are open to individual visitors. The lodge has two suites with private washrooms and eight rooms with shared facilities, as well as a spacious living/dining area, positioning it between a hostel and a simple, but comfortable, hotel.

MOVING INTO THE FUTURE As Indigenous people, Dorward says, “We’re interconnected to the natural environment, but also moving forward into the future. How do we learn to live in the world that’ll lead to an abundance of resources, as opposed to a depletion? We’ve experienced a lot of boom-andbust economy here on the coast.” He cites the Tribal Parks Allies program as a step in the right direction. Through this initiative, participating Tofino businesses — restaurants, lodgings, tour companies and other local organizations — contribute one per cent of their revenues to local social or

environmental causes. As more businesses embrace this allyship, Dorward says the fees could be substantial, supporting activities such as reforestation projects, school lunch programs or kelp farming, benefiting both the Tla-o-quiaht First Nations and the broader community. Enns uses the Nuu-chah-nulth term, hishuknish-tsa-wahk, meaning “everything is one and everything is interconnected,” to further explain IISAAK OLAM’s mission. “This is part of a world view that Nuuchah-nulth peoples have always understood — what quantum physicists are just now starting to understand — the total oneness and interconnection of all things,” he says. “Beyond knowledge of plants and animals, what some people might call traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous peoples have much more to offer regarding a fundamental world view of connection.” From this scenic rainforest garden where visitors can walk, eat and learn, the organization is thinking big. As Enns says, “Ultimately, the goal is to improve the world for the future generations.”

Food+Drink 68

RECIPES

What’s cooking on Victoria’s dining scene: destination restaurants, a great Kitchen Party and harvest flavours.

No more sad sandwiches! Here’s how to pack a lunch you’ll actually love.

Chef Nicole Walshaw returns to her hometown for a thoughtful second act.

Light, easydrinking beers are what we’re craving now.

73 Southwestern-Style Quinoa Salad

The Dish

Your Desk Lunch Primer

Curated Cuisine

Lager is Back

72 Hummus, Chicken and Veggie Wrap

74 Yogurt Parfait with Blueberry Compote

IN SEASON Quintessential Quince It’s not likely something you have in your countertop fruit bowl, but the quince was once so beloved the ancient Greeks dedicated it to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love herself. This “Golden Apple” has been cultivated for more than 4,000 years, a symbol of love and fertility that originated in what is now Iran and Turkey. Eaten raw, quince tends to be hard and astringent; cooked, it becomes soft and aromatic, at once sweet, tart and savoury, with a distinct floral note. It was a culinary staple at feasts until the 1920s, when the fashion turned to easier-to-consume pears and apples. Now it’s making a comeback, especially in pastes, jellies and jams — after all, pectin-rich quince, known as “marmelo” in Portuguese, was the original marmalade. It’s also one of the world’s most beautiful fruits, as adored by artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Francisco de Zurbarán and Paul Cézanne as by discerning palates.

Francisco de Zurbarán, Still Life with Dish of Quince (c.1633-1664)

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Food+Drink

THE DISH

A TASTE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND VICTORIA Worth the Wait

… and these two renewed restaurants are worth a special trip, too.

Bakeries, chocolatiers, live demos and talks

OCT 25th

Session 1 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Session 2 | 1:45 PM - 3:45 PM Session 3 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tickets on sale August 8 th CRYSTAL GARDEN

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Come celebrate Vancouver Island's cocktail and food scene.

CRYSTAL GARDEN VIP 5:30 PM | GENERAL 6:30 PM th

Tickets on sale August 1st www.victoriafilmfestival.com Art Of The Cocktail

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

eptember is a terrific time for a road trip, so how lucky it is that two of the South Island’s favourite destination restaurants are making major comebacks this season. It’s been nearly a year since The Restaurant at Unsworth shut down for a much-needed renovation and expansion. But for Sooke Harbour House, the journey has been longer, more winding and much more filled with drama. In a nutshell: Sinclair and Frederique Philip bought the historic inn in 1979 and transformed it into a legendary pioneer of hyper-local, farm-to-table dining. But after the 2008 recession, the inn struggled financially and fell prey to a notorious fraudster. In 2020, it was purchased by IAG Enterprises in a court-ordered foreclosure sale and reopened in 2024 after a major renovation. It was expected to be a triumphant return for chef Melissa Craig, who apprenticed here before going on to Whistler’s Bearfoot Bistro and winning the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2008. But her highly anticipated return never materialized. Fast-forward two years and the Inn has a new owner, Luke Evanow, a West Vancouver-based restaurateur. His day job is CEO of Foundry Commerical Kitchens, which designs, builds and supplies restaurant kitchens, so he understands restaurants like few people do; he has also invested serious time in forging connections with the community. Most of all, he’s building an exciting culinary team led by brand-new executive chef Leroy Borrega. Originally from the Philippines, Borrega has worked in some of the world’s most respected kitchens, most recently as executive chef at The Dorian in Calgary and, prior to that, at Calgary’s highly acclaimed Maven and Shokunin restaurants. He has already been diving deep into Island ingredients and connecting with local chefs with an eye to future collaborations. Meanwhile, at Unsworth, the renovations are finally done and, while the charming bones of the old farmhouse are intact, the warren of small rooms inside has been opened up, with an airy addition overlooking the vineyard, plenty of patio seating and an expanded culinary garden for chef Dan Bain.

Chef Dan Bain in the Unsworth culinary garden.

LIAM WAKE

4 Edition th

October 24

By Joanne Sasvari

“For me, the most exciting part of cooking here is that everything starts with where we are,” says Bain. “Whether it’s produce from our culinary garden, seafood from our coast or wines grown just beyond the kitchen, every plate has the opportunity to tell a story about the Cowichan Valley. That’s something I don’t take for granted, especially having grown up here.” His seasonal menu features dishes like the famed Unsworth chowder, pan-seared halibut, a daily pasta and an irresistible prime rib burger, all of it a terrific showcase for Unsworth’s wines, which keep gathering accolades. Earlier this year, the 2023 Chardonnay and Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir both received a Gold Medal and 95 points at the International Wine Challenge in London. The Pinot also tied for the highest-rated Canadian Pinot Noir at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards. As Bain says: “The wines are never an afterthought. Unsworth’s impressive wines are part of the conversation from the very beginning. Our goal is to create dishes that complement the freshness, balance and elegance of the Cowichan Valley terroir rather than compete with it.”

THE GREATEST KITCHEN PARTY

EVENTS

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, with events from coast to coast, starting September 21 and culminating in the Canadian Culinary Championships in Ottawa on January 29 and 30. These events not only showcase Canadian food and drink, they raise funds for charities that give youth equitable access to healthy food, music education and sport. So far, the organization has contributed $19.9 million to these causes. This year, each of the 10 competing cities will feature a Chef of Distinction selected by the national judges as well as an all-star winner. Here in Victoria, some of the city’s finest chefs will join chef of distinction Milton Rebello, 2013 bronze medallist and owner of Liv Cafe, at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on September 29. Guests will enjoy signature dishes from the chefs paired with Canadian wines, beers and spirits, as well as live performance by the legendary Tom Cochrane. For tickets and info, visit greatkitchenparty.com/ca/cities/victoria.

An exciting new event celebrating food, farming, community and a taste of place, Harvest Table – A Taste of Vancouver Island takes place September 26 at Keating Farm in the Cowichan Valley. During the day, families will gather for a community meal, kids’ activities and farm tours. Then, in the evening, the farm becomes the magical setting for a seasonal longtable dinner. This event is a partnership between Keating Farm and Food Day Canada; for info, email hello@keatingfarm.ca.

IN OTHER NEWS … At Esquimalt’s Rosemead House, Janevca Kitchen & Lounge has a new executive chef, Daniele Mereu. You may remember Mereu from his eight years as co-head chef at Il Terrazzo in the late 1990s. Originally from Italy, he returned home to earn a degree in food science from the renowned Slow Food University in Piemonte and worked as corporate chef at a Sicilian winery, before making his way back to Canada for a 14-year gig with a global foodservice company. Now he’s taking inspiration from Rosemead owner Lenny Moy’s Chinese heritage and his own Italian background for a new family-style menu designed for sharing. We are smitten with the charming Triestina Pasta & Provisions, which recently opened a second store in Cadboro Bay. (The original can be found in an industrial park in deepest Saanichton.) Swing by for a beautifully curated selection of specialty Italian and Spanish foods, including olives, preserves, fancy cheeses, gourmet potato chips and artisan pasta made by co-owner and chef Massimo Buggini. In Sooke, check out Pourhouse Wine Co., a terrific little wine bar right in the heart of town. It’s a passion project for wine-loving siblings Chris and Theresa Boggs, who’ve been working on this concept for nearly a decade. Drop by to enjoy the casual vibe and an excellent selection of wines by the glass, by the flight or by the bottle. At the cute new Croissant Chaud on Broad Street, owned by Aviva Chorin and led by French-trained chefs Lucas Fourrier and Gwendoline, you can not only pick up proper croissants and pains au chocolat, you can learn the art of lamination yourself. Sign up for a croissant workshop via Instagram @lecroissantchaud.ca.

Also mark your calendar for: • Air Canada Best New Restaurant Awards: long list, September; Top 10 winners, November. Stay tuned for the eagerly awaited announcement. • Esquimalt Ribfest, September 11 to 13, Bullen Park • Brewery & the Beast Culinary Festival, September 27, Langford’s Starlight Stadium • Victoria International Wine Festival, November 6 and 7, Victoria Conference Centre

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 69

Food+Drink

By Joanne Sasvari

YOUR DESK LUNCH PRIMER

VALBAR STUDIO/STOCKSY

How to prep and pack a satisfying midday meal that works as hard as you do.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

he waning days of summer mean many of us are headed back to work or school. And that means it’s the season of the desk lunch. A good desk lunch needs to be easy to make, easy to transport and easy to eat without making a mess of your workstation. It should stay fresh and food safe until you’re ready to eat it — no stale bread, soggy salad or dodgy mayo — and it should not unnecessarily stink up the joint, especially if you share your space with others. It should also be nourishing and filling enough to keep you going all afternoon, without leaving you feeling overstuffed and craving a nap. And, of course, it should be delicious. Ticking all those boxes isn’t all that easy, especially when you’re rushing to get out the door in the morning. It takes a plan, some go-to recipes and the right gear. Luckily, we’ve got all the info you need. Better desk lunches start right here with these smart moves.

INVEST IN GOOD GEAR The “right” lunch kit is different for everyone, so it may take a little while to nail down what works best for you. But it should include leak-proof containers that you can dine from directly — no need to decant your lunch onto a plate or into a bowl — as well as any cutlery or napkins you may need, and something to carry it all in. Depending on what you plan to put in them, here are some options for food containers: bento boxes, which have separate compartments for different foods (check out the ones by Bentgo); stainless-steel tiffin tins; Mason jars, which are great for layered salads and salad dressings; glass or plastic food-storage containers (such as Rubbermaid’s highly rated Brilliance containers); and wide-mouth insulated containers for preheated soups and stews (such as the ones by Thermos or YETI). Note that if you plan to heat your lunch, your container will need to be microwave safe. As for the box or bag you’ll put everything in, the best are easy to carry, easy to clean and big enough to contain your lunch, but not so big that your food shifts around and gets all bruised and battered. Ideally, it should also be insulated, especially if you don’t have access to a fridge. If you’re looking for Canadian brands, Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Co. makes stylish insulated lunch bags, while Fluf Bags is a Toronto-based, women-owned business that makes adorable, washable lunch bags from organic cotton.

HOW TO PACK YOUR LUNCH Keep food at the right temperature with an insulated container like the YETI Rambler Food Jar.

Use a bento box like this stainless steel one by Bentgo to keep foods fresh, tidy and compartmentalized — while also reducing plastic waste.

CREATE A LUNCH PANTRY At home: Stock up on the basics so you only need to pick up a few fresh things each week for your lunches — whole grains (especially quick-cooking quinoa), olive oil, vinegar, dried fruit, nuts, tinned tuna, canned beans or chickpeas, frozen corn and/ or blueberries, crackers, granola bars. Make a habit of adding deli meats, cheese, yogurt and hummus to your weekly shop, plus some fresh fruit and vegetables you don’t need to chop (think: grapes and cherry tomatoes). That way, even if Monday morning rolls around and you didn’t have time to make a big grain salad or pot of soup for the week ahead, you still have something satisfying to toss into your lunch box. At the office: Keep a few non-perishable essentials at your desk, such as salt, pepper, hot sauce, olive oil and vinegar, soy sauce, chopsticks, cutlery or tea bags. Avoid anything that might spoil, smell bad or attract vermin. Storing a supply of emergency chocolate in a critter-proof container is also a good idea.

Carry your lunch in a cute, washable and durable tote like this one by Canadian-made Fluf Bags.

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PREP YOUR LUNCHES FOR THE WEEK If you can, find an hour or so on Sunday to prep your (and/or your family’s) lunches for the week ahead. If you make a big-batch meal, remember that you’ll be eating it day after day, so you may want to build some variety into the menu. Before you shop, take stock of your leftover situation and whether you can build a menu around what’s already in the fridge. Roast chicken or grilled steak can easily be added to salads or wraps — just take care to pack the dressings and any crunchy toppings separately so you don’t end up with a soggy mess. And, of course, stews, curries and soups often taste better the next day and can either be microwaved or heated and popped into a

A great desk lunch is rich in both protein and fibre, which give you lasting energy without the midafternoon crash that follows a lunch high in refined carbohydrates.

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Thermos or similar insulated container. Just be thoughtful if you share a small space with others who may be sensitive to strong odours. If you’re starting from scratch, consider whether you want to lunch on a grain salad, soup, wraps or grazing bites, then plan accordingly. Keep in mind that a great desk lunch is rich in both protein and fibre, which give you lasting energy without the mid-afternoon crash that follows a lunch high in refined carbohydrates. Note that protein doesn’t have to be meat; it can be chickpeas, lentils or other legumes, as well as eggs, cheese, yogurt, poultry, fish, nuts and soy (tofu). For the greatest convenience, choose microwave-optional foods that taste as good cold or at room temperature as they do heated. Fried chicken is a good example, as well as quiche, some pasta dishes or meatloaf. With just a little planning, some handy supplies and not much more prep, you’ll be ready to face whatever lands in your inbox this fall.

RECIPES

Hummus, Chicken and Veggie Wrap Using a tortilla rather than bread keeps this sandwich from getting soggy. Makes 1 wrap; repeat as needed for more. • 1 large flour tortilla, preferably whole wheat • 2 to 3 Tbsp hummus, either homemade or store bought (see note) • Generous handful of leafy greens such as spinach, arugula or romaine lettuce • ½ cup shredded cooked chicken, such as rotisserie chicken (see note) • 1 cup (approximately) mixed veggies such as sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, diced tomatoes, sliced red or green onions • Optional add-ins: crumbled feta cheese, sliced kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes Lay the tortilla flat and spread hummus over top of it to about an inch from the edge. Arrange leafy greens on top of the hummus, then top evenly with the chicken and the remaining veggies. Sprinkle any optional add-ins over top. Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla a couple of inches inward, then roll it up tightly from the bottom as you would a burrito. Wrap well and keep chilled until you’re ready to eat. Note: You can use tzatziki or baba ghanoush instead if you prefer. And, if you’d rather this be vegetarian, just leave the chicken out.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Southwestern-Style Quinoa Salad Quinoa is technically a seed, but because it is prepared similarly to many grains, is considered a “pseudocereal.” It is versatile, easy to prepare, gluten-free and high in nutrients including fibre, B vitamins, essential minerals and protein — in fact, it’s one of the very few plant-based sources of complete protein. Plus it’s delicious, especially in grain salads like this one made mainly from pantry basics. Makes 6 servings. • 1 cup quinoa • 2 cups water • Pinch of salt, additional if needed • Vinaigrette (see below) • 1 can black beans, well rinsed • 1 pkg (500 g) frozen whole corn kernels (see note) • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • ¼ cup chopped cilantro, or to taste • Optional add-ins: ½ seeded and minced jalapeño pepper, 1 or 2 sliced scallions, diced red or orange bell pepper, halved mini bocconcini, diced cooked squash, pumpkin seeds or crumbled tortilla chips Vinaigrette: • 6 Tbsp olive oil • 2 Tbsp lime juice or white wine vinegar (or to taste) • ½ tsp salt • A few grinds of black pepper • Optional: a couple of dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of ground chipotle chili

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Cook the quinoa: Rinse the quinoa, then place it along with the 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then cover it with the lid and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and steam for 10 more minutes. Fluff it with a fork, then cool to room temperature. Prepare the vinaigrette: Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice (or vinegar), salt and pepper. If you like, add a couple of dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of ground chipotle chili. Make the salad: Transfer the cooled quinoa to a large glass or plastic bowl, then mix in the vinaigrette, stirring well. Add the black beans, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes and cilantro, then add any of the optional ingredients: jalapeño, scallions, bell pepper, mini bocconcini and/or cooked squash. Mix well. Check seasoning and add more salt if needed. Cover and store in the fridge for up to five days. If you like, just before serving, add a little crunch by topping the salad with a handful of pumpkin seeds or crumbled tortilla chips. Note: If you have the time and inclination, you can always use freshly cooked corn kernels instead — we highly recommend Silver Rill Corn in Saanichton.

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Yogurt Parfait with Blueberry Compote For when you need a satisfying desk breakfast or dessert. Makes 6 to 12 parfaits. Blueberry Compote: • 1 pkg (600 g) frozen blueberries, thawed (see note) • 4 Tbsp honey • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • 1 Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp water to create a slurry Parfait: • Blueberry compote, to taste • Plain yogurt, to taste • Granola, muesli or similar crunchy cereal, to taste Make the compote: Place the blueberries, honey and cinnamon in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the blueberries release their juices, the honey is well mixed in and everything is bubbling nicely, about 10 minutes. Stir in the dissolved cornstarch slurry and continue cooking until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool completely. This will keep in the fridge, covered or stored in an air-tight container, for at least a week. It is also tasty served over ice cream or cake. To make the parfaits: Spoon 2 to 3 Tbsp compote into the bottom of a small bowl or sealable container. Top with 3 to 4 Tbsp yogurt (or more if you prefer), then add a layer of granola or other crunchy cereal. If you are making this ahead of time, prep the compote and yogurt, then add the cereal just before serving to keep it from getting mushy. Note: You can, of course, make the compote with fresh blueberries as well as fresh or frozen blackberries or raspberries.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Weeks and Weeks of Lunch Ideas Desk Breakfast • Yogurt parfait (see recipe on page 74) • Egg bites

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• Breakfast cookies • Muffins

Grazing Lunch (a.k.a. Grownup Lunchables) • Cheese, crackers and grapes or dried fruit • Veggies, pita wedges and hummus • Cured meats, pickles and crackers

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Main-Course Salads • Cobb (chicken, cherry tomato, lettuce, bacon, blue cheese, avocado, vinaigrette) • Niçoise (lettuce, boiled baby potatoes, tinned tuna, sliced boiled egg, blanched green beans, olives, cherry tomatoes, vinaigrette)

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• Chicken salad • Steak salad • Pasta salads • Bean salads

Grain Bowl/Salad Formula • Cooked grain such as quinoa, faro, pearled barley, wild rice • Roasted and/or fresh vegetables and/or leafy greens • Protein (grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, tofu, peeled and sliced hard-boiled eggs, black beans, chickpeas) • Tasty add-ins: crumbled feta or goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, slivered almonds, dried cranberries, sun-dried tomatoes, olives • Dressing

Snacks • Fresh or dried fruit • Veggies and dip • Nuts • Cookies • Yogurt

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Food+Drink

By Gillie Easdon | Photo by Jeffrey Bosdet

After nearly three decades travelling the globe, chef Nicole Walshaw has returned home and opened Nico Kitchen.

CURATED CUISINE At Nico Kitchen, chef Nicole Walshaw creates a culinary and lifestyle hub with a little help from her friends.

utside Farmy Markets on Foul Bay Road, curious neighbours, old friends and families with kids in nearby daycares gather, pause at the threshold, perk up, pick up the pace and wander in. They’re drawn to one of Victoria’s most unusual and most elevated retail concepts — the result of three hometown friends coming together to share their global expertise and exquisite taste. The centrepiece of this intriguing spacewithin-a-space is chef Nicole Walshaw’s recently opened Nico Kitchen, a gourmet food counter, commercial kitchen and showcase for her Singing Bowl Granola. She shares that space with White Rabbit, a joint effort of top hair and makeup artist Jen Clark and national fashion and prop stylist and producer Jen

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Evans, who display their hand-picked sundries from fashion, film, TV and magazine shoots on flawlessly arranged shelves and tables. The mise-en-scène is shoot-ready. Nico Kitchen gives art gallery gift shop vibes, all while serving delicious, lovingly handcrafted food.

HOME AGAIN Although she is originally from Victoria, Walshaw spent 27 years based in Vancouver and the U.K. before coming back home with her kids in 2019. She launched her catering company, Little Bear, in 2006 in Vancouver and has been a personal chef since 2017, feeding film crews, stars and other clients everywhere from Haida Gwaii to Tibet to white-water rafting tours in the Grand Canyon. She was also cofounder of London

Distillery in 2011, the first whisky distillery to open in London in 100 years. Back home in Victoria, Walshaw purchased locally made Singing Bowl Granola in 2024 when founder Jessica Duncan retired. Singing Bowl is not just a small-batch, handcrafted granola company; it has been part of a school porridge program since 2016 and also contributes to Our Place and Rainbow Kitchen. Walshaw is proud to carry on this outreach. Walshaw rented a commercial kitchen to produce the granola, but when she unexpectedly lost that space, she suddenly had to hustle. That challenge became an opportunity to do something bigger when she discovered Farmy Markets, which opened in the old Tomley’s location in 2025. “I came by Farmy because it

SEPTEMBER 8 – OCTOBER 4, 2026 was new and just wanted to check it out,” she says. “But they had this big stage!” Walshaw asked the leaseholder, Gustavo Cardona, if he would “consider letting me do something, and build a wall and a commercial kitchen and do granola. He said yes.” The lease came together, and so did the three friends.

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GATHERING JOY Like Walshaw, Evans and her family returned to Victoria after several years of living and working as a stylist in Toronto. She and Clark met while running fashion and style shoots and became fast friends who “also had the same fantasy of creating a space where we could both sell our stock,” says Evans. The White Rabbit goods — which include homewares, textiles and accessories — are largely from Evans’s magazine shoots and marketing campaigns for clients such as Lululemon and Microsoft. “We both have a passion and talent for sourcing amazing vintage or secondhand items,” Clark adds. All three pros also worked in the intense world of the film industry, and knew from an early age what they wanted to do. There’s a thread from each of these three Victoria-born women’s early lives that now, as Walshaw says, has the “room to evolve in a poetic and creative way as we get our feet planted.” That thread always leads to food. The granola, of course, but also a menu that changes daily and features salads, sandwiches, picnic boxes and granola parfaits. One day when I visit, the Nico Kitchen board offers three options: pastrami with smoked emmental, house-pickled onions, Dijon and arugula on housemade focaccia; artichoke heart, feta, sundried tomato, roasted pepper and zucchini with arugula on baguette; butternut squash and fried sage with chèvre on puff pastry. I take home one of the squash-and-sage pastries, the sweet, silky butternut and crisp-fried sage leaves giving way to flaky, buttery pastry. It’s delicate, summery yum. I also purchase a handblown glass water carafe, textured and just a titch green. There’s an unexpected specialness about it, knowing it was hand chosen as “the” object for a lifestyle shoot. At Nico Kitchen, they’ve not only gathered beautiful and delicious things; they’ve gathered fans. Friends and family mill about, helping, shopping, eating, curious, excited, while Walshaw maintains focus and hustles, her joy at having people around readily apparent. Which is good, because Nico Kitchen’s taking off. Pop by to feast your eyes on the culmination of global and personal experiences, lifestyle shoots and a loving appreciation for the beauty and connective power of food. After all, bootstrapping and launching a business takes community. And at Nico Kitchen, Walshaw and her friends are building a community with heart.

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Food+Drink

By Julien Johnston-Brew

LAGER IS BACK

hough the past few years have seen an influx of big, bold craft beer flavours ranging from dark-chocolatey malts to mouth-puckering sours, overall our palates are mellowing out in favour of lighter, fresher, more sessionable brews. “A lot of the craft beer industry was a response to this sort of mono-palate where everything kind of tasted pretty similar,” says Isaiah Archer, co-owner of Whistle Buoy Brewing, whose Ice Cold Lager has taken centre stage, especially in the taproom. “Everything was light, everything was a lager. It was like your dad’s beer, for lack of a better term, you know? So a lot of people were making beers in response to, like, ‘We want to not be that, we want flavour in our beer.’ And that was really what’s driven a lot of these interesting ideas.” But now, he says, “A lot of brewers have kind of gone back to, ‘We want light, easy-drinking lagers and pilsners.’ ” Similarly, Phillips Brewing & Malting has also seen its Tilt lager overtake the malt-forward Blue Buck ale when it comes to customers’ top pick. “Lagers are sort of tried and true,” says Robyn Skinner, Phillips’s marketing director. “[Tilt’s] grown the most in the last few years and has become one of our most popular beers, both in retail and through the on-premise channel.”

TRUSTED FLAVOURS Ales tend to comprise the fruitier, bolder, spicier, darker, richer-flavoured styles of beer, including stouts, porters, amber and pale ales, such as the hoppy India Pale Ale. Lagers, which comprise pilsners, bocks and standard light beers, tend to be cleaner, crisper, smoother and, some might say, a little boring. The difference between them is the result of the type of yeast used in fermentation as well as time and temperature. Ales are fermented at warm temperatures and can be ready to drink in as little as three weeks; lagers, on the other hand, are cold-fermented and can take weeks, even months, longer to produce. “We like to give it at least six weeks in the tank to condition,

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

“YOU’RE DRINKING A PILSNER, BUT IT FEELS MORE LIKE YOU’RE DRINKING A MARSHMALLOW.”

and that just means we sell it faster than we can make it,” says Archer. As a result of that long cold ferment, the flavours of lager are more mellow and consistent compared to ales. In part, a preference for lighter beers is a seasonal one. “In the summertime, when the weather is warm, people gravitate towards lighter beers,” says Sean Hoyne, founder and owner of Hoyne Brewing. “In the wintertime, when the weather’s a bit cooler, many people gravitate towards dark beers.” That’s why Hoyne’s rich, chocolatey Dark Matter “dominates a little bit more in the winter months,” and the refreshing pilsner in summer. But the change in preference is also a wider year-round one, similar to the way tastes in wine are leaning toward lighter, brighter, higheracid and lower-alcohol styles. A craving for consistency and cost efficiency also plays a role.

“While, for a short while, the craft beer industry was offering a very, very wide range of eclectic style beers, there is a move back towards beers that people can trust and that they know what they’re getting, and that they’re not outlandish,” Hoyne says. “Of course, experimentation is always going to be part of this business, as it should be, but there have been lots and lots of people who have gone into liquor stores, and they are overwhelmed by the amount of choice that there is. Because it does cost hard-earned money to buy beer, people are moving back towards beers and brands that they know.”

BUT THEN AGAIN … Style-wise, hitting a sweet spot between flavourful ale and easy-going lager is Czech lager — a rich, refreshing, hoppy style of beer

PROST! IT’S OKTOBERFEST The original Oktoberfest is the world’s biggest “volkfest,” attracting six million people a year to Munich, Germany, over two weeks beginning in mid-September and ending on the first Sunday of October. But the celebration has also spread around the world, giving us all the opportunity to raise a glass, enjoy some pretzels, sausage or schnitzel, and listen to some oom-pah music. Drink up the feel-good atmosphere at these Victoria events. Whistle Buoy Big Patio Days Oktoberfest, September 19, Market Square, marketsquare.ca Scotoberfest, October 24, Victoria Scottish Community Centre, vicscotcentre.ca Victoria Edelweiss Club’s Oktoberfest, dinner and dance, October 23 and 24, Edelweiss Club, victoriaedelweiss.ca

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The simple, clean, refreshing beer style is what we’re craving now.

FLOWERS IN YOUR BEER Hops, a plant used as a bittering, flavouring and preserving agent in beer, are in season from August to October and several craft breweries are working on brews that highlight the bright floral bite of these coneshaped green flowers. Among them is Driftwood’s Sartori Harvest, a single-hop India Pale Ale sourced from the namesake ranch near Chilliwack, which has been an annually recurring brew since 2010. Whistle Buoy Brewing, meanwhile, makes a beer from the very small amount of Island-grown hops available. “There are not a ton of hop farms locally, but there’s one in Maple Bay,” says Whistle Buoy co-owner Isaiah Archer. “We always go up there and try to participate, if we can and the timing works out, in the hop harvest.” One of the challenges with hops is that they only last for 24 hours once harvested, so crops are moved directly from farms to breweries in order to make the most of them without drying or freezing. As Archer notes: “Part of the allure is that it’s only temporarily available, right? It’s a once-ayear harvest.”

that is enjoying a moment in Victoria’s craft beer circles. Hoyne now offers their Czech lager, Svec, year-round — its branding inspired by the grandfather of head brewer Antoine Foukal, who emigrated from the Czech Republic to Canada in the 1940s. Similarly, after Driftwood Brewery’s head brewer Andy Innes visited the Czech Republic with a group of industry professionals, he created a limited-edition Czech pilsner that is served at the brewery’s bar as part of the rotating Tideline series. “We serve it on a traditional side-pull faucet similar to how you’d get it in the Czech Republic to give customers that more authentic experience,” says Innes. These side-pull faucets transform the beer into a dense foam that creates a thoroughly unique beverage. Whistle Buoy also offered a Czech-style lager with the same side-pull serving style. “You’re drinking a pilsner, but it feels more like you’re drinking a marshmallow,” says Archer, who adds: “A lot of ideas are inspired by other places that have been doing it for a lot longer than we have.”

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SCENE

Music Overload

BreakOut West puts 50 artists on stage — and Victoria on the country’s cultural map. By David Lennam | Images by Joey Senft

As in previous years, BreakOut West promises to be a stellar showcase for Canadian live music.

f you’ve never been to a BreakOut West Festival, imagine a cross between a boutique version of SXSW and the Fringe. A slightly intimate and compact music festival that allows you to race between venues to catch short sets by bands and solo musicians of every imaginable stripe. A sampler, a sonic charcuterie board. Glam rock to Afrobeats, hip-hop to neo-soul, some good old strummin’, even something dubbed gateway metal. More, way more, than you’d get in any normal week in Victoria. Or a month. But we’ll get it all September 30 to October 4 when BreakOut West settles in here for the first time since 2015. Michael Dawson, executive director of the Western Canadian Music Alliance, which hosts the festival and accompanying industry conference, explains that the performance aspect is purposefully designed so the venues are tightly packed and fans can rush from one space to another to catch as many acts as possible. Since each performance is only 30 minutes long, notes Dawson, you can watch a band and, while the next band sets up in that room, you can literally run next door or across the street to see another band.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

“What Victoria has that I love is you have, in the downtown, this corridor of all these spaces and venues, all small to mid-sized, which for my mind is a dream scenario for a presenting artist,” he says. Among those venues are Capital Ballroom, Encore, Coda, Lucky Bar and Upstairs Cabaret, as well as the revamped Metro Theatre and even Fort Tectoria. Each of the 50 musicians and bands from across Western Canada (including 13 from B.C. and several from Victoria) performing in the 110 shows is nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award — the winners of which will be announced during BreakOut West. Dawson notes that the conference aspect of the event is as important to the musicians as is playing live. It’s where they network, learn insider knowledge of the industry and, with luck, get picked up by a label, invited to play festivals or tour. At the very least make some inroads with stakeholders from around the world. The sheer scope of live music makes it a particularly big deal when you consider the dearth of talent coming to town to perform these days.

The city’s senior music writer, Mike Devlin of the Times Colonist, points out how BreakOut West can be more than a stop-gap few days of concerts: It can put a city and its scene on the bigger map. “It’s great in that it puts people in and around the Victoria area on a pedestal and does a little legwork in terms of raising the profile of the community as a whole,” he says. “That could be music monitors, that could be venue operators, that could be bands, producers.” There’s a long list of beneficiaries, and a chance to share artistic successes like Nelly Furtado and, more recently, Elysia Biro. But the real winner of any of the awards handed out during BreakOut West is Victoria, which gets free advertising and economic spinoff. “It’s sticking a stake in the ground and saying ‘we matter’ out here on an island off of the far West Coast. We count, too. We matter, too,” says Devlin. “That’s the appeal to Greater Victoria, not just arts and culture. The city itself.” And, he adds, “If we keep adding these [events] to our resumé, then maybe one day the Junos will come here.”

CULTURE CALENDAR There’s fun for everyone this fall, from festivals to concerts to feel-good fundraisers. Compiled by Julien Johnston-Brew

WOMEN OF THE FUR TRADE

SOUTH ISLAND POWWOW

September 8 to October 4, The Belfry Theatre

September 30, Royal Athletic Park

KLUXEN & HETHERINGTON – BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 7 September 13 (Royal Theatre) and 14 (Mary Winspear Centre) Join conductor Christian Kluxen for the opening of his 10th season with the Victoria Symphony, which features Beethoven’s grandiose Symphony No. 7 followed by the work of contemporaries Friedrich Kuhlau, whose Elverhøj, Overture celebrates place and belonging, and Berlioz, whose Les Nuits d’Été is a fitting farewell to summer. victoriasymphony.ca

HOKUS POKUS LIVE September 21, McPherson Playhouse This hilarious, high-camp parody of the Halloween cult classic is brought to life by RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Jujubee, Ginger Minj and Sapphira Cristál as well as The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season 3 winner Landon Cider. rmts.bc.ca

AMIGO’S BLUE GUITAR September 24 to October 11, Langham Court Theatre In this Governor General’s Award-winning drama set on the Gulf Islands, a university student unexpectedly sponsors a Salvadoran refugee as a class project, which brings long-simmering tensions to the forefront as the host family is forced to confront the harsh realities of refugee life. langhamtheatre.ca

HEALTH + HOMECOMING GALA September 26, Hotel Grand Pacific To celebrate the brand new Dr. Joe Haegert Community Health Centre, Victoria Cool Aid Society invites the community to enjoy this fundraiser with live music, auctions and mystery gift games. The centre is located in Cool Aid’s Crosstown development, which provides affordable and supportive housing as well as daycare services. coolaid.org

The Songhees Nation’s fifth annual celebration of Indigenous cultures falls on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and honours residential school survivors and families through songs, dances, stories and cultural performances, all alongside more than 90 vendors with food and Indigenous-made goods. songheesnation.ca

VICTORIA TEA FESTIVAL REVIVAL October 3, Nootka Court A grassroots farm-to-cup experience for tea enthusiasts complete with a tea symposium, live music, food, a ceramics gallery and documentary screenings. Bring your own cup to sample a variety of international teas from China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and more. victeafestrevival.org

BALLS FORE A CAUSE October 10, Olympic View Golf Club Support the BC Cancer Foundation and Island Prostate Centre with a friendly golf competition to raise funds for those combatting prostate cancer, both here in Victoria and across the province. bccancerfoundation.com

VICTORIA FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS October 12 to 18, various locations This 11th annual literary festival offers a variety of in-person and online panels, workshops and interviews. Hear from journalists, genre fiction writers, poets and educators about place-based narratives, romance writing, revision and more. Programming also includes a Kids Fest with crafts, snacks and appearances from local children’s storytellers. victoriafestivalofauthors.ca

October 16 to 24, Royal Theatre Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece (“The Troubador”) features soaring melodies and unforgettable choruses — including the iconic “Anvil Chorus” — as devotion and obsession collide with devastating consequences in an epic tale of love, vengeance and fate. rmts.bc.ca

ART OF THE COCKTAIL October 24, Crystal Garden Enjoy expertly crafted drinks from across the region, including from YAM Best Restaurant Awards winners such as Block Kitchen + Bar and LURE Restaurant & Bar. Plus, don your finest threads for the Best Dressed Competition to win four exclusive tickets to the 2027 Victoria Film Festival’s opening gala. victoriafilmfestival.com

BETRAYAL October 27 to November 22, The Belfry Theatre This is the first Belfry performance of a play by Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter, and it’s one of his best — a game of cat and mouse between a woman, her husband and her lover, rife with simmering, even menacing tension. belfry.bc.ca

THRIFTY FOODS WICKED VICTORIA October 25, Government Street Get into the spooky spirit a week early with the 12th annual family-friendly Halloween street party featuring live entertainment, spooky storytelling, costume contests, trick-or-treating and a dedicated kids’ zone with crafts and face painting. gvfs.ca

HIGH MOON: A WEREWOLF WESTERN October 14 to 30, Heritage Acres Last year’s immersive Halloween hit returns, promising to be “bigger, bloodier and beastier.” Written by award-winning local theatre veterans Ian Case and David Elendune, this scary — and hairy — western sends viewers through a ghostly town where something wicked lurks around every corner. Note that nearly every performance sold out last year, so get your tickets early! 31iguanas.ca

31 IGUANAS

In Frances Koncan’s witty and irreverent historical satire set during the Canadian fur trade, three very different women share their views on life, love and Louis Riel — all while shifting perspectives from the male gaze onto women’s power. belfry.bc.ca

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A hair-raising time at High Moon: A Werewolf Western.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026 81

PERSPECTIVE

Miraculous Milkweed By Joanne Sasvari

Talk about the butterfly effect, the theory that tiny changes in a complex system can lead to major upheavals far, far away: When we destroy a milkweed plant, we remove the monarch caterpillar’s sole food source. We’ve destroyed a lot of milkweed plants since the 1990s. The result? Monarch butterfly populations have plummeted by more than 80 per cent, putting them firmly on the endangered species list. I think we can agree that the world is a lesser place without these pollinators and their beautiful stained-glass wings. But that’s not the only reason to love the milkweed they rely on. Yes, its sap can be toxic to livestock and humans, but other pollinators — bees, butterflies and moths — also sip its nectar. And it has for millennia been a food source for Indigenous people, who also use its fibrous stems as twine and bowstrings, and its silky seed pod floss to stuff blankets and pillows. Turns out that this floss is something of a magical material. Sometimes known as American or Quebec silk, it is an exceptional insulator that is also hypoallergenic, antibacterial, lipophilic (oil absorbent) and, notably, hydrophobic, making it more effective than, say, down or wool, which both absorb and retain water. During the Second World War, Canada’s military used it as filler in flotation vests. Today a small but growing number of businesses are discovering new uses — among them, Lasclay, a Quebec company that uses milkweed silk as insulation in outdoor gear. (You can find milkweed-insulated Lasclay lunch bags at Local Refillery in Courtenay.) Milkweed grows in every province across Canada, mostly in meadows, vacant lots and along roadsides, but you can plant it yourself if you want to bring the monarchs to your yard. The good news: After milkweed patches were planted in Quebec and Vermont in 2013, it took only a year for the butterflies’ population to explode at their wintering sites in Mexico. Now that’s the kind of butterfly effect we like to see.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2026

Built for the Moments that Matter Most. Volvo XC90 Mild Hybrid

As summer winds down and routines return, the Volvo XC90 Mild Hybrid is ready for every school drop-off, hockey practice, weekend tournament, and family road trip. With spacious seating for up to seven, generous cargo space for backpacks, sports gear, and everything in between, it keeps pace with busy days while surrounding everyone in comfort. From Volvo’s renowned safety to its beautifully crafted Scandinavian interior, the XC90 transforms everyday drives into moments you will fully enjoy.

Available from $80,245*

VOLVO CARS VICTORIA A DIVISION OF GAIN GROUP

2735 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC

250.382.6122 volvocarsvictoria.com

Vehicle images for illustration purposes only. Retailers are free to set individual prices and charge administration fees, which may change the APR or the price of the vehicle. *Available at price based on the 2026 Volvo XC90 Mild Hybrid Core B6 with vehicle price of $76,950 and includes freight & PDI ($3,295). Doc ($495), admin ($0), environmental levy ($100), VSA levy ($10), tire levy ($32.50), PPSA (up to $155), registration, insurance and similar taxes levied on the manufacturer (if charged by the retailer) extra. See Volvo Cars Victoria for complete details. Offer ends December 31, 2026 and is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Features, specifications and equipment may vary in Canada. Visit volvocars.ca for more information on Canadian models and features. ©2026 Volvo Car Canada Ltd. Always remember to wear your seat belt. DL4891 #41497

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Christos Papadopoulos My Fierce Ignorant Step. Photo: Pinelopi Gerasimou

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YAM Magazine Sep/Oct 2026