Seaside Times

WEST COAST CULTURE OCTOBER 2009

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OCTOBER 2009

The Green Future British Columbia’s Rainforest Wolves

28

The Regulars

Thinking Lifestyle Change?

“Leaf” Old Excuses Behind You

The First Word .............................4

I Remember When…Thoughts on Poker

Island Dish.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Jack O’Lantern Pie

What’s Happening ..........22

The Saanich Sky Larks

Wrenderings ..............................24

Sidney Fine Art Show Features Island Talent

Sudoku ................................................27

Slip Sliding Away!

Smell the Coffee ................28

Failed Communications – The Conclusion

Zais Astrology.........................32

Seaside Times Advertiser Index

Footprints ........................................36

* Cover by Anne Fearon-Wood – Ruckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island

Body & Soul ..............................10

The Last Word ........................38

Seaside Times • PO Box 2173 • Sidney, B.C. V8L 3S6 Publisher, Advertising: Tim Flater • 250-686-1144 • sales@seasidetimes.ca • publisher@seasidetimes.ca Editor-in-Chief: Allison Smith • 250-544-4022 • info@seasidetimes.ca • editor@seasidetimes.ca Website: Tige Johnson • Mosaic Internet Designs • tige@mosaicdesigns.ca Printed by: International Web Express – Island Office 888-364-2500 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher or editor. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the publisher and editor.

THE FIRST WO R D

Change is in the Air Do you like change? It’s a question that makes me ttake pause a lot of the time.

II’m not sure why I’m reflectiing on it right now; it could be because of the change in b tthe seasons. It could also be because there has been a b llot of change in my life this yyear and I may be yearning ffor less change!

new writers.

This much I know: there aare people who embrace iit, others who live with it aand many who would rather that things stay pretty e cconstant. I’ve learned that II’m definitely in the first ccategory.

We changed the number of magazines we print each month – increasing distribution to 10,000 for the Peninsula and Gulf Islands and making Seaside Times the largest magazine dedicated to the Peninsula.

This year we changed tthe magazine’s name, the paper we print it on, the p ffont size (to make it easier tto read) and added many

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We changed the way you get the magazine – having it delivered right to your door in the Sunday edition of the Times Colonist.

We changed the website (www.seasidetimes.ca) so you have the option of reading the magazine online. Visitors to the site can easily find out where they can pick up the magazine or how to contact us.

There is one more big change coming to the magazine in November; I’m not going to reveal it yet but you will certainly notice it as soon as you see the next issue!

I have a love/hate feeling for the change of seasons from summer to autumn. I love the summers, especially this one – wasn’t it great? However, there is something refreshing about the routine of the fall; the crisp air, the comfort of our favourite sweater and the warm glow of a fire. The season of kids going back to school, Thanksgiving, Halloween and raking leafs.

Sometimes when things change they really stay the same.

I hope you enjoy this issue and I can’t wait for you to see the change in November!

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Allison Smith joined the team as editor-in-chief and brought brightness and creativity to the ads and the editing.

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Tim Flater

Publisher

The Green Future

by Linda M. Langwith Going green is the new buzzword of our times. How easy to mount the hobby horse of banning plastic bags, or spout the righteousness of cycling to work, or crow about one’s compost box.

Without an emotional connection to the land it is all empty rhetoric, to be swept away and forgotten when the next crisis is upon us.

It is dusk, the light a creamy golden glow, and the deer are in our oak meadow, browsing. A plump raccoon hunkers along over the lawn, stopping once in a while to look around, as if it knows I am watching, then melts into the meadow like a figment of the imagination. Grosbeaks fight over the birdbath and splash in the pond before heading off in ragged formation to roost at the top of the fir tree. Soon they will be on their way up north, following a path I cannot see but that is part of their genetic heritage.

The meadow’s flowery glory lasts two weeks at best, with great swathes of blue from the camas and bluebells and rich ribbons of golden yellow

from the buttercups. Then, simultaneously, the oak leaves burst forth and the meadow grass thrusts itself up in search of the sun, swallowing up the flowers in a haze of green. Within the world of the meadow are small secret furry things such as voles and little mice, while on the fringes cavort the nutmeg-coloured cottontail rabbits.

I am the steward of this meadow, the keeper of the seeds. If the meadow were to be cut before the seed pods had set and burst their promise, in a few years there would be no more wild flowers, no more oak meadow.

The chocolate lilies, purple satin flowers, shooting stars, wild orchids, camas lilies and bluebells would fade into memory. There would be no shelter for the wild things, no place for them to rear their young in peace and privacy.

The stewardship of wilderness connects me with the earth. I walk through the forest of Mount Douglas Park down to the sea, soothed by the suck of waves on sand, my hair blowing wild and free in the wind.

The ancient shell midden in the bank where the stream flows into the sea tells me there have been other stewards here, other keepers of the wilderness. The frantic pace of our lives, the sheer “busy-ness� of our days, can keep us from feeling that close affinity with the wild places.

Yet, without this connection what are we but empty vessels, yearning to be filled with something quite profound, something that reminds us of our insignificance in the vast universe teeming with stars and the promise of undiscovered worlds.

To embrace the green movement is to recognize that we are connected to the earth, our habitation is the fields and mountains, lakes and streams, woods and ocean that make up Vancouver Island. Only through connecting can we understand our profound relationship with the land and what it means for us and for our future. So plant a vegetable garden, keep a wild patch of meadow, walk along the seashore and feel the rhythm of the waves beat in your own heart. You will become a steward of the green future.

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OCTOBER 2009

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photo courtesy Chris Darimont

British Columbia’s Rainforest Wolves

by Chris Genovali Executive Director, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Fall was in the air and Raincoast Conservation Foundation’s wolf project team was conducting a 10-day expedition on our research vessel Achiever to collect genetic samples from areas on B.C.’s north coast in the vast area known as the Great Bear Rainforest. Arriving after sunset, we anchored in a system known to us to be a wolf hot spot. I slept on deck up in the observation platform that was still attached to Achiever from our marine mammal surveys that had recently concluded for the season.

It was still dark when the howl

of a single wolf woke me up. I got up with my sleeping bag draped around me and crouched behind the blind of the observation platform, listening intently.

A cacophony of other voices then suddenly reverberated through the valley, almost as if in an echo chamber. Just as quickly, the howling came to a halt. In anticipation I grabbed my binoculars. Then, in the slowly advancing light of day, the wolf family began to appear on the beach, one by one, then a pair at a time. The play and roughhousing of its younger members went on for a good part of

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the sun-drenched morning.

After the wolves had finished their romp I waited until they had retreated into the bush, then hiked quickly up the system to where the salmon stopped spawning. All along the banks of the stream were headless pinks, the missing heads a telltale sign of wolf predation. I watched as seagulls, ravens, and insects descended on the leftovers. It was another reminder of how wolves serve as providers to the larger ecosystem.

Soon it was time to get back to Achiever as tides and schedules dictated. As my jog back to the beach turned into a sprint, I marveled at the surgical-like precision the wolves exhibited in chomping the heads off of so many fish.

Coastal B.C. provides a landscape which facilitates a truly unique way of life for Canis lupus. Where else on the planet do wolves take to the sea, swimming among forested islands to feed themselves?

Where else can wolves make more than 75 percent of their living from marine resources like salmon, beached whales and seals? Where else can we learn how these magnificent animals used to live, before the planet suffered extensive loss of wild wolves in most other places?

Our vision is to ensure that B.C.’s “Rainforest Wolves” can continue

photo courtesy Chris Darimont

their wild ways amidst an uncertain future marked by challenges against which they have no evolved defenses – climate change, industrial forestry, fisheries, trophy hunting, increasing marine traffic, exotic diseases, and others. We must consider carefully what wolves require in the face of these threats.

To that end, we continue to gain scientific understanding about the Great Bear Rainforest’s wolf population.

Our research uncovers essential information, such as details of the evolutionary history of coastal wolves, that until recently had not been documented. photo courtesy Doug Brown

peer-review process, ensuring that our conservation recommendations are well grounded and defensible.

We call this unique blend of academia and outreach as “informed advocacy.”

Did You Know?

Along with humans, wolves were once the most widespread land animal on earth, but relentless persecution and the continuous loss of habitat now restrict wolves to only a small portion of their original range.

Wolves cannot curl their tails like dogs.

All of our work, led by Dr. Chris Darimont and Dr. Paul Paquet – two of the continent’s leading carnivore ecologists, goes through a rigorous and scholarly

Suzanne Huot photo

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OCTOBER 2009

7

Thinking Lifestyle Change? “Leaf” Old Excuses Behind

by Dianne Connerly Autumn has traditionally been a time for re-evaluating goals: the season ushers in many reminders to renew, recharge and reconsider.

Schedules for work and school get back on track after summer vacations; activity programs resume in communities, churches and neighbourhoods and life shifts into high gear.

All of this purposeful activity makes autumn a good time to re-evaluate your goals for a healthy lifestyle.

Maybe you’ve been meaning to exercise more regularly, eat a healthier diet and/or lose weight. But as we know, intentions are one thing…actually accomplishing them is something else.

Has life been getting in the way of your health goals?

This is the season to “leaf” your excuses behind. Typical obstacles include: • fear of change; • hectic schedule; • uncertainty over how to begin; • eating in response to emotion rather than hunger; • lack of organization in meal planning;

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• previous failures; • not enough information; and • high-fat food too easily available

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The key to leaving behind excuses is to see them for what they are: excuses, not insurmountable obstacles.

If your goal is important enough, you will find some way around the problems. Think about how you spend your time and energy; your actions reveal your current priorities.

While you’re at it, take a few moments to think about your goal-setting history. In the past, how successful have you been in setting and reaching goals? A bit of thought may reveal patterns that work well for you, or

The most trusted name in home health care it may show problems that crop up repeatedly (so you’ll know how to avoid them next time).

Which of the following qualities apply to your history of setting and reaching goals?

Starting: start off with a bang, need prodding from someone else, begin impulsively, begin after long, careful deliberation.

Persisting: like to overcome challenge, feel intimidated by challenge, must finish no matter what, lose steam in the middle of a project, get lost in details, keep track of everything, appreciate visual reminders.

Bonding: do better when others are involved, prefer working alone, need compliments and praise, get discouraged comparing yourself to others, get excited seeing others succeed.

As you leave those excuses behind and get your goalsetting priorities in order, the key lies in determining what you want and what you’re willing to do to get it.

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Remember the old saying: “If it is to be, it’s up to me!�

Author Dianne Connerly is a member of a local Take Off Pounds Sensibly TOPS chapter. Visit the TOPS website at www. tops.org for more information. Photo this page courtesy TOPS Club, Inc. Photo opposite page by Dianne Connerly.

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OCTOBER 2009

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So Much More Than Turkey to be Thankful For

by Cathy Hanan This year, like many Canadians, when you sit down for your annual Thanksgiving dinner, you will probably take a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for – good health, family, friendship and a safe place to live. I too, will be thankful for these things. However, this year I will remember back to where I was in 2008 – in the glowing heart of one of the poorest parts of South Africa.

Gwexintaba village is situated on South Africa’s Wild Coast and perched on the edge of an ancient fault line

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that forms the Magwa River gorge. At the bottom of the canyon the earth literally cracks in two and ancient footpaths criss-cross the valley connecting distant villages.

While visually stunning, life in Gwexintaba is hardly idyllic by Western standards. There is no running water or electricity so the women of the village make a daily trek to the edge of the 144-metre Magwa Falls to collect water. Entire families live in a round mud hut about the size of a single-car garage. There is no furniture except a single shelf that stores everything the family owns. Sleeping mats are placed on the floor at night and moved away during the day to make room for the cooking fire.

The village school has six dark classrooms with a leaky tin roof and five outhouses across the main dirt road. Four outhouses are designated for students and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have doors, the fifth, designated for teachers, does have a door.

The school building sits about 200 metres from the edge of the giant fault but there are no fences or barriers to protect the children from the massive drop.

The first morning in the village our group of four volunteers stopped by the school to see if we could help.

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Assuming we would be asked to help with maintenance or painting, we were a bit surprised when we were asked to â&#x20AC;&#x153;teachâ&#x20AC;? while the teachers held a staff meeting. Turns out if we hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shown up that day, the teachers would have left the students unattended in their classrooms for more than two hours.

Given that the village is Xhosa speaking (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the clicking languages) and our Xhosa was limited to very basic formalities, it was a challenge to say the least.

just taking advantage of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;substitute teachers.â&#x20AC;?

We stayed with the children until lunchtime where we watched them line up for their government-supported school meal consisting of a chunk of bread with a scoop of strawberry jam. Lunch in hand, they wandered the gravel schoolyard, each employing a slightly different technique to make their scoop of jam last as long as possible.

While most children in Canada would hardly consider this lunch, the children in Gwexintaba were truly thankful for their meal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for many, it was the only meal they would eat that day.

We had very few school supplies, even fewer resources and a couple of hours to fill.

It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take us long to figure out that games are the international language of children!

Most of the students wore tattered clothes and only some had shoes, but they were just like kids anywhere in the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; endless energy and smiles from ear to ear. Even with the language barrier, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long to figure out the steady procession of students running across the road to the bathroom were

So as you are finishing off your Thanksgiving leftovers and making a final turkey sandwich, take a moment to consider just how lucky we are to live in one of the most prosperous and safe countries on earth. This year I will thank the children of Gwexintaba village for showing me what it means to be truly thankful.

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I Remember When…Thoughts on Poker It wasn’t that long ago that my husband Jim and I stopped at the Waddling Dog to investigate the sign: “Texas Holdem – Mondays at 7:00 p.m.” We had watched a couple of games on TV and thought it might be interesting to try playing.

I’ve played cards all my life – from the time I was a small child. Some of my favourite games were Canasta, Bid Hearts, Bridge and of course, Rummy and Crazy 8s. We tried every card craze there was including Bus Stop and Between the Sheets. My mother was also an avid card player.

Many a Friday night, as a teenager, friends would come over to play a game or two before going out on the town. It was always a happy time; a gathering of friends; a time to learn to win or lose gracefully and an all-around fun time.

As the years went by, our interests expanded to include different sports: skiing, training horses, curling, golf

by Patricia Zimmel and hiking. The camaraderie in all the events was a drawing point and it was no different with the cards.

The first night I joined the game at the Waddling Dog, I entered the room with no experience at Poker.

I had made myself a “cheat sheet” – a recipe card with the order of the winning hands – and referred to it often throughout the night.

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Limit Hold’em was the game at that time. I found that it was great learning experience because one couldn’t put all their chips in right away. This way I was able to stay in the game longer and I actually won a few hands!

In the hand of the night, everyone folded their hands except three players including me. I was first to play, Sharon was second and Al followed. Back then, I knew nothing of position and of course, only played my cards and not the people. I didn’t know enough to anticipate what others might have and had what I call “tunnel vision.”

I held a pair of Kings, which even at this early stage I knew was a pretty good hand. In Limit Hold’em the first bet is equal to the big blind, and I made it. To my surprise, Sharon raised and Al re-raised. Well, I thought I was sitting pretty with a pair of Kings so I called.

The flop comes down as middle cards: 6, 10 and 5, nothing interesting to any of us. Now, because I had Kings, and not paying attention to any possible straight or flush draw, I bet again. Again a raise and re-raise from Al, then calls all around.

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On the turn came a Queen. Not afraid of it, I bet. Raise and re-raise from Sharon and Al again! Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on?

I asked myself. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they know I have Kings? I raise Alâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raise, thinking I will just rake in the chips at the end of this hand. Everyone calls. Remember, I am the newbie; Sharon and Al were regulars at â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Dog.â&#x20AC;?

The River brings down a 3. Hey, no problem for me right, so I bet. Sharon and Al announce a raise and a re-raise respectively. Well, I know I have a better hand, so I raise again. Calls all around.

It was time to show our hands. I was first and proudly turned over my Kings. Sharon held a pair of Queens

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they know I have Kings?â&#x20AC;? ~ Patricia Zimmel and Al a pair of Aces. The best hand was held by Sharon with three Queens! Yes, the best starting hands, or so I thought at the time, were cracked by the trip Queens.

We had drawn a crowd around our table. When I left that night, I felt part of the group and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop talking about the excitement of the night.

The format has changed at the Dog. It is now No Limit Holdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;em and is part of the B.C. Amateur Poker League.

Other venues around the Victoria area were added to the League and are noted on the website, http://www. bcap.ca/index.php. If you ever want to increase your circle of friends, come to the Waddling Dog one Monday or Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and join us in a friendly game of poker. Everyone is always quick to help a new player learn the rules of the game. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free to play, and the friendships formed there often seem to matter more than the points you might gain by playing.

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The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation: Your Community, Your Health â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my hospital.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what former patients say about this centre for care and compassion on the Saanich Peninsula. The Saanich Peninsula Hospital first opened as an Extended Care facility in 1974, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before its role was expanded. Today, the hospital provides essential health care services to more than 30,000 people a year through extended care, acute care, surgery, emergency, diagnostic and treatment services.

Unique in its rural setting, the hospital has a 144bed extended care unit, 48 acute care beds for medical and surgical, 24-hour emergency care, a 10-bed palliative care unit and outpatient services including laboratory, radiology, ultrasound, physiotherapy and nutrition counseling.

The hospital provides services to over 39,000 people who reside on the Saanich Peninsula. With a population demographic that is significantly older than the provincial norm, there are specific impacts that are felt at the hospital with respect to both patient visits and medical conditions. The Emergency department sees over 22,000 patients per year, many of them older patients with multiple, complex conditions.

In 1985, a group of concerned citizens came together to raise funds for equipment at the young hospital. These caring members of our community created an independent registered charity and have worked tirelessly to support the best care for residents of the Saanich Peninsula at our community hospital. Board members have raised almost $22 million since 1985.

The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation has provided funds for an expansion of the Emergency Room, the building of a Palliative Care Unit, renovations to the Extended Care Unit, the creation of gardens in Extended and Palliative Care, the purchase of a new CT Scanner and heart monitoring equipment, along with the purchase of many smaller pieces of equipment.

The Foundation has just completed its most ambitious project ever, raising $4 million to renovate the operating rooms at the hospital. Construction is set to begin soon, and the Foundation has now turned its sights to raising funds to equip what will be a state-of-the-art facility.

9OUR DONATION FOR OPERATING ROOM EQUIPMENT IS A VERY SMART PLAY

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OCTOBER 2009

15

Jack O’Lantern Pie The not-quite-symmetrical pumpkin was placed square on the kitchen counter. Carving implements were gathered. Jack O’Lantern faces were sketched, rejected, negotiated and finalized. As with most joint kitchen projects a chef (this time my husband) and a scullery maid (me) were decided by the toss of a penny.

All was in readiness for the first cut.

Now, you must understand that my husband can kindly be described as a “tool geek.” He has the phone number for Lee Valley Tools listed in his cell phone as speed dial #1. Carving the pumpkin, he announced, was an opportunity to try out his new, high velocity reversing drill with multiple sharp attachments.

The scullery maid had doubts about the sanity of the chef; however, we commenced.

by Wendy Hacking An electric drill, one luscious ripe pumpkin and a small quantity of fresh blood. Sounds a bit like the teaser for a foreign film that you don’t want your children to see. I wouldn’t want children to witness what actually happened with a drill and a pumpkin on the fateful day my husband and I decided to carve our first ever Jack O’Lantern. We are both of an age when wisdom should prevail, but wisdom flew the coop on Jack O’Lantern Day.

The agreed-upon design was rendered onto the pumpkin by the chef, the scullery maid scooped out the fruit’s seedy innards and the chef applied a carefully selected drill bit to the small orange orb and gave it the gas.

Lesson #1: A pumpkin is not a piece of wood; however, comparable safety provisions apply.

Corollary #1.1: Don’t hold the back of the pumpkin with your left hand while drilling the front of the pumpkin with your right hand.

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The scullery maid artfully bandaged the left hand of the chef and cleaned up most of the blood from the kitchen counter and pumpkin. She declined to hold the pumpkin for a second drilling attempt. The chef, grumpy with pain, determinedly revved his drill again, this time bracing the pumpkin against the corner of the kitchen counter.

Lesson #2: Heed Lesson #1.

Corollary #2.1: A large hole in the kitchen counter laminate cannot be considered a fresh design feature.

“Okay,” the chef announced with a sigh. “We’ll just do this the traditional way. We’ll use knives.” The blood pressure of the scullery maid raised a notch as the chef brought forth his case of surgical steel woodcarving implements, edges glinting and lined up with precision. By this time the pumpkin was slippery with pumpkin ooze and…well, let’s just say you’ve probably never before seen a three-eyed Jack O’Lantern, but we did.

At this point the scullery maid, using enticements of fresh baked pie, invited the chef to retire his drill and knives and bring out his electric mini-hacksaw. The chef, with bloodless precision, flayed the remains of the pumpkin. The orange flesh was steamed, mashed, spiced, mixed and poured into a buttery crust. Our anticipation of a luscious slice of pie exceeded our nowretired anticipation of a Halloween Jack O’Lantern.

Victoria Costumes carries a wide range of quality costumes and accessories for EVERY occasion t ć FNFE QBSUJFT t ć FBUSF QSPEVDUJPOT t .VSEFS NZTUFSJFT t 1IPUP TIPPUT t 4DIPPM QSPKFDUT yBOE NPSF For a selection visit www.victoriacostumes.com or call 250-896-0781

Lesson #3: Jack O’Lantern wanna-bes make great pie.

Corollary #3.1: Lee Valley Tools sells can openers, too.

Small Business Employee Training Program Is your small business interested in growing your employees’ potential? If your business has fewer than 50 employees and has one or more employees who have not completed high school and/or lack essential skills, you may qualify for the ASPECT Small Business Employee Training Program.

Since 1999

Your local source for sportswear and shoes: running • walking • yoga • tness • swimming

Whether you want to increase employee motivation, improve your businesses adaptability to market changes or reduce employee turnover, ASPECT’s Small Business Employee Training Program can help. The program is focused on helping small businesses maximize the potential of their growth employees by providing them access to funded training courses that are tailored to the needs of small businesses and their employees. Find out more online at http://www.aspect.bc.ca/about/asbetp.php.

Space is limited so don’t miss the opportunity to receive free training for your growth employees, including access to a minimum of five online learning opportunities. Contact Pauline Penner (250-652-8067; pfpenner@shaw.ca) or Carolina Munoz (250-595-6626; cmunoz@beaconcs.ca to find out if your business qualifies for the ASPECT Small Business Employee Training Program.

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OCTOBER 2009

17

The Saanich Sky Larks (although they may be reasons to stay a little longer). It’s a bird – the sky lark.

The only breeding population in North America of this amazing bird just happens to be on the Saanich Peninsula.

The sky lark is a plain-looking, sparrow-sized, brown-streaked bird that calls the grasslands and farm fields of the the Peninsula home. It spends most of its time meandering on the ground foraging for seeds and insects.

But, like the unassuming Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent, the sky lark blossoms from obscurity to a superstar as it gradually rises from the ground in a symphony of joyous twittering, circling higher and higher until it disappears high in the sky before gliding quietly back to earth.

by Mike Yip Why do birdwatchers from all over North America flock to the Saanich Peninsula? No, it’s not just for the natural beauty or relaxed atmosphere

Sky larks are native to Europe and Asia and were first introduced to British Columbia in 1903. Attempts were made to establish populations on the lower mainland and southern Vancouver Island. The program failed on the mainland but succeeded on

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the Saanich Peninsula.

By the 1960s, the population rose to over 1,000 birds and overflowed to Cowichan and the San Juan Islands. Unfortunately, with commercial and residential development and changing agricultural practices, sky lark habitat quickly disappeared and the population plummeted to the current estimate of about 200 birds.

For example, the undeveloped lands around the University of Victoria were once filled with the sky lark song, but now houses, paved streets and mowed lawns are not suitable for sky lark habitat. Increased predation from domestic cats and crows also contributed to the demise. In fact, on the San Juan Islands the sky lark was eradicated by introduced foxes and feral cats.

The only remaining populations on the Saanich Peninsula are on the grasslands around the airport, the Martindale flats farmlands and the Vantreight bulb fields. How long will it be before Saanich sky larks are history on Vancouver Island?

It all depends on how quickly the suitable habitat disappears and whether there is a will to invoke conservation measures to protect the only population in North America.

It is ironic that one of our more desirable avian imports is on the brink of extinction while less desirable imports like the starling and house sparrows are running rampant. Some prognosticators have estimated 20 years for the sky lark but no one knows for sure.

Perhaps the best advice is to go out and enjoy them now while you still can. The best place to look is the bulb fields on Central Saanich Road. Just stop and listen for the song to begin!

OCTOBER 2009

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Ambling Autumn Autumn is the absolute ideal surrounding for comfort food. Just smell the crispness of the fall air, the ever-so-slight chill that kisses your cheek as you crunch along the path, your eyes drinking in fiery reds, tempestuous oranges and tranquil browns that only fall can bestow.

by Jennifer Bowles

can swap in ground beef, ground turkey or even a hearty white fish like halibut or cod! Just let the dish guide you, it will never send you astray!

This month I have included two of my fall favourites. They are easy to prepare, filling and truly delectable.

Just remember, recipes are never in stone! If you like a spicy curry, add more heat! Not a fan of chicken? You

20

2 tsp. coriander 1 tsp. turmeric 1 tsp. crushed chili flakes 1/2 cup crushed tomato 1 can coconut milk 2 tsp. curry powder

Now, you can’t deny the natural draw into your kitchen, almost as if Mother Nature herself is guiding you into her fields to pluck from her bountiful crops of hearty pumpkins and sweet crispy corn.

Slide into your oversized sweater, settle in with easy music, stoke the fire and say hello to your kitchen again.

Summer is over, your barbecue says “until next time” and your stove is just waiting for your return to its warmth and friendship. OK, so perhaps “friendship” is a bit steep. We all know we are guilty of weaving a tapestry of obscenities on some occasions at it, and even the shiny new models get the occasional “slammed door” treatment.

Ah, but I digress. Back to serenity, back to my kitchen and back to creating some of the most tummywarming dishes yet to be had.

1 tsp. cumin

2 cups pumpkin – seeded and cut into 1” pieces Heat a small amount of oil or ghee in a large pot over medium-high heat.

Sauté onion for 2-3 minutes until cooked and browning. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 1 more minute. Add the chicken pieces to the oil and cook until colour is uniform. Add the red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.

Pumpkin Chicken Curry 3 tbsp. oil or ghee (clarified butter) 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced 3 cloves garlic – minced 1 tsp. ginger – minced 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts – cut into 1/2” cubes 1 red bell pepper – seeded and sliced into strips

Add the remaining seasonings except the curry powder and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the crushed tomato and coconut milk and stir until uniformly combined. Stir in the curry powder and bring to a simmer. Add the pumpkin pieces and simmer until tender – about 7-8 minutes – season with salt to taste and top with a fresh bunch of chopped coriander.

Serve over basmati rice and top with your favourite chutney, shaved coconut, rasins, banana slices or all of the above!

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Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Harvest Corn Chowder

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8 Strips good quality bacon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; chopped 1 yellow onion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; diced to 1/4â&#x20AC;?

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2 stalks celery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; diced to 1/4â&#x20AC;?

1 medium baking potato â&#x20AC;&#x201C; diced to 1/4â&#x20AC;?

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2 cups 2% milk 2 cups fresh corn kernels

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2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

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1/4 cup chopped parsley salt and pepper Fry the chopped bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until almost crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.

Spoon out bacon fat until only 2 tsp. remain in pot; add onion, celery and potato. Cook until the onion and celery are tender and almost browned. Stir in the cream and then the milk and reduce heat to low. Stir in corn, thyme, parsley and most of the bacon and season with salt and pepper. Let the chowder cook over low heat for 10 minutes to heat through and thicken. Serve garnished with remaining bacon and a toasted warm wedge of corn bread!! Enjoy!

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OCTOBER 2009

21

Until October 18

October 10

Community Arts Centre, 9565 5th. St. (at Weiler) Tulista Park, Sidney Open daily 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 250-656-7400 Free admission.

Francis/King Regional Park, Saanich, 1 p.m.

Ages 6+, wheelchair accessible 250-478-3344, www.crd.bc.ca/parks Mother Nature is now planting her garden for next year. Join us as we check out the different ways plants scatter their seeds.

Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Road.

October 1

October 16-18

what’s happening | october 2009

Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Printmakers Show

Senior Driver Refresher Course St. Paul’s United Church, Sidney, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

250-656-3213 to register $60 per person, taxes included.

Seed Safari

Sidney Fine Art Show Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

250-656-7412, www.sidney neartshow.com The Sidney Fine Art Show is a world-class art show featuring work by mostly B.C. artists.

October 4

11th Annual Salt Spring Island Apple Festival Mary Winspear Centre, 2 - 4 p.m.

250-653-2007, www.saltspringmarket.com A farm-based unique organic apple festival celebrating heritage apples. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under twelve. Tickets are only available on festival day at Fulford Hall and outside the Ganges tourist info centre.

October 23

Sidney Reading Series Red Brick Café, 2423 Beacon Ave., 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) www.sidneybusiness.com Enjoy an evening of readings by authors Katherine Gordon and Timothy Taylor. Authors’ books for sale. Admission is $5.

October 24 October 4

Victoria Riding for the Disabled 20th Annual “Ride A Thon” Pledge Event Metchosin Municipal Ring, 4450 Happy Valley Road, 9 a.m.

250-479-1988, vrda@shaw.ca Get a pledge form from your local feed & tack shops or online at www.members.shaw. ca/vrda; collect pledges and bring to the ride a thon. All pledge forms must be in by 12 noon to be eligible for prizes. Enjoy refreshments before you start and return for lunch and the prize ceremony at 2 p.m.

October 7

Saanichton Village Association AGM Saanichton Bible Fellowship, 7 p.m.

Guest speaker will be Richard LeBlanc from Woodwynn Farm. For more information call Jan at 250-544-0636.

Central Saanich Police Community Ball Saanich Fairgrounds, 6:30 cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner The Timebenders will be offering an evening of unforgettable entertainment. There will be a fabulous buffet dinner and all proceeds will go to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.

Tickets $50. Call 250-652-4111 for more info.

October 24 & 25 Studio Tour

www.sidneybusiness.com The Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula presents the bi-annual studio tour showcasing many local artists who open their studios for free to the public. Printed brochures/maps are available at the Community Arts Council of ce in Tulista Park, Tanners bookstore and local coffee shops.

Brought to you by…

Sidney Fine Art Show to Showcase Island Talent

Comedy Night Featuring

Jon Dore

The jurors for the 2009 Sidney Fine Art Show â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the largest and most anticipated shows in British Columbia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; have selected 372 diverse and exciting pieces of excellent art from the 1,272 pieces that were brought in for adjudication on September 13th. Over two days, jurors Donna Baspaly, Brent Lynch and Catherine Moffat each saw and evaluated all the pieces individually. They then reviewed many pieces again collectively to finalize their selection and choose the prizewinners. The jurors were very impressed with the quality of the work and the sheer size and organization of the show.

With a selection of the funniest local talent!

Saturday, October 24th at 8 p.m.

18+

Donna Baspaly commented on the amazing talent that we have here on the island, while Brent Lynch was impressed with both the level of technique and craft, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;the extent to which the artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commitment to subject matter showed in the work.â&#x20AC;? Catherine Moffat expressed the feelings of all three jurors who felt that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the quality of the work was such that we would have liked to be able to select more wonderful pieces and wished that all the artists could have heard our appreciation of their work.â&#x20AC;?

All Tickets $30 Cabaret-style tables, refreshments served throughout the evening Mary Winspear Centre 250-656-0275 www.marywinspear.ca

All the jurors lavished praise on the organization of the adjudication process and the quality of the volunteers that worked with them.

The show opens on October 15th with opening celebrations for invited guests. The celebrations start with a reception for sponsors and patrons, who have the first opportunity to view and purchase the excellent art chosen for the show at very reasonable prices. This is followed by an awards ceremony in the Charlie White Theatre at the Mary Winspear Centre with guest speaker Arthur Vickers, after which there is a preview and reception for sponsors, patrons, artists and volunteers. If you are not yet a patron, there is still time for you to become one.

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The show is open to the public from Friday October 16th to Sunday October 18th at Sidneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mary Winspear Centre. It is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 16th and 17th, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 18th. Saturday evening, from 7 to 9 p.m., is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meet the Artistsâ&#x20AC;? night with many artists in attendance, a number of whom will be demonstrating their art.

This year, the Show is especially important to the local art community. Not only do artists receive 85 percent of their sales revenue, but any surplus from the show goes directly back to the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula to support its many diverse programs. With anticipated cuts in arts funding, this contribution will be even more important this year. For more information, visit the show website at www.sidneyfineartshow.com.

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OCTOBER 2009

23

Introduction to Bird Feeding For many of us, it seems October has appeared out of the blue, but one only has to look at the birds at the feeder to realize that winter is fast approaching.

While human â&#x20AC;&#x153;snowbirdsâ&#x20AC;? are planning trips to get away from the cold, avian â&#x20AC;&#x153;snowbirdsâ&#x20AC;? are returning to the Peninsula to bask in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;heat.â&#x20AC;?

My regular cold-weather visitors, a pair of pileated woodpeckers and a family of flickers, are devouring the suet Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put out and I have even seen a Stellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jay at the peanut feeder.

I am often asked how to attract specific birds to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backyard. Two basic factors need to be considered: where the bird likes to eat and what the bird likes to eat. In terms of location, birds can be divided into two groups: perching feeders (those that prefer to feed off the ground at a feeder of some type) and ground feeders (those that prefer to either forage on the ground for food or to eat from a tray feeder raised off the ground).

In terms of food preferences, there

by Jennifer Hill are three major groups: seed eaters, suet/nut eaters, and fruit/nectar eaters. Within the seed eating group, there are the birds that need a high calorie diet (those birds that fly from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, such as the chickadee) and those

that eat a low calorie diet (the birds that basically live in one area, such as your backyard, and because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fly much they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need as much â&#x20AC;&#x153;fuelâ&#x20AC;? to fire their engine; towhees and juncos are good examples).

The black oil sunflower seeds and nyjer are high-calorie seeds; millet is

Sidneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Only Wild Bird Store

If you are going to put out a mix, be sure that you not only purchase a high-quality mix but that you buy seeds that are properly stored in an airtight bag to ensure their freshness. Remember, there is a big difference between the various types of sunflower seeds. Most birds that will visit your backyard prefer the smaller black oil sunflower seeds. They have twice the calories per pound more than the big striped ones and their thinner shells are easier to crack open than the thicker, harder seeds that only birds with large seed-cracking bills can eat.

The charts on the following page show the preferred diet of our most common birds. I put out those foods with the most number of check marks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in winter I put out sunflowers (both in the shell and shelled), suet, millet and nuts, and in the summer I add nectar for the hummingbirds and nyjer for the American goldfinch. And of course, I always have fresh water out both for drinking and bathing.

What do you put out?

We only sell bird seed that is: t $BOBEJBO (SPXO t 5PQ 2VBMJUZ t /P 8BTUF t /P 'JMMFS Specializing in Gifts for Backyard Birders and Gardeners 2428 Beacon Avenue, Sidney t XXX UIFWJDUPSJBOCJSEIPVTF DPN SEASIDE TIMES

You might think you have only to mix the various seeds together to concoct the â&#x20AC;&#x153;ultimateâ&#x20AC;? blend. However, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the case. Most birds have a preferred seed and will hunt for it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; scattering everything else in the search.

Those inexpensive bags of seeds, often sold in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Big Boxâ&#x20AC;? and some hardware stores, usually contain such a hodgepodge of seeds.

Typically there are a few good seeds (i.e. nutritious seeds) along with a lot of filler seeds (seeds that add weight to the bag) and it is those filler seeds, such as milo, wheat, and proso that are â&#x20AC;&#x153;chuckedâ&#x20AC;? to the ground, only to attract squirrels (and, heaven forbid, rats).

The Victorian Bird House

24

a low-calorie seed.

www.seasidetimes.ca

Jennifer Hill owns The Victorian Bird House and she loves to hear from other avid bird feeders. She can be reached at vbh@shaw.ca. Photo courtesy Stuart Clarke.

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OCTOBER 2009

25

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Your wine making experience will include synthetic corks & dated labels along with wine selections from all over the world. All products are guaranteed.

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Saturday, October 24th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 p.m.

Brentwood Community Hall Tickets $10 Each â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Buy 10 before Oct. 20th to GET ONE FREE and a RESERVED TABLE Tickets for sale at Genesis, Bay Cottage Winery & Fresh Cup Saanichton Thanks to all our sponsors: All Proceeds to:

26

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Sudoku Puzzles October 2009 Keep Your Brain Healthy The Alzheimer’s Association recommends doing puzzles like Sudoku to strengthen brain cells and the connections between them.

Instructions Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. * Sudoku Solutions can be found on page 31.

Middle of the Road

9 5 7 6 1 3 8 4 3 2 7 6 7 9 4 2 6 5 7 5 4 8 6 6 9 3 2 7 9 5

Easy Breezy

6 4 7 8 5 1 8 4 6 7 5 2 4 2 6 4 3 1 7 8 5 3 5 2 3 6 9 6 7 5 2 7 4 1 6 9 Halloween Fun Facts 1. Orange & black are Halloween colours because orange is associated with the fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.

2. Jack O’Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.

3. Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green – great for unique monster carvings!

4. Halloween is the second most successful commercial holiday, after Christmas.

5. Tootsie rolls were the rst wrapped penny candy in America.

Hardly Simple

9

5

9 2 5 1 3 4 6 7 1 2

4 6

1 4 5 2 9 8 3 6 5 9 5 1 3 6

www.seasidetimes.ca

OCTOBER 2009

27

Dispelling Common Coffee Myths

by Steve Sheppard Our love affair with coffee continues over the ages, centuries in fact, but our understanding of this almost daily beverage for many of us is still founded in countless myths.

The mysteries (or confusion for many) that surround coffee could originate from the properties of coffee still undiscovered…if you can imagine! There’s a lot more to your daily cup than the crude fibre, ash, Albuminoids and 60 or so benzenoid compounds, including 16 phenols.

There are many myths, medicinal claims and even various tales of how this succulent beverage can even be harmful to your performance in the bedroom. No matter what is said, there’s always an explanation that is founded in science, (well, maybe not the ones about the bedroom).

The most common myths of coffee are the ones we share over the counter with our favorite barista each morning as we jitter away

28

SEASIDE TIMES

patiently in anticipation.

Hopefully if you’ve mentioned one or two in casual discussion, your barista has taken the time to dispel the myth…if not, get a new barista because their knowledge of basic coffee isn’t good enough!

caffeine in drip coffee than espresso because in making drip coffee the water spends more time in the basket above the pot during the brewing process. Hopefully now people might abandon this all-too-common myth about taste and caffeine, and as a last note on caffeine and taste…caffeine is virtually tasteless; can you imagine!

By far the most common myth that baristas come across daily is that “dark roast has more caffeine than medium roast.” The short answer is NO dark roast coffee has less caffeine than medium roast. The reason: caffeine is a water soluble element, therefore as the coffee is roasted longer the moisture leaving the bean is greater and with it goes more of the caffeine.

Another common myth about coffee is that it’s a potent diuretic. Once again “NO.” It’s true the stimulant effect of coffee can act as a slight diuretic, however the overall volume of water you consume while enjoying your cup of coffee will more than make up for the small amount lost in a trip to the washroom.

This myth completely originated from people’s association of how the stronger taste of a dark roast coffee must equal more caffeine, but in the end is a simple case of mistaken identity.

The second most common myth from my barista experience is “espresso has more caffeine than drip coffee.” This myth is once again founded out of the same association that a more intense coffee taste must equal more caffeine…some people just won’t give up on this one!

The real truth comes from the total amount of time that water spends with the coffee grinds, and because, as mentioned above, caffeine is a water soluble element, there is more

www.seasidetimes.ca

Myth or fact: “Coffee helps retain memory.” The answer to that one is yes. Austrian researchers confirmed that caffeinated coffee can temporarily sharpen your focus and memory. After giving volunteers the caffeine equivalent of about two cups of coffee, their brain activity was increased in two locations – the memory-rich frontal lobe and the attention-controlling anterior cingulum. Results were observed using MRI technology.

We know Sudoku is good for the memory, but I have to say, I have a lot more fun drinking coffee with a friend and have no problem finishing a tasty cup, unlike many Sudoku puzzles I’ve tried!

If you’ve got questions or ideas for Steve Sheppard, email him c/o editor@seasidetimes.ca.

When Size Really Does Matter

by Tim Flater record (2008) for the largest pumpkin in Canada – a whopping 1,536.5 pounds.

As the pumpkin fields become orange with this year’s crop, the air gets crisp, the leaves fall from the trees and the annual ritual of raking them up begins, I started to hear about a 700-pound pumpkin and how competitive it is to grow these large beasts.

Intrigued, I headed to The Roost, on the corner of McTavish and East Saanich Roads, where Hamish Crawford grows his award-winning pumpkins.

I walked into the greenhouse behind The Roost and there it was; the giant, resting under a nondescript black cover in what had to be at least 40 C. As I gently pulled the cover away to reveal Hamish’s latest baby, I screamed out: “How many pumpkin pies will it make?” Dallas Bohl (pictured with daughter Mackenzie), one of the owners of The Roost, quickly replied: “At least four hundred!” With all the joking aside, I wanted to know the secret to growing these large gourds.

Dallas, guarding the family secret like McDonald’s does the recipe for its sauce, would only admit to a combination of sheep and chicken manure and MiracleGro. To a guy who can kill plastic plants, learning the trick behind creating this monster was vital, but all Dallas would reveal was that watering is very important, as is not keeping the pumpkin on the ground where it can rot. He uses gravel to solve this problem.

When asked how long the pumpkin takes to get to this size, Dallas

The current world record is 1,689 pounds.

The official weigh-in will be on Sunday, October 18 at The Roost.

Come see how they will weigh it and whether Hamish has another winner, because size really does matter! told me that Hamish started this one in late April and that he got the seeds from a pumpkin grown in Port Alberni by Jake Van Kooten, who holds the Canadian

Growing these massive pumpkins is nothing new for Hamish, whose specimens have won first place at the Saanich Fair for the past four years.

October 17th & 18th

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Garden Centre Sale!

GIANT PUMPKIN CONTEST! Your Chance to WIN $1000!

Stories with Mr.Organic, 1pm Sat & Sun

Weigh-in @ 3:30pm Sunday

The

Mouth-watering Specialty Pies Call us for more information!

250 665 655 0075 9100 East Saanich Rd A Passionate Farm Experience www.seasidetimes.ca

OCTOBER 2009

29

Slip Sliding Away!

by Arlene Antonik

It’s been a long, dry year at Panorama Recreation, but that’s about to change!

At 10:30 a.m. on October 24th, the public is invited to the Grand Opening of the renovated and expanded Aquatic Centre on Forest Park Drive in North Saanich.

There will be pool tours, free public swims and a video demonstration of assisted double riding down North America’s first waterslide accessible by an elevator and lifts.

Viewed from outside, the waterslide resembles a twisting green snake looped around the side of the building. It is 10.8 metres high and 100 metres long; the highest waterslide south of Nanaimo.

“Access to the waterslide is four stories up. It’s a pretty good workout by the time you get to the top of the stairs,” advised Aquatic Coordinator Dustin Ray-Wilks with a grin. “There’s an amazing view of Sidney and the airport from up there.”

The elevator is available for those with mobility issues, along with transfer lifts at the slide entrance and at the deceleration chute at the bottom. Everyone can ride the slide!

The waterslide is only one of many new additions and fun features that have been included in this $12.46-million project, funded by the three Peninsula municipalities and a $2 million Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund grant, among others. Those who frequented the

Join us for the official

Aquatic Complex Grand Opening

Min 42” to ride the slide.

October 24th, 2009 @ 10:30am 10:30 - 11:15am Opening Speeches and Celebrations

3 – 3:30pm

Pool Tours

3:30 – 5:30pm

FREE Public Swim*

6 – 6:30pm

Pool Tour

6:30 – 8:30pm

FREE Public Swim*

V ia !

Hi gh es t

12:15 – 2:30pm FREE Public Swim*

&

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11:15am - 12pm Pool Tours, Open House, Refreshments

ng o L

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*Space is limited. Pick up your tickets in advance from Panorama Reception. Max 5 tickets/family.

ww.panoramarecreation.ca 30

SEASIDE TIMES

1885 Forest Park Dr. North Saanich, BC www.seasidetimes.ca

250.656.7271

pool area in the past will see big changes.

The aquatic centre now features over 7,000 square feet of pool space which includes the existing 25-metre, sixlane pool, a new leisure pool with two length lanes, a swirl pool, a tots pool, a sauna and steam room, a party room and a viewing terrace at swim deck level. This means parents can now come into the pool area to watch swim lessons without having to remove their shoes!

Another change due to the extra pool space is that length swimming will be available during lesson times. Sorry, parents, but there goes your excuse for slacking off while the kids are working it out in the pool! Mind you, the sauna and swirl pool will be open too.

Another transfer lift is available at pool-deck level which runs on an overhead track and gives access to the two main pools and the swirl pool.

Panorama Recreation has a joint use agreement with School District #63. Under this arrangement, schools in the district are able to book six-week swim lesson sessions or fun swims for their classes. Rental fees are waived and only staff time is charged. Kelset Elementary School has the great advantage of being right across the street. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to have all our programs back,â&#x20AC;? Ray-Wilks said enthusiastically.

The leisure pool is full of fun stuff. In one area, the Lazy River flows around a circular bench and a bubble pit. Sit on the bench and relax or walk against the current for stamina and core-strengthPanorama Aquatic Coordinator Dustin Ray-Wilks. ening exercise.

In the middle of the leisure pool are the kiddie car wash and a tea cup suspended 12 feet above the water with eight spouting waterfalls. Nearby, the water shooting out of three colourful overhead pipes can be controlled by turning a wheel valve. Think you can preserve your hairstyle in this water world? Fuhgettaboutit!

Sudoku Solutions Easy Breezy 3 1 7 8 9 2 5 4 6

6 4 5 3 1 7 2 8 9

4 3 1 2 7 9 8 6 5

7 5 9 1 6 8 4 3 2

2 8 6 5 4 3 1 9 7

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Middle of the Road

5 7 3 4 2 6 9 1 8

1 6 4 9 8 5 7 2 3

9 1 4 3 8 5 7 2 6

5 3 6 7 2 1 9 8 4

Hardly Simple 2 4 9 5 7 8 6 1 3

7 6 5 1 4 3 8 9 2

3 8 1 2 9 6 4 7 5

9 1 3 4 2 5 7 8 6

6 2 4 8 1 7 5 3 9

8 5 7 3 6 9 2 4 1

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1 9 2 7 5 4 3 6 8

4 3 6 9 8 2 1 5 7

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6 9 7 8 1 3 2 4 5

1 2 5 9 7 4 6 3 8

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He noted that the recreation centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs are inter-connected and one area spills over into another.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without the full circle of services,â&#x20AC;? he explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been like a broken wheel. But now we are back and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a full circle again. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking forward to welcoming the public on October 24th.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to open with a splash!â&#x20AC;?

Care has been taken to assure everyone has access to the facilities. A zero-depth entry ramp allows a water wheelchair â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a stainless-steel chair meant for a water environment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to go right into the pool. The user can then float free to enjoy the water and derive the therapeutic benefits of water exercises, if desired. There are benches and pull-up bars along the edges of the pools.

9 2 8 6 5 4 3 7 1

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of our aquatic staff from a year ago are returning and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve added 30 new positions to meet the need for additional lifeguards, swim and fitness instructors.â&#x20AC;?

La Dolce Vita: amazing soups and sandwiches, true Italian espresso, great customer service and a huge selection of Italian imports & giftware

Open Late Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Telephone: 250-665-7222 on Wallace Drive across from Thriftyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s www.seasidetimes.ca

OCTOBER 2009

31

Zais Astrology October O ctob 2009 by b y Heather Hea eath Zais (heather_zais@telus.net) Aries A riiess march 21 april m arcch 2 1 - ap p 19 The ffull The ulll m moon o in your your sign sig gn highlights hig gh your your energy ene erg gy and attractiveness.

Personal position Perso onaal po will will be e aaff ffected ecte by relationships. rela latiionship ips.. Important ip Impo connections connecti tion ns ccan an be made or or renewed ren enew wed d to o the the benefi ben en t of both both or bot o all. alll. TTravel al rave vel for you or the others off th Merge othe ot herss is is pa part o the process. s M – ma marryy or partner partn tner er up up with itth success. it su succe cesss. Venus Venu Ve us will add warmth warm to relationships bring closer re ela lati t on nsh ship ipss and db riing yo you u cl clos oserr ttogether. ogeth oget her. Your ur urge to cconquer co rises ri ise sess the th he second seco se cond co nd half half lf of the the month. m mo on h. onth april Taurus ap rilil 20 - mayy 20 20 Your plans for the future are subject to alteration or change of direction under the influence of others. This is all for your future good, so don’t fight it. Health and diet will be part of the focus; pace yourself. A long-term plan looks fine, but be willing to give it the necessary time to gel. Be organized and pay attention to details. You feel pressure inside from the full moon.

Gemini may 21 - june 20 Love, creativity and romance are in focus this month. Attend events related to these areas. Speculation is favoured as well.

Take your holidays now it you can. One way or another it’s time to relax a little or participate in sports or entertainment etc. Relationships can be enhanced or repaired, so make the call. Your focus becomes stronger mid-month. Study, prepare or otherwise “get the show on the road.” Guard information.

Cancer june 21 - july 22 You see doors closing in one area and opening in another.

Look at your choices carefully. Give yourself enough time to clear things up before making changes or you will have to take the time out to do it anyway. Your priority in all this should be your security. You also have to consider your reputation when taking action. Decisions about home or base of operations affect you and others.

Leo july 23 - august 22 Plan to attend special gatherings or events – social/community activity is favoured. You can also entertain or assist others to do so. Take the reins of any project if it is offered to you. Take care of secret or confidential matters, especially relationships that need more time to develop. A lot of short travel or commuting will keep you on your toes, but you like to be busy anyway. Avoid gossip.

Virgo august 23 - september 22 Look at ways to increase your finances. There are alternate sources available. Sometimes it’s hard to see them when you worry. You can mix business with pleasure once you decide how to play it out. Don’t get stalled by too much detail. No

matter what, avoid any get-rich-quick schemes, it will not be as expected. Consider what you really value; it will influence your choices for the future.

Libra september 23 - october 22 Relationships peak or come to a head for you under the full moon. Be careful how you handle the circumstances and it should all work out OK. Having the right team player or mate is very important to you. Take the lead in making certain decisions. At least you will know what others really want by the way they respond. Put your best foot forward if making a presentation or creating something.

Scorpio october 23 - november 21 Take a look at how much farther you want to go on your present path. There may be health issues or some other limitations that will affect your choices. The full moon brings this to a head. The shift of Saturn moving into the sign of Libra at the end of the month will cause you to do some soul-searching. Confidential matters will be on your mind.

Some of this will be related to the past.

Sagittarius november 22 - december 21 Your hopes and wishes will be linked to people of power or position. The influence of the full moon adds a romantic note as well. Look at the larger picture financially. Expand or make other positive changes. A harmonious link between Venus and Jupiter will see some of you considering “marriage” or other long term arrangements by the end of the month. Make solid decisions or choices then.

Capricorn december 22 - january 19 Your career or status gets a boost from new or renewed opportunity. Look at what and who you really know; it could be helpful. It’s time to be sure of your future direction. Weigh experience against education. The tide is with you. Discussions regarding finances or what you want are fruitful. Home and family matters will need some attention as well. Matters over distance take longer than expected.

Aquarius january 20 - february 18 You dream of far away places or taking a holiday. This could come to pass suddenly or under unusual circumstances.

Learning or teaching may be connected. Your mind is open to new or creative ideas or projects. Follow your intuition if you have choices or selections to make. Trips can lead to plans to move or relocate. This can be permanent or temporary depending on requirements. Strength grows.

Pisces february 19 - march 20 Look at joint finances or property shared with others. Decisions will need to be made by you or them. Make sure all paperwork is in order to avoid problems down the road. New sources of income will need your attention. This could involve buying or selling. You experience changes in relationships. Making a commitment is fine as long as you keep your individuality. The right mate will love you as you are.

Looking for a friendly place to have a coffee in Saanichton? How about trying Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coffee Shop?

You might not have been to Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lately (a fixture in Saanichton for 38 years), so let us remind you!

The family-run Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is so much more than a clean and convenient Shell gas station and fully stocked convenience store; there is also a great coffee shop on the south side of the building with friendly staff (and some second and third generation Spelts) ready to serve you with whatever you hunger for. They happily pour â&#x20AC;&#x153;Direct Fair Tradeâ&#x20AC;? coffee that directly helps the coffee pickers and their families. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roasted right here in Saanichton!

Looking for good old-fashioned big fresh donuts? Well, we have them at Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re baked fresh daily. But Speltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coffee Shop is more than coffee and donuts, they also have great food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Did we mention the big muffins, creamy soft ice cream and pie? So why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you come on in and see what everyone is talking about and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new since you were here last â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did! at the corner of Wallace Drive & East Saanich Rd.

Sidney â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pet Centre & Aquatics

PROFESSIONAL DOG & CAT GROOMING AVAILABLE ÄŚ )LIWK 6WUHHW 6LGQH\ Â&#x2021; ÄŚ ÄŚ

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OCTOBER 2009

33

Failed Communications – The Conclusion It took only a day to coordinate the linkage, but several more before the activities of the Canadian side could be arranged to appear as normal as possible. When the day and time arrived, Ian chose to stay home, as there was no comfortable place for him to lie down in his tiny office. He lay down, relaxed through a timetested series of meditations on the colour blue, and drifted into a receptive state for what dreams may come.

First, a feeling of warmth covered him, then he was awake under a starfilled evening sky, and finally he knew and saw that dawn was not far off.

Then scenes of tribal and village life came before him, but of life as it had been before the West invaded Afghanistan. The people were poor, true, but their faith and tribal culture sustained them through the seasons, and life was as good as it could be. The great city, Kabul, was once again filled with fountains and public gardens, and its bazaars were a colourful display of all the best Afghani work and arts.

An Afghan expatriate who had made a multi-million-dollar fortune in Edmonton from real estate and trucking lines was stricken with a rare form of lymph system cancer. As good as the Canadian medical system and its care of him was, all the doctors he saw told him the same conclusion: go home, see to your final affairs and die in six months, perhaps less.

Having nothing left to lose, he flew back to his family’s village, which he had not seen since he was 12 years old; 44 years before. There he was received

34

SEASIDE TIMES

by Joseph Fasciani by relatives and friends with immense warmth and celebration, day and night. Finally, when he told them of his condition and its prognosis, they insisted he see a medical shaman who lived on a remote hillside that took 20 hours travel from Kabul. Once there, he was treated to a series of odourous and vile-tasting medications and put into a coma-like state. After two weeks of this, he was awakened and told to

to recover, wary disbelief turned to joy and celebration of medical breakthrough after breakthrough.

In a few months teams of botanists, doctors and alternative medicine people had brought the plants back to Canada and began to grow them on a large scale for export. They were banned from the U.S., of course, when the FDA announced that years’ more testing was needed and forbid U.S. citizens from buying anything related to this from Canada.

* * * * * Here the manuscript for Failed Communications breaks off. We have only this statement from the author’s wife, Victoria Josephine Ross:

go home; he would be well.

He did as he was told, and was welcomed in Edmonton by jubilant family and friends. Within a week of his return, he decided to devote the rest of his life and fortune to bringing his healer’s knowledge and plants to Canada, and set about doing that with the same diligence he’d used to build his fortune. In the first few weeks Canada’s medical community and government were sceptically tolerant of his near-manic activities, but as terminally-diagnosed patients began

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“We were rudely awakened this morning at 3 a.m. by two large men in plain black suits. They took Joseph into custody, saying only that what he had written was a very grave breach of national security. They questioned me as to what I knew, but even though I told them this was all fiction, they refused to believe me. Joseph will be charged under some kind of national security laws, but when and where wasn’t given. They said that if I cooperate he might be home in a few months, but I know nothing at all of his writing. I’m home alone, except for our friends who come by to visit.

Joseph’s adult children live far from Saanichton, and can do nothing for him, nor can I. We don’t even know where he’s being held. I’m sorry, I have nothing more to say, and no idea how this will end.”

OCTOBER 2009

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Woodwynn Farm: The Woodward Home For 40 Years

For more than 40 years, the Woodward family owned farmland on the Saanich Peninsula. William (“Billy”) Culham Woodward was the son of Charles Woodward, the founder of the Woodward retail chain.

Billy Woodward was born on April 24, 1885 in Gore Bay, Ontario. He joined his father and brothers in the family business in 1907 as a book keeper, but his retail career was interrupted when he served overseas with the First Canadian Heavy Artillery during the First World War.

by Carole Pearson 1940s. They named the property “Woodwynn,” a combination of the names ”Woodward” and “Wynn.”

After his father died on June 2nd, 1937, Billy Woodward took over the role of president of Woodward’s stores. In 1941, he was appointed to the role of B.C.’s lieutenant governor and was sworn in on September 5th, 1941.

After his return home, Billy Woodward married Ruth Wynn Johnson in 1921. Her family owned Chilcotin’s Alkali Lake Ranch, the oldest cattle ranch in B.C. Charles Namby Wynn Johnson, Ruth’s father, had purchased the ranch in 1909.

Towards the end of his term, in 1946, he was offered a second term but Woodward turned it down, wanting to spend more time on the Woodwynn Farm. Billy and Ruth Woodward and their three children lived in a understated but comfortable house nestled among the trees on the shore of Saanich Inlet.

Growing up on a cattle ranch gave Ruth Wynn Woodward the interest and expertise to raise cattle on the 192-acre (78-hectare) farm she and her husband acquired in the early

Billy Woodward continued as the president of Woodward’s until 1956 when he retired and turned store operations over to his son, Charles Namby (“Chunky”) Woodward.

1933 Keating X Road Central Saanich

250-544-6464 t 2072 Henry Avenue West Sidney

“She was very outgoing and really down-to-earth,” McHattie said about Ruth. “During the Fair, you would see her there taking care of her cattle and the stalls herself. I remember she always wore a skirt, even when she was working in the stables.”

Ruth Wynn Woodward died on April 17th, 1972. Local church historian Beth Haugen Dekkers recalls hearing that Mrs. Woodward had requested just a simple pine coffin. “The funeral was held at Christ Church Cathedral,” Dekkers recalls, “and there were all these dignitaries who showed up in their fancy robes. They were surprised when this plain wooden coffin was carried in.”

In 1984, the Ruth Wynn Woodward professorship in Women’s Studies was established at five universities, including Simon Fraser University, in recognition of her accomplishments.

250-655-6454 t Monthly & Annual Rates t Packing Supplies for Sale t Heated & Unheated Units t Locks for Sale t Card Operated Security Gate t Professional Friendly Staff

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Initially, Ruth Woodward raised Jersey cows on the Woodwynn Farm but in later years switched to Angus Aberdeen cattle, says Olive McHattie.

McHattie’s family also raised and sold cattle in the area and her mother got to know Ruth Woodward quite well.

During her life, Ruth Woodward was actively involved in running both Woodward’s stores and Woodwynn Farm. She also gave time to charitable events and was a founding director of the Junior League of Vancouver.

Two Locations:

36

Unfortunately, the senior Woodward passed away only a short time later in Hawaii on February 24th, 1957.

www.seasidetimes.ca

In 1988, John Arnaud purchased the historic Woodwynn Farm from the Woodward family. Ten years later, it was back on the market for $6 million. It was sold earlier this year to the Creating Homefullness Society which intends to use the property as a Therapeutic Community for the homeless.

Seaside Times Advertiser Index LAN DS E ND R D

COAL ISLAND

BC FERRIES

PIER HOTEL •EMERALD SEA ADVENTURES

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CITY HALL

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AVE LIA AME ONE STOP

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UNLIMITED DETAILING

LOCH SIDE DR

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SPELT’S

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FRESH CUP

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D HR ANIC T SA EAS VEYANESS RD

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NOT TO SCALE

= FIRE HALL

OCTOBER 2009

37

THE LAST WO R D

Two Weddings and a Funeral dra Oishi. Graeme is a new R.C.M.P. officer, stationed in Russell, Manitoba, and his wedding provided a wonderful opportunity for our family to get together to celebrate.

As our readers know, there have been a lot of changes to the magazine over the last few months, which translates into a lot of work for Tim and I! However, we do have lives outside of the Seaside Times, so I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d share with you some of the big events that have taken place in my life over the past month or so.

First was the saddest event; the death and subsequent funeral of my great uncle, Ron Baldwin. Ron was my grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, and he has been a constant at every family event, making everyone laugh with his wit and quirky personality. His funeral was a sad event, but it brought together

the be a th ffamily il that th t Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; so happy h tto b part of to celebrate his life.

The second event was the marriage of my cousin Graeme Hobbs to San-

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The final event and, I have to admit, my favourite (although I may be biased), was the wedding of my mom Sandy to her new husband Jim Galloway.

Those of you whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been following my â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last Wordsâ&#x20AC;? over the last few months may remember me announcing their engagement back in the July issue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a whirlwind engagement for sure! But, I figure, when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right.

My mom and Jimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding took place at Sidneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful Miraloma on the Cove. My sister, brother and I made up my momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding party, while Jimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three daughters and his best friend stood up for him. It was a gorgeous day for a wedding and the wonderful setting combined with 65 of our closest friends and family made this weekend one Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget. As a bonus, I got to welcome three stepsisters into my life: Coral, Shelley and Sandi, and I really look forward to getting to know them. My brother is maybe a little more hesitant, as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realized he now has FIVE older sisters!

* * * * * In last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Last Word I mistakenly noted that our new writer Valerie Green wrote for the Peninsula News Review. In fact, she wrote for the Saanich News as a history columnist for 18 years.

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The Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula and the 2009 Sidney Fine Art Show Committee are pleased to invite you to the

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY M-9 PM 9 AM-9 SUN SUNDAY 9 AM- 5 PM Meet thee Artists

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