TAKE 5 April 2019

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Letters Leash or No Leash?

Well here we go again, dog eat dog! This is where we take something quite simple, complicate the heck out of it, then take two weeks or two months, and a million dollars later, and come up with nothing.

My starting point has always been “let’s see what common sense tells me.” The length of a leash on a dog does not stop it from biting. If any doubt at all, we all know that the owner should consider muzzles, a very inexpensive safety device. It tells the other people you’ve taken care of your responsibilities. No one said how long your leash should be, two feet or 200 feet.

I know there are people out there that should not even own a gerbil, never mind a dog! We have not had a dog for 30 years or more, so why are there piles of dog scat all over my lawn?

Myself, I prefer the muzzle. A dog that can’t open its mouth can’t bite (common sense).

A lot of people don’t seem to know that a dog’s temperament changes from the time it’s a puppy to when they are older. This temperament comes from not enough exercise or being on a chain in the back yard. You can make a mean dog out of any

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breed of dog, just by chaining them up.

Coming off a farm, we kept all kinds of critters — everything that hatched, was born or the Stork brought. They were all pets until they grew up; you knew when they weren’t pets any longer. When they scratch, bite you or kick your teeth out, now they are farm animals.

Then I call dogs and cats or what-have-

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Don’t get me wrong, I will not forget my two sleigh dogs as long as I live.

They were my heroes; more than once in a snowstorm coming home from school, they saved my life with their wet noses rubbing up against me when I could not see a thing, and other escapades.

Why not stay safe? Muzzle the dogs and let them run free. They will thank you for it.

Lorraine says, when I was much younger (with teeth), I was much easier to handle. Now that I’m old and grumpy with no teeth, I’m more of a threat (muzzle not necessary).

— Jim Szasz

Were you Ready? — Featured Letter (March 2019/TAKE 5) Gord Barney cartoon

you animals because that’s what they are until we change their lifestyle. Just because Fluffy is sitting at the end of the coffee table playing on the computer tablet with your child doesn’t mean he’s almost human.

I read this timely and useful letter with interest, having been involved for many years with emergency preparedness and health and safety.

I would like to point out two errors with potentially dangerous implications.

1) The author references CO2 as a dangerous gas and recommends a CO2 detector. While CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) can be dangerous in this application is

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extremely rare.

The detector you need is a CO detector. CO (Carbon Monoxide) is produced at dangerous levels by oxygen-starved combustion in improperly ventilated fuel-burning appliances, such as oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ovens, gas or kerosene space heaters, fire places and wood stoves. Note that kerosene heaters are listed here which brings me to my second point.

2) The author identifies that a HeatMate 10,000 BTU kerosene heater is designed for indoor use. She is correct in saying that it does not give off CO2 but it DOES give off the much more deadly CO gas.

This heater requires the same ventilation as any other fuel burning appliance as do the kerosene or oil lamps that she also recommended. — Gordon Howe What’s on your mind?

Email editor@take5.ca or PO Box 59, Ladysmith, V9G 1A1. Letters to the Editor may be edited for space, clarity or legality and may not represent the opinions of TAKE 5 or its affiliates.

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Stream planting project Members of the Ladysmith Sportsmen Club got a hand from Ladysmith Scouts, Cubs & Beavers, planting native plant species along the bank of the Ladysmith Golf Course stream on March 23.

The streamside planting project cost about $2500 using the remainder of a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Salmon Foundation the club had received for the restoration of the stream.

“We planted 282 native species.

Thanks to our members and Aaron Norfolk & the Ladysmith Scouts, Cubs & Beavers who had 19 volunteers show up,” says Glenn Popenko.

“We are planting native species according to a plan,” says Allison Evans, Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club member.

Some of the endemic plants used to stabilize the steep bank include Pacific Ninebark, salmonberry, sword fern, red huckleberry, Indian plum, dull Oregon grape, Cornus stolonifera (red osier dogwood), ocean spray and thimbleberry.

In December 2014, after heavy rains eroded the banks around the gully, the culvert collapsed, dirt and debris washed into the Ladysmith Golf Course Creek, blocking the salmon and trout-bearing stream, and causing extensive damage to the fish habitat.

“At the end of the Ladysmith golf course stream just before it hits Holland Creek was a beautiful little pond

that was great for returning salmon. It was a perfect side channel, and it got destroyed, says Popenko.

Work with a biologist, and support from the Pacific Salmon Foundation, repaired it. But it is a job that they had to do twice.

The club had already done rehab work on the creek prior to the culvert collapse.

Dave Judson says this may have been prevented. “Regular maintenance of culverts and storm drain cleaning is essential says Judson, to prevent debris from being washed into streams. “As you walk around town, most are plugged with dirt or grass.”

Aaron Norfolk with 1st Ladysmith Cubs says the group often camps

by Bush Creek hatchery and “wanted to get involved and say thanks for all the work that they do for us.”

The scouts have helped with invasive species removal as well as the annual Shoreline Clean Up.

Cedar Emergency Preparedness Here is your chance to get informed on what to do in the case of a natural disaster or emergency.

The Regional District of Nanaimo is holding an emergency preparedness

Volunteers at Ladysmith Golf Course streamside planting. Photo: Marina Sacht

event on Thursday, April 25, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm at the Cedar Community Hall.

The North Cedar Fire Department will also be represented. Coffee will be served.

Farmers market relocating The Cedar Farmers Market will be opening in May at a brand new location.

For many years the Crow and Gate Pub has allowed the market to use the fields fronting the popular English-style pub at no charge, says Matt Olsen.

But in the ensuing years the number of vendors has grown from 30 to close to 70, a sign of its success but also a factor in the market relocating.

Safety issues and a shortage of available space prompted the decision, says Olsen who has been a big supporter of the market.

The Cedar Farmers market board could not confirm the new location as the details are still in negotiation, but it will be located in Cedar, says Betty Benson.

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Indigenous canoe racing author at AGM You are invited to join the Ladysmith & District Historical Society’s Annual General Meeting Tuesday April 16, 2019 at St. John’s Masonic Lodge, No. 21, 26 Gatacre Street, Ladysmith.

It’s been a busy year for the society. Find out what’s happening at the Ladysmith Archives & Public Reading Room, the Ladysmith Museum and the Industrial Heritage Preservation Group Site.

Guest speaker is Alan L. Hoover who spent 33 years working with Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples material culture at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria. Among other publications he edited the anthology Nuu-chah-nulth Voices, Histories, Objects & Journeys (2000), co-authored with Eugene Arima The Whaling People of the West Coast of Vancouver Island and Cape Flattery (2011) and recently published a book on canoe racing titled Southern Northwest Coast Indigenous Canoe Racing: A Brief History (2018).

There will be a talk about the history of the Masons building. Refreshments served, bring a friend. Board members are always needed! 250-245-0100.

Cycle of Life Tour A little pedal power makes a BIG difference.

On July 20 and 21, 2019, the Cycle of Life Tour will take riders on an unforgettable cycle touring experience to raise funds for hospice care on Vancouver Island. Riders will pedal nearly 200 km through Saanich Inlet, Cowichan Valley and the Gulf Islands in support of patients and families in need of compassionate end-of-life care. Registration is now open at cycleoflifetour.ca For Brian and Karen Hartley, who moved to Ladysmith from Salt Spring island, this will be the third year riding 200 km’s over two days. “It’s such a wonderful cause. Many people benefit from Hospice though the programs that are offered. All the funds we raise go directly to the Hospices thanks to our generous sponsors,” says Karen.

Sparked by a fundraiser for a colleague who passed away from cancer in 2010, Graham Robertson founded the Cycle of

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Life Tour. The inaugural ride took place in 2011 when Graham cycled alone from Anchorage, Alaska down through the Yukon Territories and British Columbia to Victoria raising awareness and support for Victoria Hospice. The Cycle of Life Tour has continued to grow and evolve since 2011. To date, the Cycle of Life Tour has raised over $700,000 for hospice care on Vancouver Island.

Hospice care is a community service that provides end-of-life care focused on palliative treatment. Each year Vancouver Island hospices help support over 12,000 patients and family members.

To sponsor the Hartleys, go to Cycle of Life Tour 2019 - sponsor a rider - and search Karen Hartley or Brian Hartley.

Town Council saves paper In keeping with Ladysmith’s commitment to sustainability, Town Council will save more than 50,000 sheets of paper each year with its switch to paperless agendas. A limited quantity of printed agenda packages will still be made available to the public at Council and Municipal Services Committee meetings.

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Champions of Diversity@ Work Community Link Connexions, a member of Mid Island EmployNet, is pleased to present the following champions of Diversity at Work: Ladysmith Home Hardware, Ladysmith Pharmasave, Ladysmith Resources Centre Association, and Maya Norte with a “Diversity@Work” window sticker in recognition of their inclusive hiring practices. Other businesses that continue to practice inclusive hiring practices are 49th Parallel Grocery Store, In the Beantime, Roberts Street Pizza, Tim Hortons, Town Of Ladysmith, Take 5 Print & Digital Media, and APL Chartered Professional Accountants. The “Diversity@Work” recognition is an initiative undertaken by employment support services in the Mid Island area who are committed to advance employment for people with diversabilities.

A diversified workforce significantly increases the customer base. It demonstrates to the community that the

business has the capacity to accommodate all people whether they are staff or customers. Research shows that 80 percent of consumers prefer to support businesses that have “Diversity@Work” Communities and businesses are stronger when they are inclusive.

Diversity at Work at Maya Norte

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Chemainus Art Group is celebrating its fiftieth!

It’s a time to celebrate! On this 50th Anniversary, we salute our founding members — their vision, their talents and their endowments to our group.

They ensured succession of the joy from making and sharing art. Come and enjoy our Big Five-Oh Art Show May 3 to 5 at Saltair Community Centre.

In April 1969, Edith Harris hosted 12 artists to begin the Chemainus Sketch Group. Their focus on art education and paint-together studio time soon attracted interest from other artists and the community. Early years were busy with annual shows, helping with school art programs and occasional painting projects around town. Workshops taught by some of our own muralists, gallery bus tours, professional critiques and painting kept the energy up for artist members. One artist who had never put brush to canvas quickly became an accomplished realism painter. Lucky us!

We still have a few of these early members who share their talents.

In 2016, we moved to Studio 16 in the Saltair Community Centre. We changed our name to Chemainus Art Group, but kept the focus on art education and painting together.

Studio 16 hums with creativity. In addition to several workshops a year, we have monthly guest artist demonstrations, mentoring-by-members, and plenty of open studio time. Our 64 members represent beginning, expert and somewhere-wildly-out-there-on-the-fringe artists working and playing in oil, pastel, acrylics, watercolour, pencil and mixed media. We have life drawing, monthly challenges, movie Mondays, scent-free Thursdays, over 200 art books in our library and a bit of art history in Monet Moments and Vincent Vignettes.

Painting en plein air! What a place and what a time to be an artist. With no lack of scenery or greenery, outdoor sketching takes us to a different gorgeous spot every Wednesday over the summer.

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Since our first show in November 1969, island communities have embraced our efforts, with several galleries and bistros in Duncan, Ladysmith and Chemainus hanging our artwork.

Many pieces have gone to their forever walls, as mementos of a special visit or as works given pride of place at home.

Outside Mullingar Yellow Point Drama Group’s spring show “Outside Mullingar,” by John Patrick Stanley, opens April 5.

From the author of “Doubt” and “Moonstruck” comes a romantic comedy set in rural Ireland. Anthony and Rosemary are lovelorn farmers who haven’t got a clue when it comes to relationships. These hopeless singletons will need to overcome a bitter land feud, familial rivalries and their own romantic fears to find happiness. “Outside Mullingar” is by turns uplifting, dark and extremely funny Produced by Eleanor Thompson and directed by Armando dos Santos, the play runs April 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 at the Cedar Community Hall. Tickets are $20. yellowpontdramagroup.org or 250-722-2459.

Celtic Chaos On April 13, Celtic Chaos comes to Ladysmith Little Theatre. Proceeds from the event go to the Building Theatre Fund. The group consisting of Dave Barta, accordion and vocals, Joyce Beaton, fiddle and le platter, John Beaton, poetry, Gordon Lafleur, Irish wooden flute and penny whistle and Joe Spinelli, double bass. They perform songs, tunes and poems from all over the Celtic world. Show starts at 7:30pm and tickets are $25.

Local author launches book Award-winning multi-genre writer Shelley A. Leedahl from Ladysmith will be launching her 12th book The Moon Watched It All. In the story we follow two disparate characters, a senior whose family has long been gone from her life, and a bullied, nameless boy — in their solitary journeys. This story is an homage to human resilience and to forming even the smallest of communities.

Leedahl says, “In this 21st Century, with our advanced transportation sys-

YPDG members Kristin Forester and Clayton Orlando rehearsal of “Outside Mullingar.” tems and extraordinary technologies, it’s easier than ever for people to connect, yet we’re experiencing an epidemic of loneliness, which is tragic for both mental and physical health.”

Leedahl moved to Ladysmith in 2014.

She has earned several international fellowships, regularly presents her work and leads writing workshops across Canada. All are welcome to the book launch at Fox and Hounds on April 24, 7 pm. The launch will be followed by a book signing at Salamander Books on Saturday, April 27, 1 pm to 3 pm.

LSPA presents Mamma Mia! Get set for some high energy fun! Ladysmith Secondary Performing Arts presents “Mamma Mia!”by Catherine Johnson.

Students are not only acting, singing and dancing in the show, but also are involved in directing, choreographing and doing set design and tech.

Based on the musical hits of ABBA and set on a Greek island, “Mamma Mia” tells the story of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads. The story unfolds with much laughter, tears, songs and dance. Show dates are May 2–4 and May 9–11. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Show starts at 7 pm. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students/seniors at Salamander Books and the Ladysmith Secondary Box Office.

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Earth Day 2019 Will we do what it takes?

BY GUY DAUNCEY Insects disappearing. Storms and heat waves increasing. The once abundant herring around the Gulf Islands — all gone. Unprecedented forest fires. Children going on climate strike. Adults demanding that our local forests be protected. Earth Day is coming up on Sunday, April 21, and there’s a huge amount to be concerned about.

The temperature is rising, both literally and emotionally. The children who went on climate strike are not seeking reassurances that everything’s going to be okay. They don’t want words of hope.

They want action because when they learn about the climate crisis and consider their future, they feel panic.

So what does climate action look like, that we can look our children in the eye and answer their call with honesty? Greta Thunberg is the 16-year-old Swedish girl who inspired 1.4 million children in 2,000 places in 125 countries to strike for the climate in March. When she

Guy Dauncey and Carolyn Herriot with their electric ride

spoke to the European Union, she said they needed to double their climate pollution goal from a 40 per cent to an 80 per cent reduction by 2030. Many of the 400 cities and regions around the world that have declared a Climate Emergency are committing to 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2030. “Carbon neutral” means you can reduce your emissions by 90 per cent, provided you create ways to address the remaining 10 per

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cent through changed forest and farming practices that will absorb additional carbon in the trees and soil.

In Ladysmith and the Cowichan Valley, it’s the way we travel that’s the biggest contributor to the crisis. Eating industrial meat, clear-cutting the forests, consuming too much stuff, heating our buildings with fossil fuels or firewood and failing to recycle are all contributing to the cause, but it’s transportation that’s the big one, contributing 70–80 per cent of our local emissions. Can we phase out most use of gasoline and diesel by 2030? It might seem impossible, but in 1942, because of the urgency of the war, American car companies switched from making cars to making tanks and planes in just one month.

Transportation starts with walking, and one of the secrets of walking is attractive trails. Ladysmith has steep hills; could we create zig-zag trails on one or two of the big climbs, with seating, sculptures, shrubs and flowers?

Next is cycling, which requires safe separated bike lanes. The rural back roads between Ladysmith and Duncan are lovely, but without separated trails,

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they are not very safe for cyclists. If I had things my way, I would convert the E&N rail corridor into a long-distance bikeway, and forget about the train. A few tourists might use a restored and heavily subsidized train, but far more people would use a flat, safe and very attractive bikeway.

What about the hills? They are no problem for electric bikes.

When you get to the bottom of a hill, you click the electric drive and you sail up the hill with no muscle pain. Gravity is destroyed! I recommend visiting a bike shop and asking to a try out an electric bike. For those who are getting on in years?

Electric tricycles.

Then we have buses. A new electric bus costs more to buy, but less to operate, and over its 12-year life span, the cost comes out even. There are 400,000 thousand electric buses in the world, 99 per cent of which are in China. It’s a matter of political choice, not of any technical obstacles.

So that brings us to electric cars. The encouraging news is that the price of electric batteries is falling steadily. You can buy a second-hand Nissan Leaf for $20,000, and we have just bought a new Kia Soul EV with a sun-roof for $33,000, with a $5,000 incentive from the government, $4,000 from KIA and $6,000 for scrapping our old 2001 Mazda van. The cost of charging an electric car is about $320 a year, compared to $2,400 for a gasoline or diesel vehicle, and because electric engines have so few moving parts, the cost of servicing is in effect zero. Comfort, ease and acceleration are all fantastic. You save $3,000 a year, and if you trade in an existing car, a second hand EV may cost $20,000, paying for itself through savings in seven years.

On a 4.45 per cent line of credit, borrowing $20,000 will cost

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you $74 a month plus $30 on electricity, compared to $200 a month on fuel, so you will be $100 a month ahead.

What about range? A 2017 Nissan Leaf has a 170-kilometre range; the Kia Soul, 180–200-kilometres. You can do a Level 1 (110 volts) trickle recharge over night at home; a Level 2 (240 volts) charge at home or at a free public charging station in Ladysmith, Chemainus, Crofton and Duncan in three to four hours; or a Level 3 (480 volts) quick charge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan. If you want to do a road-trip and don’t want to use your EV, I guarantee you’ve got a friend or neighbour who would happily trade cars with you for the chance to try out an electric vehicle. For details, see www.pluginbc.ca and www.plugshare.com.

The planned Tesla Electric Pickup truck will have 600-kilometre range and reach 96 kph in four seconds. Electric 18-wheeler trucks are coming. Electric ferries for short trips are already operating in Norway. Electric short-haul flights are coming. We don’t need to know every detail of how we can achieve a 100 per cent reduction in fossil fuels for transportation; we just need to get on with what’s already available.

We are facing an enormous climate crisis, and an ecological crisis too, but we already have most of the solutions. The question our children seek an answer to is this: Will we have the courage to do whatever it takes? Or will we continue to play truant with the climate, as we have for the past thirty years?

Guy Dauncey is a practical utopian. He is founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, and author of the novel Journey to the Future: A Better World is Possible (thepracticalutopian.ca).

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Container Gardening In the new Canadian Food Guide just released, we are advised to eat half a plate of fruits and vegetables, but now we are informed that the cost of produce is going to increase by six per cent this year. For many people, this turns healthy food into a luxury item. But you can offset this expense by growing your own food, and you don’t even need a garden!

There’s a world of possibilities for wonderful container choices, as long as you fill them with a fertile, organicgrowing medium and provide adequate drainage. I’ve seen food grown in old boots and rusted out wheelbarrows, and plants look stunning in decorative re-

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Container gardening can be an attractive inexpensive way to get some fresh nutritious greens in your diet.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Herriot.

cycled olive oil tins. The only limiting factor is your imagination!

All food plants need no more than 12 inches of soil to grow in; those that are shallow-rooted only need six inches.

Herbs, being mostly shallow-rooted Mediterranean plants, are perfectly suited to planters in full sun. Imagine collecting sprigs of fresh mint, parsley, chives, rosemary, oregano or basil from pots outside your kitchen door. By treating lettuces, radishes, leeks, squash, tomatoes, eggplants and beans as ornamental plants, you can cut down on your grocery bills, enjoy healthy homegrown food and help save the planet, all at the same time.

From the planter box in the photo, I harvested two varieties of kale, three varieties of lettuce, cilantro, parsley and radicchio. I also grow mixes of mustards, endive, lettuce, spinach, coriander, cress, kale and chard in planter boxes. Wildlife often poses a problem with vegetable gardens, and by positioning planters on my patio/deck, I get rabbit and deer protection and easy access to fresh food.

The more fertile the growing medium, the more you can pack into the planter and the better results you will have.

I add 30 per cent screened compost to make biologically-alive soil. For best yields, I add granular organic fertilizer.

(Contents: Alfalfa meal, gypsum, rock phosphate, sul-po-mag, greensand, zeolite, kelp meal.)

Growing Mix For Planters In a wheelbarrow mix well: • 1/3 screened topsoil • 1/3 screened compost • 1/3 aged horse manure

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Add 10 per cent of the above volume of perlite, for drainage and aeration. Add one four-litre pail of a balanced granular organic fertilizer (5:2:4).

TIP: It’s best not to use garden soil unless blended with organic matter because on its own, it dries out quickly, compacts and deprives plant roots of oxygen.

Throughout the growing season, I apply liquid fertilizer or compost tea. Liquid seaweed boosts fruit production, liquid fish fertilizer aids in the production of leafy greens and both give plants extra resistance to the stress of being grown in confined conditions. I liquid feed plants weekly as they are becoming established, and every three weeks thereafter.

In the shoulder seasons, plants grown in containers are exposed to two extra zones of coldness: A zone-5 plant in the ground becomes a zone-7 plant in a pot. When plants are grown above ground their roots are subject to heavy freezes, so position borderline hardy plants under the eaves or up against the house.

TIP: A way to protect roots from the cold is to place the pot inside a larger one and stuff the space in-between with insulating material, such as burlap sacks or landscape fabric.

So why not give it a go? Try something different and see how creative you can be at growing more of your own food.

Carolyn Herriot is author of The Zero Mile Diet, A Year Round Guide to Growing Organic Food and The Zero Mile Diet Cookbook, Seasonal Recipes for Delicious Homegrown Food (Harbour Publishing.), available at your local bookstore.

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Spring/Summer Home Trends for 2019

BY NIKKI MACCALLUM I am just back from Madrid, Spain, where I attended the Casa Décor Expo.

Six stories of the latest interior design trends and products for the home! It was full of modern lighting, luxurious fabrics, sleek kitchens, bright colours, soft textures and lots of greenery.

Here are the top trends in Interior Design for 2019: Less is More: Pieces are selected with sustainability and careful consideration in mind. This is a pared-back, 70s look, with earth tones and lots of geometric prints.

Floral Fabrics and Wallpapers: Beautiful, floral and nature-inspired murals add drama and interest to bathrooms,

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hallways and bedrooms.

Mixing and Matching Patterns: Everything goes as long as you keep your colour palette all in the same tones — all bright or all muted.

Blush, Dusty Pink, Living Coral: Call it what you will, it is a soft pink that works well with other chalky hues and bronze. Or, to add drama, combine it with bright orange and reds.

Open Shelving: This continues to be a popular look, everywhere in your home.

Mustard Yellow: This colour is being used everywhere — in furniture, rugs and on walls. It works well with white, teal and indigo.

- Nikki MacCallum owns and operates NikkiDesigns 1970’s vibe is the new look this spring. Bright colours, and geometric prints. Photo courtesy of Nikki MacCallum

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RDN Area A Cedar

BY KEITH WILSON One of the first things that the new RDN Board took on was a review of the RDN’s Strategic Plan. Over the span of about 20 hours of discussions, we managed to fashion a document that encompasses much of what the directors have been hearing from their communities.

As a result, the new RDN Strategic Plan will be available for public input during the remainder of March and into April.

A copy of it will be posted on the RDN’s Get Involved website, and residents will be able to weigh in on the priorities listed in the new plan.

Directors selected eight key strategic areas and then attached a series of actions and timelines to each of them.

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Those strategic areas include climate change, environmental stewardship, growth management, transportation and transit, economic coordination, people and partnerships and social wellbeing.

To see the actions associated with each area, head over to the website and have a look.

The document serves to guide the RDN and its staff over the next four(ish) years in terms of big picture goals.

It does not take into account the shifts in priorities in each of our communities, changing legislation from other levels of government or the realities of economic uncertainties going forward. As a result, the strategic plan acts like a small scale map: It shows a lot of ground but puts very little detail into any specific area.

The next several years will unfold

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however they unfold, and the RDN will deal with whatever comes. However, the Board (and individual directors) will review the strategic plan from time-totime to see if we’re still headed in the direction we said we wanted.

While the document, as it currently stands, represents the views and input of the people around the RDN Board table, it is important that it captures the desires and aspirations of those who live and work in our region. If you want to see the things that you believe are important for our communities, please have a look at the Strategic Plan and provide input before it is finalized.

If you wish to contact me directly with your views, you can email me at keith. wilson@rdn.bc.ca or call 722.3356. If you leave a message, I’ll get back to you.

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CVRD Area G Area G Saltair MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS March was a very busy month. I attended my regular board and committee meetings, and many other meetings and workshops as well. I found the School Board meeting very interesting. I learned that the Chemainus Elementary School has a 298-student capacity and 372 enrolled students. It reminded me of the School Board’s decision to close the Mt. Brenton Elementary School because there were not enough children in the area.

At the CVRD, we are currently working on an Electoral Areas Strategic Plan and, soon, will begin working on a CVRD Strategic Plan.

As a CVRD Director, I attend Our Cowichan Communities Health Network meetings. What an amazing group! The organization is comprised of local health organizations, non-profit societies, volunteer groups and government representatives, all sharing a commitment to helping people attain the highest possible level of health and wellbeing.

CVRD BUDGET (cvrd.bc.ca/2016/2019-Budget) On March 13, 2019, the CVRD Board approved its 2019 CVRD Budget. Director Kuhn and I opposed the motion for acceptance. For the average $448,052 home in Saltair, the increase is approximately $30.12 or 4.82 per cent. The increase does not include any increase in Saltair local service area costs for Saltair Fire Protection, Frank Jameson Community Centre or Saltair Recreation. For the average $448,052 home on Thetis Island, the increase is approximately $32.96 or 8.58 per cent.

This increase does not include any increase in Thetis Island

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local service area costs for Thetis Island Boat Launch, Thetis Island Wharf and Thetis Island Solid Waste & Recycling.

The increase for Area G Saltair/Gulf Islands includes the 3.52 per cent cost of the new drinking water and affordable housing services approved by a region-wide referendum during the last general election.

SALTAIR PARKS & TRAILS During these lovely sunny days, I hope everyone is out enjoying our amazing parks and trails. Did you know that last year approximately 26,000 people visited Centennial Park? Most of the time, it is as if no one else is there. It is wonderful to have a park we can all enjoy and that sometimes feels like our very own private park!

Construction of the Saltair section of the Cowichan Valley Trail (the “CVT”) is progressing. We can now use the portion from Old Victoria Road to Cook Street in Chemainus. This 3.5-kilometre section is lawfully only accessible at those two locations. I will be working with the CVRD to see if it is possible to create a few more legal access points in that stretch.

People are using ad hoc access points, but permits are required from MOTI and the Island Corridor Foundation to create permanent, public access points. The CVRD Board has approved a crosswalk near North Watts Road and a trail to connect the CVT at North Watts Road to the Ladysmith sidewalk along the Chemainus Road.

The CVT is still under construction between Old Victoria Road and the south end of Stocking Creek Park. I can’t wait to see the bridge that has been built to accommodate the 200-year flood level.

The Saltair Community Parks Advisory Commission holds monthly meetings on the first Monday of the month unless this date falls on a statutory holiday. Then, it moves to the next Monday. The commission is made up of Saltair resident volunteers that work to inform our local Saltair parks and trails decisions and the marvellous events held each year in Centennial Park.

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN (OCP) PROGRESS Our Saltair Planning Advisory Commission members are attending CVRD workshops to work on harmonizing seven electoral area OCPs in one, overarching, regional OCP. I am thankful we have such a great team of APC members working though this daunting process. Volunteers make our community a great place to live.

As the project moves along, the harmonization phase will end and a modernization process, aimed at preserving and modernizing the unique characteristics in each electoral area OCP, will begin. When this happens there will be a thorough public review process, as required under Section 1.1 of our Electoral Area G – Saltair OCP. Some residents have contacted me about the OCP harmonization and modernization processes. I want to make it clear that our OCP is not our Area G – Saltair/Gulf Islands Zoning Bylaw.

I am working on organizing a Saltair Family Fun Day. How about some great, old-fashioned games, like three-legged-sack and egg-on-a-spoon races, etc.? We want to make it fun for all ages. I am looking for volunteers to help make this happen. lynne.smith@cvrd.bc.ca 250-701-1407.

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The piriformis blues Life these days is a pain in the butt.

Primarily because I have whacked out a nasty little muscle buried deep in my butt called the piriformis.

Going to a doctor about a piriformis muscle is like going to a doctor about a car problem. They just shrug their shoulders, look smugly over their glasses and tell you to give up running. But that’s okay because there are two other avenues of treatment: physiotherapy or massage.

Physiotherapists can be broken down into two types: the “Radio Shack” type, who employ electronic devices, and the hands-on type, which are preferred by real men. The electronic types take a two-pronged approach. They quickly rattle off a dozen or so exercises and hand out diagrams of stick people performing these exercises. If you are a stick person and your name is “Tinker Toy Boy,” perform these exercises religiously.

Other than exercises that no one does, the Radio Shack treatment involves an electronic device called a TENS machine, which looks an awful lot like a

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Canadian Tire battery charger, only it has a timer that goes “bing” when it’s time for the therapist to collect his money. There is no need to fear this machine, as it feels not dissimilar to being hooked up in series to a lamb chop.

If you want a little more excitement for your $75, try a hands-on physiotherapist. Be aware, however, that most of their training takes place on a wrestling mat where they learn to bend, fold and mutilate other human beings. Even if your injury is a sore toe, they will place you on a table, throw their body against yours (which is why you don’t want a therapist named Harold), then in a soft and gentle voice say “allow,” “release” or “take a deep breath.” The next thing you know, they’ve administered a stepover toehold, a scissors grip and a body slam.

The way I figure it, this is a small price to pay for having a woman half your age lay on top of you.

Not that you should get any fancy ideas. Though these women may only weigh 120 pounds, they are lethal, knowing every submission hold in the WWF handbook. One false move on your behalf and you’ll be tied in a big knot and rolled down the street.

Not that physiotherapists have all the answers. Sometimes what you need is an old-fashioned massage. This involves taking off all your clothes and lying on a table covered only by a thin sheet while a woman, definitely not your wife, massages your piriformis muscle back into top 10K form.

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Even if your name is Studs, you may not be comfortable being nude in what is essentially a public place. Practice sessions at home will overcome this discomfort. After several weeks of parading from room to room naked, you’ll be springing off the couch naked when the door bell rings, saying, “I’ll get that.” At this point, it is safe to book your massage. Also time to start looking for a new wife because your old one skipped town after that incident at the door with her bridge ladies.

Depending on your shape, you’ll find nudity discourages unwanted quests.

Nothing sends a Jehovah’s Witness packing quicker than a naked sixty-yearold wearing nothing but a gorilla mask.

If the authorities intervene, just tell them you’re training for your first massage; guys being guys, they’ll understand.

Take careful note that there are two types of massage: one involves a clothed masseuse, and the other has both parties naked with rum and cokes being available for a slight surcharge. Unfortunately the latter type of massage (let’s call it “The Full Brandi”) can be expensive, or so says my lawyer, who now lives in a trailer with a rusty K-car parked out front, sporting an “Alimony Sucks” bumper sticker.

Once in the massage room, the masseuse will discreetly leave so you can disrobe. That’s when you notice the spacey new-age music playing, music that sends icy tentacles of doubt around your most sensitive uncovered parts.

Too, some therapists are into aroma-

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therapy, which usually involves a stinky candle that leaves you smelling like someone off the corner of Haight and Ashbury, Circa 1967.

Though some of the hands-on types can get a little flaky, rest assured they know their stuff. From 100 metres away, they can spot exactly where you hurt. All they have to do is gently place a finger on that spot — say, an angry piriformis — and you will tap out, the universal wrestling sign of submission.

Once Mike Tyson in his prime took on a slightly-built female masseuse in an exhibition match. Halfway through the first round, Mike was slumped in his corner and cuddled up to a small teddy bear, the ear which of had been chewed off.

But getting back to your first massage, you will notice when taking off all your clothes that there is a hole at one end of the massage table. This is to hide your head, which is glowing pink in embarrassment. If only you had said no to the threecheeseburger lunch.

I know what you guys are thinking, that having your bum rubbed by an attractive woman is erotic. This might be true if you didn’t have knots in your bum the size of walnuts, knots that according to “she with the grip of steel” need to be squashed out of there, regardless of what it takes. It’s about this time that you notice, directly under the head hole, a large bucket. This is known in the trade as a tear collection device.

A further look around reveals a certificate on the wall that in 1999, your masseuse, sweet little Belinda, graduated with honours from The Spanish Inquisition School of Massage. And what’s this, on the other wall, pictures of Belinda at Guantanamo Bay, with her hand on the butt of a detainee.

It is around this time that Belinda says, “This may hurt a bit.

It might help if you bite down firmly on this sock.”

It’s also around this time that being in Harold’s office, safely wired in series to a lamb chop, starts looking pretty good.

Piriformis muscles can also be treated internally. For that, I would recommend a French red, M. Chapoutier Bila-Haut, $16.99.

Follow Delbert at Slightlycorkedandmore.wordpress.com or pick up his book Slightly Corked available at the Mahle House.

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APRIL 1–7 1–30, 11am–4pm, “100 Sleeping Dandelions,” Rainforest Arts, Chemainus, 250-246-4861 2, 7pm, CVRD Area G Director – Saltair Community Meeting, Saltair Community Centre 3, Ladysmith Chamber AGM, Microtel Inn & Suites 12570 Trans-Canada Hwy, 250-245-2112 4-5, 7:30pm (doors 7pm), “Rumors,” Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd., 250-924-0658 5–18, 11am–4pm, “Student Show,” Ladysmith Waterfront Art Gallery, 250-245-1252 5-6, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm), Yellow Point Drama Group presents “Outside Mullingar,” Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2459 5, 9pm, Karaoke, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250-245-8033 6–7, noon–4pm, Soulfully Inspired: Forest Bathing and Creativity Retreat, Wildwood Ecoforest and Homestead, 2929 Crane Rd. 6, 1pm–3pm, Opening Gala for “Student Show,” Ladysmith Waterfront Art Gallery, 250-245-1252 6, 9pm, Live Music Sons of Guns, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250245-8033 7, noon–3pm, Seedy Sunday, rear parking lot, Saltair Community Centre, 3850 South Oyster Rd., Ladysmith, 778-927-4991 7, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm, TheatreOne’s Fringe Flicks presents “The Silent Revolution,” Avalon Theatre, Woodgrove Centre 7, 2pm (doors 1:30pm), “Rumors,” Ladysmith Little Theatre, 4985 Christie Rd., Ladysmith, 250-924-0658 7, 2pm, Chemainus Classical Concerts presents West Coast Chamber Players, St. Michael’s Church, 2858 Mill St., 250-748-8383

8 – 15 8, 7pm, CVRD Saltair Water System Meeting, Saltair Community Centre, 3850 South Oyster Way, Saltair 8, 7pm, TheatreOne’s Fringe Flicks presents “The Silent Revolution,” Avalon Theatre, Woodgrove Centre.

10, 9:30am, Chemainus Art Group Meet Up, guest artist Joanne Thomson, Saltair Community Centre, 3850 South Oyster School Rd., Ladysmith

26 Gatacre St., Ladysmith, guest speaker Alan Hoover on Indigenous Canoe Racing, refreshments, 250-245-0100.

19, 10am, Good Friday, Station of the Cross, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-722-3455 19-20, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm), Yellow Point Drama Group presents “Outside Mullingar,” Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-722-2459 18, 9pm, Karaoke, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250-245-8033

12, 7pm (doors 6pm), John Gogo, In The Beantime, 18 High St., Ladysmith

20, 10:30am-noon, Ladysmith Lions Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Transfer Beach

12, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm), Yellow Point Drama Group presents “Outside Mullingar,” Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-722-2459

20, 9am–1pm, Edible Wild Plants Workshop with Jay Rastogi, Wildwood Ecoforest, 2929 Crane Rd., Ladysmith, www.ecoforestry.ca

12, 9pm, Karaoke, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250-245-8033 13, 9am–2pm, Ladysmith Seniors Garage Sale, bake sale, books & lots of treasures, upper level Seniors Centre, 630 2nd Ave., Ladysmith 13, 9am–noon, Bring and Carry Garage Sale, St. John’s Anglican Church, 486 Jubilee St., Duncan 13, 2-6pm, Live Music Two Man Wheaty Band, The Wheatsheaf Pub, 250-722-3141 13, 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm), Yellow Point Drama Group presents “Outside Mullingar,” Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-722-2459 14, 10am, Palm Sunday, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd., 250-722-3455 14, 1pm–3:30pm, Forest Bathing, Wildwood Ecoforest, 2929 Crane Rd., Ladysmith

20, 2pm (doors 1:30pm), Yellow Point Drama Group presents “Outside Mullingar,” Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd., 250-722-2459 20, 9pm, Live Music Shakes, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250-245-8033 21, 7:30am, St. Philip Anglican Church’s Sonrise Service, Blue Heron Park, 21, 10am, Holy Eucharist of Easter and Dressing of the Flower Cross, St. Philip Anglican Church, 1797 Cedar Rd., Nanaimo, 250-722-3455 21, 11am, Easter Event, Centennial Park, South Oyster School Rd., Saltair

22 – 28 22-28, Town of Ladysmith Spring Clean Up Week check your area pick up schedule

15 – 21

23, 7pm, Ladysmith Camera Club — “How to Shoot Stunning Seascapes, Cityscapes & Nightscapes,” with Brad Powell, Hardwick Hall, High St. at 3rd Ave., Ladysmith

16, 7pm-9pm, Ladysmith & District Historical Society AGM, St. John’s Masonic Temple,

24, 9:30am, Chemainus Art Group Meet Up, Saltair Community Centre, 3850 South Oyster

School Rd., Ladysmith 24, 6:30pm, North Cedar Improvement District Annual General Meeting, North Cedar Fire Hall 2100 Yellow Point Rd. 250-722-3711 25–27, 7:30pm, Theatre One presents “Jake’s Gift,” VIU Malaspina Theatre, 900 Fifth St., Nanaimo, 250-754-7587 26, 9pm, Karaoke, The Sportsman Pub, 640 1st Ave. Ladysmith 250-245-8033 27, 2-6pm, Live Music Mike Mallon, The Wheatsheaf Pub, 1866 Cedar Rd. 250-722-3141 27, 2pm, Theatre One presents “Jake’s Gift,” VIU Malaspina Theatre, 250-754-7587 28, 2pm, Ladysmith Golf Club Society Annual General Meeting, Ladysmith Golf Club 380 Davis Rd. 250-245-7313

29 – 30 29, Town of Ladysmith Spring Clean Up Week check your area pick up schedule 30, 6:30pm, Annual General Meeting for Cranberry Fire Protection District, Cranberry Community Hall 1555 Morden Rd.

7 Seedy Sunday, Saltair 13, Ladysmith Seniors Garage Sale 27, Mike Mallon, Cedar

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EDUCATION

WANTED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for a variety of positions at the Ladysmith & District Historical Society. Greeter at Ladysmith Museum, volunteer events co-odinator, researchers.

Ladysmith Archives. Call 250-245-0100 or info@ ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca BUSINESS I CAN EDIT. Copy editing, proofreading, structural editing and more. Fiction or nonfiction, web content and eBook prep. For more information, email editican@gmail.com.

CONCRETE RESULTS. Contracting, full-service forming and finishing, walls, walks, patios, drives.

35 years experience. Call Gord 250-753-4024.

BEADS BEADS BEADS, ETC.! 9752 Willow St., Chemainus. Best prices on the Island. Follow Facebook@etcinchemainus or call 250-3242227.

EXPERIENCED HOUSESITTER booking for Spring 2019. Now offering Senior Companionship and concierge services also! peaceofmindcare. wordpress.com. Contact Kathleen kgrcoaching@ gmail.com or 250-619-0786.

BUSY BOOKKEEPING with Jenny Vallance. If you would like any help with your bookkeeping needs, please let me know. I am located at 3165 Ingram Rd., Nanaimo. I am an Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada member.

IPBC 250-739-1221.

VIDEO PRODUCTION services, from script to screen, edited and ready to post on YouTube, Facebook or your website. Call TAKE 5 for a free consultation and estimate, 250-245-7015.

Editor@take5.ca.

MUSIC LESSONS. Experienced, qualified teacher of piano and theory. Two locations: Cedar and Nanaimo’s Old Quarter. Call Anne Dalton, ARCT RMT, 250-323-6695.

HEALTH & BEAUT Y TAI CHI for mental & physical health. Beginner classes start Sept. & Jan., Mondays, at Cedar Heritage Centre. On-going class Wednesdays at North Oyster Community Centre. Both classes 10am–noon, $60/3 mo., www.taichinanaimo.org.

Call Sara 250-245-1466.

VIDEO PRODUCTION services, from script to screen, edited and ready to post on YouTube, Facebook or your website. Editor@take5.ca.

HOME & YARD NORM’S DRYWALL REPAIR. Small drywall & finishing. Repairs & renovations., no job too small. Clean & ready for paint. 25 yrs. exp. Satisfaction guaranteed. 250-924-5568.

QUALITY RENOVATIONS. Big or small. 25 yrs. exp/journeyman, affordable. For free estimate, call Lars 250-616-1800.

APRIL 2019

hedging, dangerous tree removal. Fully insured. Professional work at reasonable rates. Call 250-246-1265.

WE HAVE 2 SPACES on our farm available to grow your own vegetables. For more info call Nick Dudink, 250-740-0302 INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL Blackberries, Ivy, Broom, etc. We get to the root of the problem. Thorough and reliable. Manual and machine removal. Free Quotes. Contact Alder Environmental info@alderenviro.com or 250-686-5090.

A1 HOME TURF. Minor home repairs and renovations, spring cleanups, monthly or weekly grass cutting, deep core aerating.

Call Mike 778-971-0879.

LANDSCAPING, EXCAVATING, TRUCKING, mini excavator (can narrow to 38” for tight spots), Bobcat, dump truck, driveways, ditching, backfilling, drainage, ponds & fencing. Delivery of driveway chips, sand, bark mulch, etc. No job too small. Reasonable rates. Phone or text for free estimates, Mike Williams bmcnanaimo@gmail.com or 250668-2873.

PETS

DARRELL ESSAR RENOVATIONS. Over 30 years’ experience, certified journeyman carpenter. No job is too small, from fences, decks, tile work, hardwood flooring, painting, drywall, etc. For free estimate, call Darrell 250-714-3823.

PROFESSIONAL PET CARE SERVICE. Leash ’em & walk ’em with Marlena. Insured and bonded. Animal First Aid and CPR. Service for all pets including dog walking, home care visits, overnight with pet in my home and much more. As my love is yours! Call 250-246-3394.

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING A HOME? Curb appeal, re-design or new design, www. islandgardenscapes.ca or 250-802-0461.

DOG WALKING/Hiking OFF LEASH! 2-hour avg. walk, weekly walks year-round, pick up & drop off included, insured & licensed. Contact Paula Plecas for a complimentary meet & greet! See us Facebook and Instagram for fun in action! Tracks Outdoor Adventures INC at walken@shaw.ca or 250-754-TREC(8732).

ISLAND PRUNING. Professional tree care from large scale orchards to budding new trees. I can meet any pruning need. Shrubs, vines and ornamental. Large and small clean ups. Call Darcy Belcourt 250-323-1260.

KB HANDYMAN AND YARDWORKS SERVICES. Minor carpentry work, decks, fences, gutter cleaning, tree pruning, yard clean up, lawn fertilizing, mowing. Senior’s discount. Contact Karl kbhandymanandyardworks@gmail.com or 250-714-2738.

GARDEN RENOVATION AND LANDSCAPING. Are you thinking of a garden renovation or landscaping project? Excellent quality and knowledge. We are happy to assist you with any landscaping or gardening work you need. Estimates are always free.

Give Sandpiper a call! 250-246-2421.

ALL ACRES TREE SERVICE providing all aspects of tree work. Pruning, falling,

THE PET NANNY. Let us pamper and love your pets at your home or ours. References are available. Contact Shanon or Bill sburchard@ hotmail.ca or 250-924-8809.

SENIORS LYNN’S SENIORS CARE HOME. High quality personalized care. Warm caring environment.

Great food and snacks. Family events. Couples and pets welcome. Ocean views, gardens. North of Ladysmith. www.lynnsseniorcare.com. Call 250245-3391.

GRANNYS ON THE GO COMPANION SERVICES. Are you looking for someone that can help you with an active senior family member? Well look no further than Janet Bowman at janetmb@shaw.ca or 250-924-1515.

TAKE 5

Vanishing wildlife

BY NICK LONGO I remember waking up and going to my basement and seeing frogs on the floor. They came in through the cracks that were in the window wells. Our house was perched practically on top of a gully. It was these peculiar fascinations that turned up from time to time that introduced and intrigued me with nature.

I went back to my childhood home for a visit. The gully was no longer there. The frogs were long gone. The snakes, birds and butterflies of my youth disappeared, moved on by land development.

According to the World Wildlife Organization on average, we’ve seen a 60% decline in the size of populations in mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians in the past 40 years. We know who to point our fingers at for this threat to these creatures and sensitive habitats (forests, rivers oceans marshes and climate changes) and the answer is us. Human activities are the main culprit for these events. We as a society contribute to habitat loss, excessive use of wildlife such as over-fishing, over-hunting, and deforestation.

It appears that there is little time to re-think and change society’s destructive egocentric thinking and change our thinking to more ecocentric motivations in our daily lives.

Once Vancouver Island had its own genus of wolverines running around in the higher elevation tree-lines. The last reported sighting of one was in 2008. Their habitat destroyed by human “progress”.

If you want an in-depth look at what is endangered on the Island, there is an interactive map (google: CDC iMap) on the BC Conservation Data Centre website.

For instance I found that Great Blue Herons habitat around Walker and Cook Roads is at risk and they are a red list endangered species.

Above Holland Creek are Northern Goshawk nests. The loss of their natural Terrestrial Forest Needleleaf habitat environment has contributed to the decline of their species and has put them on the red list.

Vesper Sparrows are also dwindling due to habitat loss and domestic house cat predication.

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Northern Red Legged Frogs are also on the red list. They have been sighted in the Haslam Creek area and live in a creek and broadleaf tree environments.

Other at risk and endangered species in the area are Grand Fir, Oregon Grape, Western Red Cedar, Common Snowberry, Red Alder, Salmonberry, Common Horsetail, Slough Sledge, and Slimleaf Onion to name just a few.

It is well worth the time spent to see what we are losing all around us. Perhaps by having access to this information, we can start doing small things to help nature reclaim and heal some of the harm we have caused her.

The Purple Martins were down to five pairs in 1990 and through the efforts of the Ladysmith Marine Society and the BC Purple Martin Stewardship and Recovery Program there are over 1,100 nesting pairs as of a 2016 count.

They went from a red list endangered species to a blue list endangered species. Where there is will, we can turn things around. It could be in our own selfinterest to do so.

“Globally, nature provides services worth around $125 trillion a year, while also helping ensure the supply of fresh air, clean water, food, energy, medicines, and much more.” - World Wildlife Organization.

Nursery trees provide wildlife habitat. Photo: Aubrey Sharp