West Vancouver Beacon | September/October 2016 | Edition 18

THE No. 18

BEACON Shedding light on the communities from Lions Bay to West Bay

Sept 2016

Dinner on the Dock, 2016

Photo: Courtesy of Steve Urquhart

Another successful Dinner on the Dock, on Saturday, July 21, 2016.

7

C U S TOM PLAN

Financial Advisors Inc.

604.687.7773

www.customplanfinancial.com

Community Personality

8-9

This year’s dinner cleared in excess of $50,000 and Scotty Grubb, president of West Vancouver Marine Rescue Society, wishes to thank everyone involved: “This could not happen without incredible community support and the work of our tireless RCM-SAR crew.”

Young Gardeners

Welcome Rob Gloor

11

12

PG

Mountains to Sea

PG

PG

Report from the Capital

was Marcus Mosely who brought his muchloved rhythm & blues gospel tones.

RCM-SAR hosted the event on the very dock where they are stationed. The eagerlyawaited new high speed rescue vessel that recently arrived is docked beside the station (See Page 3, RCM SAR 1B).

PG

In This Issue 3

the funds in order to perform their services for the community.

Entertainment at this year’s Dinner on the Dock was, once again, the North Shore’s own Adam Woodall and his great band of musicians, but a popular addition to the evening’s sold-out festivities this time around

PG

C

ongratulations, once again, to the amazing Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue Station 1 volunteers out of Horseshoe Bay, who not only risk their lives regularly to attend to the business of ensuring boater safety on the seas around West Vancouver, but also raise

RETIREMENT INCOME SPECIALISTS ESTATE PRESERVATION & SUCCESSION PLANNING

“Largest independent planning firm in the GVRD” - BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER NEWSPAPER

Karl Krokosinski karl@customplanfinancial.com Micheline Varas michelinev@customplanfinancial.com Tori Alexander toria@customplanfinancial.com

PAGE

2

TEAM

Chris Stringer Publisher

chrisstringer @westvanbeacon.ca

Lindy Pfeil Editor

lindypfeil @westvanbeacon.ca

Penny Mitchell Advertising

pennymitchell @westvanbeacon.ca

Melissa Baker Creative Director

melissabaker @westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all contributing writers for The Beacon retain full rights and that the full or partial reproduction of feature articles is unauthorized without the consent of the author.

Submissions for The Beacon

The Beacon is delivered bi-monthly to 5000+ households between Lions Bay and West Bay. For submission guidelines and queries, please e-mail the Editor: lindypfeil@westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all submissions are subject to space constraints and editing.

For advertising queries, please e-mail the Director of Marketing: pennymitchell@westvanbeacon.ca For all other queries, please e-mail the Publisher: chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca All editions of The Beacon (beginning in September 2013), can also be read online at: www.westvanbeacon.ca.

Sept 2016

World Peace Wednesdays in our own backyard now and then, and I wonder what their life is like, and I hope the cages are not too awful, but I haven’t done a darn thing about it.

It’s like the time I went fishing. I was newlymarried. There was a lake and a bunch of Lindy Pfeil testosterone, so I fished. When I saw all the fish lined up that here are people who live life large. evening ready to be They take on ‘the man’, challenge eaten I burst into systems, confront organizations. tears. That was 25 They demand, protest, and make changes. years ago, and I still Life-altering, cataclysmic changes, often remember it clearly, on behalf of others. For a very long time I all those frozen fish wanted to be one of those people. I imag- eyes staring accusined myself on some global stage calling my ingly at me for sepacomrades to arms, righting wrongs, healing rating them forever the universe. But I’ve finally come to realise from their families. But I still eat fish. I just I’m just too much of a homebody for that. don’t catch them anymore.

My tormented teenage self had Joan of Arc In an attempt to ignore the ugly, I have aspirations. I suspect, though, that had the not watched the news in years. I think ours time come, I would have been so engrossed must have been the only first world family to in a good novel, or maybe colouring, that not see the Twin Towers crumbling.

I would have missed the march We had no TV at the time. I to my own fiery end. know the ugly exists, but I’ve always admired I find it disturbing. people with a cause.

Particularly when At IGA the other I’m not doing day, as I was about anything about to grab a carton of it. World Peace eggs, a sign warned was always one me that those parof those things ticular eggs came that I wished for from chickens who in a vague beauty were caged. If I was pageant kind of one of ‘those’ peoway, but never ple, you know, the felt able to do anyones who actually thing about. Instead I get things done, I spent my time crewould have hopped on ating magical kingmy scooter right away The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in doms with fivewar~Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900-1990). and set those chickens year-olds in the Photo: Lindy Pfeil free. Or at the very studio. We invited least, confronted store management about imaginary dragons to tea, and healed hurts their decision to sell eggs born in imprison- with kindness and fairy dust. The dimenment. Instead, my head hurt a little at the sions of my life are suited to a small stage, thought of so many chickens never seeing a not a large one. sunset, and I simply reached for a different I woke up in the middle of the night not carton. I still think of those chickens every too long ago, with a vision. This in itself was

Opinion

“

T

rather exciting, because for the past five years I have been woken only by hot flushes and indigestion, so I paid close attention.

Well, it seems that no matter how much I’d tried to avoid the ugly, it had made its way into my bones. So much pain, so much anger in the world.

So much violence. And, as one does with visions, I let it simmer for a bit, then threw it out into the universe. And things happened, as things do, if you let them.

Thanks to St. Francis-in-the-Wood’s very generous donation of their beautiful studio space, I will be offering family yoga sessions in October and November. There will be movement and music, laughter and silence. Perhaps even a little magic. And we will create World Peace. I say this only partly in jest, because, as the Dalai Lama once wisely said, “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” So I invite you and your families to join me on Wednesdays to make peace: in the space between us, in the wisdom of our bodies as they sigh into stillness, in the pause between breathing in and breathing out, in the silence between heartbeats. It’s not a big thing. But everything starts in the very smallest of ways, doesn’t it?

“It’s not a big thing.

But everything starts in the very smallest of ways, doesn’t it?”

Participation in Family Yoga is by donation at St. Francis-in-the-Wood Church on Wednesdays from 4-5pm for 8 weeks (October 5 to November 23). Parents, grandparents, children (Grade 4 and up) and youth are welcome. Registration is required as space is limited. To register, or for enquiries, please email karmainvancouver@gmail.com. Information is also available on the website: www.karmainmotion.com

Landscape Design

Your Garden ...Our Pleasure

Installation

604.802.5272

Maintenance

BLOOMINGFIELDS GARDEN CARE AND DESIGN INC.

bloomingfieldsdigs.ca

Sept 2016

PAGE 3

Report from the Capital by

David Thomas

I

t’s been two years since I left West Vancouver for the nation’s capital, two winters into a seven winter appointment as the Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. My family really misses the west coast, especially in March and April, when winter here seems to never let up, subjecting us to low temperatures for weeks on end. There’s a reason you can skate on the Rideau Canal in winter.

One of the perks of the job are the occasional invitations we receive to various Ot-

tawa events. Joanne and I were elated to be invited to the July 14th Bastille Day garden party at the French Embassy situated beside the Prime Minister’s residence.

We arrived at the Embassy at 5:30pm to find Ottawa police cruisers parked on both sides of Sussex Drive, emergency lights flashing. Security seemed unusually tight. In addition to the usual men in suits with wires to their ears, uniformed police officers wandered through the gardens.

The weather was pleasant with a refreshing breeze coming up from the Ottawa River.

We mingled among the dignitaries, and were treated to champagne, and some of the best

cheese and foie gras this side of the Atlantic.

At 6:00 pm French Ambassador, Nicholas Chapuis, informed the guests that just an hour before, the horrible attack in Nice had taken place leaving 84 dead. We didn’t see the Ambassador again. The mood for celebration had evaporated.

Needless to say, we were emotionally affected by this first-hand experience that is unlike anything we have been exposed to in our West Vancouver lives. My next report will provide information on the Tribunal and my job at hand.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France.

Photo: Courtesy of David Thomas David and Joanne Thomas enjoying the reception before the devastating news.

Perspectives on the housing market MLA Update Jordan Sturdy

I

mpacts of the newly minted 15% additional property purchase tax on foreign national real estate investors in Metro Vancouver is an interesting question to ponder.

As government wrestled with the clearly increasing challenge of housing affordability in the lower mainland it was clear that the circumstances are extraordinarily dynamic and unusually complex. The supply side answer was definitely not satisfying to the many people who tended to focus on foreign demand as the main driver.

In a rare moment of unanimity members of the Legislature supported an additional property transfer tax of 15% on purchases by foreign nationals or foreign controlled corporations. This is in addition to 1% property purchase tax on the first $200,000, 2% on

the portion between $200,000 and $2 million and 3% on the portion greater than $2 million, all with the intention of cooling the superheated Metro Vancouver market.

The proceeds of the tax will be added to a $75 million affordable housing fund that will be invested in a range of projects right across the Province.

Other initiates encompassed in Bill

28, the MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES (HOUSING PRIORITY INITIATIVES) AMENDMENT ACT, 2016 include ending self-regulation in the real estate industry and a vacant home tax option for the City of Vancouver. On budget day 2016, the government instituted the luxury home property transfer tax and eliminated the property transfer tax on new homes under $750,000.

While there is much prognostication, only time will tell what effect these initiatives may have and even then it will be hard to tease the impacts out of variable global and regional economic conditions.

Regardless, West Vancouver has such a desirable quality of life that people will continue to move here.

Here she is…SAR 1B by

Scotty Grubb

S

he’s in place at Horseshoe Bay and ready to serve after sea testing for the past month. Only requiring two crew, compared to the four that is required by the main vessel, SAR 1B provides us with the back-up that is necessary in the event that the main boat is in use or unavailable due to maintenance.

At a cost of $400,000, SAR 1B is here due to the generosity of many community supporters. Primary funding has been received from the BC Gaming Commission and the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise to whom we are grateful. In addition, our thanks go out to the District of West Vancouver, West Vancouver Foundation, West Vancouver Yacht Club, Thunderbird Marina, the Ambleside Tiddlycove Lions Club and many private donations.

Thank you everyone from RCM SAR.

䌀䄀唀䰀䘀䔀䤀䰀䐀 䜀䄀䰀䰀䔀刀夀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀 倀椀挀琀甀爀攀 䘀爀愀洀椀渀最 䐀椀最椀琀愀氀 䜀椀挀氀攀攀 倀爀椀渀琀椀渀最 䐀椀最椀琀愀氀 刀攀猀琀漀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀 䄀爀琀 刀攀猀琀漀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀 䄀爀琀 䔀瘀愀氀甀愀琀椀漀渀猀 㘀 㐀 㤀㈀㘀ⴀ㄀㠀㠀㘀 眀眀眀⸀挀愀甀氀昀攀椀氀搀最愀氀氀攀爀礀⸀挀漀洀

Photo provided

RCM SAR 1B.

ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ 倀椀挀琀甀爀攀 䘀爀愀洀椀渀最 ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ 䐀椀最椀琀愀氀 倀爀椀渀琀椀渀最 ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ 䄀爀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䜀愀氀氀攀爀礀 ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⠀䌀氀椀瀀 吀栀攀 䈀愀最⤀ Ⰰ䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㌀ 琀栀⸀㈀ ㄀㘀⤀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ ⴀ

匀䄀䰀䔀

PAGE

4

Sept 2016

September is the real beginning of the year by

Ann Frost

S

eptember! I know January is the beginning of the new year and I guess that is true, but for me it’s always been September. I was a teacher long before I had school-age children and the beginning of the new school year always brought excitement (and a bit of anxiety).

When our own children started school, each September had its own excitement.

Who will my teacher be this year? Will my best friend be in my class? And always new shoes. Sometimes new clothes, especially if you were lucky enough to be the only boy in a family of girls (or vice versa) but there was also what we used to call ‘clean clothes, move down’. Back then, kids had school clothes and play clothes and the first thing they did when they got home was to change into the play clothes, so often the

school clothes were good for more than one child. And sometimes, friends would pass on school clothes their own children had outgrown.

Just before school started, there was the PNE. Off we would go to find a place on Georgia Street to watch the parade and then out to the fairgrounds. It was a simpler fair in those days and one of our favorite places to visit was the animal barns.

Cows, sheep and goats, some with beautiful blue ribbons adorning their necks, and all of them mooing, baaing or maaing a welcome. There were silver-tongued hucksters offering everything from the latest in potato peelers to liquids guaranteed to clean your windows, floors, or anything else in a flash.

And the food! Cotton candy, of course, and what was then a real innovation: a wiener dipped in batter and deep fried! Can you imagine?

But back to September. With any luck, the weather was gorgeous and the stores

Photo provided

PNE boat pond circa 1960s from the Frost family album.

were full of fruit from the Okanagan. Everyone we knew canned, and in our house it was a family effort. Blanching and then skinning the fruit, pitting it, slicing it up for the canning jars and then the hot water bath. And later, storing the jars in the

cupboards and looking with pride on our combined efforts. And oddly enough, the children always managed to find enough ‘damaged’ fruit to make a pie for that night’s dinner. Peach was the favorite!

Happy memories!

Welcome back to Gleneagles Ch’axáý Mrs. Robertson by

I

Lindy Pfeil

first met Meaghan Robertson on the floor of Uptown Kindergarten at Irwin Park Elementary a few years ago.

Simply being in her presence was calming.

That kindergarten circle became a highlight of my week.

Meaghan was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, where her family still resides. She knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was four years old. “Our rec rooms were my classrooms for my entire childhood and my mom used to take me to teacher supply stores to stock my ‘school’,” she smiles.

She obtained her teaching degree at McGill University, and lived in Montreal

for five years prior to moving to Vancouver, on a whim! “We thought we’d stay for a year, and now it is ten years later,” she says.

She married husband Kyle on a beach in Cabo, Mexico in 2012. He was their paper boy in St. Catharines growing up. They had a baby girl 17 months ago, named Alice Isabelle and she is the love of their lives.

To see Meaghan with her students is really special. She says she loves being a Kindergarten teacher more than anything, and it is so evident. “There is nothing like the pure joy, curiosity, honesty and enthusiasm of a five-year-old. As a mom of a very curious little toddler, it has made me appreciate the importance of both capturing and propelling that curiosity at every opportunity in my teaching. It is such a beautiful thing.”

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Meaghan is returning to Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary in September to teach

Kindergarten. Those are some lucky fiveyear-olds.

Meaghan, Kyle and baby Alice enjoying summer on the North Shore.

w HOME PURCHASE w REFINANCE w CHIP REVERSE MORTGAGE w MORTGAGE RENEWAL w HOME EQUITY w MORTGAGE LIFE INSURANCE w COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE FINANCING

Give us a call... we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

MICHAEL ALEXANDER - mortgage professional | 604.961.6457 michael.alexander@dominionlending.ca | 201-1571 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver

Photo: Courtesy of M. Robertson

Sept 2016

PAGE 5

Schools

So many options for early years education by

Beverly Pausche

S

chool has just started, so it’s a good bet that not many people are thinking about next September. But at West Vancouver Schools (WVS), opportunities abound for students living in catchment and beyond, and planning is already underway for next September.

Applications for in-catchment placement (Grades 1-12) and all Kindergarten programs that start in 2017 begin next month, so now is the time for families to learn more about what’s available across the district.

So what is early learning?

Early learning incorporates social, emotional, physical and academic programming for children 0-8 years old. Following the BC Ministry of Education curriculum and the BC Early Learning Framework, plus current research by experts in the Early Childhood Education field, the district’s primary classrooms focus on play-based, emotionally supportive, academically stimulating, language-enriched dynamic programming.

If your child will turn five before December 31, s/he will be entering Kindergarten next year. Now is the time to begin visiting schools to learn more about the learning options available, as applications open online at www.westvancouverschools.ca for Kindergarten students beginning at 8 am on Monday, October 17.

Before you apply online, it’s a good

“

idea to visit several schools to determine which program and/or school is best for you and your child. While your neighbourhood school is often the best choice, the district also offers a number of early learning choice programs, including Montessori, French Immersion and the IB Primary Years program. All our schools perform at or near the top academically, but other considerations for parents may include things like proximity to the school, availability of programming in later years, a second language, accessibility, transportation, school focus (if any), school size, availability of before and after school care on site or the school’s physical setting.

Start with your neighbourhood school and look at nearby or specialty options that interest your family. In all cases, please remember to contact the principal of the school you wish to visit in advance, to ensure that the principal or a designated staff member is available to assist you during the tour and answer questions.

At West Vancouver Schools, we want all families to have the best possible start in school. We look forward to supporting you and your child as the school years begin. If you have questions about any of these options or want to discuss your family’s personal situation, please contact the district principal for early learning, Sandra-Lynn Shortall at sshortall@ wvschools.ca or visit the WVS website at www.westvancouverschools.ca.

JOIN OUR TEAM

“... now is the time for families to learn more about what’s available across the district.”

BENEFITS INCLUDE: • University tuition grants • Bean stock grants • Full benefits (when you work 20 hours a week or more) • RRSP matching • Discounted stock purchase • Competitive hourly wage • Flexible work schedule • Great team environment focused on customer connection • Partner discounts • Weekly coffee mark-outs • Free drinks when you work For more information visit starbucks.ca or call Steve at 604-922-4955

A great place to read, Cypress Park Elementary.

Photo provided

Concentrated play at Eagle Harbour Montessori.

Photo provided

PAGE

6

Sept 2016

So what’s the big deal about saying ‘Thank you’?

Psyched Out Ian Macpherson

R

ebecca expects life’s rewards to come to her without much effort on her part. Her friends find her pretty demanding. She is often frustrated and disappointed with them. Her marriage suffers.

Flashback to her childhood. You know the situation. Becky’s mother was always afraid of harming her daughter or losing the girl’s love if Becky’s every whim was not satisfied. Mother also dreaded ever asking Becky to clean up her mess or do chores for fear of angry defiance.

Maybe Becky is not representative of the majority, but from a recent survey of college students, it looks like a ‘sense of entitlement’ is on the increase. Young adults are seeing themselves as significantly more capable, without justification, and much more deserving than they did a generation ago. The society we live in is partly at fault - affluence, easy credit, ever-present advertising that we have a ‘right’ to this or that luxury and a generation of parents who have fallen prey

Correction In the July 2016 edition of the Beacon, we incorrectly reported that Caulfeild Village was the location of the first Canadian Starbucks. But the first store did in fact open on March 1, 1987 at the Seabus Skytrain Station. Many thanks to Laura Groos for pointing this out.

to what some call the ‘self-esteem movement’ in which children are told how great they are for doing even trivial tasks.

Later, as adults with inflated egos, they feel short-changed when they miss out on unearned accolades.

Such selfimportant focus takes its toll on relationships.

And relationships are where some antidote to the culture of entitlement can be found. In his ‘love lab’, renowned researcher Professor John Gottman has found that one of the major building blocks of a happy relationship is a per-

“

vasive fondness and admiration - a culture of appreciation. He helps unhappy couples shake off narcissistic beliefs, to feel empowered by their own efforts and thankfulness toward their partners.

Entitlement can sometimes be more subtle. Families may do fairly well together but still take each other and much of life’s gifts for granted.

Such families rarely express appreciation and this has a negative impact on their general well-being. Meanwhile, back in Philadelphia, at happiness research cen-

“Families may do fairly well together but still take each other and much of life’s gifts for granted.”

tral, every day is Thanksgiving Day! Here psychologist Martin Seligman has his students practice acts and words of gratitude several times a day. The strategy has the remarkable effect of lifting their life happiness ratings, increasing their empathy toward others and even improving their physical health.

So imagine Becky’s mom being less anxious about depriving and more focused on helping her girl count her blessings. Becky would have a better chance of developing appreciation, personal power and resilience in her life. Good job, Mom! Thank you!

Ian Macpherson is a psychologist who lives and practices in West Vancouver.

More at www.westvancouvertherapist.com

Crosswalk safety with a smile and a wave by

Chris Stringer

T

erron Falk, a Westmount resident whose children attend West Bay Elementary, spent several years attempting to get the attention of City Hall to improve crosswalk safety at the intersections of Westmount and Thompson, and Westmount and Mathers, with no success. “I’m a Dad and I care for the safety of my own and other kids,” says Terron.

It was when a car narrowly missed a girl crossing the street, but hit her dog, that Terron and concerned community parents, together with West Bay Elementary principal, Judy Duncan, stepped up the pressure. They eventually succeeded in getting stop signs installed at both inter-

upWardcoNStructioN.ca 101-1305 Welch Street, North VaNcouVer MOBILE: 604.790.0472 OFFICE: 778.340.1355

Integrity and craftsmanship on Vancouver’s North Shore

sections and additional caution signage for drivers approaching the crosswalk.

At the end of every school day, all 6 feet 4 inches and 260 pounds of Terron can be seen at the crosswalk, smiling and waving at each passing car. Occasionally, fiveyear-old son, Theo, accompanies him. “I believe that a smile and wave are a far better way of getting people’s help and compliance than anything else. About 75% of people smile back and 95% actually wave.”

Terron’s work day starts early and ends at 2pm so he can fulfil his daily volunteer crossing guard duties. He is a portfolio manager and first vice president at CIBC Wood Gundy securities.

If you happen to drive by and see Terron, a smile and a thank-you would be much appreciated.

Photo: Glenn Owen Terron in his crossing guard safety vest, manning the crosswalk.

“At Amici restaurant we specialize in old world Italian cooking, where the food is plentiful and delicious! You want Italian?

We’ll give you Italian with our tradition of warm hospitality.”

- Scott

1747 Marine Drive, West Vancouver | 604.913.1314

Sept 2016

PAGE 7

mountains to sea

THE ARBUTUS: a tree with theatrical style Elspeth Bradbury

T

he arbutus is a wildly theatrical tree: a show-off whose broad flashy leaves upstage our local ensemble of modestly needled evergreens; a joker who sheds a harlequin coat of reds to reveal a skin of tender green; a prima donna with an eye for a spectacular setting, a yearning for the limelight and an unfortunate propensity to sulk.

Is it any wonder that such a tree tempts writers to reach for improbable metaphors and artists to reach for their brushes?

Mary-Jean Butler is one such star-struck painter who succumbed, many years ago, to the charms of these trees and has never tired of portraying them in all their moods and vagaries.

Mary-Jean grew up near Vancouver’s Endowment Lands, walked the trails, picked blackberries and swam at Spanish Banks. When she hiked with her family on the North Shore she was deeply impressed by the intricate patterns of colour created by mosses and rocks on the forest floor. A childhood friend, Colleen Wood, had enrolled in the Fine Arts program at Langara College and a year later Mary-Jean followed suit. There she spent “just the best two years” immersed in a wide variety of artistic disciplines, after which she continued her studies with two years in the graphic design program at Capilano College. The following years were taken up with marriage, family and a move to West Vancouver. Colleen meanwhile discovered a passion for travel that has never waned. Eventually, the friends joined forces and set up their own

graphic design company, Butler + Wood Design, which has been in business now for sixteen years.

The delight that Mary-Jean had felt as a child when she first began to notice the subtle colours of the forest has always stayed with her and it was only a matter of time before she began to explore those appealing earth tones with oil paint. The arbutus with its wayward growth and its dramatic shoreline settings proved the perfect subject for her experiments with composition and light. She began to paint portraits of the trees that grew on the bluffs in her local parks: Whytecliff, Kloochman and Lighthouse. Encouraged by a positive response from shows at the West Vancouver Memorial Library and the Ferry Building Gallery she soon found herself working steadily at her canvases. “By now” she reflects, “I must know every one of our local trees

intimately.” More sales, commissions and awards followed, and three years ago the Vancouver Art Gallery accepted her into their widely respected Art Rental and Sales program.

This seems to be a story with a happy ending, but in true theatrical style, the arbutus has contrived to introduce an element of tragedy. The tree is under stress for a daunting number of fungal infections, from extremes of climate change and from human activities. Many of the individuals that Mary-Jean has painted with such admiration over the years are no longer the vibrant stars they were. Leaf spots mar their glossy complexions and cankers blacken

their trunks. Once vigorous branches have bleached to grey. The paintings that originally celebrated vibrant growth are beginning to document a disturbing decline and are fast becoming precious records of bygone days. There is little to be done but value our remaining trees and hope that, in response to popular demand, they will insist that the show must go on.

Mary-Jean adds the finishing touches to an arbutus painting.

Photo: Courtesy of Colleen Wood

Soaring Mary-Jean Butler’s portrait of an arbutus at Juniper Point in Lighthouse Park.

Photo: Courtesy of Mary-Jean Butler

1) Are you tired?

10THE SECOND THE 1010 SECOND SECOND SLEEP SLEEP QUIZ QUIZ 2) Do you snore?

SLEEP QUIZ

1) Are 1) Are you you tired? tired?

2) Do 2) you Do you snore? snore?

3) Do you have high blood pressure? S O L U T I O NS OS L U T I O N S 4) Does your partner see you choke or stop breathing at night?

3) Do 3) you Do you havehave high high bloodblood pressure? pressure?

If yES tO ANy 2 Or mOrE Of thESE quEStIONS, 4) Does 4) Does youryour partner partner see you seechoke you choke yOu mAy hAvE SlEEp #215ApNEA. – 1433 #215Lonsdale – 1433 Lonsdale Avenue Avenue tAlk tO yOur DOCtOr Or CAll Our ClINIC tO fIND Out mOrE INfOrmAtION North Vancouver, North Vancouver, BC, V7M 2H9 BC, V7M 2H9 or stop or stop breathing breathing at night? at night?

AbOut SlEEp ApNEA AND hOw It CAN bE DIAgNOSED AND trEAtED. Tel: 604.985.1440 Tel: 604.985.1440 yes If to yesany to 2any or more 2 or more of these of these questions questions you may you have may have AreIfsleep you tired?

Fax: 604.985.9471 Fax: 604.985.9471 sleep apnea, apnea, talk to talk your to your doctor doctor or call or our call clinic our to clinic find to find #215-1433 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC 604.985.1440 S O LU T I O out out more more information information aboutabout sleep sleep apneaapnea and how and it how can it can Do you snore? #2-38003 2nd Avenue, Squamish, BC 604.690.1130 be diagnosed be diagnosed and treated. and treated. www.clinicalsleep.com www.clinicalsleep.com

THE 10 SECOND SLEEP QUIZ 1) 2)

N S

www.clinicalsleep.com

3) Do you have high blood pressure?

4) Does your partner see you choke

#215 – 1433 Lonsdale Avenue

PAGE

8

Sept 2016

community personality

The Bannisters from Horseshoe Bay with a globa Community Personality Chris Stringer

L

iz and John Bannister sum up their lives in two statements: “Youth has been our passion,” and “We love to travel”. And they have crafted these into 54 extraordinary years together.

Growing up in London, John and his sister were evacuated to a family in Leeds during the war. In 1956, at age 21, John got his first taste of travel when he emigrated to Canada.

After two years as a social worker in Cranbrook, he returned briefly to England where

he met and instantly fell in love with Liz. Back in Vancouver, he was determined to persuade Liz to join him. She did, two years later, but John says it wasn’t easy: “It took over a hundred letters and costly phone calls to finally persuade her!” They married in 1962.

Liz taught, and John worked as a social worker and completed a BA and BSW from UBC. In 1966 they moved back to England where John took a teaching diploma at Oxford and Liz gave birth to their first son, Christopher. On returning to Canada, John taught high school for a year and then drove his family to Toronto to take his Masters at U of T. Next came a teaching/counselling position in Labrador. Liz was delighted, as she said to be a true Canadian, one had to experience living in the Canadian North. Julian, their second son, was born in Labrador in 1969.

Wanting to see more of the world, they applied to the Federal Government (CIDA) to teach overseas. In 1970, John, Liz and their young children arrived in Kano on the edge of the Sahara, in northern Nigeria, where they both taught at an all-male teachers’ college. “It was here, while being exposed to the daily struggles of African life, that we were forced to question our own set of priorities and values,” says John. Liz adds, “Living and teaching for four years in a Muslim society in northern Nigeria changed me profoundly.

The 18-year-old men I taught were not really interested in exploring other cultures and for them I was always ‘the other’. After that experience I saw Canada’s multiculturalism as important and knew I wanted to work with young people coming to Canada from different cultures. I never wanted any of them to

John with Vutti villagers in Zimbabwe.

docsonthebay.ca A warm, friendly, inclusive, place in Horseshoe Bay where you and your family will receive physician,counselling, physiotherapy attention and care.

Photo provided

feel they were being seen as ‘the other’.”

Before returning to Vancouver in 1974, John drove his Volkswagen van across the Sahara accompanied by two friends, 25 cans of gas, 25 containers of water and sand ladders. They made it in 16 days.

After Nigeria, John taught at Capilano College.

Liz went to UBC for ESL training, taught in Vancouver and later moved to Capilano College to teach the Vietnamese boat people.

In the mid 1980s, shocked by images of the Ethiopian famine, John and Liz returned to Africa. “Nothing prepared us for Ethiopia. We flew with the Belgian air force to deliver sacks of Canadian grain to an area besieged by rebel forces.

Liz and Joh We landed at one end of Mek’ele’s Photo: Gl airstrip with life-giving grain while Russian helicopter gunships with life-taking hardware took off at the other end. Our one-day mission ended up lasting four: we too became besieged.”

When the B.C. schools asked for more information on Africa, John developed a program and spoke in many high schools in B.C. while Liz put on workshops for elementary teachers. When high school students said, “Don’t just talk about Africa, take us there!” the Bannisters concluded that they had to find a way to do just that; so they started the

BY APPOINTMENT OR JUST DROP IN:

MON TO FRI 8AM -7PM SAT 9AM -1PM

604.921.7120

Raising the bar for health and wellness delivery in the community, for the community

Sept 2016

PAGE 9

al mission

BC Youth Development Tour to Africa. The idea was to bring together young Canadian and African students in Africa, to learn about what did and did not work in Canada’s International Development programs.

With some government assistance and considerable student fundraising efforts, John and Liz spent six weeks in Africa (in 1989 and 1990), with two groups of Grade 11 students. In 1991 Z imbabwean students came to B.C. The B.C. students were required to share their experiences through a series of talks to schools and community groups.

Liz left teaching and accepted a job with B.C. Save the Children, initially to manage their projects in Africa and Cenhn at home. tral America. This was meant to lenn Owen be a part-time job before retirement but instead she became the Executive Director. She says, “It was the most demanding, exhausting, heart-breaking and inspirational job in the world, getting to know, and learning from, so many amazing people around the world.”

SCF, with funds from CIDA and from supporters and community groups throughout BC, worked in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The focus was to improve the lives of children through integrated grass-roots development in education, health, and agri-

culture. John filmed and produced videos on SCF’s international projects in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, Honduras and Mexico. The videos were used in schools and for community groups throughout the province.

John recalls, “In Nampula, Mozambique, while visiting a rural health clinic, I started to prepare to film a group of mothers with their babies strapped to their backs. The moment I clicked open the camera tripod the women screamed and rushed for the door.

They thought I had a gun. We learned that the day before rebels had attacked the clinic and kidnapped three women.”

John and Liz have enjoyed many challenges but John’s personal one has been contending with a congenital spinal condition which forced him to undergo multiple surgeries.

In 2002 he was confined to a scooter, but this has not slowed him down one bit, and in 2006, John, on his scooter, was one of the most visible sights at the Eagleridge Bluffs, as protestors defied the construction of that section of the Olympic Sea to Sky project that would destroy a unique wilderness. John was arrested, with 23 others, and had to pay fines and complete 250 hours of community service which is somewhat ironic considering his life’s activities.

For the last eight years the Bannisters have enjoyed winters in Mexico. Their sons, daughters-in-law and five grandchildren visit often. John and Liz support Mexican high school students and John is involved with a local group who are working to improve handicapped accessibility in the Old Town of Mazatlan where they stay. They try, they say, but their Spanish is still pathetic!

“Our journey isn’t over. We are proud Canadians. Every day we remind ourselves how lucky we are to call West Vancouver home.

We try to live up to Joseph Campbell’s view that one must go joyfully through a sorrowful world.”

Defiant protestor, John Bannister, obstructing construction on Eagleridge Bluffs.

Photo provided

Photo provided Inside a Belgian airforce plane carrying Canadian grain. Liz took ten year old Habesha to find her grandfather in Mek’ele. The netting on the wall is to hang onto during take off.

PAGE

10

Sept 2016

Caulfeild Cove Hall - Upcoming Events

DINNER & DANCE Oct 1

Presented by

Tickets $60 from eventbrite.ca 778.279.4779

www.ponomarevapianist.com

Svetlana PonomarĂŤva piano

& guest Antoine VillĂŠger

Handel, Liszt, Gershwin and more

23 October 2016 2:00 pm St Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church 4773 South Piccadilly Rd. West Vancouver BC V7W 1J8 Canada Tickets $15 at the door (cash/cheque)

invites you to

8pm October 29th Tickets $28 at caulfeildcovehall.ca BEST COSTUME PRIZE! 4773 Piccadilly Road South, Caulfeild

the penny mitchell group

Families helping Families Counselling support education

phone: 604-812-7411

Our vision is a connected community where people care for one another. We annually serve close to 7400 individuals and families through a broad range of social services to children, youth, adults, couples, and families from a diverse array of cultural and economic backgrounds.

familyservices.bc.ca

1

Sept 2016

PAGE 11

St. Francis-in-the-wood

Young gardeners at work

by Tara

Mason

F

ollowing a germ of an idea and initiative by super-mom, Carolyn Wray, the garden behind the Caulfeild Cove Hall in the play area has undergone a wonderful transformation! The area was looking a little unloved but, with the help of a community, all that has changed.

Bloomingfields and Libby Wootten kindly donated their expertise, time and hard work to clear the area. Maple Leaf Garden Centre and West Van Florist donated a wonderful array of plants, tools for little hands and lots of fun accessories. This paved the way for fantastic volunteers from St. Francis-in-the-Wood Church, Tiddlycove Montessori School and many children and their parents to gather and plant a wide selection of vegetables and flowering plants.

A few weeks of gentle rain and hot sunshine has worked its magic, and lettuce, peas, sweet peas and herbs are ready to harvest. The jeweled colours of swiss chard, and the fragrant scents of lavender and lush strawberries abound. Butterflies are frequent visitors. Children take turns watering the plants and their excitement is delightful to watch.

Of course, as with all gardens, this is just the start. Continued maintenance, and weeding and planting for the fall will start soon. A wind chime, bird house, wormery and rain barrel are all in the pipeline.

Photo provided Jacob tends the lettuce while Knox handles the heavy digging. Ford issues the instructions and Jamie is just cute! L to R/ Jacob Ramsbottom, Knox Leeson, Ford Leeson, Jamie Ramsbottom.

Messy Church... it’s not what you’d think! by

I

Chris Stringer

must confess, before I attended, I was confused about Messy Church. For the longest time, I assumed that work parties met one Saturday a month to clean up the church premises and have fun in the process. Boy, was I wrong!

This intrepid Beacon reporter arrived on the scene one Saturday afternoon to find a decorated church hall filled with children between 3 and 11 years of age. A couple of them were running around chasing a balloon, but most were sitting at tables engrossed in various

forms of arts and crafts. Parents, grandparents and helpers hovered around helping to decorate the cupcakes or string the beads. My real answer came at the painting table. Yes, it was indeed Messy!

The Messy-ness increased when they went outside to work in the newly-planted vegetable garden beside the playground. After hasty clean-ups, the children gathered around the piano and in the church for seed-planting stories and singing. One father seized this opportunity to give his under-aged reveler a bottle of milk.

There was plenty of giggling and laughter until the food arrived and everyone settled at tables with their macaroni and cheese and cup-

cakes. Food did wind up on the table and the floor. How does a 6-year old attend to food on his plate when the child next to him still has her cupcake that looks pretty inviting?

Jan Volker has been a regular with her grandchildren who range in age from 3 to 7.

She says, “The kids make sure I don’t forget about Messy Church. It has become something that each of them looks forward to now, so I’m committed. And it gives the parents a break too.”

Messy Church is held on the 4th Saturday of the month at 4pm. For further information please call Janice Lowell at 604-922-3531 or drop in at 4pm on the 4th Saturday.

A regular Messy Church day.

Photo provided

Join us for fun on the fourth (4th) Saturday each month.

Services Sundays 8am &10am (with Sunday School)

Wednesdays 10am 4772 Piccadilly Road South 604.922.3531 | stfrancisinthewood.ca

• c rafts • g a m e s • fo o d • songs s e i r o t s • e We heopyou e s o t ere! th

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH A place for families celebrating community 4772 PICCADILLY ROAD SOUTH

PAGE

12

Sept 2016

Welcome Rob Gloor, Executive Director, Kay Meek by

James Slaney

R

ob Gloor began his musical journey across Canada after receiving a Bachelor of Musical Arts from Western, and an MBA from Queen’s University; but in truth it started long before that. “My involvement in music and theatre began in my hometown of Stratford, Ontario. I studied piano, sang in choirs, and my very first job at the age of 11 was onstage in Henry VI at the Stratford Festival. Performances in Canada, the US and England gave me the opportunity to share the stage with great performers from Maureen Forrester in the classical realm to ABBA at Maple Leaf Gardens. There’s no question those early experiences set me up to spend my life working in the arts. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” says Kay Meek’s new Executive Director.

Beginning as General Manager of the London Youth Symphony, then Director of Marketing with Opera Ontario, Rob moved west, joining Winspear Centre and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as their

Director of Marketing and Development.

But after 3 years, Orchestra London Canada lured him back home to take on the executive directorship and his work was rewarded with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award in development of community support.

Having ventured to Vancouver during his time in Edmonton, Rob fell in love with the West Coast and the lifestyle it offered.

So in 2009 he began consulting for arts organizations here in B.C. He served on and chaired various arts boards and in 2012 became the Executive Director for the B.C. Alliance for the Arts & Culture before joining Kay Meek in June this year.

Rob is married, and he and his partner are building a home on Bowen Island. Rob enjoys his daily commute to Kay Meek through ‘Beacon country’- Fisherman’s Cove, Lighthouse Park and along the waterfront.

Welcome to West Vancouver, Rob. Please check out the Kay Meek programs for the upcoming year through kaymeekcentre.com.

Rob Gloor enjoying the architecture at the Kay Meek Centre.

Photo provided

Teenage adventures up Indian Arm Rafe Reminiscing Rafe Mair

W

hen I was a boy I had the good luck to spend much of my time up Indian Arm with my uncle and aunt, Bill and Lois Hatfield, who owned an island just off North Woodlands. What a fantastic place for youngsters, with a tidal

VERSION 2 aHORIZONTAL pool and lots of shiners around the float for such wonderful idea at the time. I GOTHAM made a LIGHT halfHorizontal a dozen kids, five of them because they young lads like me to use as bait for rock- noisy and spectacular dive, swam under the thought I’d drowned, me because of the rat cod. Needless to say we all were endless floats and came up between two logs. Every- and I guess that would make seven all told if swimmers, and my cousins, Ann and Bar- thing was going perfectly – until I opened you add the rat. bara, had many young friends, meaning lots my eyes: I was facing an enormous wharf Thirteen-year-old girls expressed their of great swimming companions. rat looking at me eyeball to eyeball. I pre- fear with piercing screams and vows never One day, during my show-off, hopping sume the rat got out of there as well but he again to swim on that wharf. That was my hormones days, I decided to scare the girls couldn’t possibly have done it as quickly as I lingering pleasure because, when my own by diving off the float and going straight un- did. I was soon back on the wharf. The girls sins faded away, I could always get a rise rederneath, hiding between the supporting had been plenty scared because I had been minding them of the pleasant creatures that logs; I would be able to breathe, so could under a lot longer than they thought was inhabit the subsurface around the wharf stay there long enough to have half the good, and they’d already summoned adults where they loved to swim. community worried about me. It seemed to look for me. There we were - I had scared

Book your Eye Exam at IRIS Today Vision plays an important role in every aspect of our lives. Our vision allows us to experience the world to its fullest. A complete eye examination checks your overall eye health, measures changes to vision and develops a plan to enhance and maintain your eye sight. Book your eye health and vision examination at IRIS today.

Dr. Jenna Fukushima Optometrist

Dr. Jenna Fukushima Optometrist

Caulfeild Village Mall 5313 Headland Drive

604.923.4747

1 F

Sept 2016

PAGE 13

Not all expenses are tax deductible Armchair Accountant Rebecca van der Horst

A

s a self-employed individual, there are many expenses that are deductible but some that definitely are not.

If you do not wish to raise any red flags with Canada Revenue Agency, keep in mind that the following expenses are not deductible:

Pets - Pet food and veterinary bills are typically not deductible but if your dog is a service dog or a guard dog, deductions may apply.

Clothing - If a uniform or clothing items are necessary to your job, then you may deduct them (i.e. steel toe boots, hardhats, safety goggles, gloves, uniforms).

Food - Taking a client out for a business meeting qualifies as a legitimate meal expense. If you are lazy and order in every night instead of cooking, however, you should not include those ‘meal tickets’.

Vehicles - Whether or not your vehicle has advertising on it, you can only deduct the expenses that correspond to the total kilometers in a year that are driven for business purposes.

School expenses - Make sure to claim allowable tuition expenses on your return, or transfer them to a family member approved

by CRA. School supplies such as computers are not deductible but there may be allowances for books.

If you decide to claim expenses which are not allowed, and you are ever audited, said

expenses may be disallowed, and you will have to pay the taxes and may face additional penalties and interest.

Tally all receipts you are claiming and keep them handy with a copy of your T1 income tax return and schedule T2125 as they will be necessary if you are ever audited.

Talk to your accountant about the potential of deducting any expenses, especially those you are unsure about. Be informed before you file. officesolutions@me.com

Jewel in the town by

Dave Patrick

“S

eniors in Canada outnumber kids under 15 for first time ever,” was the headline in the Financial Post after a Statistics Canada report made the revelation in September 2015. Baby boomers have only recently arrived on the seniors’

Bicycling in the Fall.

The Beacon team is growing!

scene and there are many more to follow, so expect that statistic to increase for many more years.

Today’s seniors are not ready for the ‘rocking chair on the porch’. They yearn for social and physical activity. West Vancouver has responded with the extremely popular Seniors’ Activity Centre at 22nd and Marine, with activities ranging from hiking and cy-

Photo provided

cling clubs to computer, art, photography, snooker and fitness programs. Concerts and dances are held regularly, and day trips are tailored to fit all tastes and physical abilities.

Support for grief or loneliness is provided through the award-winning Keeping Connected program.

Don’t want to cook today? Come on down and enjoy a wonderful ‘home-cooked’ meal at the Garden Side Café. Be ready for lively conversation or find a quiet corner overlooking the gardens.

“I don’t know where the Centre would be without the efforts of approximately eighty volunteers and the small complement of dedicated staff that work each day. The infamous annual Seniors’ Flea Market is coordinated by over two hundred volunteers,” says Jill Lawlor, Community Recreation Manager with the District of West Vancouver.

For more information, please phone the Centre at 604-925-7280 or check their website at westvancouver.ca/seniors. Be sure to pick up a copy of the bi-monthly magazine Seniors’ Scene which is available at the Centre, at Civic Centres, the library and many other neighbourhood outlets.

We are delighted to introduce one of the most adorable members of our Beacon family. We can see why she is the apple of daddy Javier and mommy Melissa’s eye. Melissa is our very talented creative director. Welcome to the family Audrey! Thank-you for sharing your mommy with us.

Photo: M. Baker

ICBC Claims | Personal Injury Litigation Free Consultations

Pettit

and ComPany* Trial lawyers

Has moved to the Westview shopping Centre 301-2609 Westview Drive, North Vancouver P. 604.998.0901 www.pettitandco.com

|

* Services provided through a law corporation.

PAGE

14

Sept 2016

Home & Living

Fast & healthy meals for back-to-school A Culinary View Maureen Goulet

T

he carefree life of summer is coming to an abrupt end with the start of school and busy routines. Most children today have little time for cookies and milk at home while discussing their school day. After-school snacks such as granola bars are usually dealt out in the car on the way to and from ballet class or rugby practice.

I liked to give my children something homemade and more substantial than an energy bar.

Most kids love hot dogs and now there are healthier alternatives like tofu or chicken instead of the traditional wieners. Start off by making any of your favorite bread recipes, or use frozen bread dough. Roll into strips 1 inch wider than your wiener. Brush with mustard and place the wiener on top. Roll

the wiener in dough so the end overlaps ½ day. The ladies from Best of Bridge will be Baked inch. Tuck ends in and press or use egg wash teaching a slow cooking class at Ambrosia Ravioli to seal. Let rise 30 minutes in a warm draft- on Oct 3. Learn how to make appetizers, Serves 4-6 3 cups (7 free place and bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes dinners and desserts all in your slow cooker!

50 mL) to mato past Vegetarian and kid-friendly, courtesy until golden. Cool and freeze until needed. a sauce (your favo ri te jarred kin of Best of Bridge Family Another quick healthy 1 lb (500 d) g) fresh o r frozen ra snack is veggie sticks in a Slow Cooker by The Best 1 cup (25 violi 0 mL) rico cup. Cut into sticks, carof Bridge © 2016 www. tta cheese 1 cup (25 0 mL) shred robertrose.ca www.berots, cucumbers, peppers ded mozz arella cheese stofbridge.com and any other vegetable Pour a thir When there’s no your child will eat. Purchase d of the to mato sauc 4- to 5-qu small clear disposable cups time to layer lasagna, a e into a art slow c ooker. Top the ravioli with half , spreadin (with lids), usually available bag of ravioli will come g it out in even laye a roughly r. Dollop h close to the real thing. at the dollar store. Pour a ¼ alf the ric the spoon o tta on top fu l.

T op with an Spend 5 minutes early inch of your favorite salad by sauce, an other third Photo: Courtesy of other laye of the r of ravioli in the afternoon and dressing in the bottom of and the re and ricott st of the sa Maureen Goulet a, uce. If you about 1/3 you’ll be rewarded the cup and place the sticks like, add cup (75 m A delicious vegetarian L) water to and swish with a hearty feast at standing up in the dip. Your the jar it around to get all baked ravioli. out, then the sauce kids will love these already dinnertime. pour over to p. Cover a low for 4 t nd cook o o 5 hours dipped sticks and they are great for car trips! n or until pa Maureen Goulet is the owner of AmSprinkle w sta is tend it h mozzare At this busy time of year, the slow cooker er. lla, cover for 5 to 10 brosia Cooking School where great and cook minutes to could become your best friend. Tossing a let the ch while you chefs come to share their culinary eese melt set the ta b le couple of ingredients into one of these first . secrets. Visit www.ambrosiaadventhing in the morning can produce a nutritures.com tional and delicious meal at the end of the

Different learning styles need never become disabling Domenica Mastromatteo

I

t’s back to school season and for many parents and educators that means new IEPs (individual education plans) for children with learnings challenges. Most children identified as ‘learning-disabled’ are wired to learn differently and “we now have

the ability not only to detect a wide range of differences in learning styles and approaches, but also to meet many of the special needs that arise from these differences” (The Mislabeled Child by Brock Eide and Fernette Eide).

Unfortunately, the accommodations made for children with learning challenges are sometimes perceived as ‘special advantages’ and it becomes the parents’ job to advocate a whole new perspective. Accommodations are not ways of getting children out of work, but rather getting children into the kind of work that promotes successful learning.

Parents must take the lead at IEP meetings, providing documents and information (such as notes, correspondence and emails with teachers, school officials, doctors and therapists) that will increase the odds of their child getting the best accommodations.

Discussions should include your child’s strengths, specific learning challenges, problems encountered in the past, and a list of accommodations that have previously been helpful. Goals (areas where you would like to see your child improve) are an important part of the IEP. Your child’s different learning

IV THERAPY

VITAMIN • MINERAL • NUTRIENT Our registered nurse is qualified to compound and administer our cocktails. They are tailored to your specific needs making our infusion therapy unique to each client.

HEALTHY AGING • MYERS COCKTAIL IMMUNE BOOSTER POST-PARTY PICKUP • ANXIETY & DEPRESSION SUPPORT CHRONIC/AUTO IMMUNE CONDITIONS SUPPORT ACTIVE LIFESTYLE SUPPORT • VISION SUPPORT

style need never become disabling.

The initial IEP meeting is just the beginning. Regular communication between parents and the school is necessary to assess the child’s progress. According to additudemag.com, “It’s imperative to document your child’s difficulties, to be assertive about receiving progress reports, and to push for changes to the IEP as the need arises.” By working together, parents and schools can ensure that the child is set up for success. dmastromatteo@sensationalchildren.ca

Sept 2016

PAGE 15

䌀愀甀氀昀攀椀氀搀 嘀椀氀氀愀最攀

䌀漀昀昀攀攀Ⰰ 䘀漀漀搀 ☀ 圀椀渀攀

䄀爀琀 ☀ 䘀爀愀洀椀渀最

嘀椀琀愀洀椀渀猀 ☀ 䴀椀渀攀爀愀氀猀

䨀 䜀爀攀最漀爀礀 䴀攀渀ᤠ猀 䄀瀀瀀愀爀攀氀 吀攀氀㨀 㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㄀ⴀ㈀㘀㐀㘀 䴀愀爀椀氀礀渀ᤠ猀 䈀漀甀琀椀焀甀攀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㔀ⴀ㐀㄀㄀ 䴀椀欀愀搀漀 匀甀猀栀椀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㈀㠀㄀ⴀ ㈀ 倀愀猀琀愀洀攀氀椀ᤠ猀 刀攀猀琀愀甀爀愀渀琀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀ⴀ㤀㌀㌀㌀ 倀栀愀爀洀愀猀愀瘀攀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㘀ⴀ㔀㌀㌀㄀ 倀漀猀琀 伀昀昀椀挀攀 吀攀氀㨀㄀ⴀ㠀 ⴀ㈀㘀㜀ⴀ㄀㄀㜀㜀 匀愀 匀愀昀攀眀愀礀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㘀ⴀ㈀㔀㔀 匀瀀愀 伀渀 吀栀攀 刀漀挀欀猀 吀攀氀㨀 㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀ⴀ㌀㘀㌀㘀 匀琀愀爀戀甀挀欀猀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀ⴀ㐀㤀㔀㔀 匀甀戀眀愀礀 吀攀氀㨀 㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㈀ⴀ㜀㔀 ㄀ 嘀愀氀攀琀漀爀 䌀氀攀愀渀攀爀猀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㔀ⴀ㌀㤀 嘀椀氀氀愀最攀 倀攀琀 䘀漀漀搀 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㔀ⴀ㌀㌀㌀㐀 圀椀渀搀猀漀爀 䴀攀愀琀猀 䌀漀⸀ 吀攀氀㨀㘀 㐀ⴀ㤀㈀㘀ⴀ㘀㄀㘀㠀

䘀愀猀栀椀漀渀

Safeway is proud to support local farmers and producers. See our wide range of local products throughout the store.

PAGE

16

Sept 2016

Viv Harvey PREC Helping you Is What I Do

“Engaging Viv Harvey as my realtor was the most exceptional experience of all the moves I have ever made!”

C. Frostad

604.218.1108 vivh@shaw.ca vivharvey.com

Independently owned and operated

Caulfeild Elegance 4898 Vista Place Offered for $3,988,000 Staggering views of the ocean and city from Ambleside and Mount Baker to Point Grey greet you at this majestic, private estate surrounded by nature and situated on a quiet cul-de-sac on one of Caulfeild’s most desirable streets. This gorgeous 5 bedroom home offers an impressive open plan with soaring ceilings, a beautiful limestone entrance and views from every room. The main level living consists of a high end gourmet kitchen, attached family room, sophisticated dining/ living room & a perfect home office/den. Above you will find an incredibly spacious master suite with his and hers walk in closets, fireplace, private, romantic deck and spa like ensuite. Below is a large bedroom for your teen or guests, storage room, huge media/theatre/recreation room and a stunning new wine cellar. There is more than enough space for your growing family and you will enjoy the convenience of being two minutes away from the Caulfeild Shopping Centre and the famous Rockridge Secondary and Caulfeild Elementary schools.