West Vancouver Beacon | January/February 2014 | Edition 3

THE

BEACON

“Shedding light on Caulfeild and neighbouring communities”

January 2014

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Do you have one? How will you keep it?

Robyn Westcott, Rockridge Secondary School INSIDE THIS EDITION PAGE 2: Read about some of your neighbours’ resolutions for the New Year, and see how THEY plan on keeping them.

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PAGE 2

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ing around lly be seen dash Chris can usua ents, taking nising local ev Caulfeild, orga genernewspaper, and photos for the whole a ound - putting ally rushing ar ement. tir e concept of re new spin on th come be d duce stress an He wants to re k or al w is goal is to fitter in 2014. H And y. da y t an hour ever ad re hike for at leas sp to s tion he plan l al for stress-reduc H e ov Caulfeild C the workload at ith w e tim d enjoy fun to volunteers an ease twice a week. Pl n mp his grandchildre bu u yo this when next remind him of e.

Villag into him at the

Raised in Caulfeild, Liz is mom to two kids who are at university and have a tough time keeping up with her. When not at her post as Administrator of St Francis-in-the-Wood church you’ll find Liz extreme-cycling, which brings us to her resolution for 2014: “to strengthen my hill climbing skills”. She plans to accomplish this through twice-weekly weight workouts at the gym and one hill climb ride every week –on the British Properties to Cypress Mountain route.

And the third, very complicated-sounding part of her goal is “to continue to develop my ability to stand on my pedals by increasing the grade and the duration during which I stand.” Looks like 2014 is going to be a blur of activity for Liz.

If you’re look ing for the pe rfect cheese fo special occasi ra on you need C indy, and you’ find her at the ll Deli in Safew ay. An Eagle Harbour reside nt for 25 year s, Cindy’s been with Safeway for 28 years, which would seem to make her resolution particularly tricky– to lose weight. 2013 saw Lisa successfully shed ding 15 poun ds – no mean when surround feat ed by all thos e temptations So 2014 shou . ld be a snap.

Her resolution is to lose anot her five poun ds by May. She plans to acco mplish this by reducing suga and carbohyd r rate consumpt io n. We’ll chec with you in M k ay, Lisa. Goo d luck!

erests Evan instantly When asked about his int wever, after some responded, “Running”. Ho t he also plays on probing, we found out tha ketball team and is the Rockridge School bas Band at St Franthe drummer in the Youth Evan’s resolution cis-in-the-Wood church. ate less and become for 2014 is to procrastin try to accomplish more organized. He will setting small goals this by pre-scheduling and has his work cut as he works on a task. He 12 student he is out right now. As a Grade erwork necessary filling out the reams of pap ke sure that you to apply for university. Ma help with this task, use your resolutions for m the Beacon Team.

Evan, and good luck fro

Happy New Year from the Beacon team CHRIS STRINGER Publisher chrisstringer@shaw.ca

LINDY PFEIL Editor lindypfeil@me.com

DAWN ROBINSON Layout & Graphics

Penny Mitchell Advertising Sales penny@pennymitchell.com

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

MY 14 WISHES FOR 2014 OPINION Lindy Pfeil 1. All self-help books will instantly disappear from the face of the earth. Anything that can be accomplished in five easy steps is not worth doing. Ever.

2. Every little girl in the world will wake up one morning to find a tutu in her favourite colours, sprinkled with sequins, butterflies, and the courage to wear it everywhere.

3. Every little boy in the world will possess a magic cape and a conch shell filled with superpowers… the really important ones… kindness, humility and compassion.

4. We will all watch in silence as the moon rises every night.

5. More kisses will be stolen.

6. We will leap before we look. We will fall. We will pick ourselves up. And we will do this over and over again. Until we fly.

7. Confusion and chaos will be embraced, because that’s where creativity thrives.

8. Success will be measured by the questions we ask, not the answers we give.

9. People everywhere will start dancing, and it will be wild and jarring and discordant, and then one day a pulsing rhythm will rise up. A heartbeat uniting humanity.

And it will be called hope.

10. Families will eat together. Every day.

Around a table. With candles. And find themselves in each other’s eyes.

PAGE 3 be with your loved ones when they die. To hold their hand. To breathe their last breath with them. And to be utterly grateful.

May 2014 give you the opportunity to fill someone else’s soul with wonder, with joy, and with the unconquerable belief that anything is possible. Anything.

11. Every child will have time to play, a roof when it rains, a warm bed at night, a full tummy, and an adult who loves them absolutely, unconditionally, wholly, till death them do part. And they will know it.

In their bones.

XOXO, Lindy n

12. We will walk barefoot in the sand every day, just because we can.

13. Every lonely person on the planet will receive a love letter written by hand, in fancy writing, with purple ink, on beautiful paper, and it will bear the scent of promise.

And passion. And reckless abandon.

14. There will be time. To laugh. To cry. To

THE POWER OF FENG SHUI

by Marlyna Los

F

eng Shui is a body of ancient Chinese knowledge that aims to create harmony between the physical environment, buildings and people. When done correctly, it will help attract success, protect against misfortune, generate opportunities, enhance quality of life, create a supportive space and maximize your potential.

Historically, Feng Shui has been an important reference in the planning and design of homes, businesses, palaces and even cities throughout Asia. But much of what is regarded in North America to be Feng Shui is incorrect and is more accurately described as New Age concepts and superstition.

Feng Shui provides guidance on where, how, when and even with whom to best position ourselves in our environments for our greatest success and benefit. Classical Feng Shui has three main functions – corrective, to remedy existing problems; constructive, to enhance wealth or health or create a specific outcome, and predictive, to expose the past, accurately describe the present, and predict future probabilities.

Feng Shui is not just about moving furniture and placement of ornaments.

Classical Feng Shui starts with analysis. Did you know that up to 70 percent of the energy inside any building is determined by the outside environment? Are there mountains and hills nearby? Which way does the land slope outside the property? How fast is the

traffic? How close to the building is the road?

What direction does the house face? What is the overall shape and condition of the lot and building? When was the building built? All these factors have bearing on what type of energy is present within the home or business.

Classical Feng Shui recommendations and techniques range from subtle in nature such as adding light, painting walls, and yes sometimes moving furniture to sometimes moving doors, walls and staircases, adding or removing water features, building fences, and changing landscaping in order to take advantage or deflect the tangible and intangible forces acting upon the structure in question.

The four main features an expert considers when evaluating a building are the

MARLYNA LOS Master of Feng Shui Consultant - Educator - Author - Speaker

Start the New Year right with optimizing your home or business with Feng Shui. www.fengshuiconsulting.info 604 339 8878 - marlyna@fengshuiconsulting.info

facing direction of the building, its shape, its internal layout, and the main door, master bedroom and kitchen locations.

Proportion is very important for balanced distribution of Qi. The main door determines what type of energy enters the home. Tight and narrow corridors are not conducive to internal Qi flow. The rooms where you spend the most time are the most important, particularly the kitchen since this is where the food that nourishes the family is prepared.

Feng Shui is about self-empowerment. It is not a spiritual pursuit, nor does it create miracles, or bring overnight results. Qi is a natural phenomenon; the goal is to find it and harness it to assist us in attaining specific goals in our daily lives. n

PAGE 4

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PROTECTING OUR 12 CREEKS WV Streamkeepers Society

C

MOUNTAIN TO SEA Elspeth Bradbury

an you name the twelve fish-bearing creeks that flow between Eagle Harbour and West Bay? If you can’t, you are certainly not alone. On a map of West Vancouver the lines that represent watercourses may seem obvious, but on the ground some of our small creeks are hard to spot. Most of us have no idea where they are, let alone what they are called.

If you can name all twelve creeks, chances are that you belong to the West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society. This group is doing its best to make us all more aware of our local creeks, their vulnerability and their importance in our natural landscape.

John Barker, president of the Society for the last four years, explains. “The creeks run more or less north to south but as West Vancouver developed, the main rail and road routes were constructed running east to west. Grading to create level roadbeds drastically altered riverbanks, and in many places long concrete culverts swallowed up the creeks themselves. Stretches of creek are hidden or have simply disappeared. With the District as funding partners we’ve been posting roadside signs, forty in the last three years alone. We want people to understand that the creeks are important habitat. Even if they don’t have salmon, they have resident cutthroat trout.”

Along Marine Drive, the familiar yellow fish signs now alert us to the locations of the creeks in our area.

More recently, Elizabeth Hardy, a Streamkeeper since 1996, has been leading an effort to post smaller signs on pedestri-

an bridges and at creek mouths. “The creek corridors are vital for all kinds of life, from the waterside plants and the bugs to the birds and other creatures that live off them. Frogs, mink and kingfishers, they all depend on a good healthy creek.”

In spite of past damage and modifications to reduce the risk of flooding, John believes that our creeks can still function well. “Coho salmon, for instance, require very modest habitat. They can spawn in the very lowest reaches - just meters from the tide line - but the hatchlings emerge from the gravel beds around April and stay in the creeks for a year before swimming out to sea, so they do need clean water year-round.

WVSS students being taught how to examine a salmon for spawning evidence

by Streamkeeper Hugh Hamilton. n Photo credit: West Vancouver Streamkeepers We don’t have problems with industry so it should be fairly straightforward to keep our creeks healthy. It comes down to our behaviour as residents.”

Both John and Elizabeth emphasize that we must treat our creeks with respect.

Dumping garden waste is a problem, and this year the Society will be distributing a leaflet explaining to residents why the practice is so harmful “We have to stop using our creeks as big garbage chutes,” says Elizabeth. A healthy creek is a sign of a healthy environ-

ment. It seems it may also be a sign of a healthy society.

Oh, and the names of our twelve creeks? From west to east they are: Nelson, Eagle, Wood, Caulfeild, Dogwood, Claymore, Willow, Cypress, Godman, Turner, Cave and Westmount. n Streamkeepers work hard to do their part. To join them, contact: westvancouverstreamkeepers@shaw.ca

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JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 5

BUILDER OF DREAMS

Henry Athelstan Stone

H

CAULFEILD HISTORY Francis Mansbridge

enry Stone was a skilled administrator and organizer, whose life work is woven into the tapestry that is Caulfeild`s history. He chaired the Caulfeild Property Owners’ Association in the mid-1920s, and worked to make Caulfeild a residential community with a distinctive style, compatible with its founder’s vision.

Stone drew up plans for Caulfeild’s gem, St. Francis-in-the-Wood, consecrated January 1, 1928, which successfully replicates a typical English village church.

In a letter written from England September 23, 1925, Caulfeild advised Stone that “tall or unsightly hoardings or fences, and all structure of corrugated iron or oth- Gallery, and donated the very considerable er unsightly material” be forbidden. Stone sum of $50,000 to help its establishment. A certainly followed his intent. In a letter to plaque by the Gallery’s entrance is dedicated to Stone, whose “genWest Vancouver Council May 5, 1926, he in- “In commemoration of erosity and initiative veighs against the erec- Stone’s interest, the contributed so much to the foundation of the art tion of “objectionable new street was named gallery”. amusement houses”.

His brief book,

When early Stone Crescent.”

A Short History of Caulfeild resident Mrs. Flaherty needed money, but couldn’t sell her Caulfeild Village, is an intimate account of cottage because it was inaccessible, Stone the community’s early development. He took it on himself to subdivide her property, built his own home, Stonehaven, in 1909 and put through a road to give access; this in the prime location of Piccadilly South enabled the lady to find a buyer. In commem- at Marine Drive. While it was torn down oration of Stone’s interest, the new street was in 2006, the family spirit lives on in an impressive stained glass window across from named Stone Crescent.

Stone had done well as a wholesale the entrance to the West Vancouver Memerchant in Vancouver, and used much of his morial Library. Donated by his daughter acquired wealth as a legacy for future genera- Mrs. Gentles, and, like Stone’s gift, is a metions. He was closely involved with the plan- morial to his son Horace, who died while on ning and development of the Vancouver Art active service in World War I. n

Stonehaven was built by Stone in 1909 as his personal residence, in the prime location of Piccadilly South at Marine Drive. n Photo credit: West Vancouver Archives Henry Stone on the left, with his brother Charlie Stone. n Photo Credit: West Vancouver Archives

St-Francis-in-the-Wood Church as it is seen today. The original church was planned by Stone, and consecrated on January 1, 1928. n Photo credit: Roy Markovitch

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PAGE 6

THE BEACON

JANUARY 2014

THE 72 YEAR LONG LOVE AFFAIR

Grace & George

I

PEOPLE & PROFILES Lindy Pfeil

n 1941 Grace Lambert found herself completely alone in Essex, England.

Her mother had died when she was eleven years old, and she and her four brothers had been raised by their father. It was wartime. Three of her brothers were in the forces, the fourth evacuated to the English countryside. And then her father died.

She was just seventeen.

The local youth club had taken a collection for Grace, to help her out in her time of need, and sixteen-year-old George Coules had been nominated to deliver it.

He knocked at her door, and what Grace remembers is a tall, skinny chap who looked half-starved. He asked her if there was anything around the house he could help out with. She replied that the electric fire was broken. George proceeded to repair it, and 72 years later, says Grace with an impish smile, “the light still burns”.

“I loved you when I first saw you, and I still feel the same... I will love [you] till the day I die”

George remembers Grace as “friendly, good-looking, and well-presented. I thought we’d be happy together”, so he wasted no time, and asked her to marry him. At the time she was covered in bandages, having been badly burned in a fire.

As in all good love stories, Grace said yes, and they tied the knot when he was just 19, and she 20, despite his mother’s protestations that their marriage would never last, since they were both far too young.

Life was not always easy for the couple. George served in the Navy until the end of 1946, while Grace worked in telecommunications in London, sending telegrams to families whose loved ones had been captured, wounded, or killed in the war. Their son, Keith, was born in 1947, and delivered by the Salvation Army, while they were living with George’s parents in Essex. When Keith immigrated to Canada at the age of 21, Grace says it was like “having a limb amputated”. She and George visited him 13 times before finally moving here themselves 23 years ago.

When asked how their marriage has lasted, Grace says it’s give and take.

“Yes,” quips George, “I give and she takes.” They laugh, and Grace admits that that’s actually the secret: laughter. She adds a little more commonsensical wisdom: “Wait and see. And pull together. The wrong word can break a marriage, so think twice.” But it’s her next three words that say it all: “Be without, together,” she says softly. It’s the sacrifices, the times without,

Young lovebirds Grace and George Coules circa 1946 (above left), and today, as madly in love as when they first met in 1941. n Photo credit: Coules family the adversity that can strengthen a relationship…if you let it.

George insists he is an introvert. He’s not one for expressing his feelings, so it surprises Grace when he confesses “I loved you when I first saw you, and I still feel the same.” He looks at me and says, “I will love her till the day I die,” and my heart does a little flip-flop.

We stand together as I leave their warm home. Grace has her arms around George, as she tells me it’s lucky I don’t have red hair. “If you did I would have turned you around and sent you right back up the stairs, because George has always had a thing for redheads with ponytails”. So there you have it ladies.

They seldom go anywhere without each other, and as I head for the door, Grace mentions casually “I can’t imagine just one of us”. I have been in their company for just an hour, and I can’t either. George and Grace, you give me hope. n

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) from Sonnets from the Portuguese

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 7

COMING HOME ARE YOU MAN OR MOUSE?

by Erin O’Byrne

Valentines Tips for Men

W A

fter living in London, England for the past six years, I am starting life in Caulfeild again. And as I rediscover home, I am grateful for so many things.

Space and pace: In a city of 8 million people sardining onto trains and tubes in rush hour went from an exciting part of my ‘working holiday’ to a draining part of the rat race. I am thankful for a friendly, spacious new commute, for slowing down and having time to appreciate the present moment.

Friends and family: Seeing my nephew grow up over Skype helped me stay close to home despite the transatlantic distance. But nothing beats face-to-face conversations and hugs with those you love. No matter what life throws your way, family and friends will always see you through.

Nature: In Caulfeild I am able to listen to Mother Nature. As leaves effortlessly fall away, I am reminded of the power of letting go. Instead of sirens, it’s now song-

birds. Instead of rowdies in the park, it’s dogs. Instead of black suits in cityscapes it’s casual colours that decorate tree-lined streets. Now I am free to focus on nature.

Snowcapped mountains, eternal forests and soulful beaches are at the doorstep here.

Listening to a presence that withstands the test of time, moving through nature I am more grounded in the moment. Tuning in to the world around me transforms the world within me. Nature has a way of restoring and renewing your sense of self.

Returning to Caulfeild is a return to my roots. It’s good to be home. n

Erin has traded in her corporate work for wellness work with her sister, whose company offers services in Squamish and Vancouver. www.calmingcentre.com

PSYCHED OUT Ian Macpherson

ho respects a man who must consult with his wife before he makes a decision? Don’t be a wimp. Be tough, be independent, be macho. If you are the strong, silent type who keeps a stiff upper lip and his feelings to himself, she’ll love you for it, won’t she?

Well, not too often, actually.

Through systematic observations of couples, it has been found that in the most contented relationships, the man actively tunes into his partner’s needs and feelings and values her opinion.

It turns out that this really is a big deal. One of the most common complaints by women is that their partners are not “there” for them. Emotional absence is not only a major contributor to marital unhappiness but also to female depression.

It is so common that if this pattern of emotional disconnectedness were a disease, we would consider it to be an epidemic.

A number of years ago there was a large review of studies in the development of children who are now adults. The gender difference in “emotional intelligence” favoring girls only began in the early teens with a large percentage of males continuing to display poor emotional attunement into adulthood. This suggests that men are capable of greater social-emotional sophistication but their education has been

lacking. In general women tune into their own internal lives and the emotional states of others so much better than men that it is tempting to conclude that they are from different planets. Cute, but not really helpful since we all have the same emotional needs which require a sharing of the same skills needed to maintain satisfying attachments.

Throughout their relationships with men and beginning quite early, women are the ones who do the heavy lifting emotionally. Men try harder during the courtship phase and for a brief time afterwards, but then tend to get on with taking care of business - though not the business of relationships. So men, if you really want to reawaken Cupid, you would likely benefit from subjecting your attunement ability to a major tune-up. n

Ian Macpherson is a psychologist and psychotherapist living and practicing in Caulfeild. www.westvancouvertherapist.com

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PAGE 8

THE BEACON

TIS THE SEASON For Finding a Preschool

by A Parent

F

or parents of toddlers, this is the time of year that many start to think about sending their little ones to Preschool.

This can often be overwhelming. A while back my husband and I were facing the same challenge – how on earth should we pick a preschool for our precious 2.5 year old? We wanted to make a good choice, but found ourselves swimming in educational philosophies, some we had never even heard of before. Play-based? PPP? Reggio Emilia?

Waldorf? Montessori? It seemed that each had its own armada of testimonials and research to establish preferred developmental, social, and academic outcomes. So we went

about the task by test-driving as many candidates as we could. After some months of trial-and-error, we remained no further ahead and were beginning to question whether we would ever find the right school.

Driving through Olde Caulfeild one morning to visit Tiddlycove Montessori, I could see in my rearview mirror that my normally ebullient child was downcast. She had become fatigued from our preschool Olympics. We walked up the pebbled path.

There was a whimsical feel about the place.

We opened the door and walked in. Around the corner came Tara, with a smiling warmth and genuine enthusiasm, and before I knew it, she was crouched down and engaging my child. When I met the other teachers I was

Photo credit: Tiddlycove Montessori equally struck by their attentive, nurturing natures. The children were well-behaved and calm, but still allowed to be kids – joyful, curious, and engaged. The school ticked our other boxes too. The children practiced

JANUARY 2014 daily living skills such as making healthy snacks for the day. They worked on math activities, literacy, fine motor skills, puzzles, painting, beads, cooperative games, and learned songs – all with calmness, enthusiasm, curiosity, and increasing independence.

When it was time to leave, our daughter didn’t want to go. As we walked out the door she said, “I’m going to go to school here, Mom.” I did not expect that a two-year old could know the right school when we found it – but she could, we had.

There is a wealth of educational opportunities in our community, and no one school will be right for everyone. When you find the best fit for your child’s unique goals and needs, you will know it.

When our daughter moved on to Kindergarten, she took with her skills and school readiness well beyond what we had ever expected. We will forever be thankful to Tiddlycove for that head-start. n

FAMILY RESOLUTIONS PARENTING Louise Clarke

F

amily Meetings are a great way for families to improve on communication skills by giving everyone an opportunity to be heard, instilling a greater sense of belonging. They offer a safe place to solve problems, share concerns, listen to other people’s opinions, discuss schedules, plan vacations, divide up chores, role-model respectful relationships and a whole host of other positive things.

If you’ve never had a family meeting, here are a few ideas for getting started:

- Select a day and time which the family can regularly commit to. Light candles, use talking feathers, or have a special dessert or family game night afterwards.

This will create a relaxing atmosphere and an occasion to look forward to.

- Start the meeting with some appreciations. For example, say something encouraging about the person to your right or say something that you were proud to have achieved during the week. Then discuss and come to an agreement about a fun family activity for the week.

- Close the meeting.

This sets the scene for a meeting that is non-confrontational, positive and fun. After a few weeks of Stage One meetings, you can progress to Stage Two. This is when problem solving is introduced by encouraging children to add some of their issues to the

agenda. Once you have run Stage Two meetings successfully you can move on to Stage Three where parents can introduce their concerns. Family decisions made at these meetings tend to be followed because everyone has had input into the process.

Keep meetings short and focused, and always start and end on a positive note.

If family meetings become a place only to voice negative things, they will very quickly become an occasion that no one looks forward to. n

Louise Clarke, an Adlerian Parenting Facilitator, lives in Eagle Harbour with her husband and three children. www.yourparentingpartner.com Joanne Thomas, Mortgage Specialist joanne@joannethomas.ca 604-318-8868

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“My husband, David, & I have resided in this area for 20 years. We have raised our children here and are proud to be a part of this community.

I am pleased to support this newspaper, and wish its publishers and editorial team success in their efforts to keep our community informed and connected.”

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JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 9

HARRY JONES

DISTRICT 45

by Andrew Gilbert

by Carolyn Warner

Local Rugby Superstar

T

Run, Jones, Run! Harry Jones leaves the opposing team in the dust. n Photo credit: José Romelo Lagman

H

arry Jones followed his older twin brothers, Charlie & Ben, into rugby. He led Rockridge to three Provincial Championships before graduating in 2007, touring three times with the Canadian Junior Internationals at U17, U19 and U20, when he captained the team in Japan in 2009, at only age 18.

Jones visits his old high school whenever he can. His coaches, Tim Murdy & Perino Zambon, have had a lasting influence on him and remain firm friends.

Jones’ coach at Capilano Rugby Club, Paul Timperley, sensed the young man’s potential at the U14 level. He was not disappointed, and Jones graduated from UBC’s Sauder School of Business in 2012 while playing for both the Capilano Rugby Club and UBC, as well as fitting in an international appearance for Canada in Argentina.

Eighteen months after an injury forced Harry to take time off he returned,

Leading The Way

becoming a fixture with the Canadian National Team representing Canada at both the seven-a-side competition, and the full 15-a-side game. He has at least 15 caps for Canada at sevens and 8 for 15s, quite an achievement for a 23 year old.

Just recently Jones played in the Dubai 7s following a grueling three game road trip against Georgia, Romania and Portugal.

Jones now lives in Victoria and trains full time at the Rugby Canada Centre for Excellence at Langford, while also studying for his Masters in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics. Being practical, he appreciates that playing rugby at this level “has an expiry date “ and that the trick is to balance rugby now whilst preparing for a future career.

We hope to see this true gentleman of the game in the 2014 World Cup in UK and in Canada’s 2016 Olympic squad for 7s rugby in Rio. n

he tradition of excellence in education continues in the premier place for learning with students reaching high academic standards while benefitting from more enrichment opportunities than ever.

Students in West Vancouver School District can now complete a Kindergarten to Grade 12 International Baccalaureate education while also pursuing their interests in fine arts and athletics.

Advanced Placement courses, the new ACE-IT Carpentry Program and the YELL (Young Entrepreneurship and Leadership Launchpad) course also give students an edge in reaching their educational and career goals.

New enrichment options in the arts include District Honour Choir, the lat-

est addition to an already impressive line-up of music, art and drama programs offered in all 17 schools in the district. You will again be able to see the exceptional artistic and musical talent of West Vancouver School District staff and students at this year’s Lighthouse Festival being held at Park Royal in April.

Students with a passion for a particular sport now have five Premier Sports Academies to choose from, including the new Premier Basketball Academy. These programs of choice allow students at the high school level to reach their personal best both academically and athletically.

At the elementary school level, innovative approaches to the regular curriculum have been introduced with great success, attracting students from across the North Shore and beyond.

The New Year is a time of possibilities and fresh opportunities, and in West Vancouver School District it’s always an exciting time. Academy and program information evenings, as well as early learning events, are always open to everyone interested in learning more about the district’s enriched educational opportunities. n

For more information, visit the West Vancouver School District website: www.sd45.bc.ca

Lions Bay Primary School students enjoy a nurturing, enriched learning experience in a natural environment, both indoors and out. n Photo credit: Rob Newell

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PAGE 10

THE BEACON

JANUARY 2014

AROUND THE BALTIC In Nine Ports of Call

I

TRAVEL NOTES Marie-Claude Arnott

t had been on our bucket list for years.

Where else could we cruise to eight countries in ten days? In fact, numbers blew our mind even before our smooth sailing among some of the 180,000 Baltic Islands.

For a start, Stockholm itself is a 24,000-island archipelago, Sweden’s largest. Sightseeing buses and boats took us over and under so many bridges we stopped counting. We even walked over several in Gamla Stan, the three-island Old Town dominated by the Royal Palace.

In Finland, we questioned our

choice of a boat tour after getting off a cruise ship. Yet, the close-up look at the largest sea fortress in the world was worth it, as was a postcard-perfect view of Helsinki’s iconic white cathedral. We also peeked at homes on private islets, with docked boats or float planes instead of parked cars, and the ever-present sauna-houses on water’s edge.

The dazzling treasures of the former Russian stars are linked to St. Petersburg, and to more baffling numbers: Catherine the Great’s shopping spree of 2,500 paintings for her 1,001-room Winter Palace.

Today, the Hermitage is the largest museum in the world. Only one-fifth of her collection can be displayed at a time.

In Estonia we biked to an open-air museum with 100 reconstructed traditional farmsteads--and one camera-hostile shepherd and her undaunted sheep. Small houses with small furniture indicated that people were shorter then. I found Old Tallinn

St Petersburg street markets sell untraditional nesting dolls. n Photo credit: Marie-Claude Arnott

Colourful houses line the canal’s edge in Christianshavn, a neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. n Photo credit: Marie-Claude Arnott romantic, but the Song Festival Grounds struck a different chord: there, the “singing revolution” led the Baltic States--Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania--to regain their independence.

In Poland we visited Gdansk’s shipyard basement where the Solidarity workers organized a revolt that would crush the communist ideology. The lively downtown offered shops with amber jewelry, roofs with intricate gables, and the world’s largest brick church, big enough for 25,000 worshippers.

In Berlin we got the pulse of what’s left of the infamous wall famously knocked-down by Mr Gorbachev: mainly paintings and graffiti-like art on the bricks, or metal markers on the ground. Berlin surprised us as a metropolis where even fashion is bold and classy.

The largest of the Baltic islands, (Swedish) Gotland was inspiring as every-

thing appeared to be locally made, grown, or cooked. We didn’t go truffle hunting in Viking country, but while strolling through Visby we heard that Richard Wagner was wrong: the horned helmets worn in the Ride of the Valkyries pre-dated the Viking Age— besides, they preferred the horns as beer vessels, our guide said.

Our trip came to an end in Denmark where we strolled along the colorful row houses of Christianshavn, and ended up on another boat ride, to Hans Christian Andersen’s “invisible” Little Mermaid: she had been temporarily moved to Shanghai World Expo. Ah, never mind, we have our own little mermaid in Stanley Park. n

Marie-Claude Arnott is a freelance writer and translator (English/French). www.buckettripper.com

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 11

WHAT’S HAPPENING...

At St. Francis-in-the-Wood?

You’re invited to

Messy Church

boris konovalov piano recital

Sunday, January 26th 2:00PM

A place for families celebrating community

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH 4th Saturday of the month from 4-6pm

St. Francis-in-the-Wood

4773 Piccadilly Road South

Tickets: $20 604-922-3531

January 25  February 22  March 22 April 26  May 24  June 28 Crafts, Songs, Drama & Dinner!

Fun for all ages!

We hope to see you there!

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH 4772 Piccadilly Road South

Services: Sundays at 8am and 10am - Wednesdays at 10am

www.stfrancisinthewood.ca

PAGE 12

THE BEACON

BATTLE OF THE BRAINS

At Pub Quiz Night

by Susan Davis

T

o quote the title of Nora Ephron's best seller, “I remember nothing”.

Perhaps not the best attitude with which to tackle an evening of extreme trivia at the hands of quizmaster extraordinaire, Ian McBeath. Why extreme? When one of the questions is "What's another name for rutabaga?" and the only accepted answer is ''swede', that qualifies as extreme, no? What's wrong with turnip? Any-

how, that's what my esteemed team of six men and women felt, and although we'd started the evening as perfect strangers, I knew I loved them right then and there, for it was the rutabaga question that steeled our determination. It was at that moment we kicked things up a notch and starting playing for real. Actually it was for chocolate coins and yo-yos, but a prize is a prize.

And just like the rest of the teams at this event, another sell-out at Caulfeild Cove Hall, we were high five-ing and woop woop-ing at every correct answer

before the second round had even begun.

With the past and current West Van Mayors in attendance (Pamela Goldsmith-Jones and Michael Smith), and on the same team no less, as well as every realtor (you know the faces) and lawyer this side of the Lions Gate Bridge, we knew it was on! From all the leading James Bond men (we actually got this one) to translating Cockney expressions into 'real' English (still incomprehensible); from the meaning of periorbital haematoma (it's a black eye, we learned) to the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (oh sure, easy to think of Sicily without a gun to your head), we met every new challenge with a look of horror

JANUARY 2014 as we collectively strained to compute each new answer. It was brain gym on every question, and after only one beer! Or was it the giant plate of bangers and mash that had dulled our senses? (Well worth it, by the way!) We may never know, but in the end it was the spirit of friendly competition that all will remember most, for it built to a crescendo in a single moment of madness during the finale when the top-scoring teams challenged each other by risking all their points Jeopardy-style to answer mercilessly difficult questions (not really) to win the evening.

And on a more personal note, to one of my sportier teammates, and you know who you are…15? Really? C'mon man. Nuf said. n

A FESTIVE DICKENS EVENING Fun For The Whole Family

by Penny Mitchell

C

an we book now for next year? That was the comment heard from a departing guest as she left with her family at 9pm. Some families included Grandmas and Grandpas treating their grandchildren to a special night out.

The evening began early at 5.30pm in the Dickensian-style dining-hall, long rectangular tables illuminated with simple strings of lights and table lamps. The centre-piece on the Wassail Table was a spectacular Christmas concoction in a large Wassail Bowl.

An old Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol was projected onto a massive screen during dinner. Dickens Carollers, in full costume, wandered through the Hall as we dined on stuffed chicken breasts, sticky toffee pudding and minced tarts.

Dinner was followed by a live performance, in the church, of scenes from Scrooge. The nasty lead was portrayed most convincingly by Angus Stuart. Between scenes, the carollers led us in the singing of Christmas Carols. A hearty “We wish you a Merry Christmas” ended a very memorable family evening and, signaled the beginning of Christmas for us all. n

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.” Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

Many thanks to the Dickens Evening’s amazing volunteers.

In the kitchen: Hillary Carpenter, Avis Robinson and Kelly Kennedy. Bartender: Brian Pomfret. Ticket sales: Dawn Robinson, In addition: Fiona Galvani and Adrienne Stringer.

The Carollers (Top L-R) Theresa Odishaw, Caitlin Beaupré, and Sharon Quan; and (Bottom L-R) Michael Berton, Len Voth, and Chuck Venhuizen. n Photo credit: Glen Owen

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 13

4773 Piccadilly Road South

CLASSIC ROCK DANCE CASH BAR and SNACKS

Saturday, February 15, 2014 8:00pm Tickets: $24

www.caulfeildcovehall.ca or ï&#x20AC;© 604-812-7411

PAGE 14

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

KNOW ALL THE FACTS On Cataracts

by Dr. Daryan Angle

A

cataract occurs when the naturally clear lens inside the eye (responsible for focusing light) becomes cloudy or opaque and blocks light from entering the eye. The result is blurry, hazy or obstructed vision. People with cataracts often have difficulty seeing at night or in low light conditions.

Cataracts are commonly associated with aging and a high amount of sun exposure over your lifetime. There is also a strong association between diabetes, obe-

sity and a history of smoking.

The only effective treatment for fully developed cataracts is surgical removal, where your natural lens is replaced with an artificial one. There are many types of artificial lenses. Some will allow you to see both far and near without the need for

glasses! Your optometrist, accompanied by an ophthalmologist, can advise you on the type of lens that fits your needs and lifestyle.

The surgery, though complex in nature, can be done in less than 20 minutes with the usage of modern microscopic

techniques and equipment. No stitches are required and only local anesthetic is used to numb the eye. You are awake and conscious the entire time.

After the surgery you will be taking medicated drops to help prevent infection and aid the healing process. Your vision will be better immediately after the surgery as more light is able to get to the back of the eye and onto the retina. After 4-6 weeks you will return to your optometrist for follow up care, where you may or may not require a new glasses prescription. You will want to ensure that you have premium quality sunglasses to wear after the surgery to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. n

PLAN NOW & RETIRE HAPPY Save With An RRSP Today

by Karl J. Krokosinski

T

he government in 1957 introduced the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to encourage individuals to save for their retirement and of course they had a plan for a way to make sure you and I would have to keep paying taxes well into our twilight years.

So what is an RRSP exactly? Well, it might be helpful to start with what an RRSP is not. It is not an investment. (Gasp, what?) It is a tax ruling which makes every dollar you deposit into an accredited investment through an RRSP eligible for a tax deduction. Your investment will not be taxable while it is hopefully growing. This is good. And, if this is where the story ended, an RRSP would fall into the ‘too good to

be true ‘category.

If you withdraw money from your RRSP prior to age 71, that amount is added to your income for tax purposes, after your institution withholds some tax. Word to the wise, watch your tax rates. Furthermore, You cannot replace that withdrawal by redepositing down the road. If you do not contribute, you may be able to accumulate a greater amount of deduction for the future, when your income may be greater (better use of the deduction).

The real question is whether or not you should save for retirement through an RRSP. For most people, the answer is probably yes. n

Karl J. Krokosinski is President and CEO of Customplan Financial Advisors

photo credit: iStock

Retirement Income Specialists

Estate Preservation & Succession Planning

Karl Krokosinski

“Largest Independent Planning Firm in the GVRD” as seen in the Business in Vancouver Newspaper

604 - 687 - 7773

karl@customplanfinancial.com

Micheline Varas

michelinev@customplanfinancial.com

Tori Alexander

toria@customplanfinancial.com

JANUARY 2014

THE BEACON

PAGE 15

FACES OF THE VILLAGE

W

Gallery Owner Luis Sopeña

Inspirations from Picasso to Dali

ander into the Caulfeild Gallery and you will find Luis Sopena assembling, restoring or mounting artwork and treasures for his loyal clients. Art is his passion.

Luis has been immersed in art his entire life from the time he was a young man in his native country of Spain where he began his studies at the Madrid School of fine Arts. Then on to Paris to study under Rene’ Chalon. Amsterdam followed where Luis learned the technique of the Dutch Masters. He then moved to London to learn the Constable and Turner inspired English landscape painting.

His restoration of art and antiques skills were developed in Paris before immigrating to Montreal in 1968. Luis’ learn-

ing never stopped because it was here that Luis aligned himself with groups of Montreal artists and studied at the School of Fine Arts before moving to Toronto to study at the Avalon School of Design and the School of Fine Arts.

In June 1971 he came to Victoria to share what he had learned with the students at Camosun College.

When asked about the artists who have influenced him most over the years, Luis responds, “In Europe it was definitely Picasso and Dali. However, during my 40 years in Canada the work of the Group of Seven and Tony Onley are inspirations.”

In 1973 Sopena ventured into the world of independent business when he acquired his first gallery in Vancouver

Optician with a True Passion

F

rom the time Mehrak Nirooi shakes your hand and welcomes you to the Caulfeild Iris store you instantly get the feeling that he really will enjoy assisting you with whatever your eyecare needs are. It can be complex or simple.

Mehrak has not always been an optician. He began his working career as a veteranarian in Iran . In 2006 when he immigrated to Vancouver with his wife, Pouneh, he could not afford the time necessary to take the Canadaian veteranarian licensing. The field of healthcare had always interested him and knowing his own skills as being detailed and people oriented, when he was introduced to eyecare he knew that this was for him.

Training and studying for the op-

tician’s license followed. Then he began the search for the right company. Why Iris?

“I was most impressed with the professionalism of the company. The atmosphere of concern for people and continual pursuit of excellence in its industry of eyecare really appealed to me.”

Pouneh found work in her field in Vancouver. Sports have always interested Mehrak, primarily soccer and basketball, so North America has provided him with a dirth of both sports. With the arrival of 6 month old Nava, Pouneh and Mehrak are finally settled in their new homeland.

If you are looking for local help with your eye care drop in to Iris and shake Mehrak’s hand. When you leave you will have enjoyed the experience. n

Optician Mehrak Nirooi

and displayed his and other well-known artists’ work in exhibitions across Canada, USA and Europe. At this time he became a Canadian Citizen and craved to learn about Canadian art techniques which he did at the Emily School of Art and the Banff School of Art.

When you visit Luis at his Gallery ask to look at his art, and discover how he integrated the techniques learned from the old world with the new. We are delighted that you have picked Caulfeild in which to settle and share your wealth of experiences, Luis.

Whose work impresses him today? “Ross Penhall” he responds. n

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