GALA TIME!
Don your pearls and fasten your cufflinks, fundraising season is here
DANCING IN THE MOMENT Choosing to live life with utter satisfaction
HOT PROPERTIES
A contemporary urban oasis, inspired by beautiful rock
TEA IS SERVED
Victoria is steeped in tasty traditions and tea-time trends
WILD ALASKA Eco-touring Alaska’s splendid Inside Passage
boulevard
The Magazine of urban living thearts people food homes January/February
2009
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Ink on Paper
Welcome to a New Year at Boulevard magazine as we embark on our 20th year. In each issue, Boulevard embraces words and pictures to get to the heart of a matter. And in this issue, the heart itself is the matter we wanted to focus on. With February being Heart Month, we’ve explored what makes our heart tick, by talking to cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and survivors of heart disease. In this issue we’ll also tell you what makes people tick: in “Follow Your Heart”, writer Alex Van Tol met up with four fascinating Victorians who’ve changed their paths so they can “dance in the moment”. Also close to the heart is the issue of charity, which we feature in a showcase of local fundraising events. Here we’ve not only captured the essence of each organization and the joy of sharing with others, but we’ve also dressed up the personalities behind the events. Have a peek on pages 8-13 to see the good people hiding behind the Venetian masks and fancy ball finery. A feature guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat is a profile of Glenn Wakefield, a fearless local sailor determined to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe, in the unconventional “westabout” direction — against prevailing winds and currents. Other great reads in this issue include a profile of artist Arthur Vickers, whose life was saved by a piece of paper and a pencil, and who aspires to more, by giving back to his people. For those who want to spend some time exploring this February, read through our travel feature as managing editor Andrea Scott explores the rugged beauty of Alaska aboard the 100-year-old
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classic tall ship Maple Leaf. And if you’re thinking of exploring a little closer to home, travel the world by sampling teas — Julie Nixon writes about what’s brewing at local tea shops, and at the 3rd Annual Victoria Tea Festival. So curl up with a cup of tea and enjoy the rest of what this issue of Boulevard has to offer. We hope you’re inspired to take care of your heart, to follow your heart and to open your heart to others. Sue Hodgson Publisher Journalism is truly an art. It requires diligence, objectivity and clarity on the part of the writer. It is imperative that the opinion of the writer be given not to persuade but only to inform. Information is presented; it is then up to the reader to interpret and to decide. I am honoured that such a standard of skillful writing was delivered in sending my message to a reading public here in Victoria (“Creative Minds” by Alex Van Tol, November-December 2008 issue). Van Tol was faithful to my intention and encouraging to my purpose. For this I am very grateful. I am grateful to the team of Boulevard magazine for their invaluable contribution to our community. Peter McCoppin
Victoria Boulevard welcomes your letters. Please include your name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for brevity and/or clarity. Write to Letters, P.O. Box 5417, LCD9, Victoria, B.C., V8R 6S4, or you can e-mail us at info@victoriaboulevard.com. Check out our website: victoriaboulevard.com.
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volume XVIII issue 2 8
CONTENTSjan/feb09 4. INK ON PAPER A word with you
24. PUBLIC CITIZEN A wired vision of the future By Ross Crockford
8. GALA TIME! Local events promote fun, with a purpose By Adrienne Dyer 14. CULTURE TALKS Making the most of a crisis By Chris Creighton-Kelly 18. HEART SMART Sobering tales and hopeful tips from the cardiac unit By Alex Van Tol
30. FOLLOWING YOUR HEART With one life to live, four inspiring locals “dance in the moment” By Alex Van Tol 36. GLENN WAKEFIELD An undaunted sailor plans another incredible voyage By Shanna Baker 42. HOT PROPERTIES Accentuating beautiful rock with stunning architecture By Julie Nixon 52. GREEN HOUSE Greening your home office By Julie Nixon
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58. THE COWICHAN Artist Arthur Vickers spins stories into gold By Les Wiseman
66. CREATIVE MINDS The fancy footwork of dance impresario Stephen White By Robert Moyes 73. STATE OF THE ARTS It’s time to fete the literati! By Alisa Gordaneer 78. FRONT ROW Steven Armstrong’s landscape paintings at the West End Gallery; Elegant Heathens at the Metro Studio Theatre; La Ronde at the Phoenix Theatre; Legends of the First Nations at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium; Romancing the Art II at the Main Street Gallery; Pacific Opera Victoria’s Semele at the Royal Theatre By Kate Cino 88. MORE TEA, PLEASE New tea shops and a growing tea festival are giving local tea-lovers what they crave By Julie Nixon
94. ALASKA’S INSIDE PASSAGE Eco-touring Alaska captures a close-up view of pristine nature and unique nautical towns By Andrea Scott 102. IN VINO VERITAS Tim Van Alstine, pouring passion into winemaking By Robert Moyes 106. ISLAND CHEFS Café Brio’s Laurie Munn mixes intensity, and a good dash of flexibility, into his sumptuous, local fare By Alisa Gordaneer 110. SECRETS AND LIES Roberta Martell of Fernwood’s Neighbourhood Resource Group tells us how to get to Sesame Street
On our cover: La Donna Misteriosa, mixed media by Mauro Schelini of The Tuscan Kitchen. Playful masks will add to the intrigue at “Unforgettable”, a fundraising gala for the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria. The popular musical event takes place on May 9 at the Victoria Conference Centre. See related feature on page 8. 46,000 copies of Victoria Boulevard ® are published bimonthly by Boulevard Lifestyles Inc. President: John Simmons. VP Finance: Melissa Sands. Publisher: Sue Hodgson. Associate Publisher: Linda Hensellek. Managing Editor: Andrea Scott. Art Director: Jaki Jefferson. Production: Jaki Graphics, Kelli Brunton. Advertising: Sue Hodgson, Linda Hensellek, Eve Hume and Cynthia Hanischuk. Pre-press: Kelli Brunton. Printing: Central Web. Mailing address: P.O. Box 5417 LCD 9, Victoria, BC, V8R 6S4. Telephone: 250-598-8111. Fax: 250-598-3183. E-mail: info@victoriaboulevard.com. Website: victoriaboulevard.com. Victoria Boulevard ® is a registered trademark of Boulevard Lifestyles Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Printed in Canada.
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For the way you live
A playful gala puts funds back into the community chest
The current economic downturn trickles its negative effects into nearly every part of our lives. When the dollar’s strength is in question and the purse strings of grant donors like the Victoria Foundation grow ever tighter, non-profit and arts organizations — which already compete for donations and federal funding — find their operational budgets stretched even further. This spring, charitable organizations around the city will delight supporters and raise much-needed funds with a variety of exciting gala events. So polish your dancing shoes, don your black-tie finery, and treat yourself to an unforgettable evening that celebrates the spirit of giving.
By Adrienne Dyer photos by vince klassen
“Monopoly Madness — which benefits the Boys and Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria and the BC Paraplegic Association — is one of the most anticipated events of the year,” says Ralph Hembruff, Boys and Girls Club executive director and a member of the event’s organization committee. Proceeds provide crucial funding for Boys and Girls Club programs that help local youth grow into healthy, contributing community members, while the BCPA helps those with physical disabilities achieve full and active lives. Now in its 17th year, Monopoly Madness will take place on March 7 at the new Crystal Garden. “The BCPA founded this fundraiser, and teamed with our organization after one of our board members attended the event,” says Hembruff, who, in the early days, helped with every detail from stage set-up to comic entertainment. “It’s grown from a grassroots movement to quite a large event, with proceeds going towards general revenue and special projects of both charities.” “It’s very unique to have two non-profits working together in this way,” says event chair Debi Dempsey of Coast Capital Savings, who joins forces with honorary chair Milford Sorenson of Thrifty Foods. A ticket for the evening treats you to a gourmet dinner, a live and silent auction, and a rousing 90-minute Monopoly Tournament. “The Bankers and Mr. Monopoly are all Coast Capital volunteers,” says Debi. “Everyone has a great time!” For more information on Monopoly Madness, contact Kate Mansell, Director of Development for Boys & Girls Clubs, at 250-384-9133 or email her at kmansell@bgcvic.org. You can also visit the event website at monopolymadness.ca. Debi Dempsey is dressed for a trip to Park Place in a two-piece formal sparkle dress ($412) and Myka Jewellery (necklace $180, earrings $66, bracelet $240) from Something More. Black patent wedge Bruno Magli shoes from Ingledew’s Shoes ($600) round out the look. Ralph Hembruff is a fine match for Debi in his Jack Victor suit ($750), Omega French cuff shirt ($165), Babette Wasserman cufflinks ($125), Oliver & James silk tie ($95), and Johnston & Murphy dress shoes ($245), all from Outlooks. His Smithbilt wool felt top hat from Roberta’s Hats ($125) is the perfect accessory for this Monopoly-themed gala.
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CNIB Fundraiser focusses on eye appeal
The CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event is another gala you won’t want to miss. Planned for May 1 at the Mary Winspear Centre at Sanscha, the event features over 150 pieces of art donated by Vancouver Island artists. In addition to a champagne reception, live and silent auction, and a dinner party, the highlight of the evening is the art draw. Tickets are drawn 10 at a time, until each and every guest has chosen a piece of art to take home.
paint the town!
“When I first moved to Victoria from Calgary a decade ago, the CNIB didn’t have a signature event,” says Eye Appeal founder and chair Shannon Baillie. “Art is so visual. It just made sense to use art to raise money to support programs for people who are visually impaired.” Artworks donated this year include pieces by Matisse-influenced painter Nixie Barton and her husband, Grant Leier, whose vibrant, playful pieces are famous for instilling a sense of joy in the viewer. The Celebrity Live Auction, expertly led by Victoria fundraiser and philanthropist Eric Charman, includes donated pieces by Robert Bateman and Ted Harrison. “I’ve conducted over 400 auctions for various charities since 1955,” says Charman, whose many honours include the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, and an Honorary Doctorate from University of Victoria. “I’ve always had a passion for the arts, and the CNIB is such a worthy cause. Some of the artists have never sold a sold a piece before. I tell those artists that every piece helps, and that their donation is part of the $700,000 raised in the last few years.” This year marks the 10th anniversary for the CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event. For tickets and more information, send an email to eyeappeal@shaw.ca.
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Shannon Baillie is a feast for the eyes in her Allen Schwartz long satin evening gown ($525) from Sweet Nancy’s Timelessly You Boutique, and her Kenneth Cole Reaction “Know-way” black satin t-strap evening sandals ($85) from Freedman Shoes. Baillie is sporting some serious bling with a blue diamond tension ring in platinum ($11,650), a 14K gold heart pendant ($6,000), a diamond and gold tennis bracelet ($8,290) and diamond and gold earrings ($1,525), all from Francis Jewellers. Eric Charman is dashing in his tuxedo from Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Custom Tailors. Paint brushes courtesy of the Village Gallery in Sidney.
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Have a Ball! Music and masks make for an unforgettable gala
Relatively new to the fundraising scene is Unforgettable, a joint effort of the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria, set to take place May 9 at the Victoria Conference Centre. Last year’s inaugural gala sold out, with 400 guests raising close to $200,000 for operational costs and program funding for the two groups. “This year’s theme is ‘Masks’,” says RE/MAX Camosun realtor Deedrie Ballard, who co-chairs this event with long-time arts supporter Barbara Hubbard of Baden-Baden Boutiques. “Unforgettable will be a themed dinner party event with many surprises revealed the night of the event,” says Ballard. “Most have not forgotten last year’s gala. We already have a list of attendees for what promises to be another sold out evening.” Among the treats in store is an auction led by Eric Charman, featuring a plethora of unique items including five stunning masks created by local artists. POV executive director David Shefsiek says this spring’s gala will include performances by some of Canada’s finest singers in addition to truly unforgettable music by the Victoria Symphony. “The theme of ‘masks’ is popular in opera, and is a beautiful image that creates an exciting visual event.” Guests are welcome to attend in costume, heightening the theatrical element and fun. To order tickets for Unforgettable, call the Pacific Opera Victoria at 250-382-1641, or the Victoria Symphony at 250-385-6515. Deedrie Ballard is ready for an unforgettable evening in a Hugo Boss Jannina jacket ($695), Hugo Boss Tonee crepe pants ($425), a Suzy Roher belt ($560) and a Hanky Panky lace camisole ($78), all from British Importers. She’ll be light on her feet in Stuart Weitzman peau de soie evening shoes, with geometric rhinestone detailing on a d’Orsay style t-strap ($360) from Ingledew’s Shoes. Ballard is bejewelled with treasures from Birks Jewellers: a diamond Gucci Chiodo stainless wrist watch ($1,970); a diamond floral ring ($6,995); a Cavelti triple row ring ($10,200); a vintage diamond bracelet ($6,600); vintage diamond earrings ($7,200); and a vintage diamond choker ($20,400). Hand-crafted Venetian masks courtesy of the Tuscan Kitchen ($210-$250).
To Russia with Love — A Royal Tea Concert january 11, 2:30pm royal theatre Tea served at 1:45 Giuseppe Pietraroia, conductor Scott Walker, host
Brahms Violin Concerto january 12, 8pm royal theatre Tania Miller, conductor Terence Tam, violin
Strauss Alpine Symphony january 25, 2:30pm / january 26, 8pm royal theatre Tania Miller, conductor Jinjoo Cho, violinist Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra
Legends of the First Nations february 13, 8pm uvic farquhar auditorium Giuseppe Pietraroia, conductor South Island Dancers
Other Exciting Events this Spring: Victoria Tea Festival, February 14 and 15 at Crystal Garden (see related article on page 88). Proceeds support the Camosun College Child Care Program. Visit victoriateafestival.com or call 250-370-4880. Chocolate Fest annual February gala to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Victoria. Visit chocolatefest.ca or call 250-475-1117. Kaleidoscope Theatre’s annual fundraiser, Lawyers On Stage Theatre (LOST), March 13 and 14 at the McPherson Playhouse. Phone 250-386-6121. Stars on Stage Community Dance Challenge to benefit Dance Victoria (April). Visit dancevictoria.com or call 250-595-1829. FoodRoots Sustainable Feast, April 4 at Fairfield Community Place, to benefit The Land Conservancy of BC. Call 250-385-7974.
Vivaldi Gloria february 22, 2:30pm uvic farquhar auditorium Tania Miller, conductor Victoria Choral Society, Giuseppe Pietraroia, director Anne Grimm, soprano Susan Platts, mezzo soprano
www.victoriasymphony.ca Royal Theatre 250.386.6121 UVic Box Office 250.721.8480
The Peninsula Singers’ Tribute to the British Isles, April 25, 26 and 27 at the Mary Winspear Centre, with proceeds to local charities. Visit peninsulasingers.ca or call 250-656-0275. t boulevard 13
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“Never allow a crisis to go to waste.” –Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff designate for Barack Obama It is 4:30 in the morning and the TV is on. I can’t sleep. I find myself both amazed and amused. Amazed, as I am supposed to be, at the sheer number of knives that are part of this “once-in-alifetime” television offer. And amused, as I am not really supposed to be, at the self-generating satire of, “but wait, there’s more!” as each extra, must-have knife is added to the three easy payments of $13.33.
My personal favourite is the cheese knife. Guaranteed not to stick to the cheese after cutting it. “You know how annoying that can be.” Really? I never noticed. I guess I had a cheese knife problem without even realizing it. Bottom line? I don’t care; I have more knives than I know what to do with already. Oh, that ol’ bottom line. This electron-coated, middle of the night, tele-message is blaring at me right smack in the midst of — come on, let’s all say it together, one more time with feeling — “the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression”. Makes me wonder, if I am not buying knives in this economic downturn, then who is? The funny thing about capitalism is that someone should be buying them. Or at least, in recent times, that has been the favourite argument put forward by right-wingers of the “supply side economics” persuasion. Cut taxes on high income folks; they will create goods and services; the rest of us will rush to buy this stuff because it is there; the supply-siders will have more money and so they will make more stuff. The economy will grow and grow. And all of us will live happily ever after in our trickle down paradise. Well, as we can all see now, it hasn’t exactly worked out like that. The supply-siders got richer, some of them obscenely so. The poor got poorer, as the income gap got bigger. Most of the rest of us simply went into more debt, surfing all the way on the trickle down spray to the pleasures of consumption heaven. And now? Well now, we live in upside-down world. The free market, government-is-the root-of-all-evil, corporate types have been hitting up their politician buddies for public money bailouts. “Nationalize me!” cry the banks. “No, no me first!” plead the investment brokerage firms. “Yeah, but you can’t do anything without giving us something” says the sensible auto industry. A couple of hundred billion here, half a trillion over there. We are finally finding out what they meant by a “smaller” role for government. Bush has been advocating for huge, socialist style government intervention in the markets. But members of his own party called Obama a Marxist because he wants to tinker with the tax code! Alice would have loved this tea party. All of this stimulation for what? To jumpstart that consumer confidence that will get the economy going again. Which means growing again. We’ve heard it all before. Economic growth provides jobs. Economic growth means more disposable income. Economic growth means more taxes, means more social programs. Those are all good things, no? I mean, who can argue with that? Well, let me try. First off, I will concede that economic growth in the Western world has created a standard of living that benefits me, my friends and my family. But at whose expense? Every day, millions of folks toil in terrible conditions to provide goods for us lucky ones. Touch your t-shirt, your socks, your pants, your shoes. There they are, these folks in far away lands, right close to our skins, everyday. Earning peanuts. Is this a fair economic situation? Then there is our old pal, Mother Earth. I am certainly not the first commentator to suggest that the planet’s resources are finite. But we keep taking and taking and not giving enough back. Who is going to pay back this eco-debt? Will it even be possible to re-pay it?
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Once, not that long ago, it was easy to dismiss these questions as the whining of environmental extremists. Now as millions more global citizens rev up their internal combustion engines, as the polar ice caps melt, as the mounds of our putrefying garbage pile up, turning back greed seems imperative, turning to green seems inevitable. But whether the financial structure is some kind of pseudo free-market system or a command economy run by the state, so beloved by real socialists, or even a green economy with its clean technologies and so-called clean jobs, the elephant in the room is still economic growth. We still have to buy stuff to keep it all going, to keep the momentum of consumer confidence, to create economic growth. Theorists and activists argue over which type of production/ consumption cycle is better for people: capitalism, socialism, bartering, participatory economics, time banking and on and on. Humans have compiled an endless list. Meanwhile though, birds don’t care who owns the means of production. They do however “care” about our copious consumption and its effects on their habitat, food supply and clear water. So maybe there is a moment here. A reflective moment available to all of us who worry about the impact of this economic calamity. It could be the impetus for a moment of transformation. As Mr. Emanuel sagely noted, why waste a crisis? Perhaps this “re-reflection” is exactly what we need to see the glass half full, instead of completely empty. Especially these days when it seems it might shatter in a million pieces! Perhaps there is an optimistic moment to reconsider our own, very personal relationship to the economy. What do we really need to buy? What could we make from scratch? Or from scrap material? Where is my recycled coffee cup really going? Not to mention the electronic waste from my now dead computer or VCR? What are the alternatives to economic growth? Do we have to consume to be happy? How can we lessen the impact of corporations in our daily life? Do we just want to restart the old financial system or can this be a moment to re-imagine the economic future? What does quality of life really mean? How would we spend our time if we actually had control over it? How else could we reorganize society? Though not necessarily articulated, we know that the economy is connected to many other aspects of our life: our sense of self, our world view, even our self esteem. We know too that we can successfully nurture those parts of who we are, regardless of our economic worry. Our grandparents did, our ancestors did. In the face of dramatic, maybe even explosive change, we can re-imagine and re-affirm our faith in each other. We might find that what lies ahead is a closer connection to our friends, to our communities, to strangers. There is a lot to look forward to, instead of just living in dread. Instead of worrying, more laughter. Instead of hoarding, more sharing. Instead of buying, more building bonds. Instead of turning away, more turning over, more turning to, more turning around together. One thing is certain. I will not be purchasing any new knives. t
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Keeping the Beat Sobering tales and hopeful news on optimizing heart health
By Alex Van Tol photos by gary mckinstry
I used to work with a walking heart attack. He was a chef — a very talented one — with fat around his middle, a smoke between his fingers, and a temper that could make Gordon Ramsay cry. Don and I worked at an upscale Calgary restaurant that, on winter nights, would see more than 400 steaks leave the kitchen. Straight out of a cardiologist’s mustn’tdo list, Don would pound back and forth for hours between the kitchen (where he would scream, bugeyed and spittle-flecked, at his sweating, weeping line cooks) and the glassed-in barbecue (where customers watched as he serenely seared their meat to juicy perfection). In the kitchen, Don swore and flicked his cigarette butts. He threw his tongs. His soaring blood pressure matched his high alimony payments. In his mid-40s and furious at the world for everything from traffic jams to his bald spot, Don lived alone, friendless except for his television. On a list of risk factors for heart disease, Don’s GP could’ve checked off every one. He was the classic time bomb we all recognize. But you don’t have to be like Don to be at serious risk. In fact, heart disease can sneak up on pretty much anybody, triathletes included. The difference here is that Don’s first cardiac event will happen a lot sooner — and with more certainty — than it will for someone who lives a heart healthy lifestyle. So, since February is heart month, let’s deconstruct that lifestyle, and see where you fit in. First, a bit of background. Your heart is essentially a pump — a twisting, squeezing pump that works like a sponge being wrung out. Vessels ferry blood into and away from the heart; one-way valves control the blood’s forward movement. The coronary arteries wrap around the outside of the heart and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, which then pumps it through your body.
Cardiac surgeon Dr. Michael Perchinsky regularly does his heart a favour with the kind of strokes that are good for your heart.
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Most heart problems occur when the thin lining of these arteries (the endothelium) is damaged. “The endothelium is a living thing that keeps our arteries healthy,” says David Hilton, cardiologist and director of the research-intensive Victoria Heart Institute Foundation. Your endothelium makes stuff to help your arteries relax; it helps stop your blood from clotting; it funnels food into your blood; it removes waste from food metabolism. But, says Hilton, if the endothelium in your arteries is damaged — from the chemicals in your cigarettes, say, or the shear force from your high blood pressure, or regular assaults by high sugar levels in the diabetic — this metabolic waste can’t get out. So it gets stuck in the arterial wall, where it builds. And builds. And eventually it foams up like a marshmallow, into “a big fat atherosclerotic plaque.” Welcome to coronary heart disease (CHD). Over time, the surface of the plaque hardens, akin to a scab on your elbow. Cue a sudden rise in blood pressure. The scab rips off and jams the vessel, thereby preventing blood flow. Presto: we have a blocked artery, and there’s a heart attack right around the corner. Memorize the signs (see sidebar for links), and don’t succumb to the urge to deny that this might be a heart attack. It might. Know this: fewer than five per cent of people who are admitted to hospital after having a heart attack survive it. Better to be sirening your way to the ER while your hard drive still reads “shutting down” instead of “powered off”. Cardiac surgeon Michael Perchinsky figures cardiovascular problems will surface with increasing regularity as the Boomers age. “We’ll see more coronary heart disease and more valve disease,” he says. Just last year, Perchinsky replaced over 100 aortic valves alone, after they had become stenotic, or stiffened by calcium deposits through the wear and tear of the general aging process. And although valve stenosis often occurs in patients who show no signs of CHD, neither illness is thought to be easily reversed. The best you can do is to adopt the healthiest lifestyle possible — right now. You might have years’ worth of plaque buildup on your arteries. (Think you don’t? I’ll bet you a hundred bucks that you do, and here’s why: Most of the casualties that were autopsied in the Vietnam and Korean wars already showed significant plaque development, despite only being in their 20s). With the right lifestyle changes, however, you’ll be able to halt the gunkification of your arteries. There are risk factors you can control, and there are some you can’t. You can’t go back and change your parents (your genes). You also can’t control your age, gender, ethnicity or your previous history of stroke and heart illness. But you can control your diet and exercise, smoking, your blood pressure and your cholesterol. Know your family history and your cholesterol levels. “Find a good family doctor who pays attention to risk factors,” says Perchinsky, and stay on top of your blood pressure and lipid levels. If you’re a woman, you owe it to yourself to learn more, because heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death in Canada. “Once women become aware,” says Barbara Haley, manager of the Victoria branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC, “they can reduce their risk by up to 80 per cent.” (Check thehearttruth.ca for more information.) We need this ongoing discussion of risk factors and mitigation. But while focussing on those factors, we often overlook the psychosocial aspects of heart disease — and that’s where research is generating amazing findings. In The Heart Speaks (2006), cardiologist Mimi Guarneri reports that yoga, meditation and group support can
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possibly reverse some of the effects of CHD. A decade ago, the Mayo Clinic found that psychological stress is the single strongest indicator of future cardiac events. Guarneri notes that depression, self-absorption, victimization and passivity generate high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is inextricably linked to high blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels — and thus CHD. (Guarneri once prescribed a small dog to a hopelessly ❤❤ The Heart and Stroke diseased woman who was Foundation is your best bet for too far gone for medical up-to-date, accurate information intervention; she recovered and tips on heart health: enough to undergo lifeheartandstroke.com sustaining cardiac surgery.) ❤❤ Study after study concludes A diagnosis of heart that the Mediterranean diet disease is enough to — full of legumes, veggies, throw anyone into a olive oil, nuts and breads — is tailspin, but those who your ticket to clean arteries. engage in prosocial Get started at the Mayo Clinic: behaviour fare much, mayoclinic.com/health/ much better. When she mediterranean-diet/CL00011 was 23, then Abbotsford ❤❤ The National Coalition for resident Hazel Currie Women with Heart Disease received a pacemaker website is an invaluable resource to manage what doctors for women: womenheart.org had discovered was an ❤❤ Want the facts on the electrical disorder that mind-body connection? Check caused her heart to stop. out this study, called “How She was physically fit; she the Mind Hurts and Heals the was excelling in school; Body,” published in American she had the world at her Psychologist in 2004: apa.org/ feet. Then suddenly, she journals/releases/amp59129.pdf. had this diagnosis. “It destroyed my whole sense of youth and innocence,” says Currie. But — because of her heart’s inherent strength, her positive outlook and her deep connection to the life around her, including that in her own body — Currie sought support to help her come to grips with her disease. (Now, a decade later, Currie lives pacemaker-free in Victoria. And with two young boys to raise, her electrically stable heart . . . is full.) By keeping friends, finding meaning in life, practicing gratitude and forgiveness — and, importantly, by not blaming everyone else for what’s wrong — patients can heal their hearts. “The mindframe of the patient undergoing a major operation has a profound effect on how well they do,” says Perchinsky. “Patients who come in with a positive mindset tend to have less complications and make a faster recovery.” And if they think they’ll do poorly? They are always right. We’re only just beginning to learn how to harness the power of our minds to keep our bodies healthy. Reach out. Choose optimism. Breathe. “You get one chance with your body,” says Currie. “You can’t blow it.” I hope — wherever he is now — that somebody tells Don. t After researching this article, author Alex Van Tol has renewed her commitment to walk every day — and to lay off the 10 pm sugar toast.
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Practically every day, another email from Air Canada lands in my inbox. “Bask in sunny savings! Vancouver-Nassau, $259!” I hesitate now before I delete these messages. As an amateur historian, I wonder if 20 or 50 years from now they might have some small archival value, like an old streetcar timetable, or a punched ticket for a steamship to Japan. They might give researchers a bit of insight into how people of our time lived, before the world changed.
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Nobody’s talking about it yet, but the era of flying to Nassau, Hawaii or even Calgary for a few days is coming to an end. This is what I began to realize while reading Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil, a new book by Anthony Perl, director of Simon Fraser University’s urban studies program, and former Toronto city councillor Richard Gilbert. As Perl and Gilbert point out, no sector of our economy depends more on cheap oil than transportation. Today 95 per cent of the world’s cars, trucks, trains, ships and aircraft all run on some derivative of petroleum, whether it’s gasoline, diesel or jet fuel — and in the near future, that energy is going to be very expensive. Perl and Gilbert subscribe to “peak oil”, the theory that as the world’s supply of easy oil dries up, growing demand will jack the price of fuel higher than Dick Cheney’s blood pressure. As I write this, oil’s only around $60 a barrel, less than half what it cost last summer, but that’s a temporary dip caused by the financial crisis. The International Energy Agency predicts that global energy needs will increase 45 per cent between now and 2030, and oil will be $200 a barrel. Factor in the cap-and-trade on carbon emissions that Stephen Harper has promised, and soon we’ll be wishing we’d stashed dollar-a-litre gasoline in the basement like a case of Malbec. The other big challenge, uniquely described in Perl and Gilbert’s book, has to do with the machines that burn this fuel. We’ve all heard that plug-in cars are going to roll off Detroit assembly lines any day now, but there’s been little talk about redesigning semi-trailer trucks, trains or ships to run on anything other than diesel. (Ironic fact: a third of all current global shipping involves the transport of oil.) The darkest storm clouds, however, concern air travel. Historically, we powered our first automobiles with electricity (yes, it’s true), the earliest locomotives with wood and coal, and ships with wind. But there’s no abundant old power source for airplanes, especially jets. Jet fuel is basically kerosene — and you can’t run jet engines on anything else. Yes, Virgin Airways’ Richard Branson did fly a 747 last year on a blend of kerosene and 20 per cent nut oil, airlines are sinking millions into development of algae-based jet fuel, and engineers have sketched designs for a hydrogen-powered “cryoplane”. But all that stuff is experimental, and in the meantime, the only existing fuel for aircraft steadily disappears. Refine a barrel of oil into gasoline, and that’s one less barrel of kerosene. In other words, if no alternatives are found, every gallon of gas burned up by a leaf blower today is one less gallon available for emergency airlifts — or military F-16s — 30 years from now. Under that scenario it’s unlikely future governments are going to be letting anyone fly 3,000 kilometres just to enjoy a weekend in Vegas. The importance of this is immediate, because British Columbia is building for a very different future. The federal and provincial governments are spending $3 billion on the Gateway project, twinning the Port Mann Bridge and creating ring roads around Vancouver, all for cars and trucks. They’re also putting a billion into expanding the Vancouver airport, and extending SkyTrain to reach it, banking on ever-greater air traffic. As you can imagine, Anthony Perl thinks this is a mistake.
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“We have people in government who are quite up the learning curve on climate change, but seem to have a misguided view that energy will continue to be abundantly available, and that oil if isn’t there, we’ll use something else,” he told me. “We’re building infrastructure that’s going to be obsolete the day it’s open, because the volumes of oil-powered internal combustion engines that we’re planning for are simply not going to be around.” So what’s the solution? We can burn up the tar sands, convert coal to gasoline, and just keep on truckin’, but the IEA says that will boost greenhouse-gas emissions 35 per cent by 2030 and cause a six-degree increase in global temperatures. Instead, Perl says we should move to electricity. “We looked at what it would take to switch all the surface transportation in the United States, [and] it would only require between a 15 and 40 per cent increase in the current total amount of electricity being produced,” Perl says. Electric motors have few moving parts, so they waste far less energy than gas engines. The distribution system for the juice to power those motors — our electrical grid — already exists. And gigawatts of electricity lie just off our doorstep, in the form of tidal power: Perl points to a January 2008 study by a BC Hydro lab showing that offshore turbines could generate three times more electricity than all our dams currently produce. “If we did it right, we wouldn’t need to build another dam, build any nuclear stations, or dig any more coal. That’s B.C.’s ace in the hole.” In Perl and Gilbert’s wired vision of the future, long distances on land will be covered by high-speed electric railways like France’s TGV. (Californians recently voted to spend $10 billion to build a similar system between San Francisco and Los Angeles.) Cars will be tiny and battery-powered. Trucks will run from overhead lines, as trolley buses in Vancouver do now. Ships will add sails. “We’re not doomsters,” Perl says. “We have alternatives to keep moving. That’s why we wrote the book.” They’re not bullish on mass air travel, though. As Perl and Gilbert see it, the discount “buses with wings” business model will disappear, and intercontinental flights will become an expensive luxury, just as they were 50 years ago. To keep those costs down as long as possible, airlines are focussing on greater efficiency in air-traffic control and lightweight planes like Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner — and privately hoping that a big shift to electric cars and rail freight will free up oil for airplanes. Even people in the air-travel business admit that Perl’s analysis is essentially correct. It’s just a matter of when. “He is right in the very long term,” Richard Paquette, president of the Victoria Airport Authority, told me. “The area where little substitution is possible, at this point, is jet fuel. So you have to expect that the prices will rise, in the very long term.” “But the other thing that’s clear is that air travel is a very important part of our lifestyle. We’re going to change our cars to electricity before we’re going to give up our holidays. It’s much too early to claim we’re nearing the end of air travel.” I hope that’s correct. It’s hard to imagine not sharing a beer with my friends in Europe for many years, and one day I would like to visit South America. But I am getting used to the idea that I will be using video Skype a lot more, and if I take a trip to the other side of the world, it will take a very long time to get there. t 28 boulevard
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The Unchained
Heart Dancing in the moment, moving towards happiness
“My life really changed when I made the switch from corporate to nonprofit,” says Carolyn Thomas, Communications Coordinator for Victoria Hospice. Thomas made the switch after reaching critical burnout in the executive chair. “I have learned we have to take one day at a time.”
by Alex Van Tol photos by julie nixon
What do the guys down at Clover Point who devote hours to catching air currents have in common with Nelson Mandela? What unites Steve Jobs with the Royal BC Museum security guard who spends her spare time modding her Mustang so she can travel around the continent showing it off? Guess what: Oprah and Plasterman both do it, too. Why, they follow their hearts, that’s what. They spend their time doing what they want to do, obeying the little voice inside that says, Gee, I kind of like this. It feels right for me. Maybe I want to do more? And (this is the important part) they’ve told the other voice — the one that says things like, No, no, no. It’s no use. It’s too late and I’m too broke — they’ve told that voice, in no uncertain terms, to shove it. Luckily for humankind, we’re surrounded by people who follow their hearts. Unfortunately, they’re heavily outnumbered by those who don’t. But here’s the secret that the first group knows intuitively: If you follow your heart, good things happen. Because when you follow your heart, you’re doing what you love to do. How can you not be happy when you’re engaged in something you believe in? When you pay attention to the signals your soul sends out, telling you how you feel about this or that, you honour your spirit. (I know what you’re thinking. This subject gets pretty fluffy pretty quick, doesn’t it? Bear with me. I’m not going to slobber about The Secret or the Law of Attraction or even vibrational bubbles, whatever those are.) This is not about money. This is about doing what you want. Because when you do what you want, you are a happier, more centred person. A better person, really. And that makes the world a better place. There are a number of ways you can follow your heart. You don’t need to drop your paying job to chase down your dream. Pick it up on weekends. Take a class. Practice gratitude, because it works to attract more of the good things. Be choosy about how you spend your time: You have one life. This one. Which is exactly what Victoria author and adventure travel company owner Maria Coffey has known for some time. One day about 20 years ago, it dawned on Coffey and her husband Dag Goering — she a schoolteacher and he an instructor at Malaspina College — that they didn’t want to settle for the pension at the end of the career rainbow. “So we remortgaged and set off around the world with a folding kayak,” says Coffey, whose latest book, Explorers of the Infinite, made Oprah’s top 50 last summer. They paddled for three months in the South Pacific, then visited Australia and Hong Kong before kayaking down the Ganges. While in India, the couple received the message that Goering’s program at the college had been canned — which made their decision a whole lot easier. “We went out and celebrated,” Coffey laughs.
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“I woke up one morning and thought, If I’m still teaching school when I’m 60, it’s not going to be good.” So author and adventurer Maria Coffey chucked the chalk and instead found new meaning in travelling the world, meeting cool people, and writing books about her experiences.
Out of that trip sprang a whole new way of living. Coffey scribbled articles for global newspapers and rather quickly landed a contract to write a book about the trip. Goering, after tending to farmers’ ailing cows along the Ganges, decided to drop teaching and instead do what he loved: work as a large animal vet. The couple scheduled trips around Goering’s seasonal veterinary work; Coffey continued to write about their paddling experiences. In 2000, they started Hidden Places, which guides travellers to some of the most inspiring spots on the planet. They work with local people, source local products, and support local family-run operations. And they collect friends at every turn. An unabashed intuition-heeder, Coffey scratches her head at people’s fascination with The Dag and Maria Story. “We just follow our hearts, I guess,” she says. “We’ve always known what we don’t want to do. And we’ve moved away from [those] things.” Now Coffey is busier than ever, writing, paddling — and helping Goering plan their next venture, a nonprofit organization called Man, Earth, Animal, which will raise funds to support local
initiatives working with animals and animal habitat around the world. Coffey is the last person to speculate on what the future holds in store. “For me, that’s part of the adventure,” she says. “I’ve never wanted to say, ‘In five years I’ll be doing this or that.’” The refusal to follow a strict life plan seems to be characteristic of people who follow their hearts. There has to be some allowance for the soul’s development, for the possibility that you may ultimately head in a different direction than the one you started in. Local business owner and recent candidate in Victoria’s municipal election Rob Reid admits he’s a big picture guy, a seer of possibilities. Though he didn’t win the mayor’s seat — this time — he’s pleased with the grassroots way his team ran the race. Despite having to navigate the gnashing teeth of the political machine, Reid stayed true to himself. “I sort of work from the intuitive, heartfelt side in most cases,” Reid says. “I never thought I’d be where I am today, so it seems to work.” He helped John Forzani grow a running empire back in Calgary, then established Frontrunners in Victoria where he grew a loyal clientele through his forward-thinking and fair business practices. Later, as the pace of his own competitions eased, Reid founded Runners of Compassion as a way to give back. “Having the store and being able to promote fitness as a lifestyle was a great opportunity,” Reid reflects. “It was an engine to allow community corporate responsibility to happen.” Through Frontrunners, Reid and his staff have supported scholarships and sponsorships, grown the Victoria International Marathon and Runners of Compassion and — in tribute to a fellow heart follower — established the bronze statue of Terry Fox at Mile Zero. “You should never get into business thinking that you’re going to make lots of money,” says Reid. “You go into it thinking you’re going to have a good time. I don’t set long-range goals; I dance in the moment a little bit.”
“You have to just have a basic intuitive sense of the big picture of what you want to do. If you follow that you’ll be OK.” After losing his dad to heart disease at an early age, business owner Rob Reid decided to pursue his passion for running. He credits luck, strong mentors and a great team for his success.
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There’s another term for dancing in the moment. Dozens, actually: Being present. Practicing mindfulness. Embracing the now. Sound familiar? Whether you hitch your cart to John Kabat-Zinn, Eckhart Tolle or the Dalai Lama, their messages are all similar. And to listen to your heart — to make out its subtle directional messages — you’ve got to slow down a bit. “I have to have a certain balance in my life,” says Victoria author Dede Crane. “I have to get out and walk on the earth every day.” When Crane and her husband, writer Bill Gaston, moved their family to Victoria five years ago, Crane was home with their fourth baby. Though she had spent years following her heart as a professional ballerina, she’d eventually been sidelined by a by a bad back. Freshly uprooted from her work as a choreographer, Crane reached the West Coast oozing creative energy. An avid reader and inveterate daydreamer, it dawned on her that she could channel her energies through fiction writing. “I was reading Jim Harrison’s book Dalva,” Crane says, “and I was like, ‘WOW! He’s just writing down his daydream!’ And it just struck me. I could do that.” (Show of hands: how many of us have said the same thing?) Except Crane did it. Now, with novels, short stories, teen fiction and a book of essays to her name (check out Great Expectations: Twenty-four True Stories About Childbirth), Crane has found her literary voice. “Following your heart is almost the definition of being an artist,” she says. “We can’t help it. We’re just obsessively having to express ourselves. It doesn’t even feel like a choice.” Following our hearts, says Crane, challenges us and forces us to grow. “Exploring things like the arts in different ways forces me to keep moving, to keep looking at myself.” Still for some, it takes a little push to get them headed down their heart’s path, as in the case of Carolyn Thomas, Communications Coordinator for Victoria Hospice. During the 1990s, Thomas was working in corporate PR, living the glamorous lifestyle of the highflying exec. “I had one of those crazy seven-day-a-week corporate
“I always really wanted a family. That’s definitely the foremost thing in my life,” says author Dede Crane, who followed her heart into dancing, motherhood, and finally, writing. “I never thought I’d write,” Crane confesses. “I’ve always been a really good daydreamer.”
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expense-account jobs,” she says. “I never had time to lie in bed and think: ‘What am I doing? Why am I doing it? Do I want to do any of it?’” But then came the diagnosis of cervical cancer. And suddenly, Thomas gained a new perspective on life. “One day I woke up and sold my house. I bought a tiny house, mortgage-free.” A friend idly mused that, in this new setup, Thomas could get by on a paper route. Thomas was stunned. “I thought: Why am I killing myself at this stressful job?” Once her cancer was successfully treated, Thomas made a lifestyle change. “I negotiated a four-day work week,” she says. Eventually she disembarked entirely from the corporate world. “I went to work for the Salvation Army, and then Victoria Hospice,” says Thomas. When she suffered a heart attack last spring, Thomas adjusted her outlook yet again. “I didn’t need a reminder of how short life is,” she says, given her work with Hospice. A longtime runner, Thomas maintains a high level of fitness but has made changes to her diet — most notably, her salt intake. “I’m obsessed with reading heart-smart cookbooks,” she laughs. She’s thankful to the hospice for constantly reminding her that there are few things worth getting worked up about. “You should live the way you want to live every day,” says Thomas. “Don’t leave things unsaid and undone. I’ve always had a keen appreciation for how lucky I am. I’m pursuing all the things I want to do.” So. What are you waiting for? A nudge of encouragement? Here it is then, from that most nimble of wordsmiths, Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Now, what do you want to do? t Were Alex Van Tol to truly follow her heart, she would welcome each sunrise with coffee and a little tête-à-tête with a long-lost love: a king size DuMaurier Light. However, wisdom prevails and now she settles for running around on the flanks of Mount Doug.
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High hopes
on the high seas Glenn Wakefield eyes the horizon for another round-the-world solo sail
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By Shanna Baker photo by vince klassen
When it comes to closing a real estate deal, buying or selling a business, setting up a company or preparing an estate plan, communication, attention to detail and going the extra mile are what put Stewart Johnston, Danielle Topliss and their dedicated team on the leading edge.
When Glenn Wakefield learned that a storm was about to overtake him as he sailed toward Cape Horn, 750 nautical miles deep into the South Atlantic Ocean, he didn’t worry. He was attempting to become the first North American to complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe while travelling “westabout” — against the prevailing winds and currents — and had faced plenty of rough weather during the past 215 days at sea. He dropped his sails, checked all equipment was in order, and retreated to his berth to get some sleep. When he next opened his eyes, he was sprawled on the floor. The boat had rolled. Equipment was tossed everywhere, and water sloshed through the cabin. Wakefield scrambled into his raingear and hurried on deck. It was the middle of the night and Kim Chow pitched violently on 10-metre swells, buffeted by an icy Antarctic wind screaming past at 50 knots. The sailor tried to deploy the drogue, a device that trails the boat to create drag and stability in a storm, but it had tangled around the rudder. As he tried in vain to fix it, before the next big wave hit, he noticed dark spots forming on the deck below him. He touched his head and his hair was matted in blood. Unable to do anything more, he collapsed down below and passed out a second time. By dawn, the boat had rolled again and was in bad shape. The engine was inoperable and the life raft had ripped free. The solar panels were gone, wind generator broken, and remaining batteries partially discharged, leaving him little power for the radio. Kim Chow was taking on water through a broken hatch. Everywhere Wakefield looked, components were bent and broken. The sailor himself had suffered a concussion, and damage to his left arm and ribs. At first, he resolved to forge on — he had only a quarter of the total distance left to go — but worse weather was on its way and conditions would only get more difficult as he approached the notoriously perilous Cape Horn. And, his wife and two daughters waited at home in Victoria. With that, the dream of completing the trip dislodged in the wind and sank beside him in the roiling waves.
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Months later, in the living room of the Oak Bay home he shares with his wife, Marylou, Wakefield admits that the defeat still stings. He waited two days for an Argentine naval ship to reach him and another 36 hours before the storm subsided enough for a rescue to take place on April 27, 2008. By the time he had been hoisted safely onto the Puerto Deseado’s deck and taken his last fleeting glance at Kim Chow, the 58 year old had already resolved to try again. Wakefield has dreamt of sailing the world since John Guzzwell’s Trekka Round the World inspired him as a teenager. The book recounted Guzzwell’s four-year journey around the globe in a 20-foot yawl that he built behind a fish-and-chips shop on View Street. By then, Wakefield already had a full-blown fixation with the sea. Born in Edmonton but raised in Victoria from age three, Wakefield spent much of his youth fishing near Sooke with his father, a carpenter from Portsmouth, England, in the family’s open powerboat. They would always be the last to leave as a squall closed in. “He taught me not to be afraid of the ocean . . . Waves would be coming over the boat and my dad would always be cool and calm.” He inherited that bravado, a quality that has proved invaluable. During college, he spent breaks between classes sailing in Oak Bay. Stormy weather chased away all others but didn’t faze him, nor did the policemen on shore flashing their lights, gesturing for him to get to safety. Wakefield started out as a crewmember on race boats. Eventually he tackled the seas on his own, racing in Swiftsure events and, later, in offshore competitions. In 1997 he sailed with his family to the South Pacific. All the while, the idea of traversing the world was germinating. It was a casual conversation with local sailing hero Tony Gooch in 2003 that finally solidified the goal. Gooch had just become the first North American to sail solo, non-stop around the world. “I said, ‘Tony, I’m really upset with you, you did one of the only things left to do that wasn’t already a record of sorts.’ He said ‘Oh Glenn, there is one record left. No one has gone westabout yet!’ And he laughed. Well, that was it. I had never thought of that.” It was the greatest challenge Wakefield could give himself. Some 170 sailors have completed solo, non-stop circumnavigations of the globe; only a handful travelled west, none of them from North America. Wakefield spent five years preparing Kim Chow, a Philip Rhodes Offshore 40, for the voyage. Marylou helped him cram for his amateur, or “ham”, radio licence and gather the food he required for the 10-month voyage. On September 23, 2007, he waved goodbye to wellwishers and pointed Kim Chow toward the open ocean. He planned to sail into the Pacific, then southwest to New Zealand, on to the Falkland Islands, around Cape Horn, and up the west coast of South America toward home. Conditions at sea were often tumultuous and unrelenting. He could beat headlong into 20 knot winds and three-metre waves for days on end. Sometimes he would even go backwards. “At best, my average speed around the world was 3.5 knots, which is a quick walk. So to lose mileage was a real stinger.” When the enormity of what he was attempting became overwhelming, the lone sailor would distract himself with a book or daydream about home. He played mind games with himself, sometimes plotting his course at a different scale to make it seem
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he had travelled farther, or choosing random waypoints so there was always a reason to celebrate. The ocean wilderness helped buoy his spirits. His journal describes an albatross that kept him company for more than two weeks, a pod of 50 dolphins that heralded his arrival in the open Pacific, leaping tuna, a meteor shower, crashing waves bejewelled with bioluminescence, killer and right whales breaching nearby, flying fish that crashed on deck, a circling shark, and a swarm of thousands of fist-sized jellyfish shaped like pigs. The greatest surprise was the number of friends he made. Ham radio operators lined up to talk to him as the sailor came within range — on one particularly busy night as he approached Australia, more than 30 people waited to say hello. He spoke with folks from Indonesia, India, Czechoslovakia, Italy and the U.S. Over the radio waves, with hundreds of kilometres of ocean between them, the operators forged lasting relationships. They discussed their families, sports, weather and aspirations. The Aussies in particular took delight in describing all the delicious food in front of them while the sailor choked back his daily ration of “Kim Chow stew”. At home, Marylou fielded countless e-mails from strangers rooting for her husband’s success. She updated a website with daily reports on his progress and thousands tuned in. Many felt Wakefield was accomplishing something they longed for but would never have the means or courage to attempt. “I stood on the helicopter deck after the rescue talking to Marylou on the satellite phone and I said, ‘You know, Lou, it wasn’t about the sailing, it was about the people.’”
He still chokes up thinking of the courage and altruism shown by the Argentines. The night of the rescue, Wakefield stood up in the mess hall and, in broken Spanish, thanked the crew of Puerto Deseado for coming to his aid. The captain replied “It is we who would like to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to exercise our commitment to another sailor.” “I really believe I saw the good side of humanity during this trip,” says Wakefield. The close call at sea hasn’t weakened his resolve to complete the journey. A strong sense of mortality is partly what inspires him to take on challenges. Wakefield’s brother died when just seven years old; deaths of other loved ones followed. The losses have left him acutely aware that it is important to live out dreams while the opportunity exists. He hints that he may have found a replacement for Kim Chow. If all goes well, he will set sail for another attempt at a solo, non-stop westabout circumnavigation within the next five years. This time he expects he will benefit not only from knowing what gear to take, route to follow, and storm equipment to bring, but also from the knowledge that he has the strength, skill, and now experience, to complete the journey. “I’ve done the shakedown, I know I can do it differently. That was just the trial run,” he says. He also looks forward to reconnecting with the old friends who will be there to encourage him along the way. “It’s still a very personal objective,” he adds. “The whole idea is to keep going until you succeed. It’s to the point where I’m not particularly interested in doing anything else. The ocean is much more a part of my life than ever before.” t Shanna Baker now dreams of pig-shaped jellyfish.
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Rock Solid
Design Inspired by the enduring beauty of rock and
stone, a couple creates a dream home where they can work, live and play
The story of this Rockland-Fairfield home begins many years ago, when owners Darrell and Claire (last names withheld at their request) were living in a downtown townhouse. The couple had been looking for a house to purchase, but nothing seemed to fit their needs and lifestyle quite right. Darrell, in Toronto at the time, remembers the day Claire called, all fired up, and said, “Guess what property is for sale?� He knew right away.
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Properties Previous pages: This home’s West Coast
• Landscape design & construction
industrial design sits
• Project management
comfortably in its
• General contracting
natural landscape.
I n t e g ral D e sign 250.472.2985
www.integraldesign.ca
This page: A pondless waterfall and a choice of terraces to kick back and relax on make this backyard a bona fide urban oasis.
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For a long time Claire felt drawn to the rocky outcropping at the back of the 1950s house that she peeked at whenever she drove by. With invasive ivy creeping and nipping at the rock’s edge, the site seemed to hold potential, opportunity . . . and an element of surprise. And the location was perfect. Darrell and Claire prefer walking or riding their bikes to pick up groceries or run errands. They also love to take walks downtown, soaking in the busyness and verve of city life. This proximity to services and downtown was absolutely paramount. Claire measured the distances outward from the property and found it was one kilometre away from an array of day-to-day conveniences. So, without hesitation, they bought the property. The dated cottage was sold to Nickel Brothers (who moved the house to Pender Island), and the couple began planning their new urban oasis. Based on glowing recommendations and intuitive connections, they enlisted the help of Rob Parsons of Parsons Construction Ltd. and Rus Collins of Zebra Design to bring their vision to fruition — and all in just 13 months. “We’d seen other work that Rob Parsons had done and were impressed with the quality and obvious care
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that had gone into the finished product,” says Darrell. “And Rus, we connected with right away. He really ‘got it’ in terms of what we were after.” Darrell and Claire knew what they wanted: a comfortable, lowmaintenance — but somewhat unconventional — home where they would work, live and play. But if you were to stand across the street and guess what was inside, or even in the backyard, you might be incorrect. “It certainly looks modern from the outside,” says Darrell with
a smile. “We are minimalists and we’re both conservative, but who would say that based on the outside design?” From the street, this house has big-time curb appeal. A captivating geometric blend of stucco, fir, glass and corrugated steel, the house is much wider than it is deep, mirroring the dimensions of the lot itself. (This maximizes privacy for the backyard.) Yet the front yard, while shallow, is far from inferior. Natural elements such as large stones are complemented by features like the curved concrete path to the entrance. “The intention was to create something that was as distinctive as the architecture of the house,” explains Brad Forth of Forth Land Planning, who was responsible for this striking landscape design. Passersby will notice visual interest all year long: an everchanging display of colour, texture, form and height. The main level of the house is where Darrell and Claire work. The back half of the house is partially underground, but the lofty
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Light Shade Shade by Jurgen Bey, photo Maarten van Houten
533 Pandora Avenue Victoria BC P 250 383 6659 10:30 am - 5:30 pm Tues to Sat, 12 pm - 4 pm Sun www.moooi.com
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The master bedroom is located on the upper floor, affording the owners an
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impressive view of the gorgeous rocky hillside. The double-sided gas fireplace is enjoyed from both the bedroom and the ensuite.
48 boulevard
ceiling heights on this floor make the space feel open and welcoming. The den and large family room are set-up as offices, and because the house is south-facing, the two rooms receive lots of natural light. Also on the main floor are a guest bedroom, a full washroom, a large laundry area, storage space and the garage. The garage isn’t used to park their vehicle, however. The intention from the get-go was that this would be their exercise room. On this level, a subtle sense of the home’s contemporary design and eclectic decor comes through. Antique wood furniture pieces are cleverly paired up with modern art against deep but neutral backgrounds. The radiant-heated concrete floor almost goes unnoticed as you walk through the softly lit space and take it all in: the modern light fixtures and hardware, the over-height ceilings and tall white doors with textured glass panels of tiny squares, the fir-framed French doors leading to a small patio in the front yard.
It’s at the bottom of the first flight of maple hardwood stairs that you realize this house will refuse to be labelled — oh, and that the best is yet to come. The black powder-coated steel handrail and stairwell lead up to, first, the double doors to the back terrace, then to the upper floor, and from there to the rooftop patio. The upper floor is where Darrell and Claire live and spend much of their leisure time. To the left, the great room: dining area, kitchen boulevard 49
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Proud builders of Claire and Darrell’s home. We hope you enjoy your home for many years to come.
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and living room. Turn right for the guest bathroom, the master bedroom and master ensuite. A functional, no-frills floor plan that just makes sense. The different design influences really come together on this floor — modern, West Coast, industrial, minimalism — but none strive to reign. Rather, the best of each style seems extracted, creating a warmth and a humanity in the space. There are no phones, no computers, no Blackberrys. The general design is clean and uncomplicated, with timeless, easy-care materials like maple hardwood flooring and stainless steel. The master bedroom is found behind two towering French doors. A curved wall leads to the walk-through dressing area with cross-cut maple cabinetry and on to the master ensuite. The bedroom wall features a two-sided natural gas fireplace. And instead of faux logs, flickers of flames snap up through shards of broken black glass. Built-in shelves for Claire’s keepsakes border the fireplace. In the master ensuite, a contrast of dark and light materials offers a sense of balance. The white BainUltra bathtub (complete with tension-breaking hydrotherapy massage jets and LED light therapy), the white-tiled shower floor and two white square bowl sinks break up the uniformity of the dark grey, heated porcelain tiles and inkyblack granite countertop. With the ever-interesting ceiling angles and thoughtful lighting, the ensuite feels a little like a private spa — a quiet, intimate space in which to spend some quality time to revivify the body and spirit. Darrell and Claire worked closely on the floor plan and the design of the home, drawing on the professional expertise of various people to help accomplish their vision. For example, Claire worked with Terry Russell of T. Russell Millwork Ltd. to design the kitchen. Functional and straightforward, the kitchen works as it was intended. Not to be outdone by the rest of the room, the kitchen features an impressive 13-foot-long island topped with black granite and stainless steel. The island provides heaps of storage beneath and lots
of space for friends and family to gather for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and long-into-the-night chit-chat. Here in the great room, there are many exquisite features: the soaring 15-foot angled ceiling, the 48-inch black granite-faced fireplace and a discerning selection of fine art. But surprisingly it’s the backyard view that truly steals the show. When work began on the site, under all the ivy, soil and grass was literally a hillside of rock. It took two weeks to uncover, but oh was it ever worth it. It’s the masterpiece of this home, which of course was designed to take full advantage of its enduring beauty. “That’s why all the roofs are sloping up and high towards the rock. It’s pretty incredible to look at,” says Collins. “The lines of view from the inside of the house open up quite a bit more dramatically when the ceiling is sloping like that.” The yard is where Darrell and Claire play. When developing this backyard haven, they wanted to work with the existing terrain, but “add modern elements like the terraces that would complement the building,” says Forth. They created “separate sub-spaces”, different levels within the rocky outcroppings as “little places to sit and view, linger and look at the garden.” The pondless waterfall built into a natural crevice in the rock provides a year-round aural retreat from any traffic noise. Built-up plantscapes provide Darrell and Claire the opportunity to continue fine-tuning the landscape. “After only two years and a few months, the backyard has already exceeded our expectations,” says Darrell. Claire agrees. “In the summer, it feels like we’re on vacation here.” They putter about the yard in all seasons, enjoying the different places to spend time. The mature Garry oaks rise up and over the garden, creating an everchanging dance of shadows both inside and out. “You can either follow the sun or follow the shade. When you sit back there and the waterfall is on you’d never know you were in the city,” explains Claire. “It’s truly a sanctuary.” t
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Julie Nixon fell head over heels for this backyard haven, with its neat little terraces and lovely spaces in which to put your feet up.
SUPPLIERS AND TRADES
Contractor/builder/woodwork – R. Parsons Construction Ltd.; Designer – Zebra Design Group; Cabinetry – T. Russell Millwork Ltd.; Countertops – EuroCraft Marble and Granite; Tiles– Decora Ceramic Tile & Natural Stone; Plumbing and fixtures – Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware, Kitchen & Bath Classics; Flooring – Heritage Hardwood Floors; Windows – Modern Windows; Window fashions – Ruffell & Brown Interiors; Doors and hardware – Victoria Speciality Hardware, 3D Joinery Custom Windows & Doors, Slegg Lumber, Lighting – Illuminations Lighting Solutions; Ironwork – Accord Metal Fabricators; Landscaping/garden design – Forth Land Planning, Bricklok Surfacing and Landscaping; Rock and stone work – J.T. Stonework; Furnishings – Jordans Interiors, Studio 201, ScanDesigns, Insideout Home Store, Design House; Garden features – Dig This, Studio 201, Waterspout Ponds; Floral design – Poppies, The Island Florist boulevard 51
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Running a home-based business has a number of advantages, including a reduction in overhead, tax write-offs and scheduling flexibility. Working from home doesn’t require a commute, which leaves more time for family or hobbies. An increasing number of people are realizing these benefits too — each year, some 15,000 British Columbians set-up a new home business. That’s more than 50 per cent of all new businesses in the province. This enormous growth could be partly attributed to a burgeoning change in lifestyle. More people are demanding control over their time and schedules in order to find a suitable balance between work and personal life. The “buy local” trend means businesses don’t need to go global to be profitable; on the other hand, technology allows for a world-wide business run by just one. And we’re reflecting on
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our values and discovering that the bottom line isn’t exactly the holy grail. Sure, we need to work to provide for our basic needs and live the lifestyle we choose. But maybe . . . work means a little bit more. (Cue Grinch music.) “The ultimate purpose of a business is not, or should not be, simply to make money,” writes Paul Hawken in his book The Ecology of Commerce. “Nor is it merely a system of making and selling things. The promise of business is to increase the general well-being of humankind through service, a creative invention and ethical philosophy.” We are absolutely seeing this shift in the type of grassroots businesses popping up, as well as the number of businesses and organizations that regard the “triple bottom line”: economic, social and environmental prosperity. There are lots of simple ways to reduce waste in the office. Of course, always reduce, reuse and recycle. Determine need before buying new or creating something. Recycling paper, plastics, glass, cardboard and other items is easier when you have a system set up. Have fun and don’t hide your recycling receptacles — track down some pretty containers, or make and decorate your own. For ultra convenience, RDI Recycling Solutions is a locally owned and operated company that provides commercial trash and recyclables pick-up, with several options for frequency and service. When shopping for paper, look for a high percentage of postconsumer content that is processed without chlorine, or paper that is third-party certified. It takes half the energy to make paper from recycling than it does from pulping trees. When ordering professional print work, such as a brochure or business cards, request recycled paper and vegetable- or soy-based inks. Another approach to reduce paper usage is to establish a “paperless office”. In reality, it’s nearly impossible to have a completely paperless office, but with a bit of planning, you can cut your paper usage to minimal amounts, reducing costs, increasing productivity, saving storage space and reducing environmental impact. E-invoicing and accepting payments online can shrink paper usage considerably. The production and disposal of unaddressed ad-mail destroys millions of trees, consumes valuable energy and wastes money. Post a “No Ad-mail” sign on your mailbox or on the lip of your group mailbox and Canada Post will honour your request. To eliminate other unwanted ad-mail, register with the Canadian Marketing Association’s Do Not Contact Service (the-cma.org). Check the Red Dot Campaign website for more useful tips on reducing unsolicited advertiser mail. In terms of e-waste, donate usable office equipment to charities, schools or community programs. End-of-life electronics are accepted at local Return-It locations (visit encorp.ca). Alternatively, most electronics companies have postage-paid take-back programs. Office and computer supply stores offer drop-off recycling stations for printer and toner cartridges, as well as batteries. (Speaking of batteries, a rechargeable battery can be charged up to 1,000 times, the equivalent of 300 alkaline disposables.) A neat project that’s catching on is the nationwide thINK FOOD program. Donated cell phones and printer cartridges are recycled and sold to the remanufacturing industry, which makes refurbished consumer products. The funds raised are donated to local food banks. The project diverts toxic waste from landfills and helps
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alleviate hunger. All local Rogers locations have drop boxes, as well as Mountain Equipment Co-op and the main Purolator branch. Reducing energy usage in the home office can have big savings, both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and in your bank account. Your home office should have as much natural light as possible: it’ll combat depression and stress, which means you’ll be happier and much more productive. Proper lighting appropriate for the task at hand is paramount. Use enviro-friendly lightbulbs and make sure to recycle them. Look for the EnergyStar label when buying office equipment, and seek out items from reputable manufacturers. If you use a desktop computer, flat-panel LCD monitors use considerably less energy than the old CRTs and have more than double the life span. Be smart: choose the smallest monitor to meet your needs. Laptops use even less energy than a desktop. However, according to energy-savings expert and writer Michael Bluejay, the most important practice is to sleep your computer when not in use. Set-up your computer’s built-in power management systems to put it on “standby” or “hibernate” mode after a specific amount of idle time. Another simple way to reduce energy at the home office is to heat only your work space, and not your whole home. An increasing number of office supply companies are not only bringing in more green products for consumers, they are also spearheading environmental initiatives within their organizations. One local company leading the way is Monk Office. Since creating their own in-house ECO Team in 2006 to identify and oversee environmental objectives, they’ve reduced the company’s energy
consumption by 10 per cent, water consumption by 95 per cent, and waste by 70 per cent. They have a full recycling program in place, and shipping pallets and empty toner cartridges are collected from their customers for reuse and recycling. The ECO Team provides educational resources on everything from product recycling to what’s available in terms of ecofriendly merchandise. “Business must be a force for change, if environmental challenges are to be overcome,” says Peter Robinson, current CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation. Greening your office is only a part of this. Working with companies who share your vision and values can be especially beneficial. Membership in an organization that promotes environmental and social responsibility also generates opportunities to network and conduct business with like-minded companies. An organization called 1% For The Planet enables “businesses to take a lead role in being environmental stewards and to set an example for the rest of the business community.” Members donate one per cent of their sales to any environmental organization that is also part of 1% For The Planet. Getting involved in the community or sponsoring events is a remarkable way to advertise your company in a positive way. Creating a positive perception of your business and brand adds value, customer loyalty and an increased client base. We all share the obligation of keeping the earth clean and healthy. We’re moving through a time of recklessness and into an epoch of sustainable business. If we all take part, we’ll all benefit. Greening your office and your brand may take some time, but it’s worth it. Make a list of objectives and deadlines, and start small. A little bit is better than nothing at all. t
Woodcraft Furniture specializes in finely crafted solid wood furniture made in B.C. using the finest grades of wood to ensure long lasting beauty and durability. We offer a choice of woods and finishes, and some custom modifications are available.
“Today’s Fine Furniture...
Tomorrow’s Heirlooms!
”
574 Culduthel Road
(across from Town & Country Shopping Centre)
250-598 -1113 see us online at
www.woodcraftfurniture.ca 56 boulevard
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cowichan story
Layers of gold illuminate stories
artist
Arthur Vickers
of a traditional and contemporary life
By Les Wiseman photo by julie nixon
A
rthur Vickers is a sage, perhaps a mage, a shaman and a showman, but most of all a storyteller. If you walked into his Cowichan Bay gallery, saw something you liked and laid down the requisite thousands of bucks and then proceeded out the door, you would only be getting half the piece’s value. For inclusive in a Vickers work of art — be it paint and ink, serigraph or his work in gold-powder pigment and 24-karat gold leaf — is the story. There is a recording of a portion of Vickers’s life in every piece, and you won’t truly understand the artwork without the story. Arthur Vickers has a lot of stories, those of his First Nations forebears and their legends, and of a life that he is lucky to have survived. In his life so far he’s become a recipient of the Order of British Columbia, the Order of St. John, and an honorary University of Victoria doctorate of Fine Arts. Today, Arthur Vickers at 61 is a quiet-spoken, slightly nervous man with a grey brushcut, rimless glasses, and the OBC pinned to the breast of his tennis shirt. Taking a break from working in his studio, he sits in his Shipyard Gallery, while his wife, Jessica, oversees accounting and various meetings. He talks of plans underway to expand this gallery to include classes accredited by an as-yet-unnamed university. Above his displayed works, on the stark beams of this former 1926 sail loft, sits a carved model dugout canoe that honours Vickers’s grandfather. Grandpa Henry Vickers was hugely important in forming Arthur’s character, his values and his philosophies. He stressed education and giving back to the First Nations people. In his latter childhood, Arthur spent many hours with his grandfather gillnetting the West Coast. As they fished, the boy listened while the man talked on about life and the heritage of the Heiltsuk people. Heeding his grandfather’s wisdom, when Vickers left high school in grade 11, he entered an apprenticeship program and, in 1974, he received his certificate of carpentry. He was on his way, and later formed his own contracting company. Perhaps his most well-known project is the Eagle Aerie in Tofino. Vickers designed, coordinated and built this gallery for his brother Roy, also an OBC-awarded artist and 14 months Arthur’s senior. Grandpa’s advice had guided Vickers to a successful career and he was soon asked if he could assist the Kwanlin Dun Nation of the Yukon Territories with their economic development program. Travelling to Whitehorse, he looked over the situation. The Kwanlin Dun were moving to a subdivision. “It was in horrific shape,” recalls Vickers. “I said, ‘I can definitely make a difference, but I can’t do it myself.’” However, while Vickers had 189 workers on the job year-round, the plan began to unravel. “The board of directors didn’t happen,” he says. “I was attempting to keep the work going and to assist them in growing economically. I didn’t realize I was going to need far more help. Absolutely everything fell apart, as I did.”
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“I just crumbled. I attempted suicide. I completely withdrew from everyone including my wife.” Jessica was working as a realtor and could provide some economic support, but, for the rest, the Vickerses sold everything they owned to pay the bills while Arthur sat in a dark room in the basement. Why did the project fail? Vickers alludes to many reasons including reticence to accept help and generations of drug and alcohol dependency among First Nations people, although he has not had any dependency issues himself. A glimmer of hope appeared when his counsellor asked him what he did to relax. Vickers had not relaxed for a long time, but he remembered that as a kid he was always drawing things. He went home to sit in his dark basement and stare at a blank piece of paper for literally two weeks. Finally, a hint of happiness entered his spirit as he recalled the times fishing with his grandfather. And he picked up his pencil and began to draw. Though Vickers wishes to downplay it, he gets noticeably moved when speaking of this time. This was the pivotal moment of his life, and he has not stopped making art since. “I said to Jessica, ‘I’m doing this for the rest of my life. I don’t know how, but I am.’” That first piece became the painting Cowichan Sunrise, and an original hand-pulled serigraph (screen print) of this work can be seen at the Sail Loft Gallery. “I ended up getting unbelievably homesick,” he says. “I remembered the Cowichan Valley and that was my searchlight leading back here in 1989.” His wife, happy to have her husband back, was entirely supportive. With the opening of his Sail Loft Gallery, Vickers is a happy man. Was art his therapy? “Absolutely,” he grins. His art is all-consuming because of the mind-boggling detail he puts into each piece. He talks of hundreds of layers of ink applied day after day to build up a relief, which he often textures with 23or 24-karat gold powder and then overlays with 24-karat gold leaf. He then polishes the relief with a fine squirrel-hair brush, breaking away the fine metal membrane from the edges of the relief, creating exquisite lines in gold. Vickers works and lives a five-minute drive from his gallery and will stop what he is doing to go to the gallery to explain his works to interested parties. He will point out, through the aid of remotely controlled incandescent lighting, how the layering of his pictures causes the light and colours to change, replicating an actual sunrise in progress. Or how, in many of his works, a spirit such as a raven or an eagle will emerge from the sky as light comes at it from different angles. Vickers is a canny craftsman and delights in that which can only be perceived by those who know how to look. While his art absorbs his attention and emotions entirely, Vickers aspires to more, to giving back to his people. He hopes within the year to open the gallery’s basement to classes and a speaker series, and is awaiting a memorandum of understanding from an unspecified educational institution so he can do so. A piece of paper and a pencil saved his life. He wants to offer others the same chance to change others’ lives through art. t For more information, or to view the art of Arthur Vickers, visit arthurvickers.com.
T 250-381-3574 F 250-381-3596
Les Wiseman is the former associate editor of Vancouver magazine and Western Canadian editor of TV Guide. He is new to Victoria.
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Dance impresario Stephen White is choreographing a cultural legacy
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By Robert Moyes photo by gary mckinstry
Whether you prefer the traditional repertoire of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet or modern dance as performed by Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal — or even if you’ve only taken your children to see The Nutcracker — chances are you’ve heard Stephen White introducing the show from the stage. Currently in the middle of his ninth season as producer of Dance Victoria, White is like Herr Drosselmeyer, the magician in Tchaikovsky’s immortal ballet, having transformed what was a booking agency for traveling ballet companies into a cultural powerhouse with a national reputation and a $1.2 million budget. Not bad for a guy whose first job in Victoria, at age 27, was busboy at Pagliacci’s. The Windsor-born White moved to Vancouver in 1981, travelling to Victoria three years later to pursue a Masters degree in theatre at UVic. “I fully intended to move back to Vancouver, but I never finished the Masters, so never got to return,” he quips. As an actor and budding playwright, White had wasted no time in launching Beacon Hill, an improvised satirical soap opera that became a runaway hit. There wasn’t much alternative theatre in mid-’80s Victoria, and White’s success got him noticed. “I started getting jobs, for example as director of Kaleidoscope Theatre’s drama school,” he recalls. “So I quit my studies and began working.” White’s next success was a Beacon spin-off named The Dexters. Written by White and directed by Jim Leard, the cult comedy was a smash hit that prefigured the success of current troupes like Atomic Vaudeville. White then became associate artistic director at the Belfry for five years. His successes during this time included Buildings, which debuted at Open Space and went on to do a Fringe Festival tour. The last play he ever wrote, A Boy in the Garden, was performed on the Belfry mainstage. White actively pursued a playwriting career from the mid-’80s to the mid-’90s, before transitioning out of writing. “One of my favourite anecdotes about why I stopped writing involves when I was a waiter at Pagliacci’s and also teaching playwriting up at UVic,” says a wry White. “I surprised several of my first-year students when I waited on their table,” he says.
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“Then next semester two of them hadn’t continued with the course — and they were talented.” The kicker came when White ran into one of the guys and asked him why he dropped out. “He said that seeing how hard I was working pulling tables at Pag’s to make a go of it had made him reappraise his career path,” chuckles White — who ruefully found himself following his student’s example not too long after. “But I still wanted to keep working in the arts, and what happened was that people kept phoning me with offers,” explains White. “It’s been a really crooked path that has taken me to where I am.” White found his professional life taking an important zigzag in 1993 when an incoming producer for the Fringe Festival bailed just three months in front of the event. White, at that time a board member of Intrepid Theatre, overseer of the Fringe, agreed to grab the reins. “I took on the job as a concerned board member, but ended up staying for four years.” During this phase he was a columnist with the Victoria News Group, and producer of the award-winning Art Attack! artscommentary show on Shaw Cable. He also appeared on a variety of boards, worked for the B.C. Arts Council, and was president of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. In short, White seemed to have morphed into the “arts mayor” of Victoria. “Stephen’s influence is far-reaching and very diverse . . . he’s made an enormous contribution to the cultural scene in Victoria,” states Mary Desprez, general manager of the Belfry Theatre. “I still remember when he organized a neighbourhood arts festival in 1988 and ran around Fernwood Square wearing a ‘Captain Art’ cape,” she giggles. “I think the world of Stephen.” White’s skill set also includes an aptitude for diplomacy — an invaluable skill when working within an arts world positively fraught with ego. He proved to be an ideal fit when the City of Victoria hired him as a “festival consultant” to quarterback their Summer in the Square entertainment series from 1997 to 2002. By this time White was also knocking off a diverse array of short-term contracts, ranging from arts consultations and public relations work for travelling shows to programming the entertainment for various festivals. White, it seems, was eager to win the title of the hardest working man behind show business. “There were three or four years there that were just insane,” he concedes with a laugh. White was still at City Hall when he began what was initially a minor contract to manage Dance Victoria, which was then known as the Victoria Dance Series. “It was originally just a marketing umbrella for companies like the National Ballet and the RWB when they came through Victoria,” explains White. “But in my first year there was a last-minute cancellation and [local dancer/choreographer] Lynda Raino told me about a Montreal choreographer, late of the Cirque du Soleil, who was working on a new piece. And I was, like, ‘Great, we can bill it as a world premiere and emphasize the Cirque connection.’” The show sold brilliantly and gave White the confidence to consider doing his own programming. “But the real turning point was four years ago when we began to present Nutcracker,” continues White. “It dramatically increased our total ticket sales, and gave Dance Victoria a much higher profile.” In the 2003/04 season, total attendance was just below 9,400; these days, attendance has almost doubled, to 17,500 patrons. And those dance fans have followed White into often-challenging territory as,
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beginning in 2003, Dance Victoria began to program much more adventurous modern work. “Across the country a lot of dance companies struggle to find an audience, while we’ve been enormously lucky,” says a delighted White. “For example, we sold out two 800-seat shows for Montreal’s Rubberbandance, the innovative hip-hop ballet,” he says. “They are used to playing in 300-seat venues.” According to White he receives proposals almost daily from people who want to be part of his season. “Across the country Victoria is seen as a really desirable gig . . . we’re one of the top three dance series in Canada,” he adds. Bob Milne, a Victoria lawyer, was board chair for Dance Victoria for seven years with White, and can’t say enough about what he has accomplished. “Originally, Stephen’s core talent was in promotion, and that’s why we hired him,” he explains. “Then he worked hard to develop contacts in the dance scene all across Canada — so much so that programming is now his real strength,” adds Milne. “Stephen has been so successful that the Canada Council touts Dance Victoria as the development model for dance companies in this country.” Among a broad swath of arts-world colleagues and personal friends, White has a well-deserved reputation as a superb host. One of the annual highlights at his home is a pizza party. Nominally a birthday celebration in honour of Bill Hamar, White’s life (and business) partner, it’s really just an excuse to cook for the 40 or so people lucky enough to be invited to a feast that involves two days of preparation and the baking of two dozen all-different gourmet pizzas during the evening. The mail-out invitations are notorious for their cheeky inscriptions; last year’s read, in part: “If you’ve never been invited before, think about what you did RIGHT this year.” But the man who plays hard also gets up at 5 am every day to work even harder, whether it’s answering emails, writing copious program notes for the season’s brochure or orchestrating media coverage for upcoming shows. Aside from being current chair of the CanDance Network, which represents the interests of Canada’s many dance presenters, White also attends dance festivals in cities such as Portland, Toronto, Montreal and New York to see new work. “Over the next five years the biggest thing that our patrons will note is that there will be more international companies on the bill as well as more commissioned works being presented,” explains White, who is thrilled that Dance Victoria was able to pony up $200,000 for a major new work by choreographer Crystal Pite that will be part of the cultural component for the 2010 Olympics. White is proud and competitive — aside from the expected dance posters, his basement office is festooned with the cloth “registration numbers” that marathon runners wear pinned on their T-shirts. And this civic-minded impresario takes evident pleasure in seeing all his hard work evolving into a notable community asset. “Dance Victoria will live long after me,” he says. “The difference between being a commercial presenter and a non-profit one is that what I and the board are building is something that belongs to the community,” he adds. “This isn’t something that’s personality driven — it’s a tangible legacy that will truly be part of Victoria.” t Local author Robert Moyes has known — and admired — Stephen White ever since The Dexters. He hopes that this article won’t get him banned from any future pizza parties.
. . . go for it! Photo by Amy Melious, 2008 “Photos By” winner
Dig out those cameras, sort through those shots, whatever it takes . . . it’s It’s time for Boulevard’s annual “Photos By” contest. Send us your best image, and if it’s among the six to eight selected it will be published, with your brief biography, in the May/June issue of Boulevard. Focus on personal rather than commercial work, and don’t send us anything you can’t part with or leave with us until the end of May. Any images of people will require the subject’s consent to appear in a published photograph. You may submit prints, or electronic files as high resolution tiffs or jpegs. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number on the back of prints, and please do not submit mounted work.
“Photos By” time!
Images will not be returned unless submitted with a selfaddressed stamped envelope, and will be discarded after one year if not claimed. Winners automatically consent to have their work used by Boulevard Lifestyles Inc. in any future promotions.
Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2009 Send to: “Photos By ”, Boulevard Lifestyles Inc., #210-612 View St., Victoria, BC, V8W 1J5 or email: info@victoriaboulevard.com with “Photos By” in the subject line.
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But as much as I can’t resist watching — and cheering or jeering the results — I also have to say, awards ceremonies like the Oscars bother me, too. Because for all of the vast amount of creativity that goes into Hollywood and the performing arts in general, there’s an equal amount of creativity that remains unsung, unpraised and downright unnoticed. Let’s face it, the glamour goes to the rock stars and movie stars, not to the shy retiring types who choose a more subdued, secluded artistic passion. And that’s too bad. Really. Because if last fall’s literary awards season showed us anything, it’s that there’s a huge untapped excitement potential in arts awards for all genres, not just performance. Never mind Stephen Harper’s declaration that participants in the arts spend too much time having galas — that’s hardly the case. Even in a season when you’re getting the news about the winners of the Canadian literary biggies — the Giller and Governor General’s prizes — it’s clear that the performing arts parties are always the most fabulous. Which is too bad. At last fall’s celebration for the Victoria Butler Book Prize and the new Bolen Children’s Literature Prize, there was a heady air of excitement. Yes, it’s possible — those bookish types are actually pretty exciting when you get a bunch of them together in one fancy room. I checked in with Richard Olafson, one of Victoria’s longtime literary luminaries. As publisher of Ekstasis Edtions, Olafson knows pretty much every member of Victoria’s literati, and he’s also played a hands-on role in the early days of the Victoria Book Prize Society, the group that administers the Butler and the Bolen. “Literature is an invisible art. The writer, for the most part, is buried away in his office,” Olafson says. “Book awards make current literature visible: by raising awareness of new and recent writing; and also, by bringing literature into the community, it brings an awareness of literature as an expression of the community.” Which not only explains why a book prize devoted to books written by local writers is such a boon to our city’s cultural life, it also explains why such an event is more than just a fancy party. “The community comes together to celebrate its creative utterance,” Olafson adds. “The writer is just the conduit and we can all share in the expression of a creative community.” Plus, as Mary Virtue, current president of the Victoria Book Prize Society, says, book prizes are also good for the city in general. “It puts the Victoria region out there as a cultural location, where community support is strong,” she explains. “It might encourage those who are culturally inspired to come here.” Good for the city. Good for writers. And yeah, good for business, too. Brian Butler, of Butler Building Supplies, and Mel Bolen, of Bolen Books, have made an amazing move in sponsoring these awards. They’ve given time and no small amount of cash to promoting Victoria’s books and authors, and in doing so, have generated the kind of goodwill that I’m pretty sure makes a big advertising difference. Of course, the City of Victoria also deserves kudos for partnering with these businesses to back their awards, especially in a Cultural Capital where a staggering percentage of residents are directly or indirectly involved in the
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arts. This kind of support goes a long way at election time (just ask Mayor Dean Fortin) and carries over from year to year. But there’s one problem with book prizes, speaking of politics. As Olafson points out, “The best books do not always win nor even get nominated. Often the best books of any year get overlooked for a variety of reasons: too obscure, too difficult, the author doesn’t know the right people or comes from the wrong pedigree.” So, even though there might be a great number of excellent books available, there’s only one prize. Olafson puts it best: “Like politics, the jury’s vote gets split, and the least promising book will often rise up the middle. Very often, new and exploratory work will not even be considered by some juries, or work from small and medium sized presses, which generally publish the most exciting work. Also, if it seems to someone outside the inner circle that the same writers get nominated year after year, and if the perception that the same people end up on the short list and win, this will leave the reading public uninterested and perhaps a little jaded.” To prevent or at least lessen that disappointment and frustration that comes from so many great books, so few prizes, I think it’s time for everyone to go a step further. The move made this past year, to divide the awards into adult and children’s book categories, makes huge sense. But look at all the fantastic genres of adult literature being written in this city. The jury had the task of wrestling with poetry, fiction, short fiction, poetic literary fiction, and creative non-fiction — and deliberating amongst themselves about which fine example of these many types of writing would win the one adult lit prize. I can only imagine jury members might have felt happier tossing darts to determine the winner. So in the name of having a big reason to celebrate, along the lines of the Academy Awards, how about we have more businesses step forward to sponsor Victoria’s annual literary prizes? The Butler and the Bolen have set out a template for sponsorship that’s an example of tremendous arts leadership, and it would be fantastic to see other businesses step up to the plate. “Brian Butler and Mel Bolen have certainly set a precedent in Victoria,” Virtue says. “As you know, the Booker Prize is largely funded by a large finance company, so it would seem that the arts are valued by commerce. I am aware that there has been some coffee conversation that since we have so many nationally recognized poets in this city that there should be a separate prize for poetry, however, there has been no move in this direction.” But why not? Let’s bring it on, Victoria business owners. Take a look at the positive press that Butler and Bolen get — look, I’ve written their names again, right here, and will be obliged to do so every single time I write about the prizes, which is the kind of publicity you just can’t get nowadays. Who’s next? The Pagliacci’s Poetry Prize? The Belfry Playwriting Prize? And it doesn’t have to be limited to individual businesses, either. Even groups could get involved. How about the Antique Row Memoir prize, or the Island Chefs Collaborative Food Writing prize? I see a future here, and it looks bright for those who write. t
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Deb Garlick’s Me Ama No Me Ama, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36 in, 2007. Judy McLaren’s Nude Woman on Red Chair, oil on canvas, 40 x 28 in, 2008.
FRONTROW
by kate cino
INSPIRE LOVE BY JAE DOUGALL
Romancing the Art II FEBRUARY 14 – 26, 2009 This February, Main Street Gallery is celebrating Valentine’s Day, the most passionate month of the year with a collection of sensual, provocative, contemporary art. A must see for art enthusiasts and romantics, this feature is sure to inspire stimulating conversation.
THE SIMPLE ELEGANCE OF
Deb Garlick Garlick uses colour,
Sweet, steamy Valentine’s art “British Columbia is blessed with an abundance of talented artists,” says Angela Montanti, manager of the Main Street Gallery. And their new location in the Sidney Pier Hotel and Spa helps them promote those artists to a worldwide clientele. Main Street Gallery features over 35 artists with original works in glass, wood, jewellery and ceramics. Artworks and installation pieces are placed throughout the Sidney Pier Hotel, a great destination for a romantic Valentine’s weekend. To honour the day of love, Main Street Gallery hosts the opening of Romancing the Art II. This show features several artists, including Deb Garlick and Judy McLaren.
line and composition to create her mood of distinctive solitude and quietness, resting the eye of the viewer. There is an underlying complexity and introspection in her work that is interpreted through both stillness and simplicity. BOUND BY DEB GARLICK
MAIN STREET GALLERY located in the Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa 2536 Beacon Avenue, Sidney www.mstreetgallery.com tel: 250.656.6246 email: info@mstreetgallery.com Gallery Hours: Mon – Sat 10am – 5:30pm, Sun Closed
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BRONZE WORKS
STEVEN ARMSTRONG
Steady Rhythm, 24x24, oil on canvas
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Romancing the Art II opens on February 14, at the Main Street Gallery, 2536 Beacon Avenue, Sidney. The opening, with artists in attendance, runs from 1-4 pm. For more information phone 250-656-6246 or visit mstreetgallery.com.
F LY I N G I N T O W I N T E R ( M I X E D M E I D A , B E E S WA X A N D O I L O N C A N VA S )
Judy McLaren toasts the body beautiful with her sensual and fanciful figurative paintings. In recent works such as In Doubt, McLaren uses expressionistic brushwork to define the nude woman’s elegant pose and enigmatic smile. “I’m proud of In Doubt,” says the artist. “It’s a good example of my sculptural painting style at its best.” The painter sculpts her figural forms with loosely applied oils using subtle gradations of colour. She deftly applies a variety of directional brushstrokes to “feel around” the muscle groups of her live models. For the show, McLaren plans to have fun with the Valentine’s Day mood. She promises canvases that glow with bright colours and decorative patterns — in perfect sizes for special gifts. Love is a big and complex emotion, and artist Deb Garlick likes to get to the heart of the matter with her paintings. Her artistic process distills grand passions and complex ideas into calm and ethereal images. Garlick’s figurative work usually involves a single female dressed in white. “White represents clarity of thought and the honesty to express it,” she says. Garlick’s paintings sell well in both Canada and the United States and she is an internationally published photographer. In honour of Saint Valentine, the artist is planning to break with tradition and introduce a second figure into her canvases. It will be fascinating to see how “another heart” affects the serenity of her solo world.
Introducing
JOAN SKEET
CONTEMPORARY MODERN EXPRESSIONIST
2184 OAK BAY AVENUE, VICTORIA 250-598-2184 www.theavenuegallery.com
Stepping into the grandeur of nature Steven Armstrong’s landscape paintings vibrate with an inner sense of light and space. Some of his paintings show picturesque local parks like Witty’s Lagoon. Others reveal majestic mountains, sunlit lakes and meandering rivers topped by dramatic rolling skies. “People feel invited into the grandeur of nature through these accessible scenes,” he explains. The artist is continually inspired by the colours, shapes and textures of the natural world. Armstrong’s new work shows at the West End Gallery from February 21-March 5. Armstrong, who attended Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, has painted professionally since 1997. He enjoys painting on site (en plein air) and works rapidly, confidently mixing colours and layering his acrylic paint. “A love of colour inspired me to begin painting,” he says. After moving back to Victoria in 1997, Armstrong went on a painting expedition with accomplished landscape artist Tim Schumm. Schumm mentored the emerging artist by offering tips on technique. On his return from the trip, Armstrong exhibited his completed paintings. “I was delighted when they all sold,” he recalls. “Armstrong has a strong local following,” says Dan Hudon of West End Gallery. “But we also sell to travellers who appreciate our unique West Coast scenery.” Dan and Lana Hudon, who have operated the West End Gallery in Edmonton for 35 years, are celebrating 15 years at their Victoria location in 2009. Their Broad Street Gallery hosts a cheerful collection of designer glass and original art, and Armstrong’s glowing canvases fit in well. Working in a wide variety of sizes, the artist proves he is a gifted colourist, able to create sweeping vistas of harmonious hues. In River to Mount Chester for example, a pebblestrewn stream moves through golden fields of grass. A tall stand of
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The Glenlyon Norfolk School graduates of 2008 are scattered throughout BC, Canada and the world. They’re at UVic, Camosun College, the Canadian College of the Performing Arts and UBC, the University of Toronto, Queens, McGill and Waterloo, Harvard, the University of Washington and London Metropolitan University to name a few. To all our grads go our best wishes for their continued success.
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jagged pines leads the viewer’s eyes to a rugged mountain range beyond. The peaceful river glistens with mottled reflections of sky and forest, creating a mood of tranquil beauty. Painting quietly in these remote areas, the artist sees all kinds of wildlife, including grizzly bears. “We have to remember to make some noise as we work,” smiles the artist, “so nobody gets an unwelcome surprise.” Steven Armstrong’s work is featured at the West End Gallery, 1203 Broad Street, from February 21-March 5. The opening, with artist in attendance, is Saturday, February 21 from 1-4 pm. Exhibition can be previewed at westendgalleryltd.com.
Exploring the ebb and flow of human sexuality
Where are they now?
Entrance and Scholarship Exams for students applying for Grades 6 to 12 will be held on Saturday, January 24 and Saturday, February 28, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Steven Armstrong’s August Afternoon, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 28 in, 2008.
“Everything that can go wrong between lovers, will,” commented Austrian playwright, poet, and doctor Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931). In his play La Ronde running at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre February 19 to 28, the author elaborates on the challenges of achieving sexual satisfaction. Honest and insightful, La Ronde (Hands Around) chronicles 10 amorous encounters between couples that begin and end with the same prostitute. The participants come from different classes and circumstances in Viennese society. Before and after coitus chats reveal a funny and touching treatise on the nature of sexual tension and release. The natural dialogue, believable personalities and enthusiastic encounters render the viewer spellbound. Schnitzler was interested in psychiatry and the use of hypnotism for the treatment of neuroses. His first play Anatol (1893) dealt with a young man’s melancholic love life. Schnitzler had many affairs himself and chronicled his adventures in detailed private journals. Schnitzler was a friend and contemporary of Freud, who considered the author to be his creative “double” in uncovering the unconscious forces that produce anxiety. In 1921, during a public performance of La Ronde, the audience reacted violently and the play was closed down. Schnitzler was put on trial as a Jewish pornographer. Fortunately, the court did not rule the play “immoral” and noted that anti-Semitism was the prime motive behind the charge. Even so, the author elected to remove La Ronde from circulation in Germany. “The play is very much a product of its time,” says director Conrad Alexandrowicz, “but still resonates with today’s gender issues.” Alexandrowicz, who is an assistant professor in UVic’s theatre department, brings his skills as a movement coach and
choreographer to the production. “I believe the students will really enjoy this play,” he says. Using his special style of choreographic staging, the director plans to blend the mores of a bygone era with a smooth contemporary feel. His ideas include the creation of a “living set” wherein cast members become props and furniture. The student’s quick transitions and stylized movements will suggest the ceaseless flow of film. Just as the quick couplings in La Ronde focus on the ebb and flow of human sexuality. La Ronde plays at the Phoenix Theatre, University of Victoria from February 19-28. For tickets call 250-721-8000 or visit phoenixtheatres.ca. The Fifth Tee
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Fascinating human dynamics, explored through dance Victoria audiences are in for a special treat on January 10 and 11, as a talented troupe of Elegant Heathens invade the Metro Studio Theatre. In this dance drama, choreographed by Deborah Dunn, we see five eccentric characters engaged in a power skirmish. The thrones of the King and Queen are usurped by the Prince and Princess, amid much acrobatic movement, expressive dialogue and witty posturing. Elegant Heathens is an insightful social commentary dealing with issues of gender, class, language and control. “Audiences seem to have a lot of fun with this piece,” says Dunn, “there must be something satisfying about the transfer of power.” Honed to perfection after four years on the road, the energetic cast of five is a fascinating blend of body types and personas. Dunn has a visual arts degree as well as extensive dance training. Over the past decade, her impressive dance works have toured Canada and played in New York City. When creating Elegant Heathens, the choreographer began by composing her movement
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“[A] play which reminds you why you go to the theatre and why you fall in love.” THE SPECTATOR
Belfry Theatre A co-production with the Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver
Dancers (from left to right) Audrée Juteau, Alexandre Parenteau, Deborah Axelrod, Dean Makarenko and Sophie Lavigne bring dramatic energy to Metro Studio Theatre. Photo by Deborah Dunn.
phrases, then selecting the music that reflected the mood and energy of each scene. “I let myself choose beautiful pieces of music,” she explains, “by classical composers like Vivaldi, Handel and Chopin.” Audiences will hear much-loved symphonic works like the The Four Seasons by Vivaldi. Dunn finds the artistic process very rewarding, and delights in building a framework for another dancer’s creativity. “All this creativity needs an audience,” says Janet Munsil from Intrepid Theatre. Munsil encourages theatre lovers who like to
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hibernate in early January to come wrapped in their duvets if that’s what it takes. Intrepid Theatre, which co-presents the event with Suddenly Dance Theatre, also organizes the Uno and Fringe Festivals, delivering innovative theatre to local audiences. Works like Elegant Heathens offer a middle ground between the worlds of contemporary dance and theatre. “There is a satisfying story being told,” says Munsil, “but the message is conveyed through the sophistication of dance.” Munsil also enjoys the art history in the piece. The dance reminds her of a Velazquez portrait of the Spanish royal family completed in the 17th century. “But in Elegant Heathens,” sums up Munsil, “we get to experience the complex human dynamics beneath the precisely rendered exteriors.” Elegant Heathens plays at the Metro Studio Theatre, 1411 Quadra Street on January 10 and 11 at 8 pm. For tickets and more information phone 250-383-2663 or visit intrepidtheatre.com.
Legends of the First Nations, told through song and dance If you were one of the 40,000 people at last summer’s Symphony Splash, you’ve already had a taste of Heaven. An excerpt from Heaven, which featured the drumming, singing, dancing and poetry of the South Island Dancers (formerly known as the Esquimalt First Nations Singers and Dancers) intrigued audience members. The excerpt, called Celebration of Souls, was the final scene in a 30-minute Symphonic Dance Cantata composed by Colin Doroschuk. The world premiere of Heaven launches February 13 as part of the Victoria Symphony’s Odyssey series. Innovative cross-cultural collaborations give spark and fizzle to the Odyssey series. Legends of the First Nations is an evening of traditional storytelling, music and dance, either written or inspired by Canada’s First Peoples. On the program is Malcolm Forsyth’s Atayoskewin Suite for Orchestra. Forsyth’s suite comes in three parts: The Spirits, The Dream and The Dance. In 1987, the suite won a Juno award for best classical composition of the year. Classical composer Barbara Croall brings her unique and spirited presentations, Songs from Coyote and Sound of the Drum, to the festivities. Orchestral sound effects for the stories include rustling wind, cracking ice and birdcalls. The grand finale of the program features the story of Heaven. This mythic tale with a modern twist tells the story of two First Nations brothers who fought in World War One. When one brother is killed, the other becomes dispirited and falls into addiction. Supported by his community, the tormented brother sees a vision of his brother’s spirit. The dancing ghost revives his brother, bringing healing and a time of celebration. Singer and drummer August Thomas says that “sharing the cultural ways of [your] people is good medicine and good healing.” The two brothers are played by Andrew Jimmy and Sandy Thomas (Coast Salish brothers in real life). Sandy Thomas’ poetry and words enliven the piece. A cast of three women and three warriors sing and dance, using masks and regalia to create a colourful spectacle. A dramatic call and response pattern between the orchestra and the South Island Dancers builds the story to boulevard 85
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a cathartic grand finale described as Heaven on Earth. Earthbound audiences can share in the struggles and triumphs that illuminate this profound personal journey. Legends of the First Nations takes place at the University of Victoria’s Farquhar Auditorium on February 13 at 8 pm. For tickets call 250-721-8480 or visit victoriasymphony.ca.
A mythic tale of lust and revenge, set to some incredible music Is there really a place of endless pleasure and endless love? Yes, according to Pacific Opera Victoria, who takes us there just in time for Valentine’s Day, The opera Semele is based on a Greek myth from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”. In the myth, the god Jupiter is smitten by a beautiful mortal named Semele. In spite of being married to Juno, Jupiter sets up his lover in a luxurious palace on Mount Olympus. All goes well, until a clever plot by jealous wife Juno topples their precariously balanced love nest. George Frideric Handel wrote Semele in the mid-18th century. The music, played in baroque style by the Victoria Symphony, is under the direction of Timothy Vernon. Handel, famous for his soaring melodies, has composed lovely tunes that reveal the full spectrum of earthly emotions. Soprano Nathalie Paulin, who plays the enchanting Semele, is well known by local audiences for past performances with Pacific Opera. “This is one of the longest singing roles in opera,” she says, describing the music in Semele as “very exciting — amazing even!” Paulin sings a grand total of 10 arias, all requiring speed and flexibility. The source of all this passion, the immortal god Jupiter, is played by Benjamin Butterfield. A Victoria Soprano Nathalie Paulin performs native, Butterfield graduated from Brentwood College and studied the title role in Pacific Opera at the Conservatory of Music. Victoria’s Semele. The tenor’s powerful voice and charismatic stage presence ensure his ongoing international status. Butterfield has the challenging role of being both a god and a man, caught in the middle of a complex drama created by his own longing. As the god Jupiter, he can only appear to his beloved Semele in human form. When Semele demands to see his full God-like self, the results are operatic in scale. Audiences will be swept along by this mythic tale of lust and revenge that overflows with passionate music, human foibles and fantasies, and delicious plot twists. t
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Semele by George Frideric Handel plays at the Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street, at 8 pm on February 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21. For tickets call 250-385-0222 or email boxoffice@pov.bc.ca. This winter, arts writer Kate Cino is being warmed by the creative fires of Victoria’s many cultural events. boulevard 87
Tea Time!
Victoria is steeped in some tasty old traditions and new
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It’s a brisk autumn evening and I’m sitting in Mela’s Tearoom with other tea fanciers listening to Daniela Cubelic of Silk Road Tea speak about “the art of tea”. Our intimate group easily shares a couple hot pots of tea and tea-infused pastries neatly arranged atop an elegant silver cake tray. We pour the first of six teas we’ll sample this evening into our delicate, white porcelain teacups; we smile and nod, marvelling at the bright colour and sweet aroma. An herbal blend of chamomile, peppermint, rosehips, citrus and lavender, its “liquor” (the term in the tea biz for colour) shimmers like a citrine gemstone. Called “TranquiliTea”, it’s custom-made by Cubelic specifically for Mela’s Tearoom and Cafe Mela next door. “You want to look for a translucency and liveliness of the colour,” instructs Cubelic, “because that’s indicative of freshness and good-quality method of manufacture. In China, they refer to tea as liquid jewels.” Thankfully, Victoria’s tea shops and tea houses bring in very high-quality, very fresh tea. “In order for a tea to taste good, you have to make it with really good-quality ingredients,” says Cubelic. “And freshness impacts nutrient quality.” Local tea shops Silk Road, Murchie’s and Special Teas showcase the versatility of tea by offering different varietals and custom blends that capture interesting flavours, making tea drinking in Victoria an everengaging experience. Tea is an infusion of the dried leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis in hot water. When the leaves of Camellia sinensis are picked, and how they are processed, determines the type of tea: black, oolong, green, yellow or white. Each type of tea also has a variety of health benefits, as well as a distinct flavour profile depending on the region, elevation and growing conditions. Tea made from Camellia sinensis should not to be confused with herbal tea, or “tisane”, which refers to an infusion of dried herbs, fruits, seeds, roots or flowers and is not technically “tea” by definition. Herbal teas also have a wide range of medicinal benefits and, unlike tea, are caffeine-free.
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Tea originated in Southeast Asia; more precisely, northern Burma and the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China, and from there it was introduced to over 50 countries. The earliest records of tea drinking date to the 10th century BC in China, although one popular legend tells the story of Shennong, a mythical emperor of China, who discovered tea back in 2737 BC. For thousands of years tea has been a part of Chinese medicine, and the use of tea as a general tonic for the whole body has been used by many cultures. “Tea helps our brains to relax, but be focussed,” explains Cubelic. “It promotes what could be best described as a relaxed state of awareness.” Anyone who’s sipped a cuppa knows of tea’s calming yet reviving effects. But, that’s not simply because it’s a pleasant-tasting hot drink. An amino acid called L-theanine, found almost exclusively in Camellia sinensis, is believed to diminish the stress response in our bodies, induce feelings of peacefulness, and enhance our mood and cognitive function.
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Mela’s Tearoom in Winchester Galleries 792 Humboldt Street Reservations: 250-382-8528
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Contrary to popular belief, there is less caffeine per serving in tea than in coffee. of Verbena Floral Design, In fact, caffeine in moderation might not Jenny Dagg (left) and be harmful. A recent study found that the Vanessa Watters nibble small amount of caffeine in green tea is savoury finger actually necessary for your body to absorb sandwiches while the antioxidants. What’s more, experts are saying that tea sipping custom-blended is even healthier than water, which mostly tea at Mela’s Tearoom. just replenishes fluids in the body. “All different kinds of teas are good for you, be it black, green, oolong, or the herbal teas like rooibos and honeybush that are coming out of South Africa, and yerba mate from South America,” says Irene Drmla of Special Teas, a family-run tea house and wholesaler offering over 300 different teas and tea blends. Drmla says that people are recognizing the unique health benefits of tea and are making this nourishing drink a part of their daily lives. Tea from Camellia sinensis has high levels of anti-aging antioxidants called catechins. These flavonoids can help prevent some cancers and heart disease, reduce cholesterol, support bone and dental health, boost the immune system and stimulate digestion. Teas also contain vitamins, trace minerals and essential oils, and the litany of health benefits is proving through scientific study to be cumulative.
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For many years, the tea readily available at your local supermarket was a lower quality, generic product, and it turned people off. For a truly good cup of tea, people visited a tea house or restaurant like The Empress, Murchie’s or Butchart Gardens. Today, an increased demand for healthy, organic food has even more people making time for tea, and more shops offering fresh, tasty blends. Companies like Silk Road have helped pave the way for a new generation of tea drinkers in Victoria. When Daniela Cubelic and coowner Nancy Larose opened their tea shop in Chinatown in 1992, one of the challenges they faced was educating customers about tea: how to brew loose leaf tea and the variety of tea available. “As individuals who are passionate about tea, we feel that part of our role is to also educate others about tea, and have made that an essential part of our business, says Cubelic. “Communicating our passion and enthusiasm for tea is part of who we are, and what we are about.” Sisters and co-owners of Mela’s Tearoom, Caroline Macey-Brown and Elizabeth Levinson are also passionate about tea. The tearoom shares its elegant, sophisticated new space with Winchester Galleries. “We really focus on the tea itself and what you eat with it,” says MaceyBrown. Because the sisters are “real foodies”, they couldn’t compromise on quality. They serve 14 Silk Road teas (most of which are customblended) and classic afternoon teas with home-baked goodies. “We see tea as a gathering,” says Macey-Brown. In line with this philosophy are their diverse evening soirees: “These are intimate groups coming together to focus on a topic with the opportunity for discussion and interaction,” explains Levinson. From the art of tea to fine art,
these casual presentations offer a chance to learn in a relaxed, social environment while enjoying the delights of tea. With Victorians rediscovering the uncommon value of this ancient brew, it was quite a surprise for Luc van Hanuse and Lisa Stekelenburg, back in 2006, to discover that the city didn’t have a tea festival. Stekelenburg and the fundraising committee for Camosun College Child Care Services were looking to start a premier fundraising event. Tea was a perfect fit. “The tea business is very big in the US and in other parts of Canada; it’s sort of just splashing the West Coast now,” says Stekelenburg, who, along with Luc van Hanuse, organizes the Victoria Tea Festival. In 2008, the festival tripled its profits and number of vendors and sponsors, and quintupled attendance. This year, the festival expects 3,000 attendees at their new location in the Crystal Garden, where 75 years ago ladies sipped tea from dainty teacups and nibbled on scones dolloped with clotted cream and jam. “Victoria has a reputation with tea, and we want to celebrate that heritage while introducing people to both the traditions and the trends of tea,” says Stekelenburg. It’s just one of the many local settings ideal for exploring the diversity and universal pleasure of tea. t The Victoria Tea Festival happens February 14 and 15 from noon to 5 pm at the Crystal Garden. For more information phone 250-370-4880 or visit victoriateafestival.com. The Victoria Tea Festival raises much-needed funds for Camosun College Child Care Services. Julie Nixon vividly remembers “afternoon tea” with her grandparents: they’d sip orange pekoe tea from Norwegian teacups and munch on rye crispbread topped with chunky slices of caraway havarti cheese.
tantalizing Tea Whether we need to be warmed up, calmed down or simply refreshed, tea has always been the universal answer. From traditional black teas to herbal and floral teas — you’ll find them at the Market. And don’t forget to stop by our bakery for a few treats to go with that cuppa! At the Market stores we carry an amazing array of the freshest organic fruits and vegetables, herbs, meats, poultry and seafood — as well as exotic spices, vinegars and oils from around the world! So if you’re looking for those special and sometimes hard-to-find ingredients, shop at The Market on Yates or The Market on Millstream. Chances are, it’s the only stop you’ll need to make.
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Getting Inside Wild, sea-sprayed spaces meet charming historic towns on an eco-cruise in Alaska
Alaska
When a day in Alaskan waters begins with breaching humpback whales, peaks with the rumble and roar of calving icebergs, and winds down with the burbling cries of orca calves just learning how to vocalize while playing alongside your boat, you’re too excited to descend into your sleeping quarters for the night. Even though your bed is warm and comfy and you are exhausted — what if you were to miss something?
Clockwise from top-left: Arctic terns, orca whales and harbour seals are frequently sighted in Southeast Alaska. Hot springs at Warm Springs Bay offer soothing, clothing-optional soaks for heat-seeking travellers. The St. Lazaria wildlife reserve teems with life, with the dormant Mount Edgecumbe volcano looming nearby.
Text and Photos By Andrea Scott
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photo by kevin j. smith, maple Leaf adventures
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But you need to recharge for the next day and all the ones after that, because you’re lucky enough to be eco-touring by small ship through Alaska’s magnificent Inside Passage. Nothing short of a nonstop show of nature’s splendour, such a tour encompasses showy wildflowers, hairy carnivores, delicate seabirds, dramatic geography, and a rich stew of peculiar inter-tidal life. Taking in this real-life wilderness show for 11 days last June was like starring in an episode of Planet Earth, and I frequently expected David Attenborough’s rich voice to boom over the horizon, explaining whatever amazing scene was before me. Although Attenborough wasn’t along for the ride, I had good company in half a dozen other travellers and almost as many crewmembers, aboard the historic 92-foot schooner Maple Leaf. Many of Southeast Alaska’s best coastal pockets have narrow access, such that smaller vessels can glide into charming seaside towns and remote wilderness areas where plump cruise ships simply can’t wedge themselves. Truly, if you want to surround yourself with Southeast Alaska, and not just cruise grandly past it, your best bet is to travel with a lovely small ship such as Maple Leaf, where luxury comes in a different package: an on-board naturalist instead of a lounge singer, locally-sourced gourmet food instead of an all-youcan-eat buffet, and dips in natural hot springs instead of an on-board fiberglass hot tub. If wilderness viewing tops your agenda, then early summer is an ideal time to visit. Grizzly bears, re-fuelling after a long winter’s hibernation, amble down to estuaries to munch on protein-rich Lyngby’s sedge while waiting for berries to ripen in the woods. They systematically mow down row after row of this pretty grass, while viewers admire their massive power and quiet focus — at a respectful distance. A trip around St. Lazaria Island National Wildlife Refuge, just 20 kilometres west of Sitka, is also rewarding in late spring and early summer, as the island is one of the most populous seabird colonies in Alaska. Against a backdrop of chunky, black volcanic rock, brightbilled tufted puffins make a colourful contrast when they briefly emerge from their burrows to dive into the frigid waters for small fish. These determined birds were built for swimming more so than for flight, so watching them awkwardly flap, dodge and dive is highly entertaining. Exposed to the full force of the Pacific Ocean, this 65-acre island has a harsh environment, but 500,000 birds choose St. Lazaria as their nesting site. Murres, storm petrels and rhinoceros auklets are just some of the many birds you’ll spot. And though you can’t tread on the island, for fear of crushing nests, in calm waters you can go “Zodiac spelunking�: tucking yourself, by small craft, into one of the island’s sea-level caves. Inside, colouful sea stars, sea anemones and algae turn the caves’ walls into an Abstract Expressionist painting of bright orange, pink, purple and green. Early summer is also prime time for humpback whale viewing, and Frederick Sound is a popular feeding ground for these massive sea mammals. If you’re lucky, your captain has a flexible itinerary and will obligingly follow these whales that are as big as a city bus. A good guide will give them the right of way, while still getting you close enough to admire their barnacle-encrusted tails, their baleenlined mouths and their dark, avocado-sized eyes.
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Between humpback sightings, other friendly marine mammals can be spied on: Steller sea lions lounge on rocks, orca whales and Dall’s porpoises show off their dorsal fins, and curious sea otters and harbour seals also make regular appearances. In Southeast Alaska, which is a panhandle with a mountainous mainland coast on one side and a long chain of islands on the other, the land itself is a feast for the eyes. Naturalist and writer John Muir, who travelled extensively in Alaska, wrote that “Never before . . . had I been embosomed in scenery so hopelessly beyond description.” Everything seems carved out by primordial giants: towering, snow-capped mountains, roaring waterfalls, long, winding fjords and massive glaciers. A trip up Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm for glacier-viewing proves that getting there really is half the fun. Near the mouth of the fjord you’re teased by small chunks of ice bobbing on the water, and progressing up the waterway presents bigger and bigger bergs, until suddenly you are faced with a tremendous, blue, calving glacier. As big ice chunks noisily slough off and tumble into the sea, Arctic terns soar through the resulting spray. Moments later a swell gently rocks your boat. When you narrow your focus away from the panoramic scenes, Alaska has many natural treasures to enjoy up close, on land. It’s worth travelling with an experienced naturalist who will take you through inter-tidal zones, rainforests and bogs, introducing you to squirrel middens, the secret lives of slugs, and the thousands of intriguing plants along the way. After long hours on board it feels good to stretch your legs on trails and wiggle your toes on hot, pebbly beaches.
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Alaska’s Inside Passage should include frequent stops to the various towns, large and small, that dot the coast. Arriving in larger centres, such as Ketchikan, can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve been enjoying the quiet company of a dozen friendly faces on a small ship, but cruise-ship crowds aside, Ketchikan is still a worthwhile stop. Creek Street boardwalk, formerly lined with bordellos, is now a popular destination for shopping and people watching. The city is also packed with art: galleries, outdoor sculptures and more totem poles than anywhere else in Alaska. The smaller city of Sitka has lots to see and do, without the major crush of tourists. The area was first settled by the Tlingit people; Russians arrived in the late 18th century, leading to the bloody Sitka Massacre and later the Battle of Sitka. In the heart of the city, the venerable St. Michael’s Cathedral is a reminder of the city’s Russian
Orthodox roots, and from this church, streets radiate out like spokes on a wheel, taking walkers on an exploration of Tlingit, Russian and American history. The tourist trade has brought some interesting merchandise to town: there are as many shops offering Matryoshka dolls as there are stores with fishing gear, and at least a few shops supply everything made of fur, including thong underwear with fur carefully placed to cover private parts — only in Alaska! Petersburg, dubbed “Alaska’s Little Norway”, is a colourful fishing town on Mitkof Island that has beer parlours for the thirsty, unique boutiques for shoppers, and picturesque trails for strollers and hikers. Short walks take you along sidewalks decorated with traditional rosemaling and lined with totem poles, and longer outings take hikers through muskeg habitat under wide-open skies. The smallest villages along the coast are also well worth a visit. Warm Springs Bay on Baranof Island lives up to its name, with a series of enticing hot springs located next to a raging river. And back down near the dock, a free bathhouse with private rooms and deep, wide tubs awaits. Close the curtains if you’re prudish, but no one is out there except for bald eagles rising in circles above the rapids that meet the bay.
From top left: A tufted puffin makes a fleeting appearance outside of its burrow. Sun sets on the bow of Maple Leaf, B.C.’s oldest tall ship. Indian paintbrush is one of many brilliant wildflowers that carpet
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Up Close
Alaska’s wild spaces. At left: The town of Petersburg embraces its Scandinavian roots with a replica Norwegian Viking ship at the picturesque Bojer Wikan Fisherman’s Memorial Park.
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Visitors to the tiny village of Meyers Chuck can feel plugged into civilization, Alaska-style: the town’s only phone booth sports a rustic look thanks to a bird’s nest, and if you send a postcard home via the adjacent mail box, don’t include any urgent messages as delivery takes about three weeks. In this community, a forested trail serves as the “road” between houses, past culturally modified red cedars, and terminating at a With Maple Leaf under full sail, quiet, pristine beach. Even if you find a café that Capt. Kevin Smith is all smiles. offers a steaming Americano in Built in 1904 as a luxury yacht, one of these towns, you’ll still Maple Leaf had a revolutionary lead be reminded that you’re in wild Alaska. Cheeky ravens and big keel that was later stripped for the bald eagles drown out what war effort. After some decades as little man-made noise there is, a fishing vessel, she was lovingly and locals talk nonchalantly about bear sightings down at converted back to a sailing ship. the local sandwich shop. The skilled chef aboard Maple Leaf spoiled us with tremendous hot meals, fun picnic lunches and lavish snacks, but our greatest appetite was for nature watching. And the combination of satisfying food, fresh air and non-stop excitement had our bunks calling out to us well before bedtime. The sleeping quarters were formerly a hold for halibut, back when the ship was a commercial fishing vessel, but have since been transformed into a warm nest of comfy bedding and gleaming Douglas fir beams. But though the bunks beckoned, sleep often was interrupted or postponed. On more than one occasion, I retreated below to nap, only to be roused to action by voices shouting: “Orcas on the horizon” or “Humpbacks on starboard!” When the cry for Dall’s porpoises rang out I was quick to move, having never seen them before. I was out of bed and up on deck in a hurry; pausing for a deep breath, I stepped over the edge of the bow and onto the whisker stays, continuing onto the bowsprit. Suspended above darkly gleaming water, I hung on tight and peered down at the splashy scene. A half-dozen black-and-white stocky porpoises zigzagged, racing and jumping, playing on the bow. These creatures usually prefer a greater speed than our ship could attain, but we were fast enough to hold their interest for a spell. They flashed in and out of sight — too quick to photograph, impossible to predict where they’d surface next — so each appearance was a surprise. And in the distance, multiple rooster-tail sprays signalled another group coming to join the play. Sleep could certainly wait. The 104-year-old tall ship Maple Leaf, based out of Victoria, regularly makes trips to Southeast Alaska, and various destinations along the British Columbia coast. For more information, call 250-386-7245 or visit MapleLeafAdventures.com. t Andrea Scott is a Victoria writer and editor who likes going places with lots of nature, and the occasional Americano.
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Local writer Robert Moyes lives just around the corner from Tim Van Alstine. He’s hoping to be invited back really soon to have another chinwag over a bottle of fine wine.
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Many people know Tim Van Alstine as a long-time community activist (and a recent candidate for Victoria’s City Council), while others recognize his cheery, bearded face from seeing him stride around James Bay with a dark blue postman’s bag slung over his shoulder. A much smaller — and luckier — group know Van Alstine as a gifted amateur winemaker who combines vast knowledge of the wine world with the kind of passion you’d expect if his last name were Mondavi.
According to Van Alstine his introduction to winemaking came about when he and wife Kathryn bought their James Bay home 25 years ago. “We used to be working out in the garden and suddenly a jug of white wine and two glasses would appear on the fence,” says Van Alstine. These gifts came courtesy of a shy older man who, being Italian, made his own wine and was happy to share it. Van Alstine knew a good mentor when he saw one: soon he was buying grape juice from what was then North Douglas Deli in order to make his own plonk. Two years later he kicked it up a few notches courtesy of Desmond Lundy, a meticulous winemaker who ran a local business called Fermenthaus. “Lundy was a pioneer. He was interested in bringing true quality into home winemaking,” notes Van Alstine. “He wrote a really sensible guidebook called Homemade Table Wines and it’s still my first point of reference when I’m making wines.” Lundy had worked as an intern at some California wineries and through that connection had access to very good grapes. “The first wine I made from actual grapes used old-vines Zinfandel that came from Amador County,” grins Van Alstine. “That was pretty amazing wine.” These days, the commercial grapes from California available to home winemakers aren’t as good, so Van Alstine sources grapes almost exclusively from Washington State. “I buy them from R.J. Spagnols in Vancouver,” he explains. “They are crushed, destemmed and then flash-frozen before being shipped over here.” Van Alstine bought a whopping 3,000 pounds of red-wine grapes last year — luckily for his liver, most of that wasn’t meant for him. As it turns out, the student has long-since become the teacher, and Van Alstine happily works with seven different groups of home winemakers on a wide variety of fermenting and blending assignments involving 10 or more grape varietals and blends. “I supervised the production of approximately 1,800 bottles in 2007,” calculates Van Alstine, who works at such a scale that he long ago had to move production and storage out of his home. Recently one of his fellow vintners was able to acquire a pair of 250-litre, high-quality oak barrels for cheap, so Van Alstine is now getting back into making what he calls “serious” red wine. “Oak warms and softens red wine, and the batches often need two to
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five years of bottle age to fully develop,” explains Van Alstine. “So for a cost of six dollars a bottle — and a huge amount of labour — you can easily end up with a wine worth three times that . . . and sometimes a lot more.” I’m sitting in Van Alstine’s kitchen, listening to his winemaking stories and contently nosing and sipping a blend of Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet. Poured out of an unadorned bottle with no label, this rich, mellow red is clear proof that Van Alstine really knows what he’s doing. “That’s been off the barrel less than a month,” he says proudly. Interestingly, Van Alstine still uses wine kits for most of his whites, and even produces some reds the same way. “Some of the highestend kit wines are pretty incredible these days,” he says. “Not only has the technology improved a lot, but this is a huge business and the kitwine buyers can go head-to-head with many wineries when it comes to buying quality grapes.” In the old days, red wines made from kits tended to all taste pretty much the same, regardless of whether the source grape was labelled Merlot or “Bordeaux” (which is an absurdity, given that the wines from Bordeaux are by law a blend of up to five different varietals). Today, a home winemaker can, at a cost of six dollars per bottle, make a fine Pinot Noir from decent grapes grown in New Zealand’s best growing regions. Similarly, a high-end Zinfandel kit can include some actual skins that are tossed into the carboy so that the developing wine can extract enough extra flavour and colour to result in a wine with genuine varietal character. If Van Alstine has one word of advice to budding winemakers, it is to downplay using all the additives that come with the kits. He is particularly adamant about not adding any sorbates (which are used to stop the yeast from working). “Sorbates add a weird, bubble-gum taste and the wine can limp along just fine without them, it may just need to sit for a couple of extra weeks” says Van Alstine. “And I would also suggest using less than the recommended dosages of sulphur dioxide and sulfite.” Although the savings that accrue to homemade winemakers are undeniable, Van Alstine has no interest in working with people who only want to spend fewer bucks. “To me, making wine is all about the camaraderie and being steeped in the different cultures and traditions that wine has represented for centuries,” insists Van Alstine. A fan of so-called big reds, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, this amiable vintner appreciates the bouquet at least as much as the buzz. “I will often sit at home with a glass of Cab, not drinking very much, just rolling it and sniffing, rolling it and sniffing,” sighs Van Alstine. “You should almost be able to follow the bouquet of a wine back to a sense of being in the vineyard in springtime and smelling the flowers on the vine,” he adds. “Wine should truly be a joy.” t
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477 Boleskine Rd. 250-475-2401
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250-882-5100 JOB # J102-9482 CLIENT: JASON GOOD PUBLICATION: BOULEVARD MAGAZINE
boulevard 105
Local Hero Laurie Munn creates intense local flavours at CafĂŠ Brio
IslandCHEFS By Alisa Gordaneer Photos by Vince Klassen
SUNDAY BRUNCH savour your sundays
10am until 2pm www.aurarestaurant.ca
250.414.6739
Chef Laurie Munn, who’s been at the helm of Café Brio’s renowned kitchen for the past two years, doesn’t come across as an intense kind of guy. His mellow, laid-back demeanour speaks to someone fully in control of his art, who has time to fully savour what he does. But beneath that calm exterior, it’s clear that this 32-year-old chef is all about intensity — in cooking, in flavour, and in a do-ityourself aesthetic that makes for a heightened food experience. Once a competitive cyclist, Munn says he brings to cooking the same kind of intensity that led him to win three medals at the Canadian national cycling championships before he ever contemplated working as a chef. When he decided he didn’t want to pursue becoming a European champion (“To me, that was the pinnacle of the sport.”), he enrolled at Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Training. It made perfect sense for a guy who says he’s always loved food and eating — so much that for his eighth birthday, his grandparents gave him a non-stick pan and spatula of his own. “I made omelettes all the time,” he recalls, adding that shortly afterwards, he attended a summer cooking program the way some kids might go to a summer sports camp. Following his schooling, he apprenticed at a variety of wellknown restaurants in Vancouver, including The Pear Tree, under well-regarded chef Scott Jaeger. “I learned a lot from him — basic and classical cooking techniques,” says Munn. “When I got here [to Café Brio], my eyes were opened up to a more flexible style of cooking, where you use what comes in the door.” Now, instead of serving asparagus with a dish because that’s how it’s designed, he only uses asparagus, or tomatoes, when they’re in season. And all the restaurant’s meat comes from the lower Island — beef from the Quist farm in Duncan, poultry from the Cowichan Valley, and once every few weeks, a Berkshire pig or Duroc pig, which are heritage breeds from a small farm in Nanaimo.
waterfront restaurant + patio
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a meeting package and a breath of fresh air.
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MARINA DINNER SERIES JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
A new three course menu every month. Sunday to Thursday, only $25. See the menus at www.marinarestaurant.com
1327 Beach Drive at the Oak Bay Marina
250-598-8555 s www.marinarestaurant.com OB 4474 Oak Bay Marine Group Boulevard Magazine 4" x 4.625" revised November, 2008
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Because of his commitment to use only local foods as much as possible, Munn spends a lot of time not just creating seasonally fresh dishes for the Café Brio menu, but putting up meats and produce for the winter, particularly as charcuterie, those salty, smoky cuts of preserved pork, duck and beef that make savoury dishes ever more intense. Munn proudly displays the charcuterie curing room, which he built himself, painstakingly adjusting the temperature and humidity levels to create the perfect conditions for aging prosciutto and sausages, as well as the olives and pickles cured on site. The room smells like a peppery, smoky deli, with a hint of freshness that speaks to quality. “It’s not really cheaper to do it yourself, but it’s nicer to know you made it yourself,” he says. It’s also harder, but it’s worth it. The intensity of Munn’s commitment comes through in the flavours of the food, and in his ability to educate diners about new ingredients — like blood sausage (“It sold like crazy!”), or sweetbreads, which are glands from the necks of young animals. “It sounds terrible and scary, but it can be like the best chicken nugget you’ve ever had: sweet and creamy.” Intense? Maybe. But, as he says, “A lot of customers trust us now, and they’ll try these things.”
BOULEVARDMagazine Winter Dining Contest
Café Brio is open seven nights a week for dinner, from 5:30 pm. Located at 944 Fort Street in Victoria. Call 250-383-0009 or visit www.cafe-brio.com for more information.
Stout Braised Beef Short Ribs To pair with this dish, which Chef Munn says is “a super warming satisfying food for when it’s raining out every day,” he suggests a 2006 Golden Mile “Black Arts” Shiraz, or St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout from the McAuslan Brewery. Munn likes to serve these ribs with a beet-potato puree, sautéed greens and horseradish cream. Serves 4
Win $900
Short Ribs 4 beef short ribs cut 1.5 inches thick 4 bottles of stout 2 onions, sliced 2 carrots, sliced 2 ribs of celery, sliced 1 head of garlic, cut in half a handful of thyme sprigs olive oilwater or chicken stock Preheat the oven to 300°F. Heat a large pan over medium heat with some olive oil, and brown the short ribs on all sides. Transfer short ribs to an ovenproof dish. Lightly brown the vegetables and herbs in the pan and add three bottles of the stout. Stir to scrape up any bits that may be stuck on the pan and transfer the contents to the dish with the short ribs. Add enough stock or water to come to the top of the meat and put the pan on a high heat. Bring the short rib mix to a boil, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and transfer to the oven for about three hours. Carefully remove the meat from the liquid (keep warm in a low oven covered with foil) and strain the sauce into a fresh pan. Reduce until sticky and sauce-like. Just before serving, add a splash of fresh stout to refresh the flavour. t Alisa Gordaneer is writer who gave up being a vegan so she could eat dishes like this.
Visit www.victoriaboulevard.com and click on “Enter the Boulevard Winter Dining Contest” for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate redeemable at each of the following Boulevard advertisers in this issue, courtesy of Boulevard Magazine.
• Haro’s Restaurant & Bar at The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa
• Marina Restaurant
• Aura Waterfront Restaurant & Patio
at The Inn at Laurel Point
• Nautical Nellies Steak & Seafood House
• Wing’s Restaurant
• Bistro 161
• The Masthead Restaurant
• Amusé Bistro
• Just Jakes Restaurant/Craig Street Brew Pub The contest draw will take place on February 15, 2009. Please, just one entry per person. boulevard 109
secrets&lies Who are you anyway? I’m the Executive Director of Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, arbiter of urban sustainability and human systems dynamics, longboard surfer, and kitten foster-mom. Why do neighbourhoods matter? Because society exhibits fractal properties, the way neighbourhoods go is the way the world will ultimately go. I dare say to save the planet we each needn’t do more than make our own neighbourhood sustainable. What goal are you currently trying to achieve? Here at Fernwood NRG we’re immersed in “Project Supernova”: doing all things, in all directions,
Roberta Martell
all at once — affordable housing, daycare, family support, alternate energy, community arts and recreation, economic development, and food security. It’s going surprisingly well. Is there anything you wouldn’t try to do to build a better community? No, as witnessed by our upcoming fundraiser, Fornicating for Fernwood. Bah! What is it that you most dislike? Pathos and laziness. Naysayers and slackers. Brutality, waste and greed. What do you think is Victoria’s bestkept secret? The zero-waste, geothermally heated, locally supplied Cornerstone Café. That, and the fact that if we ever chose to, we could be a worldclass green city.
Which talent would you most like to have? I’d love to be fluent in calculus and the advance mathematics required to research physics. The universe speaks in numbers, not words. What is your most compulsive habit? Speaking truth to power. Can also be perceived as “yapping off”. That, and speaking too fast. What popular trend baffles you? Researching the causes of homelessness. NEWSFLASH: It’s because people don’t have homes. Now let’s get a wiggle-on and build some! What is your philosophy of life? To fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run. Can you tell us how to get to Sesame Street? From downtown, take a left on Fernwood. Near the square, you’ll see Terry the Bubble Man. When you see the smiles, and smell the coffee you’ll know you’ve arrived.
photo by gary mckinstry
Familiar Faces, Familiar Places
Photographed at The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa by Gary McKinstry
This is SANDY
BAKER, re/max associate broker with her Lexus rx 350
Meet Sandy Baker, someone with a real passion for people. Born and raised in upstate New York, she began her first career in nursing. In 1974, she moved to Campbell River and, within a few years, changed professions and became a registered realtor. With its wonderful natural beauty, the slower pace of life, and housing affordability, she and her husband Geoff fell in love with the Campbell River area. Married for 33 years, they’ve also spent the last 28 years working together as a real estate team, until Geoff’s recent retirement. During Baker’s 29-year real estate career, she has accomplished a number of achievements while building relationships with real estate clients: an agent/nominee for six years, a member of Re/Max Hall of Fame and MLS Medallion Club, Director of Vancouver Island Real Estate Board for six years, and recipient of the highest accolade possible, the 1997 Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Realtor of the Year. In case that didn’t keep her busy enough, she has also served on the boards of the Campbell River and District Art Gallery, the Municipal Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Cultural Commission, and Communities in Bloom. Currently, Baker is a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Network and friends of the Campbell River Art Gallery.
2009 Lexus RX 350 Very well equipped from $ 44,845.00 Includes freight and pre-delivery inspection
As much as she loves working with people, she also loves her SUVs. This past summer, while driving her fifth SUV, she noticed that all her girlfriends had a Lexus — naturally, she wondered what she was missing. With numerous recommendations about the Victoria dealership, she made a visit down to Victoria, and within four days she had her new Lexus RX 350. “I bought the Pebble Beach Edition because it was the colour I wanted [Mica Truffle], only available in that model,” says Baker. “Besides needing a back-up camera, and navigation system for my travels, my Lexus drives more like a car, so smooth and quiet, which all my clients appreciate too,” says Baker. “My business is all about client service,” says Baker, “and if I can say one thing about the Lexus dealership, it’s that the entire staff exhibit an amazing aptitude for service that I appreciate and respect. In addition to their knowledge of the industry, there was no pressure on buying. “Both the Lexus dealership and my new Lexus SUV are creations of perfection,” Baker says. “It’s the ideal size for travelling, whether for work or pleasure, and there is lots of room for Misha, my dog. My Lexus was the best birthday present I have ever received!”
lexus victoria
More than just a dealership the pursuit of perfection
Douglas at Finlayson, Victoria 250-386-3516