What’s Up on Vancouver Island

B.C. entrepreneur Mandy Farmer was recently awarded the title Business Leader of the Year at the Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce’s (CQCC). CQCC’s 10th annual Black & White Gala Business Awards were held in Toronto on Nov. 14. The CQCC Business Leadership Awards celebrate trailblazers driving inclusion, innovation, and growth in Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ business community. Farmer is the current president and CEO of Accent Inns, proudly owned and operated by the Farmer family since 1986. She took over the role from her father, Terry Farmer, in 2008. She is also the founder of Hotel Zed and Tofino restaurant, ROAR. She was previously named RBC Women of Influence Entrepreneur of the Year in the excellence category in 2020, won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s Business of the Year award in 2018 and was named Hotelier of the Year by Hotelier Magazine in 2017. “This might be one of my proudest moments…ever,” Farmer said in a LinkedIn post. “As a CEO, I fiercely believe in leading with love. I want every employee and guest who walks onto our properties to feel celebrated and welcome exactly as they are.” Her post further said that in practice, inclusion is in both big and small initiatives, from gender-inclusive washrooms, pronouns on email signatures and name tags, pride events at their properties, queer love in marketing, and benefits that support gender-affirming procedures. “This award is given to ‘individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and advocacy within the 2SLGBTQI+ business community.’ Obviously, nothing happens because of one individual. I’m so grateful for my amazing team who ensures that everything we do is centered around inclusion: our hiring practices, learning materials, marketing, daily operations, policies, guest experience and so much more.”

Oceanside Concert Choir will perform ‘Messiah’ by George Frideric Handel on Dec. 7 at Knox United Church in Parksville. The performance presented by Oceanside Music Association will feature soloists Michael MacKinnon (baritone), Adam Dyjach, (tenor), Shanté Van Horlick (mezzo soprano) and Andrea Rodall (soprano), as well as the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Karl Rainer, according to a news release by Oceanside Music Association. They will be joined by guest trumpet players Mark D’Angelo and David Stewart. Oceanside Concert Choir Music Director Ann Barber-Becqué will be conducting. ‘Messiah’ has become a musical tradition unparalleled in the English-speaking world. “Its popularity dates back almost to when it was first performed in Dublin in 1742,” said musical director Ann Barber-Becqué. “It is the most requested piece of music by choir members, and it always draws a large audience when we perform it.” Barber-Becqué said ‘Messiah’ has everything. Dramatic and exciting musical passages based on familiar Biblical texts, achingly tender arias performed by soloists and joyous choruses, three of which the audience is invited sing along with. She added that the choir is excited this year to be joined by two professional musicians performing the trumpet accompaniment and solo. D’Angelo is the Principal Trumpet with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. He also plays trumpet with the Vancouver Island Symphony and teaches music at Capilano College. Stewart is well-known in the community having taught music at Kwalikum Secondary School for more than 25 years before retiring from teaching. He is frequently seen performing the ‘Last Post’ on Remembrance Day and is a member of the Arrowsmith Big Band. Handel’s ‘Messiah’ opens in dramatic fashion with the birth of Jesus being announced by angels. The scene shifts to his ministry among the Jews, his suffering, death and resurrection. This is followed by the spread of his message to the world. The choral work concludes with thanksgiving and the promise of a heavenly afterlife. The concert starts at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available online at www.oceanside-music.ca or with cash at Fireside Books in Parksville and Edge Outdoors in Qualicum Beach. Unsold tickets will be available at the door through cash and debit/credit card. For more information visit www.oceanside-music.ca or call 250-594-4755.

A brass band will team with choirs to perform holiday music up and down Vancouver Island next month. Festive Brass will bring its Christmas in Canada tour to 10 Island communities between Dec. 6-21. The traditional family Christmas concert will include a “rich mix of timeless carols and festive favourites, along with new Canadian compositions.” In addition, the brass musician ensemble will be doing its own versions of Christmas classics such as Silent Night and Good King Wenceslas. Stevan Paranosic, Festive Brass leader, told Black Press Media that the group wanted to present the program with a twist. “It’s like a fun program of Christmas music, but not in a pedantic kind of way,” he said. “We like to add a little bit of fun to the program and musical shenanigans just to keep everything light and feel-good.” This takes the form of adding a polka twist to Up on the House Top, turning The First Noel into a slow jam and adding a Latin twist on We Three Kings. “We have a few more traditional things. The highlight I think is going to be the piece near the end where we take the famous Christmas poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore, and the lyrics will be sung by the choir and the brass will add some musical snippets underneath while they sing through the poem.” By performing with choirs, Paranosic said it gives the brass players time to have a break between pieces, as well as the opportunity to combine to create a nostalgic atmosphere he considers intrinsic to a Christmas show. “Immediately adding words makes all the shenanigans make a little more sense because it wouldn’t make sense musically if we venture into a new direction if we don’t have the words to kind of lock you into, ‘oh yes, they’re singing about this song.’” As a result, audiences can expect a heartwarming concert, and a celebration of the true spirit of Canadian Christmas. “We’re inundated right now with Christmas music everywhere, elevators, malls, it’s all in the background and it seeps into the unconsciousness, but when you go to see it live in a concert we feel that the choir and the lyrics and the brass paired together kind of anchor you back to what is the meaning behind each one of these Christmas carols and just gives you that nostalgic feeling again.” Attendees are invited to sing with the choir during select songs. The tour starts in Nanaimo on Dec. 6, and other concerts are planned in Port Alberni, Sidney, Chemainus, Duncan, Gabriola Island, Victoria before the tour concludes with shows in Parksville on Dec. 20 and Courtenay and Campbell River on Dec. 21. For ticket information, visit www.festivebrass.ca/holidaytour2025 [http://www.festivebrass.ca/holidaytour2025].

Stakeholders discussed how to better support Indigenous patients receiving health care on Vancouver Island, where the health authority has become one of the province’s first to undertake a B.C. Cultural Safety and Humility Standard assessment. The topic was discussed during a panel on integrating Indigenous healing practices into health care at a summit hosted by the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District on Nov. 13 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Brennan MacDonald, a vice-president of regional operations with the First Nations Health Authority, said she is proud of Island Health for stepping forward to be the first health authority in B.C. outside of the First Nations Health Authority to voluntarily undertake a B.C. Cultural Safety and Humility Standard [https://healthstandards.org/standard/cultural-safety-and-humility-standard/] assessment. She said it’s a great example of something a health authority can do to make improvements to the system to deliver culturally safe and appropriate care. “I think that all health authorities will go through the process, it is just a matter of timing and sequence,” she said. “Island Health being the first means we have a chance to model for the rest of the province, and the country, what it looks like to go through this. The standard itself is also being adopted nationally, so there will be opportunities for provinces across Canada to undertake similar work with the same goals.” The standard recognizes that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals and communities experience racism and discrimination at many levels when seeking health-related care and services, creating barriers and harm including unacceptable rates of illness and distress, reduced access to care and services, and ignorance of cultural practices resulting in non-adherence to treatment plans. It can lead to avoidance of the health-care system due to fear and mistrust. The standard includes guidelines such as understanding Indigenous rights, protocols, and practices; incorporating those competency requirements into job descriptions, recruitment and hiring; and providing regular, mandatory anti-racism and cultural safety and humility education and training in the workplace. “It’s guidance around organizational structures and procedures – it will ensure we understand how to keep racism out of the health system and services that we’re designing,” MacDonald said. She added that the standard will provide a benchmark for health authorities to gauge where they are performing well and where they need to improve. Also speaking as part of the panel was Dr. Christine Hall, deputy registrar for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, who shared that the college has been collaborating with other B.C. health regulators and the Ministry of Health ahead of implementing the Health Professions and Occupations Act [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billsprevious/3rd42nd:gov36-3#section467] in the spring. The act stipulates that superintendents must consult with Indigenous persons who provide similar types of health services in accordance with Indigenous practices; and administrators’ lists of support workers should include names put forward by Indigenous governing bodies. “Within the act are very specific legislative directives around management of our Indigenous patient needs…” Hall said. “Two steps around that are the creation of an Indigenous advisory circle, and that also includes support for Indigenous peoples who have been wronged in the health-care system. How do we now lead the system with actual Indigenous support – that’s formalized under the [act]. And of course we’re training all of our committees and our people around that.” In the long term, she said the college is working to embed Indigenous cultural safety and anti-racism principles into quality assurance and practice enhancement policies, as well as exploring partnerships regarding training for registrants. “While these are long-standing issues, the formalization of it is new for people who come to get a licence in B.C. So we’re walking with them as they understand what is expected of them.” Chief Michael Recalma of Qualicum First Nation shared a personal story during the event about receiving a kidney transplant and dialysis. One morning, when he was originally scheduled to go home but couldn’t, he said it was the practice of cedar brushing that turned that hospital room into a safe space. MacDonald noted that ceremonies and practices hold an integral part in healing. “The mind is very powerful, it can contribute to illness, or it can do the opposite,” she said. “That feels very empowering and I think that is a big foundation of what our wellness is about and how it shows up in our work.” MacDonald said part of supporting Indigenous patients is holding space for individuals to advocate and assert for their needs, but also to strive for a system that recognizes the diversity of approaches to well-being so that advocacy isn’t necessary. “While there are some who are able to do that, the history we know exists within our health-care system has caused harm.” In a statement, Island Health said there is ongoing work in bringing the B.C. Cultural Safety and Humility Standard to life as it moves towards accreditation, including the release of an organizational anti-racism and discrimination position statement and Indigenous-specific anti-racism and discrimination policy that “affirms everyone’s right to work and receive health care in a safe, anti-racist, and discrimination-free environment and aims create an environment that directly addresses Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination.”

Customers would come from far and wide, eager to take home something sweet or savoury, and always comforting. Victoria Pie Company was a beloved fixture in the Victoria Public Market, but its charm and customer base were threatened to be lost for good when the public market closed its doors in June 2025 after a sale to Loblaws. But Victoria Wan, a local baker who called Victoria Pie Company home for two years, was determined to not let that happen. “Even when I first started working for them, I recognized how special this local business was. I loved my job. I love making pies. We didn’t close because we failed, we closed because circumstances failed us,” she told Victoria News. “Marie has been relentless in her support and encouraged me to give my own business a try. I figured, if not now, when?” Wan started Indigo Bakes and is bringing the Victoria Pie Company’s recipes with her, with the blessing of previous owner, Marie Takahashi. Chicken Pot Pie, Mushroom Gruyere and Apple Pie are on the menu, with plans to add more options as the venture grows. Fans of the pies will be glad to know that the popular recipes are remaining the same. “There’s a reason the shop survived as long as it did and I’m not going to mess with a good, and delicious, thing,” Wan said. The pies – with both an Indigo Bakes logo and a Victoria Pie Co. one – are now found in the frozen section in HOB Fine Foods, The Market Garden and Kid Sister Ice Cream with fresh pies available in Peppers Foods. Pies can also be ordered online from South Island Farm Hub. While Wan’s current pie selection is small, she hopes that the love and support for Victoria Pie Company will eventually lead to another brick-and-mortar location. The company has been in business since 2013. As for Takahashi, who purchased Victoria Pie Company in 2023 as owner of Two Crows Craft Foods, she is on her own journey; she got herself a camper and is currently driving cross-country, seeking beautiful views and good food, Wan said. Takahashi said all the customers who have reached out to her since its closure have shown her how important Victoria Pie Co. was to the city. Knowing she wanted to keep the business alive in some form, when Wan reached out, it was the right fit. “Victoria was our primary pastry maker and is incredibly passionate about baking,” Takahashi said. “One of the hardest moments of my life was looking at my son and saying we had to close our business because we couldn’t find a space. But we roll with it. In the meantime we’ve got Victoria carrying on the pie traditions, and I couldn’t think of a better person to do it. She’s a self-taught chef and everything she does turns to magic.”

With December just days away, Nanaimo residents can get an early start to holiday festivities with a German Christmas experience this weekend. Nanaimo Christmas Village is taking place at Cavallotti Lodge on 2060 East Wellington Rd. till Sunday, Nov. 30, complete with arts and crafts for sale from various area vendors as well as traditional German fare – sausages, sauerkraut and pretzels. Peter Lange, one of the event’s organizers, said there are differences between a traditional German and Canadian Christmas. “The [lead] up to Christmas I think, is the main difference,” he said. “These Christmas markets in Germany would last for a month, so they start beginning of December, and then they run all the way up to Christmas and they are typically outdoor.” The event will give 50 per cent of donations to the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive [https://nanaimobulletin.com/2025/11/25/great-nanaimo-toy-drive-hoping-for-communitys-help-with-gift-giving/] and is an official drop-off site for the charitable effort. Lange said the joy of Christmas and the desire to bring smiles to people’s faces is the reason it was chosen as beneficiary. “We also know some people who grew up quite poor, and I know from some of them that said this toy drive, and the gifts at Christmas, was one of the best memories they had as a kid,” he said. An estimated 600 people came through the doors the first day (Nov. 28) and Lange estimates over 2,000 people will attend through the event’s three days. Nanaimo Christmas Village is open until 5 p.m. Saturday and will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information go to www.nanaimochristmasvillage.com/ [https://www.nanaimochristmasvillage.com/].

Yesterday’s news is today’s magic trick. Clutching an old copy of the Sooke News Mirror, magician Guy Simmons tells his audience he’s about to perform the classic torn-and-restored newspaper trick – but with a twist. “Because I tell you exactly how it’s done,” he says. “But before I show you this, I want you to know that everything that I say is absolutely true – except the lies, of course,” he adds with a wink. He begins to rip the pages into strips, insisting he’s only pretending, then pressing the paper into a tight, small parcel. “But this was all a trick, and I really haven’t done that,” he says. Then, with a quick flick of his wrists he shakes open the paper, magically restored, as if nothing had ever happened. Cue rapturous applause. It’s an illusion Simmons has performed countless times over a magical career that has spanned decades – one of his favourites, he says. But after years away from the spotlight, he’s returning to performing for reasons that go beyond entertaining a crowd. Like the newspaper he brings back together, the 74-year-old hopes revisiting his old stagecraft wizardry might help him rebuild some joy in his own life – though he knows it won’t be as simple as waving a magic wand. Recent years have been hard on him. Ongoing legal proceedings following a relationship breakdown have left him without a home, living aboard his boat in Sooke, about a half-hour west of Victoria, since late 2023. Now, with more legal costs looming, he’s facing the possibility of having to sell the boat too. “So I’ll be homeless,” he said. “I’ve been having a really bad, bad year and been very depressed.” While he has been receiving mental health support, Simmons has decided he needs to take an active role in helping himself. It was a chance meeting with a palliative care nurse that gave him the idea to return to magic – not for applause this time, but for healing. “I thought maybe I should go out and do a little bit of my magic act for people that are maybe worse off than I am – maybe that’ll make me feel better,” he said. Now he’s hoping to bring his act to local retirement homes, hospitals and palliative care units, offering a few moments of wonder to people who might need it most. “Everyone needs magic at this time of year.” Simmons’ love of magic stretches back to childhood, when his uncle and “an old lady” he knew taught him card tricks. That early fascination carried him into a life spent creating, performing and dreaming up illusions. His early career began performing in front of children to build confidence and learn how to hold an audience. As his skills grew, so did his ambitions. He connected with other magicians, including his longtime mentor, the late Len Ventus – a founding member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians – and with other like-minded friends, he formed a troupe called the Magic Alliance, performing as the Wizard of the North. In the late 1980s and through the ’90s, they staged everything from close-up magic to large-scale illusions, appeared on television, and even performed at the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in Montreal. Their act also earned them a spot on the front page of The Linking Ring, a respected magic journal. “We were doing crazy stunts, building wild props – just creating all the time,” he recalled. Simmons recalls performing one of magic’s most notorious stunts, the bullet catch, using a real pistol and a bullet with the initials of an audience member carved into it. His first wife Leeann would fire the shot, Simmons would “catch” the bullet in his teeth and spit it onto a plate. “It was the most dangerous trick in the world. “That’s how I broke my tooth,” he jokes, pointing to one of his front teeth. Simmons wasn’t just a performer; he was a builder. An artist by nature, he designed and fabricated his own illusions, sets and props. For years, he poured his creative energy into a personal project in Richmond Hill, transforming his childhood home into what he called the Magic Castle, part workshop, part museum, part TV-set-in-progress. He and a small team of artists and builders produced everything from jewelry to large custom pieces for clients, including props and architectural features for Toronto collector Bill Jamieson’s private museum of oddities. But a septic hip infection in 2010 derailed everything. The two-year recovery forced him to abandon the Magic Castle, sell the house, and let go of his long-planned television projects. He shifted from performing illusions to flipping homes to earn a living – work that eventually brought him to Sooke. Still, he never lost his love for magic. What draws him in, he says, isn’t just the sleight of hand, but the storytelling and the chance to make someone smile, to spark a moment of wonder. “I like telling stories, making people laugh,” explained Simmons. “If someone walks away happy – if they say, ‘Wow, how did you do that?’ – that makes me happy too.” Anyone who can help Simmons connect with an audience that would benefit from some magic in their lives, can email him: gwiz@lenvintus.com.

Community members are asked to drive in and share some Christmas charity next week. Sunshine Mountain Ford Lincoln’s Give and Go event, in support of the Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, will be held Friday, Dec. 5. This is the dealership’s 10th year hosting the event and first since it changed its name to Sunshine Mountain, and it’s a meaningful initiative for the business every year, said Ann Marie Clark, dealer principal. “It’s to make it easy for our community to donate to those people that are struggling at this time of year. It is a tough time of year for a lot of people,” she said. Motorists are asked to drive up to the dealership to donate money, non-perishable food items, unwrapped toys, and warm winter clothing like jackets, socks and tuques. Last year the event resulted in at least $4,000 raised for each charity, plus 4,000 kilograms of food, two sacks of clothing and 300 new toys. “It’s so much fun watching all the people come through. Last year we had a whole flat-deck of bikes dropped off. The generosity in the community is crazy,” Clark said. “It’s really fun to host it and get to see all that.” Give and Go happens from 5-7 p.m.

A brass band will team with the Island Bel Canto Singers to perform holiday music in Nanaimo next month. Festive Brass will bring its Christmas in Canada tour to St. Andrew’s United Church in the Old City Quarter on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. The traditional family Christmas concert will include a “rich mix of timeless carols and festive favourites, along with new Canadian compositions.” In addition, the brass musician ensemble will be doing its own versions of Christmas classics such as Silent Night and Good King Wenceslas. Stevan Paranosic, Festive Brass leader, told the Nanaimo News Bulletin that the group wanted to present the program with a twist. “It’s like a fun program of Christmas music, but not in a pedantic kind of way,” he said. “We like to add a little bit of fun to the program and musical shenanigans just to keep everything light and feel-good.” This takes the form of adding a polka twist to Up on the House Top, turning The First Noel into a slow jam and adding a Latin twist on We Three Kings. “We have a few more traditional things. The highlight I think is going to be the piece near the end where we take the famous Christmas poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore, and the lyrics will be sung by the choir and the brass will add some musical snippets underneath while they sing through the poem.” By performing with Island Bel Canto Singers, Paranosic said it gives the brass players time to have a break between pieces, as well as the opportunity to combine to create a nostalgic atmosphere he considers intrinsic to a Christmas show. “Immediately adding words makes all the shenanigans make a little more sense because it wouldn’t make sense musically if we venture into a new direction if we don’t have the words to kind of lock you into, ‘oh yes, they’re singing about this song.’” As a result, audiences can expect a heartwarming concert, and a celebration of the true spirit of Canadian Christmas. “We’re inundated right now with Christmas music everywhere, elevators, malls, it’s all in the background and it seeps into the unconsciousness, but when you go to see it live in a concert we feel that the choir and the lyrics and the brass paired together kind of anchor you back to what is the meaning behind each one of these Christmas carols and just gives you that nostalgic feeling again.” Attendees are invited to sing with the choir during select songs. Like Island Bel Canto Singers in the Harbour City, Festive Brass will perform with other area choirs, including the Village Voices of Qualicum Beach in a Dec. 20 performance in Parksville. For ticket information, visit www.festivebrass.ca/holidaytour2025 [http://www.festivebrass.ca/holidaytour2025] and for more on Island Bel Canto Singers, visit http://islandbelcanto.ca [https://islandbelcanto.ca/].

Dancing her way to Italy. Nine-year-old Milah Hanson, who has been training at Cowichan’s Carlson’s School of Dance with co-owner and director Ricki-Lee Allison since the tender age of three, is wrapping up a worldy experience that most young dancers can only dream of. She was chosen by Team Canada Dance to represent the country at the official International Dance Organization (IDO) World Acrobatic Dance Championships in Castellanza, Italy from Nov. 17 to 22. IDO is a World Dance and Dance-Sport Federation with a membership of more than 90 nations, representing more than 250,000 dancers from six continents. “We couldn’t be more proud of Milah and grateful to her amazing family for all the support they show her,” said Allison priro to the trip. “Traveling to the mainland for rehearsals and the extra costs to be part of this team requires a lot of commitment from her whole family and it doesn’t go unnoticed. “With Milah being so young, she may not realize what an opportunity this is, but we know it will stay with her all her life that she represented Canada in Italy. We are all so excited for her and can’t wait to cheer her on.” It is quite appropriate that Milah’s family and teachers are doing backflips as she embarks on this exciting and life changing opportunity as the young dancer has also been training with Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics Club for the last six years. At Carlson’s Milah puts her best foot forward in several dance styles including acro, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and tap. “Acrobatic dance combines dance with acrobatic and gymnastic movements so Milah does very well as she trains in both dance and gymnastics in the Cowichan Valley,” said Allison. Milah is definitely making moves as she gets ready to compete on this worldy stage; when first asked what she was most excited about for her trip to Italy, her first response was pasta. “I’m also excited to do my aerial,” said Milah. It’s a move where a performer flips or cartwheels through the air without their hands touching the ground.

The recent letter writer who complained about the changes made to Ravine Way, which was done many months ago, does have a point to be concerned about when the B.C. Ministry of Highways starts altering busy, key traffic routes. If he is heading to the Pat Bay Highway, he has several options to make a right turn from Douglas to get to Blanchard/Vernon via Saanich Road, Finlayson, Tolmie, Cloverdale, Hillside, or Bay, whichever is most convenient. I wouldn’t think sitting at 3 long lights to take his old way via Douglas, Carey, Ravine, to Vernon is any faster than the ones I mentioned. Taking away the left turn from Highway 1 to Carey was not a good idea, as many go to Uptown to shop, and given that we all know accidents happen most at intersections, adding more traffic is ridiculous. Ravine is slated for buses, and the new hub will make it easier for them to travel around. Too many cars were going down Vernon and turning left at Ravine, causing huge backups on Vernon just so drivers could avoid Highway 1 at Saanich/Boleskine. Now, cars from Saanich westbound must cross 4 lanes of traffic to get to Save On Foods, only a short block down the hill. This right turn onto Vernon backs up Saanich and Tattersal as many cars sit there until all 4 lanes of traffic are clear, instead of grabbing an open lane and merging left, left, and left again, which can be hard to do given the short distance. Any car wanting to get from Vernon to Douglas can just loop around in the left lane before the fire hall and get to the other portion of Ravine, and to Carey. The B.C. Ministry of Highways is well known for ruining neighbourhoods as they own the highways and ferry roads, and somehow don’t look at the big picture when designing or rerouting traffic. The Keating exit is a perfect example, still not done. All this money for bike lanes, which garners no tax revenue, and our main roads get entire lanes chopped or reduced. Go figure. Stuart Walker Central Saanich

Thank you for featuring the rewarding hobby of stamp collecting in the Nov. 20 issue of the Peninsula News Review, “Stamp collectors keeping an old hobby alive.” I can certainly commend the work of the Victoria Stamp Club, and I wish to alert your readers to the existence of the Sidney Stamp Club, which meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month, starting at 1 p.m. at the Highway Christian Fellowship on McDonald Park Road. Please join us to enjoy, trade, buy and sell stamps from all around the world, and most importantly, for the friendship and fellowship of our members. Chris Gainor, president Sidney Stamp Club

A bunch of us who live near 1899 Cochrane St., the site of a proposed eight-townhouse development, have managed to convince Saanich not to allow the developer to remove a majestic 80-year-old tree we call Big Monty. It took letters to Planning and Engineering, meetings with councillors, rallies, media exposure and a petition with over 600 signatures to achieve this. However, Seba Construction still plans to build a unit, somewhat smaller, but so close to Monty that it’s well within the tree’s critical root zone. As well, they are seeking permission to prune the crap out of Monty to squeeze the unit in. According to artificial intelligence, this combination does not bode well for the survival of the tree in the long term. Apparently, other developers have been permitted to prune “problem” trees to the point that they die not long after, and then no permit is needed to remove the dead tree. Bill 44 allows eight units on this site. Why not build eight compact units that don’t stretch the thing from lot line to lot line? Nope. Why not build two floors above grade and one below so that it’s more in context with the houses around it? Nope. Why not build a flat roof instead of a peaked one so that the height of the thing is not so imposing? Nope. Why not have more off-street parking? Nope. Because our other petition with over 300 signatures addressing the above issues is being disregarded, we are faced with three storeys plus a peaked roof in a two-storey neighbourhood, four of seven trees removed and the rest in danger, one guest parking stall for the whole complex, increased run-off on our slope that has some neighbours really worried, a popular pedestrian/bike way that will become dangerously congested and eight high-end townhouses that will definitely not provide affordable housing for those who need it most. On top of this, the developer has asked for five variances. Dave Secco Saanich

Four men from Nanaimo, thinking outside and inside of the box, so to speak, have gone offshore to try to bring home affordable housing. Cueva Homes is the brainchild of realtor Ryan Stolz, builders Bill Xing and Adam Splawski, and Elliot Layton, who partnered to create a line of manufactured modular carriage homes, designed and engineered in Canada and built in China, that could be one piece toward solving B.C.’s housing puzzle. “We’re all involved in real estate and finance in Canada right now, and development, and the reality is … it’s unsustainable to build the housing that the government is saying we need and we want, and [affordably] it can’t be done,” said Stolz, Cueva vice-president of sales and marketing. Under provincial Bill-44, the government is trying to increase housing density. One way to do go about that is to maximize use of existing single-family home properties by adding a second structure. But with traditional building, homeowners can run afoul of hurdles, such as rising costs and wait times for available trades and permitting. “Knowing all that because we go through it, we decided to say, what could we do that is … controllable, that’s adaptable to all aspects of life?” Stolz said. The partners surveyed owners of properties that can accommodate carriage homes. “How can we make living situations easier? … How can something like this serve as an extra suite for income? Families? People who want to age in their [property], but they want to move out to something like this and have their kids [move] into their home? Investors? Airbnb? There’s just lots of different ways this could work with people in backyards,” said Splawski, Cueva’s chief executive officer. From the survey data they planned a home design that can be sited with minimal preparation and permitting. The first two units – a one bedroom and a two-bedroom, each with 495 square feet of floor space – arrived in Nanaimo in late October. The units come complete with German-made appliances sourced locally, outdoor canopy and front deck, everything except furniture and can be delivered and installed in a matter of weeks. The units are welded steel frame construction and designed for energy efficiency, incorporating an energy recovery ventilation system. Nine-foot ceilings give rooms a sense of spaciousness. Xing, Cueva Homes president, said the homes are designed by Canadian engineers and teams. “And then we have [specialists] in tiny houses, all in China, who did an amazing job on the interior layout and the material finishes … there’s not a single drywall throughout the house … There’s no potential for moulds, water damages or anything like that. All materials are recycled materials or composites … We put a lot of thought into the design to make sure that, even though it’s as tiny as 495 square feet, it doesn’t feel like 495 square feet,” he said. The first units are being shipped completely assembled, but that drives up shipping costs and limits the unit floor space and configuration. “In the future we want to be truly modular, so we’re going to have a warehouse with stacks of wall panels and have everything assembled on site, which obviously we’re going to have local – our own guys and contractors – to do the work, but that is the only way to make this home bigger than what it is because we’re already at the upper limit of the size,” Xing said. “If we want to do anything beyond 495 square feet we’ve got to go modular.” Switching to modular assembly will allow the company to connect modules to create floor space and configuration variations for townhome and condo projects, temporary housing and other applications. “In the time being we’re trying to fill the void, which everyone is trying to do, but they can’t get the price down,” Xing said. The cost, landed in Vancouver, for either the two- or one-bedroom unit is $165,000 plus site preparation and installation, which Splawski said for a “fairly straight forward one” in Nanaimo is another $40,000 to $50,000, putting the total cost at around $210,000 plus GST. Final costs would vary depending on delivery costs to more remote locations on the Island or the B.C. Interior and the type of installation required. The homes can also be configured for remote sites to run completely off-grid. Cueva Homes handles all aspects of site preparation, including foundation work, trucking, crane operation and utility connections. Installation for the company’s two show homes took about four days. “You’re looking at a week to two weeks of foundations in, services hooked up and ready to go and then when crane day shows up it’s landed, another day to unpack and set the deck up and that’s it,” Splawski said. The company currently has manufacturing capacity for 100 homes per month, but is still waiting for full CSA certification, expected in early 2026, Stolz said, so the company is taking reservations for sales. City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog and chief administrative officer Dale Lindsay have met with the Cueva Homes partners to view the products. “I am excited by what I saw. We need to encourage innovative approaches to meet our housing challenges. This type of housing is definitely a real solution for part of our housing crisis,” Krog said. Lindsay said the city has been encouraging detached secondary suites on properties for a number of years. “With the more recent changes that the province has required for zoning, I think there’s opportunity on many properties in the city to consider additional housing units, whether those be site-built or factory-built homes, that are available to residents and it’s great that people have options to pick from,” Lindsay said. He noted manufactured homes are approved by the Canadian Standards Association and negates the city’s role in permitting for traditional on-site building permitting. “We don’t inspect those units. They’re done at the factory,” Lindsay said. “We provide permitting for siting and making sure that they’re serviced properly. It’s a slightly different role we play, but at the end of the day, more housing opportunities is what everybody wants.”

After reading the article on the group from St Andrew’s Church challenging Sidney mayor and council to spend the night in the cold, I have a challenge for this church and all the churches in Sidney and beyond. Why don’t they look into opening a warming shelter themselves? Do they not have the facilities, such a washrooms and kitchens, along with space sitting empty overnight? Perhaps they could start the process by contacting Broadview Church in Saanich, which has been able to open a warming shelter for this winter. After all, wouldn’t this be the Christian thing to do? Lisa Domshy Saanichton

It’s the elderly women caught up in the war in Ukraine that really get to Darrell McKay. “These people should be relaxing in their senior years and not worrying about missiles coming in or, you know, no heat, no hydro, no water,” McKay says. “These people shouldn’t be going through that, but every war does this, right?” The Campbell Riverite volunteers with an evacuation crew in Ukraine run by a group called East SOS. The group goes to the front in the eastern part of the country under occupation by Russian forces, evacuates people from small towns and villages and puts them on trains to safer areas of Ukraine. Helping them off the bus after they’ve spent hours fleeing the Russian war machine leaving behind their homes and all their possessions in the towns and villages of the eastern Ukraine, McKay is moved by the elderly in particular. “I was helping this elderly lady, she was very old and very little, and we had all of her bags in a pile, and she moved like 10 feet, and went back and forth with her bag,” McKay says. “And I was trying to figure out what she was doing. So she moved 10 feet, moved the bags, moved 10 feet, moved the bags … And at first it was a bit irritating, but I realized that those bags were everything she owned. That was, that was all she had now. So she was very protective of her life and those plastic bags. So seeing, you know, an 85 or 90-year-old person, when their life has just been boiled down to like, five plastic bags. It’s pretty tough to watch.” McKay is currently in Ukraine, the ninth time he’s been there since retiring and deciding that he wanted to help the country after it was invaded by the Russian military in February 2022. This is his second trip this year, going over earlier in September. He has done a variety of jobs during his visits, but this time he is working directly with evacuees, something he had hoped to do right from the start. “My goal when I first went over there was work on an evacuation crew,” he said. “And so, after seven trips, I made it on the evacuation crew.” He is working with a group called East SOS in Pavlograd. The group is made up of professionals from many avenues of life. They help with busloads of people, like senior citizens or young families. A lot of the evacuees have mobility issues and need assistance getting on and off the buses and moved to trains. “It’s pretty tough work but it’s helping mobility challenged people. Whatever we can do. We’ve got carrying aids, we’re carrying seats and wheelchairs and stretchers and we load them up as we can and get them on their way.” The transfer points are right in the face of the war. “It’s getting hit by Kinzhal missiles and drones pretty well every day. Yeah, it’s active, very, very noisy but I’m working with a good crew. They’re awesome.” McKay acknowledges the physicality of the work but says it’s probably more emotionally demanding. The psychological impact often hits you later. “It’s not scary at the time but then when you come home and you digest it, that’s when you start. That’s when it creates a little bit more of a frightening feel to it.” On a recent trip, he was on a train when somebody fired an exploding round into it. “It came through probably 20 feet away from me and blew up in the train hall, right? Like right in front of us … It didn’t register until a couple days later.” McKay draws inspiration from the people he works with. He’s worked with Ukrainian Patriot in the past and through the connections he’s developed over the last four years, he’s joined up with East SOS. “I’ve made some amazing contacts and I tell you, the people I’ve met are just (incredible), it’s probably the biggest impact on my life. I’m 61 years old and the last four years has been pretty, pretty huge in my development and experiences in life. “So these are people that love their life, value their life, but they also risk it by helping others. And they’re not looking for, you know, glory, or, you know, (to be) a hero … they’re just doing it because they know what’s right, and they’re available to do it. And I think some people have a thicker skin. They can deal with some of this tough stuff.” McKay has written a book about his experiences and it reflects his feelings towards his compatriots. It’s entitled “My Time With Heroes” and he will donate the proceeds from the book to Ukraine. (Find it on Amazon or email darrellontheisland@gmail.com) He hopes to keep the conflict in people’s minds and drive support towards the country. He’s proud of Canada’s role in the conflict and notes that Ukrainians love Canadians. “(When) they know I’m Canadian, right away that door opens up.” McKay believes he’s on the right side of history and he’s still fit and able so he’ll keep doing this for a while. But the plight of the elderly is a particular motivation for him. “I think my weakness is seeing the old people. Yeah that definitely weighs heavy with me. Seeing the old people go through this. I met a 94-year-old lady. She was in a refugee center and I came back seven months later and she was in the same refugee center. So you know, she’s spending the last of her days, you know, in a room for 15 people, bunking down at night with everybody, rather than in her pretty little home.”

Re: Sidney shelter dispute sparks night-in-the-cold challenge, in the Nov. 20 Peninsula News Review. Overnight shelter programs do nothing to alleviate the homeless problem. The current issue of an unresolved shelter for the homeless is indicative of poor management within provincial and local government and some affiliated charitable organizations. It boils down to ineffective strategic planning, and no better example is found within BC Ferries in long-range planning for ship replacement among its fleet. Recent news reported that BC Ferries was ordering four replacement vessels from communist China because domestic or friendly suppliers could not meet the criteria for delivery. Clearly, the board of directors of BC Ferries, who are appointed by the province, lacked adequate due diligence in ensuring adequate planning was in place for replacement vessels. If the province cannot adequately ensure the timely replacement of vessels through essential strategic planning, how will it ever be able to deal with the ever-increasing problem of homeless people? As the homeless issue is going to get worse in the coming years, it is time for our bureaucrats and local charities to look at best-in-class performance, such as the Island Crisis Care Society and its management of Orca Place in Parksville, where qualified homeless persons can rebuild their lives through a 24/7 solution in cooperation with the City of Parksville and BC Housing. Why do we insist that all safety codes required for residential housing be required to be in place for a temporary emergency shelter? Leaving the homeless on the street during extreme weather does not meet any safety code. Anthonie den Boef Sidney

LGBTQ community members and allies gathered this week to mourn and remember transgender people murdered around the globe. In Nanaimo, the Transgender Day of Remembrance was held at Sands Funeral Chapel Cremation and Reception Centre on Thursday, Nov. 20, honouring 281 transgender people who were killed over 12 months between 2024-25. Organized by the Nanaimo Pride Society, Nanaimo’s candlelight vigil also counted lives lost to suicide, bringing the total to 360 – 25 pages of names that were read individually, along with the country they were from and age they died. Lauren Semple, Nanaimo Pride president, spoke at the ceremony, telling attendees the vigil serves to remember all the victims whose lives were taken by anti-transgender violence and hate. “This is not an easy gathering,” Semple said. “The Transgender Day of Remembrance asks as to look directly at loss, to look directly in the eyes of grief and the very real violence that trans, two-spirit, non-binary and gender non-conforming people face in our communities and around the world. “Here in Canada we like to tell ourselves a story that we are safer, that things are good here and in some ways that is true, in some ways there has been progress, but the reality is still very, very hard and uncertain.” Semple quoted a recent national survey [https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-violence/facts-stats.html] that reported trans people were twice as likely as their cisgender counterparts to report unwanted sexual behaviours against them in public, at 58 versus 23 per cent, and three times as likely to report sexual harassment and violence in the workplace, 69 versus 23 per cent. While there are human rights protections in B.C. and Canada, she pointed to a “wave of political attacks” on the rights of trans people, including in Saskatchewan where there is a bill that would discipline school staff for using a trans person’s name or pronouns without parental consent. “In Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith spent this transgender week of awareness using the notwithstanding clause to protect a package of incredibly harmful laws that restrict gender-affirming health care for youths, ban trans girls and women from sports and force schools to out students to their parents. These laws target a tiny, tiny group of young people who already face higher rates of bullying, homelessness and suicide.” Even British Columbia isn’t immune from anti-trans political attacks, she said, pointing to a bill brought forward by One B.C. earlier this year which would have banned puberty blockers and other gender-affirming care for minors, restricted public health coverage for transgender British Columbians and opened up health-care providers to lawsuits for treating trans people. The bill failed at first reading. “The fact that it was tabled here should be warning these ideas are being tested, that the rhetoric is not that far from our doorstep,” Semple said. According to Trans Europe and Central Asia [https://tgeu.org/trans-murder-monitoring-2025-reveals-new-trend-in-anti-trans-violence-systematic-targeting-of-activists-and-movement-leaders/], a trans-led nonprofit which tracks the numbers, this year’s murders show “a dangerous shift” with a growing number of victims being trans movement leaders and activists, accounting for 14 per cent of reported murders. The report notes that this suggests an “attempt to silence those fighting for trans rights worldwide.” Following the ceremony, Semple told the News Bulletin it’s impossible not to feel rage and anger at the need for action. Earlier in the ceremony, she instructed people that while it is important to mourn the dead, people also need to commit to “fight like hell for the living.” “Individual allyship is powerful and important and everyone here tonight was showing that, but it is not enough to change power and change policy,” she said. “That is really where we need to stand up and speak up and help stand for the trans community and get us through what is raking back of rights and increasing violence and hateful rhetoric … If people don’t start speaking up and voting for human rights, for trans rights, when they hit the ballot box, we are going to continue to see this happen and it is only the beginning of the attacks and harm the 2SLGBTQIA-plus community will feel as a whole.” The Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 as a vigil by Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender Massachusetts woman killed in 1998.

Ken Lavigne is coming to Parksville to get the audience into the spirit of Christmas on Dec. 4. He’s looking forward to singing a few classic holiday tunes like ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘White Christmas’ when he performs with his ensemble at Knox United Church. “I have some songs that are really special to me like ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Ave Maria’, these are songs that really tap into my classical singing chops,” Lavigne said. “We have a lot of fun.” He will be joined by a musical ensemble that includes a piano, double bass, violin and percussion, and he’s even considering a re-visitation of ‘Santa Baby’, the classic song made famous by Eartha Kitt. The Christmas season has always been a special and meaningful time for Lavigne. “With Christmas music, there’s such a sense of joy and light that can be really affecting for people,” he said. “And of course there’s so much nostalgia that’s sort of built into it.” He might be best known for being a founding member of the Canadian Tenors, and toured with them for several years. Lavigne also made one of his dreams come true when he performed with the New York Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Lavigne has always loved to sing, but he didn’t consider studying it for his career until he received a recommendation from his choir teacher as he was heading into his university years. That education opened his eyes to world of classical music and once he’d heard the voice of Luciano Pavarotti, he knew what he wanted to do. He is looking forward to returning to Parksville. “I absolutely love the space. Knox United is an incredible performance place, they just have so much going on and the audience is always warm and they’re always up for a good time.” Lavigne added that his Christmas shows always include a fun surprise that has become a tradition over the years, and although it’s “top secret”, anyone who has been there will remember. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 and are available online through Eventbrite [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/knox-presentsa-ken-lavigne-christmas-tickets-1825276684699] and with cash at local retailers Close to You Boutique, Edge Outdoors and Fireside Books.

This holiday season, the PQB News is reminding readers of the importance of shopping local. A massive part of that experience is the people, the folks behind the counter. Here’s a peek at just a few of the many businesses that keep our local economy buzzing: Business: Close to You Address: 174 Corfield St S, Parksville, BC V9P 0C1 Owner: Sandra Herle Years in Community: 35 years Offers: Women’s fashion, lingerie, nightwear, footwear, swimwear, and accessories. Quote: “Communities would not survive without small business to support sports teams, pay the taxes for sidewalks, the water and all that stuff. I know when I go on holiday, I like to go somewhere to shop or somewhere to eat. So, if there wasn’t a small business community, I think it would be tougher on tourism. We’ve got a strong tourism group.” Sandra Herle started Close To You, a lingerie business, in 1991. Over the years, the store has expanded and features a myriad of women’s clothing, accessories and shoes. The store continues to serve devoted clients, who Herle said have greatly helped her stay in business for 35 years. “This town has always been good to us,” said Herle, who was first in the bicycle shop business before transitioning to women’s fashion. “We have been through everything. We’ve been through the real dive in the economy and COVID was the worst because you didn’t know if there was going to be an end. But we’ve got such a loyal base of clients. They have aged with me.” Small businesses, said Herle, is vital to the local economy. Their success also relies on the support they receive from residents and visitors. “Communities would not survive without small business to support sports teams, pay the taxes for sidewalks, the water and all that stuff,” said Herle, who added that they are also an asset to local tourism. “I know when I go on holiday, I like to go somewhere to shop or somewhere to eat. So, if there wasn’t a small business community, I think it would be tougher on tourism. We’ve got a strong tourism group.” Business: Coast and Cottage Address: 5-160 Corfield St. S, Parksville, British Columbia V9P 2G3 Owner: Rianna Sharp Years in community: six years Offers: Ladies clothing, home decor, art kits and art works. Quote: “It makes a huge difference even just a little support like following us on social media or sharing our stuff or word to mouth.” Owner Rianna Sharp has been operating the business for six years now. When she started, she said they mainly had vintage and paint but they have now evolved and has included women’s clothing. As well, they promote over 80 artisans locally and all over the Island, which leads to a unique experience for shoppers looking for something different. “We have a ton from the Island,” said Sharp. “We try and something for everybody. We have a lot of decor and gift ware as well as home goods and a little bit of food, a little bit of health food. We try and have a sampling for everyone. Basically, whatever you could use or need, we try to carry.” Sharp says it’s important for the community to endorse the small businesses. “When we first opened, there was a lot of stores like us, which is great for the community,” said Sharp. “And then they’ve since closed because it’s really hard to be small business nowadays with many competitions and ordering online. It makes a huge difference even just a little support like following us on social media or sharing our stuff or word to mouth.” Sharp said their store is more than just a gift shop. “We have customers that come in and they say that it’s their happy place,” said Sharp. “We try to offer a bit of an experience.” Sharp hopes for a busy holiday season. “Having more foot traffic and even more events downtown that really support shopping locally would be amazing,” said Sharp. Business: Skulls Skates/PD’s Hot Shop Address: 164 W 2nd Ave, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1T4 Owner: Peter Ducommun Years in Community: 4 years Offers: Canada made skateboards, parts, apparel Quote: “A large portion of the skateboard industry, the products are made off-shore these days and so to have something made locally is a little bit unusual. I think that’s what people appreciate about it.” Peter Ducommun set up his business in Qualicum Beach, with one of the oldest demographics in Canada. Choosing the town was unusual for Ducommun as the products in his store called PD’s Hot Shop, appeal to a more younger generation. Yet since he opened in the heart of downtown Qualicum Beach, his skateboard shop has become well-known in the business community. Ducommun said they were surprised with the reception they have received. “The people here have very been welcoming,” said Ducommun, who is also known as PD. “We love how diverse Qualicum Beach is because of its reputation that it’s a retirement community. It’s a bigger mix than you imagine. You assume that it would just be retired people only but it’s much more than that, I would say. That’s something we learned. We had no idea when we moved here that is the case.” What PD’s Hot Shop offers are skateboards, snowboards, skimboards and bicycles that they designed and are built in Canada. Ducommun said, they are so proud to offer to residents and visitors Canadian-made merchandise. For Ducommun, who created the skateboard brand in 1978, building the products locally also means jobs, which allows people to earn and spend money locally. It also helps the town’s economy. “Qualicum Beach is a beautiful little town and it requires a lot of upkeep,” said Ducommun. “They have a lot of staff and all that money has to come from somewhere. We’re fortunate that we do have a lot of visitors because it’s such a beautiful place to visit particularly in the summer. We’re finding since we opened here that winter is getting busier as well.”

Communities to Protect Our Coast has chosen Danny Hall as this month’s Climate Hugs recipient. Hall is a teacher of science, math and French at Kwalikum and Ballenas secondary schools. He also finds time to be on the executive of Nanaimo Area Cycling Coalition and Strong Towns Nanaimo. An advocate for alternative transportation in the RDN, Hall brings careful research to this topic and offers thoughtful planning suggestions. “We can make small changes that will make a big difference for cyclists and pedestrians,” he said. Enthusiastic when he highlights the examples of good planning in Qualicum, Parksville and the Old Town area of Nanaimo, he still feels there is room for improvement. Traffic-calming designs and reformed parking mandates are tools he would like to see municipalities consider using more judiciously. He notes the Parksville Transportation Plan could better reflect the 80 per cent of people surveyed who wanted better walking and cycling infrastructure. He refers to the Qualicum/Parksville cycling route as excellent and well-used by cyclists of all ages. “Roads and parking for cars take up at least half or more land space in an area,” he said. “Cities and towns are a lot more sustainable if they have a diversity of housing options. This can be supported by alternatives to cars.” To add further clarity, Hall added, “if you want people to choose viable alternatives, they have to feel safe. I’m looking to make places where people can walk and cycle safely.” Hall’s parents were both teachers and he learned from them that volunteer work as an individual or with a community group could make a difference. As a young student hiking and skiing in the outdoors near his home, he was inspired to study science. “Green spaces even in high-density urban areas are important,” he said. “Large paved areas create heat islands and impermeable surfaces cause flooding. By design, these areas physically force people to drive. Walkable residential and business hubs are popular with everyone.” Hall points to the heat dome in June of 2021 which killed hundreds of people in B.C. and billions of sea creatures as a pivotal moment. He wanted to make a meaningful difference because “this is a crisis that threatens us all.” He became involved at that time volunteering with NALT to help eradicate invasive species and participating in the dialogue around climate change at Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. At home, he helped his parents to replace their front yard with pollinator plants. NALT was a source for these plants as well as Streamside Native Plant Nursery in Bowser. Now as a teacher himself, Hall said, “my hope is to help build a future where my students can be happy and thrive.” Hall asked that his $50 Climate Hugs award be donated to the Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Protection Society fund for purchasing Hamilton Marsh.

Works from Island artists will feature prominently across the Nanaimo area this weekend as part of a self-guided art tour. Nanaimo Artwalk, presented by Nanaimo Arts Council, will see 50 artists featured at 20 venues in downtown Nanaimo and the Old City Quarter, including at Nanaimo Museum and Nanaimo Art Gallery, on Saturday, Nov. 22 till 4 p.m. Coni Long, one of the featured at Nanaimo Museum who deals mainly in acrylics, said Nanaimo is a good place to paint en plein air (outdoors), as it has many options. “I’ve painted with a Nanaimo, group of artists and painted around Bowen Park, Neck Point, Jack Point, all around … I’m not here in the summer, so when I paint, it’s usually good,” she said. “If it’s not raining, it’s good.” Nanaimo Artwalk continues Sunday, Nov. 23 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more, go to https://nanaimoartscouncil.ca/ [https://nanaimoartscouncil.ca/] or search for Nanaimo Arts Council on Facebook.

A musical performance by the members of A Cappella Plus will raise voices about the gifts children give us to celebrate World Children’s Day. A Cappella Plus will perform Through the Eyes of a Child, to recognize UNICEF’s Global Day of Action for Children, held in November each year. The gifts of children – humour, wonder, innocence and simplicity – will be celebrated with an program of spiritual songs, popular tunes and traditional Christmas melodies, all children-oriented, noted a press release. The program will include This Little Light of Mine, The Gift to be Simple, Kookoorookoo, Teach Your Children Well, Away in a Manger and others. A Cappella Plus sings in support of the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island which works to reduce barriers to health care access for Island families. The foundation’s Homes Away from Home program includes Jesse’s House, currently under construction at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Donations to the program can be made online or at the concert. A Cappella Plus performs Through the Eyes of a Child at Brechin United Church on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and will be available at the door or online at www.accappellaplus.ca.

The work of a young Nanaimo artist will represent the imagination, identity and insight of a new generation of artists when it is displayed on the city’s street banners next year. The City of Nanaimo has announced that Grade 11 student and local artist Solana Van de Leur’s design was selected for next year’s street banners, marking the first time in the program’s history a youth artist’s design has been chosen. According to a city press release from earlier this month, the street banner program this year invited young artists from across B.C. to help shape Nanaimo’s streetscape through original artwork that reflects youth identity, imagination and insight. The release described the winning artist as a passionate artist, writer and competitive figure skater who works across multiple mediums that include acrylic, watercolour, digital illustration and sculpture. Van de Leur’s design, depicting an arbutus tree framed by day and night as a symbol of resilience and transformation, was selected for its visual depth, rich symbolism and heartfelt storytelling, the release noted. “Art and storytelling have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and through this contest, I got to tell a story about myself while depicting something as iconically Nanaimo as an arbutus tree,” said Van de Leur in the release. “It is such an honour and so surreal to know that soon I will get to see the banner that I designed all over my neighbourhood and community.” The banners will be installed in the spring throughout downtown and along traffic corridors.

Via Choralis will return with its annual December concert with a new artistic director at the helm. Grant Harville, whose accomplishments include winning the London Conducting Masterclass Competition and the Agatha C. Church Conducting Award, will make his mark with Magnificat, a concert on Sunday, Dec. 7 at St. Elizabeth Church in Sidney. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of local choirs and orchestras, and every new group I encounter is a new challenge and a new horizon to reach for,” Harville told Peninsula News Review. Harville came to the Island with his family in 2020, and has since been music director of the Civic Orchestra of Victoria and conductor of the Victoria Conservatory of Music Chorale during the fall 2025 term. He describes Via Choralis as a “Sidney institution” – one that he looks forward to both shaping and growing from. For Magnificat, he has chosen Christmas- and winter-themed music by John Rutter, Felix Mendelssohn, Gustav Holst and Indigenous composer Andrew Balfour, plus a sing-along of seasonal favourites. “‘Classical’ is more a marketing term than a musical one, and it’s less a single genre than 50 genres in a trenchcoat,” he said. “There’s a tremendous diversity in the world of classical music, and it is our privilege to explore and share it.” On accompaniment will be Kinza Tyrrell, who is music director of Vancouver Opera in Schools, a coach at UVic Faculty of Music and music director of the UVic Chamber Singers, while being considered one of Canada’s top collaborative pianists. Magnificat takes place at St. Elizabeth Church, 10030 Third St. in Sidney on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available at Tanner’s Book Store, from 3common.com and from members of the choir. Magnificat starts at 2 p.m. at 10030 Third St. As per what Harville hopes audiences will take away from his first concert as artistic director? “Joy, community, beauty, and an excuse to step outside of their day-to-day and enjoy an afternoon where their only obligation is to sit back and let the music wash over them.”

Molding creativity. Jane Wolters of Chemainus will be showing off her hand-made pottery and a selection of her paintings at Excellent Frameworks located at 115 Kenneth St. in Duncan with her solo exhibition titled Jane Wolters Retrospective from Nov. 3 to 23. Suzan Kostiuck, owner of Excellent Frameworks, the home of the EJ Hughes Gallery, is excited to showcase the work of Wolters who she met 10 years ago while working for the local arts council. Kostiuck was wowed with Wolters’s functional stoneware pottery line that had an image of lavender plants on it and bought a set for her family upon visiting Wolters’s home studio. “I’ve followed her work for years, and one of the galleries I worked for in the past carried her work as well, so I’ve always been able to keep in touch with Jane,” said Kostiuck. “Earlier this year I really wanted to host another retrospective show of a local artist and she was the first choice, so I was thrilled when she kindly accepted my offer to showcase her works. “Having her work in my gallery is an honour, and being able to see the variety of glazes, forms, and pathways that her works display is amazing.” Wolters, who has been creating artworks for the last 48 years, was born in England but has called Vancouver Island home for most of her life where she has been a professional potter with her focus mostly on stoneware and porcelain. While Wolters was technically self-taught, she does admit to taking some wheel-throwing lessons in the beginning. Over her artistic career her pottery has comprised of a wide range of styles: made-to-be-used tableware in nature-inspired patterns and fine porcelain glazed in classic copper reds and celadons, as well as one of a kind art pieces. “Mostly wheel-thrown, many of my pots are fired in a gas kiln to achieve the copper reds, celadons and other beautiful reduction glazes I love,” said Wolters. “I’ve also experimented with saggar firing, which involves firing the pieces in a container with weeds and other materials to produce lovely random markings.” Wolters said she has been fortunate to have attended many valuable workshops with outstanding potters from all over the world, and has also immersed herself in courses in various subjects including portrait sculpture. In additon to her pottery she began to learn how to paint several years ago in an effort to find another creative outlet that was less physically demanding. “In the process I’ve learned a great deal of art theory, history, and design,” said Wolters. “Oil on canvas has been my favourite painting medium; the sensuous feel of the paint coming off the brush onto the canvas, the way the paint smells, the look of the thick oil paint building up on the surface, all feel right.” On her painting path, she has also explored acrylics, which she finds to be a more playful and adventurous medium. Wolters has both a home studio and gallery and welcomes visitors to view her works by appointment by emailing [email protected] [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection]. “I feel incredibly lucky to be an artist,” said Wolters. “There are always new ideas, new paths to travel along, and there are never enough hours in the day to explore them. I hope attendees of the exhibit go away realizing the wide and interesting variety possible with clay.” “I hope people who come to see her works get a sense of the human touch that each piece contains,” said Kostiuck. “Every line, every spot the light touches, Jane’s artistic spirit has also touched, and that is part of the intrinsic beauty of art.” web1_jw-works-1 [https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/shared/feeds/gps/2025/11/web1_jw-works-1.jpg;w=960]Chemainus resident Jane Wolters, who has been a professional potter for the past 48 years, will have her solo exhibit titled Jane Wolters Retrospective on display at Excellent Frameworks in Duncan until Nov. 22. Seen here is one example of her work. (Submitted) web1_jw-works-2 [https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/shared/feeds/gps/2025/11/web1_jw-works-2.jpg;w=960]Chemainus resident Jane Wolters, who has been a professional potter for the past 48 years, will have her solo exhibit titled Jane Wolters Retrospective on display at Excellent Frameworks in Duncan until Nov. 22. Seen here is one example of her work. (Submitted)

Men’s mental health is Western Edge Theatre’s theme for the whole season, and appropriately, the first play takes place almost entirely inside the protagonist’s mind. A Baker’s Dozen, written by Ward Norcutt and directed by Jonathan Greenway, will be presented at Nanaimo’s OV Arts Centre from Nov. 21-30. The play has a single setting in one sense, with the protagonist alone in a hotel room, but he shares the stage at all times with family members acting out his memories. “While the hotel room is the physical setting, we do see these glimpses into the memories of his childhood, of his upbringing, of his young adulthood, of his life progressing through these vignettes of memory that pop up in different dramatizations,” Greenway said. A lot of writing is personal on some level, but Norcutt said with A Baker’s Dozen, “it couldn’t be more personal than this play.” Serious issues such as suicide, abuse and addiction come up as Norcutt’s protagonist tries to understand and work through intergenerational trauma. “It’s basically a fictional telling of a true story,” the playwright said. “I’ve based it very much off my own life and it’s been a cathartic, healing-process journey for me.” Norcutt said he didn’t want to direct the play and never meant to star in it, so taking on the lead role “makes it doubly flayed open.” “I guess it’s very easy to relate to the character, but hard in that it’s been an exhausting process,” he said. “But it’s a really good process and I hope it’s a really good play.” The surreal settings of the mind and memories appeal to Greenway, who said the theatre is the perfect place for audiences to suspend disbelief and be transported, through lighting, music and other techniques, into the protagonist’s thoughts. The director is working with a dream cast, he said, and rehearsals are going well, if a little emotional. “There’s often tears shed by one of the cast members or myself or the crew just watching the rehearsal process, which is cathartic all around,” he said. “I think there’s something in this piece that everyone can relate to in terms of their own mental health whether it’s good or bad.” Greenway is also Western Edge’s artistic director and chose men’s mental health as this season’s theme because it’s important to him, and also because it’s an “undiscussed topic” that still carries stigma. A Baker’s Dozen, the first of four productions this season, and is taking on the theme head-on. “It’s important, I think, for people – especially men – to understand that we need to own our own lives and try to work through our sadness, our anger, all the things that we hold onto so dearly, because we were taught to. I know I was,” Norcutt said. “Hopefully a play like this will help people realize that they can do that too and not have to run away from it, or hide from it, or mask it.” WHAT’S ON … Western Edge Theatre’s A Baker’s Dozen will be shown at the OV Arts Centre from Nov. 21-30. For tickets and more information, visit the Western Edge Theatre website. [https://westernedge.org/]

Jane Siberry is the first to admit she is not an easy singer to categorize. As music journalist Ian Grey once wrote: “She sings about dogs, God, angels, sex and more in a multi-octave voice unhampered by considerations of gravity.” Find out for yourself this week, when Siberry comes to Vancouver Island for performances, starting tonight in Victoria. Siberry is considered one of Canada’s most original and influential singer-songwriters. She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Oct. 17 by fellow music icon k.d. lang. Siberry’s work is visionary and ever-evolving. Best known for transcendent works like ‘Calling All Angels,’ ‘Love is Everything’ and the iconic ‘Mimi on the Beach,’ she has created a singular body of work that defies labels. Her contribution to The Crow soundtrack, ‘It Won’t Rain All the Time,’ continues to resonate decades later. After leaving Warner/ Reprise Records in 1996, Siberry founded her own label, Sheeba, and pioneered a ‘pay-what-you-can’ model for music downloads. She also expanded live performances beyond traditional venues with global “salon tours” — from llama farms in New Zealand to garages in Australia, kominkas in Japan, kitchens in Finland and bell towers in rural England. Audiences describe her performances as “intense, heraldic, funny and startling.” Siberry opens her Island run at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Victoria Nov. 22, hits the Duncan Garage Showroom on Nov. 23, moves on to the Parksville Museum Heritage Church Nov. 24 and wraps at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni on Nov. 25. For more information, check out her website [https://janesiberry.com/tour].

One Saanich company is preparing to give back as the holiday season approaches. For the past 10 years, Rather Be Plumbing has offered free plumbing labour for residents in need. This year’s program runs from Dec. 2 to 5. Customers only pay for materials. The company says it’s ready to help with anything from leaky faucets to clogged drains or any other plumbing emergencies. Nominations for friends, loved ones, or a neighbour can be made by contacting 250-589-8555 or ratherbeplumbing@gmail.com. The program is intended for Greater Victoria residents facing financial hardship to ensure help goes to those who need it most.

Travel writer Bill Arnott has enjoyed visiting the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area so much he and his wife decided to make Qualicum Beach their part-time home. Arnott is well-known for his overseas travel saga Gone Viking, as well as A Season on Vancouver Island — a B.C. best-seller and now his most recent release A Festive Season on Vancouver Island. He and his wife, Deb, spent three months of “concentrated travel” up and down the Island, taking in the holiday sights, talking to locals and researching outside of the usual summer holiday peak season. “I was really trying to see and do as much as possible in the car and on foot, from November, right through the new year,” said Arnott, who divides his time between Vancouver and the Island. While checking out festive lights, concerts, plays and museums, he realized there is at least one commonality with every person he met, regardless of their religion – that the festive season brings everyone together. “Most folks are looking for this very same thing, especially through the festive season – gathering up loved ones past and present, celebrating a sense of abundance and gratitude and they’re just being together with the folks that we care about,” Arnott said. Whether people associated the season with their faith, or came at it from a secular point of view, many of the perspectives were the same: time with loved ones, lights, songs and sharing a meal. “Peacefulness” is one word that comes to mind when visiting the Island in the last few months of the year, Arnott said. Sometimes he would be the only person visiting a museum or find himself walking along the beach at low tide, with fewer people out walking their dogs or strolling the boardwalk at Parksville beach. “There’s a little bit more activity in nature because there’s a little bit fewer tourists, so it seems like the eagle and seal activity is a little more vibrant,” he added, and said he met birders who had spotted dozens of eagles hunting at spots such as the mouth of French Creek. Other times he would find himself at a bustling craft fair or the farmers’ market. “There’s a celebratory feel. You see the different things in the shops, in the decorations.” One highlight was Moonlight Madness in Qualicum Beach, where he and his wife were among thousands who turned out last year for carolling, evening downtown shopping and cocoa. A Festive Season combines Arnott’s travel narrative with the visual art of his painted photos – digitally stylized for the book. “What I love about it is I feel that it offers a much more engaging, or a richer, sensory engagement,” he said. A Festive Season completes a travel memoir trilogy that also includes A Season on Vancouver Island and A Season in the Okanagan and covers the different seasons. “One of the things I was communicating is the festive season – I feel isn’t really necessarily tied to a calendar. “It can be as much a state of mind as anything.” A Festive Season was released on Nov. 4 through Rocky Mountain Books [https://rmbooks.com/] and is available at books shops in the mid-Island area, including Fireside Books in Parksville and Bellflower Bookshop in Qualicum Beach. RELATED: B.C. travel writer visits Parksville Qualicum Beach for new book [https://pqbnews.com/2022/09/07/b-c-travel-writer-visits-parksville-qualicum-beach-for-new-book/] RELATED: Qualicum Beach couple publishes 1st book of photography [https://pqbnews.com/2025/07/20/qualicum-beach-couple-publishes-1st-book-of-photography/]

This article is from the winter edition of Boulevard Magazine. The gentle notes of a flute are almost drowned out by the deep baritone of the ocean swell rolling into the surrounding rocks. White spray mists the air with salt and the rhythmic sway of kelp caught in the surf has a hypnotic appearance. Settling back into a black lounger, I watch the sea and allow my mind to empty of the endless to-do lists, grocery orders and prep needed to be done for the upcoming holiday meal that will see a dozen or so family members gather in my home. Instead of focusing on all that still needs to be done – the birthday party I need to plan for my daughter and the Christmas shopping I haven’t started – I allow myself to be in the moment. It’s something I usually struggle with, but here, on the pool deck at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, it’s easy to get lost in the ambiance of Salish Sea. I’m here for the afternoon, enjoying the Boathouse Spa upgrade that gives me access to this serene waterfront. When I arrived at the spa, I was given a quick greeting while I was checked in, and then we were off on a tour. Past reception, I’m met with the smell of eucalyptus and cedar emanating from the indoor sauna. Tiled change rooms are stationed on the left – complete with a bathing suit spinner hanging on the wall outside them – and the last door on the right hides a private oasis filled with plants, cosy chairs and windows overlooking the pool deck. Despite two of the four walls being made of glass, the room feels private, like a secret retreat that offers hot and cold tea, infused water and a trail mix snack in case you find yourself peckish while you wait for your treatment. The treatment rooms themselves are not actually in this building; they’re nestled between the pool deck and the sea, and provide a front-row view of the ocean. Left to my own devices, I quickly change and wrap myself in the velvety plush robe provided before settling into a lounger beside the sea with a cup of iced yuzu herbal tea. It can be hard to give yourself permission to slow down during the holiday season, especially with so many commitments and expectations. But it’s vital to check in with yourself and be mindful of the harm stress causes on your body. While it was originally a reaction meant to protect our bodies from predators and other aggressors, stress has transformed to be triggered by everyday demands. Mayo Clinic staff note the nervous system response to stress triggers causes the body to release a surge of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. While adrenaline makes the heart beat faster and causes blood pressure to go up, cortisol increases sugar in the bloodstream. Cortisol also slows functions that would be harmful or non-essential in a fight-or-flight situation – changing immune system responses and suppressing the digestive system, reproductive system and growth processes. This reaction is meant to stop when the perceived threat has gone away but when stressors are always present, that fight-or-flight reaction stays on, putting you at risk for a number of health issues including depression, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, weight gain, sleep problems, trouble with memory and focus, and headaches, to name a few. That’s why the Mayo Clinic says it’s more important than ever to learn how to manage stress and relaxation is a key component. After soaking up the sea, it’s time to soak in one of the two hot tubs. I can feel the tension in my shoulders melt away as I lean back against the edge and look up towards the hotel. Rooted above the pool deck, its brown brick facade shines in the afternoon sun and its slate grey roof matches the rocks surrounding the hot tubs. While the furthest hot tub is tucked into a private little nook surrounded by greenery, the other is set higher up and gives views of the mineral pool and sea. After my body is sufficiently relaxed, I transition to the outdoor sauna. Inside this stargazer sauna I’m met with a large window framing the sea and making it feel as if I’m sitting on the rocks while the ocean laps at my feet. The heat from the 85-degree sauna immediately permeates my skin and I sit back against the bench. Breathing the cedar smell deep into my lungs, I look up and see the ceiling is also made of glass, showcasing blue sky. While tempted to cloud-watch, I turn my attention back to the ocean and continue to focus on the rolling waves, realizing they’re not grey, mirroring the clouds rolling past overhead, but a deep, dark aquamarine. Just as I’m starting to wonder how long I’ve been sitting here, the final grains of white sand fall in an hourglass timer by the door, indicating I’ve reached the end of the suggested 15 minute stay. Outside the sea air is chilly but refreshing and I hesitate beside the mineral pool, expecting it to feel frigid after the sauna. But I’m pleasantly surprised as I ease myself in. The heated pool is almost the temperature of a warm bath and I sit on the sunken ledge, allowing the water to wash over me as the sound of a little water fall trickles into the main pool. Deciding to complete the circuit, I venture back into the building to try out the eucalyptus-infused indoor sauna, returning to the pool again after 15 minutes. Looking at the subtle clock, I can’t believe I’ve spent two hours here already and it’s almost time for my treatment. With the holiday season usually packed full of events, meals and holiday cheer, it’s hard to escape for a weekend away to take a break from the hustle and bustle the season brings. An afternoon at the spa, however, can be just what the doctor ordered. Sitting in the lounge, enjoying a gemstone-infused glass of cold water, I’m greeted by Kim, my practitioner. She’s spent six years at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and more than 18 years in Korea perfecting her craft. Her enthusiasm is palpable but not overwhelming in the serene space. As she leads me back outside to the treatment rooms, I already feel like I’m in good hands. The Boathouse Spa offers a full menu of different treatments designed to help you slow down and unwind, including facials, massages and body treatments. Today, I’m receiving the botanical glow facial, which the spa describes as a cosmeceutical treatment that harnesses the power of nature while restoring the radiance of all skin types. Pre- and probiotics balance the microbiome while antioxidant-rich maple bark extract stimulates collagen and elastin. Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps, leaving skin healthy, resilient and glowing. Just what I need with a teething toddler that’s leaving me to survive on four hours of combined sleep a night. Inside the room I’m tucked into a heated bed adorned with a fluffy duvet that feels as if I’m being wrapped in a cloud. Already, I can feel my eyes grow heavy as Kim advises me to take a deep breath, drawing in a eucalyptus blend that continues the earthy scents layered throughout the spa spaces. Kim gets to work as I try – and fail – to pay attention to what she’s doing. It’s a delightful blur of warm towel wraps, soothing cold compresses, and Kim deftly painting my face like an artist with her brush. She uses a combination of products by Babor, a German company known for being a pioneer in skincare and as setting the standard in skincare research. There are also scalp, hand and arm massages that leave me in a zen-like coma state that Kim has to prompt me out of with a repeated request for a deep breath of that eucalyptus scent once again. I wish I could tell you more about the treatment itself but I’m left in the best kind of daze, knowing Kim has carefully tailored each selection, and my face is glowing. She does offer advice as she goes and reiterates that she will write it down, noting I’m in no state to be taking mental notes. True to her word, she leaves me a detailed regimen, written on a ‘Doctor Babor’ Rx prescription pad, outlining what types of product I should use and when – all geared to my specific skin requirements. Advice this tired mama desperately needs as I have been woefully neglecting my skin – and body – while going through the first years of parenthood. And just like that, I’m back sitting in the lounge, sipping on a hot cup of the custom ‘Oak Bay Fog’ tea blend and marvelling at a state of relaxation I didn’t know was possible. All without even leaving Greater Victoria. DO. Take advantage of the heated outdoor mineral pools and hot tubs. Amenities on the pool deck include water and towel service, assigned lounge chairs and use of the stargazer sauna. This optional upgrade for spa guests will leave you feeling replenished as you take in the surrounding Salish Sea. SEE. The Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s Wellness Reset series wraps up Nov. 15 with a live taping of Jessi Cruickshank’s hit pop culture podcast Phone a Friend. The hotel is also offering a number of holiday-themed events including breakfast with Santa on Dec. 7, a Christmas Day brunch, and a New Year’s Day brunch. EAT. Guest utilizing the mineral pools also have poolside access to Boathouse Kitchen and Bar. The menu features a number of signature cocktails, slushy delights, wine and bubbles, and carefully curated brews that accompany lighter fares to nibble on. The Oak Bay Beach Hotel also offers coastal-inspired Italian dining at Faro, more traditional pub fare at the Snug Pub and premium cocktails in the Lobby Lounge. SLEEP. The Oak Bay Beach Hotel offers luxury accommodations highlighting traditional architecture with modern in-suite amenities. Choose from guest rooms, boutique suites, one-bedroom suites or penthouse options with either residential, marina or panoramic ocean views.

Generational wealth is being squandered on Vancouver Island through poor planning. A lack of planning, documentation and open dialogue can also lead to family conflict, legal disputes, tax inefficiencies, unintended beneficiaries, and business instability. These were some of the considerations brought forward by thought leader and best-selling author Dr. Thomas Deans, a renowned expert on generational wealth transfer, during a Nov. 6 visit to Campbell River. The evening, hosted by the Campbell River Community Foundation at the Tidemark Theatre, aimed to spark conversation on what happens when B.C. families fail to plan for the future, and transform discussions on charitable giving, legacy and estate planning. Deans, author of the best-selling family business book “Every Family’s Business: 12 Common Sense Questions to Protect Your Wealth,” discussed the pitfalls of not having an estate plan in Canada. Deans noted how there is an entire generation in Canada that feels completely trapped when it comes to transitioning their wealth, amidst an era marked by the widespread accumulation and concentration of wealth. When individuals die without a will or a clearly communicated estate plan, their wealth does not simply transfer; it often unravels, he said. With his talk, the goal was to challenge traditional beliefs and broaden perspectives on how generational wealth can be passed down to maintain and enhance both family ties and the wealth itself. Deans urged participants to rethink the concept of wealth transfer. Instead of viewing it as a single event – often occurring at death – he proposed it should be a deliberate, multi-generational dialogue. The night began with a screening of the documentary “UnCharitable,” which critiques the traditional constraints that limit non-profit organizations in fulfilling their missions. Deans also explored the legal and financial aspects of estate planning, business succession, and strategic philanthropy in a practical discussion with a panel of local experts.

As a Saanich homeowner, I’m deeply concerned about the hostile, mob-like behaviour displayed by Save Our Saanich supporters at recent council meetings. Shouting people down isn’t democratic participation – it’s intimidation, and it discourages others from speaking. I appreciate council’s work to create a respectful, inclusive community. They deserve a public space where ideas can be debated without fear or harassment. Clear, enforced expectations for civility at meetings are essential. We cannot allow Saanich to drift toward the polarized, aggressive politics we see elsewhere. Canadians solve problems by listening, cooperating, and assuming good intent. That’s the culture we should defend. Dawn Smith Saanich

The close of the year is a season defined by its rituals. Gatherings around the holiday table, the sparkle of festive celebrations, and the quiet moments of reflection all carry with them a sense of threads of continuity that tie us to the past while inspiring what is yet to come. Wine, with its ability to capture time and place in a single glass, becomes more than a pairing; it becomes part of the ritual itself. As proud supporters of B.C. wineries, we have curated these Okanagan selections to accompany defining moments – honouring tradition, elevating celebration, and creating memories that linger long after the last toast. CedarCreek Platinum Jagged Rock Chardonnay Okanagan | 2022 From the striking Jagged Rock Vineyard in the South Okanagan, this chardonnay is a true expression of place. Grown in rocky soils under intense summer sun, the fruit develops both richness and precision. Fermented with wild yeast and aged in French oak, the wine shows layers of lemon curd, green apple, and white peach, lifted by subtle notes of brioche and toasted almond. A streak of minerality carries through the palate, bringing freshness and length to its creamy texture. Elegant and complex, it is a chardonnay that speaks of both power and finesse. Perfect for pairing with seared scallops, roast chicken, or wild mushroom risotto. $57.99 (plus tax and deposit) Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Fitz Brut Okanagan | 2019 Hailing from the Skaha Bench in the Okanagan Valley, this traditional-method sparkling wine is a celebration in itself. The brut opens with lively aromas of green apple, lemon zest, and toasted brioche. On the palate, fine bubbles carry bright acidity and layers of citrus, almond, and a hint of minerality, finishing with remarkable finesse. Crafted with meticulous care, it’s a bottle that elevates every occasion from a holiday toast at midnight to pairing with oysters or smoked salmon, even popcorn by the fire. $39.49 (plus tax and deposit) Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Franc Okanagan | 2022 From the sun-soaked vineyards of the South Okanagan, this cabernet franc delivers intensity with elegance. Layers of ripe blackberry, cassis, and plum are framed by notes of tobacco leaf, dried herbs, and subtle spice. French oak aging lends structure with fine-grained tannins and a lingering finish of dark chocolate and cedar. Bold yet balanced, this wine is built for cool-weather fare perfect alongside braised short ribs, roasted root vegetables, or simply enjoyed fireside during the holidays. $34.49 (plus tax and deposit) Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio Okanagan | 2022 This flagship Bordeaux-style blend showcases the depth and elegance of the South Okanagan. Merlot leads the way, supported by cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, and petit verdot, all aged in French oak for just under two years. The result is a polished wine layered with cassis, plum, and black cherry, accented by cedar, cocoa, and subtle spice. Silky tannins frame the fruit, carrying through to a long, structured finish. Portfolio is a benchmark of Okanagan red winemaking, equally at home at a festive table today or rewarding years of patience in the cellar. Perfect alongside roast beef, lamb, or rich mushroom dishes. $61.49 (plus tax and deposit)

Before 1840, if you wanted to send a letter overseas, pretty much the only option you had was to find a willing captain, explained vice-president of the Victoria Stamp Club Jan Hofmeyr. “They would informally collect letters, and when the bag would be filled, they would sail off, and then try to collect payment from the person receiving it,” he said. “It made communication really difficult.” To fix this haphazard system, the British government created the first adhesive postage stamp for public use. Called the Penny Black, it featured a profile of Queen Victoria and allowed letters to be delivered at a flat rate of one penny, regardless of distance. “The whole concept was you buy a stamp that proves you’ve paid,” said Hofmeyr. “The government does the business of collecting and distributing. After that, communication exploded and letter writing went through the roof.” This unassuming invention would end up revolutionizing the world of communication, making it more reliable, efficient and fast. At the same time, a new kind of hobbyist emerged, collecting these small, unassuming pieces of paper, and philately was born. Nearly a century after the invention of stamps, the Vancouver Island Philatelic Society was founded in 1931, offering a space for philatelists and casual collectors to gather and exchange. Shortly after their inception, the group began hosting quarterly stamp and postcard fairs. Now celebrating more than 90 years of tradition, the renamed Victoria Stamp Club held its annual fall fair at the Sandman Hotel on Nov. 16, where more than 28 collectors showcased their best material to attendees. Among them was stamp dealer Terril Leishman. Sitting among his countless three-inch ring binders filled with sheets of stamps, the Alberta native explained that he and his wife have built their collection over a lifetime of travels to more than 86 countries. Yet the man’s passion began long before he met his wife, starting at the young age of 11 during his first job as a paper deliverer for the Edmonton Journal. “Every Saturday morning we’d have to go to where they’re printing everything,” he said. “We had to go back there to get paid for our rounds. “Right next to this building, there was a little stamp store, so you’d come out with a pocket full of quarters and I’d spend it on stamps.” The self-described history buff said the appeal of collecting stamps lies in connecting with and learning about other cultures, beyond the act of letter writing. “I love nations, I’ve travelled extensively around the world and I love to be able to look at stamps and kind of source what they’re about and their history,” he said. “A lot of the older stamps tell you a story. “You learn about geography, about countries, and you end up talking to like-minded people.” Among his most prized finds is an American stamp featuring George Washington. Unbeknownst to him, Leishman bought the collectible from a German seller on eBay for $15, only to later discover it was worth $5,000. “People over there didn’t know and I didn’t know until I got it here,” he said. “I had it expertised and there you go.” However, these days, profit isn’t on Leishman’s mind, as he says that all proceeds from his stamp sales are going to the Peace Arch Hospital. For him, the fair was an excuse to get out, meet like-minded folks and share his stories worthy of being immortalized in an epic novel. Among them is the time he travelled down China’s Yangtze River and ended up in a small rural village to buy Cultural Revolution-era stamps that had survived Mao Zedong’s regime. Although the stamps later proved to be forgeries, it was the adventure that mattered to Leishman, who is flying to Cambodia this February. While both Leishman and Hofmeyr mentioned that stamp collecting is a fading hobby, following its golden era in the ’70s and ’80s. “This younger generation doesn’t know what a stamp is,” said Leishman. “They’ve never written a letter because this is a technical age, and that’s understandable.” With the advent of social media, which in itself revolutionized communications like stamps nearly 200 years ago, the nature of philately has evolved through the ages. “Stamps used to be a natural collectible because they just turned up in your postbox,” said Hofmeyr. “Now, I think they’ve become more like a conventional antique collectible.” And perhaps witnessing things changing, coming and going, ebbing and flowing, is just a part of life that needs to be accepted, concluded Leishman. “This might be the last group here today because collectors are aging out,” he said. “We’re just turning the page on history.”

After living for over 25 years in Oak Bay, we are leaving to start a new life in the U.K., and we wanted to take a moment to thank some of our favourite people and highlight places that have given us so many great memories here: Nature on our doorstep: what a gift from nature we have in Oak Bay. We particularly enjoyed Cattle Point, Willows Beach, McNeil Bay and our ‘secret bench’. Bowker Creek and our home and neighbours on Hampshire Road. Oak Bay High School, where our daughter had an incredible high school experience. Nohra Thai Kitchen in Estevan Village: Joel, Phen and Laurie and their wonderful food. Willows Galley in Estevan Village: Dave and his great staff, and their fantastic halibut & chips! The Oak Bay Beach Hotel, both before (where we had our wedding reception) and after their big rebuild. Oak Bay Pharmasave and their amazing staff, including Tony, Hue, Sandy and many others. Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen, and especially Christina! The Oak Bay Garagellenium: ‘one person’s junk is someone else’s treasure’ – what fun. And speaking of junk, the Oak Bay dump. I don’t know how we could have survived without it! Thanks, Oak Bay, you were a wonderful place to live. We’ve made many happy memories here and will always treasure them. All the best, Pam and Guy Lafreniere Oak Bay

In loving memory ~ August 30, 1968, Parksville, BC – November 10, 1995, disaster in Nepal It’s been 30 years since we last saw your face. We still think of you every day. Dear Kelly, We’ll see your smile in the sunshine, Hear your name upon the wind. The streams will shout your laughter, Which always made us grin. Your heart was always giving, and your spirit always free. Whenever you would cross my path I felt better, about me. You were in tune with nature, little kids and mother earth. Your currency was thoughtfulness, you knew its power and its worth. Your giving, unconditional, never asking toll or fare. Our lives will be a little poorer now, for yours, we cannot share. But as we free our hearts from pain, a richness will be there. Because you shared your life with us a load as light as air. And so, we’ll say goodbye for now, to our traveling Kelly man. We’ll try and be somewhat like you In every way we can!! Love Dad

February 5, 1928 – October 28, 2025 In Loving Memory ~ Our beautiful Mum, Lena Doreen Loor (Easterbrook) passed away peacefully, at the age of 97. Mum lived her life with a positive outlook, healthy habits, and a true joie de vivre that carried her well past her goal of 85 years. Born in Nanaimo, Mum’s family moved to Cumberland in 1937, where she met and married the love of her life, Albert. In 1951 they moved back to Nanaimo, where they rekindled old friendships and made new friends that lasted a lifetime. Doreen is survived by her son Randy (Leah) and daughter Shaun (Ray), and was predeceased by her husband Albert, parents Leonard and Florence Easterbrook, and sister Thelma Anderson. A celebration of Mum’s life will be held in the New Year. Please visit www.earthsoption.com [http://www.earthsoption.com]to read more about Mum’s life and share your condolences.

Nina Krieger’s first foray into provincial politics has been nothing short of a “wild ride.” While working as executive director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, she decided to seek the BC NDP nomination in Victoria-Swan Lake for the 2024 election. Under the tutelage of retiring longtime NDP MLA Rob Fleming, Krieger learned about the constituency by connecting with residents and local organizations. On Oct. 19, 2024, she was elected with more than half the vote. She began her first term as parliamentary secretary for arts and film before being promoted eight months later. When Premier David Eby reshuffled his cabinet back in June of this year, he made a call Krieger did not expect, offering her the role of minister of public safety and solicitor general. “It was a true honour to be asked to take on this role,” she told Victoria News. “It was wholly surprising but also a challenge and opportunity that I agreed to going forward with, with great humility for the role, gratitude for my predecessor and with great determination to do the work to advance public safety that British Columbians are expecting.” Occupying this role for the last six months, Krieger sat down with Black Press Media to discuss her role, challenges, priorities and future goals. Central to her position, she explained, is prioritizing “adequate and effective policing” to ensure public safety for all B.C. residents. With collaboration at the core of her approach, Krieger seeks to work across ministries to improve the province’s correctional, coroner and victim services. “(We look) not only to ensure that we’re tackling crime, but also addressing some of the root causes of crime and supporting people when they need help,” she said. “The complexity of advancing public safety, which is beyond the work of any one ministry, is just such an awesome challenge.” Currently, Krieger is working with Terry Yung, minister of state for community safety and integrated services, to examine where public safety intersects with housing and health care. Krieger also mentioned working with police forces across the province to ensure they have the resources needed to address crime and local challenges. Another item atop Krieger’s list is to invest in the province’s specialized integrated units to combat specific issues like drug and human trafficking. However, enforcement is not Krieger’s only concern, adding that supporting victims of crime and vulnerable populations is also important. “In Victoria, we’re launching an initiative soon called Health IM, which is a digital tool that lets police log and capture specifics related to a mental health crisis and allows that information to be passed seamlessly to health professionals, really supporting compassionate interactions with people and ensuring they get the care that they need,” she said. Being in session since Oct. 6 in her new role, Krieger said there’s never been a dull moment. “It’s been a wild ride and it’s been really exciting,” she said. “As a minister, I have a role in that question period, fielding questions about various issues related to public safety from the opposition and from the other parties, so it’s been action-packed.” While Krieger said that “so much has happened” over the past year, she added that the foundation of her work remains anchored in the community she represents every week at the legislative assembly. “My work outside of the ministry office with community organizations continues and really fuels the work that happens in the chamber,” she said.

A non-profit wants to start filling shoeboxes with gifts for women in Nanaimo who are experiencing homelessness. In a press release, the Nanaimo chapter of the Shoebox Project announced it will hold a collection drive from Monday, Nov. 17, to Dec. 8, seeking “shoeboxes full of essential items and special gifts for local women impacted by homelessness.” Items such as toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap) and gloves, journals, pens and dark chocolate are sought, the press release noted. Donors are also encouraged to include a card “with an inspiring message,” the release added. Island Crisis Care Society, Risebridge and Pacifica Housing will distribute the shoeboxes, which can be dropped off at Nanaimo North Town Centre’s administration office, Thrifty Foods at Port Place Shopping Centre, CurVa-Voom, Serge and Sew and Lobelia’s Lair. The goal is 210 shoeboxes this year. The project has collected more than 650 shoebox gifts since 2021. “We are so grateful to the community for their generosity,” said Laura Kelsey, Nanaimo Shoebox Project coordinator, in the release. The drive has expanded to include gender-neutral shoeboxes as well. For more information on the Shoebox Project, go to www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/nanaimo [https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/nanaimo].

For Aysanabee, working hard is a fact of life – whether it was in his early days doing manual labour, or later creating digital content for news outlets, or spending years shaping his music into something entirely his own. That drive has paid off. At the 2024 Juno Awards, Aysanabee became the first Indigenous musician to win both Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year, breaking barriers with his Here and Now EP. “It threw me for a loop,” he admits. “Winning Songwriter of the Year really messed up my writing for a while – I kept thinking, a Songwriter of the Year wouldn’t write that garbage. Then I looked at who’d gotten it before – The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, Alanis Morissette, Gord Downie – and I thought, wow, I can’t believe I get to be part of that room full of giants. In a way, that just makes me work a bit harder.” Now he’s taking that momentum on the road with his first-ever headline run, The Way We’re Born Tour, which kicks off in Edmonton on Nov. 6 and makes six B.C. stops — Lake Country (Nov. 11 with Sheri Marie Ptolemy), Burnaby (Nov. 13), Vancouver (Nov. 14 with Nimkish), in Victoria’s Wicket Hall (Nov. 15 with Zerowhonnock), Campbell River (Nov. 17 with Hasaatuk) and Vernon (Nov. 19 with Francis Baptiste) — before continuing east. Each date features a different local Indigenous opener, chosen from a flood of applications he personally reviewed. “It’s important to build community,” he says. “Create the music industry you want to be in — one where people get included and share what they know instead of guarding it. It isn’t about that scarcity mentality anymore. We rise and fall together.” The tour supports his sophomore album Edge of the Earth (Ishkodé Records), a collection of reflections from the last two and a half years. “The through line is, this is the first time I have an album that isn’t an album based off the stories of my grandfather. It’s the first time I’m kind of offering people a window into who I am as a person and an artist.” Among the many things Aysanabee brings to the stage are powerful, rich music and a compelling voice — without gimmick or affectation. In our conversation, where Aysanabee spoke to Monday Magazine from Berlin, he talked about hard work, but also learning to take time: “My grandmother used to say, ‘You’re gonna have to work ten times as hard to get half as much.’ I think on social media you see the wins — me on a big stage, or getting an award — but underneath that are thousands of hours of work. I’m trying to dial that back a bit and take the blinders off, because I’m always looking toward the next mountain, the next goal. I’m really making a bigger effort to just appreciate what’s happening around me in the moment.” If the album looks inward, the live show turns that reflection outward. “We’re building a big show for it,” he says. “Presenting the songs the way they were meant to be presented – when it comes to sound, when it comes to lights, when it comes to the production behind the show and the intent. It’ll be lights and it’ll be storytelling, sharing extra stuff as well. You can go to Apple or Spotify and listen to the track, but to be there and hear something really special about the song — that only comes from live.”

The McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville is hosting three new exhibitions, including works by award-winning blind artist Ruth Bieber. Bieber’s exhibition Feel Free, Touch the Art is on display in the MAC’s Nemeth Gallery. “As a blind artist, it might come as a surprise to most viewers, that I have a close and treasured relationship with colour,” said Bieber, who experiences Charles Bonnet Syndrome. “Not all blind people see vibrant colour swirling around them, however it is safe to say, that blind people normally do have a rich sense of haptic.” Bieber said her goal is to create art that is both pleasing to the eye, as well as to the sense of touch. Visitors are encouraged to touch her artwork. She holds a master’s degree in education, from the University of Calgary, with a specialization in rehabilitation. Prior to obtaining this degree, her professional focus was as a counseling therapist, working with clients with disabilities. In the early 1990s, she founded InsideOut Theatre, which was a reflection of her own evolution from therapy to theatre; from the therapeutic arts, to the power of performance for people with a wide range of mixed abilities. Bieber was the artistic director of the theatre company for 17 years. Bieber has received numerous awards for her specialized work including the Donald Norman Award for contribution to the Theatre Arts (2008) and The Spirit of Kelowna for inspiration in promoting diversity within the visual arts community (2011). OCAC and the MAC are providing a new technology for blind or low-vision visitors to the galleries. “Be My Eyes,” through specialty glasses will connect, in real-time, visual assistance from volunteers all over the world. With thanks to the City of Parksville for this specialty accessibility grant, Be My Eyes glasses are now available for visitors to the MAC. “Be My Eyes started with a simple idea: to make the world more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision through the power of connection,” the MAC said in a news release. The idea came from Hans Jørgen Wiberg, a Danish craftsman with low vision. While working with The Danish Association of the Blind, he noticed how often people needed a little visual assistance for everyday tasks. A friend shared how video calls with family helped him get that assistance, and Wiberg saw an opportunity: what if people who are blind or have low vision could connect with a global network of volunteers, ready to lend their sight? In 2015, the Be My Eyes app was launched and, within 24 hours, 10,000 volunteers had signed up. Today, millions of volunteers support users in over 180 languages – proving that a little help goes a long way. Also on display in the MAC’s Concert Gallery are works by Michelle Nyberg, and Melinda Wilde.

Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest is now accepting band submissions for its 2026 lineup. The festival, organized by Royalty Entertainment, will take place Aug. 9 at Fred Milne Park in Sooke. Applications are open until Nov. 30, with organizers encouraging bands from all subgenres of metal to apply by sending their electronic press kits, including photos, music links and bios. The open-air, all-ages festival celebrates metal and hard rock in a family-friendly atmosphere. Following the success of its inaugural year in 2025, organizers say next year’s edition will be “even bigger and louder.” Founded by Royal Savoie, a music manager, promoter and host of Thrashcan on 101.9 FM CFUV in Victoria, the 2025 festival featured acts from across the province, including Torrefy, Thirteen Goats, Yegg, Mutual Trauma, Dead After Dark, Burnt Lung, Pharm, Cybörg, Joker’s Revenge, Blacktop Social and Wolf Venom. For all those interested in applying, contact [email protected] [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection].

Colin Mochrie has made a career out of thinking fast, and soon he’ll be doing it live in Victoria. The Whose Line is it Anyway? star will join longtime collaborator Brad Sherwood for their improv show, Asking for Trouble, at the Royal Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 20. The show thrives on audience participation, with no two nights ever the same. “Everything starts with the audience. They yell out suggestions, we bring people on stage for about half the show, and then we just try to survive it. It’s sort of a live version of Whose Line without the dead weight,” joked Mochrie. The tour begins this month in Ohio and runs until October 2026, with Canadian stops in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Kitchener. For Mochrie, who calls Toronto home, it’s a chance to perform closer to his roots. “Canadian audiences just love to have goofy fun,” he said. “We get such a great range of suggestions up here. It’s nice not to have to cross the border and just focus on having fun.” Mochrie found a passion for improv at a young age and honed his craft with Vancouver TheatreSports. “When we first started there, way back when, we used to go to the McDonald’s next door and say, ‘Come see our show’,” Mochrie recalled. “I don’t know what I would be doing without improv, honestly. I’m so grateful for how things have turned out.” Mochrie and Sherwood first met 35 years ago through a show at The Second City in Toronto, which Mochrie’s wife, Debra McGrath, produced, before teaming up on Whose Line just months later. It was there that their quick wit and chemistry quickly turned into a lasting partnership. “Brad’s the younger, really irritating brother, and I’m the older one trying to keep him in line,” Mochrie said with a laugh. “He loves words, I’m more surreal and weird, but it somehow works.” Their live act has evolved into a mix of classic improv games and unpredictable audience moments. No scripts, no safety nets, just two comedians trying to outwit each other and the crowd. “It’s the most death-defying experience that I’ll ever get in my life,” Mochrie said. “I’ll never jump out of a plane, but there’s something really relaxing about standing in front of an audience who have paid money to see a show that we don’t have at that particular moment.” Victoria isn’t new territory for Mochrie, who has performed in the city twice before and even attended his nephew’s wedding here in 2024. “It’s a beautiful city,” he said. “I’ll probably head over to the Empress for afternoon tea just to feel classy for a bit.” As for what to expect, Mochrie said the show will feature a few familiar Whose Line-style games, a musical nod to Victoria, and plenty of moments that can’t be replicated. “Every show is a one-time thing,” he said. “Nobody will ever see that exact show again. The audience gives us everything, and we just try to make it funny.” The show begins at 8 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the Royal Theatre.

The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s Elf: The Musical, is a sparklejollytwinklejingley hit. Elf, the theatre’s Christmas offering directed by Ian Farthing, is outstanding from top to bottom. If you were lucky enough to get tickets, hold onto them tight, as the show had but one single seat left for its entire run at the time of writing. Elf is full of excellent performances, but the true standout is Oliver Kadar as main character Buddy. Kadar hits everything note-perfect from the musical numbers to the dancing to the emotional moments, putting the star in starring role. It’s a challenging part in more ways than one, but Kadar manages to make Buddy, who’s an overgrown child, loveable, funny, touching and sweet. He has an outstanding voice for the many musical numbers and great chemistry with the whole cast. His comedic timing is impeccable and had the audience laughing throughout. Kadar carries the show like he was born to play Buddy. It is a truly noteworthy performance. We bet he’ll be in demand to play this role at other theatres in years to come. Elf tells the story of Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole in Santa’s workshop who doesn’t know he’s not an elf like everyone else there until he finds out one day by accident. This sees him journey to New York City to meet his father Walter Hobbs (Raugi Yu), who is a high-powered publishing executive in the hot seat, trying to come up with a hit children’s book for Christmas. Plenty of wacky hi-jinks ensue as his reluctant dad takes him in and he spends time with half-sister Michaela (Amara Apa in the performance we saw, but also played by Noa Audenart), and stepmother Emily (Naomi Costain). He also falls in love with the jaded Jovie (Georgia Bennett), create’s chaos at Macy’s, commiserates with a bunch of santas and likes the shredder a little too much. This is a full-on musical and the songs and choreography are all top-notch with Anthony Knight as musical director and Melissa Young as choreographer. Bennett as Jovie is another standout voice in the cast and it is a pleasure to hear the music delivered so effortlessly with such heart. Her performance as the woman who wants to believe in spite of past experience telling her not to was excellent. Apa also delivered impressive vocals. As a musical, the ensemble is also key. With everyone seamlessly playing multiple roles, they are a talented bunch including Ali Watson, Cecilly Day, Matthew Yipchuck, Dustyn Forbes, Jennifer Lynch, Léah Zack and Stephen Thakkar. Sandy Winsby also adds the right touch as Santa. The only minor complaint was that the cast didn’t perform an encore number after the thunderous and well-deserved standing ovation on opening night. If they don’t have one, they should practice one, as we bet the audience will be on their feet after every performance in the run. The show is the perfect holiday break. It’s joyful and funny and heartfelt — a little bit of Christmas magic to make you believe in the spirit of the season. The theatre has also announced next year’s shows. The season will start with Godspell, move on to Ladies Foursome, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to take the theatre through the summer, then Peril in the Alps takes the stage, and it all wraps up with The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley. Look for more on the upcoming season in a future edition. For more information see chemainustheatrefestival.ca [https://chemainustheatrefestival.ca/].

B.C.’s NDP government introduced a major new jobs plan on Monday (Nov. 17), which aims to boost private sector investment for major projects in the province over the next 10 years by $200 billion. The Look West jobs plan targets specific industries such as marine, aerospace, life sciences and construction, while providing skilled workers through schemes such as the recently announced plan to provide $241 million in funds over the next three years for trades training. It also relies on the federal government getting on board. Premier David Eby urged the feds to be “relentless and remorseless in pushing for economic growth,” promising B.C. will be a “resolute partner” to deliver for the prime minister. “That means more jobs and more prosperity paying for the public services that British Columbians and Canadians deserve,” he said. Initial actions include spending more than $40 million on companies and research, as well as setting up a kindergarten to Grade 12 advisory committee to explore integrating artificial intelligence platforms and skills into school systems. The plan also relies on the province being able to secure additional federal investments for major projects, including the goal of B.C. being awarded 35 per cent of upcoming federal defence vessel contracts. Eby called it “our plan to be able to ensure that British Columbians get our appropriate share of the federal initiatives.” The federal government’s most recent budget — passed by two votes later the same day Eby introduced the jobs plan — includes $6.6 billion in spending over five years as part of a defence industrial strategy. “I am encouraging my federal colleagues to support the budget,” Eby said. “The budget is one that rewards and recognizes those provinces and territories that are willing to step up and drive for our country.” Some specific companies the government pledged more support for in the jobs plan are Mangrove Lithium, a Delta company using an electrical process to refine lithium for batteries, COTA Aviation, a Parksville defence and commercial aerospace contractor, CCI Circuits, a Surrey company building high-end circuit boards and two precast concrete companies, Duncan’s Gallon Precast and Williams Lake’s Grosso Precast. Funding will also be provided for biotech research, vaccine production and the development of antibody treatments for viruses such as COVID-19 and bird flu. Other parts of the plan have broad objectives, such as tripling the amount of wood used in construction within a decade, but are vague on the steps that will be taken and the benchmarks to be met along the way. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said it seems to be missing some “pretty significant components.” “In particular, when you look at expanding manufacturing, you look at expanding all these things, we don’t have the electricity in British Columbia,” he said. “We do not have the power we need to be able to dramatically expand our economy.” Rustad lamented that B.C. still sells natural gas to the U.S. at discounted prices, as well as the long timelines of some of the projects being pushed by the government, such as the North Coast Transmission Line. “We actually should see a plan to move oil and natural gas over to our coast in British Columbia in very large quantities to stop the subsidies to Americans,” he said. Eby wants government to profit from investments Linked to all this, but still in the theoretical stages, is a proposal for the B.C. government to take public equity stakes in some major projects. This idea was first floated publicly by the premier over the weekend as he spoke in support of a related resolution at the NDP convention in Victoria. Eby said on Monday that with the types of investments announced in this jobs plan, enabling the government to take an equity stake would allow taxpayers to reap the rewards, “just like a private individual investment in these companies.” Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon, who presented the Look West plan alongside Eby, said decisions on public equity stakes would be made in an open process similar to how companies bid on government contracts. “We want to make sure that anything that happens is done in a transparent way,” he said. Kahlon added that other jurisdictions, such as Quebec and Ontario, are further along in doing this, and B.C. will look to their example when creating its own process.

Our Place has been chosen by Tim Hortons as this year’s recipient of Greater Victoria’s Holiday Smile Cookie campaign, which runs from Nov. 17 to 23. For seven days, $1 from each Smile Cookie sold at Tim Hortons locations across the region will be donated to Our Place Society. Our Place staff and volunteers will also bring out their cookie-decorating skills for a good cause on the afternoon of Nov. 17. CEO Julian Daly and his team will join the Tim Hortons crew at 3501 Ravine Way between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Our Place Society supports Greater Victoria residents in need by providing more than 500,000 meals a year, 500 housing units and shelter spaces, long-term addiction recovery services and more. With financial support, the non-profit says it can help people move toward stability, safety and health.

Nanaimo RCMP are asking for the public’s help to find a medical case taken from an ambulance. The case containing life-saving supplies was last seen at about 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, while B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics were responding to call on Clifford Road in Cedar. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the case or has information about this incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and reference file No. 2025-36470.

Nina Krieger’s first foray into provincial politics has been nothing short of a “wild ride.” While working as executive director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, she decided to seek the BC NDP nomination in Victoria-Swan Lake for the 2024 election. Under the tutelage of retiring longtime NDP MLA Rob Fleming, Krieger learned about the constituency by connecting with residents and local organizations. On Oct. 19, 2024, she was elected with more than half the vote. She began her first term as parliamentary secretary for arts and film before being promoted eight months later. When Premier David Eby reshuffled his cabinet back in June of this year, he made a call Krieger did not expect, offering her the role of minister of public safety and solicitor general. “It was a true honour to be asked to take on this role,” she told Victoria News. “It was wholly surprising but also a challenge and opportunity that I agreed to going forward with, with great humility for the role, gratitude for my predecessor and with great determination to do the work to advance public safety that British Columbians are expecting.” Occupying this role for the last six months, Krieger sat down with Victoria News to discuss her role, challenges, priorities and future goals. Central to her position, she explained, is prioritizing “adequate and effective policing” to ensure public safety for all B.C. residents. With collaboration at the core of her approach, Krieger seeks to work across ministries to improve the province’s correctional, coroner and victim services. “(We look) not only to ensure that we’re tackling crime, but also addressing some of the root causes of crime and supporting people when they need help,” she said. “The complexity of advancing public safety, which is beyond the work of any one ministry, is just such an awesome challenge.” Currently, Krieger is working with Terry Yung, minister of state for community safety and integrated services, to examine where public safety intersects with housing and health care. Krieger also mentioned working with police forces across the province to ensure they have the resources needed to address crime and local challenges. Another item atop Krieger’s list is to invest in the province’s specialized integrated units to combat specific issues like drug and human trafficking. However, enforcement is not Krieger’s only concern, adding that supporting victims of crime and vulnerable populations is also important. “In Victoria, we’re launching an initiative soon called Health IM, which is a digital tool that lets police log and capture specifics related to a mental health crisis and allows that information to be passed seamlessly to health professionals, really supporting compassionate interactions with people and ensuring they get the care that they need,” she said. Being in session since Oct. 6 in her new role, Krieger said there’s never been a dull moment. “It’s been a wild ride and it’s been really exciting,” she said. “As a minister, I have a role in that question period, fielding questions about various issues related to public safety from the opposition and from the other parties, so it’s been action-packed.” While Krieger said that “so much has happened” over the past year, she added that the foundation of her work remains anchored in the community she represents every week at the legislative assembly. “My work outside of the ministry office with community organizations continues and really fuels the work that happens in the chamber,” she said.

It’s been a busy November for the Cowichan Valley Capitals following a blockbuster Oct. 28 trade that saw fan favourites Kole Keen and Owen Fitzgerald traded away to the Surrey Eagles in exchange for a trio of players. Maintaining their place among the league’s top teams, the Capitals have gone 3-1 (through Nov. 13) to start the month including an overtime thriller against the Nanaimo Clippers. The Capitals first beat the Grizzlies 4-2 in Victoria to start the month. Massimo Fazio scored in the first, Jack McAra and Camden Charron scored in the third period and Slad Firkus added an empty netter late to seal the win. Stoesser got the win between the pipes. The following night they bested the Vernon Vipers 6-2 at the Cowichan Arena despite giving up the first two goals of the game. To begin a six-goal unanswered streak in the second period, Shawnigan Lake product Brendyn Van Oene scored his first as a Capital since joining the team from the Eagles. Gavin Nemis also scored his first with the team to tie the game at 2-2 after two periods of play. Firkus, Trace Frieden, Anthony Hall, and Tristan Gravenor all tallied in the third to make it a 6-1 win. The Capitals were defeated 4-1 by the Nanaimo Clippers during a road game on Nov. 7 with Gravenor scoring the Capitals’ lone goal. Cowichan got their revenge in Duncan on Nov. 8, beating the Clippers in overtime thanks to a goal from Hall 2:24 into the extra period. It was Hall’s second goal of the game. Team captain Ryan Harvey also scored twice in the contest. The Capitals took to the road for their next two games with tilts against the Powell River Kings at Hap Parker Arena on Nov. 14, and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, on Nov. 16, at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Against Powell River, Cowichan fell behind early, conceding two goals in the first period. After a regroup in the first intermission, the Capitals popped off for six unanswered goals to win 6-2. In the second period, Gavin Rocha scored his first since coming over from Surrey in the big trade, and Tyler Rowland got Cowichan’s game-tying goal. Nemis potted a pair to put the Caps up by two before Ryder Dembo and Gravenor each added singles in the 6-2 victory. The Caps continued to push in Port Alberni, with a 4-3 overtime win. Once again, it was scoring by committee as Carter Stamp-Vincent, Tyler Rowland, and Hunter Heisten all scored for Cowichan before the Bulldogs got three in a row back to tie the game. In the end, it was Nemis on the power-play just over three minutes into overtime who put Cowichan on top. Cowichan now has five wins and one loss since the trade and looks ahead to play two in a row against the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings Nov. 21 and 22. Puck drop for both games at the Cowichan Arena is 7 p.m. Ice Chips: Duncan forward Carson Lesiuk, 20, was traded from the Nanaimo Clippers to the Powell River Kings for future considerations on Nov. 5 and then flipped to the Coquitlam Express the following day, also for future considerations. In a BCHL career that’s spanned parts of five years, Lesiuk has played two as a call-up for the Cowichan Valley Capitals (2021-22), 25 games for the Penticton Vees (2023-2024), 62 games for the Nanaimo Clippers (2024-25) and now the Express (one game as of Nov. 13).

Proposed “small changes” that could “result in big improvements” to traffic flow at a busy Langford intersection are drawing mixed reactions. Draft versions of the city’s Transportation Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan suggest congestion could be eased at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Peatt Road by restricting northbound access on Peatt – allowing only buses to travel north from the Brock-Peatt roundabout up to the intersection. Consultants hired by the city say the current signal timing favours the dual left turns from Peatt Road onto the highway, which often leads to those vehicles blocking the intersection – especially during peak periods when highway traffic is already backed up. The draft proposal also recommends limiting movements from Strandlund Avenue, which meets the same intersection, by only allowing vehicles to exit to the right onto Veterans Memorial Parkway. “The reality is that this intersection is too close to the Millstream overpass, and with full turning movements in every direction, it bogs down the system,” says the city’s Transportation and Active Transportation survey. “As we grow to a population of 100,000, we will have to reduce turning movements to improve traffic flow through this intersection.” While the proposed Peatt Road closure would change the driving habits of residents of Langford’s downtown core, redirecting them to Massie Drive, Goldstream Avenue or Leigh Road, the draft plan argues the change would ultimately reduce congestion across the city. “… but it will also mean that you won’t be stuck in your driveway until the morning traffic clears,” says the survey. “These changes will improve travel times and prevent gridlock on local roads in Langford in the future.” These ideas are among several options put forward by consultants, which are still under development and not yet approved. Without changes to traffic patterns and signal timing, the consultants warn that the long-standing frustrations along Veterans Memorial Parkway are likely to worsen. But some locals disagree, with debate spilling onto social media. “It may alleviate some hassle around the overpass, but creates havoc elsewhere,” wrote one local on Facebook. “They’re pushing all traffic onto Goldstream and VMP, which is already overflowing,” said another. “This plan also looks a lot like a page out of Victoria’s playbook.” “Traffic is stupid already,” cried one Facebook user. “Just leave it alone – it’s so hard to get around in Langford.” “Maybe before they make all these changes, they change the timing in the light(s) and do a ticketing blitz on people who block the intersection?” suggested one person. Mill Hill residents are also not happy, raising a number of concerns about restricting access to the neighbourhood via Strandlund Avenue, saying it forces drivers onto alternative access points at Six Mile Road and Hoffman Avenue. “This is going to be a huge inconvenience and increase in my commute as the 1,000 or so residents in Mill Hill try to exit out of Hoffman every day,” said one Facebook user. “Try driving out of Hoffman when school is out,” said another. But not all comments have been negative. “This actually makes a lot of sense,” one local wrote. “Currently, due to the timing of the lights, cars on Peat Road get priority when turning left and often leave no room for cars on VMP. The intersection gets blocked by Peat Road red light runners and no one is having any fun.” Both the Transportation Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan are still in the draft phase, with the second round of public engagement and consultation underway. Feedback gathered will help the city refine key recommendations and priorities. “Council will review the draft later this winter, and the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback before any decisions are made,” said a city spokesperson in an emailed statement. “At this time, no changes have been implemented.” Folks are encouraged to have their say by taking part in the online survey. The city has extended the deadline to Friday, Nov. 21, giving residents additional time to share their input: www.letschatlangford.ca/transportation [http://www.letschatlangford.ca/transportation].

Sam Bennett’s early third-period goal stood up as the winner, as the Florida Panthers earned a 8-5 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Monday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. Seth Jones (2) A.J. Greer, Luke Kunin, Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand also scored for Florida (10-8-1). Sam Reinhart added three assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made just 10 saves but got the goaltending win. Elias Pettersson had a pair of goals for the Canucks (9-10-2), with Jake DeBrusk, Drew O’Connor and Filip Hronek adding singles. Captain Quinn Hughes had three assists and Jiri Patera took the loss in goal, allowing seven goals on 40 shots. The Canucks didn’t get their first shot until nearly 12 minutes into the first period, but still took the lead at 14:50. Bobrovsky thought he had a puck covered in his crease, but O’Connor poked away at it and jammed it home for his sixth goal of the season. DeBrusk upped the lead to 2-0 just 24 seconds later on a power play, converting a nice cross-crease feed from Kiefer Sherwood for his eighth of the season (seventh on the power play). The Panthers answered 36 seconds later when the Canucks got mixed up on a line change. Greer took a feed from Carter Verhaege in the deep slot and fired a shot past the blocker of Patera. With 7.7 seconds left in the period, Jones tied things up, slipped a shot five-hole past Patera from the bottom of the right offensive faceoff circle. Floria held an 11-5 shots-on-goal advantage after 20 minutes. Early in the second, Kunin ended a 38-game goal-scoring drought, knocking home a loose puck into an empty net as Patera got tangled in front with Pettersson. Rodrigues made it 4-2 with a shorthanded marker at 6:10, converitng a nice pass from Reinhart who was followed behind the net by three Canucks. Lundell upped the Florida margin to 5-2 67 seconds later, taking a pass from Brad Marchand and firing a perfect shot high to the stick side of Patera. Marchand has points in eight straight games. Just 38 seconds after that, Pettersson cut the deficit to 5-3, finishing off a nice three-way passing play with Hughes and Evander Kane. > HUGHES ➡️ KANE ➡️ PETEY ???? pic.twitter.com/wWRhKSJguY > [https://t.co/wWRhKSJguY] > > — Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 18, 2025 > [https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1990591785291206961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] The Canucks struck first in the third, as Pettersson roofed a backhander over the glove of Bobrovsky 1:24 into the final frame. Hronek tied things at 5-5 on the power play, scoring his first of the year after taking a cross-crease feed from Max Sasson at 3:14. Less than a minute later, the Panthers grabbed the lead again, when Mikola’s point shot was tipped in by Bennett. With Vancouver’s Marcus Pettersson in the penalty box, Jones scored again on the power play at 8:19, sneaking in from the point to the slot and flicking a shot past Patera to make it 7-5. The Canucks return home Thursday (7 p.m.) to host the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames visit Rogers Arena on Sunday (6 p.m.). The Canucks pulled Patera in favour of an extra attacker with six minutes to go while on a power play but couldn’t convert. Marchand completed the scoring with his 13th of the year into an empty net with 1:46 to play. NOTES: Hughes has 10 points in his last three games… Patera was playing his first NHL game since the 2023-24 season with the Vegas Golden Knights… Elias Pettersson has two points in each of his last four outings… Bobrovsky picked up an assist on Jones’s first goal… Both teams were 2-for-6 on the power play.

When Sgt. Adrian Last joined the Canadian Rangers in early 2020, he didn’t expect the experience to reconnect him with his Indigenous roots. But over the past five years, serving with the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group in his hometown of Gold River has done exactly that, and given new meaning to a day that honours the generations who came before him. “It’s really important to acknowledge that there are Indigenous veterans, and that there have been Indigenous veterans,” Last told Victoria News. “Even though the relationships in this country haven’t always been perfect, Indigenous people have been fighting for Canada throughout history, right alongside everyone else. We’re all Canadians, and that’s what we fight for.” Each year on Nov. 8, communities across the country mark Indigenous Veterans Day, a national day of remembrance that originated in Winnipeg in 1994. Before its creation, Indigenous veterans were often excluded from Remembrance Day ceremonies. They couldn’t march together as a group or lay wreaths at cenotaphs. The day was established to correct that oversight and recognize the thousands of First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers who served in conflicts dating back to the War of 1812. More than 12,000 Indigenous people served in the Canadian Armed Forces in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. Many brought valuable traditional skills to the battlefield, scouts, trackers and snipers whose knowledge of the land made them invaluable in combat. That same spirit of service continues today through the Canadian Rangers, a reserve force made up largely of Indigenous members who patrol and support remote and northern communities. They’re known as the “eyes and ears” of the Canadian Armed Forces, drawing on their traditional knowledge to assist during emergencies, sovereignty patrols and search and rescue operations. In Gold River, the Rangers have been part of the community since 1992. Last joined after his two children became involved in the Junior Canadian Rangers program, and the whole family soon followed suit. “It’s a really good way to serve your community and your country,” he said. “You feel like you’re part of something bigger than just the little villages we’re from.” Through his time with the Rangers, Last has also found space to rediscover parts of his own identity. His mother’s side of the family is Algonquin (Ontario), and he grew up in Mowachaht/Muchalaht (Gold River) territory on Vancouver Island. For years, he said, conversations around their Indigenous background were quiet, even avoided. “My mom was of the age where it wasn’t really talked about,” he said. “For me, joining the Canadian Armed Forces introduced me to strong, proud Indigenous men who encouraged me to explore my culture. It really opened a floodgate for me. It came at the right time.” Now, when Indigenous Veterans Day arrives each November, Last takes it as a day for reflection. “There aren’t big ceremonies in Gold River, but I use these days to think about the people who served before us,” he said. “It’s more meaningful now that I understand that part of my history.” For Last, the day is a reminder that honouring Indigenous veterans isn’t about separation from Canada’s story, it’s about completing it. “It’s all part of the same history,” he said. “Recognizing Indigenous veterans just makes that history more whole.” Indigenous veterans and military personnel will be honoured during an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. at the cenotaph outside the B.C. legislature. After that, Legion #292 (Trafalgar/Pro Patria) will welcome Sgt. Last and CR. Smecher of the Canadian Rangers from noon until 2 p.m. to share how their local knowledge and heritage help them patrol, provide surveillance, and support the Canadian Armed Forces.

Parksville Fire Rescue was awarded $40,000 from the Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Volunteer (Composite Fire Departments Equipment and Training) Fund enabling the purchase and installation of advanced decontamination equipment. Grant funding was approved in 2024 and the project with a total cost of $41,144, was completed in October 2025. According to a press release, installation of Meiko decontamination washer and related equipment has significantly enhanced the department’s ability to meet both community needs and the BC Structure Firefighter Minimum Training Standards by ensuring personal protective equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus, helmets, air cylinders and facepieces are properly decontaminated after each use, reducing the risk of long-term health issues caused by exposure to carcinogens and other hazards. This project has also enhanced the resilience of Parksville Fire Rescue operational readiness by significantly reducing the time and labour required to clean firefighter gear facilitating a quicker turnaround time. “By equipping Parksville firefighters with the knowledge and equipment to maintain clean gear, the department has taken a proactive step in protecting the long-term health of members,” said acting assistant chief Cam Cruickshank. “Knowing their gear is properly cleaned helps to alleviate stress and anxiety related to potential health risks, contributing to a healthier work environment in a high-risk profession.”

Five Ballenas Whalers senior varsity players were named to the B.C. Secondary Schools Football Island Division All-Star team. Offensive linemen Draeden Jones and Matt Crowie, receiver Riley Wilson, linebacker Bennet Switzer and defensive back Malcolm Williams were recognized for their performance during the regular season, assisting the Whalers to advance to the quarterfinals of the provincial playoffs. They will face the Argyle Secondary Pipers on Nov. 14. Switzer, who also plays running back, leads the Whalers defence with 50 tackles in the five games he played, with one interception and one touchdown. “It’s an honour to be placed in that skilled group,” said Switzer, who learned how to play football when he was in Prince George. “It’s cool to be recognized for work that I did in the regular season.” Williams, who is only in Grade 11, has also been a key defensively for the Whalers, having recorded seven tackles and three interceptions to his credit. “It was kind of unexpected,” said Williams. “It’s definitely nice though. It just shows that the hard work I’ve been doing is paying off.” The players named to the all-star team are selected by coaches of opposing teams in the Island Division. Head coach Dan Smith said they are proud to have five Whalers named as all-stars. He added that there are other players worthy of being included who just missed out. He told the other players that “they became all-stars because of the players around them give them opportunities to excel and to show their talents and their skills. That’s really what that’s about.” The Whalers also gave recognition to two of their junior players for helping the senior Whalers whenever they are short of players. Offensive and defensive linemen Bentley Dore-Radil and Douglas Pitt were honoured by the coaching staff as ‘Junior Ironman Call Up Players.’ Junior head coach Mike Seselja, who organizes the Nanoose Bay Halloween Walk involving the Whalers football team, congratulated players who took part in the annual fundraising event. The Whalers program will receive $17,036 and put more than $180 in cash donations, with $5,678 being donated to the the Nanoose Bay Elementary School and $500 to the District 69 Global Roams program. “We’ve been doing this for almost 14 years and it started off as a barbeque at someone else’s house,” Seselja said. “Three years later we did it at our house and then we decided to make it a fundraiser for a hockey team. We made $1,500 I think for the first time we did it. It was just by donation. That weekend has just ballooned into a big event.” The Halloween Walk attracts visitors from all over Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. The success of the annual event is contingent on the participation of players, the support of the Whalers parents, many volunteers, local businesses and also the community. “It’s a huge thing,” said Seselja. “The football program needs that money to carry on, to buy all the equipment, to pay the buses, and all the different things that you have.” Seselja pointed out two players for acting roles as pirates on the night of the Halloween walk. Brothers Oleksii and Yurii Katsevych were awarded the ‘Best Pirate Actors’ at the Halloween Walk. The Whalers are now preparing the for a AA quarter-final clash against the Pipers. The BCSSFA calls the match the featured game of the week that will be played in North Vancouver on Nov. 14. Williams wants to really avenge a earlier loss. “The last game, we were missing a lot of key important players,” said Williams. “This game, we should have them all back and healthy, just trying to dial in the game.” The Junior Whalers will take on the John Barsby Bulldogs in their AA quarter-final playoff match at Harewood East Artificial Turf on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

A program to help youths in Nanaimo get their driver’s licences can rev up thanks to a $50,000 grant. Nanaimo Youth Services Association recently announced a $50,000 grant from RBC for its ‘L2N’ driving practice program. The program provides free one-on-one driving practice for youths who face barriers to getting their licence. L2N, delivered in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation, has already supported 165 people, with 116 earning a novice driver’s licence and 12 getting their learner’s licence. The program is proud of its 80-per cent pass rate which it says is well above the provincial average. “In a city like Nanaimo, a driver’s license is more than a piece of plastic, it’s a key to a future,” said Anthony Maki, director of the L2N program at NYSA, in a press release. Nicole Slater, RBC’s incoming regional vice-president for north Vancouver Island, said in the release staff at bank branches in Nanaimo see young people facing challenges every day. “The L2N program provides a direct, practical solution that helps youth build a better future for themselves right here in our community,” she said.

A man who locked himself in a Nanaimo house and potentially had a gun has been apprehended and taken to hospital. The incident took place at Bowstring Close, near Departure Bay Road, Saturday, Nov. 8 at approximately noon, according to reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, and it involved a person who was thought to be having a “mental health crisis.” The man was said to be acting “erractically” this morning. “Given that situation, the street was shut down,” said O’Brien. “Our emergency response team was called in, with hostage negotiator, and after a certain period of time, the individual was removed from the home, apprehended under the (B.C.) Mental Health Act, taken to hospital for psychiatric examination.” No shots were fired at police, according to O’Brien, but officers did utilize “less-than-lethal” ammunition, which did not significantly injure the man and the home has been secured. A search warrant is being prepared to allow RCMP officers to search the home for any firearms, the reserve constable said. It is not known whether the man was under the influence of illicit substances.

Guitar may not be everyone’s first thought when it comes to classical compositions, but when listening to the music of Ferdinando Carulli, guitar becomes a gateway to the late 18th century. The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra is starting its 2025-26 season on Saturday, Nov. 15, featuring guest classical guitar soloist Alan Rinehart playing Carulli’s baroque Guitar Concerto in E Minor, Opus 140. “It’s not a big piece, in terms of sound, but it follows a very typical classical form,” Rinehart told the News Bulletin. “You think of Mozart or Haydn if they had written a guitar concerto, it would be similar sounding to that.” Rinehart began playing classical guitar 50 years ago, and since then co-founded the Vancouver Guitar Quartet, released 10 solo CDs, and taught in the music departments at Vancouver Community College and the University of British Columbia. The musician said when he picked up the guitar in the early 1970s he was drawn into rock and folk, but that didn’t last long. “When I heard a classical guitarist and heard recordings it really caught my interest and I was hooked,” he said. “It became a real, total vocation for me and I have been doing it ever since.” Rinehart said anyone who studies classical guitar will come across Carulli as a fundamental musician in the genre. “He wrote a tremendous amount of music for early playing, and he wrote a lot of music for solo guitar but he really shines when he writes chamber music. It’s a real little gem in three short movements, about 16 minutes long. It has some moments of real beauty and moments of real drama.” The end result is what Rinehart considers a ‘conversation’ between the guitarist and the orchestra throughout the piece. “The orchestra makes a statement, the guitar answers the statement … then there’s some combined playing.” Other music attendees can expect in the upcoming show includes Vivaldi’s Concerto Alla Rustica, Tomaso Albinoni’s Sinfonia a Cinq, Opus 2 and Dag Wirén’s Serenade for Strings. “It’s an appealing program, it’s not going to be too intellectual or too unpleasantly modern,” the guitarist said. Titled Sweet Strings, the show takes place on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Ladysmith. Admission is $25 for adults, $5 for students and free for those under 13. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com [http://www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com].

To the editor, As Remembrance Day draws near, our thoughts turn to the immense sacrifices of the men and women of our armed forces who bravely gave their lives for the freedoms we cherish today. Equally vital yet often overlooked are the merchant marines. These men and women, while operating under perilous conditions, were the lifeblood of the war effort, transporting troops and essential supplies such as weapons, food, fuel, clothing, etc. Their ships were frequently targeted by enemy forces leading to a high casualty rate. Thankfully, even today the brave merchant marines, in spite of being a highly hazardous industry, continue to ensure the global flow of goods. Just look what goes on in the Red Sea off of Yemen. Therefore, let us all collectively honour and remember all the brave men and women who served and still serve in our armed forces and our courageous merchant marines. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude and must keep their stories alive. Lest we forget. Patricia MacKay, Nanaimo — The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press Media or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. Letters policy: Letters should be no longer than 250 words and will be edited. Preference is given to letters expressing an opinion on issues of local relevance or responding to items published in the News Bulletin. Include your address (it won’t be published) and a first name or two initials, and a surname. Unsigned letters will not be published. Mail: Letters, Nanaimo News Bulletin, 777 Poplar St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 2H7 E-mail: editor@nanaimobulletin.com

Over the past few years, there has been a definite increase in the number of restaurants serving ramen in Victoria, either as a menu item or as the feature dish. Of the latter, one of the newest is Kinton Ramen in the new Customs House building between Lulu Lemon and Starbucks. Kinton Ramen is a Canadian chain with 52 locations across the country. Victoria’s rendition offers a modern interior of open ceilings with exposed ductwork, polished concrete floors, dark colours enlivened with orange pine-topped tables and backless benches, and lustrous golden-tiled wall panels. A yellow neon sign at the back advertises “A Bowl of Happiness.” Ramen is a Japanese street food, but at Kinton it is served restaurant-style. Fast food without the counter and menu boards, but as one would expect of any successful fast-food chain, the table menu is well laid out. Columns offer pork, chicken, beef or vegetarian, while crossing rows offer different styles of preparation: original, shoyu, miso, spicy garlic and spicy jalapeño. One selects from the grid, then chooses between thin, thick or Shirataki noodles, the latter of which are gluten free because they are made from potatoes. Bowls are all of one size and priced at $16.99 or $17.99. But of course, if you’re hungry, you can make that a combo. The Meal for One ($25.99) offers any ramen bowl, a choice of pork or vegetable gyozas or Tokyo Fries (topped with bonito flakes and shredded nori) and a Coca-Cola product beverage. Meals for two ($44.99) and for four ($87.99) are also available. An unusual twist is the Beer/Sake combo ($23.99), which gives you any ramen bowl plus a 16-ounce glass of Sapporo Draft beer and a 5-ounce glass of “house” sake. I and my dining partner, Carla, opt to pass on the beverages and order a bowl and a gyoza each. Carla chooses the basic Original Pork bowl with thin noodles, so I go bold, opting for the Spicy Garlic Beef bowl with thick noodles, to which I added a seasoned egg. And, as she chose the pork Gyoza, I go with the veggie. Gyoza ($6.99) is a Japanese dumpling, similar in style to a Chinese pot-sticker. Kinton serves them four to a plate, topped with a sweet chili sauce. Though the pork gyozas are good, Carla and I both prefer the vegetarian version for its fresher flavours that I find work particularly well with her Original Pork Ramen. Her bowl features a smooth cream-based sauce with a seasoned egg included, sea salt, nori, bamboo shoots, scallions and wood ear mushrooms in addition to slivers of fatty side pork (the same cut as side bacon, but without cure or smoke). The overall impression is smooth umami, almost bland, which I find preferable to the raw searing heat that dominates my bowl. I can barely make out the flavours of the beef broth, horseradish, bamboo shoots, scallions and garlic. My seasoned egg is perfectly boiled to a medium yolk (bright yellow with a jammy texture), and the large, thin, two-bite slices of tender grainy beef brisket are delectable, but neither is enough to compensate for the brutal deployment of chili oil. I can tolerate a lot of heat, but no matter the intensity, spice should always work with the other flavours, adding another layer to a complex, harmonious whole. This heat does not do that. I haven’t tried every ramen house in the city, but the ones I have visited our proud to offer in-house-made noodles. At Kinton, my server wasn’t sure. My takeaway is that this is fast food that will fill a belly at a reasonable price, but it’s not the promised “bowl of happiness.” Kinton Ramen 813 Wharf Street 250 590 9699 kintonramen.com