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villagevibeJanuary 2008 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood
>> by Trish Richards
Ever notice that the boulevards in the ’hood
are home to much more than seasonal
vegetation. Th ey are usually sprouting a
range of things that their owners no longer have any
use for. Everything from boxes of old clothes to sofas
to toilets. What is going on here?
Th ere is a rather fi ne line between Freecycling
and garbage dumping. Freecycling is a time-
honoured tradition in Fernwood. Everyone
knows that rather than mess about with a garage
sale, you can put a couple of boxes out on the
boulevard, mark it “Free” and much of it will be
gone come morning. Another fi ne example of this
is the unoffi cial Freecycle site below the gazebo in
Fernwood Square. While some of us might prefer a
tidier version, it actually works fairly well.
Th e thing about Freecycling is that if no one
takes your castoff s, the responsibility remains with
you to fi nd some way of disposing of them. If WIN,
Saint Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army won’t
take them and they can’t be recycled, then they are
probably destined for the landfi ll, and it is up to you
to get them there.
With larger items, the old mattresses, the sofas,
the obsolete electronic equipment, the problem is
of a diff erent sort. Th ese are items that the agencies
won’t take, and generally, no one else wants either.
Although you might be able to freecycle a sofa – in
fact, just the other day I saw a couple of hardy souls
hoofi ng a large sofa up Roseberry Hill – this is the
exception. For the most part, boulevard sofas get
left out in the rain for long enough to be of no use
to anyone. Some provide seating for passersby in
the night, sometimes just long enough for a stray
cigarette to set them afl ame. Like the one left in
Kings Park last summer, the fi re from which took
half my neighbour’s fence along with it.
Th e City will pick up large boulevard leavings
if someone calls to complain. However, City staff
estimate the cost of ad hoc pickup to be $100,000
per year. It is an expense that they are none too
happy about. Dumping is illegal and you can be
fi ned up to $500 if you are caught at it.
In November’s Village Vibe we published
a letter that asked the City to work with the
neighbourhood on the dumping problem. Now we
need to look at some made-in-Fernwood solutions.
One idea is to hold a Fernwood Freecycle day each
year. We could designate a Saturday in April where
throughout Fernwood anyone with stuff to get rid
of could put it out and anyone who is looking could
check it out. Th en, on the Monday, the city crews
could pick up the leavings.
Another idea is to revive the Fernwood NRG
spring and fall garage sales. We could encourage
Fernwoodians to turn out by providing the option
of disposing of unsold items to the agencies, Plastics
Recycling, or the landfi ll.
If you have other freecycling ideas, we
want to hear them. Write to placemaking@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca. Tell us your idea and
how you could help to make it happen. Lets work
together to keep our boulevards clear enough to give
the seasonal vegetation a fi ghting chance!
Some things you can do right away before taking
the boulevard route are:
> Call the CRD Recycling Hotline at 360-3030
> Try the FREE postings on:
- Used Victoria at http://www.usedvictoria.com/
- Freecycle at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
victoriafreecycle/
Freecycle or garbage? Sharing gardens>> by R ainey Hopewell
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match,
fi nd me a garden, catch me a... Pole bean?
Beet? Potato? Introducing the Fernwood
NRG Food Security Collective’s newest brainchild
…“Sharing Gardens!”
Are you a Fernwoodian or Oaklandish vegetable
lover with a fallow garden space, or space for a new garden
plot? Are you thinking you could grow food in that space,
if only you had some help? Are you a thwarted urban
vegetable-gardener with no access to garden space? Are you
thinking you could grow the vegetables of your dreams,
if only you had a plot? If you recognize yourself in either
of these descriptions, the Fernwood NRG Food Security
Collective’s “Sharing Gardens” program might be able to
arrange a match for you.
Here’s how it works:
If you have a productive vegetable garden with which
you need help, or a garden lying fallow, or space where a
new garden plot could be created, register that information
with the “Sharing Gardens” program by calling Rainey
Hopewell at 380-5055. Someone will come to your space,
in this issueArmchair reads for a neighbourhood evolution Page 3
Feature: Th e all-ages scene Page 4
Fernwood fl oor hockey fl ying high Page 6
– continued on page 4
Ph
oto
: K
eith
Ho
on
Peace and love to you
in the new year!
Ph
oto
s: B
ill M
cKec
hn
ie
We are committed to creating a socially,
environmentally, and economically
sustainable neighbourhood;
We are committed to ensuring
neighbourhood control or ownership of
neighbourhood institutions and assets;
We are committed to using our
resources prudently and to becoming
fi nancially self-reliant;
We are committed to the creation and
support of neighbourhood employment;
We are committed to engaging the
dreams, resources, and talents of our
neighbours and to fostering new links
between them;
We are committed to taking action in
response to neighbourhood issues,
ideas, and initiatives;
We are committed to governing
our organization and serving our
neighbourhood democratically with a
maximum of openness, inclusivity and
kindness;
We are committed to developing
the skills, capacity, self-worth, and
excellence of our neighbours and
ourselves;
We are committed to focusing on
the future while preserving our
neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;
We are committed to creating
neighbourhood places that are vibrant,
beautiful, healthy, and alive;
and, most of all,
We are committed to having fun!
declaration of principles and values
Looking back isn’t as much fun as looking
forward. 2007 was a good year in Fernwood. What can
we expect for 2008?
Chickens will soon be running the streets. Aft er the
success of the Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective’s
urban chicken-raising workshop held last fall, neighbours
have already been plotting to get together and raise
chickens between them. Th is summer, at the Fernwood
Square market, there’ll be vendors selling eggs labeled
“Product of Fernwood/Produit de Fernwood.”
Th e multifaceted and talented gamut of Fernwood
artists will fl ourish with the opening of the Collective
Works Gallery this month. Fernwood artists now have
a new home, a gathering place, and the true Fernwood
Renaissance will begin.
Currently dormant backyards will spring to life as
neighbours dial up Rainey Hopewell at 380-5055 and
begin to share backyard gardening spaces and gardening
skills. Who knows, maybe there’ll even be an upswing of
made in Fernwood romances as folks fi nd their perfect
match in the potato patch!
Th e Fernwood Business Network, brainchild of
the late Roger Colwill, will transform the lives of small
business people in Fernwood and will stimulate an even
more vibrant business community in the neighbourhood.
Join other business people in Fernwood for an inaugural
meeting, February 4th at 10:00am. Email ryan@
rutleyventures.ca for details.
Fernwood NRG’s Placemaking Troupe – which
includes anyone interested in transforming Fernwood’s
public spaces – will move from pinwheels to poetry
cans, to Village Vibe boxes, to … whatever your heart
desires. Th e action of neighbours coming together will
accentuate the eclectic, eccentric, and funky character of
our neighbourhood.
All in all? It looks like a fi rst-rate year!
editorial : Predictions for 2008
>> By Kasper
“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three
things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace
of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone
else.” – Peyton Conway March
On Saturday, October 20, 2007, you really
could feel the love at the Cornerstone Café in the heart of
Fernwood. Th e love was in appreciation of a worthy cause.
It was for music and dance performed with conviction and
grace. It was expressed in the camaraderie between musicians
and the connection between performers and audience. It was
the love of a community of people who fi lled the Café for ten
straight hours to show their support and generously donated
over $875 to the Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault Centre
(VWSAC), in honour of the Centre’s 25th anniversary.
Th e event was called “20/20/20.” Twenty local artists
performed twenty minutes each on the 20th day of October,
hence the 10-hour marathon from 1:00 to 11:00pm. In
opening “20/20/20,” Fernwood NRG Board Chair, Lisa
Helps, welcomed the VWSAC and all the musicians to “our
neighbourhood living room.”
Long-time Fernwood resident and veteran of the
Victoria music scene Mike Demers kicked off the event with
a powerful punch of acoustic numbers. Demers was followed
by the duo Palomitas De Maiz – belly dancing accompanied
by conga percussion. Other artists who graced the
Cornerstone stage included: Irene Jackson, Tom Sandford,
Boxcar, Azul Salvaje, Gord Phillips, Chelsea Rich, Th e Flying
Barista Brothers, Dana Waldman, Steven Del Rizzo, Pedro
Java, Greg Wolfe, James Kasper, Nastassia Yard, Jennifer
Louise Taylor, Char, Quinn, Hollydene, Stacie Black,
Th omas P. Radcliff e, Caroline Spence, Adam Basterfi eld, and
Pauline Edwards.
Th e response to the call for performers for the benefi t
was so overwhelming that the 20 performer spots were not
enough to accommodate everyone. So, surplus performers
were squeezed in for single songs during transitions between
offi cial acts.
“I experienced a wide range of emotions and continued
to talk about it for many days aft er,” said Tracy Lubick,
Resource Development Offi cer for VWSAC, who spoke at
the event. “At times I found myself smiling and laughing, at
other times I found myself moved to tears by the passion of
the performer, the music itself, a voice, or an instrument.”
Lubick commended the event’s participants for their
“commitment to community” and added that by helping the
organization to raise awareness and funds, “20/20/20” will
make a diff erence in the lives of many.
Last year VWSCA provided services to over 2,800
people who have been aff ected by sexualized violence.
Donations are used to provide counseling to survivors of
sexual assault and abuse, training for volunteers on the
Sexual Assault Response Team, and prevention education
workshops for youth through a program called Project
Respect.
Th ank-you to all who participated in the event and
supported the cause.
Twenty minutes goes a long way
Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe
the Fernwood buzzThe Fernwood NRG Placemaking Troupe met
Wednesday December 12th in the Cornerstone Café for an
evening of Zippy Action Projects. Th e event was a hybrid of
show and tell, arts and craft s, and community building.
Fernwood NRG’s Placemaking Troupe put forward
several creative ZAP ideas. Tania Wegwitz introduced her
handmade newspaper boxes for the Village Vibe. “If we get
people painting and building Vibe boxes we will no longer
need to use Canada Post,” Wegwitz said, standing beside her
sky-blue polka-dotted box. A network of boxes throughout
Fernwood will make the paper more accessible to all.
Next in line was Cathy Martin, a coff ee can in her hand.
“Th is is not just an empty coff ee can,” she said and explained
how containers like these can be transformed into poetry
cans. “A RAP ZAP,” one participant called out – Random
Acts of Poetry. Cans will be painted and posted around
Fernwood to provide a place for people to leave whimsical
musings and notes for neighbours. Sean Newton’s brightly
coloured pinwheel-topped un-traffi c cones were the ZAP of
the evening. Roberta Martell explained that the cones came
out of the discussion around traffi c calming measures along
Fernwood Road.
Under Newton’s direction, the Cornerstone Café
became a craft studio humming with activity. Troupe
members outlined, cut, folded, and stapled in assembly line
fashion. Newton kept a close eye on the manufacturing of
pinwheels. Elsewhere in the Café, manager Lenore Rankin
got assistance moving furniture out of an alcove to make
space for a placemaking centre. To fi nd out more about the
next Fernwood NRG Placemaking Troupe event contact
Ph
oto
: P
ete
Ro
ckw
ell
Ph
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: P
ete
Ro
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ell
VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3
views from the street : What are your wishes or resolutions for the year to come?
Like most moms out there, I defi nitely need to fi nd more
time for myself this year! As for my worldly wishes – I am
a bit cynical. I don’t think our North American bubble
will change much this year, but if it were to change, I wish
for individuals to realize that people are more important
than belongings, and to make our world a better place.
I wish for tolerance, understanding, respect and peace,
both for myself, my family and for all other living
creatures on this planet.
I personally need to give myself more adult social
time. My worldly wish is that more people make
resolutions to live a greener and more environmentally
sustainable life.
Armchair reads for a neighbourhood evolution
Laura Rhiannon Véronique and Sophia
Two recent books rethinking economics
>> by Tania Wegwitz
The recent media coverage of economic
events like the spiraling US housing debt and the impacts
of a soaring Canadian loonie has been a great illustrator
of some of our current cultural quirks when it comes
to money.
Why are we folks who used to be referred to
as “citizens” now almost exclusively referred to as
“consumers?” How come very intangible and extremely
theoretical events like a two-cent jump in the value of
a currency provoke more comment and response than
the very tangible, extremely concrete event of, say, a
continental ice shelf sliding into the slushy Arctic?
Two recent books explore these modern cultural
tendencies when it comes to money and look at how we
can make our economic systems work for and not against
sustainable and democratic communities.
In Bill McKibben’s Deep
Economy: The Wealth
of Communities and the
Durable Future (Times
Books, 2007; GVPL
Call #: 306.3 MCK),
the answer to most of
our current and future
problems is to go local.
Whether it’s for food,
or entertainment, or
goods and services,
McKibben’s premise is that we can best support and
protect our environmental and social networks by
increasing the many and diverse exchanges that happen
on the small scale.
Written in a conversational and upbeat style,
McKibben’s book is an easy and enjoyable read. He
includes many examples of how diff erent groups and
individuals are reshaping and protecting their local assets
and economies, with quite a few stories drawn from his
home state of Vermont.
Fans of the Fernwood Tuesday Night Market take
note: McKibben cites research that you will typically
have ten times more conversations buying your veggies
at a farmer’s market than at a grocery store, an important
gain in a society where material goods are relatively
plentiful but human interactions oft en scarce.
While this book reads much like the print-equivalent
to having an amiable conversation with a like-minded
friend, it doesn’t really delve into the complexities of
rebuilding our economic systems. Deep Economy would
be a good book choice if you were looking for a general
introduction to – or a reaffi rmation of – the positives
side of going local and reducing your reliance on big
corporations and goods from afar.
Edmonton ecological
economist Mark Anielski
goes much more to the
heart of the matter in The
Economics of Happiness:
Building Genuine Wealth
(New Society Publishers,
2007; GVPL Call #:
330.019 ANI).
Anielski’s premise
is that the fi rst step to
making our economic systems work for a sustainable
future is to shift how we think about and keep track of
wealth. Rather than focusing on meaningless and oft en
destructive measures like Gross National Product (GNP),
he argues that we need to consider “wealth” in its original
meaning of “well-being” and measure the things that
actually matter to most people, such as access to clean
water, meaningful work, social inclusion and so on.
I found this book to be completely fascinating
and inspiring. Anielski talks about the evolution of the
meaning of “wealth” and the value systems of diff erent
cultures. He also shows how individual households,
communities, and businesses can measure and monitor
their well-being beyond simply monetary terms (and
make the monetary measures they might still use more
truly refl ective of actual ecological impact).
Th e sections that really stood out for me included
his description of what monetary currency actually is and
how it is created and his summary of the environmental
impact of our relatively new obsession with charging
interest on loans (usury). I also found important his
discussion of how measures like the GNP oft en obscure
the ways in which the accumulation of private profi ts
destroy common natural resources and correlates more to
rising societal debt than it does actual gains in well-being.
From describing Inuit value systems and Bhutan’s
“Gross National Happiness” index, to Salt Spring
Island Dollars, to a section on Sweden’s JAK
Members Bank (a 30,000 member fi nancial institution
that charges and pays no interest), Th e Economics of
Happiness provides a diverse set of examples of how
other citizens, communities, and business are charting
a new economic path.
One thing is for sure: whether Deep Economy or
The Economics of Happiness is more your cup of locally-
brewed tea, either book is a better read than yet another
article on the credit-card-dazed glories of cross-border
shopping.
A copy of The Economics of Happiness has been
donated to the Cornerstone Café to browse and share
the next time you stop by.
Vie
ws
ph
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s: V
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Why are we folks who used to be referred to as ‘citizens’ now almost exclusively referred to as ‘consumers’?
Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe
>> by Natalie North
Imagine a city without music: no summer festivals, few aff ordable arena
shows, and for the kids, a dwindling number of all-ages shows. Th e
direction that live music in Victoria is headed can seem more like the
sequel to a popular ’80s teen fl ick than reality. Th e fi rst two situations
aren’t great, but they’re livable; we’ll fi nd other summer activities and when we
can’t aff ord the $80 ticket price when a big act comes to town, we’ll read the
review in the paper. But what are the young folks to do when fewer and fewer
venues are willing to host all-ages shows, and a lack of underage activities
ensues? It’s not like Kevin Bacon’s going to dance into town any time soon
and save the day.
Of the seven community centres around the greater Victoria area, only
the James Bay Community Centre and the Fernwood Community Centre
continue to host all-ages shows. Just about every venue downtown is either
a licensed establishment, or costs far more than the budget for a small show
allows. Without liquor sales, promoters of all-ages shows rely on ticket sales
alone. When the cover charge is usually less than $10 a head, it’s easy to see
that putting on these shows isn’t exactly a lucrative business. It’s not much of
a business at all – far more for pleasure. By the time the venue has been rented
and all other costs have been covered, oft en the bands and /or the organizers
aren’t making a cent. Not that making a profi t is necessarily the goal of
members of the all-ages scene. A passion isn’t usually measured in dollars.
Come check out a couple of shows and it will be abundantly clear that “all-
ages” is an all-encompassing term that really does mean just that. Th ese shows
aren’t just for the kids. Th ey’re for anyone who enjoys experiencing a good
night of entertainment, regardless of whether or not you’re able to hold a beer
in your hand while doing so.
Daniel Poncha, 18, a Vic High hairdressing student who comes to every show
he can fi t in, is quick to vocalize his love of the all-ages scene. “Counting
Heartbeats is my favourite band because they’re all so stoked on life!” Poncha
says excitedly. And just what is it about the scene that keeps him coming back,
to show aft er show? Th e atmosphere. “Kids get pretty riled up,” he says, “they
know the words and sing along.”
When the conversation turns to a violent incident that occurred outside
the Fernwood Community Centre aft er an all-ages show in late October
– perpetrated by teens from outside the neighbourhood, who weren’t at the
show – Poncha echoes a sentiment that seems to be prevalent amongst most
all-ages show-goers.
“Th at’s the fi rst thing like that I’ve seen happen at a show, and it wasn’t even
related to the show,” he says. “It had nothing to do with the show, and it’s
never happened before; it’s always really friendly. Everyone likes each other
and has a good time. Th at was a complete freak accident.” Poncha, like the
majority of music lovers that fi nd their way down to these shows is far too
interested in all the antics on stage to start any off the stage.
All-ages shows are an integral part of the local music scene, for both the
people who attend them and the bands that gain support from them. A rock
show is a great place for escape and it’s also a positive avenue for the underage
attendees to explore. It can also be a rite of passage. Some kids are naturally
sports buff s and spend their aft ernoons on a fi eld or in a gymnasium. Others
grow up strumming out their fi rst power chords or learning the ropes of a
drum kit in their parents’ basements. Th e fi rst all-ages
shows are as necessary for these kids as the fi rst sports
tournaments are to the other demographic.
Th e premier experience with live music can be a powerful
thing. Th ese shows are crucial for the bands, too. Oft en
many of the shows’ spectators are members of one of the
bands on the bill or are friends there to support just one
band. Over the course of the show, they’ll end up discovering another band
that they otherwise wouldn’t have heard. Especially for bands just starting out,
all-ages shows can be a vital networking tool. Th ey’re a realistic stepping stone
towards continued success.
Th e main roadblock facing show organizers today seems to be wholly
fi nancial. Tyler Pantella, 20, host of a hardcore show on UVic’s CFUV and
a supporter of the local hardcore scene, has organized a couple of shows
and has been a part of the all-ages scene for years. He believes that the city
isn’t supportive enough of all-ages shows, despite the fact that Victoria has
a thriving arts community. “I think it’s already a big struggle for a kid like
me trying to get the money together to put on a show without any support,”
Pantella explains. “Th e city could help fund shows or step up – maybe help
with promotion, help with advertising fees – that sort of thing. I know there’s
lots of arts grants for more legitimate, more formal art forms.”
Until that day, many all-ages shows depend on the continued support of the
local community centres, like the Fernwood Community Centre. If these
shows were to go, who knows what up-and-coming talent would be left
feature : Th e all-ages sceneTo being and becoming
Collective Works Artists Association Raffl e
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19+ to play Sales end on Jan.25, 2008 and draw is on Jan.26, 2008 at 5:00 pm at the Collective Works gallery,
1311 Gladstone Ave.
(Members of CWAA may not enter the draw)Publication of winners names at the gallery Jan. 27, 2008
BC Gaming Event Licence #4692 “Know your limit, play within it”Problem Gambling HelpLine 1-888-795-6111 www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca
meet you, see your site and add your needs to the “Sharing
Gardens” database.
If you’re looking for garden space, the process is the
same; contact “Sharing Gardens” and let us know what
you hope to fi nd. We’ll add your information to our
database, and let you know of potential matches.
Th e rest is up to you. Garden seekers and garden
owners meet, share relevant information concerning
expectations around work issues and crop-sharing and
decide together whether a match has been made. If it’s a
match you let us know so your names and information can
be taken out of active circulation on the database.
If it’s not a match, you let us know so we can continue
our search for a match that works for you.
It’s that simple. Just call Rainey Hopewell at
380-5055 for more information or to sign up for the
best dating service ever – matching vegetable gardens
and vegetable gardeners – surely the most compelling
and magical match imaginable!
Sharing | fr om page 1
Not that making a profi t is necessarily the goal of members of the
all-ages scene. A passion isn’t usually measured in dollars.
constituency office:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3
telephone: 363-3600e-mail: [email protected] the web: www.denisesavoie.ca
Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria
Your voice in OttawaYour voice in OttawaCarole James, MLAVictoria - Beacon Hill
Our Office is Open to Serve YouCommunity Office1084 Fort Street, VictoriaP: (250) 952-4211F: (250) [email protected]
VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5
behind, without a shot at success – which for some might just be the simple
triumph of performing in front of an audience for the fi rst time.
Fortunately, Fernwood NRG’s Executive Director, Roberta Martell, spent
years as a youth worker in North Vancouver where she was instrumental in
creating the all-ages scene at Seylynn Hall. “Th e teens would pull together
talent, make posters, and we’d rent equipment and every second week, we’d
have a huge five bands for five bucks show,” says Martell. “Th ere was a lot
of talent,” she continues, “and the kids learned a tonne about business, art,
promotions, accounting, banking, and mostly about themselves.”
Seylynn Hall hosted bands such as Pansy Division, the Queers, I Farm, DBS
and even DOA. Th e shows would see up to 500 kids a night. “In all the years
we ran them,” notes Martell, “we never had any serious incidents.”
Martell says she’s committed to working with the all-ages scene to ensure a
safe, aff ordable venue for creative youth expression. With Martell at the helm,
the Fernwood Community Centre will continue to host all-ages shows and is
in the fi nal stages of working out a new security plan.
So my story is I got into punk rock about 4 years ago, 14 years old, and my f
irst show ever was at the fernwood community
center. I still remember it, headlining was Harmless Heroes and a little band
called Kincaide. It was wild to me, that
there was something like this in Victoria, live music! I live out by Swartz Bay
and I didn’t get out much, so when my friends
started a band I was jealous. I continued to go to shows and got into hardco
re through that. This changed my life, it made
me start to think about what was being told to me and portrayed to me thr
ough the media, it made me feel strongly about
_something_ and made me want to make a difference. It still does. Hardcore’s probab
ly the best thing
that’s ever happened to me, I could end up like my peers and be doing coke
and
that’s it, but instead I’m completely abstinent from drugs and am happy, and
try to
make a difference in our world. What happened at Fernwood last night is somet
hing that I’d never seen
before at a show. It could happen anywhere though, it was some thugs who we
re completely unassociated with anyone I’d
seen go to shows in the 4 years I’ve gone, who were there to get drunk and
start a fight. They threatened my friends, and
eventually, just after I had left, they attacked them. I feel that this, in n
o way, represents anything to do with the scene
or punk rock music at all. It’s a case of young hooligans who make me ashame
d of my generation. My name’s Sean and I’m
more than willing to do anything I can to help you out Roberta. Let me know
if there’s anything at all I can do. Thanks for
sticking up for a scene that’s helped me out so much throughout my (albeit sh
ort thus far) life.
Ph
oto
: K
asp
er
An observer of the post-show violence on October 27th shares his thoughts.
Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe
>> by Margaret Hantiuk
A great way to start the New Year is to invite
birds into your yard. I love to watch birds gliding through
the trees and I especially enjoy watching them bathe in
my little birdbath. Last winter we had a majestic Barred
Owl sleeping for a few days on a branch of the plum tree
in our back yard. We have a bird feeder hanging near the
living room window and enjoy watching the birds as they
feed, some waiting in nearby shrubs for their turn. When
I planted a large Mahonia media X ‘Charity’ outside
the living room window, little did I know that the bright
yellow winter blooms would attract the wonderful tiny
hummingbirds that over-winter here. Bonus!
How can we attract these wonderfully entertaining
wild birds into our yards? First, provide a safe place for
them to drink and bathe. It should be a shallow pan or
bowl with clean water (this may mean changing it daily
in the hot summer days, as birds love to bathe and they
do get dirty!) If you have cats, fi nd a way to place your
birdbath up high enough or, like mine, lodged between
pots on a corner of the deck railing to prevent a cat from
pouncing on them. In winter if the water freezes, it’s
important to thaw it out for your little feathered friends.
A bird feeder is more important in the winter than
in the summer. Th e birds that will visit your garden in
the summer are oft en not the same birds that will visit
in the winter. Birds of summer tend to eat bugs and
worms. Toxic chemicals will either directly or indirectly
harm birds when they eat insects that are contaminated.
Remember that insects and birds are tiny and so even
minute amounts can be fatal. If you refrain from using
these toxic chemicals, then wildlife will return to your
garden. Th e bugs that you would like to get rid of will
be taken care of by the birds that will come into your yard
to feed on them. Your garden will become an ecosystem;
the less you interfere with it, the better it will take care of
itself.
Birds that visit in the winter months are usually
berry and seed eaters that will benefi t from a bird feeder
with seeds. A good general feed is comprised of black
oiled sunfl ower seeds (not the ones we eat with the white
stripe), red millet, and black niger seeds. Corn is not
useful to birds here. A suet cage in the winter (peanut
butter can be substituted) is a treat for birds. Again,
ensure their safety by placing the feeder where cats cannot
reach them. Some birds are ground feeders that eat the
seed knocked off the feeder, so see if you can fi nd a place
that allows for safety underneath. Buy a feeder that is
squirrel proof and then hang it in such a way to prevent
access from rodents. Try to fi nd a spot out of the elements
too, especially wind and rain. Finally, place the feeder
so that it is either far away or else close to windows, to
prevent aerial disasters as they land and take off .
In the winter, it is wise to not fi ll up a large feeder, as
feed can go moldy. If your feed is not being eaten, it’s time
to clean the feeder with a 10% bleach solution; then let
it dry thoroughly. Hummingbirds should be fed a sugar
solution of 1:4 of sugar to water. Lastly, leave some seeds,
fruit, and berries on your shrubs, trees and perennials –
don’t cut everything down in the fall and strip everything
off of the branches – share a little. Try growing plants
with berries, nuts and fruits for birds.
Resources and feeders Wild Birds Unlimited 595-3595;
Swan Lake Sanctuary 479-0211; The Victoria Natural
History Society; www.vancouverislandbirds.com;
www.hatbc.ca/vnhs.html
gleanings : Backyard bird watching
Floor hockey fl ying high>> By Kasper
Sure, lacrosse is Canada’s official sport, but
let’s face it, hockey is where it’s at for most Canadian sports
fans. And Fernwood is no exception.
Th e ball hockey program at Fernwood Community
Centre has now been running year-round for four
consecutive years. For the fi rst three years, it ran twice
per week. But the program was in such demand that, a
year ago, a Saturday aft ernoon was added to the Tuesday
and Th ursday evening schedule. Two participants, John
Bell and Dave Nilson, have been playing from the very
beginning of the four-year run, rarely missing a session
during that time and always spearheading the Fernwood
teams in tournaments.
“I actually started playing here right aft er I moved to
Victoria,” Bell explains, “I didn’t know many people. Most
of my friends in Victoria I met at this program.”
When asked about highlights over the years, Bell and
Nilson brought up the Fernwood vs. Th e Media game
which took place during festivities for Vancouver Island
Music Week in 2006. Th ey describe how the game had a
kind of “Harlem Globetrotters” vibe to it.
“Th ere was one incident where I got hauled down on a
breakaway,” Nilson recalls, “I took a dive, and the guy who
hauled me down also took a dive.”
“And they both got penalty shots,” Bell adds, “and
one of the players’ moms took one of the penalty shots.
Th ey hauled her out of the crowd and gave her a stick
… Also, we counted a goal that someone scored on the
basketball hoop.”
Bell remembers a diff erent tournament, one of the
Victoria-wide, Fernwood-hosted Bell Cup Championships,
in which something strange and humourous happened
when he scored the tournament-winning goal.
“Th e entire other team piled on top of me,” Bell laughs.
Two other players, Ian Indridson and Henry Skey, added
their own thoughts on the benefi ts of Fernwood’s ball
hockey program.
“It keeps me off the street,” Indridson jokes, “I don’t
steal hubcaps anymore.”
“He still does it,” Skey quips, before continuing, “the
program encourages exercise and at the same time meeting
a lot of new friends.”
Skey, an Oak Bay resident but regular Fernwood
hockey participant, summed up his thoughts on the
Fernwood neighbourhood.
“For a small neighbourhood, it does have a lot going
on. Th ere’s a good sense of community here, and it
seems like people are putting in the eff ort to create that
community.”
>> by Caspar Davis and George Sranko
“The fabric of society is fraying in a variety of ways.”
“The future is going to be more and more challenging
if we don’t recognize the long-term implications of our
actions today.”
If these statements resonate with you, don’t
be surprised. Th ey are part of a unanimous statement
composed by a randomly selected group of Victoria
citizens. Th ese groups, known as Wisdom Councils, are
convened by Wise Democracy Victoria (WDV), a local
non-partisan group of volunteers who are concerned about
the state of democracy in Victoria, in BC, in Canada, and
on the planet.
WDV has already convened two successful Wisdom
Councils in Victoria (sponsored by the World Federalist
Movement-Canada, Victoria Branch) and would like
to involve the Fernwood community in developing a
third council, which will take place in the spring of 2008.
Th e conveners’ group includes active members of the
Fernwood community and several previous participants
have also come from Fernwood.
We believe that a council rooted in the already strong
community spirit of Fernwood could potentially address
important local issues in a way that complements the
broad direction provided by the fi rst two councils.
Th e process involves randomly selecting eight to
twelve people from the community and bringing them
together for a day and a half in a professionally facilitated
session. Immediately aft erwards they report to the whole
community at a public meeting.
Th e experience is exhilarating for both the
participants and the conveners. Participants tend to rise
above the divisive opinions that usually bind them and
articulate views that elevate and enrich the public dialogue
– out of which both community attitudes and public
policy arise.
Wisdom Councils have no set agenda and
participants are free to discuss whatever they choose.
Th e Councils generate a free, creative voice of the people.
Th ey are not one-off events, but part of an ongoing process
that produces a feedback loop between the community
as individuals and the community as a whole. Random
selection means that over time the full range of voices in
the community become heard.
We face challenges of a scale and complexity that are
unprecedented. We need to harness the wisdom and good
will of all the people – not just experts and politicians
– if we are going to develop meaningful, creative, and
sustainable solutions.
WDV believes that wise democracy involves:
1. Engaging citizens in building community by using tools
that develop social cohesion and collaborative capacity
(i.e. building our co-intelligence rather than our co-
stupidity).
2. Developing processes that are self-generating, easily
replicated and based in the spirit of community.
3. Articulating our collective wisdom, based on the
legitimacy and authority of “the people.” Aft er all,
Democracy means “rule by the people”, from the Greek
demos, “people”, and kratos, “rule”.
Other groups around the world, in New Zealand,
Australia, Austria, Germany, and several North American
cities, are watching our activities with great interest.
We hope that you will consider joining us in this great
adventure.
For more information and to get involved, please see:
www.WiseDemocracyVictoria.com.
Wise Democracy Information Session: You are invited to
an information session on Wisdom Councils; January 28,
2008 in the Fernwood Inn, 7 - 9 pm. Everyone Welcome!
Phone 598-0124 or 598-5917 for more info.
VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7
faces : Fernwood fi lmmaker on the go
Wisdom council comes to Fernwood
>> by Aaron Ellingsen
If you don’t know Bryan Skinner, chances are
pretty good someone you know does. Bryan’s been on the
Fernwood scene since the early ‘90s. Whether you’ve seen
him at the front of Shillelagh or another band, involved
in grass-roots activism, running for city council, playing
soccer with Fernwood FC – a club he helped organize – or
running Cinevic-sponsored music, fi lm, and multimedia
events at venues around town, you’ve probably enjoyed the
fruits of his creativity and hard work.
I was at a party a few months back, and I got talking
with a young Mexican fi lmmaker about his experience of
the local fi lm scene. His enthusiasm leapt when he spoke
about how much he’d learned through his involvement
with various projects – including Bryan’s most recent – at
Victoria’s Cinevic Society of Independent Filmmakers.
Bryan tells me about his work at the Society. “I’ve been
working at Cinevic since 2002,” he says, “although I had a
year break where I worked for the Victoria Film Producers
Association (ViFPA). I started here as the equipment
coordinator, and it’s just coming up on three years now
since I’ve been the Executive Director.”
Th e part of his job that drives him is his role in plotting
the artistic and creative trajectory of the organization, a
focal point for a variety of Victoria’s creative communities.
At any time, 120-plus fi lmmakers, multimedia artists,
writers, directors, actors, musicians, technicians, animators,
and painters make up the Society’s membership.
Given his roots, perhaps it’s not surprising to fi nd
Bryan drawn toward work in this kind of rich cultural
space. Bryan grew up in Chilliwack. By the time he
graduated from high school he was fi nding the Bible belt
too tight. A committed left y with an artistic vision, he
attended the Vancouver Film School in ‘91 and started
playing music before striking out abroad.
He was living a greasy working-class dream, and was,
as he tells it, “fl ipping hamburgers near the train station
in Oxford, England,” when a girl he had a crush on came
through town. She invited him to move in with her and
some friends in Victoria. Sensing opportunity, he made the
trip. His senses were off – a story of “unrequited love.”
Bryan landed in Gordon Head, and he didn’t like it.
He returned to music, and before long he’d abandoned the
UVic vicinity for Fernwood. “Th ose two things changed my
experience of Victoria vastly,” he says. “When I moved into
Fernwood I got in touch with a real creative community.
Really, the early ‘90s in Fernwood were a pretty magic time.
Th ere was this kind of confl uence of a lot of musicians, and
also a real activist community. Th ey had a lot of interaction,
and I was involved with both communities.
“I started making my living as a busker and living in
Fernwood. It made Victoria work for me. People always
think I was involved in music at that time. I would say
I was more involved in the tourist industry – like many
Victorians. Th at was how I paid my rent.” Bryan, with
Shillelagh, was a mainstay of the busking scene for over a
decade.
I asked Bryan for his thoughts on the ‘wood in ’07, and
he’s refl ective: “You know, the only constant is change. I’ve
been really pleased to see what’s been going on in Fernwood
the last while. Th ere are elements of it that I’m concerned
about – with real estate prices as they are, who’s going to
be here? How will the character of our neighbourhood
change?
“At the same time, what was happening in Fernwood
beforehand – the closed shops and rampant vandalism,
graffi ti everywhere … it looked like shit. It wasn’t headed for
a positive future. It’s been babysteps, but over the past four
years it’s become an incredibly vibrant area again.”
Bryan’s been making his living through various
downtown and Fernwood artistic and creative endeavors
for the last 14 years, and his commitment to Fernwood
and the broader Victoria community hasn’t waned. He’s
consistently involved with – and oft en ringleading in – local
grass-roots political activism, music, sports and the arts.
Th e one thing that somewhat slowed Bryan’s hectic
schedule was the birth of his daughter Fiona last winter.
Bryan and Helen, married for nine years, spend lots of time
at home encouraging Fiona’s (auspicious?) early talent for
dancing.
Fernwood fi lmmaker/director Bryan Skinner debuts his 44-
minute burlesque mockumentary, Tumbling Aft er, January
20 at the Roxy Classic Th eatre, 2657 Quadra St. Tix fi ve
bucks. For trailer and info see www.tumblingaft er.ca
Cinevic’s Film Slam, January 18 – 27th with a Slam
Screening at 7:30 on January 27 at the Victoria
Events Centre, 1415 Broad Street. Tix $7. For Cinevic
membership or Slam info see www.cinevic.ca.
Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe
what’s on in Fernwood
Arts, Theatre, and EntertainmentBohemian Open Mic at Cornerstone Café.Saturdays. 8-11pm. Saturday Spotlight performer at 10pm (Jan 5> theinimitable acoustic performer SHYNE. Jan 12> the lovely and talented ERINTURK). 1301 Gladstone Ave. Hosted by James Kasper. Everyone welcome! FREE!Intrepid Theatre at the Metro Studio.FOUR HORSEMEN PROJECT. Jan 10-13. 8pm. 46 CIRCUS ACTS IN 45 MINUTES. Jan 18. 8pm. INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODERN LIVING. Jan 24-26. 8pm. 1411 Quadra St. (at Johnson St.). For info www.metrostudiotheatre.com/events.html#header.Belfry Theatre.THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Jan 15-Feb 17. 1291 Gladstone Ave. (at Fernwood Rd.). For info contact Belfry Box Offi ce at 385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.caDebut screening – TUMBLING AFTER.Fernwood fi lmmaker Bryan Skinner debuts his latest fi lm. Jan 20. RoxyClassic Theatre. 2657 Quadra St. $5. For info see www.tumblingafter.caThe 30 Cent Players present...30 90 LIVE! SPECIAL 3RD ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT EDITIONSketch comedy/variety show featuring a ton of special guests. Fri, Feb 1. 7:30pm. The Downtown Activity Centre. 755 Pandora Ave. Tickets $5 studentsand underemployed/$10 adults – ticket proceeds to the Victoria Cool AidSociety. For info contact Mike Vardy at 891-0869 or www.30centplayers.comLive Music at Fernwood Inn.Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302 Gladstone Ave. FREE!Live Music at Logan’s Pub.1821 Cook St. For listings: www.loganspub.comVictoria Bluegrass Association Jam.Tuesdays. 7:30-10:30pm. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood Rd. $2 to play. FREE tolisten.Victoria Folk Music Society.Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature Performer. 1110 Hillside Ave. $5feature performer nights/$3 all
open stage night. For info see www.victoriafolkmusic.caCall for Fernwood Artists.Seeking Artists with studios in Fernwood for the 1st annual FERNWOOD ARTSTUDIO TOUR. (planning for June 2008). For info contact Deryk [email protected] or Anne Hoban [email protected].
Kids and FamiliesCommunity Family Day.Family-directed and facilitated programming. Mondays 9:30-11:30am. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE!Parent and Tot Playgroup.Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. FernwoodCommunity Centre Gym. $1 per family.Rhythm Circle Time.Tuesdays 3-4pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. Drop in. FREE!Mother Goose.Songs, rhymes and stories. Tuesdays 1-2:30pm, Fernwood Community Centre MPR. 10 weeks per session. To register call 381-1552 ext 22. FREE! ($2 forsongbook).
Youth, Adults and SeniorsNEW! Badminton.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Saturdays 1-2:30pm. Fernwood Community CentreGym. $3.**NEW! Basketball.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Fridays 8:30-10pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**Floor Hockey.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-9:30pm. Saturdays2-4:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11sessions.**NEW! Youth Floor Hockey.Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 9-18 (Group 1/ages 9-13. Group 2/ages 14-18). Sundays3:30-5pm, Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**Indoor Soccer.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Mondays 8:45-10:45pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**NEW! Volleyball.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Fridays 7-
8:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.*****We accept Sports Trader Bucks and Canadian Tire Money at face value!*Internet and Computer Access.Complete your one-time registration and then get online through the Community Access Program. Monday to Friday 9:30am-5pm. Fernwood CommunityCentre Community Room. FREE!Falun Gong.Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome! Wednesdays 5-7pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. FREE!Fernwood Autumn Glow.55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities. Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays 11am. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $5.50 for lunch.Seniors Wanted!Three or four seniors (55+) needed to complete a small group exploringrhythm on Wednesdays. No musical training necessary. For info call Gillianin Fernwood: 592-2848.Ear Acupuncture.Treatments 15-20 min. Jan 2 and 16 (1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month).2:30-4:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. By donation.
Special EventsFernwood NRG Food Security Collective.All welcome! Tues, Jan 8. 7-9pm Fernwood Community Centre MPR.Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.Bring your plastics, styrofoam packing and food trays, electronics and foil-lined coffee bags. PLEASE make sure it’s clean. Jan 12 (2nd Sat every month). 10am-1pm. Back of Fernwood Community Centre. By donation.Fernwood Placemaking Troupe.All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square and the neighbourhood. Wed, Jan 16. 7:30pm. Cornerstone Café. FREE!Fernwood Business Network.Inaugural meeting! Mon, Feb 4. 10am-noon. Please rsvp Bruce and Ryan Rutley at [email protected] Pocket Market.Local organic produce and baked
T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Jan 2008
Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood
Neighbourhood Resource Group)
1240 Gladstone Street
Victoria, BC V8T 1G6
T 250.381.1552
F 250.381.1509
villagevibe@fernwood neighbourhood.ca
www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Editor: Lisa Helps
Assistant Editors:
Aaron Ellingsen
Trish Richards
Photographer:
Veronique da Silva
Contributors:
Caspar Davis
Margaret Hantiuk
Rainey Hopewell
Kasper
Natalie North
George Sranko
Tania Wegwitz
The views expressed in the Village Vibe
do not necessarily refl ect the views of
the Fernwood NRG.
villagevibe
goods. Tuesdays 2-6pm. Cornerstone Café 1301 GladstoneFernwood Sharing Gardens.Have a garden but no time? Time but no garden? Contact Rainey at 380-5055 [email protected] Community Kitchen.Cook nutritious, creative meals with your neighbours! For info contact Tracyat [email protected] Drinks.An inclusive gathering of the sustainability minded for refreshments and conversation. Tues, Jan 8. 5-7pm. The Canoe Brewpub, Marina and Restaurant,450 Swift St.
If you have a workshop, program or special event idea for the Fernwood Community Centre or the Cornerstone Café email [email protected]
Under new ownership!
Open For Lunch!
From 11:30 Daily
Check out our new
Lunch Specials
1302 Gladstone 412-2001