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orth Park Neighbourhood Association held its AGM on October 21, 2008 at North Park Manor. Th ere were 28 members in attendance. Th ere were 10 board members elected. A special thanks to the following members who have given so much over the years and did not run for another term: Kristin Atwood, Stacey Ness, and Th omas Guerrero. Th eir expertise will be missed. Guest speakers included David Speed, General Manager of Parks, City of Victoria, Ayrie Cunliff e whoTRANSCRIPT
villagevibe
– continued on page 6
North Park News>> by Alex Kerr Chair, North Park
Neighbourhood Association
North Park Neighbourhood Association held
its AGM on October 21, 2008 at North
Park Manor. Th ere were 28 members in
attendance. Th ere were 10 board members elected.
A special thanks to the following members who
have given so much over the years and did not run
for another term: Kristin Atwood, Stacey Ness, and
Th omas Guerrero. Th eir expertise will be missed.
Guest speakers included David Speed, General
Manager of Parks, City of Victoria, Ayrie Cunliff e who
spoke on urban park design, and Allison Ashcroft of
Vivo Inc. who gave a talk about sustainable energy in
housing design.
Th anks to Serious Coff ee for the coff ee and cookies,
and to Little Th ai Place, Larsen Music and Fernwood
Coff ee for the door prizes.
Other happenings in North Park include: Th e
winter temporary shelter has opened at St. John the
Divine Church and will operate until March 30 at
the latest. Th e shelter was requested by B.C. Housing
to help the homeless over the winter and is being
operated by Cool Aid. Check out the Native Plant
Garden project which is well underway on the
in this issueArtist Jo Roueche’s Comic Strip Page 3
Feature: Love letter from the Road Page 4
New Green Neighbourhood Initiatives Page 7
>> by Susan Salvati
In a season easily overtaken by commercialism, there’s
a special event that reminds all who partake what the
holidays are truly about. On Christmas Day, at Glad
Tidings Church, 1800 Quadra Street, 1,000 people will
enjoy a festive meal in a setting magically transformed for
the occasion.
Th e Christmas Spirit Community Dinner was
initiated 17 years ago by Christina Parkhurst. At the
time, Christina was working at the George and Dragon
(the present day Fernwood Inn). She was taking a
year-long women’s business course that encouraged
participants’ awareness of community.
Christina went to the owners of the George and
Dragon to see if they might be interested in putting on a
holiday feast for community members who would benefi t
from a hot meal. Aft er a little persuasion, the owners
agreed. Soon there was much racing around trying to
fi gure out how to “build this thing.” Christina explains
that “it was a comedy of errors, but in the end we fed
about 75 guests a beautiful meal in a wonderfully festive
and cozy atmosphere.”
In 2007 aft er years of service, volunteers established
the Christmas Spirit Community Dinner Society for the
sole purpose of providing a joyful holiday experience for
citizens of Greater Victoria and surrounding areas who
may, for economic and other reasons, be in need during
the holiday season. Th e Society is non-denominational
and welcomes all guests without discrimination. Th ere
are three sittings, two for families and one for adults only.
Th e Dinner has moved to larger venues a few times
since 1991 as word got out. Th e Society’s third stop
(about 11 years ago) was Glad Tidings Church, which
Holiday Spirit Community Dinner
off ered its enormous facility, capable of handling the
numbers of guests that had started to arrive each year.
Last year the Christmas Spirit Community Dinner
served over 950 people including volunteers in the three
sittings. Over 250 children received a new gift from Santa.
Christina says “it is an absolute miracle that everything
gets pulled together. Th at is thanks to the generosity of the
community.”
Volunteers transform the hall at Glad Tidings with
decorations, white linens, and china. Th e dinner itself
is highly nutritious, and even desserts include only the
freshest whole foods available. Some desserts come from
some of Victoria’s top bakeries, while “Karmell the cookie
queen takes care of the rest of the home baking.” As
Christina explains, her goal is to make it as though she is
inviting “a whole bunch of people over for dinner, and to
have the same quality of food and love that I’d have in my
own home.”
Th ere are two special guests at the dinner: Santa, of
course, as well as Inca the llama who “gets mauled by all
the kids.” Each registered child receives a new gift via a
“Secret Santa” program. Each adult receives a small gift
such as a coff ee or grocery gift card. Th ere is always live
music, and this year the Getting Higher Choir will be
performing. Th ere is a craft corner for kids, as well as a
gingerbread decorating station. Left over food, gift s and
decorations are distributed to various shelters throughout
the city.
Christina explains her commitment to this beautiful
event: “I consider it soul food.” She says the event is
“literally transformed into something magical.” And don’t
we all need a little bit of magic in the dark of winter?
Volunteers are needed. To sponsor a child’s gift, help
find donations, or to take part contact Christina at
December 2008 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood
I consider it soul food.
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
Imagine my surprise. Flying home from
Montreal a few weeks ago I opened Air Canada’s enRoute
magazine and – as someone who loves food – fl ipped
to an article on Canada’s Best New Restaurants. Th ere
I found featured Fernwood’s very own Stage restaurant
run by Fernwoodians George and Linda Szasz in the
Cornerstone Building at 1307 Gladstone.
“Proprietors George and Linda Szasz,” the magazine
proclaims, “stick close to the script while adding
something new to the repertoire … Cooking this honest
and authentic deserves a standing ovation.” What enRoute
did not mention is that George and Linda do their best
to use local and seasonal ingredients. And that Linda also
tends to a garden at her home down the block producing
about as-local-as-it-gets greens for the restaurant.
We congratulate George and Linda for making it
as one of Canada’s new best places to eat. But more
importantly, we applaud them for their commitment to
production and sustainability at the neighbourhood level.
We applaud them for modelling a sustainable way of doing
business in this current historical moment of economic
possibility when we must all, of necessity, make signifi cant
shift s in the way we live.
It is these signifi cant shift s that Fernwood as a
neighbourhood, with residents like George and Linda and
many, many others is well-poised to make. A neighbour-
hood-owned one-stop sustainability co-op where you
could purchase (or trade for) everything from chicken feed
to tomato seeds to solar panels for your roof ? A central
neighbourhood tool shed where you could contribute/
fi nd everything you have/need for do-it-yourself building
projects? Boulevards fi lled with food? Th ese are the
possibilities of the so-called economic crisis. Modelled in
part by George and Linda. Waiting for us all.
editorial : Stage enRoute to Future
Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | December 2008 VillageVibe
On Halloween night Fernwoodians
who ventured to the pumpkin yard on Fernwood
Rd. north of Haultain witnessed a number of
magical spectacles. Aft er ooing and aahing over
the tremendously and artistically carved pumpkins
which lined the driveway, trick-or-treaters
encountered a sign that explained the origins of
Halloween. Th e tradition comes from the ancient
Celtic festival known as Samhain, the hand-drawn
sign proclaimed. Th e festival of Samhain is a
celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic
culture, and is sometimes regarded as the “Celtic
New Year”. It is a time for taking stock, for renewal
and rebirth.
Th e backyard had been turned into a graveyard
with slanted tombstones and more pumpkins in
every place imaginable. Pumpkins even nestled high
above costumed children’s heads in the branches of
trees.
A big thank you goes out to pumpkin magic
coordinator, Sheryl Shermak whose property
every year becomes a kind of Samhain Halloween
commons.
the Fernwood buzz
Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to
CanadaHelps.org and donate
to Fernwood NRG.
Starting next month the Village Vibe will no longer
be delivered by Canada Post directly to your doorstep.
Instead, the Village Vibe volunteer team is initiating a
neighbourhood-based distribution system. Here are some
plans and photos to help you build your very own Vibe Box.
Email us at [email protected] and
let us know where your box is. We’ll place it on our Vibe
Box map to be posted at the Cornerstone Café and make
sure it’s fi lled with papers. Want to receive the Village Vibe
digitally? Sign up at www.villagevibe.ca. All back issues can
also be found at this site.
A Vibe Box Near You
Ph
oto
s: E
lain
e F
reed
man
VillageVibe December 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3
>> by Hon Chow
October 18 was an incredible night for
Cornerstone Collective Records’ OCTOFEST 2008!
It was an electrifi ed, bona fi de jam party reminiscent
of the ‘60s and ‘70s that never ended! Filled with
pure arcade lighting and the sounds of sweet music,
the artists from Fernwood’s neighbourhood record
label gave it everything they had and more, while the
audience cheered and roared in pure delight!
Some may ask who and what is the CCR? Well, the
Cornerstone Collective Records is a non-profi t record
label made up of a group of independent artists/bands
who come together to help each other with their careers
and goals in music. Th ey are proudly sponsored by
Fernwood NRG.
Th e CCR features an ensemble of artists/bands
ranging from the high-octane James Kasper (Yes, the
hardest working man in local music and one heck of a
harmonica playa!) to the sassy, seductive poetry and
cowboy fusion folk-rock from theatre-inspired Gail
Harris and the Low Riders. Other bands such as Gord
Phillips and the Assimilators delivered stunningly crisp
vocals, west coast grooves, and soul-stretching lyrics
that wowed the audience.
Th e Dreamwave Project took the audience on a
nitrous oxide magic carpet ride as they rocked the house
with poetry and original razor-riffi ng sculptures. Char
and the Broadleaf Killers fi red the crowd further with a
frenzied encore! Powerful performances on the night,
included the lovely Pauline Edwards and her band, the
stunning Caroline Spence and Crimson Star, Th omas
Radcliff e, the Adam Basterfi eld Trio, and Aidan Logins.
Th ey were all simply amazing! Last but not least, there
was the CCR Über Band which nearly brought the
house down, the crowd cheering and roaring: “More!
More! Encore!”
Th is concert celebrated the record label’s fi rst year
anniversary, and while the show was a complete sell-
out that night, huge lineups still waited patiently for
hours to get in! CCR members intend to make their
next event even larger in order to accommodate all
those who missed the concert this time. Stay tuned for
more CCR sightings and more upcoming shows from
the CCR line up!
For info: www.cornerstonecollectiverecords.com
Octofest: 8 Artists to Hold You
>> by Deryk Houston
The Collective
Works gallery in the
heart of Fernwood
survived its fi rst year,
and the Collective
has signed a new
three-year lease with
Fernwood NRG for
the gallery space. To
celebrate, they are
holding a special show
which will unite all
their artists in one
exciting event.
Master potter
Harumi Ota has
agreed to throw
twenty large bowls,
and each Collective
Works Gallery
member will paint one of the bowls. Each artist will also
hang a painting on the wall, and they invite the public to
see the show and guess which artist created which bowl.
Th ose who guess correctly will have their names entered
into a draw for a chance to win one of the bowls, valued at
approximately $200.00
Each bowl can also be bid on in the silent auction
between November 21 and December 5. A Gala aff air will
be held on December 5, 7-10pm, to announce the winners.
Th e Collective Works Gallery is a non-profi t gallery space
that allows artists to explore new ideas and advance their art
without the fi nancial obligations demanded by a commercial
gallery. Members view Collective Works as a place to be part
of a community of artists. Th e Collective helps new artists
break out and fi nds a way to support them. Th e gallery
generates excitement and enthusiasm between artists, and
it helps them grow in every way. It is a place to experiment
and try new things and to share these experiments with the
community.
For the most part Collective Works members operate
the Gallery through their own fi nancial resources and their
own energy. For example, they worked together on the
renovations, creating a nice space for the artwork. Countless
hours have been donated to help make this gallery a
success. Members are also most grateful for all the help that
Fernwood NRG has given them to date.
Please come in and take part in this and future shows.
Have fun. Enjoy the beauty of the work. Th ank you for
helping support our eff orts.
>> by Gerry Gauthier
The Ministry of Casual Living, at 1442
Haultain St., has intrigued passers-by with its ever
changing window installations for over six years. With
very little information off ered about the artists, and even
less about the gallery itself, viewers are oft en left with
more questions than answers.
Th e MoCL is a non-profi t artist-run gallery. Th e
gallery’s window exhibitions are curated by a practicing
visual artist who also organizes events and fundraisers
for the space. Th is position rotates annually, shift ing
the space’s mandate and feel. Current curator Gerry
Gauthier, from Vancouver, BC, recently moved to
Victoria to continue his art practice. As curator he seeks
out artists who engage the public and who can use the
window space in a way that is innovative.
Artist-run centres have been prominent in British
Columbia’s art scene for over 35 years, working on the
premise that artists can control cultural ecology by
founding spaces in which full creative control remains
connected to artistic practice. Th e Ministry is a relatively
young artist-run centre (est. in March 2002), and a
member of the Pacifi c Association of Artist Run Centres
(PAARC).
Recent exhibitions at the MoCL have included
work from local and national artists. In September,
Vancouver artist Kevin Murphy hung an air mattress as
a canvas for his landscape painting based on a calendar
image: March 2008: the continuous ebb and fl ow of the
Pacifi c Ocean near Tofi no. Th e mattress was connected
to an air pump connected to a motion sensor outside
the gallery’s window. Th e presence of a viewer caused the
mattress to infl ate, calling attention to our role within
both the art world and the natural world. In October,
the Neighbouring Pages book project invited people to
donate paperback novels for use in the creation of new
reassembled books which were then off ered by donation
as a fundraiser at the project’s closing party. Coming
up in December, local artist Nicholas Robins will create
an immersive sculptural installation exploring the
fracturing and refl ection of light. Th is exhibition will
run through the holiday season.
Th is year, the MoCL also launched an Art-mail
Membership for $10/year. Th e MoCL mails out a
new piece of art to its members every three months.
Th is project is aimed toward increasing the availability
and distribution of art, but also at creating a new way
of accessing art. Additionally, on December 20th,
the MoCL will be hosting a $20 Art Sale. Aimed at
showcasing a wide range of artists’ work at an aff ordable
price for people who feel they can’t aff ord to buy art.
Contact the curator at [email protected]
or see www.ministryofcasualliving.ca for more info.
Collective WorksBowled Over
Art on the Street
Ph
oto
s: M
ich
ael M
clea
n
Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | December 2008 VillageVibe
Dear Fernwood...
I am so glad to come home to
you. As many of you may not know, I work a ‘day job’
in Fernwood, but I am also a singer-songwriter. Every
year – in an attempt to put a tiny dent in my musical
obscurity – I take two weeks off from my job and I go
on tour across a chunk of the vast Canadian landscape.
Th is year, I only went as far as Winnipeg, but the trip
still provided me with a plethora of tour journals to
bring home to you. I have decided to bestow upon you
primarily the off -stage, behind the scenes tales, as tour
stories are most oft en interesting when they revolve
around what happens when the microphones are off .
Part one: got milk?On the way from here to Kelowna, we stopped off in
Sardis (near Chilliwack). I went in to the Shell station
to grab a snack, and as I was walking past a staff person
– an older gentleman stocking the milk cooler – he
randomly announced to me: “Th e milk’s nice and
fresh!” I was a little taken aback but responded with
the obligatory polite “Oh is it? Th anks.” But in my
head I was thinking I needed to get out of there fast
before he decided he needed to demonstrate to me just
how fresh his milk was...
Onto the show at Th e Minstrel Cafe in Kelowna:
First of all, I have no idea why this place is called a café
– it’s a posh restaurant, and I’m not certain they even
sell coff ee. During my show, I bantered with a table
of three – a young man and two young ladies who, I
discovered, were each from an entirely diff erent part of
the world – one from France, one from Texas, and one
from Nova Scotia. I asked them if they all met on the
internet. Th ey laughed.
Part two: got juice?No second show to report on yet but let’s face it, you
want the juicy stuff in between the shows, the road
stories, the colour, the zip, the zest, the scandal, the
debauchery ... you want some meat to chew on ... you
don’t want to hear my set list.
So, back to the road stories... Th ere was a layover in
Calgary...
Midnight at the Calgary bus terminal:
Th e land that time forgot ... people curled up sleeping
on hard benches, in awkward positions, like square
fetuses trying to fi t into round wombs ... people
walking around in a daze like patrons of a giant late-
night Tim Hortons, only without the luxury of coff ee
... and, best of all, people who look like death ... Who
am I kidding. At that moment, I was one of THEM ...
And, curiously, everyone who works at the Calgary bus
terminal bears an eerie resemblance to Eugene Levy.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Better than
looking like death, I suppose.
Part three: got foam?On the way from Saskatoon to Brandon, we passed
through a place called Foam Lake. Th e sign read:
“Welcome to Foam Lake – Best Place in the World
to Live.” Wow. Really? Not even the best place in
Saskatchewan. Not the best place in Canada or even
North America. Th e World, folks. I mean, who am I to
refute such a statement? I’m just sayin’ that’s a pretty
loft y claim from a town I’ve never heard of whose very
name suggests the strong possibility of severe water
contamination.
When I was a kid, our verbal checklist before a trip to
the lake (Kennedy Lake, in my case) would include
something like “Do we have our beach towels?” I can
only imagine the checklist for Foam Like families
might include an item like “Are the kids all securely
wrapped in waterproof plastic?”
So, in short (growth-stunting pun intended), Foam
Lake: Best Place in the World to Live? Questionable.
Best Place to send Erin Brokovich or AquaMan: Likely.
Part four: got time?Show at Lady of the Lake in Brandon, Manitoba: fi rst
of all, let me say – wow, what a beautiful venue. And
apparently Hugh Hefner does the hiring of the servers
here – my gawd, leave some beautiful people for the
rest of the country ... It was a dinner crowd, so certainly
not nearly as attentive as the Saskatoon house concert,
but generally polite. I’ve been selling a few CDs at
every show, but here, the one CD I sold was to a man
who left halfway through my second song. Somehow,
six minutes of listening to me was enough for him …
but it was also enough to convince him to shell out
for my disc, while my entire show wasn’t enough to
convince the other 34 people to take the risk.
feature : Foam Lake to Fernwood:
Ph
oto
: F
aire
n B
erch
ard
contamination.
Hiding out behind the Cornerstone Cafe before the tour.
VillageVibe December 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5
Part fi ve: got sparkles?It was cool to see my doppelganger, funnyman radio
guru James Ball on the two-hour layover in Edmonton.
I call him my doppelganger because – besides having
the same name – we were born in the same hospital
(the now-defunct St.Joseph’s in Victoria) on the same
day, only hours apart, just down the hall from each
other, we both have warped senses of humour and a
passion for radio and writing, and we’re both freakishly
tall … but we didn’t meet until we were 35 … So,
anyway, back to the story … In Edmonton, we ate wings
at a nearby pub and watched “Old Sparkly” (an elderly
crooner in a very sparkly jacket) sing “May the Circle
Be Unbroken.” And then on our way out of the pub, we
proceeded to have a conversation about the semantics
of unbroken circles and the diff erence between circles
being in an unbroken state and circles remaining in an
unbroken state. Fascinating stuff , really.
Part six: got headlights?It was an interesting bus ride from Kamloops to
Vancouver ... a 20-something couple sitting in front of
me decided to put their seats back as far as they would
go so that (in addition to crushing my freakishly long
limbs), they could engage in their deep throat tonsil
hockey in my lap. I can’t even begin to tell you how hot
that little scene was. So hot that I nearly hurled into
the little white baggy provided to me by “Greyhound
luxury coach liner.” Th en, get this: the freakin’ bus
driver gets pulled over for speeding. He was in the last
few minutes of his shift – apparently he was a little
over-anxious to get home to his greyhound wife and
greyhound children.
Th en, shortly aft er the new driver took over (keep in
mind it was dark out by this time), the headlights blow
out on the bus. Th e driver announces: “well, folks,
we’ve lost our headlights. I’m going to pull over and
see if I can fi x them. If I can’t ... we’re going to have a
bit of a problem.” He gets out. Five minutes go by. He
gets back in, and we see lights at the front of the bus.
A bunch of people on the bus applaud. A few rowdy
young guys in the back were yelling “YEAH, Driver!”
at the top of their lungs, as if the driver had just lift ed
the bus above his head to unpin a small trapped baby.
But something tells me that, judging by the primate
zeal of these young gentleman, the driver could have
put out cigarettes in their foreheads and they still
would have yelled “YEAH, Driver!” Th e driver came
on the loudspeaker – wait, let me re-phrase that – he
announced over the Luxurious Greyhound Public
Address System: “I don’t know how happy the other
drivers are going to be about our high-beams, but we’re
on the road again.” I took comfort in the inadvertent
Willie Nelson reference in this time of crisis.
And to top it all off , somewhere between Calgary and
Nelson, Greyhound lost my guitar. We’re still trying to
track it down. No jokes. But I’m not going to freak out
about it. It’s just a piece of wood and some metal strings
and knobs...
Part seven: got baggage? Th e fi nal show of the tour was at a cozy, artsy little
venue in Nanaimo. Very cool place with fun staff ,
but apparently no one knows the place exists. Th e
cab driver who took me there hadn’t even heard of it.
When the cab drivers don’t know where your business
is, you’ve failed to implement that whole “location,
location, location” business mantra.
But the day, other than that, was very good – I woke
up earlier that morning to a phone message from the
Nelson BC bus depot informing me that they had my
guitar. Th ey said they were confused as to whether
it was baggage or freight. Th en they said they had
to send the guitar to me COLLECT. I said “You’re
making me pay for delivering it when you lost my
guitar for ten days?” I mean, my freakin’ name and
phone number are on the tag on the guitar – it took
them ten days to call me.
Th anks to the wonderful people who off ered to lend
me their guitars during this temporary setback – very
kind and generous of you.
In between the phone message and the Nanaimo gig,
I went on a fi rst date, which was absolutely lovely. So,
overall, it was an eventful day to end the tour and to
end the ten days of waiting for my guitar to show up ...
I’m thinking about writing a song called “Th e Ten Days
I Lost You.”
Part eight: got home?I hope the tour journals of an obscure Canadian
singer-songwriter have provided some semblance of
entertainment for y’all. Now I fi nd solace back in the
arms of the Fernwood village, as I put my nose back
to the grindstone. Aft er all, like the Zen proverb says,
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water …
Aft er enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” But
thankfully not the water of Foam Lake.
Love & rockets,
Kasper ([email protected])
Love letter from the road >> by James Kasper
“I’ve seen most of the country
From the side of the road
I’m getting from here to nowhere in no time
And I don’t believe I’ll ever make it home”
– from “Most of the Country” – Trooper
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 Ottawa
Ph
oto
: Ja
mes
Bal
l
Edmonton Bus station at midnight.
Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | December 2008 VillageVibe
>> by Margaret Hantiuk
Sunscaping is a new buzzword in gardening
circles these days. It may seem like a silly thing to think
about when the sun is fading and we are putting our
gardens to bed, but this is the time to assess how our
gardens have done in the past year and to plan changes
that will improve it. As well, we have time to think not
just about renovating existing beds but also about adding
new ones. And it always pays to plan before purchasing
plants so that your investments will thrive.
Th e axiom for successful gardening is “the right
plant in the right place.” As we observe our garden
(and the ever-changing conditions as trees grow and
shade increases or decreases if a tree is removed) we may
discover some plants are not thriving. Th ere are some key
investigations that should supply the answers as to why:
Is the plant getting the correct amount of watering?
(We do have droughts in our summers here.) Is the
plant in the correct type of soil? (Adding thick compost
mulches yearly can remedy most cases.)
Th e last point is the one most important to this
discussion: Is the plant getting the correct amount of
sun and shade? By correct we mean that the plant is in
a situation close to its native habitat. It should be noted
that some plants are more tolerant of a wider range of
conditions than others. When purchasing or acquiring
plants, shrubs and trees, it is crucial to read labels, to
consult other avid gardeners in your neighbourhood, or
to do ample research in books, online or at your local
nurseries, public gardens and garden clubs.
Sunscaping is a simple exercise to map sun and shade
in your garden. Th e results may surprise you: in one bed,
there may be extremes within a few feet of total shade
to total sun. Aft er mapping these, the gardener is able to
accurately site each plant. If watered and mulched, plants
should fl ourish, becoming more resistant to disease and
pest infestation.
To accurately create a sunscape of your garden, use
graph paper and make large maps of your beds. Keep
the ratio generous (1/2”:1’) so that there is ample room
for use later, as copies of these maps can be part of your
future planting plans. You may need several sheets if
you are doing your whole yard. As you work on an area,
note the boundaries, the cardinal directions, existing
service lines for gas, power, sewer, etc, large buildings,
trees and shrubs, and hardscape such as sidewalks, fences,
sheds, play structures, rocks, slopes, water features and
irrigation, etc. Draw everything from above, as a “birds’
eye view”. A large sheet with only one bed on it allows for
ample notes and a legend.
Ideally, you should create several sunscape
measurement maps. One can be done in early spring,
before the deciduous trees leaf out, so that spring
fl owering bulbs can be planted where they will bask in
the spring sunlight coming through the bare branches.
Th e crucial sunscapes are made at the zenith of summer
sun – in July. It is a good idea to make a few tracings
of the sun in a day: morning, noon, and aft ernoon at a
minimum, as several plants thrive in partial shade, or
with shade from the hottest noonday sun. When tracing
the sun, colour in carefully where the sun falls on your
map. You can either use diff erent coloured pens for the
diff erent times of day or make copies of each map and
colour each one. Th en layer them to discover your range
of deep shade to deep sun. Gardeners who winter garden
may want to include a winter sunscape as well. Remember
to identify each map well as to the time of day/year of
each tracing. (Colour coding and dotted lines can work
if the same map is used.) Th e densest colour is where
the strongest sun is, and the lightest is where the dense
shade is. Th ese plans may need to be updated as years past,
renovations are made or conditions change.
garden gleanings : Sunscaping
Draw everything from above, as a “birds’ eye view”
North Park | fr om page 1
Green, Greening, Greener Hirkala, Dec 18>> by Rainey Hopewell and Gerry Gaydos
Anybody who’s seen “An Inconvenient
Truth” knows this is a pivotal Earth time. Many of us
want to respond to the compelling challenges of this era,
but what should we do aft er changing our light bulbs to
fl uorescents? Where do we even fi nd out what else we
can do? And why do we feel isolated from each other
in a time of crisis even greater than the crises we faced
together during last century’s World Wars?
Introducing three new neighbourhood initiatives
to help us all step up. Change happens. Why not make
it fun?
1) Oak and Fern Centre@ 1420 Haultain St. will be
off ering winter discussion circles using Canadian Earth
Institute study guides (www.canadianearthinstitute.org).
In small circles of fi ve-ten neighbours, meeting for
90 minutes six-eight times, satisfy your curiosity and
explore your concerns in a nonjudgmental environment.
Find your own right-enough answers for the challenges
which face us. Winter Circles will be “Changing
Course” (our carbon footprint), “Menu for the Future”
(food security) “Choices for Sustainable Living”
(lifestyle issues) and “Voluntary Simplicity” (less stuff ,
more happiness) Circle fee is $20/person (cost of your
study manual). To sign up for a Discussion Circle in
Fernwood or Oaklands, call Rainey or Margot @ 250-
380-5055. Haven’t seen “An Inconvenient Truth” yet
or would like to see it again in a group setting? Want to
join a support group with neighbours making lifestyle
changes? Give us a call!
2) “One Th ousand Sensible Rooft ops: making
sunshine stick to the roof of your house” off ers an
opportunity for Fernwoodians and Oaklanders to go
solar in a group installation of household solar panels,
at tremendous fi nancial savings per household because
of volume purchasing. Look for our fl yers with dates for
information meetings this winter. Already intending to
go solar, or want to help contact neighbours? Call Gerry
@ 250-598-3100 or Rainey @ 250-380-5055.
3) Funkymoto™ Electrifying Cars! What does your
sustainable lifestyle look like? Imagine a house energized
by the sun. Imagine that house can refuel your car.
Now imagine that car can power your house! No need
to imagine; it’s all possible now. Your neighbours at
Funkymoto convert existing cars into fun, planet-
hugging, electric driving machines with enough power
on board to run your fridge and stove. Now, driving
enthusiasts can lead the global shift to sustainable living.
Combine this with home-based solar and wind power,
and presto-changeo: welcome to the new normal.
Intrigued? Call Gerry @ 250-598-3100.
boulevard at Pembroke and Vancouver. Th is will make
a great addition to community green space and will also
provide a good reference point for plant identifi cation.
Th e Bulletin Board Square in North Park Village
at the corner of Cook and North Park has come into
being as a joint project of NPNA, Do It Centre, and
Cubbin Apartments. It will contain a bulletin board,
two benches and a native plant fl ower bed. Work on the
project will be starting in the next month.
Remember that North Park is a neighbourhood that
includes everyone from homeless residents to people
living in million dollar condos. We therefore have some
unique and interesting challenges, so stay involved and
informed.
To keep abreast of all the happenings check out
www.npna.ca.
Have a Happy Holiday Season.
>> by James Kasper
Singer-songwriter and Fernwood resident
Deb Hirkala went to both a hypnotist and a spiritual
coach in an attempt to overcome stage fright. Today she
is not only comfortable in her own stage skin, her resume
boasts a roster of collaborators including such Canadian
roots staples as Samantha Parton and Mark Beatty of Th e
Be Good Tanyas, Jesse Zubot of Zubot & Dawson, and
Paul Rigby of Neko Case’s band.
“Music is the most important thing in my life,”
Hirkala explains, “but I’m quite shy.”
She says her spiritual coach, who moonlights as a
yoga teacher, has helped her tremendously to break out
of her shell. She sums up advice from her coach in one
gem: “If you didn’t need to do this, you would have given
up a long time ago. Th is is the work you need to do.”
Hirkala considers the benefi ts of the hypnosis to be
less obvious, but she suspects it has been subliminally
eff ective.
“You want a certain amount of butterfl ies,” she adds.
Hirkala – who cites Lucinda Williams, Gillian
Welch, and Neil Young as infl uences – also credits the
group “Girls with Guitars,” of which she was a member,
for kick-starting her career.
Ph
oto
: S
him
on
Kar
mel
– continued on page 7
VillageVibe December 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7
>> by Aaron Ellingsen
[For the fi rst part of Ken’s story see the
September Village Vibe www.villagevibe.ca]
The Second World War was over, but Ken’s
tribulations continued when his twin brother Ron was
killed in a cycling accident. At ends for what to do, Ken
signed on for national military service on graduating
from Acton Tech. He was almost 18.
National Service had been 18 months, but soon aft er
he signed up, the service term was bumped to two years.
Ken did basic training, then successfully applied to be
an offi cer.
Aft er graduating, Ken received a short term National
Service Commission, then transferred into a tough
parachute training school, where he qualifi ed for his
wings by eight day-time jumps and two-night time jumps.
Shortly aft er Ken completed training, the Kenya
emergency started. Kenyan Kikuyu tribesmen – the “Mau
Mau” – began killing farmers. “Several years and two
wounds later we arrested Jomo Kenyatta. He was shoved
into an English prison, and I was demobilized.”
Ken got a job at the BBC, changing tape reels of
German-language news. “But,” he tells me, “I was only
there a few months before I was recalled in to the army.
Nasser had sunk all the ships in the Suez Canal, and
England declared war on Egypt. My regiment needed
people with Middle East experience. I was a National
Service Reserve Captain, and I was immediately recalled.”
“I went to work on a Wednesday morning. By
Wednesday evening I was in Cypress. We jumped into
the El Gamin airport in Suez, and held the area until the
British marines came ashore. America intervened, and
the war came to an end. Instead of being the advanced
paratroopers – invaders – we became the UN advanced
party. Th ey issued us with blue berets. Th e Paras always
wear maroon berets, so we cut up our UN-issue berets to
make blue epaulets. Lester Pearson brokered peace, and
we all came home. Aft er six years service, I fi nally got out
of the army.”
Ken took advantage of a military education fund to
attend technical school in Munich. “I went to Munich
on grant. In those days the army grant was 5₤10 a week.
For a single guy living in Munich, where my money
expanded three times, that was pretty good. I went nuts
and lived the teenage years I’d never had.” Ken completed
his degree in nucleonic engineering and cinematography
– under multiple-Oscar-award-winning cinematographer
James Wong Howe, who was in Germany aft er falling
afoul of McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities
Commission.
Aft er returning to the BBC, Ken began to pester
the brass with memos requesting a transfer to television.
“Every month I would write to the chief engineer at the
faces : Ken Lambert – Getting Behind the Camera
Ken completed his degree... under multiple-Oscar-award-winning cinematographer James Wong Howe
EXPERIENCE GOD during Advent and Christmas
At Saint Barnabas Anglican ChurchNovember 30: Advent Carol Service – 7.00 p.m.
December 14: Star Sunday: Christmas Crafting for Families – 3.00-5.00 p.m.December 21: Sung Mass and Christmas Pageant – 10.30 a.m.
December 24: Family Christmas Service – 3.30 p.m.Carols – 10.30 p.m.
Solemn High Mass – 11.00 p.m.December 25: High Mass – 10.30 a.m.
(at the corner of Belmont and Begbienear the Oak Bay junction)www3.telus.net/stbarnabas/
BBC. One Friday morning I came in to be told I was
up for a board on Monday.” He was off ered a job as fi rst
assistant cameraman for the BBC, though the panel
claimed the transfer was because they were sick and
tired of receiving and processing his memos.
Commercial TV came to England in the late ‘50s,
so some 20-odd stations were suddenly seeking staff .
Ken got a job for ABC television when it fi rst opened,
and quickly worked up to A camera operator.
ABC got the show The Avengers, and Ken shot it.
When The Avengers went off -air, he took a position as
director of photography at Southampton. In 1962 ABC
Television took up The Avengers again. Several original
cast-members returned as producers, and they sought
out crew members they’d worked with. Ken returned as
a senior director of photography.
Everything was going along well, but then his
wife was killed in an accident. “It was terrible. I just
had to get away,” he tells me. Aft er stints in Germany
and Britain again, Ken was off ered a job for CTV in
Toronto.
Although the original off er fell through, the trip
resulted in a second off er. “I was taken on as senior
director of photography, shooting for W5. For the
next two-and-a-half years I travelled all over the world.
I was at the north pole, in China, Japan, Australia –
everywhere. Th e network show became very successful,
and it’s still going today.
“My contract with CTV ran out, and I’d had my
fi ll of documentaries. Ivan Reitman – of Meatballs,
Ghostbusters, all those fi lms – came to Toronto looking
for a director of photography. Th at’s when I shot Foxy
Lady, my fi rst feature-length fi lm.” Ken followed
Reitman back to the U.S. “I did two projects for him in
Hollywood and then I got taken up by Disney, where I
stayed for many years.”
Aft er retiring from Disney, he set up his own
studio, producing “quick and dirty” dramas and TV
comercials. When he was 70 it was time to step out. He
sold his entire studio setup to a competitor and moved
here to Fernwood – Hollywood North? – to be closer
to his wife Isabel’s elderly parents. Several years on Ken
keeps busy teaching conversational German, editing
documents for his wife, building furniture, renovating
their home, travelling, working on small fi lm projects
and refl ecting on a lifetime fully and well spent.
As far as a “day job,” she has been in the tree-planting
business for twenty-odd years, fi rst as a planter and in the
past few years as a foreman. She is taking off part of the
season to get a math degree, which she is about a year-
and-a-half into.
On living in Fernwood, she says, “I love the hub of
Fernwood with the square, the little stores, the pub, and
the café. It’s so charming and old-worldly feeling. I am
also in love with my apartment in Fernwood in an old
heritage house. I am defi nitely a bit of a homebody.”
Hirkala’s CD Somebody Somewhere is hot off
the press and will be available for the fi rst time at a “pre-
release” show 8pm on Th ursday, December 18 at the
Cornerstone Café. You can hear a preview of her music
at: www.myspace.com/debhirkala
Info: James Kasper, 381-1552 Ext.25
Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | December 2008 VillageVibe
what’s on in FernwoodArts, Theatre and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre.
BRILLIANT! THE BLINDING ENLIGHTENMENT
OF NIKOLA TESLA. presented by Electric
Company Theatre. Nov 11-Dec 14. 1291
Gladstone Ave. Info: 250.385.6815 or www.
belfry.bc.ca
Bluegrass Wednesdays.
Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass
Association present Wednesday night
bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-
10pm. FREE!
Collective Works Gallery.
“Bowled Over” Members show and
fundraising event. Nov 21-Dec 5. Bowled Over
Silent Auction: Fri, Dec 5. 7pm. Artists choice
show. Dec 6-Dec 27. Show opening: Dec 6,
7-9pm. Gallery hours>11am-6pm Tues-Thurs;
11am-8pm Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun; closed
Mon. 1311 Gladstone Ave. 250.590.1345. www.
collectiveworks.ca
Live Music at the Cornerstone Café.
Dec 5>Toronto’s David Hein (www.davidhein.
net)
Dec 12>Victoria’s Pauline Edwards (www.
paulineedwards.com)
Dec 16>Victoria’s Deb Hirkala (www.myspace.
com/debhirkala).
All shows 8pm start. Admission by donation.
Thank you for supporting independent touring
and local musicians!
Live Music at Fernwood Inn.
Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302
Gladstone Ave. FREE!
Live Music at Logan’s Pub.
1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com
Ministry of Casual Living.
“Sesame Street Economics.” Richard Ibghy
and Marilou Lemmens. Dec 3-17. “All Day
Light All Night Light” Nicholas Robins.
Dec 22-Jan7. 1442 Haultain St. Info: www.
ministryofcasualliving.ca
Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam.
Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. CHRISTMAS BAND
SCRAMBLE DEC 16, NO JAMS DEC 23
AND 30. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood Rd (at
Balmoral). $2 to play ($3/non-members).
Listen by donation. www.victoriabluegrass.ca
Victoria Folk Music Society.
Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm
Feature Performer. (Dec 7>KC KELLY. Dec
14>PREVEDOROS, GOLDEN, AND JOY. Dec
21>VALDY. Dec 28>RIG-A-JIG NEW YEARS
DANCE). Norway House. 1110 Hillside Ave.
$5 feature performer nights/$3 all open stage
night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca
Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community CentreFamily Community Day.
Family Fun directed and facilitated by the
participants. Snacks, crafts, play equipment
and varied themes. Mondays 9:30-11:30am.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE!
Mother Goose Circle Time, in partnership
with Success by 6 S Vancouver Island.
10-week program to encourage attachment
parenting. Wednesdays, Oct 15-Dec 17. 10:30-
11:30am. Fernwood Community Centre MPR.
FREE! Info: 250.381.1552 ext.132 or email
Parent and Tot Playgroup.
Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays
and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $1 per family.
Youth, Adults and SeniorsNew!! Financial Literacy with Casey from
Investor’s Group.
Learn to manage your money effectively.
Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30pm. Drop-in.
Fernwood Community Centre. FREE!
New!! Kundalini Yoga. (Starts Jan ’09)
Mondays, 7-8:30pm. $5 drop-in. Fernwood
Community Centre.
Falun Gong.
Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome!
Wednesdays, 5-7pm. Fernwood Community
Centre MPR. FREE!
Fernwood Seniors.
55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities.
Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays, 11am
Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $2 for
lunch.
Fairuza Fridays.
Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 10-14. Nintendo Wii, big
screen movies, basketball, fl oor hockey, roller
skating, music. Fridays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood
Community Centre. Info: 250.381.1552 ext.25
FREE!
Floor Hockey.
Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood Community
Centre Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11
sessions.**
Hatha Yoga.
With certifi ed instructor Elke. Gentle poses,
breathing practice, deep relaxation and
meditation. Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $5.
Improvisational Dance with Lori Hamar.
6 week course. Nov 10-Dec 15, 7-8:30pm.
Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $7 per
session. 250.381.1552 ext.25 to register.
Karate.
Drop in. Adult Co-ed. Instructor Lucas Trottier.
Sundays, 1-2:30pm. Fernwood Community
Centre Gym. $3.**
Photography Club.
Saturdays, 3-5pm. Fernwood Community
Centre. Come out and meet other
photographers, work on projects, exchange
ideas, and have a coffee. FREE!
Flow Yoga with certifi ed instructor Jay.
Adult. Fridays 5:30-7pm. $5. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym.
Refl exology with Marianne McLauchlin.
Feel like a new person. Drop in. Tuesdays,
1:30-4pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR.
By donation.
Modern Day Wizard classes for January.
> Wizard School - Two classes starting Tues,
Jan 13 and Wed, Jan14.
> Intuitive Development - starts Monday,
Jan 12.
For more info please visit moderndaywizard.
com/classes.htm
Women’s Soccer.
Drop-in. Sundays 5-6:30pm, Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $3.**
**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and
Canadian Tire Money at face value!
Special EventsFernwood Business Network.
Everyone welcome. Tues, Dec 2 (fi rst Tues
monthly). 10am. Fernwood Inn. For info
contact Ryan Rutley at [email protected]
Cornerstone Café Events:
>Touchwood Editions Literary Night.
Featuring various local authors. Dec 2 7-9pm
6:30-9:30pm.
Victoria Green Drinks.
An inclusive gathering of the sustainability-
minded for refreshments and conversation.
Tues, Dec 9 (second Tues monthly). 5-7pm.
Canoe Brew Pub, Marina and Restaurant
405 Swift Street. For info see www.
greendrinksvictoria.ca
Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.
Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing
and food trays, electronics and foil-lined
coffee/chip bags. Sat, Dec 13 (second Sat
monthly). 10am-1pm. Across from Fernwood
Community Centre. By donation. Fernwood’s
Outrageous Recycling Day seeks volunteers!
Come help us make it all happen! For info
contact villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.
ca
Star Sunday – Children’s Christmas
Crafting.
An afternoon for families. Make your own
Christmas presents, ornaments, cards, etc.
Activities include embroidery and sewing,
baking, painting, making candles and much
more! Sunday, Dec 14. 3-5pm. St. Barnabas
Anglican Church, Corner of Belmont and
Begbie.
Fernwood Place Making Troupe.
All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square
and the neighbourhood. Mon, Dec 15 (third
Mon monthly). 7pm. Cornerstone Café.
Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective.
All welcome! Tues, Dec 16 (third
Tues monthly). 7-9pm. Fernwood
Community Centre MPR. foodsecurity@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Christmas events at Saint Barnabas
Anglican Church.
Dec 21> Sung Mass and Christmas Pageant –
10:30am
Dec 24> Family Christmas Service – 3:30pm.
Carols – 10:30pm. Solemn High Mass – 11pm.
Dec 25> High Mass – 10:30am.
Corner of Belmont and Begbie. See www3.
telus.net/stbarnabas for info.
Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group)
1240 Gladstone StreetVictoria, BC V8T 1G6T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.cawww.villagevibe.ca
Editor: Lisa HelpsAssistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen, Trish Richards
Contributors:James BallFairen BerchardHon ChowElaine FreedmanGerry GauthierGerry GaydosMargaret HantiukRainey HopewellDeryk HoustonJames KasperAlex KerrJo RouecheSusan Salvati
The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily refl ect the views of Fernwood NRG.
villagevibe
Fernwood Community Kitchen.
Cook nutritious, creative meals with your
neighbours! Info: [email protected]
Spring Ridge Commons Workparties!
Come get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s only
public food garden. Thursdays, 5-7pm. Please
bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.
The Fernwood Commons: A Fernwood
Community Communication Forum.
For info on Fernwood comings and goings
and neighbourhood news and views, check
out The Fernwood Commons online: http://
thevillagevibe.ning.com/
If you have a workshop or special event
idea for the Fernwood Community Centre
or the Cornerstone Café email james@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
If you have a Fernwood event you would like
listed in the Village Vibe calendar please send
an email with the subject line “vibe calendar” to
Come on in out of the cold, where neighbours gather!
Open daily from 11:301302 Gladstone 412-2001