o a k b ay l ivi n G
Tweed FALL 2014
Creative rebirth
Bruce vallance: from pottery to painting
Buy & chat
100-year-old oak bay united church hosts ever-popular sale
Slow pitch owl darby, the “leedies” and the bard of oak bay I N S I D E › P e o p l e › T R AV EL › F OO D › H I S T O R Y › A rts
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Tweed
Fall 2014 Volume 2 Issue 3
inside
10 Cover Story Bruce Vallance
transforms from potter to painter in “Creative Rebirth.� D E PA RTMEN TS
20
34
Dogs on the Avenue
Historic Oak Bay
Photographers capture the cute, the cuddly and the gangly in Oak Bay canines.
Writer Ivan Watson digs up an Oak Bay ghost story.
23
tell
Oak Bay Insider
tweed!
Christopher Causton looks back at the history of Gonzales Hill observatory.
24
Tweed Magazine welcomes your Oak Bay suggestions for the next edition. So, do tell! Email editor Susan Lundy at: lundys@shaw.ca
Romancing the Stove
Join Pam Grant at the home of Phyllis and James Argue.
31
Tea With
Tweed editor Susan Lundy chats with Golden Oak Award recipient Marion Cumming.
16 24
Cover Photo: Don Denton
4
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— showed the Tweed article » Winchester Galleries is celebrating 20 years of fabulous to Exan Mercedes, suppliers art and artists with a show of of dental software. “The work masterworks at both its Oak that was reported in Tweed has Bay and downtown Victoria impressed Exan Mercedes and locations. 20/20: A Celebratory they have now donated, free Exhibition presents 110 masof charge, a software package terworks curated from gallery called Power PracticeX Softartists, including pieces by such ware & Chart valued at $6,495 well-known names as Emily ... Maria is conversant with this software so set-up and operaCarr, Andy Warhol, Claude tion won’t be a problem.” Tousignant, Jack Shadbolt and Consalvo has also been named Joseph Plaskett. as one of four recipients of this Several Oak Bay artists will also year’s prestigious Paul Harbe highlighted: among them, Avis Rasmussen, Jeremy Herndl, ris Fellow. This is the highest Tristram Lansdowne, Pat Martin honour that a Rotary Club can Bates (all featured in Tweed over bestow on an individual who the past two years), Terry Fenexemplifies Rotary’s motto ton, Manish Om Prakash, Walter “Service Above Self.” Consalvo will receive the honDexter and Brad Pasuttie. our at a special awards dinner, “We are honoured to be marking the occasion of our 20th Oct. 4, taking place at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. anniversary with a show of masterworks,” said Gunter Heinrich, who co-owns the galleries » A beautiful new coffee table book, spearheaded and comwith Anthony Sam. piled by Oak Bay artist TrisWinchester Galleries first opened tram Lansdowne, honours the in a small shop at the Oak Bay expansive and detailed work of Junction, then expanded in 1997 and 2009 to its present another Oak Bay artist, the late Oak Bay and downtown locaJ. Fenwick Lansdowne (Tristions. Fine Art, Winchester Galtram’s father) — a passionate leries, a 96-page catalogue that naturalist, whose love for birds has been published to accomultimately produced an extraorpany the exhibition, is available dinary collection of art. The lavthrough Winchester Galleries. ishly illustrated book includes A special preview of the a forward by exhibition will occur Sept. 20 from 1-5 p.m., followed writer Graeme by an official opening and Gibson, a celebration at both galleries preface by from 6-8 p.m. Shuttle buses Tristram, and will run continuously between essays by the two locations. fellow artists and people » A feature story about the familiar with Oak Bay Rotary Club’s work J. Fenwick Lansdowne’s in Guatemala (Heart Givers, work. The result is a deeply June, 2014) has led to a highly personal portrait of a man who positive outcome. According “gracefully bridged art and to local Rotary Club member science.” The book, J Fenwick Dr. Perry Bamji, volunteer Lansdowne, is 184 pages, in Maria Consalvo — an Oak a 10-x12 inch format, and Bay dental hygienist who includes 160 full-colour reprocontributes her time to the ductions and 15 photographs. Guatemalan Dental InitiaIt’s published by Pomegranate tive without compensation at www.pomegranate.com.
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Weddings, anniversaries and the march of time
W
eddings, it seems, are like Christmas dinner but on a much larger scale. For Christmas, there’s days of shopping, planning, prepping and hours of cooking, all to be consumed in about 30 minutes. A weddings takes months of planning — so many details! — then it’s over in a blink of an eye. Bruce’s and my “hitching” went without a hitch. We were wed July 26 amid a beautiful ceremony in our yard. Serendipitously, the trailing white flowers on our yucca plants — which haven’t bloomed in three years — budded and then burst into blossom right beside the stage just a few days before the wedding. The sun shimmered, the guests got all teary, and then our brothers — weirdly, both named Craig — made everyone laugh. The bridesmaids (my two daughters, my stepdaughter and their close friend) all liked their fancily styled hair and looked stunning in their matching dresses — no one could guess the torment it took to get four girls in their early 20s to agree on a single dress. Even more remarkably, the four bridesmaids’ bouquets arrived, each looking beautiful but quite dissimilar, and each girl, individually, identified a different one as her favourite. As I stood with the girls, waiting for our cue (the sound of bagpipes!) to assemble at the side of the house, I had this flash where time stopped for a second and I thought, “holy smokes — all that work, all that organizing — and here we are.” From that instant, it was like we climbed on a speeding snowball; there was no stopping the action. I wish I could have slowed down time and savoured each passing moment. But time marches on, and here I am writing a column, now an old, married woman for more than an entire month. Several stories mark the passage of time in this edition of Tweed. The Oak Bay United Church is celebrating 100 years since the dedication by the St. Columba Presbyterian Church of its building at the corner of Granite and Mitchell streets on Sunday, November 8, 1914. (The Columba Presbyterian Church and Hampshire Road Methodist Church amalgamated on March 7, 1926, holding their first service as Oak Bay United Church — I see another celebration coming in 12 years!) Think 8
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of how the world has changed since 1914. To honour this occasion, we’ve included a story about one of the church’s highly popular ministries (page 14). Also coming in at 100 years old in 2014 is the observatory building at Gonzales Hill; Oak Bay Insider Chris Causton eloquently documents its history (page 23). Many years younger, but equally excited to be celebrating an anniversary this year, Winchester Galleries has a huge commemorative event happening on September 20, followed by an exhibit featuring their artists, many from Oak Bay. The show includes work by Emily Carr, who undertook some of her painting at a cottage in Oak Bay. (See Talk of Town for more exhibit details.) There’s much more to read in September’s Tweed. Potterturned-painter Bruce Vallance challenges art lovers with his provocative work (page 10). Don and Lorna Elder share their exquisite garden (page 28); Christine and Larry Gollner open the doors on their renovated house (page 16), and Phyllis and James Argue dish up an Italian feast with fresh food from the garden of their Oak Bay home (page 24). And, appropriate as September gives way to October, Tweed history writer Ivan Watson has dug up an Oak Bay ghost story (page 20). Enjoy this edition of Tweed. Savour it and then go out and cherish each moment — because time marches on much too quickly.
Susan Lundy EDITOR
Born and raised in Victoria, Susan Lundy has worked as a journalist, editor and freelance writer for over 25 years. She is also editor of Boulevard Magazine and her columns on family life run in several Black Press newspapers. Her first book — Heritage Apples: A New Sensation — was published last spring. Follow her on Twitter @slundytweet
Sept to Nov
CONTRIBUTORS ivan watson grew up in Oak Bay and is an alumnus of Glenlyon Norfolk School. He works as a freelance writer, historian and marketing and communications strategist. Follow him on Twitter: @watsonivan
ARNOLD LIM is a longtime photojournalist and videographer whose credits include the Globe and Mail, Sports Illustrated, the Toronto Star and Black Press.
chris causton is a former mayor, restaurateur and hotelier; and current Harbour Ferries Captain and Rotarian. He’s a voracious reader who still enjoys a good game of tennis.
DON DENTON has photographed numerous high-profile events, including the Olympics, World Hockey Championships, European Figure Skating Championships and a Royal wedding.
ANGELA COWAN is a nationally published poet and award winning fiction author who moonlights as a freelance journalist and feature writer.
Natalie North is a feature writer whose words can be found on the pages of Monday Magazine, a comedy stage or inspired, illegible notes in all of her pockets.
JENnifer BLYTH is an award-winning writer, photographer and editor, whose stories have appeared in BC Business, BC Home, WestWorld and Yes Magazine.
KEN SAKAMOTO is an award-winning photojournalist, whose assignments include Queen Elizabeth II, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, first mission of the space shuttle, major league sports and famous people.
Group Publisher Penny Sakamoto psakamoto@blackpress.ca Director, Sales and Advertising Oliver Sommer osommer@blackpress.ca Editor Susan Lundy lundys@shaw.ca
Creative Design Lily Chan Circulation Director Bruce Hogarth Circulation Coordinator Miki Speirs
www.oakbaynews.com 207A-2187 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1G1 Phone 250-381-3484 Fax 250-386-2624
TWEED magazine is published quarterly by Black Press. The points of view or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher of Tweed. The contents of Tweed magazine are protected by copyright, including the designed advertising. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher.
OAK BAY DIARY
September Artists Elspeth Armstrong and Mary Scobie exhibit at
October 17 Oak Bay Rec presents Pint & Dale in the upstairs lounge. Part of the Live Music Series. 6 pm.
Eclectic Gallery.
Sept. 20 Opening gala event for Winchester Galleries’ 20/20:
A Celebratory Exhibition. See Talk of Town
Oct. 24 to 31 Pumpkin Art on Oak Bay Avenue returns to the lawn of the municipal hall. Hundreds of carved pumpkins on display daily from 5-9 p.m.
for more information.
October 24 September 27 Oak Bay Rec presents Red Moon Road in the upstairs lounge. Part of the Live Music Series. 6 p.m.
Sept. 29 to Nov. 1 Naomi Grindlay exhibits at Eclectic Gallery.
October 2
Oak Bay Rec presents Groove Kitchen in the upstairs lounge. Part of the Live Music Series. 6 p.m.
October 31 Giant community trick or treat: Participating merchants offer trick or treat in the stores from Foul Bay Road to Monterey Avenue, 2-5 p.m. Followed by a giant bonfire in Fireman’s Park.
Opening event for Red Art Gallery’s October featured artists, Elizabeth Litton and Cesan d’Ornellas. 6-8 p.m.
November 7
October 15
November 19
Oak Bay Heritage presents Robert Amos, speaking on “Paintings of Oak Bay Heritage Homes,” at Windsor Park Pavilion, 7-9 p.m.
Oak Bay Rec presents Louise Rose & Friends in the upstairs lounge. Part of the Live Music Series. 6 p.m
Oak Bay Heritage presents Kate Humble, historian, “From Garden to Trench, Oak Bay and the First World War,” Windsor Pavilion, 7-9 p.m
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Creative rebirth From potter to painter along the garden path By Natalie North Photos by Ken Sakamoto
A
mural outside a hideaway in South Oak Bay suggests an artist at work. Clusters of handcrafted clay discs, joined by a vibrant earthenware vein and the recurring image of a child’s face define the mural, a textural inspiration, rolling street-side on a front yard fence. Like other treasures to be found about the homestead, this mural is born of natural elements, pushed in surprising direcHe’s matter-of-fact tions. Bruce Vallance’s public art is also a landmark for visitors of St. Patrick Street, as he talks about where for 20 years he ran a pottery busiprocess, but it’s ness from his backyard studio. evident he hopes to Today, a garden path reveals clay casts of pregnant bellies and breasts that hint of provoke questions his pottery past, but at its end, the studio via his figurative bears no evidence of the functional stoneware it once produced. works. Four years ago, Vallance, 60, left behind the pottery career that began in his Calgary bedroom as a pre-teen to pursue another lifelong dream: becoming a painter. His studio walls are now decorated top to bottom with acrylic splashes of blacks, reds, flesh tones and water ripples. Vallance logs hours brushing to life the scenes that reflect two of his loves: life on the water and the beauty of the female body. With each new piece, he hopes to tell a different story. He’s matterof-fact as he talks about process, but it’s evident he hopes to provoke questions via his figurative works. For example, Vallance gestures towards a painting of a nude woman curled up on a bed, her face hidden. “If I said the title of that was ‘He’s Leaving Me,’ or ‘He’s Leaving,’ it would say something different than ‘Red Bed No. 2’ or something like that,” he says. “It’s a dilemma because if I say the title is ‘He’s Leaving Me,’ then I’ve set your thinking in one general direction.” And that’s not something Vallance likes to do. He’s developed his burgeoning painting skills in divergent direc-
◆
Above: Painting hanging outdoors and a spinning water wheel. Opposite page: Bruce Vallance in his Oak Bay studio. 10
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tions. Vallance can either be found photographing boats at the Oak Bay Marina, or photographing women in his Oak Bay studio. His time spent transposing the hard, angular lines of the bridge of a boat in white pencil to black canvas is tempered by his development through life drawing classes and hiring models to create a life scene. The latter yields a product not likely to fly off the shelves, Vallance admits, but it’s a process to which he has committed. “They’re more challenging for me to paint and it’s easier with a figure for me to tell a story,” he says. Vallance is quick to peel back the layers of his process — black-painted canvases, images gridded-out in white pencil, figures from still photographs — and offers them to anyone interested in building a practical fine art toolkit. “If you have nothing to say, or you don’t have the eye, then no, but if you want to learn how to draw, you have the drive and the desire and you think you’re at the stick figure level, you will improve. You can definitely learn.” Vallance is still striving to sharpen his skills as much as possible before handing himself over completely to intangible creative forces. It’s a kind of self-regulating 12
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attitude, he says: a holdover from the craft of pottery. “I found that as soon as people could make something that was a container, they wanted to sell it, then if you get money for it, it justifies the quality of the work. It’s a pat on the back. In my opinion, people start selling too early in their careers and they should wait until the quality is there.” So Vallance, able to forgo making money off his painting while he improves, hangs back with the marketing. Last April, he was included in the Oak Bay Artists’ Studio Spring tour, but annual travel to Thailand with his partner, fibre artist Myrna Brown, will take him off the fall route. His work will soon make it to Victoria’s Fernwood Inn and the Moka House —venues he says are perfectly suited to help him take the first step: to get his art out of the studio and in front of audiences. Not that Vallance has had any trouble getting his work noticed. For years he and Brown lived with the plaster cast of one young model, dressed up in street clothes like a little hooligan with rigor mortis, dangling from the edge of their rooftop. The sight would draw in passersby more concerned with the safety of the
At left: A series of casts from four different women’s buttocks protrude from a rock garden at Vallance’s home, and (below) an untitled painting. At right: Painting called “Harriet and Friends.”
faux figure than with other curiosities to be found about the Vallance-Brown residence, such as the “bum garden,” for one. A series of casts from four different women’s buttocks protrude from a rock garden, across from his latest of creations: decorative panels from recycled materials and a hodgepodge of funky finds. Buddha wheels, early-century window weights, manhole covers and street grates fill a patchwork of reclaimed wood. Two more panels have been commissioned for a nearby home. Vallance is hopeful another such project may be in the works, but again, he couldn’t be bothered to become stressed about selling. He’s got plenty of other projects on the go. Vallance has decorated his life with the recurring images of revolutionary Che Guevara: whether it’s in the background of an acrylic scene where one of his models talks on the telephone in the buff, or on the wall of chicken coop alongside another of his figurative pieces. “When you’re a bit of a non-authority person as I am, he’s someone you can relate to a little bit,” Vallance says. To learn more, visit Vallance online at www.vallanceCOSM_8456_COSM186_Tweed_X1a.pdf 1 2014-08-29 12:14 pottery.ca.
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BUY&CHAT 100-year-old United Church’s weekly sale draws a crowd By Margaret Boyes Photos by Don Denton
“Not only do we sell affordable goods, but people feel welcome and can connect and contribute.” — Betty Thacker
At top: Interior of Oak Bay United Church’s famous sale. Above: Teacups on a sale table. 14
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O
n Fridays and the first Saturday of most months, the Oak Bay United Church holds a huge secondhand sale that bolsters its finances. But it’s more than just a sale. “We call this our second church service,” says June Carver, who has volunteered selling jewellery, antiques and art there for 20 years. “It’s a ministry. We know our customers. They share their joys and sorrows with us.” And as Oak Bay United Church celebrates its 100th birthday this year, the monthly sale becomes just one of many examples of church outreach opportunities in the past century. Goods on display in Gardiner Hall, the parking lot and a clothing boutique in a duplex behind the church include garden supplies, furniture, pianos, art, books, jewellery, bedding, toys and seasonal items. Coffee is free and there’s a place to sit and chat with friends. “Not only do we sell affordable goods, but people feel welcome and can connect and contribute,” says annex coordinator Betty Thacker. “They often end up volunteering, because they see how much fun we have here.” The church used to have a sale twice a year. Then, in 1994, it was discovered that the building was not structurally sound and could not be used until upgrades occurred — 17 years later. Since 2009, the sale has been held from September to June on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. And thanks in part to money raised from the sale, by May 2010, the church had been renovated, with a new sound system and elevator installed. Thacker, a retired Royal Jubilee Hospital food service manager, says everything is donated, often by people downsizing to care facilities. “And everyone working here volunteers. Some may belong to other churches or have no church affiliation.”
At first the donations were only from church members but now they come from all over Greater Victoria. “We even get donations from Sidney, though we don’t like to pick up there because of the driving distance,” says Thacker. “And volunteers donate too.” People can drop off clean, sellable items on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Pickup is free and deliveries can be arranged for a small fee. Vendor Priscilla Black sells children’s toys at the sale and knows young mothers and grandmothers who come regularly. “In the summer when we’re closed they tell me how much they miss us.” The church can’t sell all its donations or store them in the summer, so they pass on many to the Compassionate Resource Warehouse, Streets to Home, Our Place, Sandy Merriman House and the Mustard Seed Church (where they provide slow cookers and blenders for a cooking course). In the summer “There’s as much talking as selling,” says Betty O’Coffey, who worked for the when we’re church for 19 years before volunteering with closed they tell children’s clothing at the sale. “We even have volunteer coffee hosts to talk to people. me how much Sometimes they help fold church bulletins or they miss us. prepare special items while they chat.” Another Victoria church has sponsored an – Priscilla Black African family that has just arrived, and Oak Bay United is assisting with essential household goods and furniture. Jake Schaffer sells electronics and makes sure all TVs, CDs and DVDs function well. “Many don’t have warranties or operating instructions but I often find those online,” he says. Schaffer also helps at Our Place and sometimes provides church sale items for people there: “Some are moving into apartments and need all kinds of household goods.” Customer Diane Edison is in a wheelchair and recently bought an armchair — for $50 — that helps her get up. “When you buy something at the sale, you know it’s going to work,” she says. Customer Ken MacRae comes every two weeks to buy books and household items, and says he always checks the sale before going to Sears or Walmart. Oak Bay United Church has been helping the community in other ways for over a hundred years. More recently, they started preparing meals for homeless people at the Open Door (a precursor to Our Place) and have sponsored three refugee families. The Church sanctuary cornerstone was laid on June 13, 1914, just before the First World War, at a cost of $20,000. It opened on November 8, 1914. Eleven years later, the building and congregation officially joined the United Church. This past year, the Church has celebrated its centennial with numerous events. Still to come is a gala weekend, November 14-16 — featuring a special dinner at Uplands Golf Club — a commemorative anniversary service at the church and other events as well. For more information, phone 250-598-5021.
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Lighting an artists’ haven By Angela Cowan / Photos by ARNOLD LIM
A
Gollner renovation sheds light on fascinating collection
fter living in Germany, England, and nearly every corner of Canada, Christine and Larry Gollner finally found their home-sweet-home at 449 Victoria Avenue, the 26th house they’ve shared since they were married. “We saw this (house) one morning, and we bought it that afternoon,” says Christine. They’d been looking in the area for some time, having fallen in love with the neighbourhood years before when they lived on 16
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King George Terrace. As soon as they saw the “hidden cottage,” as Larry likes to call it, they knew it was a perfect match. “You sort of know when you see the right place,” says Christine. Set back from the road at the end of a curving driveway, the house has only a secluded side garden to serve as a front yard, and looks as though it should be a cozy, if small, bungalow. Step through the front door, however, and the house opens up like
a spring bloom. An ornate screen sits pushed to one side, allowing passage into the living room to the right, while straight ahead lies the spacious, open-concept kitchen and eating area, and beyond that, the sun-drenched deck. An entire downstairs houses extra bedrooms, a large family room, and Christine’s studio, which leads out to a generous backyard hemmed in with tall cedar trees, a haven for the hydrangea bushes and Larry’s vegetable garden.
At left: Larry and Christine Gollner in Christine’s downstairs, light-filled studio, and (below) the spacious, open-concept kitchen. Following page: Bright living room with numerous pieces of art.
The effortless flow through the house wasn’t there when they bought it just over a year ago, however. Standard to most houses built in the ‘60s, it was dark and compartmentalized. In their first efforts to brighten up the place, the Gollners knocked out walls, moved the sliding glass doors, and installed a window by the front door that was actually in the original 1969 plans, but had never been put in. “Christine basically designed the house on the iPad,” says Larry. Then the architect took hold and made it a reality, keeping the Gollners living in renovations right up until Christmas Eve last year. The contractors were still putting in the grout and finishing touches in the kitchen as the Gollners, their children, and their grandchildren prepared for their Christmas celebrations. Not everything had to be done from scratch though, says Larry. “The previous owner had already put in top-quality new windows and upgraded the bathrooms.” While the renovations clearly transformed the house, looking around, it is undoubtedly the Gollners’ collection of art that stands out most of all. Paintings on every wall, sculptures and carvings scattered about, and odds and bobs from their travels through the world each represent a memory, a pocket in time from their constant travels. During Larry’s 41-year military career, the Gollners first moved to Germany a year after they were married. Several rapid-fire moves followed. “I had a child in each country,” laughs Christine. “One in Canada, one in Germany and one in England. All 18 months apart.” She remembers their first home in Germany. “We had to build a fire to get the water hot to have a bath!” As Larry served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry and then became a general officer, Christine grabbed morsels of art education where she could, and eventually finished her final year at the Ottawa School of Art in 1987. Shortly after, they moved to Yellowknife where she held her first art show, with 41 pieces on exhibit.
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“They all sold within 24 hours,” says Larry, jumping in with pride. “There were people squabbling over them.” Though Christine sells the vast majority of her work, she hangs on to a few pieces that stand out in their home: the forest-themed piece displayed over the fireplace is from Christine’s time at Emily Carr University on Granville Island; the small oil portrait in the living room is one of the first paintings Christine ever did, completed in a Grade 11 art class, while she attended St. Ann’s Academy; and a stunningly realistic horse she’s named “Teddy” hangs over the couch. Larry has gotten into the painting game the last few years as well, and his abstract watercolours infuse a vibrant pop of colour throughout the house. And it’s not just their own art that fills their home. Overwhelming, a landing between the floors, an enormous buffalo in the midst of numerals and subtle mathematical symbols takes over the wall; it’s a Jimmy Wright, a spectacular find that the Gollners brought home from an art auction.
They have pieces by artist friends and pieces Christine saved by her former art instructors. And in the upstairs hallway, sits an intriguing series of frames — what at first glance appears to be a handful of black scribbles on a matted white expanse. These pieces are their son Adrian’s art. Using pieces from over-wound clocks and early 20th century player pianos, Adrian attaches them to pencil lead or lays them on carbon paper, and captures what may very well be the last physical remnant of people long since gone. The wildly eclectic collection of art has a history as diverse as Larry and Christine themselves. The Gollners’ roots have been far flung throughout the years, and now, just over a year after settling once again into Oak Bay, those roots are reaching down further and growing thicker. This past spring, they opened their home to the twice-yearly Oak Bay Studio Tour, sharing their collections and talents with the community. And if the size of the squash plants in the backyard is any indication, these artists will be sticking around for a while.
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One:06 BUS STOPS OF OAK BAY
OAK BAY LANDMARKS One:06 features unique Oak Bay landmarks as seen through a roving camera eye. “One” honours the uniqueness of Oak Bay and 06 gives a nod to its history — 1906, the year it incorporated into a municipality. For this edition, photographer Don Denton’s camera eye explored some of the bus stops in Oak Bay.
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v
historic oak bay
MURDER at the
Victoria Golf Club Unleashing the ghost of Doris Gravlin Story by ivan watson
A
ghastly murder on the golf links, the frantic search for the killer played out in the press, the recurring vision of a distressed woman haunting the seventh fairway, arms reaching out, wearing a lily white dress — generations of Victorians have been transfixed by the mystery of BC’s most famous phantom: Doris, “The April Ghost,” and the dramatic story of her tragic murder. Even today, with the hope of catching a glimpse of Doris’ ghost, a midnight car ride along the portion of Beach Drive that cuts through the Victoria Golf Club is an eerie experience — even more so with the headlights turned off! The legend of Doris’
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ghost all started on one fateful day early in the fall of 1936. September 22, 1936 was a mild day with a light breeze and the warmth of end of summer sunshine. Doris Gravlin, 30, and her estranged husband Victor, 37, had endured a rocky marriage and at the time were separated, living apart. Victor had worked for 10 years as a popular sports writer for the Daily Colonist newspaper, but he’d struggled with alcoholism and other demons. He hadn’t worked since 1934, when the paper reported that he had “taken ill” — which most people believed was a cover for his hard drinking habits. The couple had a young son, seven-year-old Walter, and they had tried many times to work things out for his sake. On that particular evening, they had agreed to meet at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel to discuss a possible reconciliation. They were both last spotted around 8 p.m. English-born Doris was employed as a nurse in residence at Sunhill Sanitorium on Montrose Avenue. Contemporaries described her as pretty and kind with unique eyes — one brown and one blue. On the day of her disappearance, she was caring for an elderly woman on Beach Drive, who bid her a friendly goodbye when she requested to leave work early for her rendezvous with Victor. Doris was never seen alive again. Five days later, on September 27, the Colonist published photos of Doris and Victor under the headline: “Missing Since Tuesday.” The accompanying description noted that at the time of her disappearance, Doris was wearing “a knitted dress, blue coat with silver buttons and a grey hat.” Victor was said to possess a “nervous temperament.” It did not take long to make a grisly discovery. On the afternoon of September 28, a caddy at the golf course discovered Doris’
badly beaten body hidden under a woodpile. An examination concluded that the cause of death was strangulation. Later, it was revealed a neighbour had heard a woman screaming from the direction of the golf course around 9 p.m. but had not reported this to the police. An investigation determined that Doris’ body had likely been dragged roughly to its hiding place, causing massive bruising. Curiously, her coat, hat and shoes were missing. On October 1, Doris’ body was cremated, an unusual occurrence in those days as her body had to be sent to Seattle for that purpose. Immediately, her estranged husband Victor became the prime Within weeks of suspect. Search parties were organized. The police deployed tracking her murder, eerie dogs. Local boy scouts scoured the rumours of Doris’ shore for clues. Over the next few ghost began to weeks the city was frenzied with wild speculation about his whereabouts emerge. and motives. Was there a dangerous killer on the loose? Would he kill again? Was he wandering the city streets disguised as a woman? (This, they speculated, would explain Doris’ missing shoes, hat and coat). Exactly a month after the discovery of Doris’ body, a man searching for golf balls near the shoreline made another grim find — Victor’s lifeless body floating and entangled in a bed of kelp, with Doris’ shoes tucked away in his jacket pocket. With this find, the criminal case was closed and deemed a murder-suicide. Within weeks of her murder, eerie rumours of Doris’ “ghost” began to emerge. One of the first documented “sightings” involved a fisherman finishing his work for the day as dusk approached. He spotted a young woman wearing an old-fashioned coat who seemed to take no notice of him. Suddenly, she started to hurry away and seemed to vanish into thin air. In subsequent decades, she has followed people out for a late evening stroll, even once taking and guiding the hand of a woman who had become separated from her friends. She is said to appear most frequently in early spring, hence the nickname of “The April Ghost” and either in the late afternoon or evening, between 9 and 10 p.m. She most often appears wearing a white gown or an “old-fashioned” coat. She can appear with a soft luminous glow and has been reported as able to walk through vehicles. Mostly, though, she is considered a benevolent and sad presence. Perhaps she is still searching for her young son, or perhaps she wants to alert people to her tragic tale. Legend has it that if you ring the brass bell located near the 7th hole three times, you will summon Doris’ ghost. Her ashes may be interred at Royal Oak Burial Park, but just as it has for nearly 80 years, it seems that her spirit still haunts the
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windswept fairways at the Oak Bay golf course. Yet, some people do not believe that the ghost is of Doris at all. An intriguing alternate theory suggests that Victor’s mother, for years convinced of her son’s innocence, haunts the greens in search of the true killer. What became of Walter Gravlin? He was adopted by his grandmother, Charlotte, and her husband, Robert Thomson, and his name was formally changed to Robin Charnock Thomson, possibly to distance him from the trauma of his parents’ murder-suicide. In 1945, at the end of the Second World War, Robin’s grandmother sent him to Sandhurst Military College in England. When contacted many decades later by a reporter for a comment about his mother’s ghost, he was unaware of the whole story. “I’ve visited Victoria in recent years, knowing absolutely nothing about the notoriety of my mother’s ghost,” he said in a telephone interview in 1994. “It was many years ago — and it’s not a legend of which one can be easily be proud. Yes, I’d like to see the legend die.” He passed away later that same year. Have you encountered the ghost of Doris? Do you know of any other Oak Bay ghosts? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Email: watsoni@yahoo.com / Twitter @ watsonivan
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Above: The story and photographs of Doris and Victor, which ran in the Daily Colonist, following their disappearance. Far left: The Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Victoria Golf Club as they would have appeared around the time of Doris’ death.
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OAK BAY REAL ESTATE REVEALED
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2008 Oak Bay Home Listed for: $2,199,000 CDN FEATURES: Steps from Willows Beach and the Estevan Village, this 4,149-square-foot single-family home embodies traditional European charm from a 10,454 sqft level lot. Offering room for the whole family with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, highlights include expansive windows, providing easy enjoyment of the landscaped gardens, and a bright kitchen with ample storage, central island, granite counters and modern appliances. Upstairs are three bedrooms and laundry room, plus the large master suite, boasting a roomy walk-in closet, spa-inspired en suite and private balcony. Source: MLS Listings/www.realtor.ca
New York, NY LOFT Listed for: $2,016,831.45 US ($2,204,195.09 CDN) FEATURES: New York living at its finest! Discover a beautiful combination of historic charm and modern amenities in this 1863-built corner loft in Manhattan’s West Village. With an amazing 13 windows and three bright exposures, the space is flooded with light and spectacular views. Located four flights up and well worth the walk, pre-war architectural elements in this twobedroom, two-bath home include exposed beams and tin ceilings. The large corner living room with south and east exposure and open kitchen are well-suited for both easy entertaining and everyday living. On the opposite side of the loft are the large master and second bedroom. Source: www.realtor.com, BALI, INDONESIA Villa LISTED FOR: $2,000,000 US ($2,185,800 CDN) FEATURES: Located in the Seminyak area, about 30 minutes from the airport, this spectacular fourbedroom villa boasts four en suites and one guest bath. Steps from fashionable shops and restaurants, and just a 10-minute walk to the beach, the property embraces a “Bali modern” style, with pitched roofs and ironwood shingles, light white walls, exposed timber ceilings and tropical gardens. Balancing open-air living spaces, including pool, gardens and the outdoor living/dining room, and enclosed air-conditioned spaces, including a large, upper-level master suite atop the large children’s suite below, this would make for a perfect island escape or long-term get-away. Source: www.balipropertysales.com
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oak bay insider
100 years of
observation Christopher Causton was mayor of Oak Bay for 15 years, and now works as a Harbour Ferries Captain. He is the founder and former owner of Jason’s (Camilles) and Rattenbury’s (Spaghetti Factory), and is a classically trained hotelier. He is a keen tennis player, and member of the Harbourside Rotary for 29 years. He is also working with the VI Spine Trail Association to link trails from Victoria to Cape Scott.
T
ake the smallest regional park in the Capital Regional District, add the most recognizable building in any park, find a stunning theatrical setting and you have Gonzales Hill Regional Park and Observatory. Designed by William Henderson, Dominion Government Architect for BC (and a mayor of Oak Bay), the observatory building was constructed in 1914, the same year another of Henderson’s projects was completed — the Oak Bay United Church. Although Henderson was the architect, credit for the observatory building and the important information it produced, should really go to Francis Napier Denison, an active contributor to innovation. The federal government started planning the seismological observatory in 1913. The site chosen was a 222-foot-high promontory in Oak Bay/Victoria, named Gonzales after Manuel Quimper’s first mate, Gonzales Lopez de Haro, who took part in the Spanish Voyage of Exploration in 1790. The building, with its 42 feet per side of reinforced concrete on granite, was constructed by Oak Bay builder G.C. Hurrell for less than $12,000, and included construction of sleeping quarters. Denison lived in a one-room apartment on-site for 20 years. Although the building has forever been called an “ob-
servatory,” the site has also been used for gathering, recording and transmitting weather data for the west coast. For years, mariners on the waters off the BC coast eagerly awaited special summaries and forecasts for shipping. Astronomical and seismic readings were also taken. Denison was instrumental in obtaining the dome on this building, for which he acquired a five-inch equatorial telescope for astronomical readings. Every day at noon, Denison activated — from the observatory — the time-ball, which sat on top of the Belmont Building in downtown Victoria. Denison “retired” in 1936, but he never stopped being active. Listed among his inventions are: a portable fire escape; a dust remover for hospitals; a seismograph for use in mines and, most importantly for Oak Bay, a combined tea strainer and infuser. The observatory was automated in the 1960s and abandoned in the 1980s, and soon thereafter arose the idea of transforming the area into a CRD park. Initially rejected as a park by the federal government in 1986, pressure by Oak Bay, Victoria, local members of parliament and concerned residents resulted in the striking of a deal in 1992. Ultimately, the CRD’s regional parks department bought the land and the building from the federal government for $350,000, thus creating its 19th regional park — and still its smallest. Now in its 100th year, the observatory continues to stand proudly looking down on Gonzales Bay. Surrounded by camas, Alaskan rain orchids and satin flowers on the hillside, it’s easy to imagine a similar view of this little oasis of Oak Bay, observed by Henderson and Denison when they first laid out their plans. FALL 2014
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ROMANCING THE STOVE
A
Tuscan Feast at La
Palazzo Rosa
Garden fresh and taste tantalizing By PAM GRANT Photos by DON DENTON
On this page: Fontana and parmesan cheese; fresh rosemary from the garden; Phyllis and James Argue. At right: Insalata Caprese and a collection of beverages.
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he west wall of Phyllis and James Argue’s living room holds a portrait taken last year as they headed out for another day of exploration on their third food-andwine-soaked tour of California. Placing their camera on the vehicle parked in front of their rented convertible, they took the ultimate “selfie,” looking more Hollywood than an HP senior systems analyst and provincial Red Cross manager. They claim they aren’t big travellers, but they’ve seen more of the world than many people. Today, I’m invited for a feast of conversation and Italian food at their beautiful Oak Bay home — a pink palace on Cavendish Avenue. Labrador native Phyllis was a student at Memorial University when she met Quebec-born/ Alberta-raised James at a party, where he was moonlighting from his Navy duties to work security. They were engaged within a fortnight and married within four months. When James was posted to Esquimalt, they landed on an island that two of Phyllis’ siblings already called home. Noticing the preferable weather on a visit, her parents soon followed suit. After James left the Navy, the couple began new careers, with breaks to visit family in Canada, a trip to Italy and tours of the Napa Valley. Their eyes grow wide when they speak of the California food and wine highlights, including leisurely meals at renowned chef Michael Chirello’s Bottega and Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc, a sunny day at the St. Helena Olive Oil Company and a happy blur of wineries. Phyllis, an inveterate planner, scans guidebooks and makes necessary reservations months ahead, but there’s always room on the agenda for hidden gems off the beaten path — often discovered by James.
“He will talk to anyone,” she says with a smile, adding that in this way, he found the best gelato in Rome. Life was good. They owned a pair of condos and were thinking about selling one and buying a house as a revenue property. But suddenly their lives changed forever when James fell head over heels for his “mistress” five years ago. If you have driven down Cavendish Avenue in Oak Bay you have seen her. She’s no homewrecker, in fact, she is a home — a pink, two-story house that felt right to James even before he first set foot in it. Phyllis marvels that they are only the third owners of the house they affectionately call “La Palazzo Rosa,” if bemused by the amount of time and money James lavishes on it. Phyllis concen-
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Jason Easton, mba, cfp, cim, fcsi Investment & Wealth Advisor 250-356-4914 jason.easton@rbc.com trates her efforts on her “spa,” a vegetable and herb gardn that brims with fresh herbs, beans, tomatoes, kale, Japanese cucumbers and, now, freshly turned soil after her morning harvest of red onions and two kinds of potatoes. It’s helped along by the greenhouse and deer fence that James and a friend built. I was barely out of my car when Phyllis appeared on the threshold, beckoning photographer Don Denton and me inside. Their friends, Oak Bay natives and sisters Katie and Betsy Burke joined us in rapid order. Betsy is visiting from her home outside of Florence, and arrived with daughter Sara and her friend Lorenzo. Betsy visits every couple of years, and there is always a dinner planned at the Palazzo, where she shares a new recipe. Inside, James is preparing the Insalata Caprese (a traditional Neapolitan salad dish from the island of Capri), gently chiding his wife for not buying enough mozzarella. She’ll
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have none of it and tells him to roll the gnocchi, while she simultaneously directs the kids to set the table in the garden. After a glass of Prosecco, we enjoy the salad and delicious deep fried zucchini blossoms — Fiori di Zucca Fritti — outside. I make a mental note to ask James for his gnocchi recipe, which would hold up in any trattoria. It’s a glorious summer night, at once obvious why people fortunate enough to live in this neighbourhood stay for decades.. Back inside, we drink red wine and crunch our way through a platter of fennel shards with artichoke and olive dip, as Betsy shows James the method for creating Rostbif A La Toscana — an impossibly tender, seared strip loin of beef, slowly poached in extra virgin olive oil with fresh herbs and chunks of garlic.
We eat this over the next hour with grilled zucchini and peppers, and crusty bread to mop up the juice in typically Italian fashion. Stories are shared and immediately contradicted across the length and breadth of the table as we reach for more food. Conversation pauses only for the occasional heavenly eye roll as the flavours meld together. We end with Phyllis’ perfect panna cotta drizzled with macerated raspberries from her garden. As James makes plans for his “mistress,” Phyllis ponders future trips to Australia and Europe. I asked them to come up with three words to describe their life and they offer “harmonious, lively and cherished.” I concur. And all is well at the pink palace on Cavendish Avenue.
At left: Phyllis Argue pours red wine. Above, from left: James Argue adds cheese as he prepares gnocchi; fresh sage cooking in butter for gnocchi; turning the Rostbif A La Toscana.
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Financial planning services and investment advice are provided by Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). RMFI, RBC Global Asset Management Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, Trustand Corporation of Canada andprovided The Royal Financial planningRoyal services investment advice are by Trust Royal Company are separate whichManagement are affiliated.Inc., RMFI is Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI).corporate RMFI, RBCentities Global Asset Royal 2014 TWEED 27 licensed as a financial firm in theFALL province ofand Quebec. Bank of Canada, Royalservices Trust Corporation of Canada The Royal Trust ® / ™Looking Trademark(s) offor Royalcorporate Bank of Canada. and Bank are registered Investment & Royal Retirement Company are separate entitiesRBCwhich are affiliated. RMFI Advice? is trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. ©2011 Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. 45808 (09/2011) Talk to me today. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. ©2011 Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. 45808 (09/2011)
oak bay garden
A sense of
peace Elder garden oasis nurtured for 45 years By Jennifer Blyth Photos by Don Denton
A
s you step into Don and Lorna Elder’s backyard, tucked onto a quiet street across from Uplands Golf Course, the world outside disappears. With Garry oaks climbing high overhead, dense thickets of native shrubs behind, and a variety of deciduous trees and evergreens dotting the perimetre, the park-like setting offers an escape that is truly “away from it all.” The Elders moved to their property in 1969, after discovering it as the perfect place to raise their two sons and daughter. The bones of what would become today’s oasis were already in place — the sunken garden, the Garry oaks, the natural, untouched area in the back — creating the ideal backdrop for raucous childhood games of tag and hide-and-seek. There were also hours of fun on a swing, which the Elders strung tree-to-tree, from one side of the garden 28
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to the other. And days were spent sunning in the protected hotspot toward the back of the property, dubbed “Sunshine Valley” by the kids. Today, it’s a much different story, as even the grandchildren are mostly grown. But all the kids took their turn helping Don in the garden; son Dave even worked at Butchart Gardens for a time before becoming a Saanich firefighter. “Since they got past all that, it’s been Don’s garden,” Lorna says with a smile. One of the distinguishing features of the garden today is the sense of quiet. Lorna enjoys relaxing in a sunny corner of the roomy patio Don built her many years ago, where an old peach tree, planted during the first year in their new home, stretches up from the garden below. In the opposite corner is a slightly cooler spot, ideal for entertaining guests over a casual picnic supper. While Don loves puttering in and around the undulating beds, or taking the ride-on mower for a spin along the swaths of lawn leading through the
“If you want to make it fussy, make it fussy; but if you want to let things grow, like I do, let it grow.” — Don Elder
Personalized Financial Advice for Retirement Income Planning.
With consistent, dependable …financial advice… you can get there. Dale Collins Certified Financial Planner Elder Planning Counselor
Specializing in Segregated Funds Above: Lorna and Don Elder in their beautiful Oak Bay garden. At left and below: Garden sculpture and a view of the gardens at the back of the Elders’ home. Following page: Garry oaks.
tall trees and colourful flowers, his favourite spot to enjoy the garden is from a picture window inside the house that stretches almost the full width of the living room. The view frames the shrubs and perennials fronted with colourful mounds of annual begonias, and from his comfortable chair, he can both enjoy the changing seasons and the comings and goings of the abundant wildlife. “It’s been a delightful house,” reflects Don, a Victoria native and chiropractor who continued in his practice until fully retiring at 80. From this vantage point, Don not only enjoys what the seasons bring, but also identifies changes he wants to make for the following spring. “I’ll walk in and he’s planning something else!” Lorna says. With the garden a little less than an acre in size, it became key to
Dale Collins CFP EPC Office: 250-818-2616 Fax: 250-590-5721
Megan Herlaar CFP EPC
Email: dale@prosperity-planning.com www.prosperity-planning.com
Certified Financial Planner
Office: 250-589-2250
Fax: 778-265-0031
megan@ prosperity-planning.com www.prosperity-planning.com
Elect Heather
HOLMES ✔ Leadership with Common Sense ✔ Open & Transparent ✔ Fiscal Responsibility & Taxpayer Value
passionate ‘ Acommunity
Heather Holmes Candidate for Oak Bay Council www.heatherholmesoakbay.ca
advocate with deep roots spanning four generations in Oak Bay.
’
Authorized by Bruce G. Smith - Financial agent to Heather Holmes
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keep it both beautiful and manageable. “I’ve made things a little easier by putting in a little more grass, more shrubs and perennials,” Don reflects, pointing out easy-care Lavatera and lovely scented Phlox. “My idea of gardening is to make it easy and make it yours,” he says. “If you want to make it fussy, make it fussy; but if you want to let things grow, like I do, let it grow.” Where some locals lament the work generated by leaves falling from numerous Garry oaks, the Elders aren’t among them. Don, who appreciates the structure the oaks provide, invested in a mower that quickly and easily mulches the leaves, and Lorna loves the stately shape and reach of the leafless, gnarled branches that give unique decoration to the winter garden. Embracing the native plants that thrive in the neighbourhood has also added to the ease and enjoyment of the garden, including large white-flowering mock orange along the property line, and red-flowering current that brings early spring colour. The couple was happy to leave the native shrubs growing wild in the rear of the property, since they provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife, including rabbits, raccoons, insects and a whole host of feathered friends, including
numerous hummingbirds. “There was a lot of wild bush so we kept that — it makes it more like a park,” Don reflects. “And any old branches that fall in there and rot, they just keep everything going.” While deer visited over the years — a doe gave birth one spring just a few feet from the patio — the rapid growth in their numbers led the Elders to install deer fencing several years ago. The lower level of the family home steps directly out to the private, protected lawn of the sunken garden, with its layers of evergreens dotted with winter- and spring-flowering heathers, cheery and robust Pieris japonica, with its new red growth and dangling white flowers, perennials and spring-flowering bulbs. Around the top are numerous blue, mauve and pink-flowering hydrangeas — most rooted from a single old specimen — plus hardy fuchsias that bloom well into fall. Opposite is the “nursery bed,” where next season’s transplants are growing large and robust. “The hydrangea is my favourite because it flowers the longest,” Don says from his living room vantage point. Reflecting on the garden he has nurtured and grown over 45 beautiful, blooming seasons, he says, “It’s nice to have a hobby you enjoy.”
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• Centrally located near Hillside Mall • Digital radiographs • Metal free restorations • Direct bill insurance plans • Relaxed, friendly atmosphere
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Photo Don denton
TEA WITH MARION CUMMING
Marion Cumming Eco-educator, wildlife and green space defender, artist and member of the OB Heritage Commission.
How long living in oak bay? 22 years
Claim to fame:
First recipient of Oak Bay’s new citizenship honour: the Golden Oak Award. According to Who’s Who of Canadian Women (19992000), Marion Cumming has also won: MCC campus Citizenship Award, University of the Americas, 1960; Centennial Medal, 1967; New Brunswick Provincial Volunteer of the Year Award, 1991; National Heritage Award, 1992; Certificate of Recognition, NB Arts Board, 1997; Human Rights Award, Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition, 2002.
Tweed editor Susan Lundy enjoys a delicious tea prepared by Marion Cumming and served in the dining room of Cumming’s home, which has been in her family since the 1950s.
Where were you born and who is you family? I was born in Toronto. With a mother from Atlanta, and my husband from England, my family is far flung. What are you most well known for in Oak Bay? These days it’s about learning to live with urban deer rather than killing them. I’m also known for my work on the eight First Nations Monuments of Oak Bay, a tribute to L’kwungen history and culture in Oak Bay, and my involvement with Heritage Oak Bay. What else have you been involved in? First Nations issues and culture are a major concern. My late husband and I returned our 280-acre New Brunswick farm to an indigenous land trust. The Sunny Lane place here in Oak Bay is intended for another Native land trust after the deaths of the current inhabitants. Environmental causes, affordable housing and poverty alleviation are also concerns. What are your work and hobbies? Although a retired art teacher, I continue to draw, paint with watercolour, and do some collage, sparingly. As a heritage artist, I’ve been to all the provinces and territories. What brings you joy? All forms of harmony ... in art, music and
relationships — like the deer in my garden which touched an owl’s beak with its nose, and a friend who retraced her steps to comfort a weeping woman she spotted downtown. Who is your hero? And why? My hero of the moment is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He is making compassionate and strategic efforts to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to resolving differences. Who are some of the most interesting people you’ve met? Jane Jacobs, a wonderful mentor. Lester Pearson, Joe Clark, Senator Eugene Forsey and Elizabeth May. Gloria Steinem, pianist Shoko Inoue and novelist Jack Hodgins. What do you see as your greatest accomplishment? Having received the National Heritage Award. More recently, I had a letter from The Land Conservancy that said over $290,000 was raised, beginning with a simple challenge to meet my $500 donation (symbolic of the first $500 that founded the TLC). Anything else you’d like us to know? As a young art student in Mexico, I learned just how healing art could be, working with amazing little children in a mental health institution. I received the Canadian Centennial Award for coordinating international exchanges. FALL 2014
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From left, Marilyn Moen, Darby and Noreen Holloway.
slow pitch owls
The Bard of Oak Bay meets the “leedies” By Barrie Moen Photo by Don Denton
D
arby loves to watch her grandma, Marilyn Moen, play softball. Darby is three years old and calls her grandma, “Geegee.” “Nice play, Geegee,” she calls from the grandstand at Geegee’s slo-pitch games. She loves to sit with the “leedies” in the dugout between innings. Geegee’s leedies team is called “The Oak Bay Sea-gals” and every autumn they travel to St. George, Utah to play in the Huntington Games. It’s a huge event: senior teams and individuals come there from all over the world. Every autumn, assuredly as the leaves fall, Geegee’s sister and teammate,
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“Auntie No-wheen” Holloway, complains about her throwing technique, and arrives at Geegee’s house for extra games of catch in the front yard. These games of catch always take place at dusk and Darby loves watching Geegee and Aunty No-wheen play catch. However, the “beez-ball” is secondary for little Darby. What thrills her most isn’t the smack of the softball, it’s the participation of our resident barred owl, which we call “The Bard of Oak Bay.” The Bard patrols the western perimetre of Uplands Golf Course and being territorial, he gets pretty snoopy. On September evenings, Darby sits plunked onto a little chair and watches while her grandmother and great-aunt play a game of catch. Darby cheers like she is watching the World Series. One evening, a grey squirrel came waddling along the easement cables of our Westdowne Road side yard, an acorn stuffed in his jaws. The ladies played on,
and the curious owl, eyeing the cocky squirrel, swooped out of the trees right across the throwing area. He landed beside the squirrel and waited patiently for the squirrel ambling towards him. The squirrel was having none of it, and without dropping his acorn, charged the owl. The baffled owl squawked and then swooped right back through the game of catch and settled on a higher perch. The squirrel nattered. The big owl, incensed at the little critter’s guff, began howling. The game of catch was forgotten and Darby, thinking this wildlife show was just for her, began cheering wildly. The squirrel nattered again. The owl, now really peeved, bolted like a missile back across the game area heading for the squirrel at the crotch of the tree. The ladies, anticipating a gruesome outcome, tried to shuffle Darby out of view of the battle action. No way! Darby
was cheering for everybody and wasn’t going anywhere. The big bird and fuzzy rodent tumbled about for a few seconds and then the squirrel broke from the grasp of the big bird’s talons and scampered straight up the trunk of the tree. The owl was miffed at his failure so he swooped back across the ball area and sat on the top of the garage roof. The Bard, What thrills her with his composure regained, feathers most isn’t the ruffled and his head spinning, looked down at the two ball players and Darby smack of the — who’s eyes were now wider than the softball, it’s the owl’s — puffed up, and bellowed, “Who, participation of... Who, Who?” Darby is now convinced that owls play “The Bard of baseball. At the opening game of the seOak Bay.” nior leedies league the following season, she sat beside me in the grandstand as I dutifully kept score. “Pupuh [that’s me],” she asked, “Where is the owl? How come she isn’t playing?” “Well sweetie,” I answered. “She’s at home.” “Won’t her mommy lets’ her play?” “Well, owls don’t really play baseball,” I answered her. “Yes, they do, Pupah,” she said. “Yes they do!” Fair enough, I thought. Maybe, one day, I’ll sponsor a little league team at Fireman’s Park. I’ll call it Darby’s Oak Bay Owls. And just like Abbot and Costello insisted, “Who’s On First!”
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DOGS ON THE AVENUE
Love my dog! Photos by sean roper
Dogs [dawgs, dogs] 1. The best friend of men, women and children, bred in many sizes and shapes. The Avenue [thuh av-uh-nyoo, -noo] 1. A popular destination for those seeking funky eateries, awesome art galleries and trendy stores in Oak Bay.
tell
tweed!
Some say that Oak Bay loves dogs so much, canines are actually considered honorary citizens. If you agree, tell Tweed! Send photographs of your “Dogs on the Avenue” to: lundys@shaw.ca
Clockwise from top left: Ollie at Penny Farthing, submitted by Heather Holmes; Felix, an 8-year-old poodle; Mackie, a 10-year-old “lovely mutt;” Carman, a 2-year-old petite miniature schnauzer. Opposite, clockwise from top left: Trapper, an English spaniel; Zoey, a 4-year-old cairn terrier; Cheemo, a 7-month-old black lab/chow cross; Gordie, a Yorkshire terrier. 34
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Home is Where You Hang Your Bird Feeders!
A bird friendly yard can attract many different species so by providing food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young, you will have a hobby for all seasons!
250-595-3595
• 3631 Shelbourne Plaza
Making pets feel right at home.
barkpetboutique.com 2041 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria B.C. 250-590-2822
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Meet our Advertisers Athlone Travel is a full service locally owned travel agency – serving the community since 1986. Our experienced team would be delighted to assist with all of your travel needs. See ad on page 33
Jordy Harris, raised in Victoria,
Sean Warren is a proud 3rd generation Victoria resident. Sean has been with the Campus Auto Group since 1999 and has earned a reputation for top quality service selling top quality products! He is an avid car enthusiast with a love of the outdoors and skiing. See ad on page 5
Bark, Bath & Beyond Pet Boutique A family operated
business specializing in taking care of your furry ones. We provide everything you need from grooming to foods and everything in between. See ad on page 35
OAK BAY VOLUNTEER SERVICES. We provide one-to-
one direct volunteer support to individuals of all ages in Oak Bay. Drives, visits, repairs, etc. See ad on page 37
Don Wuest, owner at Wild Birds Unlimited, wants you to have the best bird feeding experience possible. After all, it’s the most relaxing, fulfilling, educational and exciting hobby that everyone can enjoy. See ad on page 35
Morgan’s Fabrics & Interior has been Oak Bay’s
BOORMAN’S
Oak Bay Optometry has
We are family owned and operated providing Real Estate, Insurance and Property Management services. A Trusted Name…it takes generations to build a reputation! See ad on page 6
been providing eye exams, glasses and contact lenses to the whole family for over twenty years. See ad on page 26
Gurmit Sandhu has owned and operated West Coast Brew Shop for four years. He is happiest when he is helping his customers make award winning wines and beer and playing cricket with the Oak Bay Cricket Club. See ad on page 27
Oak Bay Hearing Clinic
White Heather Tea Room
Philip Stirton Investment & Retirement Planning with RBC Financial Planning. Looking for Investment & Retirement Advice? Talk to me today (250) 882-9033 philip.stirton@rbc.com See ad on page 27
Mandu Goebl has worked in the Victoria auto industry for over 10 years and is proud to raise his family here. He is delighted to offer quality vehicles to Campus Acura customers. See ad on page 7
ArtSee Eyewear carries
Cassie KangAS
Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry
Vibes Fitness The body you want…
red art gallery is the fun,
With over 18 years investment experience, Paul Holmes and his pre-eminent wealth management team at HOLMES WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP deliver strong, risk-adjusted returns together with the highest level of personalized client service. See ad on page 2
premier re-upholstery, slipcover and draperies provider for nearly 40 years. Family owned and operated. See ad on page 6
As a lifetime resident of Oak Bay, I am your neighbour and an
Oak Bay real Estate expert who you can trust to sell your home. See ad on page 9
Pepper’s Foods,
Celebrating 50 years in the community! See ad on page 40
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is a consummate professional with a proven track record for results and first class customer service. Jordy welcomes the opportunity to discuss your real estate needs in person, and is grateful for the chance to earn your business. See ad on page 17
With her doctorate in audiology and 17 years’ experience, Dr. Wright is well suited to improve your hearing, even in the most difficult listening situations. See ad on page 15
Cheryl has been providing gourmet take out, catering services, and picnic baskets for over 25 years in Oak Bay. Personal favourite: Roast Chicken dinner. See ad on page 26
small and unpretentious gallery where colour rules! Featuring contemporary, original art from award winning Canadian artists. Owners Bobb and Marion will help you find a work that will rejuvenate your living space. See ad on page 9
We live in Oak Bay – continuing White Heather’s long tradition of serving delicious lunches & Afternoon Teas to Oak Bay and surrounds. See ad on page 26
eyeglass frames and lenses that are anything but ordinary from fun and funky to simple and sophisticated, we have eyewear for the whole family. Our Opticians have the experience to help you find eyewear that will have everyone saying I love your glasses! See ad on page 18
…in the time you have. The perfect fitness solution for your goals and needs. See ad on page 30
Meet our Advertisers Transcendental meditation ® is a simple, but unique meditation technique practiced by millions of people. Physician recommended for stress management. Offered in Victoria for over 50 years by certified teachers. See ad on page 37
Design Source Warehouse
Jason Binab understands people and Real Estate. He enjoys working with his wife Amber at the Binab Property Group. Together they have a son, Benson and two dogs Lily and Wilbur. Jason has lived in Oak Bay for over 25 years and specializes in Oak Bay. See ad on page 22
Oak Bay SeniorCare
“Our award-winning home support services are customized to fit your needs at any time.” See ad on page 3
main focus is they offer unique, highquality items at the most competitive prices. Bruce Alexander, the owner, buys factory direct and avoids a broker or middleman so he can pay the savings forward. See ad on page 17
Originally from Calgary, Franchisee Richard Searle has been a proud Victorian resident since 2006. Stop on by the store and discover a vast array of mouth-watering foods to fill your fridge and freezer. See ad on page 27
M&M Meats Shelbourne
Matticks Farm is Victoria’s
Dr. Finnigan has 18 years of experience and practices all aspects of general dentistry with particular interest in metal free restorations. See ad on page 30
Megan Herlaar
Heather Holmes Candidate for Oak Bay Council. ‘A passionate community advocate with roots spanning four generations in Oak Bay.’ See ad on page 29
premiere shopping destination with over 16 shops and boutiques to chose from. We can guarantee, you will find that one of a kind discovery, come and explore and see what we have to offer. See ad on page 39
Megan has many years of experience specializing in Segregated Funds. For personalized financial advice for retirement income planning call Megan. See ad on page 29
Jason Easton of RBC
Cosmedica is one of Canada’s
Dominion Securities has lived and worked in the Victoria area for the past 17 years. Jason enjoys the outdoors and spends most of his spare time with his wife Nancy and their nine year old son. See ad on page 25
foremost dermatology and cosmetic laser clinics, offering a comprehensive range of treatments for skin and body rejuvenation. See ad on Page 13
Drop by and visit our new Oak Bay News office in Athlone Court 207A - 2187 Oak Bay Avenue Monday to Friday 8:30 am-5 pm
To feature your business in the next edition of
Renowned in the community with 25 years’ experience in the banking industry, Debra Wright now leads Auxilium Mortgage’s client care division. Offering exceptional service, innovative ideas and a personal approach, Debra can assist with defining, setting and achieving your mortgage goals. See ad on page 33
Tweed
Contact Oliver Sommer Director, Advertising Sales
250-480-3274 osommer@blackpress.ca
Transcendental Meditation
®
Why Learn TM? • • • •
TM brings balance to busy lives Relieves anxiety and stress Refreshes mind, body and emotions Is easy to learn, simple to practice
250.383.9822 ~ www.meditationvictoria.org
One-to-One volunteer help to individuals of all ages. Call for help, to volunteer or donate.
250.595.1034 ✧ www.oakbayvolunteers.bc.ca FALL 2014
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Photo by Steve Smith
Parting Shot
T
a backyard beauty
his spectaular photograph of an Anna’s Hummingbird was captured by Steve Smith in the backyard of his Orchard Avenue home. He had this to say about it: “This [hummingbird] found the feeder first, so, according to hummingbird law, she owns the backyard. Two other females who visit regularly — a pudgy Anna’s and a very self-possessed Rufous — disagree on the ownership question, so there are frequent and furious confrontations between this one and the two interlopers. This one looks like a Fifi to me. I have assigned the name Mimi to the pudgy one and the Rufous looks Italian, so she has become Gina. All three hummingbirds agree with me that ‘the environment treats humans as part of nature, but humans treat the environment as part of politics.’ Pretty sensible birds inhabit my backyard.” Of particular interest to fellow photogrpahers, Smiths said: “She’s six to seven feet from the camera, so with a 184 mm focal length, aperture F7.1 and Canon EOS circle of confusion, 0.019 38
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mm, the depth of field is about three inches. I put a 30-inch silver reflector beneath her to get the effect of strong fill light from below.” “Parting Shot” is a special photographic feature that runs in each edition of Tweed, and we want you — our readers — to contribute. This spot is reserved for the best images we can find of places, people and things in Oak Bay. We’re inviting you to “give us your best shot.” We’ll consider all submissions for publication. Contributors should keep in mind the seasonal aspect of this feature, and be prepared to tell us a little bit about the photograph — where, when, what and/or who? Please ensure the resolution is high enough for publication. Do you have an Oak Bay image that may qualify as a “Parting Shot” photo? Tell Tweed! Send your image to Tweed editor Susan Lundy for consideration in an upcoming edition. lundys@shaw.ca
LOVE TO SHOP Over 15 shops and boutiques to choose from, make shopping fabulous. Adrienne’s Restaurant and Tea Garden 250 658 1535 Adriennes Ice Cream 250 658 1535 A Stable Way of Life 250 658 3052 Art Knapp Garden Centre 250 658 1013 Cordova Hair 250 658 5914 Elephant Flowers 250 658 2455 Ladybug Candles & Gifts 250 658 3807 Mattick’s Farm Mini Golf 250 658 4053 Momease Baby Boutique 778 265 5432
5325 Cordova Bay Road Next to Cordova Bay Golf Course Open 7 Days A Week www.matticksfarm.com
Paper Chain 250 658 2725 Pure Day Spa 250 590 7873 Something More 1 888 411 6673 Sunday’s Snowflakes 250 658 8499 The Gallery at Mattick’s Farm 250 658 8333 Toying Around 250 658 2721 Red Barn Market 250 658 2998 The Country Gift Shoppe 250 658 1812 VQA Wine Shop 250 658 3116
Autumn
GOODNESS! As one of the few true independents left, Pepper’s has the ability to form close ties with local producers and are committed to bringing you a new local product every week. It’s time to start bringing the entertaining indoors. Visit our deli for a selection of soups and take ‘n bake breads to warm you on autumn nights. Big store selection in an intimate setting. Visit us today and see the difference local makes!
oo d F g Ove r tin 50 d a Y ears o r of Go b e l Ce
Ask about our senior and student discounts
250-477-6513 • 3829 Cadboro Bay Rd. www.peppers-foods.com Hours Mon-Fri: 8 am–9 pm, Sat: 8 am–7:30 pm, Sun: 8 am–7:30 pm
Quality & Service Guaranteed – 100% Victoria Owned
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