December 05, 2014 by Black Press Media Group

station y o u ’ v e

a r r i v e d

life in cowichan:

sweet wonderful

beer the men’s movement

the interview:

jean words with Erica Carroll

ISSUE NUMBER 7, DECEMBER 2014

•

crowder

lessons learned on the road

•

w h a t ’s p l a y i n g

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inside 6 12 film buffs 14 man in the shadows? interview: jean 18 the crowder 28 station street view 30 words with Erica Carroll 32 something to chew on life in cowichan: beer, sweet, wonderful beer

34 38 growing south 42 what’s playing 44 coffee with selina boily 46 final frame lessons the road has taught me

COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION of Jean Crowder by Andrew Leong & Eric Morten

Unit 2, 5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan B.C., V9L 6W4 Phone: (250) 746-4471 Fax: (250) 746-8529 E-mail: editor@cowichannewsleader.com Web site: www.cowichannewsleader.com

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beer, sweet, wonderful

beer STORY by Mike D’Amour PHOTOS by Andrew Leong & Kurt Knock

“I would kill everyone in this room for one drop of sweet beer.”—Homer Simpson

t is the oldest-known written recipe. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because of it. Or, better put, they landed because they lacked it. It was so important that, at one time, watering it down meant death for the person responsible. It’s beer. Yep, the frothy brew that was responsible for the premature landfall made by the pilgrims who originally planned to sail to a warmer climate, but had run out of beer on the journey. Beer was so ingrained in some cultures that it became an integral part of many ceremonies. For example, in 11th-century England, a bride would distribute ale to her wedding guests in exchange for donations to the newlyweds. Known as Bride Ale, it’s the origin of the word “bridal.” It’s even been argued the invention of beer (and bread) was responsible for humanity’s ability to develop technology and build civilizations. Yet, for all the mystique and lore surrounding it, the recipe to make

beer is incredibly straightforward — all you really need is a bucket, a bubbler, and a siphon hose. Simply put unfermented beer in the bucket, put the bubbler in the little hole on top of the bucket (the bubbler allows gas to escape without contaminating the beer), and let it sit for a couple of weeks and it’s ready to drink. Beer is made by fermentation caused by bacteria feeding on the yeast cells, and then defecating. This bacterial excrement is called alcohol. OK, that may be an oversimplification, but if it’s so easy to make beer, why aren’t more people doing it? The answer is equally straightforward: Good beer just isn’t that easy to produce. No one in the valley knows that better than Chris Gress, the man responsible for the great suds at The Craig Street Brew Pub. Gress is the brewmeister behind the pub’s four crafted staples — and, so far, more than 50 feature beers, since he began with the company in 2005. “Most guys think it’s one of the top two jobs ever,” said Gress. “Do I have the best job in the world? I don’t know, but it’s gotta be up there; maybe rock star is up there too.” continued page 8

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from page 6 But what Gress said people don’t know about producing a good beer is the glamourless aspect of the job. “What they don’t know, or think about, is when it’s time to do the dishes, the dishes are really big,” he said. Cleaning is a big job, so big Gress reckons a good 70 % of his time is spent cleaning and making sure everything is sanitary. “If you can’t keep it clean, you can’t make good beer.” The 45-year-old married dad of a six-yearold son came by his love of things brewed and distilled in an honest way; tricks of the trade were handed down like a family winter 2015

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heirloom. “My grandfather is 94 years old and taught me to set up a still when I was in my mid20s,” said Gress. During this, he told me a man never starts a job he isn’t going to finish and that I would have to find a job I would enjoy because then the rest of my life wouldn’t be like work. I’ll never forget that.” Gress ended up taking associate degree program courses, such as organic chemistry, bio chem and microbiology, out of Camosun College. continued on page 10 station winter 2015

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from page 9 “I took them specifically to make beer,” he said. “I don’t have a degree. I took the sciences that I wanted to take to control the microbiology process of fermentation and to be able to control the flavour and the yeast.” Gress also took instruction at the Sable Institute of technology, a beer school in Chicago. But he knows he could learn more. “Beer is the most studied science in the history of mankind, period,” he said, moments before he grabbed a pen, put it to a whiteboard and began to draw pictures of the molecular structures of beer’s various components. The drawings were so extensive and complex, it had one visitor wondering, “Gee, I wonder what’s for dinner tonight?” But that’s the beauty of beer, isn’t it? One doesn’t have to know the exact process to enjoy a pint of lager or ale.

And folks in the Cowichan Valley apparently have a huge thirst for the stuff: in March, the Craig Street Brew Pub poured its one-millionth pint. That’s right, 1,000,000 pints, or a half-million litres of Arbutus Pale Ale, Cowichan Bay Lager, Shawnigan Irish Ale, Mt. Prevost Porter and the aforementioned feature beers have been created in several vast Craig Street Brew Pub vats, then poured from the taps of the Duncan pub. With all that beer done, and certainly much more to come, Gress did have an early concern he could develop a certain frontal protuberance some beer drinkers develop that can eventually waterfall over a belt. To combat that, Gress became a triathlon competitor. “I’ll never win a race, but it’s just for fun and to stop me from developing a pear shape,” he said.

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STORY by Kathy Santini

as feminism gone too far? In the battle of the sexes, is it time for the pendulum to swing back to a more neutral position? Has the time arrived for a men’s movement? Grant Waldman, executive director and wellness coach at Duncan’s West Coast Men’s Support Society, is a rare man brave (or crazy) enough to talk about these subjects. ‘It’s not about a men’s movement, or a women’s movement,” Waldman said. “It’s time for us all to work together to resolve society’s challenges. Society needs to have a more balanced approach — men and women working together, instead of the tension that exists.” One of the reasons for the tension is a belief patriarchy pervades everything, and all men are exercising their privilege over women. Waldman said there’s no arguing the existence of patriarchy, but said today it’s represented by a small number of men who are part of the government and corporate elite. “Yes, there are women who are marginalized, but there are as many men,” Waldman said. “It’s not cut and dry, it’s not a black-and-white scenario.” Some people, male and female both, might not agree. Recently, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s advised women at a tech industry meeting not to ask for raises, but wait for karma to provide them instead. Or, as some took it, “not to worry their pretty little heads.” Nadella later apologized, but some might claim this as exhibit A as to how not much has changed. Having said that, Waldman has support from an unlikely source. “It’s hard to be a man today, it’s extremely hard. There’s a crisis in male identity, in their roles as provider, protector and progeniture (father),” said Katherine Young, a professor emeritus at McGill University who spent her academic career studying Hinduism and gender and religion. Offering another opinion is Vancouver author and speaker Dr. Gabor Mate, who in a Nov. 4 opinion piece in the Toronto Star said the Jian Ghomeshi case points to male narcissistic rage towards women. continued page 16

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from page 15 Ghomeshi, for those who have been living under a rock this fall, is a former CBC host who has been accused by a number of women of assaulting and harassing them. He was fired by Canada’s national broadcaster, but maintains he is innocent, and is suing it for $55 million. Toronto police’s sex crimes unit is investigating three complaints against Ghomeshi. No charges have yet been laid. “We live in a society steeped in male narcissism, one in which aggression towards women is deeply entrenched in the collective male psyche,” Mate wrote, adding misogynist culture degrades and confuses people of all genders. Young’s interest in the subject came during her research on women and religion as a tenured professor at McGill. She found stacks of academic papers on women and women’s studies. In fact, she’s produced a lot of it herself. Through her work she became aware images of men were being stereotyped. “My sense of equality and justice came into play, I saw we needed to do a better job....I saw these images of men developing as either inadequate, or evil, or honorary women,” she is quoted as saying in an article in The Vancouver Sun. She said she was pushed into action when a powerful type of feminism took an ominous turn, toward gender superiority and a double standard. Ideological feminists, not egalitarian feminists have denounced men’s experiences and worked hard to silence them, the professor said. “If you look at books on gender and women, ideological feminism has been most prominent,” Young said. Poll women and men and they’ll probably agree that feminism’s legacy has benefited both sexes in many ways: dual incomes; more equal partnerships and marriages; greater educational and professional opportunities for women; maternity and paternity leave; and increased opportunities and expectations that fathers be more involved with their children. People don’t seem to be rushing to turn the clock back to life as depicted on the popular ‘50s TV show, Leave it to Beaver. At least not publicly. No rallying cry for a return to twinsets and pearls or Betty and Don Draper clones from the ‘60s TV show Mad Men. But has a good idea gone too far and is Waldman expressing sentiments felt by more than a select few? Young and colleague Paul Nathanson’s research has produced a number of

“As a men’s society, we hope women and men can have a respectful relationship, and have an appreciation for each others qualities. Our mandate is to help men, families and the community to create full, healthier lives. Everyone is in this together.” — Grant Waldman books on a subject they call the sexist counterpart of misogyny. It’s called “misandry,” which Young explained as a hatred or contempt of men. The result is a number of books. Their first, Spreading Misandry: The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture; their second, Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systematic Discrimination Against Men, their third, Sanctifying Misandry: Goddess Ideology and the Fall of Man, their fourth (about to be released), Replacing Misandry: A Revolutionary History and their last, Transcending Misandry: From Feminist Ideology to Intersexual Dialogue, which Young hopes will help counteract the way gender polarization and mistrust ruins relationships. According to Waldman, men’s opinions about the legacy of the women’s movement varies. “So much depends on the person’s experience, I know men who are strong feminists who believe in equality,” he said. Waldman’s organization receives $100,000 in funding from a community gaming grant, which allows it to run a number of men’s groups, including, Dads Make a Difference, Respect and Compassion, as well as men’s circles. During the past couple of years, the organization has seen some 100 men and helped an additional 50 young men. Some good things from feminism, he says, include the fact people now believe women can do whatever winter 2015

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they set their minds to, including running large corporations. There is an increased number of women enrolled in higher education, in numbers that often outnumber men. “Any men who have had to deal with the court or the justice system, or the Ministry of Children and Family (Development) have not had an easy process,” Waldman said. “This could be for all sorts of reasons (not just the women’s movement). It might be in how they show up.” “On the surface, the law tries to be gender neutral, but there’s systemic discrimination against men, it runs through a lot of judicial decisions,” Young said, adding men have a hard time gaining custody, even if the mom is abusive. “The agreement should be joint custody, but it’s very hard to get that presumption anchored in law.” “Why aren’t men being equally supported in society?” Waldman asked. “If we don’t provide balanced support, then society as a whole is off kilter. Society needs to recognize men need similar support to what women get.” Like Waldman, Young sees a real need to offer more courses on men, about subjects that are of concern to them. She’s seen resistance to doing that. “Universities should be places where ideas and research are debated,” the professor said. “There’s been a concerted effort to prevent it; it’s seen as a backlash against women.” Speaking of backlashes, Young said one of the reasons she could conduct her research was because she was a tenured professor. “No young person looking for tenure would want to get involved with this,” the professor said, adding McGill stood behind her research. Misogny and misandry are on the rise now, Young said, “both are escalating,” and people who support such beliefs have found a home on the Internet. The world wide web allows people to express their opinions without consequences, the McGill professor said, as they can comment anonymously. Given this gloomy picture, is there any hope? Should men just give up and retreat to their man caves? “As a men’s society, we hope women and men can have a respectful relationship, and have an appreciation for each others qualities,” Waldman said. “Our mandate is to help men, families and the community to create full, healthier lives. Everyone is in this together.”

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jean crowder

Longtime MP reflects on her decade of serving Cowichan in Ottawa STORY by Maeve Maguire PHOTOS by Andrew Leong

n our nation’s Parliament, the Speaker of the House of Commons calls the next speaker from the floor: “The Honourable Member for Nanaimo-Cowichan.” New Democrat Jean Crowder stands at her seat. She is small in stature, but fierce in her appeal to the majority Conservative government. As the NDP critic for Aboriginal affairs, she is summarizing findings of a report on violence against First Nations women. Her final statement is unrelenting: “It is Canada’s shame that indigenous women and girls have never been made a priority, by any government.” Crowder was two years into her first term as municipal councillor for North Cowichan when she was asked to run federally for the NDP. She was elected to Parliament in 2004, along with fellow freshman Jack Layton, and has remained in office since. Crowder redefines the image of the Canadian politician. She is 5’2 inches tall. Slight. Female. Of the 308 members of the House of Commons, this 41st parliament of Canada has 76 female MPs. Crowder is unapologetic in advocating for more women in politics. Her stories about being disregarded as an MP because of her sex are both funny and telling about the expectations the public still has — in 2014 — of what our political leaders look like. This was one of the topics of our long conversation one July afternoon at her Green Door office in downtown Duncan. Crowder’s 11-year political career comes

to an end next year when we go to the polls in our newly defined LangfordMalahat-Cowichan riding. Before she leaves office, I wanted to capture some of her lessons learned and memories during her successful career. MM: Were you involved in community work before you were elected to municipal council? JC: I’d been a community activist. I’d been at protests and was involved with various groups. I’d been always small-p political but never was interested in running for office. MM: Because? JC: I didn’t see myself as a politician. I didn’t see it as something I had the skill set for or the aptitude because I saw it, at that time, as being combative, aggressive, nasty, and I just didn’t see that was a sandbox I would play in. What happened was North Cowichan council had a rezoning application to put in a gas-fired generation plant. They were going to zone a piece of property Heavy Industrial—they had to change the zoning to allow that to happen. That was 2002. The council was all male. They had hearings at the community centre. I’m making these numbers up but it just shows you the imbalance. Five-hundred ninety-nine spoke against the application and one spoke in favour. But the council sat on the stage and looked completely disinterested. Maybe they weren’t but they looked it. continued page 20

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MM: Your impression. JC: That was how it felt from sitting in the audience. And so a number of people said we need women to run for council. We need women’s voices at the table. And because I’d been involved in various community things people would say, “You should run!” I laughed. Except that what happened was a group of three women all agreed that we would run for North Cowichan council together so we had a support network. The two other women dropped out so I was left standing. Barb Lines did end up getting elected at the time, and so did Ruth Hartmann. MM: How was your first campaign? JC: I was pretty naive. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I had a team that helped me. We knocked on doors, and went to all-candidates meetings, and went to the farmers’ market, and I did all the things you should do. I had no expectations of winning and people thought of me as a long shot because I hadn’t been involved in council at all. Then I won. MM: Were you comfortable at council? JC: A ridiculous thing to say, they weren’t ready for women on council. We had no place to put our handbags. It was the mundane stuff. It was like, “Oh wait, we have women on council, what do we do with them?” MM: Now you need two sexes going to the bathroom. JC: So it was a different experience for staff and council members to all of sudden have winter 2015

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Season’s Greetings all these women — for the first time. MM: What year was that? JC: 2002! MM: That doesn’t seem that long ago. They had women elected 2740 JC: Dundas Rd.had Shawnigan Village previously, but not many, and never half 250 929-8886 the council. MM: How did you end up running federally? JC: I was frustrated at council with the fact that so many decisions were made We somewhere hand chip potatoes elselocal that impacted directly in our community. And then people for the best tasting fries. approached me to see if I was interested POUTINE in running provincially and federally, but I WILD FISH & CHIPS said “no” provincially. CHICKEN TENDERS & you CHIPS MM: The first campaign were naive. OnBURGERS this campaign? & FRIES JC: I’d 2had the basic bones of the campaign *OVER DOZEN BURGERS* experience with municipal. A federal CHICKEN, GROUND CHUCK, FISH OR VEGGIE campaign ramps it up in scope and FULL MENU & SPECIALS LINEAnd @ you magnitude and issues, of ON course. have a way bigger team and you need to www.villagechippery.com spend more money. It’s more sophisticated, UK Candy, Waffle Cones, Milkshakes you know with media and those kinds of things. But I had an experienced campaign team because people here had worked on successful provincial campaigns for a number of years and so they were able to translate that into the federal campaign. Having that support from people is huge. There’s no way you can do this on your own — nor should you think you could. That part of it was easier in some ways because there was such a team. It was harder in some ways because the issues are so big. continued page 22

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you’re going to find many more avenues for collaboration across party lines. We would MM: And could you speak to them? have to fundamentally change our electoral JC: Well, I’m a policy wonk. And I had system in order to not have parties. I think somebody doing research for me. That it’s far easier to move into proportional was one of the team members’ tasks. We representation, which then allows for that would be paying attention to issues in the cross-fertilization to happen. But right now media and they would do research to find with first-past-the-post, it’s everyone for out what other people said, and you know, themselves. It’s a completely dysfunctional Google is a wonderful tool. And so I felt system. fairly comfortable with talking about a MM: That dysfunction I think is one of variety of things because of that research the reasons people don’t engage in it. I capacity within our team. don’t think people trust that you’re going MM: Were you an NDP supporter from the to meet constituents’ needs because you’ll beginning? meet the party’s needs first. JC: I’ve been an NDP member off and on JC: Well that’s not true, actually. I have since university. a broad cross-section of the community MM: How do you devote yourself wholly that supports me. Obviously I do; party to one party platform? What if you think members are only a tiny portion of the a decision the Conservative party made population so I had 20,000 people vote for was a good one? me and most aren’t party members. What JC: I think you support the decision people perceive with me, and will perceive parties make when you can align yourself for many people, although I’m running with them. Because of how our electoral as an NDP candidate, once you run for system works, it’s very difficult to not align Parliament, you represent the whole yourself with a party. riding. MM: Don’t you think that’s a drawback? MM: You don’t represent the NDP members JC: I think it’s a drawback when you have a only but I think you answer to the first-past-the-post system. I don’t think it’s NDP leader before you answer to your a drawback when you have proportional constituents. representation because when you have JC: I’ve voted against our party on matters, proportional representation or I’ve abstained and so have other from page 21

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colleagues. MM: Without repercussion? JC: I haven’t had repercussion. Sometimes there are repercussions for other members but it depends what the matter is. We are generally not whipped. We are whipped on matters of confidence — because that’s going to bring the government down — we’re whipped on matters of human rights. So on the same-sex marriage bill when it was being debated, we were all going to vote for it. One member didn’t vote for it and there were sanctions for it. She opted to sit as an independent. MM: Interesting. JC: But that was her choice. She wasn’t forced out of the party. The sanction was she wasn’t going to get question in Question Period for a period of time and she wasn’t going to get statements and then should could come back into the fold. MM: And do all of you think that’s fair? JC: Yep, that’s fair. You get to tell the leader what’s in your head. Sometimes you change the leader’s mind on issues. I think it’s fair. Generally speaking, we’re not whipped on votes. Generally speaking, I support where we go on pieces of legislation because we’re usually bringing the New Democratic point of view to it which I support — you know social justice, environment — I don’t generally disagree with where we’ve gone on a particular issue. Where I have disagreed, I’ve either abstained because I haven’t felt strongly enough to vote against it, or I’ve voted against it. And I haven’t had repercussions. People are clear when I run what my stance is on women’s right to choose, on the gun registry, on same-sex marriage, which are in line with the party. I think what’s important is you’re clear with people about where you come from with those issues, and they can decide whether or not to vote for you. MM: Question period. It seems like a show. JC: It is. I’ve only been there since cameras were introduced but apparently it completely changed. The government likes to remind us that it’s question period not answer period. So you rarely get answers to anything. MM: What a waste of time. JC: It is. I think the one small value in question period is you get to ask questions that need to be asked about particular issues. You may not get the answers but at least it’s on people’s radar that you need to pay attention to this issue. Apparently, there are other parliaments in the world where the speaker makes the government answer. That would be a refreshing change. continued page 24 station winter 2015

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from page 23 MM: Wouldn’t it. JC: It’s pretty frustrating as a person asking a legitimate question and getting nothing for an answer. Sometimes when you hear the response you think were you actually in the same room where the question was posed? MM: Why are you not running again? JC: I’m not running again for a variety of reasons. By October 2015, I’ll have been at it for 11.5 years and I will have travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres. I’m in my 60s, I’ve got three grandchildren; it’s time for me to step back. My grandkids are seven, five and three, and I get to see them five times a year and they live a long way away. I’m in good health right now and I’ve got the energy to deal with my grandkids. It would be great to do it while I still can. And I’m tired. I’m tired after doing the travelling and the seven years of minority government knocked the stuffing out of me. I’ve had four elections. I’m a bit warn out. MM: When are you not working? JC: I’m taking a week off next week to visit my grandchildren, although I have my handy little Blackberry so I usually end up working. MM: What if you lose it for one week. Would the world come to an end? JC: Last year, for the first time in nine years, I went to someplace where there was no Blackberry access for a week on holiday, and the world didn’t come to an end. There was a phone number for a real emergency they could get hold of me. Mind you, when I came back from the holiday the Blackberry was just like.... MM: ...heavy. JC: I don’t know what the answer is. There’s an odd perception that we shouldn’t have time off. MM: Why is that? JC: I think it’s that when someone has a problem, their problem is paramount and, “Why aren’t you here to deal with it?” I’ve had flack from people saying, “What do you mean you’re missing this event?” It’s very odd. Expectations from people are odd. MM: I think I even have that expectation, deep down. That you should be at all things. Not that you shouldn’t have holiday time, just not during my event. JC: That’s very much how people feel about it. We try to be careful when I schedule my time off, but sometimes there’s just no choice. If this is the week that I get to spend with my grandkids, I’m taking it. And when my dad was dying. I didn’t tell anybody my dad was dying winter 2015

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Featuring Vancouver Island Artists

"Summer Poppies" by Linda Molloy

Custom Framing Specialists Custom Framing Specialists because I didn’t want people to know I would be a week in the hospital with him, ducking my duties. MM: That’s ridiculous JC: It is ridiculous. MM: Is that because it’s still a mostly male workplace? JC: It’s totally why. MM: I mean, your dad was dying. And you couldn’t tell people? JC: Minority government, we’re going into an election, why aren’t you in your riding working? MM: Wow. JC: Lately, I’ve started pushing back on it. I would never tell people I was going on holiday for a week. Ever. Ever! MM: Now because you’re not running again, you don’t have to worry about your seat? JC: No, I’m trying to say to people it’s OK if you occasionally need time off. I’ve been lecturing some of my colleagues — some of them don’t take time off, like they’ll take a day here and a day there. MM: They must be exhausted. JC: They’re exhausted and it’s not human. It’s not realistic. I work a ridiculous number of hours every week. MM: Like? JC: When the house is sitting, and flying back and forth including travel time, I work up to 80 hours per week. I rarely work under that. MM: Do you exercise? JC: I do. I get up early in the morning and I schedule it. What I observed is that many of the men around me always scheduled station winter 2015

their exercise and I always felt guilty about doing it. MM: Do you feel guilty? JC: No. Because I feel better and I’ve got more energy. MM: Women in politics. There is a report saying a small percentage of women are in federal politics. What’s been your experience as a woman? JC: That number hasn’t shifted. It went up slightly in 2011, it was about 20% before then. It’s been at that number for two decades or something — a long time. Hasn’t budged. The institution is not well set up to accommodate women. And it is absolutely family unfriendly. MM: There’s no place to hang a purse — or breastfeed a baby. JC: We’ve got a number of women who are changing that. They breastfeed their babies in the lobby. There is a daycare on site. I don’t know how accessible it is, in terms of a wait list. The culture itself assumes you’re not a member of parliament if you’re a woman. I still have to tell security I’m an MP. MM: No. JC: Grey-haired men don’t get asked at the same level as I do. I’ve asked them and they say I never get asked if they’re an MP. And they haven’t been around as long as I have either. MM: You said you didn’t think you were a capital-P politician. Is that because we have an image of what that looks like? The great politician is old, wise, portly.... JC: ...and male. continued page 26

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from page 25 MM: Winston Churchill. JC: I’ve told this story so many times because it just typified for me how women are the staff. One of my very first caucus meetings, the media cameras were all set up outside and the men would walk down into the room and the cameras would come on. I came down and it was me and to women, two staff, and we walk up and the cameras didn’t come on. MM: Hey, I’m over here! JC: I clearly was a staffer. The number of times I’ve been in the elevator and there’s been a group of men who didn’t know each other, and they made the assumption I’m that guy’s wife. The little woman coming to Parliament. MM: What do they do? JC: It’s pretty funny. And when I broke my leg, in 2008. Outside the house is a foyer where the media all hang out and do the scrums. There’s a bathroom off to the side. When I broke my leg, there’s an outside entrance door, and you hit the handicap thing and it opens the door. Except it opens the men’s door. But there was no handicap access to the women’s bathroom door. MM: Did you make a change? JC: I did because I couldn’t get in the bathroom! How come the men’s door has handicap access and the women’s doesn’t? MM: How to encourage more women to run for politics? Must we? JC: Yes. There’s been lots of research on that. Until a third of the people in any organization is women, you can’t shift the culture. 20-some-odd percent isn’t enough to shift the culture. MM: From what to what? JC: I would like to see a culture that looked at collaboration as being a good thing. That working together was a good thing. I’d like to see a culture that recognizes that people have family responsibilities. Not just children, but caring for senior parents MM: A dad passing away. JC: A dad passing away. A culture that respects and there is some accommodating for people with families It’s terrible if you have a young family and you have to travel to Ottawa. MM: What was it like as a first-time MP? JC: I spent the first six months hating the job. MM: Hating it? JC: I detested it. I’d wondered what I’d done. Get me out of here! MM: Because why? JC: A bunch of things. Part of it was that I’d run because I care about my community and then you immediately leave your community with all your winter 2015

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supports. And the system was so foreign. It’s stupid in some ways. MM: Did the party have a mentorship program? JC: We didn’t at the time. We were pretty small. When I got elected there were only 19 of us at the time. They were helpful but there’s no way they had time to take anything on. There were seven of us that were new, out of 19. Since that, I’ve mentored a whole bunch of MPs. There was no orientation. There was a two-hour orientation for the House of Commons. MM: That’s it. Have fun! JC: Exactly. The thing about this job is we’re all like single owner/operators. So even if you belong to a party, there’s only one Nanaimo-Cowichan riding. So we’re isolated to some extent, right? So it’s a weird, weird job in some ways. MM: What was it like working with Jack? JC: Oh it was great. It was great. I really liked him. It’s kind of neat. He and I both got elected at the same time in 2004 so we were both thrown into the parliamentary process at the same time. He was learning to be leader and learning to be a parliamentarian all at once. I can’t imagine what his job was like. MM: Advice for the next generation of MPs? JC: Remember who you are representing. If it can’t afford to be on the front page of your newspaper, don’t do it. I tell people that all the time. I can’t believe the stupid things people do. Find something you’re passionate about that you think you can drive in the political process. Because there are lots of things you do in this job you’re not passionate about. And then find ways to stay connected to your community. Make sure you stay connected to home. MM: Lowest moment? JC: Agreeing to run in 2011 and then having Jack die two months after the election. In part, I ran in 2011 because of Jack. MM: Did you know he was ill? JC: I thought he was recovering. We all knew he was ill but we thought he was getting better. I felt like I’d been deserted when he died. That was really hard. And it took me a while to bounce back from that. If Jack hadn’t have been there I don’t know that I would have run again in 2011. MM: Greatest accomplishment? JC: I’d have to say Jordan’s principle. It’s making slow incremental change for how kids are dealt with in care. It’s being cited in court decisions and human rights tribunals as a way to go. It’s slow progress but it is making a difference.

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Cowichan Secondary grad uses positive attitude to keep her acting career moving forward words with:

erica

carroll STORY by Peter W. Rusland PHOTOS courtesy of Erica Carroll

rica Carroll enjoyed having her throat slit. The death-defying scene was part of playing Hannah the fallen angel in TV’s Supernatural series that — among other roles — has the Cowichan-raised actress thanking heaven for the 16-year career she loves. “Hannah’s just a really fun character,” Carroll said from her Vancouver home shared with husband-sound technician Greg Hewett and bullmastiff Bella. Both Cowichan High grads, the couple got reacquainted on a 2006 Battlestar Galactica set where Carroll depicted a civilian. “I try to maintain a positive attitude all the time.” An open mind and helping hands let Carroll develop depth for characters she’s

depicted in what she explained can be a shallow industry. “I had lots of help in Duncan,” she said, citing Duncan-based TV director Brent Clackson and other mentors who helped Carroll gain acting smarts she missed at Cowichan Secondary School. “I didn’t take drama at high school,” the 1995 grad said. “But what changed my life was a family-life program at junior high (Quamichan Middle School) where they introduced self-esteem and confidence.” Tenderfoot temerity attracted professional mentors that also led her to roles in Spooksville, The Haunting Hour, and many other productions. “Brent Clackson was an absolute angel when I started out, and helped me get into the union (of B.C. Performers/ACTRA). I worked on The Outer Limits with Brent.” She also took a 1998 acting course with Cowichan director Louis Lawless in Victoria. Coupled with good agents

— including Barbara Coultish’s firm — Carroll carved a niche in what can be a tough business. “This industry has a lot of superficiality, but I was raised to be authentic. You can build lasting organic relationships in this industry,” the straight-talking, witty artist said after set work and five auditions in a week which left her brain “mush.” “I’ve had experiences with people, and we all like each other, and help each other.” So she’s giving back by mentoring young actors through her class called The Edge. “I help them create a set of morals and ethics, and where they should draw the line. This industry is just another job but you have to work hard and have integrity; you can’t be lazy, and you must know what you stand for.” Carroll stands for offbeat thinking that fuels individuality, while she hones her craft. “Art creates thinking out of the box, and winter 2015

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lets people feel their intuition. But there’s a fear of judgement, and there’s bullying for thinking outside the box.” But Carroll was never a conformist anyway. “There’s lots of heartbreak in this industry, but I can act like a goof-ball and people just say ‘Oh — she’s an actor.’ “I’d watch Saturday Night Live on weekends and do impressions on Monday, she said. “To lose your connection with creativity is sad. To be so serious you can’t express yourself — that’s hell.” So Carroll exorcizes ideas on her keyboard. “I have lots of scripts on my mind, it’s a just a matter of time (before one is accepted). Like any creative endeavour it’s scary; you tire yourself out and you’re judged.” She also studies acting subjects, and people watches while incognito. “I’m a character actor and love the station winter 2015

human condition; seeing gestures and why people do things. The luxury is to be anonymous.” Working scenes with colleagues or coaches complements her studies in burlesque, dancing, fencing, clowning, mask workshops, and improv. Self-made self-esteem had Carroll advising school boards to maintain drama studies that are being shaved to save money. “Drama programs have to be kept; they teach kids to connect with each other genuinely. They create a strong sense of community.” Sense of self, not fame, makes Carroll most proud. “I’ve been kind and decent all the way through; that’s making it for me. “We all have to be open to whatever our journey’s going to be.” Follow Carroll’s journey at divinepigeon on twitter.

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something to

chew on

we asked three local restaurants to share their favourite sandwiches, here’s what they cooked up STORY by John McKinley PHOTOS by Andrew Leong

The Big Bang

Fatima da Silva, Bistro 161, Duncan This, its creator says, is not a sandwich for wimps. Concocted by a famished staff one night after a Christmas party, the Big Bang started as a sandwich for four, using every kind of meat left over from the party. Today it nestles on the menu as melange of thin-sliced chicken, chorizo, pastrami and ﬂank steak with grainy dijon, mayo, hot banana peppers and sauerkraut. Hearty eaters only please.

Grilled Wild Salmon Burger

Jason Lowe, Satellite Bar & Grille at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club Upscale, but not pretentious. That’s what the menu planners were going for for this sandwich and it’s what they achieved. Artisan lettuce, miso mayo and feta combine on a Portoﬁno Bakery pheasant sesame bun accent the wild B.C. salmon, with the subtle mayo twist elevating it to a customer favourite. It’s more than just the golf drawing residents to Arbutus Ridge.

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road taught lessons the

has

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Or what I’ve learned from visits to 63 countries and counting STORY by Kathy Santini

ixty four countries in 58 years. I know my mother’s to blame. Wasn’t it Freud who said if it’s not one thing, it’s your mother? At six, I had wanderlust. Things at 1327 – 75th Ave. were, well, frankly boring. I needed a change of scene, stat. “Don’t forget to pack a change of underwear,” my enabler advised, as Pat Santini watched me stuff my Barbie doll case with the young traveller’s essentials: a chocolate bar, book, Chinese skipping rope, Barbie doll, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste. It was the first of many lessons I would learn while travelling: always take clean underwear. This story is about some of the other things I’ve learned along the way, in a life that’s been blessed with some amazing adventures. Among them? Working as a reporter in a war zone; dancing in Rio night after night until dawn for a straight week and working in Sydney’s red light district. (It’s not what you think.) My travel addiction — and I’m not, definitely not, looking for a 12-step program — has taught me:

There’s second class and then there’s second class. When travelling from Lahore to Quetta, Pakistan, in 100-degreeplus heat, we splurged and booked a second-class train seat.

Oh the places I’ve been

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Second class, we learned, was being lumped in with other women, their children, livestock and cooking implements, which they used to prepare delicious meals for their husbands who were kicking back — sans all the above — in the car next door. In this instance, second class meant more than the seat.

People won’t always get your name right. While Down Under, a number of Aussie males kept calling me Sheila, even after I told them my name. Must have a doppleganger out there. It’s important to have faith. In Afghanistan in 2005, I met a unicorn: that rare Afghan woman whose parents promised not to arrange a marriage for her. In a country with few other opportunities to meet men, I asked her where she might meet a future husband. “I will Insha’Allah (God willing),” she said. I’ve thought about her a lot over the years. Like a homing pigeon, you’ll always be able to spot your mom, no matter what. Ever wondered how an Afghan child recognizes his mom in a sea of blue burkas? By looking at her shoes, of course. continued page 36

Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark , Dominica, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe , Guinea, Holy See (Vatican City), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia , Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan , Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore , Spain, Sweden , Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Virgin Islands 35

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from page 35

Hang out where celebrities do, you might increase your chances of meeting them. Or not. While working as a reporter in Kabul in 2005, some friends and I celebrated my birthday at Gandamack Lodge. Disappointingly, nowhere in sight were Osama bin Laden’s wives: number one and two, who’d lived there previously while he was evading Americans, running between caves in Tora Bora. You’re exotic to someone out there. At dawn one morning in India, a farmer herded his water buffalo through our campsite, which did I mention, was in his field? He was fascinated with our white skin, which he’d never seen. As he gingerly stroked our arms, to feel what white skin felt like, I felt like a Panda in a Canadian zoo. Exotic and out of place. Stereotypes are just that and often plain wrong too. In 2005, while covering the first parliamentary elections in Afghanistan in 33 years, I assumed Afghan women voted the way their husbands told them to. Wrong, wrong, 36

CUBblAame it o

and wrong again I was repeatedly told by women voters, as they came out of the Afghan equivalent of a voting booth.

There’s something very, very special about a toilet seat. Squatting over a hole in the Middle East and Asia gets old reaaaaally quick. Toilet seats aren’t a luxury, especially as you age, don’t you agree? Years after hiking the Inca Trail, I can still see our porter blasting past me, up the steep stone stairs like a man trying to outrun a tsunami, as the top of the group’s toilet seat slammed up and down, up and down. A hilarious and comforting sight. There’s a reason it’s nicknamed, “the Stinkin’ Trail.” Aussie men suck, or at least they did in ‘81. My opinion is admittedly dated, so if you’ve come a long way baby, my apologies. (See stereotypes are often plain wrong, above.) Working as a cocktail waitress in Sidney’s red light district, I could examine the Aussie male close up. Ten minutes before closing time — I swear this is the God’s truth — the guys would approach the Sheilas (see people won’t always get your name right, above) after spending the whole evening talking to

their mates. Why the sudden interest? You figure it out.

Countries, like people, can change their tune. Prior to 2008, it was a number of people’s consensus, including mine, that Greeks were fed up with us tourists. The Turks, a boat ride away, were far friendlier. After the financial crisis in 2008, the Greeks had time to rethink things and realized us dollar-dropping cretins weren’t so bad, after all. As Sally Field said, “they liked me, they really winter 2015

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! e r he e r e w u o y h s i w

t on desire almost pathological. Through our daily sails, I got a glimpse behind the cigar curtain.

Think seriously about putting things off, you might not get a second chance. In 1981, while travelling through Syria, I visited one of the best-known crusader castles, Crac des Chevaliers. Today, the castle is in ruins, because of that country’s civil war. Had I not gone then, I’d never have seen it, or tasted my first crème brulee in Palmyra’s Meridian Hotel. Yum yum. liked me.”

People need to tell their stories, even if there could be a price for doing so. I didn’t have the energy to travel by myself, so booked an all-inclusive in Cuba. Despite my choice, I wanted to learn about the real Cuba, not the sanitized version Fidel and Raul were dishing out. Things like: our health care is the best in the world, yada yada. To my surprise, the Cuban who took me sailing was more than willing to talk about the real Cuba, his station winter 2015

Despite their compassionate natures, nurses can be sharks too; and looks can be deceiving. At Compass Cay in the Bahamas, nurse sharks, a kind of Bahamian catfish, swim among the shallows sucking sediment and little critters from the sand. Big and scary looking with their dorsal fins, they’re actually friendly and photogenic. You can even swim with them. Warning: don’t try this at home, or in the Bahamas.

It’s Rio’s fault. I blame it on Rio, for wanting to come back as a Brazilian in my next life. What’s not to love about a

country that has: a disproportionate share of the best beaches in the world, peeps with easygoing, charming personalities, and inarguably, the best cocktail in the world? There’s a reason they call the caipirinha, their national drink, the dealmaker; it’s more powerful than gin, nudge nudge, wink wink.

As you age, what you pack will change. Fifty two years after my first solo journey, Barbie no longer makes the cut. Today, it’s contact lens’ solution, sunscreen, and insect repellant, all in 100 ml containers or less, of course. Oh and that brilliant invention, which sells for a mere $21.95, the Knee Defender. What’s not to like about a product which stops the person in the row in front of you from reclining their seat into your lap? Don’t leave home without it, or your American Express card. Take that first class. Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home (at least until you’ve got your next trip planned). ‘Nuff said. S 37

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he Community Farm Store shouts out a sincere thank you to the people of the Cowichan Valley. “Without the community that we have supporting the work we do, we would never have been able to birth an incredible store like this,” current owner Nicolette Genier says. Genier, 53, is referring to the store’s new location at 5380 Trans-Canada Highway, just south of the silver bridge. This is the second growth spurt for CFS she explains. It originally opened in 1993 as a small store in the rural community of Glenora. Ten years later, in 2003, it called the Duncan Garage home. “If something was worth carrying, we had it. It was a nightmare trying to get it all out on the shelves,” says Genier. The Duncan Garage location was a huge success. Bulging at the seams and overflowing with customers, staff and products, Genier scouted a new location. A fearless businesswoman, she operates from the “if you build it they will come” point of view. continued on page 40

www.communityfarmstore.ca 38

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from page 38 “We moved so that we could be accessible to our members in a better way, and at the same time have things that we never had before,” she explains. And, as much as she would have liked to remain in the charmed downtown core of Duncan, traffic and parking were always going to be a problem. “As a grocery store you need parking,” she states. The new store, five times larger and just a five-minute drive from the Garage, is roomier and brighter. It’s a people-friendly environment. What’s more, the space and design allow CFS staff to bring in more of the planet-friendly, organic, fair-trade and non-GMO products valley residents have come to expect. Operating as a co-operative, the Community Food Store now boasts more than 4,000 members whose purchases are tracked. Members can then choose one of two options: a 2% grocery rebate, or make a donation, through CFS, to one of its eight non-profit community partners. Genier acknowledges Cowichan Valley community support is crucial to the CFS success story. But staff also plays a huge role. She says the CFS attracts the best of the best. “I’ve never had to advertise for staff,” she says. “[They] are people who are living the 40

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lifestyle.” Genier is referring to their focus on good health, resilient living and making careful choices about where they spend their money. “The employees are the nicest, warmest, most open-hearted people who are capable of healthy relationships, and are really good team players.” The attentive team of 40-plus people includes holistic, registered nutritional consulting practitioners, herbalists, and advisors. Open seven days a week, the professionals are there to suggest food and supplement choices that can make a difference to your health and your life. Beyond the staff, Genier applauds the relationship that CFS has with its organic farmers. “We worked hand-in-hand with over 20 farmers in terms of visioning the new store. They were a part of the whole thing,” she insists. For those mourning the loss of CFS at the Duncan Garage, grieve no more. Genier has not surrendered that space. Once the operation is fully settled into its new digs on the Trans-Canada Highway, there are plans in the very near future for a satellite store to reopen in the Garage, filling the downtown void.

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channelling:

what’s

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here’s what’s on heavy rotation on a handful of local iPods ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!

5TH YEAR

ANNIVERSA RY! Laura, Rachel, Andrea, Team Duncan

THANK YOU, COWICHAN VALLEY

Mike Norbury,

The AM album from the Arctic Monkeys Outside of their famous songs such as ... Why’d you only call me when you’re high? and Do I wanna know?” the rest of the album is killer. The solo in One for the road and the whole Arabella song makes my day! The Neighbourhood — Afraid They are a new band from California, I heard one of their songs in the new Spider-Man movie... I looked them up and found this gem... They toured with the new pop band the 1975 (who are taking off) and I think they’re a great upand-coming band. Ed Sheeran — Sing A new pop artist from the U.K... I don’t know to much about him but I watched some of his live stuff on YouTube and he is extremely talented and the song is super catchy.

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COMFORT YOU HAVE TO FEEL TO BELIEVE!

Andrew Abernethy,

Owner, The Lion Rampant Motley Crue — Theatre of Pain I grew up in the “hair metal” era, and this band has always been my favourite. While I don’t condone the clothes they wore during this period, they did churn out my favourite song of all time on this album, Home Sweet Home. Rob Zombie — Educated Horses Close to Halloween, and Mr Zombie always gets me in the mood for this time of year. American Witch is a favorite track off this album. The Four Horsemen — Rockin’ is ma’ Business Despite a short and tragic tenure in the music scene, I always loved the blues-influenced hard rock sound this band produced, Tired Wings definitely stands out on this album

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Tom Petty — Free Falling A great old classic my dad used to listen to while I was growing up. It takes me back to my childhood. Kings of Leon — Revelry What’s not to love? Any Kings of Leon song is worth listening to. Skrillex and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley — Make It Bun Dem I’m pretty much into any song with a good beat. station winter 2015

Cowichan Valley Specialist 250 597 4663 (Office) 250 597 4663 (Cell)

250-748-7200 (Business) 250 748 2711 (Fax) 43

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coffee with: STORY by Ashley Degraaf PHOTO by John McKinley

selina boily

o, she didn’t arrive in Birkenstocks. We didn’t go over all the barn births, nor did we sip some funky herbal tea. Cowichan midwife Selina Boily and I recently met for coffee at one of her favourite spots, Coffee on the Moon. Coffee is how the 43-year-old survives an all-nighter delivering babies and making rounds the next morning to new parents. Not only is she known around the community for her compassionate, caring and guiding soul as a midwife, but also for her role as part-owner of Matrea Centre, Matraea Mercantile and now Matraea Trading. Boily shared with me common misconceptions of midwifery as well as her favourite birth experiences. How long have you been a midwife? I knew I wanted to be a midwife after the birth of my first son. Being a young mother and not having the resources and support needed I was terrified. It was actually my husband, Josh, who suggested we find a midwife. He was a hippy. And he was the one who said we should find a midwife and I said, ‘I thought we burned them all.’ I went to the States to get my training. In between 1998 and 2001 I came back to Canada and registered with the College of Midwives of B.C. — a rigorous assessment process that took two years and included a year of supervision. I did come back to the island in late 2000 and eventually started the Cowichan Midwifery Group in 2001. How do you survive the long hours? I don’t remember the full quote but the gist of it is that you should live your life and not be able to distinguish between your work and play, that whatever you’re doing should give back to you some element of creativity, joy, pleasure, or satisfaction. I sometimes wonder though, if it justifies my workaholic tendencies. Do you feel like you have to explain your station winter 2015

credentials as a midwife often? A lot of people don’t understand what it means to be a midwife, what our schooling was and how many deliveries you needed to do, and how that compares. Frankly, I love that, when people ask. Do you think you’re better than a doctor? I embrace a collaborative approach with the health-care system. When it comes to our models, you’re comparing apples and oranges. It’s not about who’s better. It’s about who has the opportunity to provide a type of care women get to choose. What are the most common misconceptions of midwifery care? The biggest misconceptions we get are we only deliver babies at home, that our training is limited and you have to pay for our care out of pocket. What is one of the best things you’ve ever heard someone say about midwifery? When I have a woman say, ‘I feel like I got what I needed. I feel powerful. I feel honoured. I feel like I was safe and it was beautiful and I love my children and I feel confident,’ I know that’s the foundation of that relationship that will be passed to their children and ultimately to the world. I understand you’ve delivered a baby of a baby you delivered, how does that feel? Besides old, there’s always a privilege of being invited into someone’s experience. And when we start seeing a whole family, all the grandchildren in that family, that’s just amazing. Is it hard not to get too attached to your patients and families? And the challenge sometimes isn’t what more you can do, it’s finding the boundaries of where your life is and where your professional life ends. And that is a wavy line. That can be challenging and it can eat you up. Do you keep track of how many babies you’ve birthed? We needed 100 births to graduate. So before I could even hang a shingle, I had 100 hands-on. The tricky part is distinguishing between how many babies

I have caught and how many births I have attended. I have attended between 1,600 to 1,800. What was one of your favourite birth experiences. One of my most favourites was my sister’s birth. I managed to get to Vancouver, just barely. My mom was there. The primary midwife said, ‘Go ahead Selina.’ So I caught my nephew and it was a beautiful moment of passing this baby to my sister and her partner, and their tears ,and then looking up at my mother between their heads. How does it feel to have the responsibility of a brand new baby in your hands? Everyone knows you’re a witness to a miracle and that this is one of the most profound moments in a person’s life. The responsibility is big and heavy. The way I relate to this is through a culture in South American. The midwives are chosen when the elder midwife is getting older, and they need a new one. The next -born girl is the next midwife. When that baby is born, the families come to that family of the child, who’s going to be the midwife, and say, ‘Congratulations’ and ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s both about privilege and acknowledging the hardship of what it’s like to be a midwife. How do you cope with scary birthing situations? There’s always a potential for loss in any given experience. I’m always prepared. It’s the most unpredictable job you can do with the highest expectations. What’s one of your worst birth experiences? Obviously everyone wants a perfect, healthy, live baby. Given the unpredictability of that, not everyone gets that and those are obviously the most challenging. Without doubt, it’s how a birth goes; It is based on whether or not the mother and family felt supported through the process.

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frame

...and the last word, we give to award-winning photographer Andrew Leong 46

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