Issuu

LIFE AT ITS FINEST

AUGUST 2011

The Water Beckons Get the scoop on

Swim, sail, or shower

Probiotics

In Secrets & Lives

How Chris Causton Nearly Died WONDERFUL COWICHAN WINES Our wine expert takes a sip trip

Incredible Crab

A feast is just a trap away

1196 6807

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CONTENTS

august

Volume XXI, Issue 7, August 2011

FEATURES 12

Club for Sail Members are aging, so RVYC goes family

Make a Splash August’s sweet swim spots By Alex Van Tol

Stories by Our readers write of parties galore

COLUMNS 18

HAWTHORN Point Ellice House needs you By Tom Hawthorn

STATE OF THE ARTS A summer sampler of festivals By Alisa Gordaneer

DEPARTMENTS 8

CONTRIBUTORS Meet some of our writers

EDITOR’S LETTER Water, water everywhere

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Not enough martinis

COWICHAN The warm land makes great wine By Sharon McLean

FRONT ROW Brush up against artists along Bowker Creek; Free-B Film fest unspools; Folkwest fledges; and more By Robert Moyes CREATIVE MINDS We get under a hot poet’s hard hat By Gayle Mavor

HOT PROPERTIES A townhouse reno for empty nesters By Carolyn Heiman

TRAVEL NEAR The other side of Salt Spring Island By Gayle Mavor

HOT DESIGN Step into the outdoor shower trend By Anna Kemp

TRAVEL FAR Rent a flat in Europe — after you do homework By Vivian Moreau

HEALTH & FITNESS Probiotics, anyone? By Anne Mullens

FOOD & WINE Haul in fabulous Dungeness crab By Maryanne Carmack

TECHNOLOGIA The sweet sounds of digital music By Darryl Gittins

WRY EYE Want to go sailing? Then buy my boat By Vivian Smith

SECRETS & LIVES Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton By Shannon Moneo

BOULEVARD BOOK CLUB The Desert Queen tells the tale of Gertrude Bell, friend to Lawrence of Arabia By Adrienne Dyer

On our cover: Opening day 2011 in Cadboro Bay, Royal Victoria Yacht Club in the background

lIFE AT ITS FINEST

President John Simmons Vice President & Publisher Peter Baillie Associate Publisher Linda Hensellek Managing Editor Anne Mullens Associate Editor Vivian Smith Art Director Beth Campbell Business Manager Janet Dessureault Administration Coordinator Lori Smith Production Assistant Melissa Cross Printing Central Web Principal Photographers Russ Heinl, Vince Klassen, Gary McKinstry Advertising Linda Hensellek, Alicia Cormier Pat Montgomery-Brindle, Geoff Wilcox

ANNA KEMP Local freelance writer Anna Kemp grew up on the West Coast. She loves outdoor living, whether sleeping by a fire on the beach or luxuriating in a hot tub. Researching her piece on outdoor showers in this issue inspired her to start sketching shower designs, though she fears her city apartment might make things a bit uncomfortable with the neighbours. GAYLE MAVOR Writer

and photographer Gayle Mavor loves to write about her home, Salt Spring Island. “Regardless of how many times you visit or how long you’ve lived here, there’s always something new to experience, as I did, when I visited ‘the bread lady’ at Salt Spring Island Bread Co.,” says Mavor. From her ocean-view cottage, Mavor also enjoys writing about creative people like poet Garth Martens. “They say that with each generation, human wisdom accelerates and Garth Marten’s maturity and insight, in spite of his ‘ripe’ age of 28, felt like proof of that to me.” Our Libations writer recently found herself at a tasting celebrating the wines (and meads, ciders and spirits) of Vancouver Island and the other Gulf Islands. She was so impressed she was inspired to share some of the local treasures to be found in the Cowichan Valley. McLean teaches advanced sommelier courses on Vancouver Island for the International Culinary School and is enrolled in a Master of Wine program.

SHARON McLEAN

ROBERT MOYES A

native Victorian, writer and author, Robert Moyes has freelanced for the past two decades and has increasingly focused on covering the arts. He is particularly fond of music, especially when it is presented at buoyant, well-run festivals, and was alarmed when RootsFest and the ICA FolkFest died. Moyes is delighted that the artist- and volunteer-run Folkwest festival is making its debut appearance this August at Royal Athletic Park.

ISSN 1196-6807

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EDITOR’S LETTER After 20 years in Victoria, I rarely miss anything from my previous life in Vancouver — except Kitsilano Pool in summer. It’s a shimmering salt-water beauty and, to me, the best outdoor pool in the world. Once I was wearing a Kits Pool T-shirt in Europe and a stranger called out to me “Hey! Best pool in the world!” so I am not alone in that assessment. In the 1980s, I used to swim a kilometre there almost every morning of summer before heading into work. On each breath I’d take in the stupendous views of mountains, cityscape and harbour — and try to stay out of the way of the obsessive triathletes who’d bark if you slowed the pace. With its massive 137-metre lengths, three times longer than any Olympic pool, Kits took just eight lengths to swim a kilometre, 12 for a mile. Even in the falling rain it was a blissful, Zen-like swim that I have so far not been able to match here in otherwise wonderful Victoria. But this month, Alex Van Tol has given me a whole new list of great swimming places to try — assuming August is warmer than July! Her article on Victoria’s outdoor public swimming spots is a must-read for any water-loving Victorian on these August days. While I have tried many that she mentions, I have never checked out Matheson Lake, Bamberton, or the pool at Bear Mountain. I think I may head out to all three, soon. Since August means languid, leisurely enjoyment, we give you a collection of articles to help you get the most out of of the last days of summer. Tom Hawthorn celebrates the 150th anniversary of Point Ellice House, a historial treasure worth visiting. Sharon McLean takes us on a wine tour of the Cowichan and Anna Kemp explores the design delights of outdoor showers. Our readers reminisce about parties. We have stories on sailing, catching and cooking crab, and a travel getaway to Salt Spring. Associate editor Vivian Smith has even put her sailboat up for sale in our Wry Eye Column (and it is not too late to make an offer). In all, it’s a watery theme this month. So dive in! VB Anne Mullens, Managing Editor Boulevard welcomes your letters: editor@victoriaboulevard.com or by mail. Submissions may be edited. 10

Advice to the love-lorn… I read, with interest, your article “Love is not always in the air” in the May edition of Boulevard. I wanted to tell your readers my story before they make any decisions about joining dating organizations that promise lots of introductions and cost a lot of money. I joined Hearts about 2 1/2 years ago for $1,500 plus monthly fees and was assured that there were many “quality gentlemen” in the Victoria area who were members and that I could expect about one match per month. In that time, I have met two gentlemen. I have contacted the Vancouver and the Toronto offices numerous times but have been told that “things are very, very slow”. To date they have not agreed to a refund. I totally understand that there are no guarantees when it comes to finding a companion and love, but two dates in 2 1/2 years does not live up to that organization’s promises. On the other hand, Match Maker for Hire has been better and much cheaper. Name withheld by request … or just leave As an advertiser, my experience with Boulevard has been very positive but I will no longer be needing advertising space as I am moving to the mainland. Victoria, while lovely for the retired, the passerby, or the simply passionless, is in fact the cause of my complete stagnation and overwhelming resentment. The nature of the city being oriented towards gardeners, teetotalers, and newly divorced, unthreatening women working in safe government 9-4 flex positions who make perfect companions to the few available, wildly dysfunctional, emotionally vacant men, has resulted in my deep unhappiness in my chokehold of a Victorian existence. The fact that only two reasonable places exist to have a martini with one of the perhaps 10 interesting people in this town has only served to exacerbate the problem. Please don’t use my name; I don’t need hate mail from women who paint cats. Name withheld by request

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Now we feel better about the trees… I just want to say how much I enjoyed the July issue of Boulevard magazine. I can’t believe how many pages I tore out to save – restaurants on Quadra, how to clean my computer, decorating and stores etc. I also enjoyed the article on “Victoria inspires local fiction writers.” It is a great magazine for locals; truly the best I have seen since moving to Victoria 15 years ago. Jane Forster

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NAVAL-GAZING

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club sees which way the wind is blowing â€” and makes a course correction

N SUNNY days and summer evenings when the breeze is up, you can stand along the shore from Cattle Point to the tip of Ten Mile Point and see them across Cadboro Bay: sailboats of all sizes skim along heeled over, maybe a colourful spinnaker or two flying as light dances off the pure white hulls. Itâ€™s a majestic and magical sight from shore. If you are out on the water yourself with the sails taut and the engine off, you can add in the quiet sound of your vessel slicing through water, a mixture of soft gurgles and swooshes.

Nautical scenes such as these seem serene and timeless. But, like the tide, time stops for no one: so this year, even as it pauses to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its royal warrant, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, which overlooks Cadboro Bay, is trying to ensure it remains a thriving club. In Victoria, as in most North American cities, the population is aging and apparently, interest in activities like sailing is in a lock-step decline. And locally, that “royal” designation, bestowed by King George V, has its downside when you want to bring younger members and whole families into a club that has an image of being more for rich, snooty yachtsmen. “The word ‘royal’ has cachet, but it also has some baggage in the modern world,” says commodore Olav Thyvold, 51, who joined the club back in 1987. “It creates the perception of elitism, and we’re not about that.” In fact, anyone visiting the Ripon Road grounds will see lots of Gortex and fleece rather than traditional white and navy. He and other executives at the club figure that the solution is to promote a “sailing for life” approach to all programming. “We’ve got a generation of kids who think of sailing like volleyball: fun to do until you hit your teens,” says Thyvold. “So now we ask ourselves with every decision, are we enabling sailing for life or not?” Thyvold acknowledges that the club has not done a great job of providing families with reasons to join: if a kid was not into racing or cruising with (usually) Dad, there wasn’t much to do. But along with more programs for young sailors, an upstairs family lounge has been installed in the clubhouse, complete with comfy couches and a wide-screen TV, and a Salty Sisters program has begun for women 50 and over who want to learn to sail on women-only crews. With a nest egg building toward an expected $1.2-million by 2014, the club is looking forward to updating moorage facilities. And summer sailing classes for kids and adults are not just for members, either: the public is welcome to sign up. And anyone who wants to crew can stand in the “square,” a designated place by the docks for would-be racers to connect with skippers on race night if they want to join a boat and learn to crew. You can sign up online now, too. Membership fees increase with the applicants’ age, roughly a $1,000 per decade: junior sailors (8 to 18) pay less than $200 to join, while those over 40 pay the most, about $5,000. Plus there are monthly dues. At the moment, the club has about 700 active members, with berths for about half. There’s no waiting list to join but the wait for a slip can be more than eight years if you want to bring in your 42-footer — even the commodore is on that wait list. But families with dinghysized boats or smaller boats would only have to wait a year to 18 months for a slip, says Thyvold. General manager Simon Gatrell adds that owners of boats between 25 and 30 feet will wait one to two years for a slip. The “royal” aspects are still a part of the fun for some

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members though, especially this year. Earlier in the season, with the sun shining brightly, more than the usual number crowded the docks to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the royal warrant, with the “Queen” (as played by Carolyn Sadowska) bestowing a knighthood and the Naden Band providing the musical brass. So how did the club become “royal?” Well, apparently you just had to ask. In 1910, Victoria Yacht Club Commodore Granville V. Cuppage (no, we didn’t make the name up) wrote to the king’s representative in BC and asked that the Victoria Yacht Club be granted a royal warrant. A year later, the king said yes. Today, the club’s royal patron is Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who visited in 2003. Tickets for the official lunch were in such demand that the club held a lottery for them. Does having a royal warrant mean the club has any responsibilities to the Crown? Nope. The warrant comes with the right to fly a commemorative flag, but that is it. So members created their own obligations. In August 1914, when the First World War began, the Colonist wrote, “Many of the members have placed their boats at the service of the authorities and the offers have been accepted.” Many also joined the Royal Navy. In the Second World War, members again enlisted or studied gunnery. After a Japanese sub sank an American merchantman off Neah Bay in 1942, RVYC’s Richard James sailed evenings along the waterfront to ensure southern Vancouver Islanders observed the required blackouts. “I remember it well,” said James’s sister, Fran Blandy, a 70-year

RVYC member. “We formed the Coast Guard Auxiliary. On weekends we used club boats to practice evacuating people to the Gulf Islands in case Japan attacked us.” Of course, members have not always put their skills to strictly honourable purposes. As its website (rvyc.bc.ca) notes, “records do not show if Club coffers directly benefited, but, during the years of American prohibition, certain adventurous members often found cause to undertake midnight cruises to the international boundary line.” Today’s ventures are more, shall we say, communityminded. For the past 80 years, RVYC has organized Swiftsure, the premier North Pacific yacht race and now a citywide event. The club also sponsors the yearly Easter Seals Regatta, raising nearly $700,000 for children with disabilities. The Christmas Sea of Lights parade entertains hundreds and supports local food banks. The club supports international champions, too. Several members have earned Olympic and Paralympic medals in the past and a new young group of sailors is vying to represent Canada in the 2012 London Olympics. Victorians Jen Braem and Erin Flanagan are training this summer in their Olympicclass 470, a double-handed dinghy, as is the male 470 team, composed of Erik van der Pol and Fraser McMillan. Three RVYC teams are readying themselves to compete in the Paralympic-designated boat classes — Brenda Hopkin and John McRoberts in their Skud 18, Ken Kelly and Don Terlson in their Sonar, and Bruce Millar in his 2.4-metre keelboat. “At our core,” sums up Thyvold, “we’re all about sailing.” Thanks to club member Marianne Scott for research assistance. VB

Right: 1 - 49er dinghy under sail 2 - Opening Day 2011 ceremonies, photo by Brenda Jacques 3 - SV Kairos, an Areodyne 38, at the Opening Day sail past, photo by Andrew Madding 4 - Boats decorated with pennants for Opening Day, photo by Brenda Jacques Below: The clubhouse at dusk on a summer’s eve, photo by Stefanie Kobialka

freedom on the water

Disabled sailors find

Coast in. Hang out. Artwalk 1st Friday of each month Farmers Market Saturdays Free Summer Concert series through August Oyster Run September 25th Oktoberfest- Beer on the Pier October 8th

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When Pippa Blake moved to Victoria from Ontario in 2001, it wasn’t to become a sailor. Ten years earlier, Blake had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A former Pippa Blake; Dennis Robinson photo skier, hiker and runner, she missed these activities when she found herself in a wheelchair with little use of the left side of her body. After hearing a presentation about sailing for the disabled in 2005, Blake decided to try it and loved it. Blake, now 60, sails with Victoria chapter of the Disabled Sailing Association of BC, which operates out of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association’s Esquimalt Squadron in Esquimalt Harbour. The program is open to children and adults with a diagnosed disability, physical or mental, short or long-term. The dock is fitted with a hammock-like device to help disabled sailors in and out of boats. For sailors with less trunk support, such as quadriplegics, the instructors secure them with padding and a strap around the torso so they won’t fall in. The association encourages people to sail independently, once they have experience and the required skills. But sailors are constantly re-evaluated, says volunteer Hannah Brady, especially those with degenerative disorders, such as Blake. The instructors encourage sailors to get into racing because it fine-tunes their skills, says Blake, who has had some scary times. She recalls sailing around a corner into Esquimalt Harbour to see the baby seals and ending up on a rock. “Quite often I get scared when I first go out, but I kind of like that. It keeps you alive, rather than just letting things go. For people who are disabled, it’s a wonderful outlet, that combination of being out, a little bit of independence and the adrenaline gets going. It’s extraordinary how many types of disabilities they can accommodate.” The charge is $10 to $15 for a two-hour session, a subsidized price to keep it accessible. “Many people with disabilities live at or below the poverty level, which we have to be conscious of,” says Doug Nutting, the executive director of Recreation Integration Victoria, which operates the program. For more information about disabled sailing and how to support the program, go to disabledsailingbc.org.

photo by vince klassen

hawthorn By Tom Hawthorn

Donâ€™t let its industrial location deter you,

Point Ellice House is a time trip back

to Victoriaâ€™s earliest days.

THE HISTORIC Point Ellice House can be found on Pleasant Street. A surrounding heritage garden showcases roses and lilacs and hollyhocks. The grounds offer two leafy acres of bucolic pleasures, an oasis set amid the hubbub of a bustling city. The aged Italianate-style house is getting some needed repairs over the summer. The plan was to fix woodwork before an overdue paint job gave the home a refreshed appearance in time for a 150th anniversary celebration to be held later this month. It will take some doing to ensure this historic gem survives to mark its 160th birthday. Point Ellice House is one of the best-kept secrets in the capital district. Some assume it is a private bed and breakfast. In fact, volunteers labour hard to keep the national historic site in prime condition. In a tourist city offering no shortage of attractions, the home and gardens are too often overlooked. The spectacular 22 hectares of the Butchart Gardens are far larger and more fantastic; Craigdarroch Castle offers a hint of turn-of-the-century life in a fairy-tale setting just a short uphill stroll from downtown. A more modest venture, Point Ellice House charges just $6 admission, including an audio tour. A full luncheon tea with soup, savouries, and sweets served in the garden costs $25. The tea includes a tour. Such prices are on the low end. Page through the guestbook and the comments are filled 18

with praise: “Lovely”; “Beautiful as always”; “I like that it feels lived in, not museumified.” But the most telling statement is: “I’ve lived here all my life and I never visited.” More than three of four visitors come from outside the country, attracted by favourable online notices and websites extolling one of the continent’s largest collections of Victoriana. Locals seem reluctant to visit. The house suffers as a destination in part because it is surrounded by industrial lands and such neighbours as a gravel retailer, a windowmaking factory, and an auto upholsterer. The drive along nearby Bay Street offers little promise of a return to a time when Queen Victoria’s namesake city was a far-off outpost in an empire covering much of the globe. Built in 1861, the original waterfront cottage was purchased by Peter O’Reilly for $2,500 in 1867, the same year in which four British colonies on the other side of the continent joined a Confederation to be called Canada. Born in Ireland, O’Reilly came to British Columbia as a stipendiary magistrate at Fort Langley, later serving as a gold commissioner in the Cariboo. In Victoria, he married Caroline Trutch, the sister of the man who became the province’s first lieutenant-governor. Their graceful home on the banks of the Gorge waterway was expanded over the years. A number of outbuildings were also built. Tennis and croquet were played on the expansive lawns. Although O’Reilly originally opposed British Columbia joining Confederation, he later changed his position and, in the summer of 1886, invited Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his wife to the house for a gala party. The O’Reilly home became a gathering place for the city’s social elite, as well as a favourite destination for young Royal Navy officers stationed at the nearby base at Esquimalt. One of the lures was the vivacious presence of young Kathleen O’Reilly, among whose suitors could be counted Robert Scott, later to gain worldwide fame as an explorer whose exploits were depicted in the movie, Scott of the Antarctic. The house remained in family hands until the third generation sold it to the province in 1975. With the home came thousands of household items — a harp, tea services, writing desks, board games, kitchen utensils, silk taffeta neckties, porcelain foot warmers. The house is owned by the provincial government and managed by the non-profit Point Ellice House Preservation Society. A big birthday party will be held on August 21, when singers and dancers will perform on the lawns. An oldfashioned egg-and-spoon race will be conducted for children. Visitors will be able to consult with experts in gardening and military history. If the industrial surroundings seem off-putting for a visit, here’s a suggestion. Hop on a harbour ferry downtown and ride to the Point Ellice House dock along the harbour waters. These, too, were once despoiled by industry, but have since been reclaimed. Here’s hoping an historic house survives as a refuge and a reminder of the city’s earliest days. VB

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State of

TheArts

by alisa gordaneer

Try it, you’ll like it! Two summer festivals may

alter your arts tastes forever

IT’S FINE to have your favourite tastes and flavours in the arts just as in food. But to truly develop your palate, whether it’s for French cheeses or French horn concertos, I think it’s crucial to taste a bit of everything before you can make a properly informed choice. Such is the task, and the thrill, of summer festivals. Think of events like this August’s Fringe Festival or the brand-new Folkwest Festival as two excellent opportunities to sample some treats you might not have had a chance to experience up until now — and which might, if you give them a try, become your new favourite flavours. If you’re a theatre lover, of course, you know about the Fringe Festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in Victoria. Its modus operandi is 10 nights and days of independent performances, brought to you by Intrepid Theatre and hundreds of intrepid performers who present cutting-edge, comedic and often crazy one-hour shows. As someone who has attended literally hundreds of Fringe shows over the years, I’ll let you in on a secret: the key to getting the most out of a festival like the Fringe is to see more than just a few shows. If you attend one, and you’re 20

not pleased, you’ll go away with a sense of disappointment, gripe to your friends about what a terrible time you’ve had, and never go back. That’s not the spirit. Better to buy a Fringe five-pass ticket, which will let you taste a few shows on a few nights (or gorge yourself for one spectacular, theatrical day), and get a better sense of the range of acts coming up. And with company names like Whimsical Productions and Winged Centaurus, Stupid Gumball Dispenser, and Global Village Idiot Productions, there’s bound to be a range indeed. If the Fringe has proven itself over the past quarter-century as a breeding ground for new, exciting and sometimes even world-class performers (or a starting point for those who go on to become such), the inaugural Folkwest Festival, taking place this August 19 to 21 at the Royal Athletic Park, is hitting the high notes already with headliners Ron Sexsmith and Barney Bentall. Sexsmith, an acclaimed Canadian singersongwriter, has won several Juno awards and is likely to perform works from his 11th and latest album as well as older favourites. Bentall, another Juno winner, is on his seventh album, Inside Passage. Haven’t heard either of them? You need to, and Folkwest is one of the most convenient places to give them a listen this summer. But it’s not just the well-known acts (which include plenty of locals, such as fiddle fave Daniel Lapp and the exemplary Marc Atkinson Quartet) who are worth checking out. Folkwest organizer, Victoria musician Oliver Swain, says audiences shouldn’t miss Joy Kills Sorrow, a Boston-based band that is “right at the front of the new East Coast acoustic music scene.” How cool is that? These excellent performers come all the way to Victoria, and all you have to do is park yourself in front of a stage (or in the family-friendly beer garden in the stands — yes, that’s right, Swain tells me you can take the kids to the beer garden) for a weekend of musical adventures. Or, if you prefer, you can wander between the two stages, sampling a full range of festival performances. It doesn’t get any easier, I think. Throw in a festival marketplace of artisanal crafts, a family fun area and a food area “curated” by Victoria chef Cosmo Meens, and you’ve got the ingredients for a lifetime conversion to new musical tastes. Best of all, you’ll be helping out a new enterprise. “We’re trying to get it off the ground this year, as a kind of proof of concept in the community,” says Swain. “This is a 100 per cent-volunteer-run, artist-run organization, and we feel that’s a big part of how we’re able to deliver a full weekend of shows for just $60.” So, belly up to the festivals and try a bit of everything. I’ll bet you’ll find something new and tasty, maybe even something that’ll keep you coming back for more. The Victoria Fringe Festival runs August 25 – September 4 at various venues. See intrepidtheatre.com for more. Folkwest runs August 19-21 at the Royal Athletic Park. Google folkwest.ca for tickets and further info. VB 21

the dog days

of August

A few of the regionâ€™s best swim spots to float your cares away By ALEX VAN TOL

The five kilometres of linked, natural rock pools at Sooke Potholes Provincial Park are swimming heaven. photo by Russ heinl

OW THAT it’s August and our cool summer is (we hope!) finally warming, it’s time to find a sweet place to cool off at one of Victoria’s amazing outdoor swimming spots. Here’s Boulevard’s round-up of the region’s hottest watering holes — and hey, no parking fees at provincial parks.

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Matheson Lake Located a 35-minute drive from Victoria, this beautiful little lake in Matheson Lake Regional Park is clean and warm in summer. Take a short walk from the parking lot or cycle the Galloping Goose, which goes right alongside. Unfurl your towel at the kid-friendly beach or hike along the pretty trail to find your own spot among the rocks. You can launch your canoe at the beach and snag a trout for supper. Matheson Lake Park Road comes off Rocky Point Road. See crd.bc.ca/parks/matheson/index.htm. Witty’s Lagoon This summertime fantasyland in Metchosin is perfect for splashers of all ages. Witty’s is one spot where saltwater meets fresh, forming a tidal lagoon that warms up beautifully in the summer and offers up crabs, snails, sea stars, birds and fish for examination. Let the park naturalists at the nature centre suggest a few activities to complete your day. Off Metchosin Road. Prepare to walk a few minutes to find your spot on the sand. See wittyslagoon.com/.

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At the far west end of the Galloping Goose Trail or by a 40-minute drive from Victoria (take Sooke River Road and watch for the signs.) Get there early, or be ready to park up the road a ways and walk in. No cliff jumping: you only get one spinal cord. See crd.bc.ca/parks/sookepotholes/ Thetis Lake Offering a beautiful circle-route trail and one of the area’s best family swimming spots, Thetis Lake beckons swimmers with a sandy beach, picnic areas and a daytime concession. There’s a launch for non-motorized boats at the end of the entrance road. Trivia tidbit? Thetis Lake was designated Canada’s first nature sanctuary back in 1958. Again, just say no to cliff-jumping and remember that the lakes contain hazards. Off Highway 1, Colwood exit. See crd.bc.ca/parks/thetis/ Durrance Lake Lesser known, but definitely worth a visit, Durrance Lake is one of three swimmable lakes inside Mount Work Regional Park. Cool and fresh and surrounded by forested slopes, the lake is also stocked with rainbow trout and is a popular flyfishing spot. See crd.bc.ca/parks/mountwork/

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Elk/Beaver Lake These two interconnected lakes are a summertime hotspot. But take a cue from locals in the know, and steer clear of Hamsterly Beach as a place to dip your toes. This northeast end of the lake is shared by (poopy) ducks and geese. Instead, park at the Beaver Beach entrance near the filter beds, where you’ll find a sunny swim spot, picnic shelters, a fantastic playground, plenty of grass and a nature house. See crd.bc.ca/ parks/elkbeaver/ Bamberton Oh, Bamberton. Place of sandy tidal flats and tiny sea creatures for the kids to discover. With beautiful views and plenty of sand and grass to go around, the warm waters by Mill Bay never fail to delight. Follow the signs off Highway 1

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north of the Malahat to Bamberton, about a 45-minute drive from downtown. There’s a campground and a day-use area. See env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bamberton/ Coles Bay In North Saanich, off Ardmore Road, Coles Bay Regional Park has a lovely, secluded, swimmable beach on the warm waters of the Saanich Inlet, great tidal life and forested trails. It is a hidden gem that is particularly good for kids. See crd.bc.ca/parks/colesbay/ Gordon Bay Farther north, a winding westerly road leads you to Lake Cowichan, and yet another fabulous provincial park. Walking, fishing and, of course, swimming are all part of a relaxing summer day at this lake in the Cowichan Valley (known fondly around these parts at “the warm land”). Bring your motorboat or personal watercraft: you can use them here. Head north to Duncan, then turn west on Highway 18. Take South Shore Road and follow the signs to Gordon Bay Provincial Park. See env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks and click on Gordond Bay Bear Mountain Outdoor Pool Want to cool off with class? Take the family to the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa, 20 minutes west of

Victoria in the booming municipality of Langford. Thirty-five dollars gets the whole family in for the day, and includes pool admission, locker and towel service, gym access and drop-in privileges for any fitness classes. Spinning, anyone? Call 250-391-3758 for details, or visit bearmountain.ca UVic Outdoor Pool For those who can’t bear the chill of the Pacific at Cadboro Bay’s amazing beach (or Willows, for that matter), there’s always the UVic pool just up the road. Located at the Ian Stewart complex on the north end of campus, the outdoor pool offers “everybody welcome” swims from 1 pm to 5 pm daily in the summer, and from 6 pm to 9 pm on Friday nights. A one-day family pass will set you back a mere $12.50. However it was closed at press time due to a leak so check the website for more information, vikesrec.uvic.ca Not up for a full dip? Or the kids still have energy to burn? Be sure to check out the area’s water parks, like Carnarvon Park in Oak Bay or Beckwith Park just off north Quadra. Beacon Hill Park has two little splash spots, too. (And goats at the Children’s Farm. What’s not to love about goats?) So grab your sunscreen, shovels, water bottles and cooler of snacks, and you’re off for a fantastic day of funning and sunning at the region’s most memorable watering holes. VB

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COWICHAN

Valley vineyards

SHINE:

whites and rosĂŠs are especially fine in summer By Sharon mclean

Sharon Mclean suggests these wineries: Alderlea, Averill Creek, Blue Grouse, Cherry Point, Damali Lavender Farm, Deol Family Estate, Divino Estate, Enrico, Glenterra, Godfrey-Brownell, Merridale Cidery, Rocky Creek,

photo by KEVIN OKE

Silverside, Twenty Two Oaks, Venturi-Schulze, Vigneti Zanatta.

HENEVER I drive up-Island, each passing “Wine Route” sign makes me feel like the ancient Greek ruler Tantalus, who was fated to reach for fruit on branches or for water to drink that eternally moved away from him. On these drives, I am tantalized (the myth is how we got that word) by wine I cannot stop to taste. But recently I was able to slake my thirst in one of Canada’s fastest-developing wine regions. Southern Vancouver Island has the highest average yearround temperature in Canada. Within the Cowichan Valley, mountains and rivers create micro-climates, but one thing is clear: this is not the Okanagan with its hot, hot summers and long, cold winters. Don’t expect Interior-style big, full-bodied reds. The Cowichan climate favours white wine production. The wines that shine here also have affinity with the unique terroir. Volcanic in origin, the soil is largely clay, gravel and sand with a touch of limestone. As a wine region, however, Cowichan Valley is still in its infancy. European regions have thousands of years of experimentation and discovering the perfect match of variety to climate and soil. Here on Vancouver Island it was only in 1983 that a government research study on varieties was set up at Zanatta. We have come a long way in a short time thanks to the passion and vision of the winemakers. Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay are at home here. The long ripening season allows these grapes to develop complexity and the resulting wines show crispness and a purity of fruit that can’t be found in warmer zones. Look for the 2008 Pinot Gris from Blue Grouse, crisp and refreshing with citrus notes and a core of minerality. Another of my favourite Island Pinot Grigios is from relative newcomer Enrico Winery, whose first harvest was in 2009. The wine has bright acidity with citrus and mango notes. More unusual white varieties include Ortega, Schonburger, Siegerrebe and Bacchus, to name a few. These are crosses and hybrids, created by cross-pollinating different varieties to produce a new one. This can happen in the wild (Cabernet Sauvignon is a naturally occurring cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc), but it is often a deliberate attempt to gain the best properties of two varieties. The ones that thrive on the Island tend to be those that have been created to thrive in cooler climates. Ortega, in particular, produces crisp wines with light aromatics, and while not complex is a pleasant companion on a sunny day. One of my favourites is the 2009 Ortega from Cherry Point with a beautifully perfumed nose of flowers and citrus fruits. With cooler summer temperatures, the Cowichan area produces particularly good whites, rosés and Pinot Noirs. Left, Rocky Creek “Robin’s Rosé”; right, Cherry Point Vineyards. 31

Chris Barker 32

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250.883.3112

While Cowichan is generally too cool for most black grapes, Pinot Noir’s home region of Burgundy, is at almost the same latitude. Producers like Averill Creek, Alderlea and Blue Grouse show how well Pinots can do here. In particular, Averill Creek has built a well-deserved reputation for their Pinots. The 2008 is an elegant wine showing black cherries, strawberries and beautiful spice notes. Marechal Foch, a hybrid, helps to satisfy demand for fullbodied reds. It ripens in the cooler climate and produces dark, slightly earthy red wines. Alderlea Vineyards has been experimenting with “Blattners” (hybrids created by the Swiss scientist, Valentin Blattner, to be disease-resistant and coldtolerant). Their 2007 Matrix is based on Cabernet Foch, which is a Blattner hybrid created from Cabernet Sauvignon and Marechal Foch, and is full-bodied with black fruits, spice and hints of mocha. Quite a few of the wineries do produce reds from the more mainstream varieties like Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet, but often the fruit is sourced from the Okanagan. If you are looking for an Island wine, be sure to check where the grapes are grown. Try the bubbles, too. The cool climate ensures the grapes retain their acidity, which is so perfect for traditional-method sparkling wines. I love the 2008 Brut Naturel from VenturiSchulze. It’s a blend of Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Kerner and is dry, crisp and delicious. At Zanatta, try the 2005 Fatima Brut, which is based on Pinot Gris and is perfect with seafood. Rosé wines are finally being recognized as serious and a treasure trove of pink-hued wonders waits for you in Cowichan. Averill Creek, Cherry Point and Rocky Creek produce lovely examples from Pinot Noir. The 2010 Robin’s Rosé from Rocky Creek is super-crisp, with lemon and strawberry notes. While you are at Rocky Creek, ask if they have any of the 2009 Robin’s Rosé left. The colour difference between the two vintages is staggering: 2010 was a difficult vintage for Vancouver Island producers and the grapes struggled to ripen, leading to a much paler wine. Others to try are the perfectly dry Champagne Style Somerset cider from Merridale and the varieties of blackberry dessert wines that pay homage to the fruit-farming history of the area. Silverside Farm & Winery, Averill Creek and Rocky Creek produce blackberry wines. Some are fortified and made in a similar way to ports, while others, like the Wild Blackberry from Rocky Creek, are not fortified. All of this is less than an hour’s drive from Victoria, but if you intend to taste the wines (and not spit) you will need a designated driver or to arrange to stay in a local B&B. Or take a tour: at least six Victoria-based companies lead wine-tasting tours of the Cowichan Valley, and will arrange convenient pick ups from various spots in the city, with costs ranging from $70 to $160 depending on number of stops and whether meals are included. Google “Cowichan Wine Tours” for a list of options. VB

Experience Music in the Park this Summer

Music in the Park, Chemainus Waterwheel Park, Tuesdays, 7 pm until August 30. By donation. Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. cvcas.com or musicintheparkseries@gmail.com

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FRONT ROW

By Robert Moyes

SUCH FINE FOLK Those still mourning the untimely deaths of RootsFest and the ICA FolkFest can take comfort from the emergence of Folkwest, a festival dedicated to contemporary folk and roots music. “We knew that creating a world-class event in Victoria was going to be difficult, and that we had to build it slowly,” explains Oliver Swain, Folkwest’s artistic director. According to Swain, a noted local musician, Folkwest follows the classic festival model, albeit on a scale befitting a fledgling enterprise with a $125,000 budget. There will be performances Friday night and through the weekend, from 10 am to 11 pm. (Some late-night shows at downtown venues are also planned.) A family area will feature its own activities and performers, and there will be an artisan village, food vendors, and a beer garden sponsored by Phillips Brewery. Two stages run simultaneously during the day, complemented by some roving performers; at night, the spotlight shines on the main stage. Ah, but who’s playing? More than 20 acts have been booked, ranging from local legends such as The Bills and Daniel Lapp to Boston-based Joy Kills Sorrow, Barney Bentall, and Ruth Moody of Wailin’ Jennys fame. “The musicians are really excited because they recognize the importance of an annual festival,” says Swain. “But in order to get this off the ground we need everyone to get involved, whether you’re a serious music lover, a family looking for a friendly event, or someone who just wants to hear a great concert out in the sunshine.” Running August 19-21 at Royal Athletic Park, folkwest.ca

Barney Bentall is one of the headliners at the Folkwest Fest, August 19-21 at Royal

August

Athletic Park

12-14

19-21

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Bowker Creek Brush-up

Lafayette String Quartet

Tango Fest

Folkwest

Various Artists

Various venues

Free-B Films and Summer Drive-In

Bowker Creek Park

Phillip T. Young recital hall

Cameron Bandshell & Mayfair Mall

The Point Gallery, Salt Spring

A TRIO OF WORKS The Point Gallery, which began life as a conventional Salt Spring barn, is now in its tenth year as an alternative, privately-funded, non-commercial co-operative for artists. Until the end of August (by appointment) and again later in the fall, visitors can take in the work of three artists. Outside the gallery, Salt Spring resident Diana Thompson offers a compelling installation of stones. With the title To Hold You in my Hands, the appealing patterns underscore the connection between natural objects and people who honour them. Inside the main gallery is the work of the late Irishborn sculptor and graphic artist George Wallace (d. 2009), who taught at McMaster University for 25 years and retired to Victoria. Words used to describe his work include splendid, exceptional, powerful, wry, funny and unblinking. One piece has the late artist’s own image peering out from under Commedia dell’arte headgear. Says gallery owner Margaret Day, whose own work is on exhibit in the upper gallery, “both bodies of (Wallace’s) work are a deeply personal humorous portrait of society at the end of the 20th century.” Entrance is by donation. For more information call 250-653-0089 or email pointgallery@telus.net.

call for a 2011 / 2012 season brochure today! Single tickets on sale July 25 250.385.6515 victoriasymphony.ca

Diana Lynn Thompson’s nature-inspired outdoor installations will be featured at Salt Spring’s Point Gallery this month.

V I C T O R I A S Y M P H O N Y 1 1 /1 2

The Free-B Films Fest screens family-friendly films every Friday and Saturday night in August in Beacon Hill Park. Check out Mayfair Mall’s Thursday night drive-in, too.

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11th season, the Free-B Film Fest brings movie magic and a touch of celluloid sensationalism to cinema fans. “We expect about 8,000 in attendance over the eight shows,” says Donovan Aikman, who runs this fun family event and even dresses up in costume for each film. Sponsored by the Victoria Film Festival, the movies appear on a giant inflatable screen every Friday and Saturday night in August. Over the years they have shown real B flicks like the original Godzilla and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, but the current emphasis is more on family-friendly comedies and genre films. A few of the screenings are held in Centennial Square but most of the action is at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. “It’s a great atmosphere,” notes Aikman. “A lot of people come early and have a picnic or toss a Frisbee.” Across town find more movie fun at Mayfair Mall, which begins its fourth season of providing a “drive-in” movie experience for 3,000 people every Thursday night for the first three weeks of August. The Mayfair Summer Drive-In airs PG fare like E.T. and Top Gun in a ‘50s-era atmosphere complete with A&W car hops zooming about the Mayfair parking lot on roller blades and delivering burgers and shakes. “A lot of people are nostalgic for that retro, outdoor movie experience,” says Mayfair marketing director Karina Perkins. This event always “sells out” of the 500 free passes, which are good for a carload of movie fans (passes are available from Mayfair’s concierge desk starting the Saturday before the show. Get there early). “Many without a car pass just arrive on foot lugging blankets and lawn chairs,” adds Perkins. “It really is lots of fun, a great family event.” Screenings start near dusk. For information, Google “Free-B Film Festival” or “Mayfair Mall’s Summer Drive-In.”

WP Weston, Arbutus Shedding Bark

The Legacy Art Gallery welcomes you to our newly expanded space.

FIVE-PART HARMONY UVic’s renowned “quartet in residence,” the Lafayette String Quartet, is beginning its celebratory 25th anniversary season with a special performance showcasing the Schubert String Quintet, one of the most revered pieces of chamber music ever written. Although composed for two cellos, this version will feature bass virtuoso Gary Karr, widely acknowledged as the world’s greatest solo bass performer. “We’ve played this with Gary once before and it’s going to be a real thrill,” says Lafayette first violinist Ann Elliott-Goldschmid. “Not only is Gary a friend but he is such a brilliant musician and it is super to be starting our season with him.” According to ElliottGoldschmid, the Quintet possesses a scope, beauty, and depth that is virtually unsurpassed in the chamber canon. “This piece is full of all the qualities that Schubert is celebrated for,” she explains. “It has amazing melodies, and the weaving of two musical lines into something that becomes so heartbreakingly beautiful.” The work is also prized because the two bass instruments add notable power to the music. “With the addition of the second cello, the first cello is freed up to become the expressive equal of the other instruments,” adds Elliott-Goldschmid. “And with Gary, the bass and cello make for an extraordinary combination.” The Lafayette String Quartet is famous for its Beethoven cycle, and the first half of the concert features two of Beethoven’s quartets, Opus 18, No. 3 and Opus 133, the Grosse Fugue. This is the climactic performance of the Victoria Summer Music Festival and is sure to sell out. Performing August 9, 7:30 pm, at UVic’s Phillip T. Young recital hall. For tickets: 250-385-8763 or Google “Victoria Summer Music Festival”.

In the main gallery: Convergence/Divergence: Landscape and Identity on the West Coast August 17 to October 1

In the small gallery: Works by Master Kwakwaka’wakw Carver Henry Hunt August 31 to November 19

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Across from Mayfair Shopping Centre Parking in rear of building

Claire Christinel’s In the Garden, 2009, acrylic on canvas, 24” X 24”; Artists paint while onlookers stroll along Bowker Creek

BOWKER BEAUTY Oak Bay’s Bowker Creek Park blossoms annually with 40 artists who practice their craft al fresco, in between talking to the several thousand visitors who stroll by admiring the brushstrokes (or maybe looking for a painting to hang in the front room). “It’s such a gorgeous area, what with the creek and the bridges,” says co-ordinator Flo-Elle Watson. Stretching between Hampshire Road and Armstrong Avenue, the Bowker Creek Brush-Up offers up-and-comers from Oak Bay High School to such revered practitioners as Pat Martin Bates. Watson, herself a painter, points out that some of the “youth artists” from several years ago are now emerging artists with promising careers. This year’s line-up includes painters Claire Christinel, Martin Machacek, and Marion Evamy, and sculptor Lisa Azzano. There’s even a table for kids to crayon on. It’s a sunny, upbeat event. Sunday, August 7, 11 am - 4:30 pm. Google “Bowker Creek Brush-Up.”

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AN EAR FOR TANGO Born in the brothels of Buenos Aires and originally danced by pairs of men, tango wasn’t socially acceptable for decades — presumably because of its shocking past and arrestingly stylized eroticism. Tango references both dance and music, and it was love of the music that inspired members of Victoria’s “tango underground” to start their own festival. Now in its fourth season, Tango Fest is three days of music and dance, including free shows, master classes, and latenight venues mimicking the milongas (tango events) of Argentina, culminating with an 8 pm performance on Sunday, August 14 at Alix Goolden. This show features the tango nuevo of Ottawa’s Norteño, an internationally celebrated quintet focusing primarily on the songs of Astor Piazzolla. Opening for them is Tango Soul, the husband-and-wife team of Faye and Bryant Lopez, making their first West Coast appearance. They dance with precision and passion in a style from tango’s so-called Golden Era. Running August 12-14 at various venues. For information, Google “Victoria Tango Fest” or see passion4tango.com VB

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CREATIVE MINDS

An emerging writer builds poetry from music and his tough job by gayle mavor

photo montage by vince klassen

styling BY Lorraine Esplen

EFORE I meet one of Victoria’s hottest young writers, I wonder if a 28-year-old guy who is part construction worker, part poet will arrive with a hard hat in one hand and a volume of Yeats in the other. Like everyone else who has heard of Garth Martens, I know him from an image of a worker/poet now reverberating through local media. This year’s recipient of the RBC Bronwen Wallace Emerging Writers Award holds neither object as we slip into a booth at the Fernwood Inn. As he is clad in clean jeans, a chunky sweater and a striped dress shirt, the proper stereotype here would be preppy. “I wouldn’t blame CBC for honing in on me being a construction worker,” Martens says of how his media image was born. The Writers Trust of Canada asked him for a bio and he rationalized that every poet has an MFA so he didn’t bother to list his education: a Master of Fine Arts in Writing (2010) and a Bachelor of English and Creative Writing from the University of Victoria. Rather, he listed his summer job, which includes everything from making concrete forms to helping machine operators to sweeping work sites. Construction is an important subject in his poems: but so are other influences like music. Seven poems, part of his manuscript The Motive of Machines, beat out 120 submissions from across Canada to capture the annual $5,000 prize that poet Tim Lilburn says has set careers in motion (like that of Jeramy Dodds, whose first book was nominated for the Griffin Prize). Lilburn, a judge at the 2011 Griffin Poetry awards and a faculty member in UVic’s writing department, says Martens’ manuscript is remarkable. “It brings a lyric and surreal sensibility into the world of large-scale construction. It has a gritty and monstrous beauty like early Anglo-Saxon poetry.” Poet Lorna Crozier, recently named to the Order of Canada, says Martens is one of the country’s most original new voices and is helping to make Victoria a poetry-happening city. Martens has been published in The Fiddlehead, Grain, and Leonard Cohen: You’re Our Man (an anthology) and sits on the editorial boards of The Malahat Review and Open Space Arts Society. When I ask how others might describe him, he hesitates before saying, “anxious but charming.” When Martens began working construction in the summers six years ago, he had no intention of writing about it. He just needed the money. Then, returning to UVic and taking a short prose class, he accessed the voice of a construction worker almost by accident. Crozier, his thesis supervisor, wanted to see more. How people experience the psychological effects of working construction year-round interested him; the violence of the language, violence done to the workers by the bosses and the 60-to-80-hour work week.

It’s tough. You’re on a leash for the cash when you get it, collar of dirt at your neck. Some years the Boss assigns the night shift, your Thermos black or milted with Coffee-mate, the expired bulb of three a.m. From Johnny Lightning and the Apprentice by Garth Martens

Garth Martens mines his construction day job to bring a “gritty and monstrous beauty” to his writing.

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He tells me about a difficult foreman: racist, misogynist with an online gambling addiction; everything one might find unattractive. Then he began to write about the man and found that the act of writing bestowed a more rounded picture of who he was. Through writing, Martens says he felt empathy for a boss he’d disliked; the working relationship then thrived. Growing up in Kelowna, he was president of his 2001 high school graduating class. His parents divorced when he was 13. He has one sister and five step-siblings. He credits his mother (who now lives in Northern Alberta) with his love of language. Before university, his experience with poetry consisted of writing “bad love poems” for girls he liked in Grade 9 and a 19-page Celtic epic. At UVic, he initially thought about majoring in theatre but moved to writing after author and faculty member Lorna Jackson told students they might want to reconsider their priorities if they were “watching Judge Judy eight hours a week and only writing 15 minutes a day.” He soon received top marks for a short piece of fiction he’d written about a botanist, which he researched by sneaking into a biology class on flowering plants. When Martens puts away his drills, saws and shovel, words are his tools and music is his muse. In first-year university, he signed up for Scottish country dancing and met Denise Yeo, now his girlfriend. Then they enrolled in old-time ballroom dancing and flamenco, although he admits singing is more his forte. (Part of the $5,000 prize was earmarked for a pair of authentic flamenco boots and a ticket to the Griffin poetry awards to hear

Irish poet Seamus Heaney read aloud.) He also loves Celtic folk songs and Cape Breton fiddle music. Martens views poems as musical documents first, a reference to the arrangement of stresses and language as notes. Even on the site, he jots down notes aiming to get the dialogue and the names of tools and machinery exact. When he reads, he writes down words that engage him musically. I’m curious about what, if any, childhood events might be responsible for building Martens’ poet’s soul, but he seems reluctant to talk about his family. He does acknowledge growning closer to his father (a construction superintendent in BC) as a result of their shared work. “He would have preferred I become an engineer,” says Martens. This seems unlikely. He’s keen to get a few poems from his manuscript published before its overall publishing. He’d like to write about flamenco and create poems that incorporate early culture and cave painting. He’s taking notes for a future novel. After the interview, he will head back to Kelowna to continue erecting fencing and scaffolding, and moving concrete at a hospital tower construction site. Before the award, the other construction workers didn’t know he was a writer. Afterwards, they asked what he wrote about. “Construction workers,” he replied. One fellow “smiled in a funny way that said to me he was happy; as if it just really mattered to him that someone was writing about his kind of work, his way of life.” VB

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By carolyn heiman PHOTOS BY RUSS HEINL

SMALL FOOTPRINT By carolyn hEIman photos by vince klassen

A FUNNY THING happened to Laura and Bart Griffin on the way to building a brand new house on a lot purchased years ago: they renovated a townhouse instead. Now they’re thrilled that karma drew them to the smaller footprint. It’s a better fit for the empty-nesters than the 3,000-square-foot home they once planned.

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transformed into an outdoor kitchen. 49

The exterior reno respected strata rules. The master bathâ€™s taupe palette, elongated trough sink, and limestone tiles reflect a Zen simplicity. The cathedral entranceway holds a custom light; alternating gloss and matt paint stripes add interest while keeping to a neutral palette.

The couple saw the 2,400-square-foot townhouse with their Realtor while planning their new home and weighing options. It wasn’t a matter of love at first sight; they returned several times to puzzle how the wallpapered home with teensy rooms might be transformed into an open contemporary space. It took Bart’s eye for design to reassure Laura that the former kitchen, pantry, den and laundry room could become a single, light-filled kitchen/family room. “I have not had one moment’s regret that we didn’t build a new home,” says Laura. They love the Rockland location backing onto the Government House grounds and the walking distance to the beach, where Max, their Schnauzer, burns off energy. The Griffins own a kitchen design company, but don’t dismiss the renovated outcome as something attainable only to industry insiders. They point out that the budgetary considerations and functional limitations they faced were no different than most homeowners. Indeed, the townhouse is part of a strata, putting further design limitations around anything that would affect the exterior appearance. Plus there was the burden of knowing, as insiders, their work would be sharply critiqued. But this spring the Griffins won first prize for “best medium-sized kitchen” in the National Kitchen and Bath Association design contest that rated kitchens on the basis of visual appeal, creativity, design principles and safety, and ergonomic features. The winning kitchen is compact and with modern symmetry but cleverly blends a gleaming black AGA oven, often associated with country looks. “I had to have one,” says Laura, who loves the way the high-end stove cooks, while Bart raves about the way it fills a room with hearthlike warmth. On the wall behind the stove, cool sage glass complements the acid-etched cupboard doors framed in aluminum. The upper cupboards swing open on the horizontal, hinges perfectly engineered to keep the door a hair away from the ceiling. A fly-over with lights strung between the upper cabinets maintains the sleek linear look. The couple chose tropical wenge wood, cut to show off pencil-thin grain for the cabinetry, repeating the theme in the living and dining rooms. A built-in window bench frames the original window and is roomy enough to sit with a book or keep the cook company. The kitchen, lovely as it is, is only one portion of the topto-bottom makeover. The couple’s goal was to simplify life while creating functional spaces. They let go of decades of clutter accumulated while raising three children. “It was very cathartic to get rid of stuff,” said Laura. Selling old furniture enabled them to purchase contemporary pieces with the enthusiasm of newlyweds. The townhouse, with lofty ceilings and neutral palette walls, spurred collecting art from local artists, something not a priority when raising children. Good design, not current trends, influenced the project, although new materials were incorporated, such as the island with a Vetrazzo “Cubist Clear” counter top. Made from

Photograph by Mark DeVries

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The living room now does double duty as a theatre/family room with a bookcase that conceals a large pop-up flatscreen TV. The original fireplace brick mirrors exterior brickwork, connecting inside and outside space. Inset: The counter made from recycled, crushed auto-glass performs like granite.

recycled car window glass, it performs like granite, handling heat well, and shimmers in the hanging lights. It serves as a counter point to the antique finish of the Canadian Cambrian black granite on the other counter. The living room has an easy tidiness with its sumptuous sectional and custom wenge-wood bookcase. With a button click, the bookcase hums like a space ship and slowly a 54inch flatscreen TV emerges from the back, allowing the room to accommodate a swarm of adult offspring wanting a homecooked meal and an evening of television with Mom and Dad. Upstairs, pared-down furnishings in the master create serenity and the adjacent ensuite keeps its original configuration but is made roomier with the removal of the bathtub and the creation of a walk-in shower. Two faucets straddle a custom-fabricated Corian counter with a narrow trough sink, giving the couple the convenience of two sinks

without the chopped-up aesthetic. Heated limestone floors are marbled with fossil imprints left from an ancient sea. Gone is the dated wallpaper, in vogue when the town home was constructed in the 1980s. Soothingly creamy walls now bathe the home in a warm glow. A sideways glance reveals that wide stripes have been painted onto the walls using alternating paint sheens. It’s subtle and surprising at the same time. Most of the original oak woodwork has been removed in favour of cleaner finishes. But the Griffins did give a nod to some original design features. They ignored the temptation to clad the living room’s brick fireplace when they saw its installation patterns mirrored brick features in the strata’s common areas outside. Oak panelling in the hallway was updated with charcoal paint to become a backdrop to a stunning sculpture/hanging light acquired from Belgium. A closed-in balcony was returned to its original state, 53

except for a compact infrared sauna inconspicuously tucked in the corner. From the perch, the Griffins have their own private seating for outdoor summer concerts at Government House, just another small pleasure in the list of benefits of leaving behind one dream and pursuing another. SUPPLIERS AND TRADES: While the Griffins acted as their own contractor, they would like to acknowledge the following companies and individuals: Contractors: Griffin Design Kitchens, Tucker Bay Woodworks, Loring Holdal; Cabinetry: Victoria Millwork & Joinery Ltd., Hunter Woodworking Ltd.; Counter tops: Matrix Marble & Stone, Colonial Countertops Ltd., Countryside Designs Ltd.; Interior Decorator: Dawn Garneau; Interior Painting: Langefeld Painting & Wall Design; Flooring: Edgar & Miner Floor Coverings; Tile: Decora Tile, Blue Sky Tile & Marble; Plumbing Fixtures: Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware Ltd., The Ensuite Bath & Kitchen Centre; Lighting: McLaren Lighting, Illuminations Lighting Solutions Ltd.; Appliances: Trail Appliances, AGA Marvel (cooker); Custom Upholstery and Window Coverings: Jayar Upholstery, Running With Scissors Studio; Fabric Stylist: Monika Kurc; Landscaping: C-2 Contracting, Reed Horticultural Services,Â Sagitta Landscape Solutions; Floral Design for photo shoot: Petals Plus Florists. VB A small powder room in space-expanding monochrome cocoa is enlivened by a textured tile counter and wall.

LocaL Brand • GLoBaL reach

HOT DESIGN

Augustshowers Victorians love to step into â€” and look out of â€” their open-air showers By anna kemp photos by russ heinl

This outdoor shower on Ten Mile Point, by Jonathan Craggs, is steps away from the hot tub. It features a bamboo enclosure and stunning ocean view.

N HAWAII and California, open-air showers are everywhere: at public beaches and pool sides, as well as at people’s private residences. However, according to trend-watching design magazines and blogs, all across North America, no matter the climate, people are braving the elements and bathing in their backyards. Outdoor living spaces are currently the biggest movement in interior design and a popular trend in the Victoria region. “People want outdoor kitchens, pools and showers. They are creating outdoor rooms and connecting with nature,” says local designer JC Scott. An outdoor shower can be as simple as a solar shower bag hung in the sun or as luxurious as an indoor bathroom. Most people install their showers for practical reasons: beside a hot tub or pool, or for rinsing off after a dip in a nearby lake or ocean. However, many people find showering al fresco an enjoyable aesthetic experience, some preferring it over showering indoors. When designing an outdoor shower, answering basic questions can guide you: What purpose will your shower serve? Whether you want to rinse before a hot tub soak or to wash off sandy feet before entering the house will determine the shower’s best location. What are your plumbing options? Plumbing from the house allows for long, hot showers, but can present some complications. Depending on where your plumbing lines run, it may be difficult and expensive to connect them to an outside wall of the house. In our climate, you must also consider how to drain the lines in winter to prevent freezing. Solar showers can be independent of the house water supply; however the length and temperature of your shower will depend on the size of the tank and, of course, the sunlight. What drainage do you need? For showers used for rinsing, a drainage pit will do. An outdoor shower used for cleansing may need to be connected to the house sewer lines. People with septic systems need to find out how much waste water their system can handle. What sort of fittings to use? Shower fittings cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to around $5,000. Budget will dictate your choice, as well as potential exposure to corrosive salt air and the elements. What about privacy? Is your spot hidden from view of the house or the neighbours? Do you need to build a surround? A natural bower of trees or bushes can provide privacy but be sure they can tolerate the excess water. Blair Werschler, a local mortgage broker, installed an outdoor shower beside his chemical-free hot tub at his Saanich home. The tub uses a mineral purification system rather than chlorination, and requires showering before entering.

This shower is primarily for rinsing off from the lake. A piece of driftwood holds the towel and soap.

“We are blessed with a great spot; no neighbours can see our backyard and we are surrounded by trees,” says Werschler. “We use the outdoor shower twice as much as our indoor shower.” The shower, designed and installed by plumber Matt Hyndman, has a simple West Coast surround made of cedar and bamboo. The floor is a piece of slate, with a box of drain rock underneath it. Building the shower cost approximately $1,000, including the surround. Jim Potvin and Bonnie Manning installed an outdoor shower beside the hot tub at their Willis Point home. Like Werschler, they often choose the outdoor shower over showering indoors. “Our shower is tucked into an alcove, on the side of the mountain where no one can see us,”

says Manning. “We turn it off in the fall, especially if we go on holidays, but have used it all year round.” The shower, designed and built by Strongback Stoneworks Ltd., is affixed to an outside wall, faced with K2 Pacific Ashlar stone. They backed the shower with a piece of recycled slate from an old pool table and chose a wand head fixture that can be taken in during the winter or left hanging upsidedown to drain and prevent freezing. Adam Warrington of Strongback Stoneworks says although bringing the taps to the outside wall required cutting into about four metres of drywall, the added cost of refinishing the drywall and painting the room was worth it to the clients. The total cost of the project was approximately $5,500. June and Roy Sandsmark, Lake Cowichan home owners, use their outdoor shower primarily for rinsing off when coming in from the lake. “We have a lot of small children around in the summer and the shower keeps things tidy inside,” says June. Mounted on an outside wall in an out-of-

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TH E REN A IS S A NC E O F C O M M U N ITY

At townline we believe strongly in building a sense of community – whether that’s a new townhome community in Surrey, the rebirth of an historic icon in downtown Victoria or within our own company. It’s about rediscovering the value of knowing your neighbour... and your neighbourhood. And, it’s about sustaining a way of life that we value in Canada – now and for years to come. If you’re interested in knowing more about Townline or one of our diverse range of communities, please call us or visit our website. now SellinG oR CoMinG Soon The hudson

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Tucked in beside a cliff face and attached to the house, this Willis Point shower has a slate backing and a wand head fixture that can be taken inside during winter.

the-way nook, the shower is not completely private, though it has a beautiful view of the lake. The outdoor shower was part of the original house plan and the plumbing was installed when the house was built seven years ago. The approximate cost of finishing the shower was $800.

Local designer Jonathan Craggs designed a freestanding shower surrounded by a bamboo enclosure for about $2,000 in materials and labour. The Ten Mile Point shower stands about 12 metres from the house, next to the hot tub. With such a long run, insulating the hot water pipe to prevent heat loss to the ground was important. JC Scott designed an outdoor shower at Ten Mile Point on a rocky, windswept point some distance from the house. Because the shower was completely exposed to the elements, Scott chose high-quality stainless steel fittings. Scott recommends Rubinet, a Canadian company making quality fittings that can weather the outdoors. Rubinet can be ordered online or through Victoria Speciality Hardware. “These fixtures are more likely to last 20 years than five, which is what you might expect from average bathroom fittings in that type of environment,” says Scott. Werschler, meanwhile, enjoys his outdoor shower so much he is having another installed at the family cottage on Hornby Island. “There’s nothing like showering looking out at the forest. I find it relaxing,” he says. It’s not hard to see the appeal. What could be nicer than being outside on a tranquil August afternoon, listening to the birds and enjoying a hot shower? VB

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DESIGN EXPERTS Jenny Martin Jenny Martin Design Teresa Ryback tdSwansburg Design Studio Jeff Smith smithdesigns Lorin Turner Zebra Design and Interiors Group Heather Draper Bespoke Design Cheryl DeMerchant Cheryl DeMerchant Design

ADVERTORIAL

Boulevard asks, “What

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LORIN TURNER Building or renovating

a dream home can be a very stressful experience, with many questions and decisions arising along the way. Designers help homeowners sort through the myriad of available choices and select the most appropriate options for their style and budget. We understand how design decisions affect each other and it is our responsibility to ensure that each piece falls smoothly into place.

HEATHER DRAPER Interior designers

offer a range of services and every project requires a unique approach. Designers translate the client’s vision into terms trades people can understand. We have the resources and skills to find interesting or obscure items and the experience to ensure the project comes together as intended. The primary qualities a homeowner should expect from their designer are a true passion for the job and a focused interest in creating the client’s dream home.

TERESA RYBACK Consulting a qualified design professional from the initial planning stages can help clients avoid costly mistakes. Designers offer their skills, experience and ideas and can access products and services not available to the general public. Our rates and fee structures are arranged with the client once we’ve established the scope of the project. We prepare a written design proposal which outlines the work to be completed and the associated fees, often including cost-saving options.

JENNY MARTIN Working with a designer

takes the guesswork out of an otherwise intimidating decision-making process. Designers bridge the gap between vision and reality, helping clients envision the end result and providing contractors the detailed information needed to prepare a realistic budget and time-line. We act as liaisons between suppliers, tradespeople and construction teams. Designers aim to lessen stress and to infuse the building process with excitement.

CHERYL DEMERCHANT As a designer, I ensure the client’s needs and preferences are being represented in the design process. After an initial consultation, working with a designer is an interactive process with plenty of opportunities for client input and revisions. To help our clients realize their visions, we meet with them regularly, developing design boards, CAD drawings, lighting plans and paint schedules. We also help clients tender for the best pricing and service and offer project management.

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and questions, is respectful, and works collaboratively to express the client’s personal vision. Designers should offer guidance, patience and clear communication to help reduce the inevitable discomfort of renovation. With imagination, the use of innovative products and new ideas, a designer facilitates the creation of a nurturing environment, suiting the household’s natural ebb and flow.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

PROBIOTICS: More than a dairy-case craze, probiotics may help “good bugs” keep us healthy

By ANNE MULLENS

Gut microflora outnumber human cells 10 to one.

Look in the dairy case of any Victoria grocery store or just turn on the TV and you cannot miss it: the word “probiotics” is everywhere. This new health buzzword essentially means “good bugs.” Yogurt, cheese and a lot of other foods (wine, beer, vinegars, sauerkraut, sourdough bread — in fact anything fermented) are created in large part by the actions of good bacteria. Such friendly bugs not only make our food taste good, but eating live cultures in our yogurt and other sources may benefit our health, too. In fact, a revolution is occurring in our understanding of the so-called human microbiome — the 10 trillion cells of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other micro-organisms that live within us — and their essential role in our wellness. “In recent years we have really come to realize that the whole human microbiome, particularly the gut microflora, is absolutely critical to our health and functioning,” notes Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, a Canadian molecular microbiologist from the University of Guelph. Allen-Vercoe is part of a Canada-wide group of scientists, the Canadian Microbiome Initiative, funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research, which is working with an international consortium to crack the secrets of this elusive microscopic community that outnumbers our own cells more than 10 to one and encode almost 100 times the genetic material that our human cells encode. “We used to think that the bugs were there, but they were either bad or not doing much. Now we know they are manufacturing vitamins, extracting nutrients from our food, assisting our immune system and likely doing many more jobs we don’t even know of yet,” says Allen-Vercoe, who is

Good bacteria help digest food, manufacture vitamins, and support the immune system

Auto-immune disorders may be linked to the loss of good microflora

working with research teams in BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia to identify and categorize the complex human microbial community and figure out what role it may play within us. Many of the species are now unknown. The Canadian teams will contribute their findings to the international Human Microbiome Project (HMP), which is mapping the entire genetic code of the bugs within us. The enormous HMP grows out of the mapping of the human genome, finished 10 years ago, and its surprising finding that human beings only had some 20,000 proteinencoding genes, barely more than a nematode worm’s 19,000. 71

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Why didn’t we need 100,000 genes or more? It began to dawn on researchers that bacteria and other microbes that evolved along with us were likely doing complex tasks for us. Dr. Brett Finlay, a leading cellular microbiologist at the University of BC, likens humans to a “super organism” that includes not only our own cells but the complex microbial communities in our digestive tract, respiratory system, and reproductive systems, without which we cannot survive. This is a major advance on the “germ theory of disease” that revolutionized medicine 150 years ago when Joseph Lister, Louis Pasteur and others discovered that some nasty bacteria and viruses were behind many human diseases. Those discoveries spurred the creation of antibiotics and hospital infection control, public health policies, and improved public sanitation. It also created generations of hygiene-obsessed germaphobes, including most North American mothers, who disinfected and cleaned with a fervour — and we all may have gone too far. It is known that 70 per cent of our immune system resides in the gut and so rising rates of asthma, allergies, and other auto-immune disorders — even obesity it seems— may be linked to the loss of good microflora. For example, in the 20th century an enormous increase has occurred in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, notes Dr. Gil Kaplan, a gastroenterologist and IBD expert at the University of Calgary who is also part of the CIHR microbiome initiative. In what he calls the “prosperity paradox,” the more developed a country becomes, the higher the incidence of IBD. Canada has the highest rates in the world. Why? Scrutiny is now turning to an altered balance of gut microflora being one trigger in genetically susceptible people, Kaplan notes. A new study is following 5,000 Canadians at genetic risk of IBD to see if microflora changes precede disease onset. To date a number of intriguing findings are linking a host of human ailments to imbalances in the human microbiome. Canada is emerging as a world leader in such studies. While most research is still in animal models, some of the intriguing findings include: Research out of the University of Western Ontario that links autism to specific gut microflora that may overgrow in intestinal tracts. Research at McMaster University that found depressive and anxiety-like behavioural changes in mice were linked to alterations in gut microflora. Research at UBC that is linking early exposure to antibiotics, which alters healthy flora, to the onset of allergies and asthma later in life. Research at the University of Calgary that shows the devastating infection of Clostridium difficile, which has infected or killed many frail patients in hospitals, can be successfully treated with the transplant of healthy feces from a family member which acts to rebalance the gut.

Boulivard.indd 1

6/24/2011 11:54:22 PM

Other international studies are investigating metabolism (thinness and obesity), arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, immune system malfunction and other ailments to gut microflora. This highly complex picture of the microbiome is still in its infancy but the mapping project is expected to reveal vast new secrets in the coming decade. So how does this all relate to the probiotic products in the dairy case? While food manufacturers are prohibited from making specific health claims in Canada, Health Canada allows the food industry to say on its labels “probiotics contribute to healthy gut flora.” Since good bacteria have been used since the dawn of civilization to help create our food, they are deemed normal food ingredients and do not need regulation. Most live probiotic cultures fall into two types, mostly found in cheese and yogurt, lactobacillus and bifidobacteria strains. Both are mostly linked to improved gut motility and digestion. Lactobacillus

About a half a cup a day of yogurt is enough, but probiotic experts, like Dr. Karen Madsen of the University of Calgary, advise consumers to read labels and be aware that there is no regulation, no way to While food manufacturers assess the viability of are prohibited from making the live cultures and no specific health claims, way to know if you are Health Canada allows truly getting an active dose. Some people the food industry to say choose to make their “probiotics contribute to own probiotic mix, for healthy gut flora.” example, by adding culture purchased from a health food stores to milk to make yogurt or kefir or to buy probiotic supplements. In the years ahead, we may all be advised to ingest a specific mix of micro-organisms for our own personal gut type. Research from Germany this past spring found that, like blood types, each of us may belong to one of three specific microbiome types, now dubbed “enterotypes.” The research lead by Dr. Peer Bork found that human gut ecosystems seem to fall into three distinct types that are not related to ethnicity, geographic location, sex, weight, health, or age. What does create the distinct types is still being investigated But, one day soon, it may be that along with “eat your vegetables” parents may nag “and your bacteria, too.” VB

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At the beach, in the house or anywhere, Gittins gets the music going By Darryl Gittins

250.384.7663 tara@tarahearn.com tarahearn.com Whether I’m in my office, the kitchen or the car, I’ve usually got music playing. I’m a music collector from ‘way back. I’ve still got 500 or so records in the basement. I like to show the kids the fabulous artwork and the black vinyl, while explaining that if you flip it over, there’s music on the other side! I’ve also got a massive case of old cassettes. Remember all those college radio tapes? I also have a lot of CDs. But I haven’t actually played an LP, a cassette or even a CD for years, other than to copy them to a computer, which is all we use these days to play music. Music and computer technology are a perfect fit, so if you haven’t discovered the brave new world of digital music, I’ve got a few tips that might persuade you to retire that 8-track player you’ve been hanging onto. The biggest hurdle is copying your first music CD onto a computer. Depending on which version of Windows you have, the steps for copying (or “ripping”) CDs to the computer might be cleverly hidden in different locations. After you’ve done one though, it’s easy to do many more. When you insert a CD into the CD drive of a PC, you might receive an “AutoPlay” dialog box where you can select the option to “Rip audio CD”, which will automatically do the job for you. If not, open Windows Media Player, and then click the “Rip” tab (on most versions). Or, install my favorite music manager, MediaMonkey (get it from Ninite.com), and then click “Rip audio CD” on the “Tools” menu. On a Mac, click the “Import CD” button in iTunes. Search Google for “Rip-musicfrom-a-CD” for help with this. 76

Of course, there are other ways to get music onto the computer. I love eMusic.com, which is a subscription-based music download service, but there’s also the iTunes store (which has thankfully abandoned Digital Rights Management, or “DRM”). If you want free (and legal), try epitonic.com for some interesting tunes that are off the beaten path. Now that you have music on the computer, what next? Let’s talk about connecting that computer to your stereo. You’ll need a Y-adapter cable, available from a store like The Source (you might remember them as Radio Shack). Connect one end to the “Line out” or “Headphones” connection of the computer (or tablet or smart phone), and then connect the two RCA connectors to the “Line in” or “Aux” connection on the back of your stereo’s receiver. This is actually a great way to repurpose an old computer, because it doesn’t require a fancy system. I have an old computer running in the basement, directly beneath my home stereo. I drilled a small hole through the floor for the wires that connect to the stereo, to a monitor, and to a USB mouse and keyboard. That way, I can’t hear the computer grinding away, but I can still control the computer to play music (without going downstairs, I tell you how, below), which is (of course) piped into the kitchen, dining room and living room. JJ Cale and I have cooked many a Southwestern meal this way. More information on connecting a computer to the stereo is here: wikihow.com/Connect-a-Computer-to-a-Stereo-System. We’re not done yet; the coolest trick is to make all that music available anywhere you are via the Internet and your iPad or smart phone. Install the nifty streaming app from Audiogalaxy.com onto the computer that has your music files (i.e. mine in the basement). You need to create a free account. Next, install the Audiogalaxy app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device, and then log on using the same account. Voila! There’s all your music, without using any storage space on the iPad or smart phone device. (One caveat; this probably is something you only want to use when you have a WiFi connection, because streaming music over the Internet can eat up your data plan pretty fast.) No additional software is required to play the music from an Internet-connected computer. Just log on to the Audiogalaxy. com site and then click “Play”. Now, if you get a hankering to listen to Spinal Tap’s Break Like the Wind out in a coffee shop, it’s there for you as long as the home computer is up and running with the Audiogalaxy streaming app. That makes for a pretty awesome music player at the BBQ or on vacation. All you need is your smart phone or tablet, and a pair of portable speakers that can connect to the headphone jack. Rock and roll! VB

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BOOK CLUB

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THE CLUB: These women lust after books and crave intellectual conversation the way most of us crave chocolate (or steak, depending on your gender). Understandable, considering they are a highly educated bunch, possessing all sorts of degrees. Among them are (mostly retired) university professors, lawyers, nurses, teachers and two former Foreign Service Wives (yes, that was their official title, capitalized if you please). More knowledgeable about the intricacies of Middle Eastern history and politics than I will ever be, some even called that part of the world home for several years. When they sank their teeth into Gertrude Bell’s biography with fervour, I scribbled down more notes than I ever did in class all those long university years ago. THE AUTHOR: New York City-born Janet Wallach is a biographer, noted journalist and TV host who spent the better part of the past 15 years in the Middle East, interviewing and writing about ordinary citizens, radical militant groups, and leading figures like Yasser Arafat and King Hussein. She also wrote a biography of Coco Chanel, and two books on fashion. THE PLOT: Relying heavily on archived correspondence, Wallach tells the story of Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), an

extraordinary woman who defied the constraints of Victorian England to become as great an adventurer as any man of her time. After failing to attract a husband during her allotted three social seasons in Victorian London, 23-year-old Bell — the first woman to earn an Oxford history degree — hopped the Orient Express to Tehran to visit her uncle. Thus began a lifetime of travel, including dangerous mountaineering exploits in the Swiss Alps, and archaeological expeditions throughout the Middle East. Her expertise in Middle Eastern languages, culture and tribal relations made her a great asset to the British Empire, and she was instrumental in helping create and administrate Iraq. Exhausted from the strain of her political work and in poor health, Bell died in 1926 of an overdose of sleeping pills. Whether her death was an accident or suicide is still a matter of debate. DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS: “Why haven’t we heard more of Gertrude Bell?” The Book Lusters demanded. “She was one of the most powerful people of her time. She was an explorer. She spoke many languages. She was an acknowledged archaeologist, sociologist and anthropologist. She authored several important books, had even translated a book of passionate Persian poems by the age of 23. She was an intelligence officer, serving British interests

perfectly. She… enabled T.E. Lawrence to become Lawrence of Arabia. She essentially created modern Iraq. She did all of this, yet we know of Lawrence and not of her!” “Bell is well-known in Britain, if not in North America,” said one member, who grew up in Newcastle, England, where Bell’s diaries, maps, photographs and letters are archived, and where the Bell family is still well known. Another pointed out that Bell is also still well known in Baghdad, where an entire wing of the Baghdad Museum is named after her. “From Bell’s perspective, the Arabian people loved her,” one woman said. “But it would have been fascinating to have a broader perspective on the Arabs’ reaction to her.” Life must have been difficult for Bell in England. “In terms of British snobbism, she did not have an aristocratic background, even though she was wealthy and privileged,” said one member. Bell was scorned by some of her male colleagues, but a good many other contemporaries held her in high esteem. Still, she was too smart to be marriageable, and too manlike in her pursuits to fit in with female society. Bell’s adventurous spirit and intelligence propelled her into a life of greatness, but the price was social exile. “She fit in with the Arabs. They accepted her as an exceptional woman. And she accepted them as they were, didn’t look at them from a

cOURTESY BOLEN BOOKS

The Book: The Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Advisor to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia, Historical Biography Author: Janet Wallach Publisher: Anchor Books, c1999 Length: 464 pages This Issue’s Book Club: The Book Lusters

Colonial British Imperialist point of view.” In Arabia, immersed in her work, Bell was finally able to be herself. Bell did things women had never done. She was “the uncrowned Queen of Iraq.” Yet she was thrice unlucky in love. “The thinking then was that when you’re a bluestocking, all you have left are your books,” said one member, and conversation turned to Bell’s later bouts of depression, ill health and her death at the age of 57. They talked about Bell’s “extraordinary capacity for solitude,” for she trekked several times across the vast Arabian Desert, spending months at a time with only her servants, with whom she likely would not have shared friendship. They wondered, what would Bell’s life have been like had her father allowed her to marry her first love? No doubt she would have led a more conventional life, and history would have suffered a great loss. CLUB VERDICT: This book is Pulitzer Prizeworthy, say the Book Lusters. Well-documented and rich with historical context and details about life in the Middle East, Desert Queen is an “excellent, enlightening choice.” Three cheers for Gertrude Bell, a “damn-the-torpedoes kind of girl!” VB

Questions or comments? Want your book club featured in the magazine? Please email Adrienne Dyer at adyer@telus.net for more information. 79

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stories

Earlier this year, Boulevard asked readers to send us their short anecdotes on a party theme. Here are some of our favourite submissions:

Illustrations by shelley davies

TURNING TWO Robin was not a close friend, but a woman I admired for her artistry and savoir-faire. Her children were older and light years ahead of my soon to be two-year-old, first-born son Adrian, who at that moment was digging his pudgy little fingers into Robin’s potted ficus. It was the summer of 1985, in our rural Langley neighbourhood, but I remember the conversation as if it were yesterday. “So,” I ask Robin, “any ideas for Adrian’s birthday party?” She sets the coffee pot down; fixes me with a level gaze. “Well, I usually start the planning a full 12 months before.” Adrian is a July baby. The party is 10 days off. I snatch fragments of her suggestions: The clown, booked through an agent… an agent? The ponies… plural? The theme for decorating? I am hyperventilating but I’m concealing it by chewing my way through a plate of her coffee cake. The tsunami of advice advances. I reach for the buttered currant bread. I am nodding as I commiserate with her on the challenge of the games stations. And yes, of course, I would be hiring the local teens to monitor the stations, and yes, it made sense to hire the sous-chef from Vicky’s Urban Lunch (well, obviously you wouldn’t hire the chef), but only for the children’s food. Not the mothers’ food, which you would want to have prepared yourself. The mothers’ food? The mothers would be there, too? I remember deep breathing, as I cautiously backed out of Robin’s manicured driveway and carefully navigated the journey home. Instead we had hot dogs. Mostly with ketchup. Some games too. Just my husband, Adrian and me and a couple of kids from the cul de sac, whose mothers, mercifully, made use of the chance to go shopping. And as I recall, it was fun. Marie Etchell

A SLIP OF THE TONGUE

It was at a party in 1971 when I first realized the importance of learning a second language. I was dancing with

my new French boyfriend when, for some unknown reason, after one or two quick twirls, I blurted out, “Oh, I forgot to put on my slip.” (For those of you under the age of 40, a slip was a nylon garment worn under a skirt or dress for what, I assume, were reasons of “modesty.”) My boyfriend froze, looked me in the eye and said, “You have no slip? This is not correct! We have to leave “immediatement!” He took my arm and began to lead me to the door while I protested, “No, no, it’s okay. I usually don’t wear one anyway. Most girls don’t anymore.” He shot me a horrified look, shook his head and replied, “I wear a slip. Everyone must wear a slip.” “You wear a slip?” “Oui, bien sur.” There was a long pause while I filtered through all that had been said. Then it dawned on me. “What is “slip” in French?” I asked. “Un slip,” he explained, “is the underpants. You comprends?” There have been many more “slips” on our linguistic quest over the past 38 years of marriage but we still laugh about this first one. Deirdre Vincent

Partay le Pew The garden centre attendant prophesized the exotic plant would soon boast a large purple spathe and spadix, and we would remember it for years to come. We planted the pricey plant. IT (as it came to be known) grew rapidly and proudly towered over the rather docile ornamental grasses beside it. We wanted to show off our newly xeriscaped garden, a legacy from my centenarian green-thumbed “gaga,” a shrewd gardener. We were certain IT would bloom in time for the family reunion. 81

The big day arrived. After finishing the food preparations I went outside to set the large al fresco dining table with white linen. Hearing a strange buzzing drone from the garden, I glanced over to see that IT had bizarrely doubled its height overnight. The doorbell rang, interrupting my musings, and the first onslaught of family arrived. Drinks flowed and appetizers were gobbled. My husband proudly led the family entourage outside to give the long-awaited garden tour. As we stood expectantly under the hot sun, the first putrid smell hit our nostrils. Our heads turned simultaneously towards the source of a thunderous buzzing. Hundreds of blow-flies covered the plant, and wave upon wave of a hideous carcass-like stench emanated from IT. “What, pray tell, is that?,” retched an elderly aunt. With his face tucked protectively into the crook of his arm, my husband staggered over to the offending flora, found the white plastic plant name marker in the ground, and screamed into his bicep, “a dragon arum, or dracunculus vulgaris.” “It certainly is!” She retorted, dabbing a lace handkerchief at the tears streaming down her creased cheeks. The prophecy proved true. People still talk about that plant… and that party. Barbara Bruce

Mmm. This Turkey is delicious I always envied the kids who had birthday parties. There was none of that for me as I grew up; no money for such luxuries. My only goals growing up were to make sure I would not be hungry, I would be well-dressed, be loved and I would have some fun. The latter went hand in hand with parties. One of the most memorable parties I threw as an adult was one Christmas in England in the 1970s. I invited a few people who were on their own. The party was a result of receiving a gift of a 20-pound turkey. I had never even seen a turkey until that point. It looked huge to me. Cooking it would be an adventure. I wasn’t sure how to do that, but thought it wouldn’t be too difficult to figure out. I looked at that turkey every day trying to decide how to cook it. Our fridge was too small to hold the turkey and I didn’t unwrap it until Christmas morning. Suffice to say the smell was a “nose holder” and I threw the turkey out into the garden to dispose of later. Meanwhile, my guests would be arriving, so I ran to all the corner stores and bought all the chicken I could find. I rushed

back home and cooked the chicken in turkey gravy (out of a packet of course!) I received several nice comments about the lovely tender turkey. I didn’t own up to what I had done. Little did they know that the real turkey was reclining just beyond the outdoor privy! Later came, I dug a hole and buried the thing. I have hosted many parties since that one, but I have never served turkey. Joy Fox

Girls just want to have fun In October 2009 I was visiting my friend Josephine, who lives in a small village in England near Manchester. Several pubs dot the main road: most are lively, warmed with the laughing chatter of neighbours. Sadly, a growing number are facing up to the recession, and stand empty, lonely and cold and boarded-up. One still open, The Cheshire Cheese, was about a 10-minute downhill walk from Josephine’s front door: we were frequent patrons. As a part of her final fight to keep her business going, the barmaid was holding an “Eighties School Disco” night. She pitched it to us as an excuse to dress up, listen to 1980s music and to decorate the place with things metallic. I am a kid at heart, so the opportunity to dress up and act silly speaks to my soul. Josephine and I went all out for the party: we dressed in plaid skirts, white-collared shirts, and knee-high socks. We teased our hair until it stood, quite literally, on end. Our makeup was nothing less than extravagant: we slicked on a muddled mess of green and purple eye shadow, topped it off with a few dramatic swishes of thick, dark eyeliner, and added a few beauty marks for extra measure. Our entrance to the pub caused quite the scene: it was not only that our outfits were completely over-the-top … but also the fact that we were the only two in full costume! It was embarrassing, yes; but the child at heart had the time of her life. Diana Dryburgh

Sweet Sixteen Most of the time, my mom was serious and strict, although always loving. Sometimes she showed a funny sense of humour, like the one April Fools’ Day she made me cinnamon toast for breakfast, substituting salt for the sugar on top. Or my 16th birthday. A couple of weeks before, I cheerfully passed out my party invitations. Unknown to me, my mom had enlisted my best friend Linda to follow behind, passing out a note to each invitee asking her not to accept, but to indeed come. It was to be a surprise party. Soon I realized that not one of my friends was going to attend. On the day of my birthday, to make up for my

disappointment, Mom dropped me and another friend Shelley off at the department store for one of our favourite pastimes — browsing the cosmetic department and liberally spraying ourselves with every tester of perfume. Shelley’s mom picked us up at the designated time and when I got home, I headed to my bedroom and bath for a much needed shower. Upon entering my bedroom and turning on the light, I was greeted by all of my friends jumping up from behind the bed, from under my desk and out of the closet with a huge Happy Birthday shout. And, yes, Mom was standing right behind me laughing at my surprise and her success. Amy Volmuth

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SECRET INGREDIENT It was Christmas time and the dinner was being held at my son’s house. To lessen the burden we did potluck. I arrived with the fixings for a large spinach salad and dessert. I have vanities I indulge in. One of them used to be my nails. With short, stumpy fingers and nails that don’t grow, I used stick-on nails for special occasions. This was one. My daughter-in-law Angie and I were the kitchen, busily preparing food while engaging in a bonding conversation. I had finished putting together a large layered trifle, complete with fresh fruit and rum, and had almost completed the salad. As I was rinsing my hands, I stared in horror at my fingers and gasped. “What’s the matter?” asked Angie. I could barely utter: “My nail is gone!” I held up my thumb. We knew what we had to do. Angie brought out another bowl and both of us dug into the salad, transferring it little by little into the clean bowl, inspecting each piece carefully. No nail. When the entire bowl had been examined, it was clear there was only one place left to look. The trifle. My beautiful trifle! How could I take it apart, root through it, and not leave any evidence of the rooting? Then I envisioned someone biting down on a plastic stick-on nail during the course of dinner. The trifle came undone. No stick-on nail ever surfaced anywhere in that kitchen. The trifle was rearranged and covered over with a forgiving layer of extra whipped cream. Angela was sworn to secrecy. I never wore stick-on nails again. Elly Mossman Submissions have been condensed and edited.

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TRAVEL NEAR

Sheep graze near Ruckle Park, a popular camping and picnicking spot; The government wharf at Fernwood Point at the north end of the island.

the mellow, meadow side of

salt spring Text and photos BY GAYLE MAVOR

n August, the village of Ganges on Salt Spring Island positively vibrates. It’s prime tourist season. Weekenders, boaters and groups from everywhere keep the boutiques and restaurants buzzing, especially on Saturdays at the famous farmers’ and artisans’ market. But elsewhere on the island, hot stillness and golden light hang over the meadows. The grape leaves that dot the sloping Burgoyne Valley have turned bushy and deer seek the shade. Mother Nature is in a self-congratulatory pause with her garden bounty on display at every crooked roadside stall. In this quieter part of Salt Spring, the pace is slow and visitors who have “done” their favourite things — or are saving the market (8 am to 4 pm) for later in the day when it is less crowded — can try a few paths less travelled. Straight off the Fulford ferry, for instance, you can resist the “Islandopolis 500” road race and at the top of the hill, turn right onto Beaver Point Road. Point your car (or your bikes) towards Ruckle Provincial Park. Once there, park in the small lot past Ruckle Heritage Barn and follow the short trail back

to the barn. You can peer inside and then wander the outside of Ruckle House and try to imagine what life might have been like in 1872 for pioneering Irish immigrant Henry Ruckle and his family. Meander past “Grandma’s beach,” linking farm to forest, past walk-in campgrounds (78) and spectacular shoreline views. It’s a nice, easy loop. Depending on your level of enchantment, expect to spend at least an hour before returning to your car with a growing appetite. Just outside the park, you could begin to assemble ingredients for a progressive-style lunch. Hearth breads. Goat cheeses. Local wines. Fresh greens and fruit. First stop is Heather Campbell’s Salt Spring Island Bread Co. with its 180-degree panoramic view panning Mount Bruce, Swartz Bay, the San Juans, Mt. Baker and Pender Island. I suggest a focaccia bread or crusty organic loaf baked in the wood-fired oven. A seat at a picnic table or an Adirondack chair affords a comfortable way to inhale the bread and the view. The bakery is open Wednesdays to Fridays (Saturday Campbell is at the market). If it’s Saturday, carry on to Reynolds Road to the Salt Spring Island Cheese

on er

er Co ic nd a’s iti

Ey ela sh

EXPECT THE BEST

Company, open 11 am to 5 pm daily. You’ll feel as if you’ve left the West Coast for Provence. A taste-testing in their farm store includes chèvre, feta, hard and surface-ripened cheeses, as well as olives and herbed oils. Linger in their French-style courtyard and admire the wisteria. Kids will like the chickens. If you’re up for it, try a two-minute detour to the beautiful Stowell Lake Farm, complete with a finely-crafted cob farm stand, where veggies are sold seven days a week, and a gatehouse that offers yoga and silent meditation retreats. It’s just so darn Salt Springy. Having gathered your treats, head towards Ganges, turning off at Salt Spring Vineyards, (noon to 5 pm, Thursday to Sunday). You can enjoy a glass of their 2009 Aromata with your picnic while lazily watching unusual resident Runner Ducks. In August, local musicians serenade wine tastings. Or, call ahead (48 hours) and Bruce Wood of Bruce’s Kitchen (250-931-3399) will prepare a gourmet picnic, or carry on to Mistaken Identity Vineyards, and enjoy a glass of their organic vino on their picnic-worthy grounds. Swimmers might like to try Cusheon Lake, where you can

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feel tranquility wash over your body and your citified soul when you ease into the water off the dock. Just a warning: island fresh-water swimming holes have limited parking and a “hello there, neighbour” atmosphere due to condensed beach space. Those who prefer the ocean could head for Beddis Beach at the end of Beddis Road. It has a sandy stretch of beach perfect for sunbathing, wading, beachcombing or fullon salt water immersion ( but brrrr, it’s cold.) August is a good month for fine dining, too. Chef Ernst Dorfler of Vancouver’s Five Sails restaurant is up to plate, August 15, at Hastings House Country House Hotel as part of its Chefs across the Water program. There’s also House Piccolo in Ganges, where Finnish-born Chef Piccolo Lyytikainen, a member of the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, brings upscale European cuisine to his 36-seat boutique restaurant. Away from town, less extravagant folks will find the Seaside Kitchen at Vesuvius Bay, which boasts (in my humble opinion) the best small deck with a view and good seafood. Reservations recommended. After dinner, you might like to stroll by the Treehouse Café in Ganges to catch the remnants of the retro (hippie) vibe. Owners Mark and Terena LeCorre, (he’s a sound engineer for Avril Lavigne, The Tragically Hip and Dido), provide island musicians with a funky venue 111 nights a year.

Later on, Duthie Gallery, in addition to daytime hours, has illuminated wood installations to complement summer’s dusk (Thursdays to Mondays, 9 pm to 11 pm.) Longer visits might include a wildlife or whale-watching excursion with Ian Gidney of Outdoor Visions in his 12-passenger Zodiac. A spotting network keeps him in the orca loop. He’ll customize tours on request. At Sacred Mountain Lavender, the colour purple is still there in August. But to really get away from it all, visit the North End: Fernwood Dock and Raven Street Café are a mere 10 minutes from Ganges, but a world away from busyness. Planning a circle tour, arriving in the south from Sidney and leaving via the Vesuvius Bay ferry to Crofton, lets you head back to Victoria down the Malahat or carry on up-Island. It’s a great start to an extended vacation or a three-day getaway. If You Go: Visit bcferries.com for sailing schedules and fares. For air, google Salt Spring Island Air, Harbour Air, Seair Seaplanes. You can leave your car at Swartz Bay and get around by bus (Salt Spring Island Transit System,$2 exact cash/Under 5: no charge); taxis (Silver Shadow: 250-537-3030) or Salt Spring Car and Scooter Rental (saltspringcarrental.com.) With no bike paths and narrow roads, cycling calls for caution but is widely done. VB

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TRAVEL FAR

oom to let Save a bundle and live like a local, but do your homework first text and photos By Vivian Moreau

THE STREET was lit in a soft glow as we stepped out of the apartment weâ€™d rented in Rome onto the Via dei Coronari. The antique shops were closing and the osterias opening as lamplights came on. Beautiful young women in stilettos linked arms with equally beautiful young men as they headed out for dinner. It was an inviting, nightly neighborhood sight we came to love, and felt part of, during our week there. Renting vacation apartments in Europe like this one has distinct advantages over hotels. You save money on accommodation and by cooking your own meals, and shopping for food immerses you in neighborhood culture. You can put a load of laundry on and have a nap or a stroll. There is more space to spread out maps, to write, to read, to eat,

than you have in a hotel room. You see, hear, and smell the lives carried on around you. Over a month last September, my husband and I rented four apartments, two in Italy and two in France. Some, like the studio apartment in a Provencal village, were lovely; others, like the mouldy Paris apartment, less so. Our first apartment in Rome was a 50-square-metre, twolevel flat on the second floor of a 300-year-old building with no elevator and delightfully worn stone stairs. Our travel agent found it and the owner, a young man with several rental apartments in Rome, was waiting for us when we arrived to collect the fee (E780 or about $1,000 Cnd for seven nights). He explained with hand gestures and drawings how to work the

Clockwise from far left: A medieval arcade street in Villacruze, Provence; A bright yellow facade in Nice; Near Villacruze is Lac de Sainte Croix.

flat-top stove, air conditioner and washer/dryer. We never did understand why a particular bathroom wall switch was never to be touched, but we dutifully left it alone. Stepping out that first evening in a neighbourhood the painter Caravaggio once claimed as his own, we discovered its esthetic and geographic charm. Snuggled between the Castel Sant’angelo and the Piazza Navona, our apartment was a 30-minute walk from the Forum and half that to the Spanish steps. We learned to buy our cheeses and breads from the patient corner grocer. Ideally located, the apartment was a relief to return to after sweaty mornings spent exploring the city: in mid-September it was still up to 33 C by noon. From Rome we took the train to a four-night hotel stay in Florence, then to Manarola, one of five seaside villages that make up the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera. From the owner’s website, I had been taken with the spectacular view from the hilltop cottage we rented for three nights that looked down over the village, all for only E80 ($116 Cnd) a night. During the thigh-busting walk from the station we could spot narrow-gauge trains carrying heaping loads of grapes from terraced vineyards. “We don’t do palatial,” the owner said when she let us in. Rooms in the two-level fisherman’s cottage were about three by four metres. It had a fridge but no stove or microwave. During our stay we bought cheese, fruit, bread and water from a tiny grocery for breakfast and lunch. The cottage was next door to a popular trattoria, something the website didn’t mention. In the many emails we had exchanged I’d not thought to ask if it was a quiet neighbourhood, a mistake I won’t make again. The upside was that one evening the trattoria owner offered to serve us dinner on our verandah. Hopping over the low fence, wait staff brought us steak, black pasta with scampi, prawns, clams and mussels, and insalata mista. All of this while the sun slid down in front of us with the sky turning a burnt orange and the sea an inky blue. In Nice we rented a car and drove to a village two hours northwest in the Haut Var region, an area some think of as its own and some include in Provence. We found the little Villecroze studio through Vacation Rentals By Owner (vrbo. com). The owner had sent us maps and detailed instructions on how to get to the suite and sights to see in and around the village. We were delighted by the view of nearby mas (farmhouses), orchards and hills and were charmed when greeted with a chilled bottle of rosé proffered by the friendly neighbour who doubles as caretaker. White-washed walls, peach tiled floor, blue and white overstuffed sofa and a 89

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small but elegant kitchen made for a welcoming home. The apartment turned out to be perfect for our week of exploring nearby villages and the Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s Grand Canyon, just 30 kilometres away. At E220 ($306 Cnd) for six nights, it was the cheapest. One evening a storm blew in. Before I fastened the blue shutters to stop them from smacking against the stone walls of the 200-year-old building, I looked over the lawn, beyond the terracotta tiled homes and a trim row of trees. The famous wind, combined with the sunset, swirled clouds into a frosty pink and the distant hills to murky aubergine. No owner greeted us in Paris, where we had booked a onebedroom apartment on a side street near the Arc de Triomphe for E850 ($1,130 Cnd) for six nights, an average price on centreparis.com. Instead, we took a cab to the agency to pick up the keys and then to the three-storey walk-up. The view was across a block-wide courtyard lush with trees, gardens and walkways to three Haussmann-inspired apartment buildings. We were pleased to be just a 10-minute walk from the Champs Elysees and Metro. Things that go awry can provide the best anecdotes. The mould-rimmed tub in the Paris apartment took 45 minutes to drain and the broken shower door swung alarmingly out over the floor while under the spray. The washing machine went kaput during our first wash. We lugged our sopping clothes to a nearby laundromat, only to have the power go out when we arrived. We hung our clothes to dry from the terrace over the next two days, hoping they wouldn’t blow away. We didn’t buy the $39(US) rental guarantee insurance the agency offered when we booked and wondered whether it might help address problems. Next time we will buy it. Like our Parisian neighbors, we bought provisions from the local shops to eat in our apartment: meat, cheeses and deli goods from the charcuterie downstairs; croissants and éclairs from the patisserie next door; and “Harry’s American Sandwich” bread, butter and jam from the nearby grocer. When we left to go home I waved good-bye to the two young men in their shop as we pulled our suitcases behind us. They waved back, one of them calling, “à la prochaine.” Until next time. I certainly hope so. When we next rent a vacation home we will be sure to reserve through the owner, rather than with an agency or travel agent: We found the best apartments on our own. The one that owners use as a private getaway was better furnished and maintained than those apartments that were financial investments.

A number of websites and organizations exist to help people find vacation rentals or connect with owners who want to rent apartments. Some recommended holiday rental websites include vbro.com; holiday-rentals.co.uk; centreparis.com, ownerdirect. com, homeway.com, book-a-flat.com and clickappart.com VB

FOOD & WINE

crab it

Dungeness crabs are a local treat to hunt, gather and feast upon text and photos By MARYANNE CARMACK

bbq crab Singapore Chili Crab

RABBING IS a fun way to enjoy a day on the water — with the added reward of catching a wonderful meal. The West Coast is famous for its crab harvests with Dungeness crab considered the best meat of all the types of crabs (there are over 5,000 different species in the world). Luckily for us Dungeness crabs are found throughout the Pacific Ocean. Dungeness crab can be found on all bottom types but the adults prefer a sand or sandy mud seabed. The best time to catch Dungeness crab is during the incoming tide, when the crabs move with the flow rather than having to fight heavy currents and risk being washed away. The incoming tide also has a higher salinity so it is more comfortable for them. This is even more important if you catch crabs from a pier because the water level around the pier must be deep enough for the crabs to be near. If you plan to use a boat, however, it doesn’t matter what time of day you go. While the crabbing season is open all year, it is best from July through December; the quality of the crabs and their numbers improve as this season progresses. The peak month is generally December before the inshore water temperature gets too cold and the fresh water arrives from heavy rains. To get started you will need a fishing licence, crab trap or folding crab pot, bait, rope, tape measure, bucket and a dock or a boat to crab from. Crab traps are sold from fishing stores or hardware stores like Capital Iron. A BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence is required for harvesting crabs, and licence holders are limited to two crab traps per licence and a four crab daily maximum on the South Coast. Crab that is gathered recreationally cannot be sold. You can get an annual licence online from the federal government for about $23. Google “BC tidal fishing licence.” Now, the crab bait: Contrary to popular belief, crabs are not scavengers and will not generally eat putrefied or spoiled bait. They much prefer fresh food (the fresher the better) and live in nature on clams, marine worms and small fish. I like to use fish heads. Research has shown that old or smelly baits tend to catch undersize males and females, while the larger males seek and successfully obtain fresher food. All crab baits should be wired or tied securely in the centre of the trap between the entrance tunnels. If baits are loose in the traps, they will drift to one corner and the crabs will feed on them from the outside. When you are ready, tie enough rope to the crab trap for the water depth. My “secret” crabbing spot is Sidney Pier. I walk to the end and drop my trap and tie it to the dock. Leave your trap alone for at least an hour before checking it so you don’t scare off the crabs. When you pull it up, if you have crabs in the trap be sure to measure and sex them. The size minimum is 165 mm (6.5 inches) across the maximum breadth of the carapace. This measure is designed to protect sexually mature males for at

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least one year and all female crabs, since the female of the species rarely exceeds this size. Female and small male crabs must be returned to the water in order to conserve the species. Female crabs can lay 2.5 million eggs at one time, and are vital to maintain crab populations. Any crab with a soft shell, where the shell has been shed so the crab can grow, must also be released delicately back into the water. To distinguish between a male and female crab, flip the crab upside down to reveal its abdomen. If you see a triangular shape that is quite narrow — like a lighthouse — you are looking at a male crab. If you see a broader, round abdomen — like a sun — that is a female. The round section is sometimes easier to identify if eggs are present. Toss your keepers in a bucket of seawater or cooler. The longer you can keep them alive the fresher the meat will taste. The time-honored method of cooking crabs is to plunge them whole and alive in boiling, salted water and cook for 15 minutes after the water returns to a boil. This requires a large pot. When cooled, the crabs will then need to be cleaned. Another method, involves killing and cleaning the crab before cooking, which saves space in the cooking pot, cuts down on cooking odor and is less messy. (Fishery regulations say the crab carapace must stay on until you are at home or preparing them to eat.) Dozens of videos on youtube show various ways to kill and section crab (with all sorts of comments about which is the easiest and most humane.) Choose the one that best appeals to you. You may choose to boil the crab pieces in salted water, as above, or try one of the enticing recipes below. As you savour your delectable crab feast, take a moment to congratulate yourself as a modern hunter/gatherer. This is a true gift of the sea.

bbq crab 2 crabs, cleaned, halved and cracked 1 tbsp chopped garlic 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup butter Salt and pepper 1/2 lemon, plus wedges, for garnish Chopped Italian parsley leaves, for garnish

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Mix in garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Add the crab and toss with the salt and pepper. Loosely wrap crabmeat and legs in aluminum foil, and place on the prepared grill. Unwrap slightly, and coat with the butter mixture. Cook until pink and flaky, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the grill, and place into a large bowl. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the crab and toss well. Serve on a large platter with fresh lemon wedges and chopped Italian parsley.

Singapore Chili Crab 4 crabs, cleaned, halved and cracked 4 tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup sesame oil 2 tbsp minced fresh ginger 1 onion chopped 1/2 tbsp chili flakes 4 garlic cloves minced 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup oyster sauce 1/4 white wine 1/4 chicken broth

Heat large pot on medium to high heat and add the oils. Add ginger, onions, chili flakes, garlic and sauté until soft. Mix in tomatoes until they become tender and the juices seep out. Pour in oyster sauce, white wine, chicken stock and simmer for two minutes. Add crabs and cook for 15 minutes with the lid on, stirring vigorously every few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley. Serve in a big bowl with fresh bread to soak up the juice. VB

WINE PAiRINGS from boulevard`s WINE EXPERT SHARON MCLEAN Although both dishes are based on crab, how different they are, showing once again how the preparation and sauce influence the wine pairing. With all that butter, our first dish needs a wine with enough acidity to cut through the butter and complement the lemon and with pronounced savoury notes that will echo the Worcestershire sauce and parsley. A traditional-method sparkling wine such as Lanson Black Label Champagne ($54.99 at BC LDB) or BC’s Sumac Ridge Olympic Tribute Silver ($22.99 at BC LDB) is perfect. For those who prefer a still wine, a well-made oaked Chardonnay from a moderate climate has the body and restraint to match the dish: try the 2007 Bouchard Père et Fils from Meursault, a commune in Burgundy ($48.99 at BC LDB). The Singapore Chili Crab gives us an opportunity to play with a more aromatic variety such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling or Viognier. Try the 2008 Nichol Vineyards, Gewurztraminer from the Naramata Bench ($21.99 at Everything Wine). Its notes of spice, rose and peach are a perfect foil to the ginger and chili in the dish. Similarly, the spicy, orchard fruit profile and refreshing acidity of the 2009 Hiedler, Urgestein, Riesling from the Kamptal region in Austria ($24.99 at BC LDB) is a wonderful match. Whatever you choose, use the same wine in the sauce to help marry the pairing. One of the best things about crab is that almost any white wine will work, so grab a bottle of your favourite white, relax and enjoy!

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THIS SPACE is usually devoted to a humour column but I need to borrow it to sell my sailboat. Our sailboat, I mean. My husband and I have spent thousands of hours on board, lots of them happy, and you can, too. So let me metaphorically fire off flares and blast the air horn. Frantic boaters who are adrift do this, but instead I am alerting you to a fantastic deal on this super-duper craft. You won’t mind spending a few bucks (you’ll be doing more than that every month with moorage fees anyway) when you see how this boat will bring you years of adventure

on our wonderful BC waters, soaking up the sun (except during “Fogust”) and having help (occasionally) nearby if you happen to, say, hit a rock because you are rereading Sense and Sensibility and your husband is sure that hidden rock is somewhere else. Then you spend the rest of the summer in the back yard weeding because the boat can’t be repaired until September. When this happened to us, the friends with whom we shared the boat (a previous one) said they really didn’t mind missing their summer holiday either. They have their own boat now. But it is all worth it, especially if you can envision this sailboat as 72 feet (counting both sides plus the width at the back, or stern) of deluxe waterfront property with everchanging views, which is my husband’s description. Others might see it as 33 feet of churning semi-darkness that you can’t stand up in, but they would be cup-half-full people. Come to think of it, all sailors are cup-half-full people when it comes to pouring wine, as more than that might spill and stain the fiberglass. Let’s check out the many fabulous features below (known on land as crawlspace). Just clamber aboard: don’t put too much weight on the “life lines” though, they aren’t that secure — and feel around for a flat place to put the other foot. Watch out for the boom! They don’t call a tree-trunk-sized length of swinging metal “the boom” for nothing. Find the hand grips and head backwards down the companionway (aka ladder) into the galley (closet-sized kitchen), where I have heaved many delicious meals into the teensy sink to prevent them falling onto the floorboards (and thence to the bilge) during an unexpected tack (you and everything else suddenly lean the other way). Port, starboard, oops, f**k, really, you won’t have to remember these nautical terms. And talk about sleeping comfort. You’ll indeed talk about it wistfully after a night spent at anchor, lulled to insanity by the thwack of the dinghy as it hits the hull, the bang of a loose halyard (NEVER call it a rope) and the drunken strains of Margaritaville from the nearby party boat. Well, you have to get up to pee anyway, which in my case involves climbing over my six-foot-five husband, grabbing the cabintop hand rail, swinging my butt over the folded-down table and putting one foot on the settee and the other on the floorboards. The bathroom, or head (like an airplane loo without the roominess or fresh scent) is a handy metre away. Speaking of privacy, there’s no privacy of which to speak. Overnight guests can confirm your bladder capacity and snoring habits through the slats on the cabin door. No sex unless you like an embarrassed audience. Gotta have it, right? Just mail me a big cheque, or a small one. We can work something out. If you see me on the water, wave. I’ll wave back from a new powerboat. It will be fun to be on the smooth side of a big swamping wake. VB

...for Crab Gear!

SECRETS & LIVES

By shannon moneo

How did it make you feel to lose your bid for a federal seat in May’s national election? I’m realistic enough to know it was going to be an uphill battle when you run against a popular incumbent. I enjoyed running because I like to use my brain and be active. This was an opportunity to combine the two. It was a real challenge but I loved it. Why won’t you run for the sixth time to be mayor of Oak Bay? Because I’ve done 24 years (in total). Fifteen years as mayor is two-and-ahalf times longer than anyone else has done it. With really good councils over those 15 years, we’ve made significant improvements.

a car with my girlfriend. It was one of 15 attacks on people in London that night. So, here I am, three days away from coming to Canada. The guy who saved my life was… this American guy. The ambulance was there in less than five minutes. I had tried to defend the young lady I was with so they attacked my hand. It just missed my arteries, a half an inch, my neck, my arm, and I would have been dead. I wanted to start something new in a new country. I couldn’t hang around and wait for the plastic surgeon to fix my face. That’s why when people take my picture, they take the uninjured side. How did you meet your wife Elizabeth? I gave her some professional advice on opening a coffee shop and she didn’t listen. It was in Seattle. She’s American. She opened the restaurant and then came back and said she enjoyed our conversation, hadn’t listened to me, but could we talk more.

What is the biggest problem facing Oak Bay? Serious, financial infrastructure challenges with a tax base that is not growing.

Born in post-Second World War Cobham, Surrey, what do you remember about your childhood? The biggest impression was rationing. One egg, scrambled, could go a long way. I still joke with the kids that I can make one egg, scrambled, go a long way. I still eat Marmite, fried bread. All that stuff you’re brought up with that’s going to keep you alive kind of thing.

Would you approve a jail, detox centre or halfway house in Oak Bay? You’d say, if it were a halfway house, how could it be done? What’s the size? Could it fit in? Absolutely. There could be a way of doing that. We probably don’t have room for a jail. Tell us about your Sunday excursions. Every Sunday I go out and knock on doors. I meet every new resident who comes into Oak Bay. I’ve been asked if I’m the “paper boy,” and I said, “No, I’m the mayor.” Tell us about how you almost never made it to Canada because you were nearly killed. I got attacked in London by skinheads and that’s why I’ve got this scar on my face and my hand was ripped. It was a random act. I was getting out of

What kind of pajamas do you wear? Winter and summer pajamas. I switch on the first of May.

Christopher Causton, 65 Oak Bay Mayor

What is your dream holiday? Where I go every year, for three nights to Orcas Island. Nothing changes. It’s the most bucolic place in the world. You’ll find very few people from Victoria who have gone there. It’s very close but it’s difficult to get there.

What’s your favourite rock band? I’m probably more a Stones guy than the Beatles. Still, my favourite is Leonard Cohen. I just love Leonard Cohen, the most romantic music. Something about the gravelly voice. I can remember, how many years ago, he sang Suzanne. VB Interview has been condensed and edited PHOTO BY GARY MCKINSTRY

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