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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

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Build a strong foundation with T&R Contracting T

o build anything great, you must have a good foundation. At T&R Contracting, they take this truism very literally, and it serves the community well. No matter where you look around Powell River, you’re likely to see something that was built on a foundation using materials from T&R. Whether a road, a parking lot, a building, or a garden, the foundation of T&R aggregates and soils is building Powell River. At this time of year, gardeners are preparing the foundations for the growing season, and many of them wisely choose products from T&R, such as fish compost or foodwaste compost by Salish Soils, Garden Mix, Landscape Mix, mushroom manure, and mulches. “It’s weed-free, so whether you’re growing grass and flowers, or vegetables for people to eat, you can be confident you’re getting a good product,” says T&R operations manager Keith Chisholm. If you’re

starting a new garden, you can count on the garden soil mixes from T&R, and trust their staff to help you choose the right mix. And if you had a great garden last year, you can make it even better this year, says Keith. “Amend your garden beds with some fish compost or food-waste compost and work it in. It will replenish the nutrients and you’ll be off and running,” he said. Soil tests are available on request. While garden products have been an increasingly important part of the T&R lineup, the foundation of the business remains in construction aggregates. These are blasted out of the West Lake quarry behind T&R’s Padgett Valley yard, or are dug out of their Block Bay pit near Powell Lake. Sand and navijack, as well a drain rock and river rock, come from Block Bay, while the well-recognized blue granite comes from the quarry and is pulverized into everything from boulders and rip rap for walls to clear and minus crush.

“The most common question we get asked at T&R is, ‘What is going to compact the best?’ We get asked that every day,” says Keith. Hundreds of driveways, parking lots and landings prove that the 5/8” minus or 1/2” minus granite from West Lake is impossible to beat. Indeed, T&R’s products are everywhere, from Forest Service roads to building foundations. “You’re either driving on it, walking on it, or building on it,” says Keith. The typical building site sees T&R trucks show up several times. One of T&R’s excavators might be on site first, clearing the land, digging trenches for services, and digging the foundation. Later T&R trucks will be back for backfilling, to lay down driveway crush, or possibly to place boulders for a rock wall. They might come for drainrock, pea gravel or river rock. And then later still, they’ll be back with soil for lawns and growing plots, completing the foundation for a new home and garden.

The T&R crew works through all seasons of the year in all kinds of weather! Left to right are Keith Chisholm, Josh Thompson, Frank McCorkell, John Webb, Eddie Van Es, Kyle Habiac, Mike Lance, Grant Beaudry. Spring is an especially busy time as yard crew Josh and John (below left) are kept busy helping gardeners and landscapers find the soils, composts and mulches they need to get growing. Keith Chisholm (below right) is the operations manager.

COVID PROTOCOL

When you arrive at our Paradise Valley yard, please stay in your vehicle and staff will direct you. Mobile payment options are available. Please wear a mask.

3 great companies, 1 easy call

T&R Contracting operates from the headquarters in Paradise Valley next to Valley Building, but the secret of their success is that there are actually three companies across which they can share their equipment and workforce. T&R Contracting focuses on clearing, digging, prepping and providing sand & gravel. Coast Hydro Excavating does underground construction with accurate and lowimpact water drilling. Rural Septic Services does pumping of septic tanks, installation of septic systems, repairs, PortaPotty and hand wash station rentals, grease trap cleaning, RVs, and boats.

NEW! Your food waste turns into compost and soil Powell River’s food waste will make a round trip and end up in local gardens this spring. For the first time, waste from Powell River’s composting program will be part of the soil sold at T&R Contracting this spring. The soil is created by Salish Soils, who (thanks in part to organics collections programs in Sechelt, Gibsons and Powell River) combine nitrogen-rich food waste with carbon-rich green waste and compost it into lush compost that’s ready for the garden. “It really closes the loop,” says Lance Gray, operations manager at Salish Soils. “It’s made of the stuff you’re growing in it. It has everything your plants require because it is made of plants. You can use it as is, right into your garden. It doesn’t need fertilizer, because it is fertilizer.” The process takes six months in Salish Soils’ massive 3500-yard composting facility (seen above being inspected by T&R staff), where the food waste is mixed with green waste, left in windrows to compost, allowed to heat to a temperature that kills weed seeds and pathogens, then cured and screened. Though Salish Soils has been making fish compost for a decade, this is the first year that food waste compost has been available, because of the food waste collection programs on the Sunshine Coast. In the Powell River area, Sunshine Disposals collects food waste from the qathet Regional District and City of Powell River compost collection programs, and delivers it to Salish Soils. It’s sold at T&R under the titles Salish Soils Compost, Garden Mix and Landscape Mix.

www.tandrcontracting.ca 604-485-2234 • 4240 Padgett Rd tandroffice@gmail.com Open Mon-Fri 7 am - 4 pm (winter hours) Closed Saturdays & Sunday

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

CONTENTS MARCH 2021 One year of COVID

Looking back, lessons learned

Education Month

Apprenticeships Ahoy and Gap Years

March is seedy all month

What's replacing Seedy Saturday

Waking Up

Here come the bears

When teens need help

What's normal stress, what's a crisis

Bless the bus

A totally legit mode of transportation

Cold Water Sanity Swim Take dip for menta health

IWD: activists and friends

They both chose to challenge

PR takes another Tanabe

Painter Colleen Heslin wins award

Spring Break 2021

Everything there is to do, on one page

Arts to the Rescue

New shows, new art, all free

6 23 27 30 32 33 35 37 40 49 50

Time is on my side T

he last weekend in February, my for, several socially-distant initiatives husband and I filled our garden have emerged to deliver the excelbeds with composted manure, lence Seedy Saturday used to, in its and rototilled the soil. My ambition place. is that soon, the beds will fill with This issue of PRL tells that same shoots, and that by summer, I'll be story over and over again. In the year harvesting spinach, watermelons, since the beginning of COVID restricand wax beans. Realistically, though, tions, Powell River artists (Page 50), I have never successfully grown food educators (Page 23), health workers before. At all. and administrators (Page 32), busiPartially, that's because I've never nesses (Page 39), nonprofits, coaches had oodles of (Page 49), time before. I do clergy (Page now, because of 48), and others COVID. And parhave reinventtially, I kill plants ed themselves because I don't continually PIETA WOOLLEY have the skills to to keep us all keep them alive. together mentally, physically and If there's ever been a need for spiritually. Seedy Saturday, it's this spring. The In Last Word, Lynn McCann says annual event, which for a day brings she seeks things to feel glad about, new gardeners like me into close especially when things seem dismal. contact with the region's most prolific This month, I'm glad for my gargrowers, isn't happening for the secden, for the time to care for it, and ond year in a row. Like me, so many grateful to the visionaries keeping newbie gardeners are staring at their the soul of Seedy Saturday, and the soil, scratching their heads. rest of this community, alive." If you want to know how we've adapted to COVID over the last year as a community, just flip to Page 27. Last year, Seedy Saturday was just cancelled due to COVID. This year, like those green shoots I'm hoping

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

REGULAR FEATURES What's Up Business not as Usual I Made the Move Blast from the Past Business Affairs Events Section Take a Break Last Word ON THE COVER: Connor Ford and Trevor Paquette take a break from building. Both 22-year-olds started their apprenticeships in high school. Now, Connor has his Red Seal in carpentry, and Trevor is a fourth-year apprentice. March is Education Month. Learn more about their story – and how other young adults are navigating COVID – on Page 23.

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

29 39 42 43 46 47 52 54

Publisher & Managing Editor

Isabelle Southcott isabelle@prliving.ca

Associate Publisher & Sales Manager

Volume 16, Number 2

ISSN 1718-8601

Sean Percy

sean@prliving.ca

Editor & Graphics

Pieta Woolley

pieta@prliving.ca

Powell River Living is 100% locally owned and operated by Southcott Communications

Sales & Marketing

Suzi Wiebe

Alena Devlin

office@prliving.ca

No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. © 2021 Southcott Communications. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement. Complete issues are available online at:

suzi@prliving.ca

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“

Make space and time to work on your art and continue with it through stages where you feel stuck, uninspired and unsupported, recognition often comes after you persist for a longer period than you expect, so patience and persistence is important. – Colleen Heslin, Page 40.

”

A FEW OF MARCH'S CONTRIBUTORS

Publish your work

Pitch us an article or a photo spread. Email pieta@prliving.ca

Advertise with us

Contact sean@prliving.ca 604-485-0003) or suzi@prliving.ca 604-344-0208).

MIRIAM MCCARTHY

is a Holistic-Nutritionist-in-training with a passion for writing, food and laughter. She marvels at nature's wild beauty and dreams of becoming a published author. S ee Miriam's story, Head Space, on Page 19.

BRANDON PETERS is

a member of the Tla’amin Nation, and also is a part of their legislative assembly. Brandon is a teacher and sits on several committees for the BCTF. S ee Brandon's story, Journal of the Plague Year, on Page 11.

ABBY FRANCIS attends

Grade 12 at Brooks. She is planning to go into photography and journalism after graduation, as she loves to write and has been doing photography for the past four years. See Abby's story, Gapping Out, on Page 24.

MARIA GLAZE and

her family moved to the qathet Regional District in 2007 and her joy and love of nature has exploded over those 14 years. See Maria's bear images on Page 30.

ROD INNES is a pho-

tographer whose home in Wildwood is in the middle of prime bear habitat, giving him rich opportunities to photograph them. See Rod's bear images on Page 30.

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Our

COVID March 2020 to March 2021

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

n March 17, 2020, British Columbia declared a public health emergency with 83 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths. Bars, schools and some courthouses were shut down. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry hardly a household name at the time - ordered businesses to institute a host of new regulations, from social distancing to sanitizing. A whole new lexicon entered our lives (see Page 14.) Daily life quickly took a Twilight Zone-like turn. Remember the great toilet paper panic of March 2020? Your first meeting on Zoom? Google classrooms? This St. Patrick's Day, ironically a day popularly dedicated to drinking whiskey, we celebrate a year of surviving the first of this kind of pandemic since polio. At press time, fewer than 60 locals had been diagnosed with COVID (about 1 in 333 people). Most of BC has not been so lucky. At press time, 78,278 people in this province have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (about 1 in 64 people), and 1,338 have died. What's to come as we enter year two? Futurists wisely admit that predicting the future is truly impossible, because people want to guess what will happen later based on what is hap-

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

YEAR pening now. And, as COVID has proven, there are always unknowns lurking. Based on what we know now, however, the next year is a race between two factors. We have several very effective vaccines that are available, but will take until at least the fall of 2021 to reach all Canadian adults who want one. In the meantime, the virus is mutating. Some new strains are faster-spreading, better at finding new bodies to infect. Will Powell River evade more COVID, until we're all vaccinated? This pandemic is about much more than just a virus, of course. Over the next pages, you'll see that it's about people caring for each other, professionals stepping up, history drifting back into our collective consciousness, money, time, and continually re-inventing how we move (and don't move) in the world. Testing our values. Tapping our strengths. Feeling our weaknesses. No one would choose to endure what COVID-19 has brought here, or across the globe - with 2.5 million deaths so far. But reflecting on the images and stories on the next few pages, I can't help but appreciate that living with the virus has so often brought out the best in us. Even as COVID-19 becomes, at some point hopefully not too far away, history. Our best has been sharpened, and will endure.

We’re all in this together Back in March, when schools and workplaces shut down and everyone was asked to stay home, locals did a superlative job of staying present for each other. Hearts went up in windows. Inflatable dinosaurs and homemade furries strolled neighbourhoods. At 7 pm each night, we’d bang pots and pans to thank front-line workers. Update: As the restrictions lessened, so did our collective, goofy, heart-on-our-sleeve neighbourhood presence. Is that bad? Not entirely. It means our fears from that time lessened; we haven’t seen the widespread infection rates and death rates we were anticipating last March. Our hospital and most health-care workers have not been overwhelmed. Instead here and now, COVID seems like a never-ending slog rather than an acute crisis. What heart and dinosaur-like thing might get us through this next phase?

School's out At the beginning of Spring Break 2020, Dr. Bonnie Henry shut down most in-person learning in elementary and secondary schools. Students stayed home, and learned online. The luckiest kids, such as Daelin Austin, 8, also learned new skills from their parents, such as car repair. Post-secondary students either had their courses cancelled, or learned online. By June, part-time elementary and high school was offered again. In September, BC schools were fully open again, but with new protocols in place including cohorts, a late start time for senior high students like Abby Francis, reduced electives, and plenty of hand-san. Update: Many places in Canada and the US have missed much more in-person school than we have here. In BC, keeping schools open has been a priority.

Professionals on the job To the left, see former Complex Clinic manager Kate Dryden, Care Aide Hailey Unger, Powell River COVID-19 awareness Facebook group administrator Joseph McLean, and a booth by some of the front-line workers dealing with the fallout of the other health crisis: fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths. These are just a few of Powell River's hundreds of workers who are keeping us safe and keeping our institutions and businesses going through some of the toughest months in decades. Update: With a slow roll-out of vaccinations and new variants of the coronavirus emerging in BC, we'll be leaning on our grocery staff, health care workers, teachers and other essential workers for the foreseeable future.

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

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As city-dwellers found themselves cramped and working from home, it seemed all eyes turned to Powell River. By fall, home prices jumped by nearly a third since a year earlier here in Powell River - the biggest jump in BC. Update: As of January 2021, the average selling price of a Powell River home was a whopping $462,505, up 55 percent from January 2020. Neil Frost, president of the Powell

River Sunshine Coast Real Estate Board, said, "Market conditions remain historically tight and tilted heavily in favour of sellers. Without any relief on the supply side we’re likely going to continue seeing outsized price gains and prices rising to record or near-record levels." At press time, there were no concrete statistics showing how much this community has grown in the past year. But at PRL: there is no shortage of candidates for "I Made the Move."

Bookkeeping services available

Tax time is well underway! In the middle of this difficult time for Powell River and for our world, we’re here for you!

Here’s how we can help you with your taxes while you stay safe: 1. Phone us It’s very simple by phone. We’ll set up a phone appointment with you while you stay safe at home! We can access your Revenue Canada information on-line and get any other information we need from you over the phone. Call 604-485-7009.

2. Go online Email us to set up an appointment to handle your tax return from a distance. Email: jonathan@bydandbusinesstax.ca

3. Mail us Mail your tax information and receipts to us and we will call you to process! Mail to: Bydand Tax Shop, PO Box 1022, Powell River, BC. V8A 0T5,

4. Delivery Don’t want to venture out? We pick up your paperwork, call you when they’re done, and then deliver them back to your house.

Protecting ourselves To mask or not to mask? At the beginning of the pandemic, that was still a question. Once it was clear - yes - dozens of local mask-maskers rose to the challenge including Miki Takahashi, owner of Mikibaby. Nate Alcos had barriers installed at Save-On-Foods, Modern Windows volunteered to make

barriers for the hospital and hand-sanitizer became the new Frank’s RedHot: we put that #!*# on everything. Update: There are new recommendations for mask design, masks in schools, and bigger gaps between people. But the basics are the same: don't breathe on each other.

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Pandemic 100 years later

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Watch our space on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date information.

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Thanks to the Powell River Historical Museum and Archives for digging up these photos, we can appreciate that this region has gone through a similar pandemic before: The Spanish Flu. The masks and other public health measures; the heroic doctors and nurses; quarantines. Back in 1918, the

Spanish Flu ripped through this community, costing nine lives. It could have been much worse without Dr. Henderson’s interventions. The photo on the right is the "Pest House," where those suffering with the virus were isolated.

Feeding people While Ottawa came up with CERB fairly quickly, the Powell River Action Society Food Bank was overwhelmed with new clients. COVID cost many locals their jobs. Many seniors, isolated in their homes, turned to the now-late Gene Jamieson (centre) and other vol-

unteers and services to deliver groceries and prepared food. When Tla’amin locked down in September Andrea Paul and Serena Barnes (above right) and Community Wellness Coordinator Brandi Mariott made sure everyone had enough food.

Bread-making took off early on, emptying grocery shelves of yeast, just after the worst of the toilet paper shortage happened. Soon, sourdough starters were being traded around town, no yeast required.

The early days of COVID coordinated nicely with the beginning of growing season, so all things gardening popped - and they still are (see the seeds section on Page 26). Many locals threw themselves into canning, as well.

What do you do with all the hours you’d normally spend socializing, commuting or working? Other stuff. Gardening has never been so popular. Some locals, including Tla'amin member Randolph Timothy Jr. (above are his grandparents) turned to geneaology searching for their ancestors. Others played music, such as Colleen Cox and George Huber. Some made Pumpkin People, such as this nurse at Henderson House. And some, including PRL’s "Return to Reverence" columnist Ju-

liette Woods, made care packages for neighbours. Remember the Wine Ninjas? Update: Time is perhaps the quietest, biggest change the pandemic has brought. Nothing has changed about that since a year ago. Events have not come back; our bubbles are gone, and many people are still not working. Good things are happening, though. The Library reopened full hours this month, and has dropped all late fees.

Selfsufficiency

Oodles of time

Are you ready for spring, Powell River? We are. (With apologies to the rest of Canada, we have lawnmowers ready.)

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Tla’amin locked down In September, the first outbreak in the region happened at Tla'amin Nation, when 38 people were diagnosed with the coronavirus. The First Nations Health Authority and Tla'amin Health, as well as the Nation's government, stepped in with a true lockdown. Kids stayed home from school. Food and medicine was distributed. Watchmen

oversaw checkpoints on all roads going on and off the Nation. Update: It worked. The virus didn't spread beyond the initial outbreak. Thanks to the transparency and swift actions of everyone involved, Tla'amin became a pole star for excellence in containing COVID-19.

Life goes online

Because gathering was forbidden, we realized what achingly social creatures we really are. But also, adaptable. The Class of 2020 had a graduation like no other. Churches were shuttered for much of the year. Father Patrick Teeporten organized drive-through confessions. Even annual events such as MothBetween Zoom meetings and Netflix, er Nature’s pet photos with Santa for screen time and the ennui that comes charity were much altered. But we did with it is one of the top struggles of our absolute best as a community to respect the rules, and stay connected. our COVID year.

After a wave of cancellations, PRISMA was one of the first Powell River events to go online. Many other events either cancelled or re-invented themselves online. Craft fairs, which normally fill every weekend from late October through early December, went online, thanks in part to Kevin Wilson.

Reinventing absolutely everything Among businesses, restaurants and bars have probably had to change what they do most, and most often, for the past year. River City Coffee shut down, then reopened as take-out only, and now it’s open for socially-distanced eat-in. The Thaidal Zone - winner of PRL’s Best Take Out in 2020's Best of Powell River, shut down dining and offers just takeout now. Townsite Fruit & Veg, alongside other grocery stores, expanded delivery services. | pieta@prliving.ca

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

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BY BRANDON PETERS

y September 2020, it seemed like the entire country had been dealing with COVID-19 for years. In the absence of a local outbreak, there was something about it that almost seemed fabricated to me. I spent the first two months of lock-down in 2020 in near solitude, staying away from everyone for fear I would get “the vid.” I obeyed everything that our medical officers told us to do and “stayed home.” I would jog to Richmond and back during the day and also walk long distances to keep my mind occupied. I did so in complete solCOVID SURVIVOR: A couple of hugs at a funeral are probably what gave Branitude. While I spoke with don Peters COVID-19. He shares his story to encourage people to follow health Photo courtesy of Brandon Peters many people a day, some- authority guidelines. times dozens of people as I was working from home, I started to find the soli- my first of three COVID tests, and didn’t travel home tude painful. Phone conversations and Facetime and until I got the results. I didn’t even shop for the last Facebook were not enough for my social spirit. seven days before heading home, so as to avoid unAs June approached, I found my mental health was necessary interactions with people. starting to suffer in a big way. I was showing signs of On the journey back I stayed vigilant. I wouldn’t depression. I am social by nature and used to being even get out of my car, even though I needed the with my friends and huge extended and immediate washroom, choosing rather to pull over and use the family. I spoke with my younger brother and he fi- bush, where I wasn’t going to encounter anyone. I nally said, “Brandon, you’ve been obeying the rules, was terrified of being the diseased blanket that would why don’t you come home until you have to go back spread COVID-19 to my precious home town, my preto work?” cious community and my precious family, particularly I agreed. I decided to go back to my hometown and my mom and dad. I was anxious the entire journey, the traditional territory of my people and my ances- and when I arrived, I sat in my car scared, almost too tors, the Tla’amin (ɬaʔamɩn). scared to go inside. On the way back to Tla’amin and the qathet ReWhen I did go inside, I was warmly greeted by my gional District, I was nervous. I was coming from a folks, and I wouldn’t allow them to embrace me. I huge urban center. So I took extra precautions. I took was scared for them, even with all the precautions. It

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

was odd to me. I had always been very affectionate with my family and here I was, having not laid eyes on either of my folks in months, and I couldn’t hug or embrace them as I once had. Once I was back in Powell River, I got back into my normal groove, running along the highway, walking the beach and enjoying the brassy paradise that is Powell River. I was with my family, and COVID seemed to be a bigger deal (to me) in Vancouver. I didn’t let down my guard, but was a little more social, hanging with a small group of four people outside on the beach, properly distanced. I even had a COVID garden to occupy my time. The summer started to fly by. In early September, one of my relatives had passed. I was saddened, but was not planning on attending the service due to the virus. I had avoided funerals since the pandemic hit. While in town one day and running some errands, I ran into the sister of my recently deceased relative, and she asked me to do the eulogy. I agreed, even if I was a little nervous about it. For Salish people, if you are physically able to do something for a family in need, you do it. I thought, “Okay Brandon, you’ll be okay as long as you socially distance, and follow COVID protocol.” I did the eulogy, sang a gospel tune and sat an acceptable distance from everyone at the funeral, and then it happened. I got a hug. Without realizing it, I embraced it and then another hug came. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, it was just a hug. Three days after the funeral, I was getting a phantom pain in my ankles. It was like a nagging pain, it felt almost like a lactic acid build up, or what a cramping muscle feels like. I didn’t think anything of it. I also felt tired, lethargic and just lazy. I felt like I had a bad hangover. Again, I didn’t pay too much attention to it. It was only when I went into the garden that something alerted me. While harvesting some cabbage from my COVID garden, I got light headed and almost fell over. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I had no appetite. When I went to lay down, I had that phantom pain, only this time it was everywhere. It was pulsating from my hips all the way down my legs. I had pain in my lower spine, back, shoulders and neck, and this intense headache, which seemed to hurt right behind my eyes. I’m not a fan of pills, but in this case I needed something for this pain. I took some Tylenol and went to sleep. The next day, I didn’t feel any better. I got in my car and headed back to Vancouver.

PAIN, FATIGUE, LOSS OF SMELL: Months after catching COVID-19, Brandon Peters is still recovering. As a Powell Riverite, I was used to driving the Sunshine Coast peninsula and it usually didn’t take much effort, but this drive was an intense one. I had to pull over and rent a room as I was ready to pass out. I slept for five hours. I then learned of the outbreak; my brother mentioned a few people with COVID and I had been in some form of contact with the people he had mentioned. After washing my hands, I realized I could not smell the soap. When I tried to sniff my own deodorant and couldn’t smell anything I knew it wasn’t good. I went back to Vancouver and got tested. When the nurse came towards me in the drive-through clinic, I wept uncontrollably. I knew the result. I wept not for myself but for my family. I wept for my community. I was laden with guilt. What have I done? I went back to my apartment and slept. I slept most of September away. I took pain medications, water, vitamins and ate only fruit: oranges and peaches. I stayed up only long enough to watch television in between my many slumbers. The lethargy was crippling. I am someone who has always been meticulous with my personal hygiene. When the virus was active in my body, I could barely move. I could barely muster the energy to go to the washroom. At one point I realized it had been three or four days since my last shower, which had never happened. On top of feeling sick, I felt gross. I could feel my skins oils building up, my hair was greasy and gross, and on top of that I had the effects of the virus. Lethargy, brain fog, body aches, headache, a loss of equilibrium, the chills. In addition to all this, I felt guilty. I prayed constantly. I worried constantly. At one point I felt especially sick and

"[Don't] become complacent. It is in those little moments when you think 'It won’t hurt' that one becomes infected." wondered if this was going to be the beginning of the end, so I started to plan my funeral if I should die from this. I started writing and started choosing my pallbearers, and such. I then ripped it up as I remembered my mother’s teachings. Don’t give up or start inviting these things (death) into your life. In Sliammon we call that həhəpət” (Huh-Huh-puht). It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s almost like wishing harm on others or on one’s self. One day while on the phone with a dear friend, I smelled the sweet aroma of oranges. I had just had one and I could smell it! The next day I was cleared to return to work, but I didn’t for another five days. In that time I was asked by people at Tla’amin to record a video of my experiences with COVID. At the time I thought I was “all better” but after speaking with members of my family I realized that I wasn’t better. My little brother told me he could see I was searching for words, and my voice was not strong. I didn’t realize it, but I was exhibiting signs of the longer lasting or “long haul” symptoms, and my hair was coming out in clumps for a short while after. The video received a great deal of attention. While it was intended only for Sliammon’s people, which number some 1,200 people, it was viewed by nearly 40,000 people. This video also made me realize that there was stigma attached to this virus. I saw a few of my colleagues in the various schools where I worked and they (understandably) were nervous when speaking to me. I was then interviewed by CBC, and I got recognized by a non-Indigenous family, where a boy pointed and said “That’s him!” while I was shopping. The family looked concerned and uneasy, and scurried away. I then realized that transparency comes with a price. It often comes with a sullied reputation, or a tarnished view from people who have never had the virus. It never occurred to me what my own people were dealing with. This stigma that followed the Tla’amin people since the initial spread

was not good. Many blamed us for the spread. Many felt that the entire population was a risk to have around. Though most Tla’amin people were not infected they were stigmatized by the colour of their skin. Several businesses refused service to Indigenous people, whether or not they were from Tla’amin, in the name of safety. Some of Powell River’s politicians admitted to this blanketing view because Tla’amin people are “easily identifiable” which means our skin colour and features put us at risk for identification. I wasn’t surprised, but there was COVID in the municipality before the outbreak, however the province is not as transparent in its reporting of case numbers as many First Nations have been. There is a great deal of stigma attached to COVID. It has a reputation; it’s seen as an unclean virus. It makes the recovered person the object of speculation, stigma, gossip, and even racism. If a person dies of a heart attack, it’s not a secret, but if they die of an overdose, or HIV, it’s kept secret and not discussed because of the stigma and what people will think of the person who suffered it. COVID is similar, as people will sometimes fear people who have recovered. I’ve experienced it. I also know that I am not myself, even five months after I contracted and recovered from it, so I understand that COVID is no laughing matter. I understand that this has long-lasting effects. I myself have a great deal of shortterm memory loss. I can’t remember names as easily. I don’t speak as clearly as I once did. I compare myself to an older generation iPhone. I don’t process very fast, I glitch out and I burn out much quicker than before. I have learned that there are measures in place for a reason, and even if one has gone this long without getting it, they should not be so quick to become complacent. It is in those little moments when you think “It won’t hurt” that one becomes infected. As an elected leader of the Tla’amin people, I know, and urge all to remain vigilant, or this nightmare can become a reality quickly and this virus is so much more than a flu. I know this time has been trying for people, but we must continue to honor the COVID protocols and respect the power that this virus has. There is a reason why it has seen a flattening curve over the last little while and it’s because people are listening to the advice of the leading health care professionals. Though it’s not as fun as doing what we want, there is wisdom and safety in those guidelines, to acknowledge that people with COVID, and COVID survivors walk among us, and it’s important to be kind.

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Our pandemic lexicon By Powell River Living staff

The COVID words we have Most of these words are not new, strictly speaking. But before March 2020, it was rare to have a conversation in, say, the parking lot of Save-On-Foods, that included any of these. Now they roll off the tongue like we’ve been living in a pandemic for eons. How many can you use in a single sentence? The new normal Dr. Bonnie Henry Daily totals 3 pm ‘Moistly-speaking’ Bubble CERB Visibly soiled Social distance Physical distance Zoom Protocols Lockdown Flattening the curve State of Emergency Incubation period Super-spreader Phase 3 Stage 2 Hybrid Learning Outbreak

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Cluster Variant Coronavirus Flatten the curve Self isolating Shelter in place Droplet Self-monitoring Essential worker N95 Asymptomatic Community spread Contact tracing Herd immunity Mask maker PPE (personal protective equipment) PUI (patient under investigation) Presumptive positive case WFH (working from home)

The COVID words we need

The German language seems to have a word for every situation and emotion, from fernweh (the desire to go somewhere new) to luftkuss (blowing a kiss through the air.) Adding new words to a language takes time, including slang. We’ve had only a year, so far. Here are some newly-emerged COVID-related concepts that really need a word of their own. Do you have any suggestions?

• The inability to stop touching your face while wearing a mask • Glasses fog from wearing a mask • Wearing PPE as a fashion statement • The feeling of righteousness you had early on when you were the only person in a store wearing a mask • An incorrectly-fitting, ineffective mask • A laughingly-incorrectly worn mask • The feeling of impossible compromise you get by sending your kids to school / keeping elders in long term care / grocery shopping / going to the hospital • Rising to the occasion at work and in the community • Homeschooling and working from home, at the same time • Fear of conspiracies • Fascination with conspiracies • Facebook fatigue • Netflix fatigue • Zoom fatigue • Pandemic fatigue • “That cough I just had? That’s not COVID.” • Feelings of shame when you break a COVID rule • Feelings of freedom when you break a COVID rule • The better behaviour you’ve observed in your children and teens since they’ve lost their freedoms • The light feeling you get from not having a calendar full of pre-COVID social and professional obligations • The introvert advantage during isolation • The guilty fascination with predicting what disaster is coming next • Gratitude for COVID memes and humour videos • Obsession with checking numbers locally and abroad • Comparing the current pandemic to more-extreme popular books and movies of the past • COVID-related loneliness • The aha moment when you realize that “be kind, be calm, be safe” is no casual statement, but a work of genius. • A greeting that means, “I wish I could hug you.”

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Isolated

A close mom and daughter endure separation by COVID BY SHARLENE REID

remember when I first heard the word ‘coronavirus.’ It was a Tuesday afternoon in March 2020 and I was with my mom, Theresa, in the palliative care room of the Powell River General Hospital. She had suffered a stroke three weeks earlier, so I was on a leave of absence from work. Soft music played on the radio. A nurse came into the room wearing a mask. She advised me that staff would soon install a hand sanitizing station outside the room. She explained that, due to COVID-19 regulations, I would still be allowed to come and go from my Mom’s room... but not the fourth floor. If I did leave the fourth floor, I would not be allowed to return. So I was stuck there. It would be a long, emotionally-exhausting four days. I knew that I had to go. I had to return to work. On a positive note, the day before I returned to work, my Mom rallied, and was moving into a fourbed ward. This meant I had to say our good-byes with no firm date when I would be allowed to return. She was able to feed herself and would now rely on nurses and doctors as her only visitors and companions. With the stroke and her inability to communicate vocally, the time would be hard on her; but I promised to call every day. For both of us, new and old words entered our lives: self-isolation, depression, social distancing. A new one emerged from the shadows and reintroduced its ugly head: loneliness. As I returned home to the house that first night, I felt the impact of what was happening around us firsthand. I knew I had friends and family that I could visit. I could reach out to them in my darkest days, but my Mom didn’t have any of that. She had gone from being one of the oldest members of a family to raising children of her own to now, a widow in a single bed, in a lonely hospital.

THROUGH A GLASS DIMLY: Left, Sharlene visits daily with her mom Theresa through the window at Evergreen Extended Care. Above, sometimes, Charlie Puggle visits too.

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

May and Mother’s Day brought hope of change as my Mom moved into the Evergreen Extended Care. New friends, new staff. But deep down I wondered how she and the other residents were doing during their own quiet moments. They would see a rotation of wonderful staff who did their best to be upbeat and friendly to the patients who desperately missed the love and hugs, and regular visits from family and friends who were no longer allowed to do so. Window visits in all-weather outside were welcomed and encouraged. No inside visits were permitted, but by June we had once again became hopeful that a visit would be permitted inside. That did happen, but not until the end of July. As for me, I had my job, my dog Charlie Puggle, but very few friends. I knew I would see my Mom eventually, but I felt alone. I would shop alone. I would eat alone. And sadly, I would even cry alone. Although I often travel alone, this kind of alone took on a whole a new meaning. Fortunately, the social visits are now in place. I’m allowed to visit one or two days a week inside, but only within a limited time frame. We can hold hands but no hugs. Still, we are adjusting to this new world. My afternoons have become a regular stop at Evergreen’s window. Staff now know me and expect me. As Mom is brought over to the window, I sometimes hear how she is doing, but most often I hear nothing. As she has still not regained her speech, I find this lack of communication insensitive but we have learned to adjust. We still cry together, but not as often. This once quiet woman has now learned to enjoy and participate in a few activities. My mom has big smiles, she has giggles – I love seeing her big saucer eyes when I make her laugh. I now walk away from the big window at Evergreen with smiles as she will make me laugh too. I have a social inside visit at least once a week and we enjoy these “special moments” tremendously. Yet I still wondered about the others at Evergreen. What if they had no regular family to visit...what if no one stopped by the window?

Thanks to the support from the local Garden Club, my friend Nadene and her daughter Cedar and I did a major clean-up in the front window garden spot at Evergreen. We created a small space so the residents can look out the window at something. We decided to build fun characters from Miss Kentville in October (winner of the Powtown Pumpkin People contest) and now have a hockey player in place. The gardens were cleared away for a safer and easier access to the window, and the birds are returning to feed at the feeders. A deer will often wander past

“New and old words entered our lives: selfisolation, depression, social distancing. A new one emerged from the shadows and reintroduced its ugly head: loneliness.” that big window. I hope it’s becoming the happy place for my Mom, and the others. Meanwhile, my bubble is small, very small. I have friends that are like family and in Evergreen my Mom has made new friends who are like her family. And I am grateful for that. I have family that reaches out and helps me through the dark days and long nights. And at the Evergreen, my Mom has wonderful care workers that reach out to her through the dark days and lonely nights. I am grateful for that. I still get lonely, but that is slowly improving. I doubt it will ever go away. Coronavirus or not, I still have my Mom. And she still has me. And I will always be grateful for that.

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CRAMPED QUARTERS: Forester Allan Knapp and Miriam McCarthy normally share a home; under COVID, their table has become their office.

Desk space vs. Head space BY MIRIAM MCCARTHY

and moved on with my day. Best thing I could have done. Don’t be afraid to keep doing what you want to do in spite of your partner’s constant presence.

I love my partner. He’s seriously the most wonderful man I could have #2. Manage noise asked for and I enjoy spending time Keeping #1 in mind, if one of you wants or has to do something that may be disruptive to the other perwith him immensely. son, make sure you give them a heads up. If they’re But having him work from home for about to have a meeting, see if you guys can come up with a way (#headphones) that you don’t have the past eleven months has been no to listen to the whole thing. If you want to have a private dance party, put on your own pair and dance joke. in another room. There are options for reclaiming the Our house is made up of a small bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen/living space. In other words, there’s no separate building, or planet or even room he could have set up shop in. As a result, his work desk quickly devoured half of our kitchen table. I sit at that same kitchen table to write, read, paint, eat and do school work. Coming up with creative (and not so creative) ways to accommodate one another’s needs became crucial to the health of our relationship, and it wasn’t easy. Whether it was luck or simply a willingness to be flexible – due to the fact that we’re so disgustingly in love of course – eventually we paved our way to harmony. For the most part. Here I share a list of my favorite ways to keep a connection strong through these strange times. One for each of the last 11 months. They’re written from the perspective of – and directed towards – someone who has a partner working from home, but many of them apply to both parties.

#1. You do you I was reminded of the importance of this after a few hours of being at a sudden loss for what to do amidst this new dynamic. After my blank stare didn’t make my partner go back to his office, I eventually shrugged

space you DO have control over, like your head space.

#3. Take space when you need it I cannot stress this one enough. However frustrated I may be, time away always gives me some perspective. Just give your partner a kiss and go for a walk. Or…

#4. Use the door If you have one, close it! I can’t count all the times I did yoga, or read or just meditated in the bedroom, all with the door closed. It’s not a perfect solution but it’s super simple and can create just enough of a feeling of separation that you can relax into your own company.

#5. Practice Patience You’re going to bug them, they’re going to bug you. It’s inevitable. The trick is what to do when one of you IS getting under the other’s skin. This is a great time to practice patience – a useful quality to have, period. Not being one of my strong suits to begin with, however, I find taking deep breaths and reminding myself that tips 1,3 and 4 are always there for me to be very

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helpful. Oh, and remembering that everything is temporary.

might be surprised at what heart-centered honesty can do and suddenly you could even find yourself alone in the house for an hour or two (hopefully not because of a fight).

#6. Honor THEIR space too

#10. Random hugs

Your partner probably has interests too and I’m guessing work isn’t the only one, if one at all. They also most likely need their own space. Encourage them to pursue their hobbies as well. If they want to go for a walk alone, just think about the time you’ll be getting to yourself!

Keep the good vibes going and this forced time together more pleasant by dropping little affection bombs every so often. Maybe a kiss as you’re walking by, or a shoulder squeeze. Something that lets them know you still love them even though they’re ALL UP IN YOUR SPACE!

#7. Spend Time Together This may seem counter-intuitive seeing as you might feel like you’re around each other too much already but hear me out. Them being around all the time does NOT count as spending time together. Make sure quality time doesn’t get replaced by “you’re just in my space” time. Date nights, cuddle breaks, sharing food and conversation over their lunch hour… these are all great ways to stay connected emotionally. In fact, sometimes quality time can make their constant presence more bearable, or on a good day, even enjoyable.

#8. Be present with your frustration As human beings, we need connection. However, we were never meant to be around the same person 24/7. Any feelings that this brings up are valid – let yourself feel them. You can do this by simply sitting with whatever is arising in the moment and letting it run its course without blame or judgment. OR, if

#11. Remember to say “I love you” OFFICE – HOME EDITION: Miriam McCarthy at work in her home office, still smiling despite the challenges of working in close confines with her partner over the past year. you desperately need to move, use the door or walk option and TAKE the space you’re annoyed about not getting (okay so basically a reminder to practice #3). This could also give you the distance you need to process those feelings. Remember: you’re both being challenged in new ways and you’re both learning. Show some compassion.

#9. Be honest If you’re having a particularly hard day, TELL your partner – without guilt-tripping them of course. Don’t leave them in the dark about how you’re feeling. You

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Enough said. This has been a very uncomfortable time for all of us, obviously some more than others. It has shown me one thing, however – that we are stronger than we think. I personally believe that things don’t happen in our lives unless we have the inherent ability to deal with them. In addition, I feel that there is a lot of potential during this year and the years to come for the active creation of whatever it is we want to see in the world. Starting with little things, like bringing harmony to your home situation even when it seems daunting, could be a first step towards creating the life you want to lead. So good luck and I can’t wait to hear about your own tips and tricks for living through a partner working from home!

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ʔayʔaǰuθəm word:

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csf.bc.ca Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Why PIE is so popular

A slice of PIE • Partners in Education (PIE) is a distributed learning program where students can learn from home or anywhere in the province. • The School District 47 program started in 2003 with 29 students. • Now, the program serves nearly 1,500 students centred in Powell River, Comox and Bowen Island. • Courses are delivered online or from print based study sets. Project-based learning is encouraged and allows students to investigate and expand on their own interests and curiosities. • Families have access to technology, in-person and online help from certified teachers, group activities, and resource funding to support learning.

(Hint: it’s not just because of COVID-19)

att McDonald was a “classic square peg trying to fit into a round hole” in elementary school. Just sitting through class was tough. Even though he had an Individual Education Plan and some extra support, learning wasn’t coming easy. By Grade 5, the challenges were so great Matt’s parents felt uncertain how he would make it through to graduation – he just wanted to quit. It was a distressing time for the whole family, as they tried out different schools, never finding the right fit. In Grade 8, Matt started the Partners in Education (PIE) program, learning mostly from home. It absolutely transformed his relationship with school, said his mother, Krystal McDonald. Now, he succeeds while pursuing his own interests, and is on track to graduate early. “His Grade 9 woodwork project was building a horse tack stall for my sister-in-law with intricate woodwork finishing,” Krystal said. “His academics are his least favourite, but we have an agreement: 60 percent is my standard for passing. As long as he achieves that or higher, we’re both happy. He loves fishing and has been able to use his experiences there in multiple courses. He now has a full time job during the day and addresses his studies in the evenings and days off. PIE is School District 47’s distributed learning program, a combination of online classes delivered through Moodle, in-person support with certified teachers, group activities, and individualized learning. Among Powell River students, enrollment has doubled over last year, to 460 students. That represents nearly one quarter of all Powell River learners registered with the District. The number of

Matt McDonald never liked school, but he loves fishing, and plans to run a fishing charter one day. With PIE, he’s been able to learn through the lens of his interests, and that’s made all the difference. PIE teachers has also doubled, from 20 to 40. COVID, of course, is what caused the bump in at-home learning. Though, PIE Principal, Don Fairbairn, believes many of the students who started this year will remain beyond the end of the pandemic. Students with social anxiety can thrive academically when they’re not encountering hundreds of other students daily, he said. Some students with special needs and their families also enjoy the alternative, as there is more flexibility for them to choose supports for student learning. For some students, PIE gives them the control over their time, so they can pursue extracurricular achievements in sports or arts. “What we do see is that some kids really miss the companionship of being in a classroom,” said Don, explaining the top reason some families go back to a bricks-

and-mortar school, or choose to enroll in some in-person classrooms alongside their PIE program. In addition, he said, some families underestimate how much time parents must dedicate to supporting their children in PIE, especially in elementary grades. Indeed, PIE teacher Karolina Bolton said many newto-PIE families are finding that “it’s harder than they think” to get a routine going, set expectations, and make learning work for their own child. Once they master it, though, the benefits are clear. “When it’s working, everyone’s happy and feeling like they’re in the groove and supported by their teacher. This is not a cookie-cutter approach. Kids can really explore their interests. If I have an artsy kid, for example, I can really dive into that with every part of the curriculum, which often means more engagement and better grades.” Karolina said PIE teachers are flexible about time, how students demonstrate their learning, and the topics students choose to pursue. They’re passionate about supporting students’ own love of learning, whatever shape that takes - as long as they’re conquering the curriculum. Indeed, Krystal’s son Matt - who was never an engaged reader - found that being able to choose his books for “novel study” captured his interests and helped him push through. Realistically, Krystal said, doing PIE with Matt was out of the question for elementary school, as both parents worked so they wouldn’t have the time to support him. Now, however, four years into a largely independent high school experience with the program, “he has turned out to be a responsible, hardworking young guy with a clear picture of where he is headed,” said Krystal. “We have PIE to thank for that and we are so grateful.”

Want to learn more? Contact us. 4351 Ontario Ave • 604 485-6271

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Teen apprentices still training during COVID

Future Tradesfolk If anyone is interest in a trades program or going down the same road as Connor, contact Jim Palm in Career Education at School District 47: 604-414-5960 or james.palm.sd47.bc.ca

cation Mont u d

As for Connor Ford...how many 22-year-olds do you know who have bought their first house right here in Powell River? Connor and his mother Rachel Ford came to see me four years ago and told me that a builder by the name of Shane Hawkins was willing to hire him as an apprentice. So, I signed Connor up as a Youth Work in Trades student with the Industrial Training Authority (ITA) and he went to work for Shane. He was able to complete over 900 paid hours and earn not only four courses, YWT 11A & 11B, 12A & 12B, which he needed to graduate from Brooks, but also received a $1,000 scholarship from the Ministry of Education and the ITA. Now, just four years later, Connor is still working for Shane, has his Red Seal Carpentry Ticket and has purchased his first home in December. If Grade 12 students have an opportunity through a family member or a close family friend running a trades company, this is an excellent way to go. Not only are they getting paid, but they are WOULDN'T TRADE TRADES FOR THE WORLD: Top, learning skills on the Connor Ford and Trevor Paquette started apprentic- jobsite under the watching in high school. Above, Brooks student (and jazz ful eye of a professional vocalist) Esme Long wins the Culinary Gold Medal at tradesman.

hings are a little different during these COVID times as far as Brooks Secondary School's dual credit trades offerings are concerned. Masks and social distancing are the norm. In Auto Service and Carpentry the students are Zooming a couple of mornings a week and in the shop with half of their classmates on the other two days. Culinary, Hairdressing and Welding are going on as normal as numbers are not as high in those three programs. I am happy to report the students are still learning the required foundational skills in all programs and are happy to put their hands-on skills to practice. Our VIU instructors are doing a great job of adapting in these changed times.

BY JIM PALM

Young carpenter poised to thrive in this scary economy and housing market

the 2020 Regional Skills Competition.

While still at Brooks Secondary School, a teenaged Connor Ford started his apprenticeship with builder Shane Hawkins, and got credit for it. Now at 22, Connor is a Red-Seal carpenter, and just bought his first home. The provincial Youth Work in Trades program allows students aged 15 and up to start working as a paid apprentice and finish high school at the same time. Do both well, and they get a $1,000 award, as Connor did. What advice does Connor have for today's teens?

How did you get started in trades? Connor • Growing up, I didn’t see myself doing many other jobs than being in a trade. I wasn’t sure which trade that would be. I was offered a job as a labourer for Hawkins Construction while I was still in high school. I was offered an apprenticeship shortly after being hired, and I was able to get four credits towards my graduation plus a $1,000 grant. What do you like about carpentry? Connor • It’s hard for me to pin point exactly what I love the most. I enjoy most of the work. Who did you apprentice with? Connor • I did my apprenticeship with Hawkins Construction. Over the years I have learned full house construction from the ground up. What's the most challenging thing about your work? Connor • I love that every day can bring a new challenge and you aren’t stuck doing the same thing long enough to drive you crazy, but long enough to be able to master your trade. I have been lucky to be able to work with some great guys and that makes coming to work each day much better. What would you tell today's teens about trades? Why should they consider them? Connor • If you think you may want to do a trade and are unsure, you should take it as a life experience. You can gain so many great life skills in any trade. Any trade is a quick route to a ticket with competitive wages along your journey. I highly encourage any teenager out there who is unsure of where they want to go as a career path, to take a trade. You may end up loving it.

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Gapping out

Due to COVID, many of this year’s grads are planning a gap year instead of heading straight for post-secondary.

BY ABBY FRANCIS

Russell Bruckshaw

Maria Kondra

Russell is in the Welding Dual Credit program. He also has a job and does things such as Air Cadets and Track and Field. Russell says that his plans are to take a year off of school to work full time. He mentions that his plans are not really affected by COVID, as he is not trying to go to school right away. “However, if COVID stays around for another year, it may affect my applications to post-secondary schools,” Russell states. He talked about wanting to go into Heavy Duty Mechanics, but currently is still looking into schools.

Maria is an honours student, she has a job and has been in clubs such as Brooks Link Crew and Grad Committee, as well as being a program assistant for Powell River’s skating club and was in Rep soccer. Maria explains that her plans are to attend the University of Saskatchewan to get her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a program she has been accepted into. Maria is not taking a gap year, but she's also not thrilled with the possibility that her first year at university will likely be virtual. “I’m hoping it’s not online, but it most likely will be,” she said. Many students have expressed their fears that, if the quality of post-secondary is diminished by online learning instead of in-person learning, it will impact their employability. “Right now, you can't see the effects [of online learning], but in the future there may be consequences,” she finishes.

cation Mont

he past two years have been extremely challenging for just about every single student. Many Grade 12s seem to have some sort of idea about what they would like to do for after graduation, while others like me are overwhelmed with the possibilities. I have interviewed five different Grade 12s, asking them if they have any plans for after graduation, what they might be and how the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic has affected them. During these interviews, it came to my attention that their plans were surprisingly quite similar. A gap year, as well as moving out of Powell River, seem to be the most common things. The plans for gap years are talked about and planned much more now, due to COVID, than they were back in Grade 11. After graduation, I am going to take a year off from school to find a job and work for a year or so. After that, I plan on going to post secondary school to get a degree in photography and probably journalism. Currently I am still looking into schools, however, North Island College and Simon Fraser University have gained my interest the most. After that, I would like to move out of Powell River, but do not know where I would go yet.

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

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Lily is an insanely skilled filmmaker. Last year she attended the Film School Dual Credit program. Since then, Lily spends her time working at her after-school child care job, as well as on film projects to complete her portfolio. “Right now, I’m working on a film for the Vancouver Island Film Festival,” Lily explains. She is taking a year off after graduation and plans to work and stay in town. “I don’t feel ready to leave yet and I’m going to wait for COVID to settle down,” says Lily. After that year she plans on moving to Toronto to attend a Film School there to get a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production. Lily is unsure of schools; however, she is still researching and is hoping to work in the film industry. “I’m happy to spend a little more time at home,” Lily laughs.

Kaylie is an incredibly skilled writer, and she writes for a non-profit company. She is also in choir along with other school clubs such as Link Crew and helps with Peer Tutoring as well as helping with her family’s M.A.D. Chocolates business. When Kaylie was asked for her plans after graduation, she excitedly explained her plans for July of going on a road trip across Canada to Halifax. There, Kaylie plans on attending the University of Kings College, where she will stay in residence. “I chose this area because of the small community and so that I can meet family I have in Nova Scotia,” Kaylie explains. At Kings College, she intends on majoring in English and minoring in Journalism. She would like to do this so that in her future she can become a fiction editor. COVID has affected her plans by causing the school to offer only half the residences they normally would; this also means they do not have roommates. Seasons of love... “I have my fingers crossed to get in,” Kaylie says. But she says her road sheand maylook not get see everyFebruary is aon great time trip to list for to a home, she would like toless see.competition. Ask me why! and notthing just because there’s

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Tamrin is a tremendously talented art student who works, does rock climbing, plays soccer and was part of the Brooks First Nations Leadership group before COVID. When asked about his plans for after high school, Tamrin explained that he plans on moving to Alberta to work with concrete for his uncle. During this time, he also hopes to attend a university to get an Associate of Arts degree as well as learn a new language, so that in his future he can move to a new country. “I’m still looking at universities, but I am interested in moving to either South Korea or New Zealand, even though they are very different places,” explains Tamrin. He knows that COVID has affected travelling, but hopes that a vaccine is out by the time he plans to leave Powell River, because online courses are not ideal.

Hello Spring! Have you been thinking about listing your home? Well, good news! Your home has never been worth more than it is today. We have low inventory and high demand. People want to live on the Sunshine Coast. Call me for a free market evaluation and to find out the numerous ways I can help you sell your home. -Desiree Collings desireecollings@royallepage.ca • 604 414-3447

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Save the

Seeds

A GROWING CONCERN

JONATHAN VAN WILTENBURG

eed supply trends are continuing the way they have been going for the past years. The prices have gone up yet again, and the quantities in the package have fallen. To top it all off, with the popularity of gardening during COVID, the supply is even more scarce then ever before. This year I ordered my seed over the Christmas break, officially the earliest I have ever ordered before. And guess what: some of my preferred seed was already sold out! I couldn’t believe it. We even got word this year that some of the UK-based seed houses have opted to forgo fulfilling international orders. This is great news for the seed houses, and in my opinion the world at large. The world needs more humans getting their hands dirty, but it has made me think maybe this year is the year to encourage people to save some of their own seed. Saving your seed is a great thing, not only will it save you a bit of cash, but if you keep your selections going year after year you will have your very own seed that will be suited specifically to your garden conditions.

How to save seed Saving seed may seem like it would be a complicated task, but actually it is relatively easy, and something regular people have been doing for a long time. All that is it required is time, and a bit of organization at planting and harvesting. Grow the plant and wait until the fruit or the seed pods are good and ripe. Harvest and collect the seeds by any means necessary (cutting, knocking, picking, whacking, or hitting). Dry them out. Once the seeds are nice and dry, store them in cool dry place. Easy! Each crop has a slightly different procedure so it is best to do a quick web search to get the best way to save each crop. Furthermore, it is important to have enough plants in your collection to maintain genetic diversity in your seed. Some plants or even some cultivars produce lots of seed while others produce only a little. Make sure you plant the appropriate amount of plants for a good collection.

What to start saving

It is best, when first starting, to begin with annual crops. This would be crops such as tomatoes, peppers, peas, cilantro, dill, lettuce, beans (but not Fava, lima or scarlet runner). Collecting seeds from these crops is easy and straightforward. Biennial crops such as beets, carrots, kale, cabbage, don’t flower until they are in their second season. In order to collect biennial seeds, the plants will need to be in the ground for two years. This is a big commitment to space in the garden, but also time. Other crops such as squash, cucumbers, and corn are even more complicated, requiring special isolation techniques. As mentioned above, it is best to start with the annuals, and set everything for success. Try the more complicated crops when you have the easy ones successfully under your belt.

Open pollinated and hybrids

It is important to mention open pollinated and hybrid varieties. Open pollinated (AKA heritage or heirloom) are the preferred type of plant for seed saving. This is because open pollinated seeds have very stable genetics. In other words, the seed saved from open pollinated varieties will yield seeds that are analogous to the parent plant you saved it from. Conversely, hybrid plants do not have stable genetics. This means that seed saved from a hybrid plant will produce seed that will be genetically different from the plant you collected the seed from. It's a severe roll of the dice whether or not it has any of the desired characteristics that you're looking for. Chances are slim that the offspring will be great, but it can be fun to try, and you never know what could come out of it.

Storing your seed

Once properly dried, seeds should be stored in a cool dry location and will last for a year or two. If you want to store your seed for even longer consider placing your seed in an airtight container and storing them in the freezer. Some seeds like tomatoes and peppers can last for years without much germination losses. However other seeds like parsnips, carrots, parsley, and onions have a shorter viability life. Remember to label everything really well with the crop, cultivar, and year that the seeds were saved.

Top Priorities In the Garden for March • Weed the garden. This should be number one on the task list. Get out there before they get away on you. Even if you can give only a quick hoe it will be better than nothing. • Sort through the old seed storage box and purge the packets that are not viable. • Construct a seed-sowing schedule, or find one online. Sketch out your garden plot and plan your rotations. • Get your soil tested. If you want to get scientific about what your plants need to thrive there is no better way than having the soil tested. • In order to cut down on weeding and watering, secure and apply garden mulch. It is always money well spent. A 3”-4” topdressing will be plenty to smother the weeds and provide moisture retention. My rule of thumb is that 1 yard (9 wheelbarrows) of material will cover just over 100 square feet if you spread it 3 inches thick. • Tune-up all your hand tools, and machines. This includes sharpening, cleaning, and oiling. Pitch the gardening tools that don’t work for you. • Start sowing some seed. Indoors, sow your heat lovers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, the sooner the better! Outdoors… if the soil is warm-ish consider sowing some early greens, peas, spinach, summer cabbages, parsnips, carrots, beets, potatoes and chard etc. • Split up some of your early flowering spring bulbs and plants to spread them around the garden. Plants to split include primulas, early daffodils, snowdrops, and crocuses. • If you’re planning to plant bare root plants, now is the time. This includes fruit trees, roses and other ornamental specimens. This is a much more cost-effective way to go. • Prune your shrub roses. Remember roses appreciate a fairly hard pruning rather than a soft pruning. Also, try to prune to an outward facing bud to ensure appropriate growth.

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SUPPLIED BY SPRINGTIME

We’re Here For You

TREASURE HUNT: At Wildwood's Glade Farm (above) and other farm gates, seed libraries such as this one on Hammond Street (below) and elsewhere, you can find top-notch seeds and plants this month.

No Seedy Saturday 2021

Instead, March is seedy every day BY PIETA WOOLLEY

9am - 5pm

springtimepowellriver.com 5300 Yukon Ave

wo days before Seedy Saturday 2020, everything was ready for the annual event. The Recreation Complex was ready to host the seed trade, vendors, education seminars, and food booths. Over that week, however, it had become incresingly clear to event organizer Ellen DeCasmaker that the unthinkable was happening: an infectious disease, the likes of which hadn't been seen in decades, was about to storm Canada. Sure enough, that Thursday, the Provicinal Health Officer banned indoor gatherings. Seedy Saturday was cancelled. "Now there’s no question at all," said Ellen on the phone from her home on Zilinsky Road. "There will be no in-person Seedy Saturday this year, unless a miracle happens. Hundreds of people going to that one hall and foyer at the same time? It would be one huge super-spreader event." Trust seed enthusiasts, though, to rise to the occasion of this gardening-obsessed pandemic era. There may be no central event this year, but March will be very seedy indeed. On Facebook, the Seed Traders of Powell River are vigorously trading and selling seeds. This is Seedy Saturday 2021's online presence (though you can also check out Seedy Saturday Powell River for more). At press time, melons, tomatoes, poppies, beans and much more were being swapped by the 150-or-so members. It is a private group, but anyone can apply to join. Watch for online workshops and exhibitors pages throughout the month. Seedy Saturday also has a presence at the Winter Market at the Community Resource Centre on Joyce Avenue on Saturday mornings from 10 to noon

7 days(year a week round) FB: @SpringtimeGCPR 604-483-3681

Newly expanded selection means we are now

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�� Bulk foods �� Baking supplies �� Gourmet foods �� Plant-based �� Gluten free �� World foods �� Fresh squeezed juice March 6 and 13. Free seed libraries have been popping up around Powell River, as a COVID project. One is on Hammond Street, and one is at the Children's Centre in Cranberry. Both were made with funds from the Neighbourhood Small Grants program, as coordinated by Lesley Thorsell. Tracy Pihl built them; Lucas North donated the windows, and Meryl Thorsell lettered them "Seeds and Reads." Trade or take seeds – they're free.

#YourLocalCommunityGrocery #OnlineAndInStoreShopping #Open7DaysaWeek 9-7 Mon-Sat, 10-6 Sun

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

At Glade Farm, longother expert-rich garden time seed and seedling store for help. proponent Wendy Devlin Ellen DeCasmaker's Rachel Blaney, MP says the action at her south-of-town shop, 4697 Marine Ave farm mail box is "hot." Eternal Seed, is nor604 489 2286 Eggs, plants, seeds and mally a spring destinaRachel.Blaney@parl.bc.ca other gardening goods tion. But with the danget traded constantly gers of the pandemic without anyone standing and her absolutely thrivclose enough to breathe ing online sales, she will on each other. not be opening the store Watch for more seed this year. Nicholas Simons, MLA and seedling trading at "It started last year #109 - 4675 Marine Ave farm gates around – as soon as COVID hit 604 485 1249 Powell River this spring. and people were told Nicholas.Simons.MLA@leg.bc.ca Need a map? You can to stay home and they find last year's Home started worrying about Grown local food and agTP – then our sales riculture magazine here dramatically increased," (find it in the archive of said Ellen. "We're seeprliving.ca, or directly ing the same thing this at bit.ly/3uroHsO). Or, year. I started getting wait til the new one is spring seed orders in out May 1. October. Some bigger Fiddler's Farm owner seed companies have Kevin Wilson – also the already closed online ormastermind behind the dering for a week here FEED ME SEYMOUR: At Eternal Seed on Zilinsky Urban Homesteadand there. One of the big Road, you can usually shop for plants and seeds. ers School of Powell ones is not even selling to But, COVID has brought fevered gardening enthusiRiver (UHSPR) – is takhome gardeners this year asm. So this year, owner Ellen DeCasmaker is just ing his classes online this – just market gardeners." selling seeds online. year. And they're free! He So in other words, the 1. You can’t trust the weather, but you can trust a doesn't have dates yet, good news is that COVID Pollen wool sweater to keep you warm. but March's offerings will likely include sessions on (and other recent apocalyptic-like events) have great2. Available in several shades of green, including starting seeds – using plastic cell packs / using recy- ly increased local and international interest in food Pond Scum, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. cled containers / using soil blocks; potting seedlings; gardening. The bad news is, traditional stock is low. 3. Layers nicely over your Spring Break bikini. making a light stand to grow seedlings. Thank goodness for Powell River's seed enthusiasts No pop 4. bottles were hurt making Pollen Sweaters.and"There Normally, you might be waiting for the will be more gardening topics to follow," who have created a thiving, local, accessible scene for You’ll be helping stay cool in summer. Franken sheep Sale. But it’s not happening this year, said Kevin. "These are all going to be short, focused seeds that grow well here. so you might as well get your sweater now. sessions on Zoom, with info that people can use right Ellen approves. "I really feel people should grow The pure wool stays warm even when wet. away." more of their own food if they can. It's so much 5. A handsome new sweater will put a spring Non-itchy,inand to need weartonext to sensitiveFollow skin.Kevin's work at the UHSPR Facebook page, healthier." yoursoft step,enough which you’ll “spring forward” on March 14 after losing that hour. or at UHSPR.ca. It's worth a trip to his website just to Even with all of this activity, Seedy Saturday can't Machine washable and dryer safe at moderate temperature. check out his wonderful Pandemic merit badge pro- really be replaced, though, according to Ellen, "in permoreon fun the & fabulous woolwhere sweaters &ittoques, We put the For label inside belongs. gram. Lots of fun for anyone who has been baking son knowledge-sharing is so much better. It helps us wool & bamboo ponchos, books & jewelry, bread, sewing face coverings, washing your hands, become more confident. We figure out that if someDesigned to layer under orLund. over other garments. find smoothly us above Nancy’s Bakery in food or otherwise adapting to life under one else can do it, we can do it too." No offshore sweatshops. Ours is here at home. growing COVID. Until we can breathe on each other again safely, If it ever wears out compost it. Anyone new to seeds and gardening can also go we'll have to make do with what we have, and grow to Mother Nature, Springtime Nursery, or any our confidence in the dirt. | pieta@prliving.ca

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WHAT’S UP Boy to walk 115 km to fundraise for environment and animals A ten-year-old boy and his mother plan to walk from Gibsons to Powell River March 14-18 to fundraise for two causes that are near and dear to his heart. They'll arrive at the SPCA on Duncan Street in Powell River sometime on March 18. “That’s about 115 kilometres excluding the ferry ride,” said Cody Kelso, who says he is doing this because he wants to bring awareness to climate change. With the support of The Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association, the Sechelt location of the SPCA will be fitted with solar panels to reduce their operating costs and help the environment. Cody is hoping to raise half the $20,000 cost. The BC Sustainable Energy Association is a non-profit organization that helps educate kids through the “Cool It” program. “I’ve learned so much from them and want to spread the word. Help me raise $10,000 to go towards the BCSEA.” Donations can be made through their website climbforcc.org or the facebook page climbforcc. If you'd like to help welcome Cody and Megan along their final stretch in Powell River, go to Fridays for Future Powell River or the Climate Action Powell River Facebook pages closer to the event.

ONE COOL KID: Cody Kelso is hoping to raise $10,000 for solar panels at the Gibsons SPCA.

Dialysis unit at hospital doubles

Library restores hours

Library eliminates overdue fines

The community dialysis unit at Powell River General Hospital is being expanded to meet increasing patient demand and to provide this essential care in a brighter, more comfortable patient-centred setting. The expanded unit will have six dialysis stations which will allow up to 12 patients in Powell River to receive treatment in the community where they live. That’s double the number of stations and patients who will be able to receive treatment in Powell River from what now exists. Now and in the past, some patients have had to travel to the Lower Sunshine Coast and even the Lower Mainland to receive this necessary treatment three times a week. BC Renal says an estimated one in 10 people has some level of kidney disease. People can lose up to 80 per cent of their kidney function before noticing any symptoms. The newly expanded community dialysis unit is expected to open and serve the community by summer 2021. It will be located in the hospital’s former hydrotherapy pool space, which Vancouver Coastal Health closed in 2018.

The Powell River Public Library is open evenings and weekends once again. The library restored its pre-pandemic hours last month in order to better support patrons who found the limited hours during the pandemic to be a barrier. Library staff and patrons shifted quickly to the virtual environment in March of last year, said Chief Librarian Rebecca Burbank. With this shift, the use of digital collections increased 50 per cent by the end of 2020. “Patrons have expressed their gratitude for virtual library programs which have been a welcome support for connection, learning and entertainment while in-person programming is not possible,” said Rebecca. While the virtual library has been relied on, access to physical materials and the public computers is essential to the lives of many. The library hours are now: Mondays – 10 am-6 pm Tuesdays – 10 am-8:30 pm Wednesdays – 10 am-8:30 pm Thursdays – 10 am-6 pm Fridays – 10 am-8:30 pm Saturdays – 10 am-5 pm Sundays – 1 pm-5 pm

The library board has eliminated overdue fines for materials owned by the Powell River Public Library. “I am very happy the Trustees unanimously voted to eliminate overdue fines,” said Library Board Chair Rod Wiebe. “Living through a pandemic has taught us many things including the importance of the library for our vulnerable populations. Eliminating fines removes another barrier for these members of our community so that they may access all the services our library has to offer.” Library fines are known to present a barrier to vulnerable groups of patrons and fines on a library card can prevent these patrons from coming back to the library—reducing their access to information, literacy resources and support services. The library has been taking steps towards removing overdue fines since 2016. During the pandemic, overdue fines were removed from the system to further reduce barriers and enable patrons to visit the library less frequently for safety. There was no increase to the amount of lost or missing items—fines or no fines, patrons have been bringing library materials back during this time.

Landscaping Services & Property Maintenance residential & commercial

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

INTROVERTED MEGA-FAUNA: Top, a black bear among the deep green of the coastal forest (Rod Innes). Above, a black bear has figured out the wealth of salmon at the Lang Creek Hatchery (Rod Innes). Above right, a mom and her three cubs at Rossander Park near Lang Bay. Maria says she told the bear, "I'll leave. This is your forest," after she snapped this photo (Maria Glaze).

Right, a black bear rattled birdfeeders in Maria's yard. (Note: this is an old photo! Maria no longer has bird feeders in her yard.) Top right, A pair of grizzlies in the Orford River Valley in upper Bute Inlet (Maria Glaze). Middle right, A grizzly in Toba Inlet, snapped on a guided trip in Klahoose Traditional Territory. Bottom right, Young cubs play-fighting near spring blackberry brambles (Rod Innes).

Waking up

Bears

ven in late February, the rumours were flying that some local bears were starting to roam. By April, they'll certainly be up and hungry. Two local wildlife photographers shared some of their best bear images: Maria Glaze and Rod Innes. Capturing bears on camera demands patience and courage, both in the wild and in town. Maria snapped the Grizzlies (left) on a guided trip to Bute Inlet. "When these majestic beasts stared and sniffed at me with such intensity, I looked over at our Guides to make sure they weren’t gesturing for us to run back to the bus!" she said. "I told the guides this later and they said they find grizzly bears to be more predictable than black bears. What they watch for is the bear swaying its head from side to side as a warning gesture." Several years ago, Maria captured a hungry black bear attacking bird feeders in her own yard. "My husband was out of town a lot in those early years and one night I was talking to my brother on the phone for company," she said, noting the feeders have long since been removed. "Every time a bear came by (we had four or five different ones coming through daily) I would blow my boat horn. The bear would run off and in a little while another would come by. While on the phone with my brother, I had to blow the horn so many times he said he thought he was at a hockey game!" Rod points out that cubs are born in January or February. "Black bears usually have two cubs and can vary from one to five. They weigh about three to five kilograms when then leave the den in spring. Cubs stay with the mother the first year and sometimes longer," Rod said. "When you are lucky enough to see a bear, be honored that we share our world with this amazing and beautiful creature. The black bear is one of nature’s wonders."

Photographing Wildlife • If you have a camera with a zoom lens of around 4 - 5 times, that’s fine, and if you don’t that’s okay too. You can still get some good photos with a standard lens. • Keep a camera handy even when you are in a car. Bear and deer quite often cross the road, or are seen feeding along the road side. Sometimes it's possible to get a good shot even through the windshield. Of course only try this safely, by pulling over, or if you are not the driver! • You might come upon a bear at a distance while walking on a trail. Bears have extremely good hearing, so unless you are quiet, you are unlikely to see one. • When I spot a bird that I want to photograph, I stop, and then approach very slowly with my camera. I often am lucky enough to get quite close. • Animals of all kinds, tend to be curious, and when they sense that you are not threatening, they will allow you to get some wonderful pictures! – By Rod Innes

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Is it normal teen stress or something much worse? BY POWELL RIVER PHYSICIANS COVID-19 STEERING GROUP

ental health is a hot topic in the news these days. A year into the pandemic there are few of us who are not feeling the strain of isolation and restrictions on our normal activities with friends and family. Children and teenagers are no exception. It may not be surprising to hear that in a recent survey conducted by the Powell River Division of Family Practice 49 percent of parents said their child/ children’s mental health has declined over the course of the past year. Dr. Leta Burechailo is a family physician who focuses on youth and young adult care. Her work centres on identifying and building on young peoples’ strengths to improve their health. She also collaborates with other youth-serving professionals to create care teams. Leta says her workload (and that of her colleagues) has increased by 25-30% in the past year. “A substantial reason for this increase is that more people have been struggling with mental health decline in the past year. But it’s also because people are reaching out to get support, which of course is good.” The public focus on mental health due to the pandemic offers an opportunity to bring conversations on this topic into the open, Leta continues. “One of the best coping mechanisms we have is learning how to talk to each other about mental health in a way that is compassionate, non-judgmental and understanding,” she says. “All of us – adults and children – need to figure out

What are the warning signs to watch for? It is normal for children and teenagers to experience mood changes, and to worry about many things. However, some warning signs that may indicate a child or teen could be suffering from depression, anxiety, or other concerning mental health issues, and need additional support, include: • A persistent negative change from usual behaviour, for more than a week or two. • Stress levels, worries or low mood getting in the way of typical behaviour or daily function (for example falling sleep, eating, hanging out with friends, attending school). • Low motivation, social withdrawal, irritability, less participation in relationships, spending more time in their bedroom (“shutting out the world”). • A shift in body basics, for example: changes in sleep schedule, like going to bed late and sleeping in late; appetite and weight changes; increase in pain symptoms (eg. headaches, stomach aches, etc). • More time spent on screens, which can indicate a teen is feeling an increasing need for an ‘escape’ from distressing emotions. how to communicate to others about how we are feeling, and also how to listen to and support our friends and family members who are struggling.” Ashley Piazza is a Grade 9 student at Brooks Secondary School. She agrees that learning how to talk to others and ask for help when you need it is a key part of overcoming difficulties. Earlier

HELP CAN HELP: Brooks Grade 9 student Ashley Piazza has learned to ask for help when she needs it. Seeing a therapist also helped. Photo by Jennifer Kennedy this year Ashley was put in touch with a therapist through school, after a teacher noticed she was struggling. “I had seen a therapist when I was in Grade 7, and I knew it helped me before, so I was willing to try it again, and that has been really helpful,” she says. Finding ways to be normal has also been key for Ashley. “I started looking forward to going to school a lot more [during the pandemic] because school has really been the only place where things seem the same. School feels like somewhere we could be normal.” Leta points out that the Public Health guidelines are working, and people should continue to follow them. “It’s largely because of the successful implementation of pandemic protections that we have been able to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Powell River,” she says. “And that success means that the indoor places that kids go – schools, the recreation complex, stores, certain extracurricular activities, etc – have proven to be low risk for COVID locally, which is very reassuring. Also, outdoor places that kids and families go – trails, beaches, parks, etc – have proven to be safe destinations, when gatherings are avoided. “The risk for mental health decline due to COVID-related isolation and disruption in routine and connections

may be significant. I would encourage families, children, and teens to identify and make time for activities that boost their mental health. It’s not always easy or part of our usual routines, but there are many ways to maintain good mental health that adhere to Public Health rules and keep COVID risk low.” Through the past year, Leta says, she has come to a renewed appreciation of the fact that relationships are powerful medicine. Everyone needs to act in ways that make them feel comfortable, and that varies from person to person, she adds. If someone needs help assessing their health risks, talking with a family doctor or nurse practitioner can be helpful. As Ashley noticed with school, Leta says that maintaining daily routines help preserve “body basics” that are key for good mental health, such as sleep and nutrition. “Other things I suggest to my patients are: reframing your mindset to focus on what you do have, rather than what is lost; pushing creative boundaries and finding something new that you’d like to learn; decreasing social media time; and increasing physically distanced social time, even if it has to be online. “In addition, doing something for your body every day – stretching, walking, shoveling dirt, biking, dancing – whatever interests you – activity is such an important thing to include.”

RESILIENT TOGETHER Thank you to everyone in our community for working together and supporting each other to get through this past year. Together, we are stronger.

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Villani & Co is pleased to welcome Martin Ostensen to our Team

Bless the bus BY KEVIN WILSON

I’ve been car-free in Powell River since 2012, along with my husband Alfred, but I’ve had many previous car-free periods when the bus was my main mode of transport. My main reason is environmental, to reduce my carbon footprint, but the cash savings and stress reduction are very welcome bonuses! Because I’ve been self-employed since 1984 I’ve seldom had a need to ride the bus regularly to or from work - although Alfred did until he retired in 2017. When I was a computer consultant in the Lower Mainland, I rode the bus all over to visit clients, and did all the regular errands with my small daughter in an umbrella stroller. Here in Powell River we do everything on the bus. My pickup truck is a wire “granny cart” and it’s amazing how much that thing will hold – a full grocery shop, of course, but I also take it to the Winter Market as a vendor, bring home building materials that are shorter than 1.5 metres, a knitting machine from the Economy Shop, and I’ve even packed a complete craft fair display into it, back when we had such things as craft fairs. I admit that did involve tying a few things to the outside! Occasionally a bus driver will look askance and warn me to “make sure I keep that thing under control,” but they’ve never refused to let me on. The only times I’ve been stuck is when the buses have to stop running due to snow. Luckily I’ve always been able to walk home instead, even though it might take a few hours – but that happened once even when I had a car, so it’s not just about the bus. A few years ago I was teaching a class in the Townsite. When I had finished cleaning up, packed away all my equipment into my cart, and came outside it was a different world of deep snow. As I waited for the bus, a passer-by told me that the buses had stopped running. I started on the walk home, not at all looking forward to the long uphill slog from Town-

I take [my cart on the bus] to the Winter Market as a vendor, tote building materials that are shorter than 5 feet, I've moved a knitting machine from the Economy Shop, and I’ve even packed a complete craft fair display into it!

Rob Villani

Stacey Fletcher

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Always edgy

site to Cranberry, dragging my heavy cart through the snow... and as I made my way along Maple Avenue a bus came slowly along in the opposite direction. I have seldom been so happy to see a bus! I flagged it down and driver Glenn told me that he was making a last sweep to get everyone home. He drove all the way out to Wildwood, picking up a few other waifs and strays along the way, down the Wildwood Hill (fun times!) and back into town.

Save Money Consider how much it costs to run a car: a minimum of $200/month, $500/month is common if you have a car payment, and it can go higher. Even an electric car can still cost major money. An adult bus pass at $45/month in Powell River ($32 for seniors) looks like a heck of a deal compared to car costs. Even if you’re buying bus passes for Mom, Dad and two kids, at $154 it still looks good. Low income folks can get an even better deal with the BC Bus Pass. But what if you can’t go car free? Not everyone can. Could you ditch a second car? Replace some trips? You’d still save on gas, wear and tear, and even insurance if you can change your usage to “pleasure only”.

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malaspinacontracting.com Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Plan your Spring Break at the Complex Spring Break Day Camps Age: 6 to 12 years

Looking for a great way to keep busy this Spring Break? Join us for our action packed camps! There will be games, crafts, swimming, and much more! Daily drop in and sibling rates available. 9 am – 3 pm Week 1: Mar 22 – 26 • $175 Week 2: Mar 29 – Apr 1 • $140

Improve your health Most of us could do with increasing our activity level. If you ride the bus, you get automatic exercise because you have to walk to and from bus stops. You can also combine your bike and the bus: city buses all have bike racks on the front, so you can bike in the downhill direction and use the bus for the uphill run! Reducing your stress level is another way to improve your health.

Reconnect to community Spring Break Swim Camp Ages 3-12 yr | 8 x 30 minute lessons | $50 Mon – Thurs • March 22 – 25 & March 29 – April 1 Level

Ages

Description

Time

Location

3-7 yr

Beginners : Sea Otter, Salamander, Swim Kids Level 1

9:30am

Dunkers

4-6 yr

Intermediates: Sunfish & Crocodile

10:00am Leisure Pool

Gliders

5-8 yr

Intermediates: Whale, Swim Kids Levels 2 & 3

9:30am Main pool 10:00am

Mini Builders

7-12 yr

Intermediates: SK Levels 4-6 9:30am

Builders

8-12 yr

Advanced - SK Levels 7 to 10 10:00am Main pool

Splashers with Parent with Parent with Parent

Leisure pool

Main pool

Spring Break Fitness Schedule (you must pre-register for classes) Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Strength & Core 9:15-10:15 am

Stretch Appeal 9-10 am

Interval Fusion 9:15-10:15 am

Stretch Appeal 9-10 am

Sensible Strength 9:15-10:15 am

Moderate Moves 10:30-11:30 am

Restorative Hatha* 10:15-11:15 am

Strong & Mobile 11:45-12:45 am

Lunch Time Yoga 12:30 am-1:30 pm

Strength Step 12-12:45 pm

Seniors Wellness 1-2 pm

Strength Step 12-12:45 pm

Chair Yoga 1-2 pm

Seniors Wellness 1-2 pm

Pilates 5:30 -6:15 pm

Yoga* 5:30-6:30 pm Dwight Hall

Seniors Wellness 1-2 pm

Strength & Stretch 5:30 -6:15 pm

Tai Chi & Qigong 7-8 pm at Dwight Hall

Yoga for Men* 6:45-7:45 pm at Dwight Hall

* Programs with an asterisk are 3-session mini programs $30 for 3 classes

Step & Sculpt 10:30-11:30 am

Spring Break Aquatic Schedule

March 21-April 4 (closed stats April 2&5) Pre-registration required for all pool activities. Mon Express Lane & Leisure 6-6:45 Lanes & Leisure 7-8 Lanes & Leisure 8:15-9:15 Hot Tub 9:30-10:30 Lessons

Tue

Wed

Lanes & Leisure 7-8 Lanes & Hot Tub 8:15-9:15 aqua-yoga Hot Tub 9:30-10:30 Lessons

Express Lane & Leisure 6-6:45 Lanes & Leisure 7-8 Lanes & Leisure 8:15-9:15 Hot Tub 9:30-10:30 Lessons

Multi-use 10:45-11:45 Lanes & Leisure 11:45-12:45 Aquafit & Leisure 1-2 Family Swim 2:30-4

Lanes & Leisure 12-1

Thu

Fri

Lanes & Leisure 7-8 Lanes & Hot Tub 8:15-9:15 aqua-yoga Hot Tub 9:30-10:30 Lessons

Express Lane & Leisure 6-6:45 Lanes & Leisure 7-8 Lanes & Leisure 8:15-9:15 Lanes & Leisure 9:30-10:30

Multi-use 10:45-11:45

All Welcome 2:30-4

Lanes & Leisure 11:45-12:45 Aquafit & Leisure 1-2 Family Swim 2:30-4

Lanes & Leisure 12-1

All Welcome 2:30-4

Lanes & Leisure 11:45-12:45 Aquafit & Leisure 1-2 All Welcome 2:30-4

Multi-use 4:30-6

Family Swim 4:30-6

All Welcome 6:15-7:45

Family Swim 6:15-7:45

All Welcome 6:15-7:45

Family Swim 6:15-7:45

All Welcome 6:30-8

www.powellriverPRC.ca

Sat

Sun

Deepfit & Leisure 8:30-9:30 Lanes & Leisure 10-11 Lanes & Leisure 11:30-12:30

Lanes & Leisure 8:30-9:30 Leisure Swim 10-11 kayaks Lanes & Leisure 11:30-12:30

Family 1-2:30 All Welcome 3-4:30 Lanes & Leisure 4:45-5:45

Find us on Facebook @PowellRiverParksRecCulture

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

When you’re driving, your focus is on the road and the driving. On the bus, you have plenty of opportunity to talk to other people – or not, as you prefer. If you ride the same route at the same time regularly, you’ll come to know other regular riders. Some folks refer to their “bus family”, the people they meet all the time on the bus. Don’t want to talk to people? I sympathize. Even if all you do is look out the window as you ride around, you’ll see far more of what’s going on in your community than if you were driving and concentrating on the road. I was once given an antique treadle sewing machine from the 1890’s by a gentleman who knew me only from riding the same bus route, and hearing me chat to friends about vintage sewing machines and learning to fix them up and get them working!

Save Time It’s a fact that you need to wait for the bus, that the bus trip itself is usually slower than a car trip, and that you often need to walk some at either end. People think that taking the bus wastes a lot of time. It depends on how you look at it, though. You can work, play or relax while you’re on the bus or waiting for it. Deal with routine email on your phone instead of at home or at the office. Play games on your phone or tablet, read e-books or paper books, do small craft projects (I’ve seen people knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching on the bus), listen to music or podcasts. You can even be productive by brainstorming, planning, and thinking about projects. I’ve made many a useful list on the bus! Another way to look at saving time is to think about how much time you don’t have to work to afford a car. If your car costs you $400/month to run, and you’re getting $20/hr after tax, you’re working 20 hours a month to pay for your car. That’s half a work week, or nearly an hour out of every work day.

The Three Complaints #1 The bus is always empty You can’t actually tell if a moving bus is empty from outside. While there are runs with no passengers for part of the route, and some have quite a small number, most runs have enough passengers when you look at the whole run, and some are very crowded. In non-pandemic times, afternoon and early evening buses can be standing-room-only for the first part of the run.

#2 It doesn’t go where I need to go There are some locations that can be inconvenient to get to using the bus, it’s true. How much exercise are you willing to take, to make it from the nearest bus stop? But almost everything in town is reachable with some walking.

#3 It doesn’t go when I need to go This is the most realistic criticism. Buses are an hour apart for most of the day, and simply don’t run for many evening hours, early morning hours, or stat holidays. Service to Sliammon is especially limited. If your outside-bus-hours trips are more irregular and infrequent, then the money saved on car costs can pay for taxis and even the occasional car rental. Another tactic to make life on the bus more timely is to schedule appointments around the bus timetable.

Help save the Earth Less car use means less air pollution, less need for oil pipelines or road/rail transport (with associated spills), less wear and tear on roads (and fewer repairs, so less asphalt), less noise, fewer accidents and road deaths, less road rage, and generally a more pleasant environment overall. Vehicles also contain “embodied energy” – the energy used to create the materials they are made from, and to manufacture them. “But,” you may say, “those buses use diesel fuel!” and you would currently be right. BC Transit is working on converting their bus fleet to electric. Averaged over all bus use, though, a person riding the bus uses less fuel than someone alone in their car. Sit and watch passing traffic sometime: it’s shocking how many vehicles have only one person in them.

If you’re inspired to try the bus, welcome! BC Transit has routes, schedules, timetables and lots of “how to ride” info at bctransit.com/powell-river

Cold Water

Sanity Swim

THE POWTOWN POPSICLES ARE EARNING THEIR NAME: It won't cure COVID, but cold water swimming at Willingdon Beach helps pandemic-era mental health.

BY DEB CALDERON

magine floating on your back in a calm quiet sea, blue sky above, gulls shrieking and you are lying there just chillin'. Now imagine it is seven degrees out and you and your swim buds are literally chillin’ – in icy cold water. That is what we, the Powtown Popsicles, do all through the winter. We meet every day at the ocean or lake and willingly step into the waves through all four seasons. Some of us go daily, some come as they can. Between seven and 15 people usually turn up in bathing suits and bright swim caps. We range in age from twenties to seventies. Spectators on the beaches clap or

whistle to show their support. We are videotaped, photographed and admired and we get questions; lots of questions. But the one question we get asked over and over is Why? Why would any sane person leave their warm couch by the fire, put down their hot cup of tea to immerse themselves into very cold water. We all have different reasons, but I think we would all respond, “Because we love it." Dipping your body in cold water is empowering and a perfect activity for this very difficult time. Popsicle Lyn Nicol says

“Getting into the water with the group sets me up for a high energy day. When I leave here, I feel like I could take on the world.” At 72, Doreen Harper is our oldest swimmer. “I don't think I would have gone swimming in the winter,” she says, “but I was in the right place at the right time and now I love it.” One thing all the swimmers agree on is that it has helped us through the times of COVID. Cold water swimming has been a way to come together in a safe way to do what we

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Please wear a mask. Closed on snow days.

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Do you have an inner popsicle? If you are interested in finding out more about joining us please email Deb Calderon at debacalderon@yahoo.ca When I enter the water my weightlessness buoys my spirits even on the worst days. Our hoots, hollers and laughter release me from the heavy weights of our COVID days. You will find yourself jumping in the waves and floating on the waves, enjoying the endless beauty that surrounds us. On February 10 in the snow, the water temperature was 6.6°C (44° F) and we embraced it.

SUBMERGED: Up to 15 women swim in the frigid waters at Willingdon Beach regularly. love most. It is easy to follow current health guidelines for COVID. We can easily distance ourselves on the beach and in the water. We might share a joke or short story as we get ready to go in and shout a quick farewell as we leave. But it is enough – a quick moment, a laugh and a shared moment with another actual human being. Being a Popsicle can really help your mood too, according to Jill Buckley, a long time member of the 1 group. ! “While in the 2water we focus more on our bodies ! and the cold and leave our worries behind,” she says. Apart from3! the swim, most of us touch base every 4 day and chat on!our message board. 5 ! Okeove

We have become friends. As relative strangers when we met, we have had the chance to help each other through this time. We do it with little gifts; a shared cheesecake, handmade lotions, and homemade rusk bread. There is always something on offer. We try to support one another, whether it is by sharing treats or offering a shoulder to cry on. Popsicle Gerda Wever has been struggling with her son’s serious addiction issues. “Coming to the daily swim is healing. The support I get from other swimmers, the healing nature of the ocean itself; it’s all so therapeutic. It is the highlight of my day.”

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We turn up at the beach just as we are, not in our best outfits, not with our best hair not even in our best moods. The ocean doesn’t require that and neither do we. All of us just walk into the sea and let everything else slide away. No one in our group cares how you look, whether your thighs jiggle or your stomach flops a bit. We are all in this together, in the ocean, in the cold and in each other’s lives. It is a group formed out of virtually nothing, and for some of us, it has turned into everything.

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Living

Home Grown

Powell River’s ONLY magazine dedicated to agriculture and local food More than a grower’s or diner’s guide, Home Grown also takes you behind the scenes to see who is creating food, where and why. We’ll look at how you can grow your own, and share maps and instructions to help you find where to get locally-produced food.

2020 FREE Owned 100% Locally n & Locally Grow

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

2020 FREE ned Ow ly cal Lo 100% own Gr ly & Local

• Want to get on Powell River’s food map? • Want to get the word out about your farm, products or services?

Contact Sean at 604-485-0003 sean@prliving.ca or Suzi at 604-344-0208 suzi@prliving.ca DEADLINE IS APRIL 9

Long-time activists become long-time friends BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT

Had Geraldine Braak been willing to accept things as they were instead of challenging the status quo, Powell River could look quite different today. For someone who became legally blind at the age of 32, Gerry managed well at first. She experienced a steady deterioration of vision due to glaucoma. She learned to use a white cane to walk safely, though she couldn’t recognize people. Gerry had to depend on familiar voices or people introducing themselves. Her eyesight decreased

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2 0 T H A N N UA L

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International Women's Day

Choose to Challenge

GETTING 'ER DONE: Carol Hamilton and Gerry Braak bonded over starting the Powell River Model Community Society, to support the goals of people with disabilities, back in the 1970s. Carol was Gerry's "eyes" at the time, as Gerry lost her vision at 32 from glaucoma. It's a role Carol has continued through the decades, but mostly, they're friends and partners in advocacy. steadily until she became totally blind. When she travelled as the Canadian Council for the Blind’s National Representative to the World Blind Union, she was accompanied by a travel companion, which, in the beginning, was her husband (who recently passed away). Gerry believes in equal treatment and equal access for all. Whether someone is in a wheelchair or blind, they need to be able to use public buildings and institutions. In 1992 when she was 46, Gerry helped found the Powell River Model

Community for Persons with Disabilities Society – a pioneering agency that has helped make qathet Regional District one of the most accessible and inclusive regions in the world. She became the society’s first executive director and served for more that 15 years from 1992 to retirement in 2007. Now it is a subsidiary of inclusion Powell River and Gerry is still a director on the board. Long-time friend Carol Hamilton met Gerry in the early 1980s when she and a handful of others passionate about

International Women’s Day (IWD) is on March 8 and this year’s theme “Choose to Challenge” sums up much of Gerry’s life. A challenged world is an alert world. Individually we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions... collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. making Powell River accessible for everyone, founded the Powell River Model Community Project for People with Disabilities. “The employment portion of this was very important to me,” said Gerry. “It recognizes people with disabilities take longer to reach their goals so they have the opportunity to do it at their own pace.” Gerry and Carol were also founding board members of Life Cycle Housing Association and sat on the board for 14 years. Life Cycle is a society created in 1994 in response to the growing awareness of the critical need for accessible and affordable housing in Powell River. The need is as important today as it was then.

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OR NEVER

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

What is "blind"? Partially Sighted means a person has partial vision in one or both eyes. Low Vision refers to a severe vision impairment in which visual acuity is 20/70 or poorer Legally Blind means a person has a corrective vision of 20/200 in their best seeing eye. Totally Blind refers to complete loss of sight. Gerry was a relentless crusader. She spent many hours challenging the status quo at City Hall and the Regional District in her quest to make Powell River accessible for all. “People with a white cane have problems getting around,” said Gerry in a telephone interview from her Westview home. When the hospital was being built (it opened in 1987) they made all the curbs look pretty and bubbly and our white canes got stuck. The entrance had large pebbles which made it difficult to maneuver wheelchairs, canes, strollers and walkers. The only accessible parking was on the hill which is very difficult for someone trying to transfer into a wheelchair or keep a walker balanced,” said Gerry.

WELL DESERVED: Gerry Braak with her 1997 Order of BC. She also holds an Order of Canada. Both were awarded for advocacy work for people living with disabilities. It was not accessible for all. And so, Gerry and the Model Community lobbied for a more accessible entrance to the new hospital. “We also successfully lobbied for HandyDART, more curb-cuts, additional accessible parking throughout the com-

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

For local busines info or membership contact 604.485.4051 office@powellriverchamber.com

munity, an audio traffic signal at Joyce Avenue and Alberni Street, and wheelchair accessibility at Saltery Bay Mermaid Cove Provincial Park,” said Gerry. This determined executive director and her board raised funds for accessible equipment at Willingdon Kid’s Park, a Family Room at the Hospital, and spearheaded a provincial health and wellness study and supported the startup of Powell River Therapeutic Riding and Therapy Dog Training. In 2017, Gerry was chosen as one of fifty people out of over 7,000 Order of Canada recipients to be featured in a special edition of a book compiled by the Governor General of Canada called “They Desire a Better Future.” Her quote: “It is an ongoing and never-ending challenge for accessibility for all people in transportation, housing, recreation and employment,” is just as relevant today as it was when the book was published four years ago. At 84, Gerry has slowed down but she remains as passionate as she always was. She is still involved in the Canadian Council of the Blind and has taken the organization’s tag line, “A lack of sight is not a lack of vision,” seriously over the years. Gerry was President of the Canadian Council of the Blind while managing the Model Community for Persons with Disabilities Society at the same time. She was also on the World Blind Committee. Today Gerry is President of the Powell River Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind as well as the White Cane Club. In the early days, Carol often drove Gerry to meetings and appointments and they became good friends. Now at 73, Carol says she feels very fortunate that she is healthy enough to assist Gerry (and a few other seniors) in numerous ways. “I’ve driven Gerry to meetings, lunches, dinners, shopping, and doctor’s appointments in and out of town. I help her read her mail and I do some meal prep, too,” says Carol. Although Gerry has home support help, Carol tries to visit her friend daily. Sometimes it’s just to say hello, sometimes it is to drop off groceries, but not many days go by that Carol doesn’t make a point of popping in! Gerry enjoys knitting and looks forward to Carol’s visits. “Carol is an incredible lady. She helps so many people and does so with such caring,” says Gerry. “She sparkles when she helps and she feels bad if she isn’t doing things.” While a shared passion for helping others and a strong urge to make it happen was what initially brought Gerry and Carol together, it is friendship and commitment for making the world a better place that has maintained their relationship throughout the years.

| isabelle@prliving.ca

March 8 IWD events The local arts community is hosting several events in celebration of International Women's Day, including a visual art show (see Page 50) and a film screening (online; below). Powell River Film Society and the Powell River Council for Arts and Culture are presenting: The Least We Can Do, film screening. Viewing available March 6 to March 9 (midnight to 11:59 pm) Discussion March 8 at 1 pm via Zoom link, which will be cross posted on Powell River Film Festival and The Art Centre websites. The panel will feature director Moira Simpson and producer Christine McDowell. Senator Mobina Jaffer will be joining the discussion of the film, as will Aveen, a survivor of the first Yazidi genocide. womenrefugeesadvocacyproject.ca/documentary/ At The Art Centre Public Gallery, see "Shadow Puppet" by Carol Sawyer (video, 6 minutes) This is a playful performance where the artist constructs costumes out of detritus and enacts a shadow battle.

BUSINESS NOT AS USUAL

munity. Steve Brooks was tremendously helpful in finding the right space for me, and the entire Townsite Public Market community has been very welcoming.

Writing, art & music classes embraced as COVID surges Discover Creative Arts offers ongoing unique and creative classes and workshops in music, theatre, visual arts and creative writing in a beautiful space on the upper floor of historic Townsite Public Market. Artistic Director, Lesley Sutherland, who has worked in the Television, Film and Opera industry for the past twenty-five years opened its beautiful patchwork curtains in September of 2020. For more information on upcoming classes, please contact Lesley at lesleyssutherland@icloud.com What concerned you most about your business as the COVID-19 pandemic began? Lesley • I opened Discover Creative Arts in September of 2020, before the second wave of COVID rolled in – when we were all still cautious, but very hopeful that things were looking up. I knew the Townsite Market space would work because it offered a large, simple space with great ventilation, windows, and enough room to physically distance the participants. What opportunities did you see? Lesley • When the second wave came, I decided to postpone the theatre and art classes, which are more difficult to regulate distancing, and offer walking tour creative writing groups. We travel to all the wonderful and haunted corners of Townsite, including the Patricia Theatre, The Rodmay, and The Old Courthouse Inn, and write up a storm. I also began teaching a wide range of art and music classes and creative writing groups via Zoom. What have you been doing that you haven’t done before the pandemic? Have your customers responded to the changes you’ve made?

How has the pandemic impacted your customers? Lesley • With the isolation and long hours in our own homes, I think many people have finally realized how imperative creativity, music, art and expression really are for our happiness and mental health. How has it impacted you and your family?

WRITING ON LOCATION: Discover Creative Arts students get creative at the Old Courthouse Inn. The Townsite Market-based classes are available socially-distanced and on Zoom, following strict COVID protocols. Some students even seem to prefer the online format, and are much more relaxed in their own personal space. I also started hosting several Creative Writing Groups on Zoom which work brilliantly on that platform. I plan to continue an online option alongside of in-person classes and workshops, even after the pandemic. Which pandemic-response government programs have been helpful to you? What do you wish was provided?

Lesley • I have been a freelance musician and writer for as long as my kids can remember, so the crazy, weird schedule, never ending shifting, working at home in near chaos is all very normal to them. We are a Home Learning family, so the school portion has not really changed due to the pandemic. I have been separated from my older daughters, living in Vancouver, due to travel restrictions, so this has been the most painful part of the pandemic for me. If you could go back to January, what advice would you give yourself? Lesley • Don’t spend any money. Read up on gardening. What changes will you retain into the future? Lesley • I enjoy working in small groups, social distanced – I designed the space with zero furniture – each participant has their own private carpet, and their own tub of supplies. I like the simplicity of this, and will continue this practice in the future. What’s surprised you most during this time?

Lesley • When the pandemic began, as a conductor and composer, I lost 100% of my employment. It was terrifying. I am very grateful for the CERB, as it kept things going and gave me the ability to calm down and figure things out. For the first time in my entire music career I was forced to completely stop, granting the freedom to begin to re-imagine what I wanted to do next.

Lesley • How healing and important simple human connection is – I have some Vancouver clients who only have landlines – no computers, or cell phones – We sing back and forth to each other, or they simply sing to me over the phone lines, and we connect. Although isolated physically, the loneliness evaporates and there is a beautiful, shared moment of joy and peace.

Have you received any help, support or inspiration?

What are you looking forward to most about getting back to normal?

Lesley • I was surprised at how engaging and rewarding Lesley • I have received encouragement and support from online private voice, song writing and art classes can be. so many people, especially the PIE Home Schooling com-

Lesley • No more masks! Teaching and singing with a mask on is no fun at all.

Where

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n February, Powell River artist Colleen Heslin won the 2021 Takao Tanabe prize for BC-based painters (Powell River artists have won two of the five so far). The award is decided by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Originally from Toronto, Colleen is a graduate of Concordia University and Emily Carr Institute for Art and Design, has shown her work across Canada and Europe, and has been featured in most Canadian art magazines.

Do you show or sell anywhere in PR, or just through Vancouver's Monte Clark Gallery? Where can locals see your work? Colleen • In 2018 and 2019 my partner Les Ramsay and I exhibited our work in the studio art tour at Tidal Arts in Lund, along with a group of local artists. Tidal Arts has been a great place to take classes, meet artists and neighbors. The best way to see new work for now is online, my website, Instagram or at Monte Clark Gallery in Vancouver. Why did you choose to move to Powell River? How long have you been here? Colleen • I moved up here in 2017, I love the forest trails, lakes, ocean and it’s a good sized dynamic community. Having my own studio has been a lifelong plan; space to work with a range of materials is really exciting and will open up my practice. Through my studies and practice in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Toronto over the last 25 years, I have made important connections with other artists across the country, and the timing was right for us

when our studio lease was ending, to make the move. The change of pace and place is really inspiring, we are both learning a lot about living with nature and spending more time outdoors. It is a really beautiful place to live and work with a great community, lots to explore and amazing local food, farm & thrift stores and craft sales. Another local fine artist and Concordia MFA grad, Lynn Price, won the award in 2018. Why have two of the five awards so far gone to Powell River artists? What is it about this place?

Colleen • I didn’t study with Lynn Price, but we both did our undergrad at Emily Carr in Vancouver and MFA at Concordia in Montreal and are now based in Powell River. I think it’s more reflective of the paths we have crossed professionally in our travels, education and work that we have developed over the years. Powell River is an ideal place for me to live and focus on my work at this point in my career, but there are periods early on and throughout your practice where it is really important to branch out and make broader connections, exhibiting projects and seeing a wide range of art in different cities. Conversely, what challenges do you face as a fine artist working outside of a major centre? Colleen • There are some specialty materials that require trips to Vancouver, I am looking for options to transport larger work, the main services I have contacted can’t move art. Some of my work is really

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

2018 TANABE WINNER: Powell River painter Lynn Price won the second Tanabe award in 2018. Above, a pair of Pear Pairs, detail. Screen monoprints on paper (30 x 22 inches), made during a residency at Malaspina Printmakers.

& persistence big, so that’s a problem I make for myself and I’ve figured out methods to re-assemble over the years for transport. The main difference I notice is how affected my studio practice is by the seasons, how much light and weather impact my energy levels. Parts of my practice have become seasonal, I dye all of my canvas in the summer outdoors and winter is good for smaller projects in the home, research and development. I’m still setting up my studio space and settling in, transitions can be time consuming, but we have found some great people to work with along the way. There is a real sense of community here and a lot of people with a great deal of material knowledge about how things work which is really helpful. Having a partner who is also an artist is valuable because we have an ongoing dialogue about our work and maintain relationships with other artists to help feel connected. Other artists in the area have expressed a desire for more connections with peers to exchange critical feedback and a lack of exhibition opportunitiea. Visual art needs to be seen and it can be difficult to complete a project without a deadline for public viewing. It's difficult right now, because the pandemic has put a lot of pressure on partners to support each other, when normally there is a wider peer group to fulfill this need. I think the other end of this year will open up opportunities for local artists to broaden peer groups and deepen relationships that are inspiring. The ongoing development of the Art Center above the Library is a really exciting professional space for the arts here as well as the Fine Arts Association, among others I am still discovering. When I was starting out in Vancouver I had a live-in studio in the DTES that I ran as a gallery for 15 years. Having a space in which to exhibit and gather develops communities that can support each other in the early stages, which is really important, either independent or funded institutions. March is education month. What advice do you have for young people considering a career in the arts? Colleen • I would say participate in classes and workshops when you can, go to art college and take advantage of all facilities available, look at art when you travel. Not everything you make will be good, that’s normal, you will make a lot of bad work before it gets better. Try to be critical of the work you

2021 TANABE WINNER: Above, artist Colleen Heslin in front of her work Cloudhole, dye on sewn canvas, 96"x119", 2019 . Below, Gothic Horror, ink and dye on sewn canvas, 78"x88", 2020. Photo above by Les Ramsay

are making, see what’s working and what’s not, and make those changes in your next work. Don’t fuss on your current project, just finish it and move on, the art object is not important early on, you are still learning how to use the materials and developing your own ideas, that takes time, push through that frustration. Make space and time to work on your art and continue with it through stages where you feel stuck, uninspired and unsupported, recognition often comes after you persist for a longer period than you expect, so patience and persistence is important. Finally, continue to be curious, challenge yourself and let the work evolve. Try not to repeat yourself; let go of ideas, material and methods you TAKAO TANABE: Born in Prince cling to and that may be holding you Rupert in 1926, Takao was inback; introduce something new; have terned with his family during fun with every shift and explore it as WWII. He studied art in Vancoufar as it interests you. ver, London, Tokyo and elseI think this applies to all ages and a where in the 1950s, and became range of professions, ongoing remindone of Canada's most important ers of ways to push through difficult painters. He currently lives in phases when you are not fully happy Parksville. Photo by Chick Rice

with your work or opportunities.

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

I MADE THE MOVE

has shown us just how much heart Powell River has. Residents are always helping out others whether with donations, time, help finding what they need or just kind words.

Friendly humans and doggos attract boaters

Where is your favourite place in Powell River? Ariel • We love walking our dogs along the sea walk. We meet friendly people and dogs every time. What would make Powell River a nicer community? Ariel • Repaving of roads and adding more sidewalks What aspect of your previous community do you think would benefit Powell River? Ariel • I think that Powell River is doing a great job in many aspects and can not think of anything that we would need from North Vancouver, except to learn from their experience and not make the mistake of too much growth too fast.

Ariel and Paul Turcotte met on a blind date in Vancouver in 1993. Ariel moved from Calgary in ‘92 and Paul from Edmonton in ‘87. "It was pretty much love at first sight." They married in the summer of 1994. Paul had a house just up from Deep Cove; they lived in North Vancouver for the next 26 years. "Paul had a Bayliner Sunbridge when I met him and we came to Desolation Sound for the first time on our honeymoon. We loved it. This would be the beginning of our relationship with Powell River," said Ariel. They travelled to Desolation many more times and would often stop in Powell River to re-provision and enjoy the city’s amenities and their many friends here, from Texada to Lund.

What challenges did you face in trying to make a life for yourself here? Ariel • COVID would be the only challenge. Both Paul and I are retired at this time and enjoying life immensely. If you were mayor of Powell River what would you do? Ariel • That is a tough question. We haven’t lived here long enough to really comment on that. Our only wish is that the open spaces, friendliness and relaxed pace of life are maintained, with growth at a reasonable level that does not negatively impact lifestyles of the people that have lived here for a long time.

Why did you choose to move to Powell River? Ariel • Funny story about moving to Powell River – my husband has always wanted to move here and I said “no way” I do not want to live so far away and in such a little town. However as we researched the Sunshine Coast over the past five years and looked at many, many houses in many different areas, Powell River just grew on us. We have always loved the sense of community and the friendly people. A random chance meeting with Don and Marnie Edwards and their incredible hospitality and friendship to us at just the right time was the tipping point. We knew for sure that Powell River was the right place for us. The house that we finally purchased was on the market for quite awhile, seemingly just waiting for the right time for us to move in. November 11, Remembrance Day, was “move-in day”and will always be Remembered as “The start of the next chapter of our lives”.

FROM DESOLATION TO ELATION: Before they retired, North Van import Ariel Turcotte worked for Costco and Paul Turcotte was a heavy duty mechanic. Now they're full-time boaters and dog-walkers.

What are Powell River’s best assets? Ariel • People, ocean, weather, and space. What is your greatest extravagance? Ariel • Our Boat “Asti”

What surprised you about Powell River once you moved here? Ariel • Even in the midst of COVID we have been welcomed with so much care and compassion. We have met most of our neighbours, one even before we moved here came and helped us unload a small trailer of stuff. Another stopping by the driveway to say ”Hi” and introduce herself and welcome us to Powell River. The "Powell River Swap N Shop"

Which talent or superpower would you most like to have? Ariel • Bewitched, twinkle your nose and be there! Paul • I'd like to levitate, moving would be so easy. If you know someone we should feature in I Made the Move, please email isabelle@prliving.ca with your idea.

Where

k n a B u o Y Makes a Difference (604) 485 6206 42

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

firstcu.ca | 4721 Joyce Ave.

Annual snow survey data collected by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Upper Powell River

EXPEDITION TIME: Right, an undated image of Ossie Stevenson doing a snow survey. Top, weighing snow samples at Slide Creek, end of Powell Lake, in the 1940s; Bottom right, in the 1940s, the surveyors had trekked 3,100 Feet up to Slide Creek. Each survey involved a journey of several days on foot. Photo courtesy of the Powell River Historical Museum & Archives

Surveying the snow pack BLAST FROM THE PAST JOËLLE SÉVIGNY

ne of the reasons the site of Powell River was chosen for the construction of a Paper Mill, was because of its close proximity to extensive drainage areas, from which a large supply of water could be developed for the operations of a mill via hydro-electric energy. The main source of this water is Powell Lake which was first dammed in 1910 and further raised in 1924. Much of the Townsite depended on this hydro-electric energy for its activities and so measuring of the water supply and the determination of its levels in advance, became very important to the Powell River Company. Every year between the 20th and 27th of March, the Powell River Company conducted surveys of the snow in the mountains behind Powell and Lois Lake (since Lois also became a source of water supply in the 1930s). The snow surveys were completed under the Engineering Department: surveyors measured snow, its water content and anticipated the volume of the run-off. Testing was done by driving core tubes into the snow and samples at dif-

ferent stations were taken. An estimate of numerous zones gave an average and from there a probable quantity of water to be expected to reach the lake during April to July was derived. In the end, these numbers enabled the Company to have a bearing on the amount of water available for mill operations. The snow survey expeditions meant that the surveyors had to trek across the rugged backcountry for several days. It also meant that they got to witness the beauty of the mountains from high elevations – most of which they recorded. This is why we can now enjoy viewing beautiful photographs of our mountains dating back to early Townsite History. Evolugen (formerly Brookfield Power, which owns the dam on the Powell River) still conducts the annual snow survey up in the mountains every April. Now the surveyors helicopter in, but they still use the same methods of measurement as back in the early 20th century – by taking cores of snow using those tubes in the photograph above. Some things never change! Blast from the Past is written monthly by Powell River Historical Museum and Archives public engagement coordinator Joëlle Sévigny.

1941 • 127cm 1951 • 348cm 1963 • 157cm 1971 • 366cm 1980 • 213cm 1991 • 240cm 2001 • 214cm 2011 • 166cm 2019 • 185cm

Lower Powell River 1942 • 170cm 1951 • 264cm 1960 • 193cm 1971 • 317cm 1980 • 134cm 1991 • 166cm 2001 • 138cm 2011 • 311cm 2019 • 106cm

| jysevigny@powellrivermuseum.ca

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

MAIL BAG

Double CHEESE Double BACON

We welcome feedback from our readers. Letters may be edited for length. Email your comments to isabelle@prliving.ca, or mail an old-school letter in the post to PR Living, 7053E Glacier St, Powell River, BC V8A 5J7.

BURGERS

And double napkins, probably.

Hydrotherapy loss is real

PAPA

GRANDPA

MAMA

How do you top a burger that’s made with

Dear Powell River Living I would like to congratulate you on your 15th Anniversary. Your magazine is a very important part of this community. I would also like to thank you for your original article (February 2020) and the subsequent follow up in your current issue (February 2021) about the Hydrotherapy Pool at the Powell River Hospital.

100% pure beef raised without the use of hormones or steroids? Generously, that’s how. Like with a double helping of cheese and naturally smoked bacon. Because when you’ve made Canada’s best tasting burger, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Cool Crossword or wimpy words

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PROOF #: DATE:

4 8-30-2016 3:04 PM

. PRL first several years when Didating back a year ago, 000 pool it. She or $510, therapy pool zine about ed the hydro District direct the maga from the t Regional then, cover en approached and found relief the qathe father since sible ana Yenss His son Mark, iving for his Sclerosis, warm, acces Multiple ss in the has been careg . The has B, ers. stiffne es Area for the 1990s pain and family memb es my father receiv ts ams since disease’s with other LEY but patien on servic therapy progr ll along . BY PIETA WOOL rehabilitati 10 years ago, the Powe water-based e,” said Mark “The only suspended to retain dropped by ams were per cent privat anGisborne advocating see the hydro unity progr ued to use the pool. locally is 100 have been chronic mech tan and Mark in mid-January to comm ed. had Mark by and pool remov contin tal paid for throughout Both Stan before it’s led that the River Hospi which was g the ation in 1993. ently closed Diana revea one last time confirmed was frequ representin therapy pool, the Hospital Found conon and the Board isn’t Dicks therapy pool tal ems, probl Hospi the empty through Authority Chair Ken to conthe ical sits on the donations stickies on tal Board al Health in repairs Mark, who In fact, when ap- its life. Hospi uver Coast d $75,000 noticed yellow be gone. t, Mark. Vanco neede soon says distric But the pool unity, and they were regional figures it will VCH said Board, years ago, g the comm photos in the pool, ment. He on. Hospital to leave. He sultin surgery five pool’s equip snapping on and told tinue to functi Mark said, the local routine heart “Locked in Syndrome”. two were tal administraticonflicts over VCH’s Stan had he had with Since then, of hed by hospi sensation; St. Paul’s the he re- proac the latest in a series still has full or rebuild woke up at iplegic but y pool since It’s r than repair d is now quadr use the hydrotherap close rathe istration denie g to decision to VCH admin been hopin in 2016. But d to send physician. ing. Feb 26-28. video recorde t. turned home by their family It’s still happen and will be Concer only made al? Grand sts family online iate Got a Rent the reque to create an masked immed

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spaces belong in the physiotherapy department of the hospital and should not be happening because of the demise of the hydrotherapy pool. I have first hand experience. VCH there are NO other options in the community that are the same as the hydrotherapy pool. I tried using the children's pool at the complex. It was cooler, was not deep enough, did not have supports in the pool and the pool floor was sloped. I can not comment on how accessible it is for those using mobility devices since I am able to stand and walk into the pool. The other factor to consider is that not everyone has health insurance or the disposable income to pay for private physiotherapy or even the admission to the complex multiple times a week. Lastly I would like to comment on the statement that VCH is very grateful for the support of the long list of organizations and individuals who contributed to the construction of the pool almost 30 years ago. In my humble opinion, your gratitude would have been better expressed by maintaining/repairing this precious gift and continuing to offer hydrotherapy as an option to those in the community who would benefit from it. Sincerely, Diana Yenssen p.s. I want to send a huge thank you to Patty for assisting me while using the pool for all those years. You are a true friend.

•

)

Following publication last year, I was happily surprised by how many people supported the repair and continued use of the hydrotherapy pool and shared stories with me about the positive effect the pool has had either personally or for their loved ones over the years. Sadly, I also spoke to a number of people, with inside VCH information, who confided in me that the demise of the hydrotherapy pool was a foregone conclusion. VCH had chosen not to staff the pool in order to offer physiotherapy for its patients around 10 years ago but there were many people still using the pool privately. I was fortunate to be one of those and was able to continue to use the pool two or three times a week when it was operational. Undeterred I rode the momentum provided by your article. I persisted by writing letters and emailing people and then COVID hit. Even then I kept in contact with the hospital, who as late as August 2020, told me they were still waiting for the comprehensive assessment and subsequent repairs to the pool. They stated that they had no clear intention of reopening on a specific date. They noted that COVID precautions had reduced traffic and ensuring physical distancing in the hospital had not allowed them to move forward with these plans. I can not express how saddened I was to read that the assessment never happened and that the hydrotherapy pool is being dismantled. I completely understand that there is a need for more dialysis spaces in our growing community. I just do not think these

Hello Sean, My vote is to keep just the crossword puzzle [note: in the February 2020 issue, Sean made a word search instead of a crossword in the Take a Break section]. I normally never do crosswords, except once a month sitting on a special regular ritual throne. Often, a clue will require more research, ie checking maps for that wood named street, or how to spell the former mayor’s name. It is fun. Sometimes, a phone call to a neighbour, or a great water cooler question. If you must include the word search, please place the clue words in alphabetic order. For me, the word search is a frustrating eye test. At least with the crossword puzzle, I have to wake up some gray cells. Keep the local education crossword puzzle. Love everything else! PRL FAN Terry Hollo Texada Island Note from Crossword and Word Search creator Sean Percy: Crossword fans have united! Terry’s note is just one of many clamouring for the return of the crossword. As you can see in this issue (Page 53), the crossword is back. However, a nearly equal number of puzzle fans have told us that they like the word search, so, for now, we will rotate between crosswords and word searches each month. At least until the crossword fans start picketing...

The future requires big and brave transportation solutions Dear Editor of Powell River Living, Great series of bus articles by Pieta Woolley [February 2021]. It is good to see such growing interest in our bus transport problem. Neither Liberal nor NDP governments have made any real headway in resolv-

ing why a city so close to Vancouver has such poor bus services and so many low paid residents. Unfortunately we cannot lay all the blame on the province. We are partially to blame, in that we are not ready to consider changes to the lifestyles we have adapted to. Solutions to many of the issues Pieta wrote about can be had if we are prepared to discuss changes to our comfort zone to make better lifestyles for ourselves. First let’s face the reality that technology changes society, and has done for thousands of years. It was 150 years ago when three brothers from the US built the mill, and designed our town, hospital, and railway. They had built mills before in the US. They knew about technology, people/organization and financing. Now that we have entered the electric age we must use a similar process to resolve our bus and ferry problems. Our ferry and bus transport problems are intertwined. A good model to follow is Seaspan’s successful freight ferry service from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. They move the containers not the trucks and drivers. They specialize to get costs affordably low and sailings frequent to meet customer needs. If they can we can. Discussions should be on how.

across Canada. I haven’t come across another publication as good as it yet in any area of Canada. Really! Human interest stories interest us all. Thanks so much and keep up your great work and digging (gas). We need you! Debbie Joslin Being new to Powell River this magazine has been my favorite and I share it as much as possible while working at the Shinglemill and offering it up to tourists new to the area. Thank you, Corinne Williams Knowing how to sort out the biggest transport cost enables us to sort out bus versus car. Take what they do. Use it in a different way. Make something different at low cost and risk. MIT offers degree courses on how to do this. How to solve the unsolvable, ‘Little PRL versus big gas’ issue is simpler. Join other governments and people and commit to 2030 as the year to stop the manufacture of ICE cars and switch to electric. The cost of electric power is not manipulated by other countries. BC generates the stuff. The future is electric. The future is about networking, people that is. Tom Hobbs Canada’s IT Elder

Fan mail

Same thing only different

I have to say that I love everything there is about PR Living. This month it hit me particularly hard. It is my connection to our area, what little there is going on, the amazing people that make this amazing community and PR Living brings that inside my home. I would feel very disconnected without the magazine and I read it cover to cover. The ads help me organize for sourcing locally. I stay home except for essentials, and so need connections. Our days have changed. All the staff of PR Living do an amazing job! I am very proud of the publication as I spread it (or used to) far and wide as I travel to friends here and

This letter was in response to PRL Publisher Isabelle Southcott’s "Last Word" in the February 2020 issue. My brother and I took our girlfriends out on the boat years ago. There were four pieces of chicken left over after dinner. Next day his girlfriend ate two. Still don’t like her. Bruce Harrison

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Something’s blooming Five kilometres down the road, in downtown Gillies Bay, there’s a new flower store on Texada Island. The Flower and The Bee, located at 3887 Gillies Bay Road, is a flower farmer focused on producing forage for honey bees while offering locally grown flowers of exceptional beauty. For more information visit their Facebook page or email tracey@theflowerandthebee.com

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Getting cooler (and hotter) Cool Comfort Solutions is a new HVAC business that provides heating and cooling systems and can look after your ventilation needs. They also do maintenance checks and repairs for residential and commercial clients. For more information, phone 604-414-8645 or visit their website at coolcomfortsolutions.ca

Runway model Qathet Regional District is one of 13 Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast communities to receive COVID-19 recovery money from the provincial government. Area C will be getting $1 million to help with Phase one of the Powell River Airport Runway extension. The money will be used to cap landfills to allow for runway expansion to support deliveries and passenger flights.

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You can be a VIP Tourism Powell River’s new VIP card program will help local businesses as part of their COVID restart plan. “We’ve been assessing what we can do to help grow momentum around shopping locally and supporting Tourism Powell River members and local businesses as we see the end of the pandemic in the coming future,” said Executive Director Tracey Ellis. Tourism Powell River’s VIP cards benefit both businesses and customers. The series of free collectible VIP cards is available for pickup at the Powell River Visitor Centre at 4760 Joyce Avenue. Cards can be used at local participating businesses that display the decal in their window offering a discount, freebie or perk of some kind to customers who present their card at point of pur-

chase. This card is valid until the end of 2021. Discounts or offers are up to the participating businesses to determine and promote on social media or through Tourism Powell River’s Facebook page. “As we begin to reopen to visitors as pandemic numbers decline, we will offer the cards to visitor to the visitor centre to encourage their visitation to local businesses while they are here,” said Tracey. Members of Tourism Powell River will receive decals in the mail to encourage their participation in this promotion but other businesses are welcome to pick up a decal at the visitor centre. The Powell River Visitor Centre will offer 20 per cent off souvenirs to card holders during the month of March.

Just a couple of Canada's top advisors Daniel LeBlanc of White LeBlanc Wealth Planners was named #32 in Canada and Colin White made #28 on the list of the top 50 wealth professionals in Canada for 2021. This annual ranking of Canada’s best advisors is published in January of each year in Wealth Professional magazine. It is Colin’s third consecutive year on this elite list and Daniel’s second.

RCMP launch Safe Place Program The RCMP Safe Place Program allows participating premises to be identified with a decal as a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Participation in the program is simple; a business, organization, school or institution fills out an application form and pledges to assist the victims and/or witnesses to anti-LGBTQ2S+ crimes by calling police on their behalf and allowing them to remain on their premises until police arrive. To take part, contact Staff Sergeant Rod Wiebe at 604-485-6255 at rod.wiebe@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Coffee roasters win money 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters won the $10,000 grand prize in the Spring Activator Build Back Better Challenge for entrepreneurs. The Resilient Powell River program is a project of Community Futures Powell River, First Credit Union, Coastline Colab, and the City of Powell River. “We were thrilled to win,” said Margot Jantz, who together with her husband Nathan founded 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters in 2012. “It’s such an honour to be chosen, and we’re planning on making good use of the money to expand our business into the future.” 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters began with a small home roaster and a stall at the Powell River Farmers’ Market. Now, they have a dedicated roasting facility, and their coffee is available in several grocery stores on the Sunshine Coast as well as online at 32lakes.com. They were recently awarded a Surf Rider Ocean Friendly Business certification and a Green level certification from Vancouver Island Green Business Collective, as well as Rainforest Alliance certification. “We’d reached a point just before the pandemic that we needed to consider expanding,” said Margot. “Our plan is to have our coffee more widely available across Vancouver Island, which means we need to expand our roasting capacity. The prize money will go a long way towards that.” Available for Powell River businesses until June 30, Resilient Powell River is a free online program. Find out more at www.coastlinecolab.ca/resilient/.

Spring holidays that are, frankly, better together 1. International Women's Day 2. St. Patrick's Day

3. Holy Week & Easter

Usually, this UN-sponsored day includes marches, private get-togethers, and more. Once again, artists are the ones leading us through COVID with creativity and hopefulness. See Page 50 for more.

Bars. Booze. Things dyed green that should not be green. This is a holiday best spent with your greasy buddies. Celebrate with your household this year by dying your own stuff green?

The Christian high holiday is typically spent in pews, with family, and hunting for eggs at Willingdon Beach. Kudos to Living Water Foursquare Church for organizing a COVID-style egg hunt. – PW

Monday, March 8

Wednesday, March 17

The Art Centre Public Gallery. Exhibition and series. See more on Page 50.

March 19

March in qathet

March 3 and beyond Side Quest outdoor VR mural show

IWD Art Response

A self-guided art show by Catnip. See more on Page 51.

St. Patrick’s Day

March 6 to 9

Forest March

3:45-4:30 on Zoom. Kids 8-12, join visual artist Luke Ramsey for 45 minutes of drawing together. Registration is required. prpl.ca/event/drawn-together/

Viewing available March 6-9. Discussion March 8 at 1 pm via Zoom link, which will be cross posted on Powell River Film Festival and The Art Centre websites. See more on Page 50.

Saturday, March 20

Friday, March 5

Friday, March 12

Thursdays starting March 4 Drawn Together: Virtual Comics Group

The Least We Can Do, film screening

A Paramedic’s Tales – from the humorous to the horrific

Online Income Tax Workshop With MP Rachel Blaney Noon and 6pm. To register go to rachelblaney.ndp.ca/events/tax

Lumen: lighting for strange times A Crucible Gallery happening. See more on Page 50.

Rosa Luxembourg 150th birthday

Tidal Art Gallery one-day event with artist Brigitte Potter-Mael honouring Rosa Luxembourg's herbarium.

March 5 to 22

How to be a Humanist art show

Brigitte Potter-Mael at Tidal Art Gallery.

March 6 & 7

North African dining adventure

At The Boardwalk. See Page 23 for more.

4 pm, Zoom. BC paramedic Graeme Taylor shares true and uncensored stories showing the compassion and courage of his co-workers, patients and strangers he meets. To Register mmerlino@prpl.ca

International Day of Action. Find out details for the Powell River march here: forestmarchbc.com

Tech Savvy – Hosting a Zoom Meeting

2 pm via Zoom. Learn the ins and outs about how to host your own meetings on the Zoom video communications platform. To register, mmerlino@prpl.ca

March 20 – April 6 Spring Break See Page 49

Sunday, April 4

Saturday, March 20

See online worship options Pages 48-49.

March 13 to 19

Spring Equinox

Felting workshop, documentaries, films, live music and much more. See Page 12.

Celtic Weekend

Virtual Francophone Festival

Sunday, March 14 Daylight Savings

Dial your clocks ahead one hour.

Cranberry Hall Virtual Song Circle 2 pm via Zoom. Theme: Out with the Old, In with the New.

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Saturday, April 3

March 20 & 21

Drive Thru “I Spy” Easter Egg hunt

At The Boardwalk. See Page 23 for more.

Living Water Foursquare Church. See ad on Page 49.

March 26 to April 12

Monday, April 5

Amber Warhol Friedman at Tidal Art Gallery

A stat if you work for the government.

When Colours Bleed

Easter Monday

Sunday, March 28

Monday, April 12

Palm Sunday

Ramadan starts

Friday, April 2

Friday, April 30

Statutory Holiday

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Good Friday

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Easter Sunday

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Thank you to all essential service providers! STAY SAFE!! Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Easter

Strings fans, here comes PRISMA

As Easter moves its dates each year, it is easy to get confused as to when it actually takes place. This year, Palm Sunday is Sunday, March 28; Good Friday is Friday April 2 and Easter Sunday is April 4. With the pandemic still in full spread, for safety reasons Easter services will take place online only this year. There will be no community Easter egg hunt. However Living Waters Foursquare Church is offering a drive through egg hunt. And those missing the music of Easter (The Old Rugged Cross, anyone?) can tune in online to listen to older recordings of the great hymns. – Isabelle Southcott

The Powell River Health-Care Auxiliary wishes to thank the following for their continuing support of health care in our community: Our Volunteers whose tireless efforts make this all possible. The following businesses that support our work: City Transfer Scotia Bank dmd Chartered Professional Accountants

2020 was a challenging year but we got through it together!

Mark your calendar for our ninth festival, set to take place June 14-26 in Powell River! After the cancellation of our 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are cautiously hopeful for a return to live music in some form this summer for PRISMA 2021. Our team is exploring various scenarios for a return to physical events, as we monitor the ongoing developments of the pandemic On December 1, we opened recruitment for a strings-only edition of PRISMA. This smaller string orchestra will be comprised of violinists, violists, cellists and bassists from right here in beautiful British Columbia, performing repertoire that simply hasn’t been possible in past iterations of the fes-

tival. Chamber concerts, as well as those from student quartets and quintets, will round out our musical offerings for this extraordinary chapter in PRISMA’s history. The Victoria-based and internationally-renowned Lafayette String Quartet will serve as our Artists in Residence and featured performers, along with additional guest artists including Terence Tam (concertmaster – Victoria Symphony), Brian Yoon (principal cello – Victoria Symphony), and Dylan Palmer (principal bass – Vancouver Symphony). More information will be available in the coming months. At this time we are only able to offer membership renewals by mail or online. – Andy Rice

2021 Holy Week and Easter Services St. David & St. Paul Anglican Church All services are online only March 28 Palm/Passion Sunday 10 am • Holy Eucharist April 2 Good Friday 10 am • Stations of the Cross April 4 Easter Sunday 10 am • Holy Eucharist

Thank you Powell River

Your continued support, donations, and patronage make it all possible.

6-7030 Alberni Street 604-485-0110 noon - 4 pm Monday-Friday (except stats) prhealthcareaux.ca • economyshop2016@gmail.com

Everyone Welcome

Phone the church office at 604 483 4230 for details on how to participate online. Rev. Faun Harriman

Unique Jewelry and Giftware

One-of-a-kind flip-flop necklaces made from local beach glass

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Beach Glass Cairns & Pendants Found Stone Jewelry

Whimsical Beach Glass Art

Find Found Stone Jewelry on Facebook, Instagram, at the Townsite Public Market, (Thursday - Saturday 11-4pm) or at found-stone-jewelry-decor.square.site

Spiritual Video Gatherings at: www.PowellRiverUnitedChurch.org March 28 Palm Sunday 11:00am April 1 Maundy Thursday 6:30pm

Heart Rock Pendants

Custom-designed coasters

Online Easter Celebrations All are Warmly Welcome with Love

Bead bracelets

Custom-printed candle holders

April 2 Good Friday 11:00am April 4 Easter Sunday 11:00am

In Person:

SPRING BREAK COVID – STYLE, BEYOND THE COUCH

The Art Centre Spring Break Art Camp with artist Amber Friedman Ages 8-12, $195 per week Week 1 – March 22-26 Week 2 – March 29 to April 2 9 am to 3 pm powellriverartscouncil.ca/springbreak-art-camp Recreation Complex Spring Break Swim Camp Ages 3 to 12, $50 Mon – Thurs March 22 – 25 March 29 – April 1 8x30-minute lessons Recreation Complex Spring Break Day Camps Ages 6 to 12, $175 / $140 Games, crafts, swimming, and much more! Ages 6 – 12. Daily drop in and sibling rates available. Week 1 March 22 – 26 $175 Week 2 March 29 – April 1 $140 Powell River Gymnastics Spring Break Day camps Check the Facebook page or website for more information. Air Cadets Ages 12 and up Air Cadets is running a regular training virtual program for squadron members each week. They will have activities for squadron members

Free & Cheap things to do ** Before you make a plan, check to see if COVID regulations allow these by Spring Break.

Rink • Pool • Disc Golf • Library • Tennis in Townsite • Side Quest AR Game (see next page) • Bike Park • Playgrounds • Museums & Galleries • Beaches & Trails • Farmers Markets • Bike Inland Lake during Spring Break, which might be virtual or in person depending on the directives that come between now and then. Cadets 604-483-3234 Orca Bus Special Spring Break locations: March 23rd – Townsite Mall North Parking lot (bike/strollers rodeo) March 30th – Townsite Mall North Parking lot (bike/stroller rodeo) March 31st – Lifecycle housing Register: bit.ly/3dGReV9 Drive-Thru “I Spy” Easter Egg Hunt All ages, free Saturday, April 3, 9 am-11 am Living Water Foursquare Church 4640 Manson Ave

Celebrate Easter with us Join us online as we celebrate Jesus, our risen King! www.livingwaterpr.com/watch or live on FB where we interact with each other throughout the service.

10am on Easter Sunday, April 4

Come for a Drive-Thru “I Spy” Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 3rd, 4640 Manson Ave 9am-11am. All are welcome!

Living Water Foursquare Church • livingwaterpr.com/watch

Discover Creative Arts Creator’s Workshop Grades 6-10, $300 1 to 5 pm Mo to Th, both weeks., Wanna make stuff? Whether you are interested in creating a graphic novel, writing a play, building a time machine, upcycling vintage clothes, sewing stuffed animals by hand… under the mentorship of Lesley Sutherland. To apply, please email Lesley a simple proposal stating what you would like to create, and why you would like to be part of the Creator’s Workshop. lesleyssutherland@icloud.com

On Zoom: PR Library Spring Break Comic Camps Ages 10 to 12 and 11+ Monday through Friday March 22-26 on Zoom The library’s popular Spring Break Comic Camp is back, this year with graphic novelist Cole Pauls. A Kids Camp (ages 8-10) will run from 10 am-11 am. A Tween and Teen Camp (ages 11+) will run from 1 pm-3 pm. Registration is required and space is limited. Registrants will be invited to pick up a package of Comic Camp supplies at the library service desk March 15-21. https://prpl.ca/event/spring-breakcomic-camp-for-kids-with-colepauls/ Girl Guides Ages 5 to 18+. Ongoing intake all the time plus it's 50% off right now. This is the registration link: bit.ly/2NzlXJ5

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Arts

to the rescue

ince PRL's events section collapsed a year ago due to COVID's gathering restrictions, one group of locals has consistently reinvented their work: artists. Using technology, social distancing, and initiative, every single month Powell River has continued to host a thriving creative scene. March is no different. Three galleries are launching

new shows with new works. The Festival of Performing Arts and Festival of Youth are presenting multidisciplnary performaces online. And Catnip, AKA Stefan Fogarty, has created a masterful self-guided mural-tech tour that bridges visual art, video games and IRL prizes. All of this, BTW, is available for free. – PW

Lumen: Lighting for strange times

At Townsite Market's Crucible Gallery March 5 to April 10. This stained glass was made by Feather Mills. See works by David Molyneaux, Bob Mackle and guests (likely seven artists will show new works.) Thursdays to Saturdays 5 to 9 pm, Sundays noon to 5 pm.

Challenge to Choose: Art Response to Gender Inequality and Bias

In Celebration and Support of Women, The Art Centre Public Gallery will be presenting a multi-disciplinary, online and in person exhibition this Spring, starting with an online film screening of The Least We Can Do and panel talk. This talk will open the exhibition at 1 pm, March 8 in conjunction with International Women's Day. A diverse and tentacular series of evolving events will follow; films, talks, and activities from March until May. Details will be announced following updated Public Health Orders and posted on powellriverartscouncil.ca website and social media pages. Exhibition Info: The Art Centre Public Gallery will also be exhibiting works by local and non-local artists, with submissions currently open at powellriverartscouncil.ca/calls We are currently accepting works for the physical gallery and online gallery. (See more on Page 38)

How to be a Humanist Tidal Art Gallery's new artist in residence, Brigitte Potter-Mael, opens her first show March 5 to 22. It kicks off with a celebration of Rosa Luxembourg's 150th birthday, honouring her herbarium. Brigitte will be collaborating with Powell River artist Donna Lytle early in her residency. See Tidal's Facebook page for opening hours and more details. * This image above, Challenge to Choose/Choose to Challenge, describes tentacular methods of thought, where many ideas flow in many directions; creating a metaphor between the human hand and the octopus's tentacles. The text can be read in both directions, a play on words, showing how our language affects our thinking. – by Laurance Playford-Beaudet

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Festival of Performing Arts and Festival of Youth

These annual concerts normally draw thousands of viwers; this year they're going ahead, but online. The Grand Concert for the Festival of Performing Arts will be available mid-March as a video (the regular festival was in late February). Watch for notice for the video release at www.events.solarislive.com/prfestival. The Festival of Youth is four concerts, March

16 and 17: a collaboration between all local schools. For a Zoom link, watch the PRL Facebook page this month. Local youth are shockingly talented, including dancer Georgia Malamas, 14, who will be performing tap, lyrical, hiphop and many other styles of dance, and Jaid Kirzakow who will be playing the Prelude in C minor by Bach and also a Nocturne in C# minor by Chopin.

Side Quest outdoor augmented reality mural game BY CATNIP

When Colours Bleed Amber Friedman shows fabric art at Tidal Art Gallery March 26 to April 9. "Looking at humans as colours, seeing all of the energy and emotions we are in constant exchange with others, a colourful mélange between the sorts," she explains. "Noticing how we store emotions and words in little compartments inside ourselves, never to come out. This exhibition is an artistic visual experience of both when colours bleed, and when they don’t." With guest artists Annie Robinson, Julie Briscoe, Olo Friedman, Nettle Friedman and Oriah Briscoe.

Starting this March, Powell River will be getting a taste of a new holographic world. With the use of a simple augmented reality app, a few new Catnip murals will become activated for use in a community treasure hunt, titled Side Quest. With “Artivive” (see right) you will be able to bring the wall art alive and activate a whole new type of multimedia experience. Find clues and unlock secret achievements, and potentially, earn cryptocurrency and Catnip art prizes for discovering hidden elements. There will be three stages to this game, the first will take place on the Willingdon Beach Free Wall

Chyler

brow + lash technician junior stylist Insta @afterglowbychyler

on March 3, be on your toes as that wall gets painted over often and once it's gone it's gone! The second and third stages will be revealed as we play, throughout the month of March. Keep updated on the “Heads Up Display” and Map, found by scanning the black and white head graphic with the Artivive app. Any questions, contact lookupcatnip@gmail.com The idea of this activity is to give you something to do while we are cooped up for another month. Lockdown has been hard on everyone, so this is an opportunity to get out, have a walk, and experience a little story about the freedom we still have, while enjoying the beautiful part of the world we are in.

Instructions for viewing Catnip's Side Quest • Download the Artivive App available on iOS and Android, it is basically just a camera app. • Open app and point at scannable image. Look for the little black and white cartoon head symbol on the poster, let it load. Best viewed without sharp shadows or light glares. • View AR hologram, there will be animations, sounds, and imagery that pop out from the murals. Follow clues in the hologram to the next chapter. Be sure to look around for the hidden unlockables, scannable objects that aren’t too obvious. • Take a clip of what you find and send it to @lookupcatnip on social media for a chance to win BTC (Bitcoin) and other prizes. • That's it! Once you get all that working, you are ready to play. Watch the catnip Facebook and Instagram pages for updates. Happy adventuring!

Brow lamination now available Book with them today at afterglowhairlounge.com or by calling (604) 485-2075

Monique

nail, lash + waxing technician

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www.afterglowhairlounge.com Powell River Living • March 2021 •

TAKE A BREAK Improve health care in Powell River. Donate to the Powell River Hospital Foundation. 604 485-3211 ext 4349 | 5000 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, V8A 5R3

www.prhospitalfoundation.com

Lund Water Taxi 604-483-9749 Daily runs to Savary Island • Charters serving Savary Island & surrounding areas, including Sunshine Coast Trail • Phone for reservations • Phone hours 8 am – 5 pm

Ceremonial medicine for hardship

eremony is a way that humans have honoured change, healed wounds, marked time, and recognized significant personal, communal, and global happenings for most of our existence. Everything from rites of passage to plantings and harvests to solstices and equinoxes, with both grand and beautifully elaborate planning and very simple, quiet, in-the-moment acts. This month, much of our global community will be either consciously or subconsciously processing the year anniversary of the first COVID lockdowns and restrictions. Depending on our personal experience, we might meet this knowing with deep grief, frustration, confusion, or with a sense of blessing, relief, even joy. Many of us may be looking for something meaningful to do or a way to help ourselves continue on through these times.

"Taking a physical approach to tending to our deeper selves helps us feel that we are 'doing something.'”

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My offer to you, is to create and step into ceremony. Whether the need is to honour our resilience, transmute our heart’s pain, send our prayers to where they need to go, or as a healing balm for our spirit, the structure of ceremony remains relatively the same and can be tailored to fit your means, preference, beliefs, and lifestyle. Clear Intention: Getting clear on What your ceremony is tending to or addressing and Why you are doing it. Preparation: Gathering any needed items such as firewood, herbs, candles, blessed water, libations, offerings, crystals, pens and paper etc. Preparing our body with cleansing rituals or ceremonial wear. Clear-

Contact Sean Percy before September 1 to get your free listing in Powell River Living’s ZEST magazine.

sean@prliving.ca or 604-485-0003

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• March 2021 • prliving.ca

Juliette Woods offers card readings, shamanic sessions, medicine gatherings, and immersion programs online and in-person. Find her at 3FoldBalance.com and ReturnToReverence.ca

This space available to non-profit organizations, courtesy City Transfer

Weeks aft this Spr er a pionee

•

ing and setting sacred space to work in. The method/process/actions: These are the physical components to the non physical work being done. Invocations, blessings, prayers, or commitment statements either spoken or written, anointing self or items with oils or waters, gestures or sigils drawn, energy transferring through breath, channeling, or other means, making eco-friendly offerings, paper or item burning, or other physical ways of acknowledging the ceremony's intention. This is the “meat” of your ceremony, a part that really needs to resonate with you as authentic and meaningful. It may be as simple as holding a glass of water to your heart before drinking it or as elaborate as a full healing fire ceremony with libations and ancestral working. Closing: Ways of specifying the ceremony is complete. Thanking helping guides, releasing sacred space, removing ritual wear and tidying up. Be it simple or grand, the act of recognizing what you have survived, honouring what or who has been lost, taking time to process the complexities of living through a pandemic or any challenge, and taking a physical approach to tending to our deeper selves help us feel that we are “doing something” when we might feel helpless, connected to something greater while living isolated, and bring reverence to parts of life that feel perhaps too big or too uncomfortable to handle.

Visit the exhibition beginning March 8 (until May) Challenge to Choose: Art Response to Gender Inequality and Bias See the “Challenge to Choose” image by Laurance Playford-Beaudet Watch the “Shadow Puppet” 6-minute video by Carol Sawyer Find out more at powellriverartscouncil.ca

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POWELL RIVER | SUNSHINE COAST | VANCOUVER

310-CITY (2489)

Check out our new neighbours!

TAKE A BREAK

A Thought For The Day 1

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Holy Cross Cemetery

Under the trees south of town on Nassichuk Road

Plots available

For information, call Wendy Larkin 604-485-9268

Across 3) Adams, or bears 5) Of immunity, cows or elephants 6) Exchange to get less in your eyes 7) Go fast, or go nowhere video 8) Group car alternative 10) Easter symbol 12) Art director, Wildwood road 15) Tradesperson, or jedi, in training 17) Years of COVID 19) Local bears 20) Fest with strings attached 22) Buys & sells, sealed skills jobs 24) Water source; garden time 26) Augmented reality muralist 27) Mountain survey in late March 29) Plant starters 30) Not your normal coronavirus 31) French sugar 32) H&R & Bydan’s expertise 33) Affected by moon current; gallery 36) T&R’s bottom line 37) Instruction and training

WINE

Down 1) Overdue costs, or gravel dust 2) We’re all in this 4) COVID McLean 5) Thunder Bay’s saw brand 7) Beer, swing and now bus 9) Light measure; Crucible show 11) Daily visits through this at Evergreen 13) Kidney saver 14) Broadway, Carol, Ontario 16) Popsicles love it 18) Vitally important folk 21) Slow development, egg-sitting 23) Pressure, tension, strain 25) Safety clothes (acronym) 28) DQ dessert, or make lumber last 32) Colleen’s art award 34) Popular in apple & not in school 35) Blind activist Braak 36) Carpenter, or truck

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Powell River Living • March 2021 •

Plenty to be glad about, even now

• March 2021 • prliving.ca

arlier this year I was mighty grumpy when it be- nice neighbours for about a month during the cold came necessary to replace my washing machine. prairie winter. It was about 250’ from their back door That old machine had been intended to out live to ours and we soon learned to always remember lids me and the money needed for the new one, I had en- for the buckets so we wouldn’t break our necks or legs visioned spending on another adventure out of town. slipping on the stairs made icy from spilled water. Well…COVID was already under way when the We also learned to walk only the pathway made new machine arrived so, while by the dogs visiting from the washer went about its one house to the other. If we business, out of town advenmiss-stepped off the hard tures were instead to become packed path, we would end daydreams. I was able to travup floundering, up to our el further and more often with thighs, waist or armpits in LYNN MCCANN my daydreams! snow (depending on which A few moments ago the new, fancy machine an- family member it was), trying not to spill the precious nounced it had finished its job by playing a happy, up- water. lifting tune (the old made its announcement with an We learned how to make a little water go a long irritating ‘BZZZZZZZ’). This started me off on a phil- way and never wasted a drop! We were very glad osophical trail! An in-town adventure of the mind, if and grateful when the new pump arrived and was you will! installed! What a perfect way to end each of our chores, with Although we are living within the constrictions of a joyful tune! It brought to mind one of my all-time the coronavirus, I am glad that we live in a place that favourite movies, “Pollyanna” (played by a young Ha- is not too hot nor too cold, it's just right! Glad that ley Mills.) In that movie, Pollyanna, an orphaned little girl who went to live with her rich, perfectly proper and joyless aunt, loved to play the ‘Glad Game.’ In the ‘Glad Game,’ you search yourself to find something in every situation, no matter how dour, to be glad about. Today my ‘Glad Game’ brought to mind how glad I was that I had a nice new machine to efficiently do my laundry without spewing water out all over the floor! Then I thought of my Mom, going home exhausted, after working in the mill during the war, and having to wash her overalls and other laundry on the scrub board when all she wanted to do was fall into bed. What joy it was for her when she was able to replace the scrub board with a wringer washer! All kinds of thoughts tumbled about in my mind. How lucky I am to have a dryer to toss the clean, wet clothes into instead of timing the laundry chores for only sunny days when the clothes needed to be hung out to dry. I remembered one time, out in Alberta, freezing my fingers while hanging the we live within such beauty. Glad that, if we want to wash out on the line at 15 ‘below’. I did escape our four walls, we have many choices of outit because Mom often talked about having door venues to enjoy without worry. Glad that we live to stand the sheets and long johns etc, up in a time that gives us the opportunity to ‘Facetime’ against the wall of the living room after or phone our family and friends when we cannot be they freeze dried outside and I wanted to physically together. Glad that this time of restriction know what that was like. The experience will not last forever. left a lot to be desired and I was very, very Glad that when the restrictions are lifted, we will glad that I lived in more modern times come together joyfully, appreciating each other all the and never needed to suffer with fro- more because of the enforced separation. Glad that zen fingers every winter wash day as we have a God who loves us and who is with us every so many did long ago. step of the way. I remembered when the pump for Like Pollyanna, find time to play the ‘Glad Game’ our well went kaput and we needed to and… like my new washer, sing a joyful song as you carry buckets of water from the very complete each chore!

LAST WORD

"I thought of my Mom, going home exhausted after working in the mill during the war, and having to wash her overalls and other laundry on the scrub board when all she wanted to do was fall into bed."

Wood stove exchange Program

2021

Receive up to $550 when replacing your old wood stove

$550 to replace your non-EPA certified wood stove with a heatpump

$550 to replace your non-EPA certified wood stove with a gas, propane or electric stove

$400 to replace your nonEPA certified wood stove with a new EPA-Certified wood stove

Pre-aPProval required

The qathet Regional District is working to replace old smoky wood stoves that contribute particulate matter into the air with cleaner burning, more efficient models. Please contact Let’s Talk Trash to find out more information about program requirements. Call 604.485.2260, email info@letstalktrash.ca or visit qathet.ca to learn more. Additional rebates can be applied for through Efficiency BC.

Powell River Living • March 2021 •

2020 2% Realty President’s Platinum Club award winner!

SUNNY DAWN KOSTELNIK Owner/Realtor® 27+ Years in Real Estate

604-414-7372

sunny.dawn@2percentrealty.ca

KAIT MELVIN

Owner /Realtor®

604-578-0755

kait.melvin@2percentrealty.ca

KRYSTYNA NESSMAN Licensed Realtor®

604-223-7527

krystyna.nessman@2percentrealty.ca

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JAMIE HARDIE

Unlicensed Assistant

* Soon to be a licensed realtor

604-483-8135

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BOB KOSTELNIK Owner

867-333-9242

bob.kostelnik@2percentrealty.ca

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2 PERCENT REALTY Sunshine Coast Inc. #102-4400 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC • March 2021 • prliving.ca

Powell River Living March 2021