West Vancouver Beacon | July/August 2022 | Edition 51 by The Beacon

THE No. 51

BEACON Shedding light on the communities from Lions Bay to Dundarave

July/August 2022

Thinking of hiking?

COMMUNITY BUTCHER

VOLUNTEER HONOURED

IT’S GRAD TIME

CAPTAIN KETTLE

BIRD FRIENDLY PLACE

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Photo: courtesy of Landon Steele

Hiker Hudson Altman-Steele.

ur community provides spectacular hiking trails. Try Lighthouse Park for a network of easy trails winding through old growth forest to the rocky coastline, converging on the lighthouse. Enjoy views across the waters of Burrard Inlet to downtown Vancouver. Cypress Falls offers a short trail that starts in Caulfeild and leads to an impressive set of waterfalls. Hike a bit farther to an even larger waterfall plunging into a deep canyon. Black Mountain Trail provides a great taste of alpine hiking. It parallels the ski slope on Black Mountain, rising steeply through forested terrain and providing peekaboo views of Howe Sound. Continue past sparkling Cabin Lake to Eagle Bluffs for great views of Vancouver and Mount Baker. For information on the difficulty, length and conditions of these and dozens of other local trails, visit vancouvertrails.com/regions/the-north-shore/.

We are grateful to live and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples.

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July/August 2022

LINDY PFEIL OPINION TEAM

Chris Stringer Publisher

chrisstringer @westvanbeacon.ca

Lindy Pfeil Editor

lindypfeil @westvanbeacon.ca

Penny Mitchell Advertising

pennymitchell @westvanbeacon.ca

Melissa Baker Creative Director

melissabaker @westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all contributing writers for The Beacon retain full rights and that the full or partial reproduction of feature articles is unauthorized without the consent of the author. Personal opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed are solely those of the respective contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Beacon, the publisher or the editorial and creative staff.

Submissions for The Beacon The Beacon is delivered bi-monthly to 5000+ households between Lions Bay and Dundarave. For submission guidelines and queries, please e-mail the Editor: lindypfeil@ westvanbeacon.ca Please note that all submissions are subject to space constraints and editing. For advertising queries, please e-mail the Director of Marketing: pennymitchell@westvanbeacon.ca For all other queries, please e-mail the Publisher: chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca All editions of The Beacon (beginning in September 2013), can also be read online at: www.westvanbeacon.ca.

What I’ll be doing this summer

he start of summer is always bittersweet because it means saying goodbye to my high school students. Over the past five months, we have talked about dreams and fears, good and evil, free will and destiny, love and narcissism, truth and despair. They have shared their stories of exclusion, feeling unheard, and crushing sadness. And their stories of hope, love, and belonging. They are so wise. They understand that our life views start forming the day we are born. Our opinions and beliefs are shaped by our families, our cultures, and our experiences. And regardless of what has befallen us, we are always more than the sum of our privilege, our challenges, our successes, and our mistakes. When they speak a different opinion to one that has just been spoken, they do so with respect, acknowledging that this is their truth, for now. That someone else’s truth – on the other end of the spectrum – is no less valid than their own. And that they can, and likely will, at some point, change their mind. Because that is the nature of being human. And curious. And having the strength of character to change. Recently, we were talking about assumptions. Those little judgements we make subconsciously - and oftentimes instantaneously. It’s easy to fall into the assumption trap. It’s a by-product of having a brain wired to make split-second decisions to keep us safe. This was helpful when we encountered di-

nosaurs or warring tribes. Assuming they meant us harm, kept us alive. Today, the sound of a honking horn as we’re about to cross the road, fulfils the same function. We can assume danger is heading our way. And take the necessary action to avoid it. But it gets messy when it comes to people. Our brains make rapid decisions based on our past experiences. People who have disappointed us. The media. Social media. Someone’s clothing, voice or demeanour can trigger an assumption that is simply not accurate. We talked about assumptions that had been made about us. Assumptions we’d

• Do you hide your feelings? •H ave you ever been rejected by the people you most don’t want to lose? •D o you sometimes feel that a place does not belong to you? •H ave you ever felt that someone did not believe you, even when you were telling them the truth? We tried these questions out on our last day together, with groups of students and teachers who did not know each other. We partnered up and used the questions to make assumptions (basically guesses) about each other. There were surprises and ahas all round. Not just about others. But about ourselves. Why do we make the assumptions we do? The questions showed us how little we really know about the people who cross our path. How little we can ever know, unless we start a conversation. A real conversation. They bring to light our shared humanity, and create empathy. I’m going to miss these students. How could I not? But I plan to keep them close by, taking their questions with me into summer. And when my label-making brain next rushes to make an assumption, I’ll take a breath, and remind myself that, like Socrates, “I know nothing.” May you have a wonderful summer, filled with love, laughter, new experiences and a cartload of shattered assumptions. Let me know how it goes.

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” - Henry Winkler made about others. And what, in this process, had got lost. While our brain is trying desperately to put someone in a box, label them “safe” or “best avoided,” what are we not asking? Not opening ourselves up to? What questions, I asked the students, might give us some new insight? Greater understanding of one another? Here are some of their responses: • Do you feel as though you have lost yourself? • Have you ever had your heart broken? • Do you sometimes put on a happy face when you actually feel completely broken inside?

If you are not receiving home delivery of The Beacon please let us know at chrisstringer@westvanbeacon.ca

July/August 2022

PAGE 3

Lions Bay, bird friendly designation announcement came from Nature Canada on May 10. It was official. We were! What is a Bird Friendly City? The desesidents of Lions Bay see many birds ignation is awarded to communities that at close range in their yards and meet criteria aimed at reducing threats to take great joy in watching them. But birds, protecting/restoring habitat, and there are three billion fewer birds in North outreach to bring about changes that help America today than 50 years ago, mostly bird populations stay strong or recover. due to human activities. Which is why, in Reasons for the loss of so many birds May 2021, a group of Lions Bay residents include light pollution, window and vedecided to create awareness of the issues hicle strikes, outdoor cats, pesticides, roimpacting birds in the hope of making denticides, and tree work/vegetation our village safer for them. management during the nesting The first goal was to purseason when baby birds in sue Nature Canada’s Bird hidden nests are unable Friendly City certificato escape danger or are tion. When we began, abandoned by parents there were no criteria scared by the noise for tiny towns, but a and proximity of hunew category for mumans. nicipalities of 15,000 This is why educaresidents or less was tion is a pillar of the launched in October programme. Our hope 2021. Our application is, that by involving was submitted at the residents in a fun, inforend of March once we bemative way, highlighting lieved we’d qualify. Then we the dangers birds face, and waited! identifying simple steps we can Lions Bay has a long history of Little Ines made each take to be more Bird Friendly, actively supporting conservation we will make Lions Bay a safer place a bird mask. efforts both in the village and in for our birds. and around Howe Sound. We were neverWe invited other groups to join us in our theless blown away by the enthusiastic sup- May event. In all, eight groups participated: port from the community as we ramped up Bear Smart (Lions Bay is one of only ten Bear for our first Bird Friendly community event Smart communities in BC), the Átl’ka7tsem/ to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative, May 14 (a mandatory requirement for Bird the Native Plant Garden/ Butterflyway ProjFriendly Cities). ect, the Trailblazers, the Seniors Social CirBut would we also be able to celebrate cle, the village’s scholarship committee, and being the first small town in Canada to earn Wild Birds Unlimited in North Vancouver. Bird Friendly City status at our event? The The West Vancouver Foundation provided BY

Penny Nelson

a Neighbourhood Small Grant. Several activities were offered beginning with a build-a-birdhouse session, led by local author Rod Baker, and bird-oriented art projects for kids. They also dissected owl pellets! Accompanying parents were treated to fresh baked goodies and organic Bird Friendly coffee. Next up was a family-friendly hike to see our eaglets in their nest followed by BBQ burgers and a walk to the Native Plant Garden to learn about the cultural uses of indigenous plants from Tiffany Brunke of Squamish Environment Society’s Bird Friendly City project. Another fun moment was the announcement of the village’s favourite bird after a two-week voting period. No surprise there – the much-loved Anna’s Hummingbird

Harry, Riley and Katrina dissecting an owl pellet.

won with 23% of the vote. This is just the beginning of an ongoing initiative and next year we’ll celebrate birds and all the other important “Bs” again – bears, biodiversity, berry bushes, and butterflies. We’ll be adding bats and bees in 2023. For more information, visit lionsbaybirdfriendly.ca.

Photos: courtesy of Danielle Wills Feeding time for the eaglets in May. Sadly, during the following week both eaglets died for unknown reasons.

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July/August 2022

Welcome to Isetta BY

Chris Stringer

emember chef Peter Weiser’s La Toque Blanche at Cypress Park from the 1980s? Since then, the little community complex on Marine Drive has served as a drop-in sandwich counter, a last-minute grocery pick-up and the original friendly full-service neighbourhood gas station where high school students found part-time work. With its mid-century modern architecture, the complex has been a reminder, for those of us that still remember, of community life here in the ‘50s. Well, check it out now. A gathering place for breakfast and lunch, or cappuccino and a muffin, as well as happy hour with wine, is now on your doorstep. Isetta café and bistro opened in May, so its inside-outside benefits can be enjoyed throughout summer. It’s spacious but homey, with couches, easy chairs for sipping and

reading, and bistro tables for eggs benny, Two Rivers burgers, carbonara or NY steaks. Happy Hour, with a menu that includes oysters or poutine, is on from 1 to 5 pm. Hovering is welcomed on the open patios in the front or the back where neighbours meet and welcome wayfarers. Wander out yourself with your barista crafted café au lait and take a Beacon with you. Rescued from the grasp of developers several years ago by the property’s owner (who prefers to remain private), Cypress Park centre prevails, and we are ever grateful. And if you’re wondering about the name, Isetta is a little two-seater car, a 1950s collaboration between the Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the German automobile maker, BMW. Check it out on site when you drop by.

Isetta at Cypress Park.

IAN MACPHERSON

“M

Photos provided

PSYCHED OUT

Unmasking our partners

oody Marty” his wife, Elvira calls him as she constantly tries to change his ways with helpful advice and criticism. But Marty, who has always avoided conflict, denies that there is anything wrong with him believing it must be Elvira with the problem. Marco’s stonewalling stance is not that uncommon especially among men. It leads to marital relationships marked by frustration and longing for greater intimacy. Psychologists now know that accessing

and sharing our more vulnerable feelings is the door to self awareness and relationship success. The masking of our vulnerability - which we all have - depends greatly on the emotional culture we grew up with. Some families are uncomfortable with certain feelings and we learn as children to avoid or suppress them, especially if we are male. Sometimes we inherit taboos and shame. Marty was one of the more guarded types because trauma originating in his family

played a part in his emotional shut-down. He learned to be emotionally dismissive and carried this style into his marriage to El. Criticism and attempts to control the emotionally withdrawn partner tend to worsen the disconnect. El’s pressuring was really a veiled expression of her own desperation, but she was gradually learning that there is no such thing as constructive criticism. With help, Elvira as a typical “pursuer” found it easier than did Marty to assert her own emotional needs more gently.

The emotionally-masked Marty then began to feel safer to take the risk of lowering his mask and sharing his hidden self with El. Those who experience this kind of demasking start experiencing a “culture of appreciation” instead of the judgement, disappointment and withdrawal that previously defined their relationship. Ian Macpherson is a psychologist who lives and practices in Caulfeild. More at www.westvancouvertherapist.com.

July/August 2022

PAGE 5

Peter Black, community activist BY

Chris Stringer

rom 1964 to 2013 the name Peter Black was synonymous with West Vancouver community butcher. The original shop was opened and operated by Peter Black, Jr. and his dad, Peter Black, Sr. on Marine Drive at 15th Street. Peter Sr. retired in the early ‘80s when the store re-located to the newly expanded Park Royal Shopping Centre. It opened as Peter Black and Sons. Located near the entrance and outside the supermarket, the store captured attention through its location, and its bigger-than-life owner. Peter’s profile, stature and voice commanded the space. Wife, Helen, was an integral part of the team and later, son Adam joined them. “We represented three generations of Black butchers,” Peter says, clearly proud of his Scottish heritage. Peter enjoys relating the history of the Black family of butchers. “When I was a wee boy living in Troon Scotland, my mom and dad decided that a move to Canada would be in the best interests of the family, as Britain was still recovering from the effects of the war.” He intersperses his dad’s

broad Scottish accent with a characteristic grin. “Dad was an experienced master butcher and he felt confident that he could continue to ply his trade in the new world. We sailed to Montreal with the planned destination of Vancouver to continue the oceanside life we were accustomed to in Troon.” The Blacks arrived in Vancouver in April 1948, and within weeks Peter Black found a location and opened the Kerrisdale Meat Market. The three Black kids worked in the store, sweeping sawdust, serving customers, and carrying in sides of beef. Peter Jr. was keen to learn and served his apprenticeship for seven years, initially while still at high school. After 16 years in Kerrisdale the Blacks moved to West Vancouver as the Peter Black Meat Market. It was here that Peter Black, Jr. developed the family business and built his legacy as a community leader. Sunset Beach was the Black family home for over 60 years and Peter was active in the community from the time he was a young man. West Vancouver Citizen of the Year in 2002, Peter was recognized for his range of community service. Together with Richard Goluboff, he was

founder and charter member of the Ambleside Tiddly Cove Lions Club and he served three terms as president of the Park Royal Merchants’ Association. Community causes and fund-raisers were readily supported by Black’s. We are delighted to welcome Peter to our Beacon team, to write about his community passions. Helen, the haggis and Peter in 2005.

Ambleside Meat Market circa 1965.

BRIAN POMFRET

Photos provided

JOE GARDENER

Summer is finally here With summer on our doorstep, gardens should be full of colour and fragrance. Here are some points to think about:

can be planted now for fall harvest such as beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, Swiss chard, and spinach.

• Water plants wisely by watering deeply in the morning only and make sure those hanging baskets are watered daily.

• When delphiniums fade, cut them to the ground to get a second flush.

• A two-inch layer of mulch (I like composted bark mulch) is great around flowering shrubs to hold in moisture after watering. Don’t dig in though as this robs nitrogen. • It’s a good idea to keep lawn at about 2.5 inches to protect it from the heat of the sun. I don’t recommend fertilizing in July or August. • Many fast-growing vegetables such as lettuce, radish, and arugula should be replanted regularly to ensure continuous harvest. There are other vegetables that

• Pinch back those annuals almost daily and flowering shrubs, especially roses, which you prune back to the next leaf bud on the stem. Roses could also use an addition of well-rotted steer manure dug into the first inch or two of soil. Fertilize with rose food after each bloom flush. • L ate in August it’s time to snip off the flowering stems of lavender. Don’t cut back foliage just yet—that happens in late winter. • If you’re growing raspberries, cut the last fruiting stems to the ground and tie the newest canes to a support.

• Keep feeding your flower containers with fish fertilizer every two weeks for continued flowering.

• Prune back wisteria now to three buds on the main stems. They get pruned later in mid winter.

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May Loudon honoured for volunteerism BY

Daphne Hales

e often say ,“What a good idea!” or “Wouldn’t it be great if ---?” But how many of us actually follow through and make things happen? One person who has followed through time and

Photo: courtesy of Hilary Blair Mayor Mary-Ann Booth presenting May with the WV District Certificate of Recognition, at May’s house on June 5.

again is May Loudon. On May 17, she received the highest honour in the country for volunteer service. At a lovely ceremony at the Girl Guides’ Phyl Munday Nature House in Lighthouse Park, family and friends cheered as Mayor Mary-Ann Booth presented May with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. This medal is granted by the Governor General for exceptional dedication to community service. May’s dedication is combined with initiative, gentle persuasion, kindness, and quiet good humour. It’s no wonder she gets things done. May’s gifts showed themselves early, as she and her husband Ian bravely set off for Canada the day after their wedding in Scotland in 1953. A few years later they settled in West Vancouver with their young family. They joined the West Vancouver Presbyterian Church in the 1950s when it met in the old Dundarave Hall and she has been a steady helper in the church ever since. By 1968 May found herself volunteering to be Brown Owl so that her

Photo: Daphne Hales May outside the Municipal Hall after attending the council meeting on May 30.

daughters could join the young Girl Guides. Being involved with Brownies led to trips to Lighthouse Park and teaching the girls Scottish country dancing. Later it was May’s idea to use one of the wartime buildings in the park (now the Phyl Munday Nature House) for the Girl Guides’ nature programme and for the opening of the nature room to the public on Sunday afternoons. May and Ian joined the Gleneagles Scottish Country Dance Club, where May completed her teaching certificates and where she founded and led, for 28 years, a demonstration team which performed for seniors, at nursing homes, and at community days and festivals. In 1998 May was instrumental in founding the Lighthouse Park Preservation Society and for many years was a director.

May says she has enjoyed everything she has done; she has also benefited so many people and has brought so much joy to this community. In recognition of her many contributions, Mayor Mary-Ann Booth presented her with the District’s Certificate of Recognition on May 30.

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July/August 2022 ROSE LEPIN

PAGE 7

TALKATIVE TEEN

A grad year to remember

s a high school student, it has at times felt as if the COVID pandemic has taken more than just two years of life. With only five years in high school, this is a time to create memories and grow exponentially as a human, readying yourself to go out into the world and make of life whatever you wish for it. For the classes of 2020 and 2021, what was arguably the most important year of high school was a disappointing and anticlimactic trip. As they navigated the quarter system with the rest of their peers, they remained unsure of what the next year would hold. Their five years of hard work and dedication

Photo provided Rose with WVSS Vice-Principal, Crystal Tanfara, just after receiving her diploma and gold cord.

ended with a video call or a walk across the empty Kay Meek Grosvenor stage. After two years of virtual graduations and socially distanced passing of diplomas, the class of 2022 has been taking full advantage of their freedom. Rockridge, Sentinel, and West Vancouver Secondary have spent the past ten months celebrating with boat cruises, semiformals, banquets, and commencement ceremonies. Rockridge and West Vancouver Secondary students received their diplomas at the Orpheum theatre, the home of the VSO, in late May. The two schools also used the same venue for their formal grad banquets: the Westin Bayshore. Sentinel was the last of the three to celebrate their major grad events, hosting their June banquet at the Vancouver Convention Centre and commencement ceremony at Westside Church. In my experience as a grade 12 student at West Vancouver Secondary School, the energy and excitement this year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster. We commenced the year with a gradewide assembly informing us of the events that it appeared we were able to do in the year: clubs were back, the cafeteria was reopened, and our library no longer required signing in. Quarters had become semesters,

and with no hybrid classes, this made for more reasonable block-lengths. Gone were the days of three-hour lessons! It felt as if we were living in a whole new world. Rose and frien ds outside the In December, a group of parents orWestin Baysho re on banquet ni ganized a boat cruise for WVSS, and we ght. danced out two years of pent-up energy. To our great Shortly after, the Omicron variant began to luck, they all happened! rise, so as we returned from winter break it I believe I can speak for the entire class felt, in some ways, reminiscent of the year of 2022 when I say that we feel blessed bebefore. Luckily it passed quickly, and we yond measure to be able to celebrate the were soon told the date of our semi-formal way we are. The classes of 2020 and 2021 and banquet and began to plan (and shop) have been in our thoughts through it all. for all the exciting things on our agenda. Happy graduation, SD45 Class of 2022!

Photo: courtesy of Suzanne Fulton The WVSS Graduate Vocal Ensemble, moments before Rose led the audience in ‘O Canada’ to commence the ceremony.

The Beacon team would like to congratulate Rose on her graduation. Rose has been writing for the Beacon since 2018. We are so grateful for her contributions, not just to our newspaper, but to the community. Her energy, passion and optimism make her a force to behold. We wish her all the best as she heads off to do a Bachelor of Media Studies at UBC. We will miss you Rose!

MICHAEL BERTON

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Interest rates continue to rise

am sure you have noticed that gas, food, and lumber prices are up. Even Netflix fees have risen! A sure sign that long dormant inflation has revived, and not just here but around the world. Caught a little off guard, central banks are now responding. They are resorting to their inflation playbooks by raising interest rates in an attempt to slow these expansionary trends. They have further hinted that they are pre-

pared to continue to increase these rates until price stability returns to the economy. Here in our corner of West Vancouver, we can expect to feel the effects of the bank policy as a cooling in the real estate market. While detached homes will remain in demand, there will likely be fewer buyers that can, or will want to, qualify for financing at the new higher rates. Whether this will burst the much-touted real estate bubble or not re-

mains to be seen. An increasing interest rate environment encourages each of us to review the borrowing (leverage) we currently have on hand. For example, if you have a variable rate mortgage, your monthly payments will increase. It may be a time to consider stabilizing family cash flow by locking in a longer-term rate. You may choose to pay off some debts altogether. If you or your adult children are planning to buy a

first home, you might have to rethink your budget for the first few years as rising mortgage rates will change how much you can borrow. If you were planning to borrow for a major renovation or purchase, it may make sense to reconsider your timing. Michael Berton, CFP® is a retired personal financial planner. mberton@shaw.ca

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July/August 2022

DAVID ROBERTS

Captain Frank and Mary Jane Kettle

f all the worthies who have inhabited the village of Caulfeild, the most intriguing has to be Captain Frank Kettle. Information about him is contradictory. I have only come across one person, still living, who ever met him: John Butterfield, a retired lawyer, who grew up in Caulfeild and used to go to children’s parties thrown by Frank and Mary Jane Kettle. His description of the couple coincides with everybody else’s. They were a gregarious, friendly couple who involved themselves deeply in neighbourhood events. Frank Kettle was a short, lively man with bright blue eyes and a sharp wit. Butterfield

Captain Kettle.

says that his mother would listen to Kettle’s endless stories about his seafaring days, but she was never sure if he was telling the truth or just romancing. He put it about that he had sailed under Captain Richard Woodget on two voyages to Australia as the second mate of the Cutty Sark, the legendary clipper ship, now in dry dock at Greenwich. My research has disclosed two things about the good captain. Firstly, Frank Kettle is not his real name. He was, in fact James H. Hamilton. Indeed, he wrote a book which, though under the name “Capt. Kettle” has James H. Hamilton following it. It was published in Vancouver in 1932. In the foreword

Photo: courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

Kettle says, “In the course of many years’ close association with things maritime in British Columbia, both in a practical way and as a journalist…” The practical way he refers to, is the 10 years he ran the pilotage in Caulfeild. But journalist? What, I wonder, was that about? Who did he write for? The second myth, that I deeply regret having to explode, is Kettle’s boast about having been the second mate of the Cutty Sark. I consulted the staff at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. It holds the crew lists of the Cutty Sark. Captain Woodget served from 1885 to 1895. There is no record of a Kettle or a Hamilton serving as a member of that clipper’s crew. They sent me the list of second mates: no Kettle, no Hamilton. Because of his reputation as a romancer, the mystery of his name and the absence of it from the Cutty Sark crew lists, one must treat information about him, most of which

Red & White store circa 1934.

originated with him, with some caution, if only on the principle that when the clock strikes thirteen it puts in doubt all that has gone before. The book he wrote is Western Shores: Narratives of the Pacific Coast. It is a collection of some sixteen stories about incidents and enterprises in the waters of BC including a history of the Hudson Bay steamship, the SS Beaver. The book is well worth reading, surprisingly literate and interesting. It can be found in West Vancouver Memorial Library. Photo p Kettle was born in Cardiff in r Captain Ke 1861 and went to sea as a cabin St Franc ttle is in t boy in the barque, Croften Hall. He spent some 38 years at sea, eventually owning and captaining three ships of his own: Crystal Spring, Willie Clark and Bessie Clark, mostly trading in wool. He rounded Cape Horn eight times, was six times ship-

Photo: courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

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COMMUNITY PERSONALITY

wrecked, broke one leg once and the other twice and was three times down with yellow fever. He met his wife, Mary Jane, in Bermuda and took her to sea with him. She would often take the wheel, lashed to it in foul weather. She was born in Buckinghamshire in 1865. Long-time resident of Caulfeild, Poppie McKenzie, describes her thus: “Mrs. Kettle was a short, dumpy woman, round of figure with rosy round cheeks in a pockrovided e carvin marked face. Comfortable would g in the Wo be the word for her. She plied the od. young with milk and cookies and was a favorite port of call for all of us.” Of the Captain she said: “The Captain was short, too. His outstanding feature was his piercing blue eyes – sailor’s eyes? with which he fixed you as he yarned. Almost every sentence ended with ‘Look – see’ while he prodded you in the ribs with a stiff forefinger. How much of this yarning was fact and how much fiction, no one could be

sure of, but it was colorful.” Kettle came to Caulfeild in 1909 to take over the administration of the pilotage from Tom Grafton, who had been appointed lighthouse keeper at Pt. Atkinson. The Kettles also ran and lived in the Red and White

Caulfeild over the years. They built homes on at least four. The Kettles were clearly very popular in Caulfeild and appear to have been at the centre of activity in the little village. It was Mary Kettle who picked out the site for St. Francis -in-the-Wood Church, persuaded Francis Caulfeild to donate the land and helped organize the collection of money for its construction. The captain was one of the first churchwardens when it was consecrated in 1928. Mary Kettle died in 1942. She slipped off the rocks while feeding seagulls, fell into the sea and broke her hip. A few years later, on February 21, 1947, at the age of 85, Captain Kettle died, leaving behind his famous collection of models of old clipper ships that he had built over the years, including one of the Cutty Sark itself.

“Almost every sentence ended with ‘Look – see’ while he prodded you in the ribs with a stiff forefinger.” store by the path down to the cove. The pilotage closed in 1920. The pilots moved out of the pilot house. The Kettles sold the store to the Hodges and themselves moved into the pilot house. Its foundations can still be seen on the rock by the memorial anchor. Francis Caulfeild bequeathed the tenancy of the pilot house to the Kettles for their lifetimes. Mary Kettle planted a kitchen garden and maintained a chicken run beside the pilot house. Visitors to their home often left with a dozen eggs pressed on them by Mary Kettle. She was quite an entrepreneur. She bought and sold no less than seven lots in

Pilot House circa 1932. Photo: courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

Captain and Mrs. Kettle in 1927.

PETTIT

Photo: courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library Digital Collection

Photo: courtesy of West Vancouver Archives

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July/August 2022

Madison Mailey: Citizen of Distinction BY

Brenda Broughton

hen Madison Mailey received an invitation to an award ceremony in Lions Bay on April 28, she thought it was to celebrate the villagers who give so much to the community. Instead, she was honoured with the 2022 Village of Lions Bay Citizen of Distinction Award. It bears the inscription: Years of perseverance and dedication resulting in an Olympic gold medal and capturing the Villagers’ hearts. “I was shocked and felt so fulfilled to be recognized by my hometown,” she says. “It was wonderful to hear my mum reflect on the 2021 Lions Bay Olympic Rally and to

an isolating experience. Seeing that it was more than my parents and close friends cheering for me made me understand the gravity of the situation. It was more than just me and my teammates. It was for something much bigger. It was about having the great honour of wearing the maple leaf and representing our incredible country on the world stage.” Madison is an inspirational keynote speaker and continues her love of rowing, while keeping strong connections with her Olympic teammates and maintaining a very active lifestyle. “It is not about winning. It is about showing up every day – being part of a group of women who have a dream and doing everything in our power to have that dream come true.”

Madison Mailey, Olympic Gold Medal winner in the Women’s Eight Rowing at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics held in 2021. Photo: courtesy of Row2k

thank the community for cheering on the Canadian Women’s Eight Rowing team.” Madison continues: “I remember the night before my repechage, which was a make-or-break moment, to see if our Olympic team would be competing for the podium. I was transported through a website, ‘Go Madison Go,’ where the Lions Bay community showed their support for me and my teammates.” “Due to the Olympics having no spectators, being in the Olympic Village was quite

Photo: courtesy of Madison Mailey Madison Mailey with proud parents Victoria Rogers and Kim Mailey.

Brenda Broughton served five terms as the mayor of The Village of Lions Bay. Brenda has lived in the Village since 1974.

When a community comes together BY

Lindy Pfeil

n April 3, the West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association (WVMHA) received an email from a Ukrainian mother of a young hockey player and an infant son asking for assistance. She was trying to escape her war-torn country and bring her family to safety in Canada. “The email touched our hearts,” says Tom Oberti, president of WVMHA. After verifying the family’s identity and

contacting community organisations to confirm government protocols and procedures, a commitment was made to support them for a year. Translators were hired and a partnership with a local foundation was organized to raise funds. WVMHA families donated everything from baby items to language training, and temporary accommodation. The family’s hometown is embroiled in the conflict. “We are horrified to see what is happening in Ukraine, and we are happy to help at least one family in a tangible way,” continues Tom. “The fact that there is

a hockey connection makes it all the more compelling.” The family arrived on May 14, under the federal government’s Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, which grants temporary residency to displaced Ukrainians. The effects of the war are noticeable. “It’s clear that they’ve suffered trauma and they are extremely grateful to be here,” says Tom. The family is settling in. Mom is studying English and the young player managed to hit the ice a few times at West Vancouver Arena before the ice was taken out in June. He fin-

ished the school year in a West Vancouver elementary school. “The school district was exceptionally accommodating,” says Tom. “Yet another example of the community spirit that we have in West Van.” For those wishing to help, charitable donations can be made at www.wvmha.ca/ ukraine/. WVMHA is looking to assist some of this young player’s teammates in coming to Canada. For information about the CUAET programme, visit the Government of Canada website or contact impactnorthshore.ca.

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July/August 2022 SUE DES LAURIERS

PAGE 11

WINE TASTING, SUE’S WAY

Not every wine is a win

ou might think that the wine review business is glamorous and glorious. Here we are in Tofino on Cox Bay, in a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills situation. It’s sunny with the sounds of the surf in the background. We’re sitting around a fire pit, sipping wine. How bad can it be? Well, for any review process to work, you must try new things to see if you enjoy them. Inevitably, you’ll find some that aren’t to your liking. So, I am sorry to report that our first two attempts ended in abject failure. It wasn’t just us who ended up spitting out the wine. We had invited some of our fellow guests at the beach to join us in our tasting. Their wine also ended up on the beach grasses. I won’t name the two VQA wines we had, other than to tell you they were both varietal whites, one from the Okanagan and one from Vancouver Island. The Okanagan pinot grigio was all smoke. Not medium or heavy

toast oak from a French or American barrel type smoke but forest fire or maybe zombie apocalypse smoke. Into the wind it went. The second was a pinot gris from Vancouver Island. Minerals play a part in many wines depending on the conditions in which the grapes are grown. They can often make a wine more interesting and complex, especially those grown in cooler climates. Unless you are a one trick pony. Pinot gris is my favourite white especially during the summer. Paired with grilled fish and chicken or cream sauced pastas, it’s a match made in heaven for this apple/pear and melon wonder. This one had no fruit or exotic spices, just the heavy minerals you might taste by licking heavy machinery. Into the Pacific breeze it went too. Our saviour came from down under: Marlborough in New Zealand. The Ned 2021 sauvignon blanc is an excellent example of this varietal that originally hails from

Bordeaux in France. Our newfound friends sat down again after sipping this beauty from the South Island. Their faith restored by this crisp tropical tinged citrusy wonder, they decided we were worthy and offered us some VQA redemption. Joie, aka Joie Farm Winery, is a gift to all wine lovers. Our new friends (Air Canada pilots and spouses) pulled out a bottle of “A Noble Blend” 2020 vintage. A traditional Alsace-style Edelzwicker blend, it is a refined tropical fruit bomb that transports you to the Okanagan at the peak of summer. Gazing at the Pacific, we were united in our BC pride. We live in the most beautiful place on earth and are blessed with abundance. While you may not like every wine, we have an abundance of choice and there is something for everyone. Go forth and experiment! Rinse and repeat.

Now this is living It’s not everyday you come across the perfect place to live. A place where refined comfort, convenience and stunning natural surroundings elevate the everyday. Westerleigh PARC’s location is coveted for good reason. Just blocks from the ocean and mountains, and at the centre of a warm and vibrant neighbourhood, it’s the perfect place to call home.

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12 ANNE BAIRD

July/August 2022

ANNE’S CORNER

The Necklace

wear it every day. From the moment I get up, till I go to bed at night. It’s a simple chain of small, hollow gold beads that belonged to my mother, Ruth, who died in West Van in 1988. After her funeral, I had to return to L.A. My brother, Jim, and I, were having a final visit at the house she’d lived in with Dad for so many years. We turned over knick-knacks uncovering labels she’d stuck on every piece, designating who was to receive it. How like her to have the last word! I collected my loot. Jim offered me a worn, leather jewelry case. “Mum missed this. But it’s hers. Would you like it?” Of course! Anything belonging to Mum was precious. Among the few small pieces in the box was the gold chain. I was drawn to it though I didn’t wear it right away. But gradually, over the years, I

“The place where neighbours meet”

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found myself wearing it more and more, till I wore little else. I felt comforted and encouraged when it hung around my neck. When I touched it, I sensed Mum’s dauntless spirit. The chain goes with anything I’m wearing: workout leggings, my Aqua Fit bathing suit, a party dress or suitable church outfit. It has begun to attract attention, especially from my Persian and Asian friends in the pool. These women love and know jewelry! They finger it, study it, and speculate about whether it’s 14, 20 or 24 karat gold. One offered to bite it gently to assess its quality. They ask why I wear it all the time. When I tell them it’s because of my mum, and that it makes me feel close to her, they nod, satisfied. They understand about loss and family attachment. And then something unexpected happened. A woman I didn’t know approached me in the ladies’ dressing room at the pool. I was racing in from the showers, dressing

quickly to join friends for coffee. “Do you know the provenance of your beads?” “No,” I said. “Just my mother.” “I know,” she said. “It comes from Sarawak. The beads were created by Dyak craftsmen. They lived in big longhouses along the rivers. They loved gold but couldn’t afford solid, gold beads. So they made hollow ones. Like yours.” “What?” I cried in disbelief. “Do you know where I come from?” “No.”

“Sarawak. I was born in Sarawak, 85 years ago.” “My goodness,” she said, “I never would have guessed. We must talk when you have time.” And we will! I must find out how she knows this this. I have since discovered, through Google, that it’s true: Sarawak beads are famous! Especially in Malaysia. They were used as currency. As money. They‘re said to protect the strong souls who wear them. No wonder I don’t want to take them off.

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W W W. C AU L F E I L D V I L L AG E S H O P P I N G C E N T R E . CO M

July/August 2022

PAGE 13

CHRIS ADSHEAD

LOOKING BACK

Horseshoe Bay’s waterfront hotels

t was a brilliant summer morning in 1956. Despite the fact it was Peggy’s fifteenth birthday she was getting ready to work in one of the Horseshoe Bay Hotel’s Cabanas, where she sold jumbo ice cream sandwiches, hot dogs, pop and snacks to the day trippers and visitors in the village. She watched a family heading out in their small boat and contemplated the familiar view up Howe Sound. Thinking about a recent history lesson, where the teacher had told them that the only constant in life is change, she pondered how 50 years ago, little of what she saw around her now had existed. Well, the view of the mountains and sea would have been the same, but now there was so much more happening in the village. There were rental boats, the annual fishing derby, Black Ball Ferry’s dock on the bay’s eastern edge and some new buildings. She lingered, wondering what Horseshoe Bay would look like in another 50 or 60 years. Since the early 1900s Horseshoe Bay has been a popular summer getaway. As access to the area improved, more people came, and many stayed and made the village their home. In 1931 Dan Sewell bought waterfront property and established Whytecliff Lodge on the western edge of the bay. Prior to that, the Horseshoe Bay Hotel was built during the 1910-1917 period. It was located on the waterfront, in the centre of the park. To its east was a low concrete building which now forms the lower level of the Lookout. In 1952, Annie and Claude Barttoff bought the lease for the hotel from the

District of West Vancouver (DWV). The four rooms upstairs were not rented during the Barttoff ’s ownership, as the family lived there. Like many businesses in the village, they operated from May to September. As the hotel was not a year-round money maker, Claude managed the St. Alice Hotel in North Vancouver, leaving Annie to run the Horseshoe Bay Hotel. During the season, the restaurant did good trade and offered a popular Sunday tea, with guests dressing up for the occasion. They were especially busy each year when the Salmon Derby took place. This event brought hundreds of people to the village, many trying their luck at winning valuable prizes. The Horseshoe Bay Hotel was demolished by DWV in 1961 and the site was used for parking. In 1985, in preparation for Expo ’86, the park and the village commercial area were remodeled. On a brilliant summer morning in 2022, Peggy stands on Bay Street contemplating the familiar view up Howe Sound. To her left the sun reflects off the windows of the new Sewell’s development. Over the previous five years she has watched it sprout from the ground, but still cannot believe how big it is - a far cry from the old Whytecliff Lodge which burned down in 1954. In front of her, the park is surrounded by security fencing, as work proceeds. The playground is gone, along with the memorial benches. Despite the loss of her grandchildren’s favourite water park whale, she is eager to see the park finished. She lingers, wondering what Horseshoe Bay will look like in another 50 or 60 years.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whytecliff Lodge burns in 1954.

Horseshoe Bay Hotel Cabanas, circa 1952.

604 926 1886 Exp. August 2022 - with coupon only

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Photo: courtesy of West Van Archives 013.WVA

Photo: courtesy of Jeanette Keller

PAGE

July/August 2022

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July/August 2022 225 Mountain Drive, Lions Bay

PAGE 15

350 Bayview Road, Lions Bay

$2,500,000

55 Tidewater Way, Lions Bay

$4,295,000

$4,188,000

This 3 bdrm + loft / 3 bthrm / 2901 SF West Coast residence boasts sweeping views of Howe Sound from every level. Perched on a spectacular, private half acre forested mountain estate, the home features an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, open staircases, skylights and large picture windows that flood the home with natural light. The master enjoys ocean views, a custom walk-in closet, ensuite and sauna.

This extraordinary custom-built 4 bdrm + office / 5 bthrm / 5,935 SF residence sets a new standard in luxurious living with not a single detail overlooked or expense spared. Breathtaking panoramic ocean and mountain views and beautiful viewing decks are enjoyed from all principal rooms and an abundance of natural light floods the home through large picturesque windows and high ceilings on all 3 levels.

This stunning 4 bdrm / 5 bthrm / 4395 SF custom Kelvin Grove residence boasts incredible ocean views and reflects the owner’s spare no expense approach. Highlights include a massive deck spanning the length of the main floor, 3 large ensuited bedrooms with private balconies, an exquisite Japanese Zen garden, an entertainer’s kitchen, a theater room and a sound proof music room.

1265 Brantwood Road, Edgemont

290 Kelvin Grove Way, Lions Bay

2077 Haywood Avenue, Ambleside

$3,349,000 Custom built with love by the current owners, this impressive 4 bdrm / 2 bthrm / 4103 SF craftsman style home ticks all the boxes! Main level boasts dramatic high ceilings, 2 offices, gourmet kitchen & spacious dining & living room with French doors to the balcony. Upstairs offers 3 bdrms & 2 bthrms including an oversized master suite. Above ground lower level features a 4th bdrm, bthrm, rec & media room.

$2,500,000 This beautifully renovated 7 bdrm / 5 bthrm / 5528 SF Kelvin Grove home boasts incredible panoramic views on all 3 levels. Hidden below the street for maximum privacy, this home reveals its magnificence the moment you step inside. 3 bdrms up; an impressive main floor with a 1000+ SF sundeck; TWO spacious 2 bdrm suites. Lots of updates, a detached garage and a separate studio.

$2,998,000 This classic, early 20th century 5 bdrm / 3 bthrm / 3272 SF character home has been lovingly updated over the years while maintaining its original charm. The three story layout is great for families with the possibility of using the lower level for extended family. Enjoy the privacy offered by the mature landscaping surrounding the property. A gorgeous property and a fantastic house in an unbeatable location.

Your Realtor for Life.

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In the 13 years that I’ve helped my clients buy and sell homes here, I’ve always felt that I’m not just selling a home, I’m selling a lifestyle. When I move someone into a new home, the process doesn’t end with me handing them the keys; I’m involved in connecting them with their new community - my community. I was fortunate to grow up in Eagle Harbour and my husband, in Horseshoe Bay. Our son and daughter learn in the same classrooms that we did at Gleneagles - it doesn’t get more local than that. Since childhood I’ve been familiar with the trails, parks and beaches that my family enjoys today. I feel very fortunate to have fashioned a successful career doing what I love to do in this beautiful area I call home and I would love to help your family buy or sell the West Coast dream… because I believe it is. Cheers,

PAGE

July/August 2022

have had the pleasure of working with Franco Diligenti in a number “of We real estate transactions over the years—he has always been pleasant, attentive and sensitive to our needs, conscientious, and even at times innovative, ever striving to create a satisfactory buying or selling conclusion. We would highly recommend him for any real estate transaction. - Bob and Sue Clarke

”

“I give you my personal assurance that when it comes to the business of your present or future home, open houses, or private showings you will never deal with an assistant or third party associate. In short, I will always be there to help you with the details and decisions that are so critical to the purchase and sale of your home.” - Franco

604.842.2668 franco@francodiligenti.com francodiligenti.com Macdonald Realty Ltd. This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement.