Issuu

THE No. 34

BEACON Shedding light on the communities from Lions Bay to West Bay

May/June 2019

“Spring Sunset” photo by Ian McBeath from his home overlooking Eagle Harbour.

8-9

Art Walk

Dragonflies

Community Personality

Travel

Schools

IN THIS ISSUE 3

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TEAM

Chris Stringer

Who wants to live forever? Opinion

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 West Bay. 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.

May/June 2019

Lindy Pfeil

y midlife crisis started ten years ago. During that time there have been career changes, oodles of glitter (a story for another time), a couple of tears, some hysterical laughter and many hot flashes. There was even a pilgrimage. Through it all, the knot in my stomach persisted– a reminder of everything I had not accomplished. Of course, that fed my Catholic guilt just splendidly. I live in a beautiful place, have outstanding friends, a family that loves me, near-perfect health and firstworld luxuries some would kill for. How dare I not be satisfied? I’m not alone though. Millions of us are apparently searching for meaning. Just walk through the self-help section of any bookstore. Or ask Google. There are those who say it’s the curse of privilege– of not having to evade tigers while roaming the aisles at Safeway, or crocodiles while bathing. Life is comfortable and predictable. Is there any way then, that this simmering dissatisfaction can be changed? Because I thought it might yield some kind of answer, I enrolled in a master’s degree in psychology. I read Frankl and Yalom. Jung and Freud. Erikson and Maslow. The list is long. Two years into my studies, still no wiser, the time came to decide on a research project. I was burrowing down the rabbit holes of storytelling, reminiscence and nar-

rative therapy when I stumbled across Guided Autobiography (GAB). GAB was developed by gerontology pioneer, Dr. James Birren, in the mid ‘70s. It has been used widely over the past forty years to help people document their life stories. It does this by guiding them through turning points and life themes such as family, career, death and spirituality. Each week, participants meet in small groups and read aloud their two-page, theme-based autobiographical stories.

At the time of my GAB discovery, I had just completed the third draft of my second book – entirely composed of autobiographical stories. (My little crisis had taught me that filling every second of every day with busyness made it easier to ignore the gnawing in my stomach.) I had even found a literary agent in New York who saw potential. I was, of course, excited, but I knew something was missing in my story. I wondered if Dr. Birren’s process could help me identify

what it was. I joined a GAB group. For research. And myself. The first thing any GAB facilitator will tell you is that GAB is not therapy. It is, however, undeniably therapeutic. Precisely because it doesn’t seek to ‘fix.’ I started seeing my life with new eyes. And each story I heard from the other remarkable human beings in my group, triggered memories I’d forgotten I’d forgotten. Scene by higgledypiggledy scene, the mosaic of my life’s cracks and colours shifted. And that’s when I found the binding thread for my manuscript - the big question I’d been avoiding. On the page. In life. I started rewriting my book. Again. I had also found my research project. I’ll not bore you with the details. The gist is that it examines how writing our autobiographical stories affects our sense of meaning and satisfaction with life. The first data analyses have just been completed and the outcomes are astonishing. Can it possibly be this easy? Can the simple act of sharing our stories affect our lives so significantly? Khalil Gibran once said, “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction, is to live twice.” GAB – and writing my story –gave me a new perspective. When I look back now, I am somewhat surprised to see, in the words of a rather famous book, that “it was good.” So go write your story. It’s easier than you think. Take it one scene at a time. Include the twists. The detours. The ordinary. The unplanned. The forgotten. The tears. The laughter. Always the laughter. Then read it with awe. It’s your life. You’ve earned the right to live it twice.

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

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PAGE 3

SCHOOLS

Masterworks at Island Pacific School BY

J ennifer Henrichsen

an a 14-year-old be expected to conduct a public presentation similar to a TED talk? Island Pacific School students have been doing so for over 20 years through a program called Masterworks. Our middle school curriculum recognizes the importance of independent study. Self-selected, self-directed, and self-presented, this year long Masterworks independent study project is compulsory for every Grade 9 student and marks a significant academic achievement at IPS.

Masterworks projects include big, guiding questions such as, “Flying in Tune: Bridging the Gap Between Computers & Humans” and “Fruit of the Forbidden Tree: Power, Morality and Personal Choice” or “Growing North: Food Security in the Arctic.” The project requires that students produce work that surpasses their previous accomplishments. They conduct in-depth research to write a 20 to 40-page paper, then communicate their understanding to the general public in an oral presentation that also serves as a defense of their scholarly and creative pursuits. Students are mentored through the process by expert advisors—leaders in their respective fields—who act as external advisors. Working collaboratively with IPS faculty, advisory com-

mittees guide Grade 9s through the Masterworks process that puts students at the centre of their learning and provides a foundation for academic achievement. In past years, students have made documentary and animated films, created original works of art, written extensive research papers, written and published a novella, and built an actual boat. These activities and projects reflect the uniqueness and interests of our individual students. We love the diversity of projects the students come up with and, while each project is unique, what is common is that a highly focused level of scholarship, academic inquiry, and creativity underpin original questions asked by our students about the world

Photo: courtesy of Island Pacific School Fiona M. presents her 2018 Masterworks on A Promising Future for Cancer Treatment.

in which they live. This diversity is reflected in our middle school curriculum. Island Pacific School is an independent IB World middle school on Bowen Island serving Bowen, the North Shore and beyond. See past Masterworks presentations at www.youtube. com/user/islandpacificschool

Student strike for climate action BY

Mia Jakobsen Rockridge Secondary Student

global student strike for climate action - also known as “Fridays for Future” took place on Friday March 15, 2019. More than 55 cities across Canada were involved, according to the organizer of the Vancouver event, Sustainabiliteens. This was the first global school walkout to demand action on climate change. Hundreds of students in Vancouver, myself included, strode out of class and gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. The basis of this worldwide movement was to protest the lack

of climate change action taken by leaders. The rally at the art gallery was followed by a march throughout the streets of downtown. Chants like, “What do we want? Climate action! When do we want it? Now!” filled the streets. Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who was recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, was the inspiration behind this event. Thunberg started the first school strike for climate in August 2018, outside the Swedish parliament building. She argued that with our planet’s climate worsening each year, the point of children going to school starts to be pointless. Since her first stand, Thunberg has inspired thousands of pupils across the globe to participate in climate strikes for the

sake of our home. The crowd was made up of students, adults and children, many carrying pro-climate signs. While most signs held messages like, “The climate is changing! Why aren’t we?” I carried a sign with a Captain Marvel quote saying, “Let’s rewrite some history, shall we?” Besides being a big Marvel fan, I decided to go with that quote because it reminds me that fictional heroes like Thor or Iron Man don’t exist in our world. We only have ourselves. We can’t just sit back and hope that the world will miraculously mend. We have to do something. We have to take a stand. We can, will and have to become the superheroes of our world. We are the superheroes of this generation and generations to come.

Photo provided Mia and Lucy outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

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May/June 2019

Humpbacks return to Howe Sound BY

Bob Turner

assiopeia. Glacier. Yogi. Last October I spent two weeks with three humpback whales near Bowen Island, my home. Humpback whales have been visiting Atl’ka7tsum –Howe Sound since 2008, after a hundred years of absence. Ever since we stopped harpooning them in the 1960s, hump-

back whales have been reclaiming their old territory along the BC coast. Previously I had caught glimpses of humpbacks, even breeches. But last October I was with them just about every day for two weeks, and what I learned changed me. It’s a gift that a place as wild as Atl’ka7tsum– Howe Sound exists next door to Vancouver’s 2.5 million people. So for the past five years I have been making short movies about its wild

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places and our wild neighbours, hoping to encourage more of us to protect this jewel. It is the return of whales - humpbacks, greys and orcas - that makes us believe that the waters of Atl’ka7tsum –Howe Sound are in recovery after decades of industrial pollution. So last October I was on a mission – be with the whales. I lucked on a remarkable two weeks. From shore and kayak, I watched their graceful backs roll, often ending with a dive, flukes in the air. Sometimes they broke up through the surface with their mouths open wide as they fed on schools of anchovy. One night as I looked through my video footage I saw details on a whale’s tail. I knew that experts identify whales based on unique fluke patterns. So I sent a picture to the BC Cetacean Sightings Network and the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS). To my amazement I got a prompt reply: Cassiopeia, at least 10 years old, and recorded from the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound to northeast Vancouver Island. So, I sent more pictures. I talked to Jackie Hildering of MERS. A second whale was Glacier, named for the frosting of white on its black tail. And a third whale was Yogi,

Photo provided One of the humpbacks who have started returning to Howe Sound.

known to MERS since 2006 and sighted from southern Vancouver Island to the mid Coast, and, in the winter, Hawaii. Jackie told me that Yogi is presumed to be a male given it has never been seen with a calf. So my ocean is changed. These magnificent beings are not just whales, they are individuals. And I am still thinking through just what that means to me. Bob Turner is a retired federal geoscientist, former mayor of Bowen Island, and amateur filmmaker. His recent movie “The Return of Humpbacks” is available on his YouTube channel “Bob Turner, Howe Sound.”

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When not travelling overseas with his wife, Dave can be found playing cribbage with the group he started at the Westerleigh. The game has been a favourite in Dave’s family for generations, and next on his list is to challenge other PARC residences to a championship! “We’ve made long-lasting friendships with other Westerleigh travellers.” That’s how it is at Westerleigh PARC: it’s easy to keep up old interests, with new friends. And with PARC Retirement Living’s focus on maintaining a healthy body and mind through our Independent Living+ program, it’s easy to see how life’s just better here.

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May/June 2019

PAGE 5

I’d like to be under the sea Chris Stringer

’d like to be under the sea in Howe Sound, now that it is cleaner, clearer, and safer. The other place I’d like to be is in an Aquatica submarine in the Caribbean. Illuminating presentations on both places were made recently at the West Vancouver Yacht Club. First, West Vancouver resource management scientist, Dr. Rob Falls, took the audience on an historical journey of Howe Sound that began centuries ago, when it was the pristine home to abundant forms of sea and wild life. This ended when copper ore, zinc and cadmium were discovered in massive reserves in 1890. The Sound, being deep enough for large container vessels, made it a suitable place for lumber and pulp/paper

production and export. For decades, tonnes of heavy metals, acids, sulphates, organochlorines and other chemicals were discharged into the environment. Recovery began in 1974 when the copper mine closed and restoration costs of $100 million were incurred. In 1988 one pulp mill underwent a $1.4 billion upgrade making it one of the cleanest pulp mills in the world. The other mill closed in 2006. Citizen groups helped the restoration process and gradually marine life returned: shell fish and anchovies; salmon to creeks and rivers. Dolphins and porpoises are now regular residents and the many sightings of humpback and killer whales are all encouraging signs of recovery. Dr. Falls cautioned, however, that we still have much work ahead, as stewards of this treasured environment, to ensure improvements are sustained. The next presentation was by Aquatica Submarines’ gifted chief pilot, Erika Bergman. She provided the Caribbean experience - viewed underwater from an Aquatica

Photo: courtesy of Gaelin Rosenwaks Aquatica chief pilot, Erica Bergman, second from left, with the Expedition team and Sir Richard Branson.

submersible. The audience was taken on her recent historic expedition to the Great Blue Hole located 40 miles off the coast of Belize City in Lighthouse Reef. It is the largest sea sinkhole in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mission’s objective was to discover new truths about the mysterious Blue Hole. The data collected will give insights into historic ocean events and provide Belize government scientists with a baseline which they can use to protect the atoll for years to come. The Hole is approximately 1050 feet wide and 400 feet deep. It was formed during episodes of glaciation when sea levels were considerably lower. The exploration team measured the terraces and layers built up in the hole and could see that the sea level rise can happen dramatically. Since the last glacial maximum that ended about 14,000 years ago the sea level has continued to rise

for centuries, followed by a settled period lasting several thousand years. Using sonar scanning, the team was virtually able to complete a 3-D map of the entire hole. The expedition made 22 dives between November 27 and December 13, 2018. Erika piloted the submarine with two prominent passengers: oceanographic explorer and conservationist, Fabien Cousteau, who is Jacques Cousteau’s grandson, and Sir Richard Branson of Ocean Unite/Virgin Unite. “Our greatest joy is seeing the look on peoples’ faces as they descend under the surface of the water for the first time to see the life that abounds just outside our daily routine,” Erika says of the experience. “Exploration changes a person’s perspective, and at Aquatica we intend to keep the spirit of exploration alive with our mission of taking the world underwater.”

Photo: courtesy of Thomas Bodhi Wade The Great Blue Hole off Belize in the Caribbean with the Expedition base ship RV Brooks McCall.

ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL

Masterworks Presentations Join us June 10-13, 2019

Join us on Bowen Island to see grade 9 students publicly present and defend their year long Masterworks independent study projects. .

islandpacific.org/masterworks

edited Independent Schools

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May/June 2019

TRAVEL

The scent of Corsica BY

Johann van Rooyen

orsicans claim they can smell the island from far away out at sea, a belief shared by the island’s favourite son, Napoleon Bonaparte, when he was in exile in Elba. This unique aroma of Corsica derives from the scent of maquis, an assortment of the wild-growing mint, rosemary, cistus, sage and lavender that cover the island. The smell of maquis was ever-present during our visit to the sun-drenched southern coast of Corsica, an area surrounded by azure seas, golden beaches, white limestone cliffs and historic villages. We soon discovered that maquis also forms an integral part of the local culinary scene, along with chestnuts, fresh seafood, herb-crusted fragrant cheeses and olive oil made from 1000-yearold olive trees. The local charcuterie is made from semi-wild black pigs living off acorns, maquis and juniper. A major part of the

pigs’ diet is chestnuts, but for this they have to compete with the local bakeries’ fondness for using chestnut flower, and also the breweries, whose famous Pietra beer is made from chestnuts. Corsica’s full-bodied and fruity wines originate in nine zones such as Vins de Corse and Porto-Vecchio, where we were based, and is produced from three local grapes – Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu and Vermentinu. My wife and I started our journey in the fortified medieval city of Bonifacio, precariously situated on top of crumbling limestone cliffs. With a distinct Genoese history, the city is dominated by the imposing Bastion de l’Etendard, and its quaint port is surrounded by lively cafes and bars. A steep 70-meter staircase leads to a more interesting upper town, with outstanding views and a maze of medieval cobblestone streets. Dedicated charcuterie stores sell cured Prisuttu and Salamu; others sell wine, dried figs, honey and cheeses. A few stores only sell knives, including the famous Corsican

Photo provided

The medieval city of Bonifacio.

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SLEEP QUIZ

Corsican red wine. Photo provided

Vendetta dagger, the weapon of choice for centuries of feuding Corsican clans and of multi-generational vendettas. The second week of our trip focused on the beaches outside the former Genoese town of Porto-Vecchio, the latter with its own historic center and many good restaurants serving regional specialties like pan-seared red mullet and spit-roasted goat kid (Cabri Roti), as well as dishes with a nod to its Italians roots, such as wild boar lasagna. The coast to the east of Bonifacio consists of wide bays, beaches, granite rocks and shades of blue sea water surrounded by pine trees. We stayed in a self-catering villa in Santa Giulia and enjoyed daily walks and swims. Each late-afternoon focused on our back patio with its private wood-fired barbecue, stacked with twigs of dried rosemary, overlooking the Mediterranean. Ten days will never be enough to fully experience the fourth largest island in the Med, but it helped that we focused on the relatively small region in the south. We rented a car

and v i s i ted beaches and sites which we would not otherwise have seen – while the main roads were fine, veering off on small roads to the coast was a real challenge, with blind corners, unfinished surfaces and impatient drivers in equal measure. Getting to southern Corsica was easy, with a choice of ferry connections from Nice and Marseille, Livorno and Sardinia, and direct flights from the mainland on Air France and Air Corsica. Johann van Rooyen’s fourth book is titled Residency and Citizenship for Investors 2018: Investment Migration Options for Emigrants, Expatriates and Global Citizens. His website is https://www.residencycitizenship4investors. com

Photo provided

The view of Santa Giulia from the villa.

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May/June 2019

PAGE 7

BRIAN POMFRET

JOE GARDENER

Getting our gardens ready for summer May: Perennials will be showing considerable life now. • If your daffodils are faded by now you can dig them up, heel them in elsewhere in your garden to die back completely. Add a little fish fertilizer. • Great time to plant dahlia tubers and insert a stake beside them. • Watch out for aphids on shrubs especially roses and rub off or apply insecticidal soap. • Start seeding winter crops of cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbages and try planting asparagus!

• Mow that lawn frequently now to 2.5” and try leaving the cuttings as a natural source of nitrogen. You can prune off any shrubs and trees that have finished flowering. June will reveal the rewards from earlier garden preparation with annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees in bloom at this time. • This is the month for roses! They like a full six hours of sun and, if cared for, will give little trouble. When planting, work in a well-rotted bit of steer manure and if an existing rose, work in top inch with the stuff. Keep them just moist (peat

moss helps) and water only at the bottom, not on the foliage. They are hungry feeders so apply organic fertilizer regularly according to directions. •H anging baskets have to be watered frequently and maybe have a slow release fertilizer on top like Osmocote for continuous flowering. •L ots of dead heading to be done. Spent rhododendron and camellia blossoms can be put under the canopy with a covering of topdressing soil. Good mulch. • I f you have apple trees try removing about 1/3 of the immature fruit to

encourage larger apples and prevent overloading of branches. • Plant out tomatoes and remember to nip off side shoots to redirect energy. • Prune off those perennials to encourage continued blooming. • Maybe move house plants outside to a shady spot for their summer holiday.

SHARE YOUR VISION FOR HORSESHOE BAY

We’re launching a process to create a new Local Area Plan (LAP) for Horseshoe Bay and we want to hear from you. Through the LAP process, the community will consider land use, built form, scale and character of new development, public space improvements and amenities to shape a neighbourhood-level plan for the future. Come tell us your vision for Horseshoe Bay at an Imagine HSB visioning workshop! There will be live illustration of your ideas, a digital model of the bay, a timeline taking you through the community’s past and inviting you to imagine its future, and other family-friendly visioning activities!

IMAGINE HSB VISIONING WORKSHOPS

Wednesday, May 29 · 6–8 p.m. · Gleneagles Clubhouse, 6190 Marine Drive Tuesday, June 4 · 5–7 p.m. · Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary, School Gym, 6350 Marine Drive Saturday, June 8 · 10 a.m.–12 p.m. · Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary, School Gym, 6350 Marine Drive Don’t wait! Registration is required because space is limited. Find out more and register at westvancouverITE.ca/plan-hsb.

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May/June 2019

COMMUNITY PERSONALITY

A providential life reaches its 105th milestone Chris Stringer

hen asked about the major influence in his life, Peter Katsuno’s sombre response is, “It was war.” He was born Motonobu Katsuno in Pontiac, Washington to Japanese immigrant parents, three months before the breakout of World War 1. As a young man he was active in the Japanese-US conflict during the Pacific War and later, as a businessman in Japan, as an ally to the US during the Korean war. The

Peter’s 105th birthday celebration on April 17.

aftermath shaped Peter’s life. He was named Peter after a close family friend in Washington who went to Japan as a Christian missionary. Peter chose to study foreign trade at the School of Commerce at Northwestern University in Chicago. Of the 1000 graduating students in 1938 only a few found employment due to the lingering effects of the Great Depression so Peter decided to visit his grandparents in Japan to determine whether opportunities there would be better. While visiting university friends in Tokyo he stayed at a boarding house where the landlady taught him to write his resume with a brush on rice paper. She advised him that this would distinguish his resume from those written in pen. This would prove to be wise

Photo provided

counsel. Peter was referred to the VP of the Nissan plant, Shotaro Otake. In those days Nissan built trucks for the Japanese army. Recognizing that Peter’s degree was in foreign trade, Shotaro sent him to a personal friend, Mitsuji Oda, who ran an import-export company, Asano Bussan. “I’m convinced to this day that the hand-written resume and my perseverance so impressed both businessmen I was hired as a trainee in the import/export department in April 1941.” In December 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The supply of American oil Japan relied on was cut off so the country had to seek other sources such as China and Indonesia. Asano Bussan received the assignment to find and purchase new oil supplies and Peter was thrust into gaining on-the-job experience in international trade, an invaluable benefit as his business career developed. US citizen Peter Katsuno was drafted into the Japanese army in 1943 at age 29. His job, along with others, was to de-code American communications. In July,1945 Peter was sent to South Korea as US troops were planning to land. A month later, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima bringing an abrupt end to the Japanese-American conflict. General Douglas MacArthur, then Supreme Commander over Japan, declared that high ranking officials in government, military and business would be “purged” from their duties. Upon receiving his discharge Peter discovered that work at Asano or Nissan were not options. Mr. Oda and Mr. Otake had been “purged.” “What appeared to be the end of the line for me turned out, two years later, to be the

PETTIT

opportunity that would make my life,” Peter says. In 1947 the fired Nissan and Asano executives formed a trading company, Tokyo Sales Inc. Peter was hired to promote the sales of Japanese manufactured materials internationally. In 1950 the Korean war broke out and Tokyo Sales Inc. became the major sales representative for railway cars, weapons and support materials for the US Army. After the hostilities these contacts with Japanese suppliers became valuable sources for the commercial business that otherwise would have taken years to establish. It marked the beginning of a long and successful business career, one that would see Peter rise to high executive levels in international companies on both sides of the Pacific. Work was Peter’s life; nevertheless he found time to fall in love. In 1948, he married Photo p Canadian Marie Kawamoto. December 2 The two had met in Yokohama while Marie was working for the American military. North Shore News columnist, Laura Anderson, wrote about Marie Kawamoto in 2014. She has kindly permitted the Beacon to include her story here:

AND COMPANY* TRIAL LAWYERS

May/June 2019

‘Marie was born in Vancouver in 1923. Her family lived behind the great walls on the grounds of the Great Northern Cannery where her mother worked on the canning line, her father was an independent fisherman. When Marie graduated from West Van High she joined her mother on the cannery line and continued to study Japanese. Then came December 1941 and Pearl Harbor. “We were among the last evacuees, sent by train to Hope and then by truck up the mountain to Tashme.” For the four years of internment, Marie helped teach the children in the camp. When the B.C. Security Commission registered a school at Tashme, Marie was able to earn her teaching credentials at New Denver. For Japanese Canadians, war’s end in 1945 brought release from the internment camps but not freedom. “We were ready to go home,” says Marie, “but that was not to be. Our family chose to return to Japan. We went by troop ship, quarprovided tered way down in the hold, 26th, 1948. but my father was a man of the sea, and I could rock and roll on any boat. Though we found desolation in Japan, I was young and when you’re young, you’re kind of adventurous. I decided to make the best of things.” Marie’s skill as a stenographer led to work

with the US Military. That their children, having one Canadian parent, were able to become citizens in Canada, was a bright spot in their lives.’

“

They maintained close ties with their family in Tokyo whom they visited frequently. Visits from children and grandchildren kept them invigorated as they took excursions together across Washington and B.C. as well as a Katsuno family cruise to Alaska. In 2010, Marie and Peter decided that Hollyburn House would provide them with peace of mind and the care that they would need in their ensuing years. Says Peter, “From the time we moved in we felt at home here. We quickly developed wonderful friendships and the staff are friendly and accommo-

“What appeared to be the end of the line for me turned out, two years later, to be the opportunity that would make my life.” Managing Director, Peter Katsuno, built Tokyo Sales Inc. over 25 years, into an international trading company that represented the burgeoning Japanese companies whose reputation had evolved from manufacturing products of questionable quality to the technologically sound, reliable, high-quality products we know today. In 1973 Teledyne Inc., the multi-national industrial conglomerate with headquarters in Los Angeles, approached Peter to open its operations in Japan, which he did. He operated the company as its Vice President until retirement in 1992. During two years of retirement living in Japan, Peter and Marie enjoyed their time with the family and growing grandchildren. However, Marie longed to return to Vancouver, her hometown growing up, and to her lifelong friends with whom she had remained in touch. So in 1994 they returned to the Pacific Northwest, moving to Westroyal in West Vancouver. Marie had spent much time in Japan volunteering in church organizations, and she continued her active volunteerism in Vancouver. Each week she would transit to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Burnaby where she worked on the archives.

dating.” Marie passed away in 2018 at age 95. The information in this story has been provided by Peter from memory during two interviews and some emails. His closest ally is his laptop, which he relies on for global news and he will happily engage in discussion about international affairs any time. Peter Katsuno turned 105 on April 17. Many happy returns, Peter. Editor’s note: At Westroyal, Peter and Marie became close friends with Kay Alsop, our Beacon community personality for July 2018 (who unabashedly refers to herself as ‘Miss July’). It was Kay’s daughter, Jane, who suggested that our readers would enjoy reading about the Katsunos. Thank you, Jane.

Photo provided

Happy times for Marie and Peter in Hollyburn House circa 2013.

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PAGE 9

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Welcome neighbours, to our parking lot party!

n Saturday, May 25, from noon to 4pm, the West Vancouver Presbyterian Church is inviting its neighbours (near and far) to its second annual Parking Lot Party. There will be a bouncy castle, games, face painting, hot dogs, coffee and lots of music—even dancing lessons! The North Shore Children’s Voices, under the direction of WVPC’s music director, Diana Nyvik, will perform. A special feature will be sweet pannekoek, a South African specialty flipped by the Reverend Heinrich Botha. Plants and baked goods will be for sale by donation. There are no costs for food or entertainment - we just want to meet our neighbours. (Did you know that Mr. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister?) Please join us at 29th and Marine Drive—you will see the balloons!

Photo provided Avery painting cousin Grace’s face at the first Parking Lot Party, in 2018.

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Messing about in boats BY

Martin Wale

yacht club is formed by a group of people with a common interest in using boats to get away from land and enjoy cruising local and distant waters, racing for the thrill of personal combat against other sailors and the elements, or just messing about on boats. In the children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, it is described thus: “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats...or with boats...in or out of ‘em, it doesn’t matter.” West Vancouver Yacht Club has just such beginnings and aspirations. Formed in 1945, the club consisted of 45 people with only six boats between the lot of them. In 1946 the first Sailpast was held, and club members and friends have been enjoying this annual event that starts the boating season ever since. Humble beginnings, started by the dreams of a few, moved on to acquire the foreshore rights in Fisherman’s Cove in 1951 with a small cottage for a clubhouse. By 1963 the clubhouse overlooking the moorage was completed and then extensively updated in 2012. Much of the work carried out on club projects is through members’ volunteering labour and expertise; volunteering is a mainstay of club participation and camaraderie. Many accomplishments over the years have contributed immensely to the enjoyment all members have for “messing about in boats.” The annual Southern Straits Yacht Race brings sailors and boats to the Straits of Georgia to challenge each other in the boisterous spring weather conditions. Outstations have been added at Gambier Island and Kendrick Island and more recently

with leased space in Pender Harbour and Telegraph Harbour. The club sail training program, designed to help youngsters and adults become proficient in the skills of sailing, is now one of the premier such programs available to anyone in the community, not just club members. To serve this program, the Sailing Center was built in 2002 as a focus for activity and learning in all aspects of small boat sailing. The club’s ongoing focus on youth sailor development resulted in the inception of the Pumpkin Bowl Regatta in 1999. This regatta has become the largest junior dinghy regatta in the Pacific Northwest. The club has grown to about 700 members, encompassing juniors (starting at age 4), intermediates, active and associates, plus affiliate members and some non-resident and senior members. The philosophy is that you are never too old or too young to be “messing about in boats.” New members are always welcome as the objective of the organization is to allow as many sailors and would-be sailors as possible to take their passion for boating to the next level. Being a member of the club just makes boating more enjoyable. The West Vancouver Yacht Club is an active community of boaters offering a lifetime of enjoyment with family and friends. The above information from the WVYC website describes the formation of the club and its role in the community for 74 years. When asked if the club has any affiliation with the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, past Commodore and long-time member, Len Kelsey, replies: “We work cooperatively with all yacht clubs in the area but have no formal affiliation. We were formed here by locals in this community for locals in this community.”

Learn to sail.

Photo provided

Colourful Flying Juniors, 1966, looking East towards Thunderbird Marina.

Photo provided

The Pumpkin Regatta.

Photo provided

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May/June 2019

ART WALK

Lil Chrzan

Annette Jamieson

orseshoe Bay is one of those naturally beautiful places that attracts creative people such as architects, musicians, potters and painters. I was one of those people, drawn to live here in 1991. As a young girl, I was deeply moved by the writings of Henry David Thoreau and his personal connection to nature. As an artist, I am awestruck by natural beauty. My landscape paintings seek out the transcendental meanings of nature. I share my experience in nature through the use of light, a symbol of all that is good in the world. Since graduating with honours from Emily Carr, I have had 11 solo shows. More recently, this includes VisualSpace Gallery in Vancouver and Gibsons Public Art Gallery. I have participated in over 90 exhibitions including the upcoming Invitational 30th anniversary show at the Ferry Building Gallery. In 2011, fellow artists Helen Weiser and Jackie Frioud came up with the idea for the Horseshoe Bay Art Walk. This year, it takes place on Sunday, May 26 and there will a free shuttle bus to encourage people all ages and mobilities to visit between 11am and 4pm. See horseshoebayartwalk. com for more information.

Lil Chrzan with fellow artist, Helen Weiser.

have lived in Horseshoe Bay since 2014 when my family and I moved here from the UK. I love the many community events that take place here, but my favourite is the Horseshoe Bay Art Walk which I have taken part in since 2016. It brings local artists together in a fun day of culture, beauty and exciting shopping. Jewellery enhances life, hence my name “La Vida” - the life. I love designing things that bring pleasure and beauty, so I create wearable art that is as unique as the wearer. Custom pieces hold special meaning for individuals, reflecting their personality. I also share my skills and teach classes. I use sterling silver, fine silver, copper, enamel, sea glass and other materials that find their way into my studio. Living in beautiful Horseshoe Bay, nature features strongly in my pieces. I work intuitively, not thinking about what I am going to create, but letting my heart and hands do the work. I do love a surprise! See lavidajewellery.com for more information. Calla lily earrings created out of Argentium sterling silver.

Photo provided

Annette Jamieson at work in her home studio.

Photo provided

Jackie Frioud

am one of the founding organizers of the Horseshoe Bay Art Walk, having lived in Horseshoe Bay for thirty years, and raising two children here. I have been making salt-glazed, functional pottery for nearly twenty years. Most of my work is thrown on the wheel and is characterized by contemporary forms and earthy tones enhanced by the salt-glaze surface and texture. Mugs, bowls, oil bottles and teapots are some of the items I enjoy creating. Salt-firing requires a specialized gas-fired kiln. A combination of household salt and road salt is introduced into the kiln near the end of the firing. It vaporizes immediately and swirls around the pots throughout the kiln, combining with the silica in the clay body to form a glazed surface that is often described as orange peel because of the resulting pebbly texture. The technique was used historically for industrial wares, including chimney pots and drain tile, but is now used only by ceramic artists. I have a BFA from the University of B.C. and studied ceramics with Sam Kwan at Capilano University where I learned to salt-fire. I was delighted to receive the Award of Excellence from the North-West Ceramics Foundation in 2018. During this year’s Art Walk, I will be showing my pottery at the home of painter, Lil Chrzan. Visit jackiefrioud. com for more information.

Jackie Frioud, potter.

Photo provided

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PAGE 13

Dragonflies in our backyard forever BY Tina

Symko and Daniel White

n the summer, my husband and I spend hours at Lost Lake, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and the beauty of the mountains. One evening last summer, we were surprised by a dragonfly circling above us as we swam, its shiny blue-green wings translucent in the setting sun. Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. As other species disappeared from the earth these predators thrived – imagine pre-historic dragonflies with wingspans of up to 70cm wide! Today there are few places in the world where you cannot find

at least one of the 5,000 species of Odonata (damselflies) and their close relatives, dragonflies (Anisoptera). Characteristically large wings make them a superbly designed aerial predator. They can fly up to 50km per hour and stop in an instant. A slow wing beat-rate results in a relatively quieter buzzing noise, giving the dragonfly a great hunting advantage. Because its legs are directly under its mouth, a dragonfly can pass its prey to its mouth with ease and eat literally on the fly! Dragonflies can be seen in the summertime by lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands and they play a critical role in wetland ecology. The larvae are food for young fish and the tender bodies of the newly hatched adults provide tasty snacks for frogs and song birds.

Dragonflies also feed on other insects – in several hours an adult dragonfly can consume its own weight in mosquitoes. They have become very popular with the recent spread of West Nile virus and some B.C. parks purchase dragonflies to help control mosquito populations. Dragonflies, along with damselflies and butterflies are among the most threatened species of insects globally. About 15% of

North American dragonflies are at risk of extinction. Their aquatic habitats have been heavily impacted over the last 100 years. When you see a dragonfly showing off its aerial wizardry, catching mosquitoes in mid air, remember that for most of its life it was an important part of the aquatic ecosystem – we need healthy streams and wetlands to help dragonflies to live forever.

Christa is back!

ongratulations to Christa Bortignon for bringing home four gold medals and a world record from the World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in Torun, Poland in March, 2019. Attended by over 4000 athletes from around the world, Christa was the only B.C. female master athlete in the championship, winning four of the Canadian team’s seven gold medals. She tied her world record of 3.28m from two years ago in the long jump. Christa’s career was briefly interrupted two years ago by a broken ankle, but after taking some time to recover, she came back to win the 60m dash, the 200m dash and the triple jump. This is her 38th world record since starting to compete in track and field in 2009, at age 72. Christa’s long jump at the Torun Indoor Championship in March. Photo: courtesy of Rob Jerome

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May/June 2019

FROM THE INKWELL

Mr. Power and his landlords David Roberts

ouses have personalities. Some are houses of character. Others are mundane and ordinary. What shapes their character has to do with architecture, their inhabitants and events that take place within their portals. For instance, until the Reverend Bill Valentine held a ceremony of exorcism, Hillcrest was haunted by a pianist who would play the piano in the middle of the night.

Greyrocks, our old house at 4765 Pilot House Road was built by Francis Caulfeild shortly after he bought the 680 Caulfeild acres from John Balfour Ker in 1899. The Caulfeilds did not live in it for long. They sold it to the Grafton Family in 1902. The brothers, Walter and Thomas Grafton, bought it, but Mrs. Caulfeild refused to deal with Tom. Sometime earlier his cow had broken loose and trampled all over her garden while grazing on her flowers. She never spoke to him again. Tom was then one of the pilots, living in the Pilot House across the road, where the memorial anchor is now displayed. In 1909 Tom was taken on as the light-keeper at Point Atkinson. He blew himself up in 1931 while dynamiting for herring.

Eventually, in 1928, the house was acquired by the Adair family. It consisted of Walter and Martha Adair. In due time it was inherited by their daughters, Mary Harrison, now a widow and Helen Adair Petrie. She was also a widow, her husband, a bank manager, having been shot in a bank robbery in Vancouver. When she died, Mary Harrison put the house up for sale and we bought it in 1962. One of the people our purchase dispossessed was Owen Power. Known universally as Mr. Power, he was a bachelor and had served in the merchant navy until he retired and came ashore. In 1931 he moved into the house as a paying guest. His landladies, then Catherine Harrison and Martha Adair, contracted with him to stay for six weeks. But he never left. Around the time that war broke out in 1939, the ladies decided they wanted to get rid of Mr. Power. Not having the nerve to confront him with a notice of termination of his lease, they decided to move out and repair to Vancouver

for the winter. Owen Power had to leave. After a few months, the sisters deemed it time enough that they could move back into their old house. No sooner had they returned than Mr. Power turned up on their doorstep, suitcase hand, seeking to renew his status as a paying guest. He remained in the house until we bought it. When we knew him, he had snow white hair and always dressed in plus-fours. He looked to be about eighty years of age. He made a daily trip into Ambleside, walking all the way there and back, rain or shine. He was a Roman Catholic and would walk up to Archbishop Johnson’s house on South Piccadilly for mass every morning that the archbishop was there. He was not very happy about being evicted by our purchase. We were apprehensive that he might ask us if he could stay on, but, to our intense relief he didn’t and he disappeared from Caulfeild, never to be seen again in the neighbourhood.

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Have private healthcare clinics unlocked the formula for excellent health outcomes?

magine your very own dedicated healthcare team working with you to find ways to optimize your health. Now imagine that same team taking it one step further and collaborating together, looking for ways to maximize disease prevention, facilitate early detection and execute timely interventions. It is exactly this type of collaboration that has become the hallmark of Copeman Healthcare. “There is nothing quite like the peace of mind that comes from having several different care professionals working together on your chart,” says Chris Nedelmann, CEO of Copeman Healthcare, “In addition to collaboration, our model also strongly emphasizes unhurried, on-time visits and outstanding customer service.” In the Copeman model, the care of a physician is integrated with teams of registered dietitians, kinesiologists, family health nurses, diagnostic staff and other professionals as required. “It is this combination of providing adequate time, delivering care through a multi-professional team and looking at physical, psychological and cognitive indicators that produce the best health outcomes,” says Nedelmann. Regular baseline assessments track subtle changes in health and assist with early detection. By catching things early teams can respond immediately when treatment is most effective. Services are tailored to the unique needs of clients allowing for a truly integrated approach to health management and disease prevention.

Clients typically choose between the ongoing care program called LifePlus or an annual Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA). In either case, clients receive an annual head-to-toe assessment that examines a multitude of health risk factors. A personalized prevention plan is then developed for the client with suggestions for mitigating their own specific risks. Central to all services is the concept of wellness coaching – providing ongoing support and guidance for optimizing nutrition, exercise, sleep and mental health. Whatever your needs, let Copeman Healthcare design a program that is right for you and your family. The Copeman Healthcare Centre in West Vancouver is relocating to 138 13th St. E., North Vancouver in Central Lonsdale. This new clinic brings Copeman’s full range of services closer to many North Shore clients, which is especially important to those with busy families. The North Shore Centre will offer a full roster of doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, kinesiologists and an on-site laboratory. Opening May 2019, this spacious and modern 6700 sq.ft. facility offers a complete selection of Copeman’s popular healthcare services, including: the LifePlus Program, Comprehensive Health Assessment, the Young Adults Prevention Program (ages 18 to 24) and the Copeman Kids Program (newborn to age 17) – plus open services (no membership necessary) such as personal training, dietitian counselling and more!

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May/June 2019

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