The Flying Dutchman
I grew up thinking that nothing ever happened in my small town and that, as a Canadian, I lived in the dullest part of the world. ‘History’ was something that happened elsewhere, probably farther east,...
View ArticleButtle’s Lake
“I ascended one of the mountains arising from our camp, accompanied by Tomo and the two Indians. At about 4000 feet we came to snow; this continued in various depths till we arrived at the summit, an...
View ArticleFinding history in Fan Tan Alley
They say Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest street in Canada, and at this exact moment, I believe it. Pushing a stroller with one hand, towing a small child with the other, a knapsack full of snacks and...
View ArticleCaddy’s Coast
A head cranes above the water, a long snake-like body writhes under the silvery surface of the sea, and with a flap of a finned tail, it slips silently under the strait to disappear into its hidden...
View ArticleNaughty Things of Brass and Wood
The Cumberland museum was preparing to move exhibits and remove clutter and, as part of this noble goal, I volunteered to help prepare items for storage. From the outside, the Cumberland Museum is a...
View ArticleMostly Made in Canada
When I was small, my parents had a great passion for manufacturing. My dad, especially, liked to know how things were made — he liked to see how things were done, first-hand. Because of this, every...
View ArticleThe Sounds of a Swampy Spring
The February weather has been warm and mild, and while I know it’s a little too early for such things, I find myself looking forward to the return of our neighbourhood frogs. I live on the edge of a...
View ArticleThe Things You Learn When You Listen Closely
A few years ago, I worked in the framing area of a Vancouver art store. We used to get all sorts of customers, and most of them were lovely people, eager to talk about their artwork or photographs. It...
View ArticleThe Garden that Love Built
Victoria is an elegant city, especially in the spring. Some of its gardens, such as Buchart Gardens, are world-famous for their beauty. When the rains of winter subside, hordes of flower enthusiasts...
View ArticleFrom the Belly of the Dragon
Every twenty minutes for three whole days, the Dragon demands to be fed. As I sit with a cup of jasmine tea in hand, Gordon throws open the hatch and a small army of soot-stained potters hurriedly toss...
View ArticleCommunity Comes Together to Elevate the Arts
When three stores along downtown Courtenay’s Fifth Street closed in rapid succession last February, residents began to wonder if the outward sprawl of recent development was starting to damage the city...
View ArticleOregon Event Combines Art, Beach, and the Thrill of Discovery
A small Japanese fishing float sits on the corner of my kitchen window, catching the sunlight. Decades ago, these spheres of blue-green glass, which range in size from 5 centimeters to half a meter in...
View ArticleThe Shooting of Ginger Goodwin – Part One
Part 1 of 4 At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were few jobs as gritty, dangerous and miserable as coal mining. Men and boys worked in deplorable conditions, sacrificing their health and...
View ArticleThe Shooting of Ginger Goodwin – Part Two
Part 2 of 4 Albert Goodwin was born on May 10, 1887 in Treeton, England, the fourth child of Walter Goodwin, a coalminer, and Mary Ann Brown. With his memorable shock of red hair, his family and...
View ArticleThe Shooting of Ginger Goodwin – Part Three
Part 3 of 4 After the Battle of the Somme in 1916, Canada desperately needed to replenish its supply of soldiers. Very few volunteers stepped forward to replace them. Earlier efforts to recruit in...
View ArticleThe Shooting of Ginger Goodwin – Part Four
Part 4 of 4 Devitt and Roe took one trail, and Campbell another. At 4:30 p.m., Devitt and Roe heard a shot ring out. When the two men caught up with Campbell, they found Goodwin’s lifeless body....
View ArticleFlavour: The North Island’s Gourmet Picnic
On Sunday, September 23, I had the extreme pleasure of attending the first annual Flavour event, which was held at Coastal Black Winery in Black Creek, BC. With over 50 exhibitors, ranging from...
View ArticleUpcoming Child Haven Dinners Provide Education, Inspiration, and Hope
Since 1985, Child Haven International has been breaking the cycle of poverty in India, Bangladesh, Tibet and Nepal. Inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Fred and Bonnie Cappuccino founded nine...
View ArticleCold Paradise
Mt. Washington, located on Vancouver Island, is renowned for fantastic skiing in the winter and remarkable hiking in the summer. But when we arrived in late October, it became immediately apparent...
View ArticleA Sky Full of Fire
Every year, the Taiwanese Lantern Festival comes to Cumberland, BC, and the displays are always delightful, playful, and a wonderful way to illuminate dark February nights. The colourful lantern...
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