boulevard magazine, february 24, 2014

blvdmag.ca MARCH 2014

LIVING THE GOOD LIFECROSSING CLIMATE ZONES FINDING A DESERT OASIS RENOVATING THE ’80S

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CANADA’S RENO REBATE INC. continues to spread the word about government rebates for new-home purchases, owner-built homes and

substantial renovations to existing homes during the tenure of the HST throughout the province. Happy clients are receiving up to $42,500, which is the upper limit a homeowner can receive for a project. Together with the Ontario-based company Rebate4U, Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. has already helped homeowners apply for rebates totaling over $8 million.

“There is a misconception that if your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to any government rebates, but this is just not true — you are entitled to a portion of the PST embedded within the HST,” says Sean Leitenberg, manager of the Victoria office of Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc.

“‘Do I qualify?’ has to be the most frequently-asked question my staff get,” says Sean. “Each renovation or new build is not exactly the same, so we have to determine that the best we can on a case-by-case basis.”

There are definitely some clear-cut rules, though. There is a deadline of two years to apply from the time you completed your major renovation or new build, though there are a couple of exceptions to that rule, too.

To qualify for a major renovation, you must do substantial work to the majority of the inside of your home. If your work was limited to a small portion of your home, such as a bathroom or kitchen, or if you just painted and put down new floors, you would not qualify. The end result of your renovation should be substantial enough that your home or condo is like a new home.

The money spent on the exterior qualifies for the rebate, but only if you have done enough work to the inside of the home first to qualify. A new roof or landscaping is not enough on its own, but would be included in the rebate if the inside of the home qualifies.

If you purchased a new home from a builder, the builder may have claimed the rebate and credited it back to you by lowering

the price. In this case, the rebate has already been claimed.

If your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to a federal rebate, but you may be entitled to a provincial rebate if a portion of the construction took place while the HST was in effect. If your home is worth less than $450,000, you are entitled to both a federal rebate and a provincial rebate for the portion spent during the HST period.

A new home built or renovated for yourself or for a family member’s primary place of residence qualifies if it was completed within the last two years. If the home’s value is more than $450,000, then the homeowner is only entitled to a rebate for money spent between July 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013.

Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. currently has representatives throughout the province who are happy to help clients with the forms that need to be signed and the brief questionnaire that needs to be filled out. If you live in an area where the company does not have a representative, or if you would prefer to download the forms from the comfort of your home, you can find everything on their website and use their courier service at no charge. The time involved is minimal and your rebate could be huge.

Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. also has a brief questionnaire on their website that allows you

to see if you qualify for the rebate and only takes 60 seconds. Or, give them a call and in just a few minutes, they can determine if you qualify.

Everyone seems to know someone who has built a home or done a renovation, so if you know homeowners who might qualify for this rebate, make sure to let them know before they miss their deadline.

Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. handles all the paperwork and follows through with the government until you receive your cheque. Because Sean and his staff know the forms, the processes, and who to call, they efficiently and quickly collect the information and submit exactly what the government agencies need. The company charges no upfront fee and if you don’t receive a rebate, the application costs you nothing. “So give us a call or check out our website,” Sean says. “What have you got to lose?”

boulevard business profiles

$42,500:

advertising feature

CANADA’S RENO REBATE INC.

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Found money is what clients like to call it.

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on our cover:

FEATURES

14 A GOOD LIFE ATTITUDE By Megan Cole

18 DARING FARMERS PUSH BOUNDARIES By Cinda Chavich

32 FIGHTING CF WITH A RUMBLE By Jessica Natale Woollard

46 THE LEGACY OF A 1930 PACKARD By Alyn Edwards

COLUMNS

10 HAWTHORN Islanders take care of their own By Tom Hawthorn

CONTENTSMarch 2014 Issue 03, Volume XXIlI

GoodLife Fitness

founder David

Patchell-Evans has always

pushed himself to do

more. Photo by Don

Denton.

12 STATE OF THE ARTS Inspiring connections at the Art Gallery By Alisa Gordaneer

DEPARTMENTS

7 CONTRIBUTORS

9 EDITOR’S LETTER

17 FASHION FAVES Tom Moore, architect By Lia Crowe

22 HOT PROPERTIES Refreshing the ’80s By Carolyn Heiman

38 DESIGN MATTERS Pump up your plates By Sarah Reid

40 TRAVEL FAR More than just golf in Palm Desert By Robert Moyes

44 TRAVEL FAR A slow boat in French paradise By Carolyn Heiman

48 FOOD & DRINK Sprouts spring up By Cinda Chavich

51 FOOD & DRINK: BEHIND THE BAR The “Oracle” at Clive’s Classic Lounge 52 HEALTH Stretching out at work By Margaret Boyes

54 FRONT ROW Baroque opera; Tribute to Nashville; Roméo et Juliette; and more By Robert Moyes

58 TALKING WITH TESS Donna Anderson By Tess van Straaten

60 WRY EYE The luck of Miss Hap By Shannon Moneo

62 SECRETS & LIVES Blythe Scott, artist By Kate Lautens

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MARCH

18 22 40

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Penny Sakamoto

Kate Lautens

Pip Knott

Pat Brindle Janet Gairdner

Oliver Sommer

Janet Gairdner

Kevin Laird

Bruce Hogarth

Margaret Boyes, Cinda Chavich, Megan Cole, Lia Crowe, Alyn Edwards, Alisa Gordaneer, Tom Hawthorn, Carolyn Heiman, Shannon Moneo, Robert Moyes, Jessica Natale Woollard, Sarah Reid, Tess van Straaten

Don Denton, Beth Hayhurst, Carolyn Heiman, Alan Moyes, Leanna Rathkelly

Victoria Boulevard ® is a registered trademark of Black Press Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher's

written permission.Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Black Press Group Ltd. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred.

The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents, both implied or assumed, of any advertisement in this publication.

Printed in Canada.Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #42109519.

ADVERTISEBoulevard Magazine is Victoria’s leading lifestyle magazine,

celebrating 24 years of publishing in Greater Victoria. To advertise or to learn more about advertising opportunities

please send us an email at [email protected]

Group Publisher

Editor

Design & Production Coordinator

Advertising

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Contributing Writers

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Take control ofyour portfolio.Markets remain uncertain and interest rates low. Take a tactical approach to protect and grow your wealth.

Bruce Cafferky, B. Comm, FMAInvestment Advisor and Financial Planner

www.brucecafferky.com 250.746.2412 1.888.668.1622#3, Unit 201-2755 Beverly Street, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 6X2

Serving clients on Southern Vancouver Island

If you want to ensure your portfolio is constructed to maximize returns and minimize risk, call Bruce to arrange a complimentary review of your portfolio.

7

In my 20s, I owned an impractical but fun Volvo P1800 that triggered Simon Templar thoughts

when behind the wheel. Less dreamy was a design flaw allowing leaves to plug a hole intended to drain water away from the gas tank. After a couple of expensive tow jobs,

a mechanic took pity and taught me how to clear water from the tank and restart the

car myself. I’ve felt forever empowered by that, even though I’ve still never changed a tire.CAROLYN HEIMAN, Hot Properties, page 22

I was never really taught how to cook, but I don’t let myself be intimidated by a recipe or ingredient and I try to make as many things from scratch as I can — including pasta, bread and, most recently, bagels. I’m also about to embark on a massive DIY project in my garden in Powell River, which includes a cold frame so I can grow hot peppers to create my own hot sauce. MEGAN COLE, Shaping a Good Life, page 14

Waiting behind my dad’s Okanagan home were dozens of old yellow cedar windows that would be perfect as photo frames. We removed the double glazing and cleaned them, leaving the old paint and all the character. I printed photos on canvas, which I glued on a larger canvas that I painted with oils that softly echoed the photo, and fit it into the frame. I’ve sold many of these creations but kept my favourites to make a gallery of art. LEANNA RATHKELLY, Hot Properties photographer, page 22

My biggest DIY success was building my own house as a 29-year-old television news

reporter with no construction experience whatsoever. My wife-to-be and I bought this wonderful lot overlooking Indian Arm east of Vancouver in 1973 with a $500 down

payment. We started crunching numbers to have a house built and realized we couldn’t

come close to affording it. So I said: “We’ll do it ourselves. It will be fun.” Fun it wasn’t. We moved in after five months of hard labour. I could write a book about all the issues and little triumphs. We’re coming up on our 41st anniversary in that house and it always feels like home. ALYN EDWARDS, A Packard Reborn, page 46

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

THIS MONTH WE ASKED:

What’s your greatest do-it-yourself success — or failure?

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• UNWANTED HAIR

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9

EDITOR’S LETTER

MARCH IS A GREAT MONTH

TO GET INSPIRED — as if awoken from hibernation, we are keen to tackle a tough project, learn a new skill or just complete unfinished tasks from last year. And when we take those inspirations and turn them into a business idea, hobby, or lifelong vocation, we end up with some pretty amazing things. This issue explores people on the Island who are overwhelmingly in favour

of living their passion — whether that means growing lemon trees on the Saanich Peninsula, overcoming personal challenges to inspire fitness in others, or developing an energy drink that just might save lives. We also look at ways to add springy sprouts to your diet, stretch stiff muscles at the office, or put pretty plates on your table.

If you happen to be a passionate photographer, you’ll want to enter this year’s Photos By contest, open now through March 31. We’ll publish our favourites in the May issue. Click on the Photos By Contest link at blvdmag.ca for contest guidelines and the gallery of submissions. This year, we're also introducing a Readers’ Choice Award, so be sure to vote for your favourite.

Kate Lautens,

Editor

BoulevardMagazine

@BoulevardMag

We welcome your letters:[email protected] or visit us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and links to featured stories and local events.

WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU

Readers Weigh in Online

@KateSpencer17Unwinding reading @BoulevardMag that arrived today. Mastering mindfulness ;) [Back to the Present, February 2013]

@madvintageloveMuch appreciated the relaxation tips (and cocktail recipe!) in the Feb issue of @BoulevardMag #vancouverisland #relax #cocktails. [Back to the Present and Behind the Bar]

@MattSharpeTri@BoulevardMag new issue! Boulevard is my default when I’m away from Victoria for training. #missingyyj [February 2013 issue]

10

THAT WE LIVE ON AN ISLAND is not always apparent, so large is our chunk of rock in the Pacific.

Even when it slips the mind, the reminders are not far away — the need to catch a ferry to visit the mainland, or the water that surrounds us.

We retain a unique cultural identity even though we’re within a short drive of two metropolises — well, we’d be within a short drive if a causeway covered the 95 km to Vancouver, or the 120 km to Seattle. A trip to either takes hours by land and sea. So, instead of being overshadowed by the big cities, instead of being just another lifeless carpool suburb, Victoria retains a cultural vibrancy of our own making. We have our own art galleries, theatre troupes, and musical scene, not to mention an opera company whose habitués are both knowledgeable and dedicated.

Neighbours helping neighboursWe here on the southern tip of Vancouver Island also have our

own way of helping those in need.Many of us were deeply touched in February by the heart-

wrenching tragedy faced by Dylan Benson, whose wife, Robyn, suffered brain death while at 22 weeks of pregnancy. Machines kept her alive as doctors waited for her fetus to be viable enough to survive a premature C-section.

Meanwhile, Benson took to an online fundraising website with a plea for support. He faced the prospect of becoming a single father at a time when the medical crisis forced him to be at hospital, his salary halved. He asked for $36,000 to help cover the costs of housing, baby supplies and a nanny.

The story gained wide media attention and people on Vancouver Island — indeed, from around the world — offered donations. The website quickly passed his goal. By mid-February,

BY TOM HAWTHORN

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Taking care of our own

IS THE ISLAND WAY

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the online account had pledges totalling over $188,000.Doctors delivered the baby on Feb. 8. He was born 12 weeks

early. The following day, Robyn Benson was taken off life support and she died, her final act the delivery of a son she would never see. A father presented to the world a son, known as Baby Iver, who would never know his birth mother.

On the island, we respond to personal appeals from our neighbours.

At age three, Jeneece Edroff was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow on nerve pathways throughout the body. Variety – The Children’s Charity provided funds for the family to purchase a body cast for the girl, delaying her need for surgery by two years and giving her a greater chance of survival.

At age seven, she began a penny drive for Variety, collecting 164 dollars’ worth, which was presented on Variety’s annual telethon. By age 14, she had raised a million dollars. She then turned her attention to another project — a home away from home for children and their families travelling to Victoria for medical care. The homey residence, named Jeneece Place, marked its second anniversary earlier this year.

The building is a tribute to the vision of a remarkable teenager who as a girl said, “Every penny counts and even the smallest person can make a difference.”

We’re a little isolated here. We take care of our own.

A tumble on the world stageMore Olympians experience tears than triumph. That’s the

harsh reality of sport, in which a happy outcome is always dreamed but less often realized.

Spencer O’Brien, who was born in Alert Bay and grew up in Courtenay, went to Sochi, Russia, last month in search of a medal in the new Olympic sport of snowboard slopestyle. Instead, she wiped out on both runs, a decade of dedication to her sport resulting in a pair of tumbles into the snow on a Russian mountain.

She could barely speak after her event. She felt she had let down friends and family, let alone untold millions of her fellow Canadians.

Instead, she got an outpouring of support. Even astronaut Chris Hadfield weighed in, telling his more than one million followers on Twitter: “Snowboarder @spencerobrien feels the weight of Canada on her shoulders in Sochi. Spencer — feel our pride & respect.”

O’Brien herself soon replied using the telegraphese shorthand necessary to fit emotion into 140 characters or less. “My inbox exploding! Love from Cdns has (been) nothing short of incredible. I’m a lucky girl to rep this country.”

We’re lucky to have you, too. Hope to see you in four years in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

We here on the southern tip of Vancouver Island have our own way of helping those in need.

FINE CLOTHIERS SINCE 1862

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BY ALISA GORDANEER

HIPSTERS IN GLAMOROUS GOWNS, young professionals in fashionable formalwear, lovely people laughing and swirling cocktails, a thumping beat echoing off the wainscoted walls hung with about eleventy gajillion dollars worth of original artwork … it sounds like a party straight out of The Great Gatsby or the Hollywood hills, but wouldn’t you know it, this glimmering gathering is right here in Victoria, in staid Rockland, no less.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s thrice-yearly Urbanite event has become one of the biggest, and arguably most popular, see-and-be-seen-scenes in the city. That’s right, if you’re not planning to hit the art gallery on Friday night, dahling, well, I don’t know why on earth not.

Breaking down the boundaries Urbanite started in 2007, at the forefront of a trend towards

galleries doing what the gallery’s Public Programs Educator Marlaina Buch calls “a more social, convivial programming.” The idea caught on, and the Vancouver Art Gallery now does a similar series, as do others in Edmonton and Toronto.

“It’s a different angle, or entry point, for people to be exposed to local and contemporary artists,” Buch says.

One of the intriguing things about Urbanite is how it breaks down boundaries, not just between people — although this is definitely one of those mix-and-mingle events — but between people and their perceptions of how one should behave in an art gallery. Dancing? Frolicking? Interacting with the exhibitions, making their own art, being noisy and boisterous? Why not?

As Buch explains, having an event that “disrupts” the usual way we view art lets people encounter it in a different way. Because the event focuses on interactivity, it becomes more exciting, she says. “The permissions have changed.”

Each Urbanite event takes inspiration from the gallery’s main

See and be seen at the

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exhibit, and uses ideas around that exhibit to create ways for gallery-goers to interact with the artwork, or with ideas inspired by it. For example, 2012’s portrait show included a photo booth, where participants had their photographs taken and then projected onto a screen in another room, turning the guests themselves into a kind of performance. A more recent contemporary First Nations art show offered chances to explore contemporary takes on First Nations imagery by making buttons in a nod to traditional button blankets.

Participants can linger in the galleries, join the dance and cocktail party in the mansion, or flit between the two areas as the mood strikes them. “It’s a bit of an alternative to a downtown club scene,” Buch says, adding that the event attracts all ages.

Stitching together a night of colourThe focus of the next Urbanite is “Everything Below All of the

Above,” a show of work by Victoria textile artist Carole Sabiston. Her art is well known around town — her signature colourful tapestries are iconic elements of the décor at Munro’s Books — and across Canada. Using the ideas of colour, movement, texture and light, key elements of Sabiston’s work, the gallery has designed clever ways to connect viewers to the artwork using fabric, projections, dancing and even signature cocktails.

Sabiston herself will mingle, talking about her work. “She’s got incredible energy,” Buch says, explaining that it adds yet another dimension to hear from — maybe even dance with? — the artist who made the work on display. Yeah, this ain’t no stuffy art show.

This fun and interactive workshop presents you with facts, tools and tips to take the stress out of your

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Carole Sabiston’s Locate (1997, textile assemblage, 5x1.8 m) exemplifies her bright, textured style. Courtesy of AGGV.

Perhaps the worst part about Urbanite is also the best part: its popularity means that you either need to buy tickets well in advance, or line up early on the night of the event in hopes of getting in before the gallery fills to capacity. Think about that for a moment: the Gallery has created an event that regularly sells out. People line up like it’s an exclusive club. That’s pretty darn awesome. Whether Urbaniters fall in love with the gallery and become lifetime members, or simply go once for the experience, the outcome is still positive: they’ve seen art, interacted with it, and made a contribution to the gallery’s — and their own — existence. What’s not to love?

The next Urbanite happens Friday, March 7 at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. See aggv.ca for more information.

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Fitness leader David Patchell-Evans proves attitude is everything

A GOOD LIFE BY MEGAN COLE P

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Shaping

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Running an eight-kilometre race and heli-skiing seem like obvious pastimes for any fitness centre CEO and founder, but for David Patchell-Evans, founder of

GoodLife Fitness, this was part of his recovery from foot surgery.

N HIS EARLY 30S, PATCHELL-EVANS, who is better known as Patch, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The autoimmune disease eventually caused the big toes on his feet to touch the baby ones, with all the other toes on top of them, prompting foot surgery last year in Toronto.

“All my bones were twisted up,” says Patchell-Evans, 60. “I was on the waitlist at a few hospitals to get my feet looked at but wasn’t getting any closer to a solution.”

The CEO of the largest health club chain in Canada, who has made his home in Victoria for the last three years, had his feet “chopped and fixed” in the same Toronto hospital where he was born — which is also down the street from Sick Kids, where his life had been saved as a young man.

FROM PARALYZED TO POWERHOUSEWhile Patchell-Evans was active in sports in his youth,

exercise came to the forefront following a serious motorcycle accident. His upper body torn apart, he suffered muscle damage, broken bones and serious shoulder and chest injuries. “When you’re 20 and you think you’re going to be disabled for the rest of your life — I qualified for a disability pension — and you’ve experienced what it’s like to be paralyzed, all you’re thinking about is, ‘Can I ever get it back; can I ever be normal,’” he says.

The eight-month rehabilitation not only got him moving again, but also started him down the path to GoodLife Fitness.

IDuring his recovery, he developed a positive attitude that would carry him through the other challenges life threw at him.

“When I started to exercise with the intention of recovering, it was a whole lot different than taking for granted that you just have things,” he says. “As a young man, I became intrigued with, ‘If I’m thinking this way, what are other people thinking? If I can recover with exercise, how else can other people be helped?’”

At 25, Patchell-Evans used the money from a snowplow business he had operated in Ontario to purchase the fitness club in London, Ont. where he’d worked out during his recovery — which would go on to become the first GoodLife Fitness club.

He stayed active and developed a keen interest and passion for rowing, training at that fitness club in London as he worked towards the Canadian National Rowing Team in preparation for the 1980 Olympic Games. He eventually claimed five Canadian National Rowing Championships.

But one morning in 1982, after he had finished rowing the World Rowing masters championship with several medals, he woke up incapable. “It was totally demoralizing,” he says. “All of my self image that was tied into my physicality and potentiality was gone because of arthritis.”

Despite facing the daily struggles that come with rheumatoid arthritis — he had to leave his keys in the car because he couldn’t unlock it and use pliers to start the engine — he held onto the attitude of an athlete.

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TAKING ON AUTISMThat positive attitude

became essential when Patchell-Evans was dealt another challenge. At age two, his daughter Kilee — now 17 — was diagnosed with autism. He and his then-wife were immersed in the confusion of this overwhelming condition.

“Having gone through the ups and downs of arthritis — with times I functioned and times I didn’t — it didn’t prepare me, but it helped me understand [that] with autism, there are good days and bad days,” he says.

Instead of finding a way to cope and leaving it at that, in 2003 he began supporting the autism research of London, Ont.–based neuroscientist Derrick MacFabe. Since then, Patchell-Evans has given $5 million to the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research, started in his daughter’s name.

Seeing the challenges Patchell-Evans has faced, his wife, Silken Laumann, admires his confidence and optimism. “He always believes that an answer can be found to a problem,” she says. “He’s really unstoppable in that way. He is such a confident person when it comes to creating things like businesses and initiatives to do with autism. He sees things that aren’t there and creates them.” They met in 2008 when Laumann was the keynote speaker at Patchell-Evans’ Canadian Fitness Professionals annual conference in Toronto. Lauman was captivated by both his strong business sense and the vulnerability he showed when talking about Kilee and his life.

“I think my very, very first impressions were, ‘This is a very experienced, sharp businessman,’” she says. “Then when we were on a panel together, I saw the more vulnerable side of Patch, and when he made himself vulnerable to me was definitely when I fell in love with him.”

Even though Patchell-Evans has faced the challenges of arthritis and his accident, he admits dealing with Kilee’s autism has been the hardest. “It is an enormous emotional, psychological and physical toll on any parent,” he says. Instead of focusing on the negative, “learning how to best help my daughter has helped me run my company, focus on our strengths, and look for what’s good and what works.”

“He always believes that an answer can be found to any problem.”

The 1990 Labatt 24-Hour Relay in London was an example of Patch’s

early charitable contributions.

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FASHION FAVES

with TOM MOORE

Architect and city shaper

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TOM MOORE IS QUICK TO LAUGH, PULLED

ME INTO A BIG, warm hug when I went to shake his hand and agrees that style isn’t just about which clothes we wear, but how we move though the world. With an active architecture practice in Victoria for over three decades, Tom has shaped this city of ours, from his incredible projects like the Victoria International Airport renovation to the numerous volunteer positions he has held on boards, including

the Victoria Civic Heritage Trust. After selling his practice in 2007, Tom was faced with many life options, but tells me, “I’m really now — after decades of practice — feeling I’m on top of my game. So, it was hardly the time to retire.” In truly inspiring style, he relaunched his career in 2012 with Moore Architecture Inc. and is stepping into full swing in 2014 with exciting projects and a zen mind.

“There’s no on/off switch for ideas, which is why most designers keep going till they’re dead.”

Fashion:Jeans: Levi’s slim fit, black. Best

new purchase: Linen suit from Italy. Favourite piece: Authentic Cowichan

sweater with salmon design. Latest style adaptation: The man scarf.

Style inspirations:Person: Nelson Mandela. Art/artist (other than his

daughter, artist Allison Moore): Matisse’s paper cutouts. City: Cape Town or Amsterdam.

Favourite place in the world: Saturna Island. “When you step off the ferry, everything flows off you — which is why I feel I’m

still able to work. It keeps my batteries recharged.”

Life:Best recent read: David

Mayernik’s Timeless Cities. On bedside table: Zen and Zen Classics by

R.H. Blyth. Favourite car brand: Volvo. Who cuts your hair: Natasha at After Shave Barber

on Fort St. Favourite cocktail: Vodka martini with three olives. Go-to restaurant: Il Terrazzo or Sen

Zushi for dinner. Jam for brunch. Charelli’s for lunch. Last great meal: Be Love. Necessary indulgence: Yoga. “I have a very active mind and yoga clears the mind.” Favourite yoga pose: Pigeon. Album

on current rotation (aside from music by son Bradley Moore): Tinpan Orange. Favourite

song: “Tattoo on Her Wrist.” Favourite apps: Airbnb and Ship Finder/

Plane Finder.

BY LIA CROWE

18

We can pick lemons every day of

the year.

19

THE ZONE

successful citrus conquests. What’s next? “These are guavas, and

I’m working on avocados.”

OLIVESSaturna Olive Consortium

The consortium that started with a handful of olive-loving friends is now “a consortium of one,” but Michael Pierce continues his quest to populate Saturna Island and environs with olives.

“I’m continuously surprised that there are as many people who are so enthusiastic about growing olives here,” says Pierce, a transplant from California via Edmonton. He started importing olive trees in 2009 and says there are now thousands of his trees planted, from Quadra, Salt Spring and Pender islands to the Cowichan Valley and Saanich Peninsula.

T

Local growers cross climate zones — with impressive results

stepping out of

HERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT growing stuff that makes even the most pragmatic gardener long to step out of their zone — their

climate zone, that is.It’s easy to be tempted by the pretty

perennials and stunning shrubs that just aren’t supposed to survive in our own backyards. But it takes a real dreamer to take this kind of a risk on a commercial scale, basing an entire business on a plan that conventional wisdom — and climatology — says just won’t work.

Thankfully, those idealists are among us, producing all kinds of tasty goods against all odds. The why for most of these eclectic entrepreneurs seems to be why not? Here’s a look.

LEMONSFruit Trees & More

Victoria is known for its spectacular climate, where rhododendrons and palm trees can flourish. But only a visionary like Bob Duncan would dare plant lemons in his backyard.

“We can pick lemons every day of the year,” he says, offering me one of his wife Verna’s tasty local lemon squares and procuring a jar of preserves from their tiny farm shop at Fruit Trees & More on the Saanich Peninsula.

“This is the only locally grown marmalade you’ll find anywhere in Canada,” he says of the spread, filled with their own sweet orange and lemon peels.

From the espaliered apples and chunky fig trees to the unheated greenhouse filled with navel orange trees, it’s a hobby the retired entomologist has turned into a thriving business — selling his seedlings and expertise to eager and hopeful fruit growers.

Duncan trains his lemon trees up south-facing walls and fences, protecting them under little glass roofs, a system of his own design.

“They don’t like minus-10 but they can handle a normal winter,” he says. “If we get a cold snap, we wrap them in Reemay [row cover cloth] with a string of Christmas lights to provide a little heat.”

Duncan has others growing lemons in the area, too. A visit to Victoria restaurateur Michael Murphy’s 10 Acres Farm finds special walls built in the fields where lemons and other tender fruits are planted.

Duncan is matter-of-fact about his 25-year quest to give local gardeners a taste of the tropics, listing kaffir lime, kumquat and a variety of oranges among his

BY CINDA CHAVICH PHOTOS BY DON DENTON

20

The biggest olive grove in the region is on a farm on Pender Island, says Pierce, where one grower has more than 80 trees on a protected slope producing olives.

“There are more people growing olive trees on the Saanich Peninsula, too,” says Pierce. “It’s quite a special warm microclimate.”

With a background in agriculture and a degree specializing in tree and vine crops, Pierce says he originally imported trees for himself but demand turned it into a nursery business.

“I love the nursery side of it,” he says. “I’m playing around with a bunch of different varietals to look for ones we can harvest earlier.”

The biggest hurdle to the next step — producing BC olive oil — is the cost to press the fruit, he says.

“The mills to press the oil are pretty expensive, so most people are content with brining them for home use,” he says, “but it won’t be long before someone here will do it.”

TEATeafarm

While it’s not exactly a major tea plantation, true tea plants are growing at Teafarm in the Cowichan Valley.

Visiting this eclectic café and artist studio in mid-summer makes a great getaway: enjoying a calming cup of herbal tea with tea-infused shortbread among a tangle of herb gardens and shady fig trees at the end of a country road.

In her studio/shop, Margit Nellemann offers whimsical teapots and other tea ware, while Victor Vesely oversees their two terraces of Camellia sinensis, the bush we know as tea.

“We’ve been through three winters,” Vesely says of their farming experiment. “We put in 200 plants, and we’re starting to see which types can survive.”

An Art + Tea event in 2008 — marrying tea tasting with local art — inspired the couple’s interest in the culture of tea, from Vesely’s traditional Moroccan tea service to their “estate grown” and blended herbal teas, which combine their own herbs with organic teas sourced around the world. In 2011, they created a dozen new blends corresponding to the signs of the Chinese zodiac, including a Dragon tea of dragonwell green, ginger and calendula, and Goat tea with lemon balm, hibiscus, licorice root, rosehips and ginger.

While growing the traditional tea plants has proven the most difficult part of the business — so far there’s no locally grown tea for sale — Vesely is confident that tea can be grown in the Cowichan Valley.

“I know they’re doing it in New Zealand, so I think there could be a tea economy here,” he says. “It’s a long-term experiment.”

“I know they’re doing it in New Zealand, so I think there could be

a tea economy here.”

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A large gas fireplace forms a centrepiece for the living room and replaces a less efficient wood-burning model.

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S A FORMER LUMBER STORE OWNER, Shawn spent his working life supplying do-it-yourselfers with the tools and materials for their home projects. Not surprisingly, he has better-than-average familiarity with the range of building materials on the market, knowledge he regularly depended on when

renovating homes and condominiums — including his own — following his retirement.

He shares his current warm, traditional townhome with his partner, Pat, and an affectionate ragdoll cat named Bella. Bathed in warm putty and cream colours, the 2,300-square-foot space feels impressively expansive and the extensive use of mouldings and dynamic ceiling finishes provides for rich architectural interest in what otherwise might be an ordinary-looking space.

It wasn’t always that way. When the couple purchased the 1980s Broadmead townhouse, it was a blast from the past with popcorn ceilings, plain-Jane exposed beams, leaded doors and layers of vinyl wallpaper.

A BY CAROLYN HEIMAN PHOTOS BY LEANNA RATHKELLY

A homeowner’s remodel transforms from drastically dated to divinely detailed

25

Shawn suggests:Plan ahead. Allow sufficient time.Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Don’t be too self-critical. Enjoy the process.

Pre-ready cabinetry assembled on site kept costs down without compromising looks or performance.

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Hardly deterred, Shawn knew the property was a “sleeper” in terms of its potential. From an earlier time when he had raised a family in the neighbourhood, he had always been drawn to the development’s bucolic pond setting. “It had a real wow factor” with all the attributes of country living without the gas-tank emptying distances. Indeed, on any given day, the view from the patio is a regular wildlife kingdom, as herons, eagles, raccoons and ducks call the area their home.

So when it came time to downsize from a large, 4,000-square-foot family home, he made it a priority to purchase one of the townhouses. He knew that with some creativity and plain old-fashioned hard work, it had the potential to be a home they’d want to stay in for some time.

Moulding for high impact Over the course of a year, Shawn stripped

wallpaper, ripped out old flooring and punched out minor walls that had chopped up the main floor into dinky little rooms. Now, the kitchen is bright and inviting and includes an eating nook at one end and a work desk at the other. New flooring — wide-plank engineered in the living and dining areas and heated tiled in the kitchen — is both fresh and practical. In the living room, he pushed up the luxury significantly with a recessed ceiling beautifully detailed with large crown mouldings.

He likes working with mouldings and believes they can play a significant role in bolstering a look without jacking up the budget. “If you’re going to spend the time installing mouldings, you may as well use large ones,” he says, as it takes just as much time to install small ones. “Your time is worth a lot more.” These words to live by have influenced every floor of the townhouse. Beautiful wainscoting along the staircase amps up the look of this area, and in the master bedroom, he has paired Medite and moulding to create a feature panel wall. In the kitchen, a plank ceiling imbues the area with a warm, traditional look, making one imagine that a loaf of bread will be coming out of the oven any minute.

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Weigh labour versus material costsWhen renovating, Shawn strikes a balance:

doing the work himself where it makes practical sense, but not at the expense of cutting corners and ultimately the final product. Expert trades have their roles in his projects, including good drywallers, who make all the difference to a finished-looking wall. Shawn’s manual labour at the front end and finishing touches at the back end bolster the value of the final result.

When not at a mitre saw — or watching football — Shawn enjoys watching HGTV home shows, where he picks up ideas he might later use — although there are times he thinks his approaches are better.

Take painting, for example. “Certain things — like mouldings, doors and ceilings — have to be sprayed to create a professional finish,” he says. And it “drives me crazy to watch home and garden shows where they install the cabinetry before they paint,” as the finished product is so much better if the cabinetry is installed after the walls are painted, he explains.

It is, of course, that attention to detail that is artistically reflected in Pat and Shawn’s home. It may be a do-it-yourself project, but first and foremost, it is do-it-right. PH. 250.361.4714 TF. 1.800.563.5558

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Do-it-yourself tips from Shawn Identify where you want to spend your money to produce the wow factor, but be flexible, as the job may dictate necessary changes along the way.

Have an overall view of what you want to do so you can take advantage of bargains on light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, carpets or hardwood flooring as you go. Check if the supplier will hold them for you until you’re ready.

Investing in good trades is money well spent — especially if you have no experience or expertise in an area or don’t feel comfortable doing the task. However, you can save money by doing a lot of the preparatory work, such as ripping out carpets, taking off wallpaper and removing appliances.

Consider installation difficulty and cost when choosing products. For example, engineered hardwood flooring that clicks together is easy to do yourself and can be less expensive than carpet. Installing ceramic tile is more difficult and, unless you have personal expertise, you may want to budget for the labour costs.

Pre-ready cabinetry can significantly cut the cost of one of the most expensive items in most renovations. Take the time to search and compare prices. It will pay dividends!

SUPPLY LISTContractor/Builder: Self-directed

Flooring: Lumberworld

Interior Design: Homeowners

Electrical: Buckle Electric

Painting: Homeowners

Plumbing Fixtures: Kitchen & Bath Classics

Cabinetry and Counters: Cowry Kitchens

Plumber: Granger Plumbing

Lighting: Mclaren Lighting

Appliances: Sears

Fireplace: 4 Seasons Heating and Cooling

Carolyn Heiman explores beautiful Island homes each month for Boulevard. If you know of a gorgeous home you’d like to see profiled, she can be contacted at [email protected].

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T’S GOOD FRIDAY 2011, and Paul Underhill is being wheeled into surgery at Toronto General Hospital. Instead of being fearful — a typical response to a double lung transplant — Paul is

cheerful. He’s singing.“I’m on my way, I don’t know where I’m

going, I’m on my way!”Smiling from behind his rectangular,

black-rimmed glasses, he sings me the Paul Simon refrain he performed for his nurses almost three years ago. Sandra Underhill, his wife of 15 years, joins in on this torrential January day in Victoria, but she wasn’t sure what to make of her husband’s playfulness pre-transplant. She was still in shock from it all — numb from months of cleaning blood her husband coughed

up and traumatized by all the ambulance rides, not knowing whether he would survive the wait for new lungs.

Paul was born with cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common fatal genetic disease in Canada. Most people with Paul’s type of CF don’t live to adulthood. The lungs that saved him arrived in the nick of time, the blessed news delivered by a nurse named Grace while Sandra’s father prayed for a miracle at the church across the road.

POSSIBILITY AND PASSIONIt takes a special kind of person to face a

seven-hour transplant surgery with a smile and a song. That’s Paul — a fighter.

“The question inside of me is, ‘Why not?’” he says. “What I’ve learned about

I

myself is that I’m powered by possibility and passion for things that I love. I don’t let fear interfere with what could be.”

Growing up in Oak Bay, Paul did his lung-clearing exercises twice a day, then participated in his favourite activities — running, soccer and cycling. At age 15, he competed in the BC Summer Games for cycling. At the University of Victoria, he met his wife, and graduated with a bachelor of psychology and a bachelor of laws.

“Paul always had a cough, ever since I’ve known him,” Sandra says, referring to the characteristic feature of a person with CF. “When you find a partner and fall in love, you don’t think about things getting worse. I never thought about [it being fatal].”

INVENTING RUMBLE

By his early 30s, Paul’s health was deteriorating rapidly. He was forced to leave a job he loved, but he stayed active, even kite surfing as long as he could. (He

Fighting CF with a rumble and roar

BY JESSICA NATALE WOOLLARDPOWERED POSSIBILITY

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maintains it’s the best lung-clearing exercise around.) To fill the void, he devoted himself to a new passion: keeping himself well nourished, which would aid his recovery come transplant day. “I wanted a ready-to-drink beverage that was healthier than the poorly formulated meal replacement beverages I was drinking,” he explains.

When he couldn’t find what he wanted, he invented it. It took six months of meticulous experimentation, carried out while his health worsened. At one point, he needed two oxygen machines to breathe. He couldn’t even brush his teeth without help.

“Once I got [the recipe], I realized it was something I could bring to life and make a business,” he says.

The drink is called Rumble, named for the sound the body makes to declare its need for nourishment. With the help of three local partners, the recipe was refined and the business launched in 2008. Both flavours — Dutch Cocoa and Vanilla Maple — are chock-full of natural, organic, and non-GMO goodness, including cherry, black currant, spinach and kale. The drink is also certified gluten free, soy free and 99.8% lactose free.

In Dec. 2013, Rumble was featured on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, and while ultimately a deal was signed with another investor, Paul keeps in touch with the dragons for future opportunities.

LOVE BETWEEN SURVIVORS“Rumble didn’t exist when I was waiting for transplant, but

what did exist was Sandra,” Paul says. “She made my shake — the essence of Rumble — daily to keep me alive.”

One year post-transplant, Paul celebrated with a 100-km bike ride and five gold medals at the Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary. In June 2013, he rode the 1,200 km from Vancouver to Banff for Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s GearUp4CF fundraiser. Rumble was the first title sponsor, and the event raised a record $260,000 for CF research. His health has never been better.

Meanwhile, Sandra fought her own battles. A year after Paul’s transplant, she was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. Her husband gained new lungs; she underwent a double mastectomy. Like husband, like wife, the Underhills are survivors. They strive to be grateful for every moment they are fortunate enough to share.

“I’ve found my greatest strength in the love of people around me. An insight I had is that ‘anything is possible — with love.’ Those last two words are critically important modifiers of what is otherwise a clichéd saying,” Paul says. “‘Anything is possible’ is easy to say here in the first world, but when you add ‘with love,’ it encompasses a lot more. My life is a testament to that.”

To learn more about Paul Underhill and Rumble, visit drinkrumble.com.

“Rumble didn’t exist when I was waiting for transplant, but what

did exist was Sandra.”

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BROADMEADArchitecturally stunning home with expansive views of Sooke Hills from Royal Bay to the Observatory. 3 bdrms, 3 baths on main floor. 4th bdrm, bath, hobby room down, oversized garage. Hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, family room off kitchen. $100K in upgrades & landscaping! $879,900

CEDAR HILLOn the quiet side of this extremely well run complex, this pristine townhome is one of the 3 largest; 1,953 sq.ft., 3 bdrms, 3 bath. Master on main, family room off kitchen opens to east facing sunny patio with awning. Many upgrades. Garage. Close to shopping, buses & library. Two parking spots. $450,000

Dallas Sells Victoria/Oak Bay“My goal is to find your dream homeand ensure that the decision you make stands as a wise investment over the long term.”

JAMES BAYOnly 110 steps to the waterfront in this heritage half duplex. This is the back half which includes the back yard, a separate studio, & a recently built lower level solid cedar laundry room (or office). $120,000 spent by the current owner. Updated insulation, wiring, plumbing & painting. $489,000

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BEACH DRIVEStunning views from of this new 4 bdrm home. This ¼ acre property backs onto Anderson Park & is completely private. The chef’s “Urbana” kitchen features professional appliances & quartz counters & all bathrooms have heated floors. Great room with fireplace opens to 850 sq.ft. deck. $1,695,000

BRENTWOOD WATERFRONTFabulous sunset & water views from every prin-cipal room. Completely renovated 2 yrs ago with high end finishes. New kitchen with gran-ite counters, 6 burner gas cooktop, heated slate floors, Merbau wood floors. Master retreat with 2 way fireplace to ensuite. 3 decks, 3,800 sq.ft. Moorage buoy included. $1,450,000

UPLANDS WATER VIEWSWonderful water views from all principal rooms. Renovate or rebuild on .84 acre. Beautiful terraced gardens. 4 bdrms, 5 baths, 3 fireplaces, 4,719 sq.ft. Gorgeous gardens & former tennis court. $1,695,000

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Camosun

A PERFECT EXTENDED family home & workshop for home business. 23 ft. living rm, 23 ft. master with spacious ensuite. 27 ft. eat-in kitchen, formal dining rm, & 2 more bdrms on the main. Family rm & bedroom on lower level. Concrete between floors, in-floor radiant heat, 11 appliances included. Separate 1,600 sq. ft. 2 bdrm for extended family. Workshop/garage with office. Over 1 acre with 2 road accesses. Perfect for any tradesman or landscaper.

$889,000

Susanna CroftonCell: 250-888-6648Office: 250-744-3301

Camosun

1912 CHARACTER HOME in the heart of Oak Bay. 6+ beds, 4 baths. Cosy study with wood burning FP, large living room, sunroom (or office), formal dining room with built-in cabinets, kitchen and charming powder room complete the main floor. Upstairs 4 bdrms, bath. and 4-piece ens. w/ double sinks & heated flooring! 2 bdrms, bunk room, bathroom and family room with FP in the renovated, walk-out basement. Large detached garage & landscaped back garden. A true family home in an amazing location!

SOLD

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Lisa Williams250-514-1966lisawilliams.ca

MODERN & LUXURIOUS WATERFRONT home on a sunny and totally private .86 acre property! Custom ‘05 built 3,856 sq. ft. home is the ultimate seaside retreat ... 3 bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, wall-to-wall windows, high ceilings, incredible finishing, multiple decks and low bank oceanfront access complete with boat launch ... Call for more information!

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Lisa Williams250-514-1966lisawilliams.ca

THIS MAGNIFICENT GATED waterfront estate includes an elegant 5,800 sq. ft. main residence, 3 bdrm guest house, and 2 delightful boathouses... with over 280’ of shoreline, manicured grounds and world-class views! The finest materials were used throughout, with incredible detail, featuring soaring high ceilings, HW floors, massive great rm, gourmet kitchen, glass-roofed grand dining rm, main floor master suite with 8-pce ensuite, and so much more! Totally private setting, and low-bank oceanfront access, tons of sunshine... mins from the airport and 30 mins from downtown!

WATERFRONT RESIDENCE – MEDITERRANEAN DESIGN Beautifully positioned this stunning residence offers the highest level of craftsmanship & state of the arts technology. Grand entry with coffered ceilings & wainscoting, living room with fireplace & dining room with vaulted ceilings. Gourmet kitchen with island & breakfast nook. Family room has access to large deck. Upper level has master bdrm. with private deck, ensuite & walk-in closet, two additional bdrms., main bath plus laundry. Lower level offers media room plus a 1 bdrm. den suite. A must see for the discerning purchaser. MLS #329293

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Robert Young250-385-6900robertyoung.caCelebrating 30 years of award winning real estate service

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Camosun

WORLD CLASS Bear Mountain resort-style living. Stunning ‘Zebra’ designed two level home located on one of the most desirable streets. Fabulous views towards the 18th hole & village area. Great layout with separate living room, in-floor heating, wood floors, excellent detailing throughout, gourmet kitchen with granite and eating island leading to large family room opening to lovely level patio and rear yard. Rear access to private legal two bedroom suite.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GREAT FAMILY HOME? The living room and dining room stretch across the front of the home with picture windows overlooking the private front yard. Offering gleaming wood floors, coved ceilings, sunny southwest family room, three bdrms & an updated bath. Lower level is perfect for guests with 2 or 3 bedrooms, 3 pc and kitchenette. The landscaped garden is great for kids with lots of room to play and plenty of room for a vegetable garden. Single garage, storage & garden shed and plenty of parking.

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WATER FRONT SETTING with private patio/deck right on the ocean. Offers 1,400 sq. ft. on one level with a private entry courtyard/garden & secure underground parking. The suite has had substantial upgrades with tiled interior entry, kitchen, & walk-in master ensuite, and spacious living/dining room with wood burning fireplace off the updated granite kitchen. Enjoy outstanding 180 degree panoramic ocean views to Mt. Baker from the privacy of your front deck.

Camosun

WATERFRONT PROPERTY ON THE GORGE. This 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1,700 sq. ft. home is priced to sell, has solid bones and is waiting for your updates to make this a million dollar view home! Amazing floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room make this home special. Fully upgraded cement patio and perimeter drain tile system for peace of mind. A finished basement with separate entrance and 2 small bdrms could be made into one large one. Need a workshop or double car garage? You got it. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac close to many amenities. Water access is ideal for launching a kayak/canoe...what a bonus!

$599,900

Jeff Bishopt: 250-477-7291c: 250-661-1200jeffreycbishop.com

SOLD

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homePLATE

The onset of spring

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PALM DESERT IS MORE THAN JUST GOLF BY ROBERT MOYES

IT WAS MARCH, AND THE DAMP

drear of Victoria was a fading memory as my wife and I exited the partly open-air Palm Springs airport. The sky was

gloriously blue, and warm air kissed our skin. Soon, we were hailed by my grinning sister-in-law — let the holiday begin! My brother and his wife, who annually flee Victoria for a two-month winter getaway, had invited us down to sunny California. It was a challenge to cram our suitcases in beside the plump golf bags permanently

stowed in the car trunk, but soon, we were headed to their rental rancher in a 300-unit enclave known as The Sandpiper. Within minutes, we’d sailed across Bob Hope Drive, the informal border between Palm Springs and its upstart younger brother, Palm Desert — our home for the next week.

Palm Desert is both a metaphorical and literal oasis: it sits above a massive aquifer that allows for extravagant irrigation projects. The area’s nearly 80 golf courses

and a city of 50,000 simply couldn’t exist without all that water lying beneath the arid, cactus-dotted surface of the Coachella Valley. While I was familiar with flying to Puerto Vallarta for a winter escape, this was a brand new adventure for me. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon trees grow abundantly, a pretty backdrop to a hedonistic place permanently plugged into the good vibrations of a Beach Boys mindset. And the weather is near perfect, as evidenced by the locals and long-term

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winter visitors — more than a quarter of whom are Canadian — sporting summer togs and rotisserie tans.

BEYOND THE LINKS

The auto dealerships promote “golf cars” here, presumably because these tarted-up carts sell for a generous markup. But you don’t have to be a golfer to thrive in Palm Desert — a fact made clear during a whirlwind week that included everything from museum visits to a free afternoon “tailgate” party at the posh Empire Polo Club. We spent hours visiting the quietly spectacular Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, which features desert animals from North America and Africa. And an evening was devoted to the BNP Paribas Open, the fifth-most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

One highlight was Sunnylands, called the Camp David of the West Coast. Built by publishing titan Walter Annenberg, Sunnylands is an architectural masterpiece of so-called mid-century modernism that was created in the middle of what was then trackless desert. The politically influential Annenberg hosted all the American presidents, starting with Nixon. His style was elegant but informal, and important trade and political deals were brokered there — in between unusual socializing such as the time Prince Charles got golf lessons from Bob Hope. Book well ahead to tour the home itself. It’s free, though, to park at the visitor’s centre to stroll the grounds (well distant from the house) and see an informative 20-minute video.

Culture thrives in Palm Desert. The 1,100-seat McCallum Theatre features touring Broadway shows as well as marquee names like Lily Tomlin and Diana Krall. The casual El Paseo Art Walk is an evening “gallery stroll” that happens the first Thursday of the month along several prime blocks of what is considered the local equivalent to LA’s Rodeo Drive. Over a dozen galleries participate, and the artwork is exceptional: from remarkable sculptures to canvases worth up to $1 million. If you prefer your paintings pedigreed, check out the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, a satellite operation that opened in 2012. Small but delightful, the museum is focused on pop art and other, more recent styles. Mostly American artists are featured, including works by superstars such as Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol. The sculpture garden is almost upstaged by its beautiful landscaping and cacti plantings.

PAYING A VISIT TO MARILYN AND LUCILLEAnd speaking of Palm Springs, you really should pay a visit,

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It didn’t take long for us to acclimatize to the pleasurable

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to Palm Desert). It’s hard to miss the 26-foot statue of Marilyn Monroe, her skirt puffed up revealingly in replication of that iconic scene in The Seven Year Itch. Nearby is a life-size Lucille Ball bronze, seated on a bench; her lap is well burnished from the thousands of people who have plopped there for a photo op. The celebrity worship also includes dozens of those Hollywood-style bronze stars on the sidewalk, from Nancy Sinatra to Tarzan’s Cheetah the chimp.

It didn’t take long for us to acclimatize to the pleasurable Palm Desert lifestyle, whether that meant dining in classy yet casual wine bars or simply strolling through attractive neighbourhoods, where environmentally sustainable cacti gardens are becoming the new landscaping norm. Then came a wakeup call the day before we were due to leave: at breakfast, the walls of our rancher rattled and heaved from an earthquake that registered an alarming 4.9. Intense as it seemed to us, it didn’t even faze one of our neighbours. A regular visitor, her reference point was a quake from two years previous that was powerful enough to blow the water — and some swimmers — out of the backyard pools.

A reminder that even paradise has its pitfalls.

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Savouring the canals in southern France by luxury barge

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO GO THE distance as the first tourists to Mars. Others strive to visit the furthest corners of the Earth. Me, my out-of-

this-world vacation was a six-day journey over a mere 85 km, gently cruising along France’s Canal du Garonne on board a 100-foot Dutch “clipper” barge. In its working glory days before trains and roadways made the French canal system almost irrelevant to the transportation of goods, it delivered coal. Today, the Rosa is among the luxury hotel barges shedding

their industrial past and swanked out to accommodate tourists like me wanting to see France — in this case southern France — via a network of watery pathways connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Industry newsletters report one of the fastest-growing segments of cruising is canal and river barging. France has more than 7,500 km of navigable waterways, some quite busy with cruise traffic and others, like the Canal du Garonne, less crowded.

Uninterrupted French blissOkay, it did cost a wad to have a barge

exclusively for our small family get-together. Was it worth it? We got our own captain, a tour guide with a van to drive us, a chef and a manager — who just happened to be an expert on cheese, and would entertain us each lunch and dinner with stories about the history, production and appropriate ways to serve the three cheeses selected for that meal. (By the time we disembarked, we had relished 36 different cheeses.)

In short, our crew ensured that we had six glorious, experiential days starting in Toulouse and absent of any stressful travel logistics. Each day, only one

TEXT & PHOTOS BY CAROLYN HEIMAN

TAKE IT SLOW

TRAVEL FAR

45

Choose your cruise experienceFrance offers a wide range of barging

options. Larger vessels, limited to larger canals and accommodating 50 and more passengers, are typically less expensive — around $1,600 per six nights in the low season — than the smaller luxury barges like ours that get into the range

of $4,000-plus for six nights. Bed-and-breakfast barges fall in the middle, while self-barging, very popular based on the number of penichettes we saw, offers a budget option. Penichettes, flat-bottomed vessels for 6–8, are designed for self-drive cruising, no permit or license required.

Victoria residents Mary Koyl and Marc

decision had to be made: Did we want to take a land tour proposed by our guide, or did we want to walk or cycle on paths that paralleled the canal? (And yes, you could walk faster than the 4 km/h the barge travelled, especially given the time required to pass through locks.) Our guide took us on exclusive tours of a vineyard, boutique Armagnac producer, foie gras farm, marketplaces and historic villages such as Moissac and Nérac. The default alternative was to stay on deck reading, playing cards and snoozing on chaise lounges while the bucolic French countryside passed by.

Staying on board also meant no exercise to counterbalance the gourmet cuisine and perfectly paired wines that awaited us. By day three, we were begging our chef for mercy. His offerings — like saumon fumé (smoked salmon), filet de cabillaud (cod) and the de rigueur confit de canard (duck confit) — were too scrumptious for self discipline and we needed his assistance. Since we were his exclusive guests, he happily offered lighter fare and smaller portions.

Pakenham offer a bed-and-breakfast-and-lunch on board their classic 75-foot Dutch barge Nooit Volmaakt, which has two cabins for guests who accompany them on the Canal latéral à la Loire and Canal du Centre in southern Burgundy. Mary and Marc use their local knowledge from years of barging to guide guests to top spots. As independent, passionate operators, they have considerable latitude to adapt cruises for guests and delight in sharing their expertise.

Marc, who identifies with adventurous travellers, would never discourage anyone from taking a self-drive barge, but comments that it requires more time on board to deal with locks. On our trip, we passed through dozens of unmanned, automated locks and it was quickly evident the value of having an experienced captain and crew to manage this process, which can take time and many hands. Once or twice, automated locks did not function and the captain had to summon service. It was especially on these occasions we appreciated our full-service trip.

So was my barge trip worth it? It will

remain a forever memorable experience for its gentle perspective on France, great food and the easy venue for a mixed generation of family travel.

Carolyn Heiman is dreaming about her next canal cruise, but in the immediate future, she is planning a hiking trip in the Spanish Pyrenees.

The default alternative was to stay on deck reading, playing cards and snoozing on

chaise lounges while the bucolic French countryside passed by.

The fortified village of Nérac was once home to Henri IV and inspiration for Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour Lost.

Opposite page: The Rosa, a 100-foot barge, once delivered coal on the French canals, but now is a luxury hotel barge for tourists.

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A PACKARD REBORN

HRISTOPHER YARROW’S family history is deeply entwined with a grand, pale yellow car — a 1930 Packard phaeton that disappeared from his family, only to come back nearly half

a century later. A descendent of one of Victoria’s most famous industrialists, Christopher knew it was his destiny to find his grandfather’s car and restore it to its former glory.

Christopher has read all the books on his family history detailing the shipbuilding accomplishments of his great grandfather and grandfather. One hundred years ago, his grandfather, Norman Alfred Yarrow, was sent to Victoria by his father, Sir Alfred Yarrow, an English marine engineer who had become a shipbuilding magnate.

Young Norman, also a marine engineer, was to take over an existing shipyard in Esquimalt. In 1912, with the backing of his father, he expanded the shipyard. During the Second World War, Yarrows Shipyard employed more than 4,000 people.

CIn 1930, Norman saw a new Packard

740 four-door convertible phaeton at Victoria’s Plimley Motors. The top-line luxury car had a pale yellow body with black fenders, a black leather interior and a special tonneau windshield to protect rear passengers. A close relative who accompanied Norman to the dealership told Christopher that, when his grandfather inquired about the fuel economy the massive car would deliver, a condescending salesman replied: “Sir, if you have to ask, you likely can’t afford it.”

While offended, Norman went back two days later and shelled out $10,000 for the car. “He wasn’t showy and didn’t want whitewall tires or a fancy hood ornament,” Christopher says. “It was the Depression and I was told my grandfather was very sensitive about anything that would show wealth.” Norman drove his new car to work every day in the fair-weather months and used it to take the family to their oceanfront summer residence at Yarrow Point in Ardmore.

Searching for a Yarrow family legacy

Clockwise from top: Norman Yarrow in his 1930 Packard 740 convertible phaeton; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth ride in the Packard in Victoria during the 1939 royal tour; Norman Yarrow’s daughters Cynthia, 10, at the wheel, and Veryan, 6, in the back seat.

BY ALYN EDWARDS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER YARROW

47

back,” he says.Though the car was taken to his grandmother’s home in

Victoria’s Uplands area for storage in 1989, Christopher resolved to restore it to new condition some day. However, it would remain at his grandmother’s home while he moved up north to work for a time.

In 1999, Christopher was ready at last, commissioning Ray Holman in Cobble Hill to do a full off-frame restoration. While the car was completely “taken to bits,” Christopher transported the engine to Seattle in the back of a pickup truck to be rebuilt by a noted Packard expert.

After 14 months and $150,000, Christopher got the car back in the condition it was in when his grandfather bought it — with the exception that the interior and fenders were changed from black to chocolate brown to more softly complement the pale body colour.

“The restoration of the car honours my grandfather’s memory,” he says. “I was able to take my mom and my aunt out to lunch or for a drive. It brought back the memories of when my grandfather would spend time with them.”

Now that Christopher has completed the Packard, his attention has turned to his own history — finding the 1957 Lincoln he was born in. All he knows is it was a top-line Premiere two-door hardtop in sand beige with a brown and cream leather interior, sold privately in the mid-1960s to someone in Victoria.

“That’s another piece of my family’s history that I would love to bring back to the condition it was when my grandmother bought it new at Gladwell Motors in Victoria,” he says.

Acquiring and restoring his grandfather’s magnificent Packard has been very satisfying. “My grandfather was very conservative in nature but he loved mechanics, engineering and good things,” Christopher says. “I feel very fortunate to have it back in the family, where it will remain.”

Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations company.

A new generation of interest

Christopher, born in 1958, never met his grandfather; Norman died in London at the swish Claridge’s Hotel in 1955. But Christopher has another car intrinsically tied to his life: he was born three years later on the front seat of his grandmother Hope Yarrow’s 1957 Lincoln. His parents were living in Qualicum and were visiting Hope at her home, called Orchard Gate, at Elk Lake at the time. They made it to Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital, but not before Christopher was born in the Lincoln.

As a youngster, Christopher was fascinated with the photographs

of his grandfather’s Packard, which Norman had traded for a smaller Packard 120 in 1937. Christopher often visited the Classic Car Museum in Victoria owned by Packard expert Murray Gammon, who befriended him. When Christopher was 14 years old, he brought Gammon a photo of the King and Queen riding in the Packard; after the car was sold, it was used to carry King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the first royal visit to Victoria in 1939.

“He took one look at the photo, went into his office and came back with the name and phone number of the current owner,” Christopher recalls. “My intention from the get-go was to acquire the car and bring it back into the family.” He has all the BC registration papers showing the owners of the car dating back to his grandfather’s original purchase. Because of this, he knows the venerable Packard ended up for sale at Main Motor Sales on Vancouver’s Main Street in 1950. Victoria car dealer David Carere purchased the car, brought it back to Victoria and kept it until 1956 when vintage car enthusiast Art Fulakwa bought it.

The Packard comes home Christopher connected with Fulakwa and visited him and the

Packard regularly at his home in Port Coquitlam and later on South Pender Island. A strong friendship developed between them and, by 1985, Fulakwa was ready to sell — Christopher could finally bring the car back into the family. “I had always hoped that would happen, so I was thrilled to bits to get the car

“My intention from the get-go was to acquire the car and bring

it back into the family.”

48

FOOD & DRINK

IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN new life is palpable — that first flush of growth as plants push spiky leaves

above the soil and trees sprout their first foliage like an electric green halo.

That’s what’s special about eating newly sprouted seeds, says Jacob Cook. It’s like consuming “the bright spark of life.”

Cook is the force behind Salt Spring Island Sprouts and Mushrooms. You might have seen him passing out samples of his freshly sprouted peas and chickpeas at a local market, or enjoyed a tangle of his spicy alfalfa, red clover and daikon radish sprouts on a sandwich at a local restaurant. They’re popping up everywhere, from grocers like Niagara Grocery and Lifestyle Markets to restaurants like Rebar, Spinnakers Brewpub and Café Bliss.

“Every viable seed, nut, grain or bean

can be sprouted, and when you add water, and prepare a seed to germinate, there’s a freshness about it,” Cook says. “In my hippie parlance, you’re getting the plant while its chi is rising; its vitality is at its absolute peak in the first two to 12 days.” Whilst these seeds are sprouting, they’re releasing a powerhouse of vitamins, enzymes and other compounds that you just can’t get if you used the same beans to cook up a pot of chili or a batch of hummus. It’s mainly because sprouted seeds can be consumed raw — cooking destroys natural enzymes and some nutrients.

Another source for fresh sprouts is Eatmore Sprouts and Greens in the Comox Valley. Find their classic alfalfa sprouts, pea shoots, sunflower greens, broccoli sprouts and more at IGA, Overwaitea, Thrifty Foods and other major grocery stores on the Island.

You can also buy sprouted grains — think wheatgrass for juices or manna bread. Sprouted brown rice, which cooks quicker and softer than regular brown rice, is said to have more nutrients. Sprouted grains have slightly less starch than other whole grains (some is consumed by the sprouting process), and may be easier to digest, too.

Despite their tiny package, sprouts pack a punch BY CINDA CHAVICH

A handful of spring

Sprouts are healthy additions to your morning smoothie. Many, like red cabbage and daikon, are packed with the maximum daily values of vitamins C, K and E.

GROW YOUR OWNGrowing sprouts is child’s play (and, in fact, it’s something kids love). I found a variety of seeds and combos at Lifestyle Markets.

STEPS:Soak organic (non-irradiated) seeds, peas or garbanzo beans in water overnight, then place in a clean mason jar. Cover the top of the jar with several layers of cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band. (Or, buy a sprouting jar with a screen lid.)Leave the jar on the kitchen counter, away from direct sunlight. Rinse and drain your seeds twice each day.

In a few days, your seeds will start to sprout. Start eating them right away, or keep them in the jar until they’re 2–5 cm long. Moving them to the fridge slows growth — they’ll keep in there for 1–2 weeks.

49

This recipe comes from Cowichan Valley chef Bill Jones and his book Sublime Vegetarian (Douglas & McIntyre). The creamy texture of this delicious dressing comes from the raw sunflower seeds — no dairy products required!

CREAMY LEMON DRESSING:½ cup (125 ml) raw sunflower seeds, shelled½ cup (125 ml) waterjuice and zest of 1 lemon1 tsp (5 ml) honey2 tbsp (30 ml) apple cider vinegar¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oilsalt and pepper to taste

SALAD:½ lb (230 g) yellow or green beans1 head iceberg lettuce2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped cilantro1 cup (250 ml) sunflower sprouts

BLEND the sunflower seeds, water, lemon juice, zest, honey and apple cider vinegar in a blender or food processor. ADD the oil in a slow stream, with the machine running, and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve.BRING a pot of salted water to a boil and add the beans. Cook for 7–8 minutes, until bright yellow and tender. Drain and plunge into ice water. When cool, remove and drain well.ROLL lettuce leaves into a log and slice into fine shreds. Place the shredded lettuce in a salad bowl, top with half the dressing and toss. Season with salt and pepper.TO SERVE, divide the lettuce among 4 plates and top with beans. Drizzle remaining dressing over beans. Garnish with cilantro and a bundle of sunflower sprouts.

SHREDDED LETTUCE, BEAN & SUNFLOWER SPROUT SALAD with

CREAMY LEMON DRESSING

PREP 15 mins COOK 10 mins SERVES 4

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From the Rebar Modern Food Cookbook by Audrey Alsterberg and Wanda Urbanowicz (Big Ideas Publishing Inc.), this recipe can be halved or cooked in two batches.

8 ounces (230 g) snow peas, halved1 lb. (454g) package rice noodles, medium width¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup or tomato paste¼ cup (60 ml) fish sauce or mushroom-flavoured soy¼ cup (60 ml) water3 tbsp (45 ml) molasses1 tbsp (15 ml) sambal oelek½ tsp (3 ml) cracked pepper4 tbsp (60 ml) vegetable or peanut oil, divided1 block extra-firm tofu8 large cloves garlic, minced2-3 whole dried red chilies, crushed3 eggs, beaten3 cups (700 ml) bean sprouts (or soybean sprouts)2 bunches scallions, sliced½ bunch cilantro, roughly chopped1 lime4 tbsp (60 ml) roasted peanuts, crushed

BRING a big pot of water to a boil. Add the snow peas and blanch for one minute, until bright green. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl of ice water to cool. Turn off the heat and add the noodles to the water. Let soak 5–8 minutes, until tender (soft enough to eat but still firm). Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside in a colander.WHISK together the ketchup, fish sauce, water, soy, molasses, sambal and pepper. Set aside. DRAIN the tofu and cut into ½-inch cubes. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a nonstick skillet and sauté the tofu until golden.HEAT remaining oil in a large wok over medium high heat. Add the garlic and crushed chilies and sauté until golden, stirring constantly. Add the beaten eggs and scramble until dry and set. Add the noodles and keep stirring to combine. Stir fry for about five minutes, then turn the heat up to high and add the sauce, tofu, bean sprouts and snow peas. Stir until everything is heated through, then add the scallions and cilantro. DIVIDE among individual plates, drizzle with lime juice, sprinkle with peanuts and serve.

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51

FOOD & DRINK

behind the barMARCH'S LIBATION

“THE ORACLE”DIFFICULTY LEVEL

We asked Katie McDonald from

Clive’s Classic Lounge to make the signature

drink she’s most passionate about.

Why is this drink meaningful for you? “This drink is a lot of fun.

The oil provides a warm aroma that is followed by the bright, refreshing initial

sip. As you swallow, the oil (that stays separate from the drink in your mouth) touches your tongue for a soft segue back to a warm walnut finish.”

Visit Clive’s Classic Lounge in the Chateau Victoria, 740 Burdett Ave. to taste The Oracle for yourself. “It has become the ‘bassist of the band,’” Katie says. “It is not on the menu,

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how-to

INGREDIENTS4 large sage leaves

1½ oz (45 ml) Ketel One Vodka1 oz (30 ml) Martini Bianco Vermouth

¾ oz (25 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice½ oz (15 ml) honey syrup*

1 bar-spoon walnut oil

ASSEMBLYIn a shaker, aggressively muddle the sage

leaves. Add the vodka, vermouth, lemon juice, honey syrup and ice and shake. Once the

shaker is fully covered in condensation, double strain** into a coupe glass. Pour walnut oil into your bar spoon, put it into the drink, and gently

stir. Finish with a sage leaf on top.

*Honey syrup:Combine equal parts boiling water

and honey. Let cool.

**Double straining means to use a hawthorn (standard) strainer and a fine (tea) strainer.

TIP: Find walnut oil at Italian Food Imports on Blanshard St.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Desk-approved practices to stop that slouch

HUMANS ARE BORN TO BE

movers — but these days, many office professionals spend hours hunched in chairs, moving

very little. According to Victoria yoga instructor Helga Beer, yoga at work can be a good addition to your office routine. “It releases tension, decreases stress and anxiety, improves concentration and focus, and reduces the risk of injury,” says Beer. “Even if you have no symptoms, preventive self-care can keep problems from developing.”

Perfecting PostureStop passive sitting, which includes

slouching with a C-curvature of the spine and sitting in a fixed and forced upright position. Instead, use an ergonomically correct chair and don’t cross the legs. “Rocking to and fro on a chair eases body stiffness,” Beer says. “Walking every 30

minutes eases the pressure of spinal body weight from sitting.”

Try active sitting. A good start is sitting on “miracle balls” for about 10 minutes. This lifts the pelvis, eases the lower back and engages the core, as the gluteal muscles unclench and sitting becomes more dynamic. Once the balls are removed, the body remembers a dynamic relationship with the chair with less compression on the lower spine.

Activities for Every Day BODY SCAN: Check your whole body for tension. Slowly move and relax every muscle.

REFLECTION: Think of the reasons you go to work, then write a gratitude list and read it every day.

SWITCH HANDS: Use your non-dominant side for daily activities, like

using your computer mouse. It may feel unnatural at first, but will be easier with time.

STRETCH: The best times to stretch your muscles are first thing in the morning, before bed, and after lifting, cooking, gardening and driving.

REMEMBER YOUR CORE: Strengthen your abs by doing core-strengthening work. A good book for this is Yoga Abs by Judith Lasater.

TAKE A BREAK: Turn off your computer and cellphone when possible. Take a day off from your computer every week.

STRETCH THOSE EYES: With your eyes open, slowly move them up and down, sideways and then in a circle. Next, close your eyes and let them retreat to the back of the socket. Breathe and soften the eyes. When you open them, they won’t grab on to what’s on the screen.

BY MARGARET BOYES

take yoga to the OFFICE

53

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STRETCH IT OUT Try doing one or two of these stretches hourly

SIDE BEND: Stand with feet hip-width apart next to your desk,

your right hand placed on it. Inhale and stretch your left arm over your head, then lengthen your left side as you stretch towards the desk. Exhale as you lower the arm. Repeat several times, then

repeat on the other side.

MOUNTAIN POSE: Plant feet firmly on the floor, standing lightly on the heels with straight but not locked knees, pelvis in a relaxed posi-tion, arms to the side with palms facing out, and head balanced and centered. Breathe up the spine, and let it reach up while exhaling.

STANDING LEG STRETCH: Stand and face the side of your chair. Put your heel up on the chair and press into the seat. Extend your leg (without locking the knee) and lean forward with the torso. Repeat with other leg.

CHAIR HIP POSE: Sit on your chair with feet hip-width apart.

Cross your right foot over your left knee. Press the foot in to your left hand. Inhale, then exhale

as you lean forward with your torso. Repeat on the other side.

FINGER & WRIST ROLLS: With your palm up, spread your fingers, then roll them back in quickly, one at a time. Extend fingers out again; roll back in over and over. For the wrist, turn the palm up and use your other hand to press the fingers down-wards. Repeat on other side.

54

FRONT ROW BY ROBERT MOYES

American singer-songwriter Ashley Cleveland is one of the acts scheduled for “Tribute to Nashville,” running weekends through March and April.

NASHVILLE NIGHTSThe Oak Bay Beach Hotel is well into its second season of dinner theatre, and they’re really mixing things up in March and April with a series of notable Nashville performers over eight weekends. Known for their play-it-safe programming, this is a bold jump into the unknown for the OBBH. According to hotel owner Kevin Walker, the idea got started nearly three years when he met Buddy Greene, a celebrated singer-songwriter and virtuoso harmonica player from Nashville. “Buddy and his friend Jeff Taylor performed at a house party for 100 people here in Victoria and I couldn’t believe the quality of the music … the audience just loved them,” Walker says. Later, Greene suggested that he knew lots of great Nashville recording artists who would love to perform in Walker’s brand new hotel. Walker arranged for a music-loving friend of his, Bert Boyd, to liaise with Buddy and help select the acts. “This won’t be your stereotypical country music because Nashville is way more eclectic than people realize,” Boyd says. Take Jeff Taylor, who’ll duet with Greene in early April. One of the top session players in Nashville, Taylor has toured with Elvis Costello, worked with a famed Western swing ensemble, been a regular on Hee Haw and played accordion with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. “Every weekend we’ll have different artists, in a cross-section of what the real Nashville is all about,” Walker says proudly. Spittoons will be in short supply and there won’t be any sawdust on the floor, but those fancy three-course dinners will definitely have lots of Southern flair in honour of the occasion. “It’s going to be intimate and exciting, with the audience just a gentle bun toss away from the stage,” Walker says with a pleased grin.“Tribute to Nashville” runs weekends all through March and April. See oakbaybeachhotel.com for information on the specific acts.

Dorset-born Lindy Michie’s work includes White Flowers and Oranges, (acrylic on board, 20" x 24").

LANDSCAPE TIMES TWOLandscape painting can always fascinate, and an upcoming two-person show at Eclectic Gallery will be a particularly interesting study in contrasts. Belgian-born painter Peter Dowgailenko conveys an Old World charm in his oil canvases, which suggest a lineage of European tradition as filtered through the Group of Seven. And Lindy Michie, who was born in Dorset and comes from a family of distinguished artists, has an ethereal feel to her landscapes (and the occasional still life), which have strong elements of abstraction underpinning their seemingly naïve treatments. According to gallery owner John Taylor, the contrasts don’t stop there. “Peter is a slow and intuitive painter, and he likes how a painting evolves over time as it emerges from the canvas,” Taylor says. “His work is extremely detailed.” Michie’s work may start from a photo or a memory but is more imagination based, and her use of water-thinned acrylic applied in many layers gives an inner light and vibrancy to her canvases that can really draw the viewer in. “Lindy works quickly to get the mood of the moment, but then is freed to be expressive,” Taylor notes.Showing at 2170 Oak Bay Ave. from March 10–April 5. For information, see eclecticgallery.ca.

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Thirty singers, dancers and musicians bring two of French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Baroque operas to life.

TO HELL AND BACKTalk about an exclusive. The Boston Early Music Festival Ensemble is touring a double bill of semi-staged Baroque operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier that were commissioned by the Dauphin of France. Originally performed for aristocrats at the Dauphin’s palace of Fontainebleau in 1686, this historically informed recreation of La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers and La Couronne de Fleurs can only be seen in New York City — and Victoria. Presented by the Early Music Society of the Islands in tandem with Pacific Opera Victoria, this one show is costing about as much as an entire EMSI season and comprises about 30 singers, dancers and musicians. James Young, artistic director of EMSI, saw a performance by the Boston Early Music Festival Ensemble a few years back and was so “blown away” that he didn’t hesitate to book this financially risky show. “The costumes are incredible, and the dancing, an integral part of 17th century opera, really adds to the spectacle,” says Young. Charpentier is often considered the greatest French composer of the 1600s, and combines the French elements of graciousness and polish with a distinctly Italian flair for extravagance. “Charpentier’s music is incredibly engaging,” notes Young. The first work is based on the legend of Orpheus, who descends into the Underworld in a fruitless quest to rescue his beloved. The second, Crown of Flowers, is a nearly plotless pastoral opera about a competition amongst shepherds to see who can sing most beautifully and is really just a vehicle to show off the vocalists. According to Young, the Boston Ensemble, led by lute virtuosos and musicologists Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, is arguably the finest early music group in North America. “We’ve never done anything remotely on this scale before,” he says.Appearing March 14-15, 8 pm, McPherson Playhouse. For tickets, see earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca or call 250-386-6121.

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SWISS MOVEMENTNot many dance companies have a hundred years under their tutus, to say nothing of long affiliations with both legendary dance impresario Sergei Diaghilev and George Balanchine, the 20th century’s most iconic choreographer. So when le Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève makes their debut here with their new production of Roméo et Juliette, it’s a rare opportunity to experience both the past and the future of classical ballet. “Ballet Genève were in decline for a while, but they became resurgent in the 1960s and in the ’70s started that long association with Balanchine,” explains Dance Victoria producer Stephen White. “These days, they have a very fine reputation globally, and their dancers are highly trained and altogether exceptional.” This acclaimed production of Roméo et Juliette premiered in 2009, and features a reduced version of the famed Prokofiev score and a pared down account of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy. According to White, French choreographer Joëlle Bouvier’s vision was to strip away some of the subplots to emphasize the essential elements of the love story. “I think the result is a work of great emotional power,” he says. The ballet runs for 75 minutes with no intermission, and the dancers have shed their tutus and pointe shoes for modern-day costumes. “This is very much a contemporary ballet,” says White. Known for their bold movement and great leaps, the 22 dancers of Ballet Genève are a smaller company and can thus be a bit more varied with their repertoire. They’ve never been to Western Canada, and Victoria is their only Canadian date for this tour. “Balletomanes should love this show, even though it’s not classical ballet,” adds White. “And its emotional eloquence means that fans of modern dance can also relate to it.”Performing March 14–15 at the Royal Theatre. For tickets, see dancevictoria.com or call 250-386-6121.

Switzerland’s Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève makes its first visit to Western Canada, and its only Canadian date on this tour, in March.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANA!When most people turn 79, they invite friends over for cake and a glass of bubbly. Not so for legendary singer Nana Mouskouri, who came out of retirement on her birthday last October to begin another world tour. No stranger to Canada — at one point she had a Canadian manager — Mouskouri returns here to delight the many fans who cherish her throaty, vibrato-rich singing and eclectic repertoire. Mouskouri has recorded more than 1,500 songs and sold an estimated 400 million records in a five-decade career — not bad for an opera student who was booted out of the Athens Conservatory of Music for singing jazz in nightclubs! With musical interests embracing folk, pop, jazz, gospel and French cabaret tunes, the Greek-born multi-linguist has recorded bestsellers in a dozen languages. And, yes, she’ll still be sporting those black-framed glasses that Harry Belafonte tried unsuccessfully to get her to stop wearing during her first big tour in the early 1960s. Ian Case, director of UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium, heard two years ago she was planning a tour and immediately phoned her agent. “Back in the day, everybody had her records,” he says. “She’s important and I really wanted to book her.”Appearing March 30, 8 pm, at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. For tickets, call 250-721-8480.

Nana Mouskouri celebrates her 50-year career by coming out of retirement for her Happy Birthday Tour.

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BY TESS VAN STRAATEN

TALKING TESSfeaturing DONNA ANDERSON

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more than the women’s and vice versa. And I’ve had fabulous people working with me — I wouldn’t be where I am without them. They’re very much a part of the fabric of this business.

How challenging has retail been, particularly in the last five years? Retail has changed dramatically. Obviously, the economic downturn affected everybody quite significantly, but in brick-and-mortar stores like myself, online shopping really took a big segment of sales. I think that’s especially true with the younger demographic that’s so savvy online.

How do you compete with that? I’m not trying to compete with it, per se, because it’s not the type of retail we do. The fashion we sell is not mass marketing. I try to bring in exclusive lines and not a lot of any one thing so it’s special. It’s not cookie cutter, and I think the service is really paramount. It’s that connection with my clients who, over the years, have become

FASHION CAN BE FICKLE, but Victoria’s Donna Anderson has proven she has a keen eye for what people want. As the owner of Hughes Clothing, Donna’s been dressing 20-somethings to 80-somethings at her downtown boutique for almost three decades. But despite the tough retail market, this fashion industry leader isn’t afraid to take a risk, expanding her empire to Uptown. Tess van Straaten talked shop with the down-to-earth fashionista who doesn’t take herself too seriously and says flexibility is key as trends come and go.

You’ve certainly had a long career, working in fashion since 1976 and operating the downtown Hughes store for 28 years now. But it’s a hard industry to be in. Why do you think you’re still here after so many years? Being flexible is crucial; you have to react and adjust accordingly. I’ve also kept a very broad market base, so if there was an area that was a little softer, we had another area to pull us up. Sometimes the men’s lines carry the sales

with

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“It’s that connection with my clients who, over the years, have

become great friends as well.”

great friends as well. I love the interaction, learning about somebody, understanding their needs and wants. The high for me is feeling I’ve fulfilled what they’re looking for and they go out the door happy. It’s the best type of advertising you can get!

Opening the new store at Uptown last September was certainly a risk. What made you decide to do that? I believe in that location — I think it’s a great catchall for the Peninsula, West Shore or people coming from up-Island. The plaza style with streetscape appeals to me. There’s more of a community feel than a mall feel. I’m also finding more people are shopping in their direct community, so if Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain has to go to Mohammed.

The Uptown store’s been open for six months now — how’s it going? It’s like any new business — the wheels are going around, we’re seeing progress and we’re excited about going into the spring. What we’re carrying is similar to downtown but with some different collections. It’s just giving a bit more of Hughes — a bit of a diversification.

It’s also a bit of a full-circle moment for you, in that you’re back at the same location you had your first job (as a buyer for a children’s clothing store at the then Town & Country Shopping Centre). What have you learned about buying for retail over the years? You have to think about your client. I think what happens with some people, and I could say this of myself when I started back in my 20’s, I was buying for me. You go in a showroom and say, “Oh, I want that, and that, and I can see myself in that.” You have to think of your customer — listen to what your client needs. In all sales, it always comes down to communication.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? My dad, who was a businessman, said to me that if you can lay your head down on your pillow at night with a clear mind on the decisions you made that day, then you’re doing what’s right for you. He also instilled a really strong entrepreneurial work ethic in me. I learned very early on that you get out as much as you put in.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

Tess van Straaten is an award-winning journalist, television personality and fourth-generation Victoria native. TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice is a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., a subsidiary

of The Toronto Dominion Bank. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. – Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. The TD logo and other trademarks are the property of the Toronto Dominion Bank, as a wholly-owned subsidiary in Canada and/or other countries.

Roderick MacMillan, B.Comm (Hons) FSCI, CSWPInvestment AdvisorTD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice1070 Douglas Street, 5th FloorVictoria, [email protected]

www.rodmacmillan.com

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LADY LUCK, MEET MISS HAP

WRY EYE

BY SHANNON MONEO

iT BEGAN AS AN UNLUCKY EVENT on a warm day in heavy rush hour traffic in the family’s red Jeep Liberty, otherwise known as Miss Hap. Hubby Mitch was out of town, and I was on my way home to Sooke from an interview downtown.

Now, I’m one of those people who knows little about vehicles. A recent exploit was learning how to engage the four-way flashers. I can lift the hood, but beyond that, it’s all Greek — or is that Grease? — to me.

Driving down Burnside Road, past Tillicum Mall, I heard beeps coming from the dashboard. I looked for a warning light, but nothing. I continued toward the McKenzie Avenue intersection and as I came up the rise by the Pacific Forestry Centre, acrid smoke began pouring out of Miss Hap’s hood, nothing to do with burning forests.

And so began a series of lucky strikes.

Just a little leakyWhile it wasn’t wide, there was a shoulder. When I pulled

over, the vehicle in front of me, a small truck, immediately pulled over, too.

Just as soon as the truck stopped, a nice-looking younger man hopped out and came to my window and told me to open the hood. He’d spotted Miss Hap’s smoking front in his rear-view mirror, he said.

He then checked the temperature gauge, which revealed that

Calling all local photographers

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Miss Hap was having a major hot flash. So was I.Miss Hap was turned off. I won’t say what I was.Now, my knight in slightly-shining armour just happened

to be a tow truck operator. Is that unbelievable or what? Mechanically inclined, he checked under her hood and

looked under her chassis. He’d already spotted a tell-tale sign, a rivulet of liquid that had leaked into the ditch after I stopped.

Miss Hap wasn’t going anywhere, he told me. The scarlet lady had suffered a coolant leak. Being a tow truck driver, he offered to call his company, Totem Towing, who would retrieve the ailing Miss Hap.

“Yes, please call because I don’t have a cell phone,” I said.He dialed his dispatcher, who

said a big, healthy tow truck would arrive in about 30 minutes to pick up the indisposed Miss Hap.

Now, I had to decide whether I would stay with Miss Hap or take a ride, as offered by my saviour, to Langford, where he lived, and then find a way home to Sooke. I figured I couldn’t abandon Miss Hap.

My gentleman bid adieu and Miss Hap and I began our wait.Being the antsy type, I paced, scanning for the much-

anticipated Mr. Big. Traffic was particularly bad that day because of a crash on the nearby Trans-Canada.

But it’s times like these when you realize that many fine

people travel the roads. I had to wait about one hour for the tow truck. In that time, roughly 20 motorists slowed down or stopped to ask me if I needed help. On two occasions, drivers pulled over and called Totem to get the status of Mr. Big.

tired of waitingFinally, Mr. Big showed up. As a four-by-four girl, Miss Hap

couldn’t be towed on her back wheels. She had to be placed on Mr. Big’s flatbed. It didn’t take long to hike up Miss Hap and secure the damsel in distress.

But I still had to get home.Since the driver was headed

into Victoria to the garage where Miss Hap would spend a few days with fellow malfunctioning types, I got him to drop me off on the Trans-Canada at a bus stop.

With the Sooke bus approaching, I stupidly jaywalked so I wouldn’t miss it, avoiding an hour wait. Lucky I carry cash in my wallet.

I got into Sooke, hustled to Western Foods where I knew they had a courtesy phone, and called a cab. By 8 pm I was home.

I still don’t have a cell phone, still have Miss Hap and am contemplating a trip to Vegas.

“Miss Hap was turned off. I won’t say what I was.”

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Your most coveted art tool?Right now, chopsticks dipped in ink. I love the balance between freedom, control and happy accidents that they offer.

What are you most looking forward to this year?Artistically, my very first solo exhibition in Canada at The Gallery at Mattick’s Farm in May. I am working on a series called “Drawn to the Edge,” about my need to be near the sea and the attraction that Victoria’s colour and light hold for me.

Your all-time favourite book? Absolutely anything by the modern philosopher Alain de Botton. I find him so refreshingly original.

And your philosophy of life?There is always a positive to be found in a seemingly negative situation and sometimes, it is better to be happy than to be right.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

Who are you, Blythe Scott?Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, I moved to Victoria just over a year ago. I am a creator of mixed media art, drawings and prints. I am also a passionate art teacher.

Where do you find your inspiration?To me, being an artist is a mindset. I live in a constant state of feeling open to new inspiration. One prevalent theme is architecture. Glasgow is architecturally rich — no doubt what ignited my obsession with the built environment. I feel most alive amongst stone, wrought iron and stained glass.

Who was your mentor?My secondary school art teacher. She died prematurely, but lived her life in a passionate way. She encouraged me to go to art school, taught me almost everything I know about teaching, and even set me up on a blind date with my husband 15 years ago, so I owe her a lot!

Where would you love to paint?Lately, I have enjoyed studying the views

from Gonzales Hill in Victoria. If I had to choose one place — Venice. I got married there, but I’d love to spend four seasons to fully explore its less-known corners. If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose?If you could just drop me off in Montmartre in the mid-19th century, I’ll take my chances and see which artists I run into.

The most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?It’s usually only with hindsight that I realize how adventurous I have been. At 23, I took a job in Tokyo, not knowing the language and being completely inexperienced in the field. Taking yourself from your usual context makes you immediately bolder.

What supernatural ability would you like to have?The ability to live multiple lives concurrently. There is so much I’d love to do and I’m always anxious that I’ll not be able to fit it all into one life.

SECRETS & LIVES

with BLYTHE SCOTT, 44 ARTIST

BY KATE LAUTENS

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