signs of spring - westvanbeacon.ca · russian writer, maxim gorky, once wrote that “happiness...

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“Shedding light on Caulfeild and neighbouring communities” March 2014

IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

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March 20, International Day of Happiness

Since the beginning of time philosophers and poets have pondered this thing called happiness. What is it, really? Where can we find it? And why are some people apparently perpetually happy, and others, well…not?

In 2012 the General Assembly of the United Nations recognized happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world, declaring March 20 International Day of Happiness, with this message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon: "On this first International Day of Happiness, let us… renew our pledge to help others. When we contribute to the common good, we ourselves are enriched. Compassion promotes happiness and will help build the future we want." Russian writer, Maxim Gorky, once wrote that “Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.” So, on this second International Day of Happiness, we at The Beacon wish you and your loved ones a day filled with the good stuff. n

INSIDEINSIDEINSIDETHISTHISTHIS

EDITIOEDITIOEDITIONNN

SIGNSSIGNSSIGNSOFOFOF

SPRINGSPRINGSPRING

The sunrise at Eagle Harbour Yacht Club. nPhoto credit: Lindy Pfeil

THE BEACONPAGE 2 MARCH 2014

HAPPINESS IS...More Than Just A Smile On Your Face

PSYCHEDOUTIan

Macpherson

In the search for true happiness many look to the east: would you believe Philadel-phia? It is home to the Positive Psychol-

ogy Center (PPC) directed by Prof. Martin Seligman, someone who has made the New York Times list of the most influential think-ers of our time. His passion? How you can make yourself the happiest you can be. Everybody knows a Debbie or a Danny Downer. Even when their cup of good fortune overflows, they worry about flood damage! Unfortunately there is some truth to the seemingly natural-born tendency to pessi-mism - or optimism for that matter. But other influences, such as family relationships, help shape our values and attitudes towards life. And society also has its impact. For example, for every contented Russian, there are two satisfied Germans and five happy Danes. But

don’t despair: our friendly “happiologists” insist that about 40% of our ability to maxi-mize our bliss is in our own hands. If I think I am happy, no one can argue with me. But how would I know that my neighbor is not even happier? And a great deal of perception is illusion, so maybe I am just kidding my-self. Seligman and the PPC to the rescue! They have turned a formerly abstract, any-body’s-guess concept into a science. They have concluded that pleasurable feelings and joyful emotion are important but only a part of what humans are really looking for in their “pursuit of happiness”. In fact, Seligman and company believe the term “happiness” is over-rated and misguides us in our quest. As a result, positive psychology now focuses on well-being as the condition we really seek. Besides experiencing the positive emotions, there are four other elements that make up well-being: engagement, achieve-ment, positive relationships and meaning. Engagement refers to a single-minded com-mitment to a long-term pursuit that calls for our best abilities and absorbs our attention and interest. It’s the journey, not the destina-tion, isn’t it? But it really is the destination

too. We also strive towards goals and want to bask in the glory of our accomplishments. Interestingly, the path needs to be somewhat difficult or it will not be so rewarding. Third-ly, we humans are all “wired” to be social - to support and care for others. Without this, only die-hard hermits might believe they have achieved nirvana. Finally, meaning in our lives is key. Simply defined, it is know-ing that we are a part of something important that is bigger than ourselves. It might have a religious or spiritual flavor but not necessari-ly so. The other elements are usually a part of this sense of meaning. The PPC has determined that un-derlying these well-being elements are “sig-nature strengths” that we all have in varying amounts. To move towards authentic happi-ness, we can identify and capitalize on our personal signature strengths. n

Ian Macpherson is a psychologist and psychotherapist living and practicing in Caulfeild.

www.westvancouvertherapist.com

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WHATMAKESYOUHAPPY?

"There are lots of things that make me

happy. I think this is because my family and I spend a lot of time talking about what

we are thankful for. I've learned that when I pay attention to the good things - even small things

like touching my fuzzy socks or noticing a colour-ful bug - that finding a happy moment is pretty

easy. And in Caulfeild there's lots that I'm thankful for, like: walking my dog on the trails through the forest, the alligator lizard that lives in my

yard and suntans on my driveway in the summer, the stellar jays that come for

snacks on my deck…"

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THE BEACONTEAM

The BeaconTeam

THE BEACON PAGE 3MARCH 2014

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HAPPINESS & MINDFULNESSCultivating It In Your Kids

PARENTINGLouiseClarke

It is said that mindfulness gives us the ability to sustain happiness. So what exactly is it?

Mindfulness is about learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds with an open mind, curiosity and kindness. The benefits of mindfulness help you achieve peak performance in whatever it is you do, improve physical health, improve sleep and concentration, lower stress and op-timize creativity. It is thought that our minds spend up to 50% of the time rehashing the past or projecting the future, paying little attention to the present. In developing mindfulness, we need to learn how to shift our minds from the dominant thinking mode to the sensory mode and then develop the capacity to keep the vol-ume turned up on our senses to focus on the

and taste what they eat. Asking them ques-tions about what they are sensing and encour-aging them to express this is a good way to start. Try this simple but powerful exer-cise to become more mindful: shut your eyes and breathe in deeply for your own count of 7 and then breathe out, at your natural pace, counting to about 11. Repeat this for a few

minutes. This is known as the 7/11 mindful-ness exercise. Some schools in our district are now starting to incorporate mindfulness into their daily routines. Students at Eagle Harbour Montessori School practice an exer-cise similar to this one, twice a day. In today’s busy world, many of us have lost the capacity to be mindful com-pared to generations past where there were fewer distractions, especially digital ones, and being mindful was just a way of being. As parents, we need to remember to teach our children this vital life skill so that it becomes a part of who they are, and we need to take the time to practice it ourselves. n

Louise Clarke, an Adlerian Parenting Facilitator, lives in Eagle Harbour with her husband and three children.

www.yourparentingpartner.com

For more information visit:

www.mindwellcanada.com

here and now. As the saying goes: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift we call the present”.

In short, we need to feel the doing and encourage our children to do this, to fo-cus on their senses and take the time to really hear the sounds, see the sights, smell the air

Photo credit: Lisa Day & WVSD

Christine

I spend a lot of time in Starbucks. It’s my

“writing office”, and I love the people who work there. Christine is one of them. She

has, as the saying goes, a “light” that she carries with her, that makes it impossible to be unhappy when in her presence. So of course I picked her

brain about happiness. This is what does it for her: “Making others feel good. Spending time with my family and close friends. Doing things that

make me feel accomplished and productive. Sharing great experiences with some-

one. And traveling.” Yuna, Owen, J in-Woo, Sun-Ah

Every Tuesday afternoon two sets

of siblings skip happily up the stairs at St Francis-in-the –Wood Church, bringing

their ‘happy energy’ with them into the gym. So I asked them what makes them happy.

Four-year-old Owen is happiest when he is skiing or playing soccer. His sister, Yuna (age 6), loves singing and dancing. Sun-Ah (also age 6) says that everything from the movie Frozen makes her happy. Her four-year-old brother, Jin-Woo, answers that the castle that he is wishing for

for his fifth birthday will make him so happy! Mum and dad take note.


REJUVENATE YOUR BODYTry a delicious green smoothie today

Green Smoothie Recipe

2 ripe bananas1 cup raspberries1 cup blueberries1 cup blackberries

2 – 3 handfuls spinach*2.5 – 3 cups filtered water

- Blend all ingredients, and enjoy!

*start with less and gradually add more to suit your taste.

HEALTHYLIVING

TishaBryant

It’s that time of year again and after months of over overindulging, your body will be ready for some TLC. The best

way to instigate lasting change to your diet is to add green smoothies. Just one glass daily will give you the most amazing benefits: nu-trient-rich, loaded with fibre, low in fat, ex-cellent for digestive health, and anti-aging, it reduces sugar craving, supports the immune

system, aids weight loss, rejuvenates and results in better sleep. Research has shown that people who incorporate blended greens into their daily lives naturally begin to eat healthier, live foods. Smoothies are great for everyone. If you have kids, get them to help prepare using their favorite fruits. Ideally, the mix should be 60% fruit, 40% green. Why don’t you try a 5 day green smoothie challenge! I guarantee that you will look and feel amazing. If you want to take your green smoothie challenge further, I recommend Victoria Boutenko’s book Green for Life. n

For more healthy tips visit Tisha at:www.apinchoflovely.me

Maureen Goulet (left, with Guest Chef Karen Barnaby) is the owner of Ambrosia Cooking School.

www.ambrosiaadventures.com

A CULINARY VIEWTime For Kaleby Maureen Goulet

As the owner of Ambrosia Cooking School in West Vancouver, I have met some amazingly talented Chefs.

Karen Barnaby is one of them. Karen worked

at the Fish House for 17 years and is present-ly working in recipe development for Albion Fisheries, Intercity Meat Packers and Fresh Start Produce. And Karen’s Kale salad is one of my favourite recipes. If you haven’t yet heard, kale it is the new super food. It ranks 100 on the nutri-ent food scale which means it’s just about the best thing you can do for your body! It’s an excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C and K. It is also high in calcium without any of the saturated fats or allergies associated with cow’s dairy milk. Karen recommends doing the kale massage to break down this hearty leaf, so not only does the salad taste great but you get a workout making it too! n

Kale, Date, Bacon, Apple and Avocado Salad(serves 4)

1/8 tsp sea salt1 tbsp olive oil 2 bunches of Kale 6 slices of cooked bacon1 cup chopped pitted dates¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves½ cup chopped pecans1 avocado, cut into bite size pieces1 Fuji apple, cored and diced

Dressing6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 tbsp maple syrup2 tbsp lemon juice1 tbsp light miso1 clove minced garlic

Wash, dry and remove the rib from the Kale.Tear into bite-size pieces.

Add the sea salt and oil to the kale and start to massage it until the kale is bright green and soft. The kale should crackle a little as you massage it.

Combine the Kale with the rest of the ingredients. Add the dressing and serve.

Enjoy!

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On Saturday, May 10, from 1 till 5 pm, a very special event will be held in the Lily Lee Spirit Room, in the

West Vancouver Community Centre. The West Van Gogos (an African word for grand-mothers) will be holding an exhibition and auction of over 100 children’s chairs, beau-tifully decorated by very talented BC artists. You have a chance to own one of these in-credible treasures! If you would like to bid on any of these enchanting chairs before May 10, or you would like to preview them, there will be a website available from March until May 10. Keep an eye out for posters in local stores and businesses for more details about the online auction. The West Van Gogos are grand-mothers and grandothers (one of more than 240 groups across Canada), who are sup-porting the African grandmothers of over 14 million children orphaned by AIDS. In many Sub-Saharan countries, 40-60% of children

live in grandmother-headed households. Of-ten, there are as many as 10 children in one household and these grandmothers desperate-ly need help to provide food, clothing, shel-ter, education, health care, HIV prevention, grief counseling and so much more for their bereaved grandchildren. All profits from this event will go to the Grandmothers to Grand-mothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation which funds community-based organizations in 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Field representatives from the Ste-phen Lewis Foundation visit these organiza-tions regularly to ensure that there is a strong connection to the community, an ability to implement the funded programs and financial accountability. These indomitable African grand-mothers are striving courageously to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS, so that another generation will not be lost, and they greatly need and appreciate our support. You may walk away with a charming piece of BC art, as well! n

HELPING TURN THE TIDEBC Artists Decorate Children’s Chairs

by Margot Carter

Margot Carter is a Caulfeild resident and member of the West Van Gogos.

www.grandmotherscampaign.org

Magnificently painted chairs that will be available for auction on May 10, along with several more masterpieces created by talented BC artists. nPhoto credit: West Vancouver Gogos.

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ROCK`N`ROLLVALENTINESMotown, R&B, Hip Hop, Country and Balladsby Jan Volker

With a start time of 8pm, the evening of Saturday, February 15 took a while to get going due to the gale

force winds and rain that descended on Caul-feild. But when revelers eventually arrived they took little time to get into the swing, rock and roll. Beautiful Caulfeild Cove Hall, with its trademark vaulted, beamed and lit ceil-ings, typically lends itself to a classical con-cert, but once the dance floor filled, the strobe lights flashed and the familiar old numbers blasted out, it seemed the perfect venue for rock ‘n’ roll. The backdrop at the end of the dance floor - an enormous screen with ro-tating pictures of Rock greats performing on stage – was a huge hit. Kudos to the organiz-ers.

DJ Michael James knew exact-ly how to please the crowd. The artful mix of the Beatles, Elvis, Huey Lewis and Ste-vie Wonder with Billy Joel and Adele, kept the partying dancers on the floor all night. When Michael felt the crowd needed a break his lovely daughter, Brianna, won our hearts with her beautiful solo melodies that includ-ed Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why and Billy Paul’s Me and Mrs Jones. The evening ended with a special request from retired West Vancouver mayor, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, that was granted without hesitation.... Lady Gaga! The overwhelming verdict from the very happy attendees? “You guys should have one of these events every month. This is great!” We hope the organizers oblige. n

DJ Michael James sings for the revelers at the Rock`n`Roll night. nPhoto credit: Capture The Moments Media.


Safeway is proud to support local farmers and producers. See our wide range

of local products throughout the store.

You’re invited to

A place for families celebrating community

4th Saturday of the month from 4-6pm

March 22 April 26 May 24 June 28

Crafts, Songs, Drama & Dinner!Fun for all ages!

We hope to see you there!

Messy Church

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH

The audience was treated to one of the best concerts I have ever experienced at St. Francis-in-the-Wood when Dr. Boris Konovalov, a pianist originally

from Russia, performed there on the afternoon of January 26. At age eleven, Boris won first prize at the All-Si-beria piano competition, and at 21 he won the All-Rus-sia piano competition in Kazan. Since then he has toured many countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Canada and the US. He has released several CDs and also teaches piano.

Those of us lucky enough to see him at St Fran-cis, were privy to his flare in playing passages which re-quire breakneck speed. Some of the highlights of the day

A CLASSICAL AFTERNOON BESIDE THE COVEwere Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, and Beetho-ven’s Piano Sonata 21, which requires simultaneous pedal trill, high melody, and rapid left-hand runs.

Dr Konovalov played Russian composer, Rach-maninoff’s Five Preludes with wonderful authority and technical control, flair and panache. But it was his render-ing of Chopin’s Funeral March, from Sonata 2, which was played at both JF Kennedy and Sir Winston Churchill’s funerals, that brought the most enthusiastic applause from the audience, some of whom were his pupils.

Boris’ concert pianist wife, Irina, will be per-forming at the Silk Purse in West Vancouver on Thursday, March 20. n

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD CHURCH4772 Piccadilly Road South

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Services

(with Sunday School)8am10am10am

Sundays

Wednesdays

WHAT`S HAPPENING...At St. Francis-in-the-Wood?

by Rodney Glynn-Morris

Planning a wedding?St Francis-in-the-Wood has been the choice of brides for their Vancouver weddings

for over 80 years. During that time little has changed in this little piece of heaven that is known as Caulfeild Cove, beside Lighthouse Park on West Vancouver’s waterfront.

For information: www.stfrancisinthewood.ca/ministries/weddings


Bank with us.

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As a member of the Caulfeild community for over 25 years, we understand you’re looking for a bank you can trust, with a wide range of financial products and services to meet your unique needs.

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West Vancouver School District continues to build on its tradition of Fine Arts excellence through a

variety of new and well-established programs offered in all 17 of our public schools. This year our Performing and Cre-ative Arts showcase – Lighthouse Festival 2014 – will once again celebrate the out-standing work of students and staff in the “premier place for learning.” In partnership with Park Royal and the North Shore News, an exciting line-up of visual art displays as well as choral, the-atre, dance, and band performances will take centre stage at Park Royal South from April 8-17. “We look forward to celebrating the exceptional talents of our students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Many students have spent years honing their skills under the

direction of the inspiring Fine Arts teachers in our district,” says West Vancouver School District Director of Instruction, Lynne Tom-linson. A perfect example of enriched learning and strong leadership in the Fine Arts is the recently launched District Honour Choir. This high calibre program challenges and extends the learning of the district’s fin-est choral singers from Grades 7-12. Led by choir director Suzanne Fulton, the program includes both a co-ed and women’s-only choir. New this year is Art West 45, a full-day Visual Arts program for students in grades 10-12 with a passion for art. This course is being offered at West Vancouver Secondary School and is open to all students in the district who may be planning to work or study in the field beyond Grade 12. n

FINE ARTS EXCELLENCEby Carolyn Warner

School District Continues Building On Tradition

West Vancouver School District Honour Choir students demonstrate their passion for singing during one of many performances held in the community this year. Students currently in Grades 6-11 interested in auditioning for next year’s Co-ed and Women’s Choir need to apply by March 12. nPhoto credit: West Vancouver School District

Are you between the ages of 12 and 20? Do you live on the North Shore? Then you are eligible to enter a photo contest on IDENTITY running for the month of March. Go out into your community and take photos that represent what makes you who you are, issues that are important to you, photos that depict what life is like for youth living on the North Shore.

The contest closes on April 1st. Photos can be taken with digital cameras or smart phones. Email original photos to [email protected] . This contest is being run by the North Shore Restorative Justice Society. Once you have emailed your photos, they will be posted on NSRJ’s Instagram account (northshorerj). The photo with the most “likes” on northshorerj at the end of every week will win a prize. Prizes will be awarded at a public event on Thursday April 10th. At this time a giant mural of the photos will be created, which is why original photos need to be emailed. Images from Facebook, Instagram, or other online sources do not have high enough resolution for printing. Restorative Justice is a philosophy that looks at conflict as a breakdown between people and relationships. It is deeply committed to giving North Shore Youth a voice.

For more information visit their website at www.nsrj.ca or email [email protected]

Presented by the North Shore Restorative Justice Socie PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTFor Youth On The North Shore


I am a dance teacher. I spend my days in tights and wings, sprinkling fairy dust on imaginary forest creatures. My life is

filled with small stuff. Like tambourines and glitter. But it’s also filled with the most in-credible children. Children like Alice.* Alice was the first special needs child I ever taught. She flinched if you touched her, and covered her ears if the mu-sic was too loud. Her skin was hypersensitive to the smallest irritation so she wouldn’t wear tights or ballet shoes. I wanted desperately to help Alice. I wanted her to love to dance, to be happy, to have friends…all things she struggled with. But I am a ballet teacher, and if you have first-hand experience of ballet teachers, you will know that we’re a picky lot. And when it comes to recital time, well, ‘obsessive’ is the word that comes to mind. I have learnt over the years that for little girls (and us bigger ones too) it’s all about the outfit. The lure of a beautiful tutu will enlist prima donna cooperation far more readily than most anything else on earth. I had beautiful costumes planned for Alice’s class. Alice was as excited as the other fair-ies-to-be. But actually wearing this gorgeous tulle contraption was going to be tricky for

her. I gave Alice’s mother her costume weeks before the recital. That way she could try it on a few times, get used to the texture, the smell, the newness. It worked! I was thrilled. But tights and ballet shoes would be a no-go. I put on a brave face and reassured her mother that I would survive should Alice go onstage with naked legs and feet. I told Alice that no-one would notice, that I wanted her to feel comfortable, to have fun, to experience the magic of being in the spotlight. I lied. What I really wanted was twenty pristine fairies all identically clad. All wearing pink tights and ballet shoes. But I was supposedly the adult here, so I grudgingly came to terms with my flawed fairies. I knew that Alice’s needs were infinitely more important than

my unrealistic desire for perfection. Ballet teachers accept, on some cerebral level, that perfection doesn’t exist, but it doesn’t stop us from desiring it. Desperately. And so recital day dawned. I hoped that the three hundred people in the auditori-um would be so focused on the flouncy tutus that they wouldn’t see the nineteen-plus-one pairs of unmatching feet. But I just knew that that would be the first thing they would notice. What I didn’t know was that Alice’s mother had bought her ballet shoes…just in case. She had tried, in vain, to get her to wear them at home. Alice couldn’t bear the scratchiness. But she had brought them with her to the theatre anyway. If you have ever put on a recital with eighty ballerinas under the age of eight, you will know that there isn’t much time to

OPINIONLindyPfeil

breathe. My four-year-old clowns got stuck onstage. They had suddenly spotted their parents in the audience and decided to stick around to wave to them, effectively block-ing the fairies’ entrance. From where I was standing, sweating profusely, it was not fun-ny. And the laughter from the audience only prolonged the agony. It was only halfway through the fairy dance that I noticed…all of them were wearing ballet shoes! I panicked. Where was Alice? Damn! I should have been there to help her. How could I face her moth-er knowing she’d got stuck backstage? What kind of teacher was I anyway? But then I saw her beaming face onstage. And her feet. In the chaos, Alice had decided to put on her new ballet shoes.

I don’t recall much after that real-ly. When she came off stage she grabbed me with both arms. I collapsed onto my knees and hugged her hard. This child who had flinched when I’d touched her just months before. We stood in the wings and her smile lit up the darkness. She whispered into my cheek “This was the best day ever”. And I felt my heart pounding in my throat.

It was Alice who was responsible for my journey that continues to this day, one that has taken me through the most fascinat-ing places, places that have included autism, dyslexia, ADHD, Brain Gym, BrainDance, sensory integration... and one that has intro-duced me to the most courageous children in the universe. Children who step bravely into their fear every day. They walk into my life with their candor and they give me their trust. And we dance. Together. They have shown me how dance taps into something primal and universal… otherworldly… and how miracles can happen in an instant. Yes, my life is filled with small stuff - the same stuff that very big dreams are made of. n

THE SMALL STUFFTaking It One Day At A Time

Photo credit: Lindy Pfeil

FREE DANCE CLASS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

To celebrate International Dance Day on Tuesday, April 29, Karma in Motion and St Francis-in-the-Wood Church invite you to a preschool dance class from 12:30-1:15. Participation is free but registration is required as space is limited.

Please email [email protected] to register.


PEOPLE& PROFILES

ChrisStringer

CAULFEILD’S OWN CRAIG YEATSAll About The Talented, Homegrown Artist

Craig Yeats is, without a doubt, one of Vancouver’s most exciting artists. His career spans more than thirty years,

beginning when a local gallery, Alderson’s Fine Arts, carried his small water colours while he was still at school. Craig later studied art at the Ring-ling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, earning the Lauren Wilford Schol-arship in 1973 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting in 1974. He went on to ob-tain a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1977. Craig grew up in Caulfeild, at-tending Caulfeild Elementary and then Hill-side. It was during these years that he could be found painting on the rocks in Caulfeild Park, Caulfeild Cove and in Lighthouse Park. It was here that Craig developed his love and devotion for art and knew that his life would be devoted to it. An avid sailor as a boy, Craig raced at the West Vancouver Yacht Club. This was where he learned to depict the dramatic changes in the natural elements of the sea and sky on his canvasses. His skill has evolved into powerful renditions of natural land-scapes, BC coastlines, Vancouver Cityscapes and yachting-related themes, for which he is now renowned. Equally, his distinctive style creates impressive and arresting still life and floral works. Twenty-five years ago Craig opened his small art gallery on Marine Drive in West Bay. It was not only his gallery but also his studio, so art-lovers could watch him

in action. Countless paintings adorn homes in West Vancouver. Five years ago The Yeats Studio and Gallery opened in Dundarave on 24th and Marine where Craig can be observed as he works on his current painting. Last year he expanded his gallery next door allowing more space for displaying paintings. In the combined space he also displays the works of Shirley Thompson and Karen Bagayawa. Craig’s works are in great demand, and can be found in private and corporate col-lections locally and internationally. Corpo-rate collections include Bull Housser Tupper, Teck Corporation, The Insurance Institute of British Columbia, Odlum Brown, Campbell Learn Zenk, Clark Wilson and Pinton Forrest & Madden. n

Craig Yeats hard at work in his studio in Dundarave. nPhoto credit: Chris Stringer

Yeats Studio and Gallery is in West Vancouver BC; he is also represented by the following art consultants and galleries:

• Bezanson Art Consulting Vancouver, BC

• Brights Gallery Collingwood, ON

• Gainsborough Galleries Calgary, AB

• Rendezvous Art Gallery Vancouver, BC

Evening Race Reflections (12 x 24) - Craig Yeats

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It’s easy to ignore a sparrow or to scorn a crow but it’s hard to hate a humming bird. These tiny birds glitter with emerald and

ruby iridescence. They hover and whiz like darts powered by nervous energy. They are feisty and friendly and they feed on flowers. What could be more lovable? Suann Hosie has been a passionate birder for more than 35 years and in that time she has learned a great deal about these fly-ing jewels. She was born in Saskatchewan, but her career as a veterinarian took her to California and it was there, after volunteer-ing to rescue oil-coated seabirds, that her in-terest in ornithology began. In 1978, when she returned to Canada and settled in Lower Caulfeild, she started to keep detailed records of the birds she was seeing and hearing from her townhouse. Her list of species (yard list in birding parlance) has reached 109. “That total is unlikely to increase,” Suann explains as she thumbs through her notebooks, “but my records of arrival and departure dates for migrating birds will keep growing, especially for the engaging little Rufous Hummingbird. The Rufous hum-mers usually leave BC in September but on December 6, 1997, I photographed one that stayed around my feeder for a couple of weeks. That was very unusual. They nor-mally reappear after the middle of March, when salmonberry and red-flowering currant start to bloom, but I noted an early arrival on March 6, 2004.” “It always seems like a miracle,” Suann marvels. “They weigh only a few grams - less than a nickel - and yet they fly all the way from Mexico or California. Every year it’s a thrill to see them. Ruby-throated

hummers cross the Gulf of Mexico nonstop, and because this seems impossible, people used to think they hitched rides on the back of geese.” The Rufous is not the only hum-mingbird species to appear in the notebooks. The slightly larger Anna’s Hummingbird also features. Suann explains: “West Vancouver has played a special role in the Anna’s histo-ry. In the past, they very rarely wintered in BC, but in the 1970s the population seems to have shifted slightly northward. A few peo-ple around Caulfeild Park and Rose Crescent began to feed them regularly. As more birds survived the winter, more feeders appeared and now the Anna’s have become com-mon residents. Our area may still support the densest winter population in the Lower Mainland.” Are we harming them with artificial feeding? “It doesn’t seem so, but although we have a few plants that flower in winter, the birds do depend on us. Through the night, in frosty weather, they perch in a sheltered spot, fluff up their feathers - perfect insula-tors – and tuck in their feet. Their heart rate and body temperature drop and they survive in this torpid state until daybreak when they urgently need to refuel. Frozen sugar water must be replaced or thawed out by dawn. Some people rig up heaters.” Feeders, of course, have to be kept clean and filled. Suann prefers the shallow flying saucer types, which are easy to ster-ilise and allow the birds to perch as they lap up sugar water. She makes up a mix with one cup of sugar to three and one half cups of boiling water. Both Rufous and Anna’s humming birds have dramatic mating displays. “The male Anna’s climbs until he’s a mere speck in the sky and then swoops suddenly, producing an explosive squeak that’s made by vibrating the outer tail feathers. Only a bird plummet-ing at improbable speed can do it. While this dare-devil performance goes on, the female sits quietly on a twig in judgment.” Definitely lovable! n

MOUNTAINSTO SEAElspeth

Bradbury

213-1455 Bellevue AvenueWest Vancouver

778 893 [email protected]

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FLYING JEWELS

Suann Hosie changes the sugar water in her humming-bird feeder. nPhoto credit: Chris Stringer

Male Anna’s hummingbird, taken in the summertime. nPhoto credit: Tony Marple

A Female Anna’s humming-bird makes a pit stop at Su-ann’s hummingbird feeder during a snowy day in late February. nPhoto credit: Suann Hosie


It was the only cruise ship that sailed to Australia in March. We soon understood why: it’s the low season and the end of

summertime in the South Hemisphere. Hot and dry, rainy and wet, it might all happen at the same time depending on the region. Our introduction to Down Under was rather unusual. Upon our morning arriv-al in New Zealand, we took the suggestion of our Auckland hotel concierge and ended up at a wine festival. It turned into a conviv-ial gathering with friends we didn’t know we had. New Zealand’s crisp Sauvignon Blanc revived our senses after our long, long flight. On this pleasantly warm afternoon, surround-ed by empty bottles, everyone was in a min-gling mood. The next day, we boarded the Sapphire Princess on its second sailing for our voyage along New Zealand’s Southern Island, Tasmania and Australia. In New Zealand, we were edu-cated in Maori culture and the traditional kapa haka dance: foot stamping, protruding tongue, body slapping, and an inner rage that reddened the face as if it were about to burst. Anyone interested in rugby is familiar with the All Blacks’ pre-game demonstration. The tradition, however, also includes women’s chanting and dancing. Dating back millennia, kapa was meant to mentally prepare the war-riors for battle, and to intimidate, or seduce, the enemy. After Dunedin, we spent an entire day cruising through Fiordland National Park (in the southwest corner of New Zealand South Island). The ship meandered in a lab-yrinth of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls

tumbling down sheer cliffs, pristine land-scapes, and the intense aquamarine blue of calm waters. We crossed the Tasmanian Sea at night, only to be awakened as surging and heaving lifted us off our bed: nothing to do but let go and ride the motion, fully awake. In Hobart, we couldn’t get enough of Bonorong, a wildlife sanctuary and vet-erinarian clinic. There, endemic animals are rehabilitated after injury or illness. They are also bred to save endangered species, some being already extinct in the wild. And while the “Tassie Devil” is not, at first sight, terri-bly cute, caretakers are fond of this misunder-stood marsupial. We fed playful kangaroos, observed nocturnal wombats and hungry ko-alas, marveled at flamboyant birds and learnt about animals unfamiliar to us. Lunch was served at a sheep farm that doubled as a winery. We witnessed the herding skills of shepherd dogs, and shearers showed us how to strip a sheep of its wool in just a few minutes. We pondered the fact that the sheep farmer is also a winemaker: a

bottle of wine is more profitable than a pound of wool.

Touring downtown Melbourne was cancelled due to preparations for the Grand Prix. But the arrival in Sydney was unforget-table, as if the Opera House had opened its sails to welcome us. (Canada Place came to mind).

After a few days in Sydney, spent browsing The Rocks (the Old Town), cruis-ing the Harbor, not climbing its famous bridge, discovering Bronte Beach and its in-

TRAVELNOTES

Marie-ClaudeArnott

EXPLORING DOWN UNDERTheir Natural Treasures, Unique Wildlife & Convivial Culture

triguing eroded rocks, we bid the city good-bye. We flew to Uluru in the hot Red Centre, then to Cairns for a wet sailing to the Great Barrier Reef. We continued our trip to the tropical Brisbane area where hundred of boisterous cockatoos woke us early morning as they left the huge eucalyptus tree outside our bedroom. On our last day, we played golf trying to avoid the “roos” cavorting on the fairway. And the ibis birds that roamed roads and parks behaved just like Canada geese. n

Befriending a kangaroo with food at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania. nPhoto credit: Marie-Claude Arnott

Kangaroos cavorting on the fairway at a golf course in Brisbane. nPhoto credit: Marie-Claude Arnott

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FIGHTING FIRESCAULFEILD

HISTORYFrancis

Mansbridge

West Vancouver Firefighting History

Fire fighting equipment in the early days of Caulfeild consisted of one hand-hauled hose reel stored in a shed at the

junction of South Piccadilly and The High-way. Captain Kettle was the first Caulfeild volunteer. One fire truck and one paid fire-fighter, based in Ambleside, were responsible for all of West Vancouver. The Midwest Ratepayers’ Associa-tion wanted better service. A meeting in the fall of 1949 formed a committee consisting of John Redden, Phil Farmer (the first fire chief) and Glen McPherson to lobby the Mu-nicipality for a fire truck and a fire hall. The Municipality passed on their old 1929 GMC La France truck to Caulfeild. It was stored in Chappel’s gas station at the intersection of The Dale and Marine Drive, and dealt with any fires between West Bay and Fisherman’s Cove, although its lack of power and modern equipment limited its effectiveness. The Municipality purchased land from Francis Caulfeild’s grandson Toby, and the volunteer brigade erected No. 3 Fire Hall with help from Norman Hullah, who provid-ed pre-fabricated material, and Evans Cole-man, who provided cement. Volunteers received $2 each for a total of up to nine firefighters attending each fire. They donated this payment to the Midwest Ratepayers’ Fireman’s Ball, which became a popular community event. Stan Chester, who served as a volunteer during the 1970s and 1980s, has great memories of the dedication and camaraderie that bound the firefighters together. Spectacular fires included “the Hul-

lah fire at Kew Beach which took everyone out in the middle of a summer night and was undoubtedly one of the most difficult and di-sastrous fires fought in the area. Hoses had to be slung down 500 feet of cliff. The brigade were unable to save the main house, but did manage to control the fire from spreading to the garage and boathouse”. Ron Defieux remembers “driving the 1951 Ford to a fire on Eagle Island, which was memorable, because when we got there we had to steal a rowboat and cross fifty feet of water armed with nothing but a portable Extinguisher. I heard later that one of the cops was a little ticked off because he had a hard time keeping up with the Caulfeild Fire Truck. Being engaged to Inspector Colpitt’s daughter may have helped me keep my li-cense”.

Caulfeild volunteer fire fighters standing in front of fire truck #33 at No. 3 Fire Hall in Caulfeild. The truck is a 1949 Ford. nPhoto credit: West Vancouver Archives

When further equipment was need-ed, the firefighters donned their gear and went to work; in one day of community canvassing they collected all the funds required. But in 1968 the volunteers began to give way to a permanent firefighting force; a new fire hall was built in 1982 at a cost of $700,000. While the volunteer firefighters are no more, the spirit of volunteerism lives on. The Fire Fighting Fire Services Museum and Archives on Cross Creek Road is a home away from home for many retired firefighters who work on the restoration of fire trucks and the preservation of artefacts, photographs and memorabilia that will ensure the surviv-al of this important part of our community memory. n

Henry

Henry explains that over the past

ten years his tide has come in, bringing with it an understanding and

acceptance of fear, in all its forms. This has resulted in the freedom to finally

be himself. “Happy,” says Henry, “is a state of being but also a series of mo-

ments that we cherish and (that make us) feel blessed.”

Libby

“These are the things that make me happy: going on adventures,

making other people happy, and finding new things.”

continued from page 2

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The forest-carpeted slopes of Hollyburn Mountain in West Vancouver exem-plify our beautiful coastal mountain

landscape and natural ecosystems. This area, known as the Upper Lands, plays an import-ant role in defining our community. It is our backdrop, our forest playground, and our en-vironmental repository. It will also be home to future neighbourhoods of West Vancouver residents. The Upper Lands encompass a large area, spanning 6,265 acres (2,535 hectares) of undeveloped land above the Upper Lev-els Highway and south of Cypress Provin-cial Park. Some undeveloped areas included in the 2001 Upper Lands Report have been developed since 2001, including a portion of Rodgers Creek and parts of Whitby Estates. This newly developed area includes single family houses, multi-family units, cluster homes, townhomes, stacked townhomes and a small commercial area. A multi-use trail runs east-west through the developed area and the creek (riparian) areas between neigh-bourhoods. Other forms of development in the Upper Lands include the Sea to Sky Highway, private cabins, a hydro substation and major power line, Cypress Bowl Road,

trails within the Old Growth Conservancy and elsewhere, and forestry operations. In October 2012, the District of West Vancouver appointed a dedicated group of residents interested in contributing to the future of the Upper Lands. Those residents, known collectively as the Upper Lands Working Group (Working Group), have been tasked with reviewing bylaws, policies, and programs outlined in the 2001 Upper Lands Study and the District’s Official Communi-ty Plan to determine if the goals and policies of those documents still meet the District’s vision for the Upper Lands. The review will help to determine what lands should be pro-tected, what lands can be developed, uses of public land and appropriate forms of develop-ment. The Working Group is also committed to connecting with West Vancouver residents to find out their perspectives and aspirations for the Upper Lands. Based on the analysis and input received, the Working Group will make rec-ommendations for possible amendments to the bylaws, policies, and programs related to the Upper Lands. These will be presented to Mayor and Council for consideration. n

THE UPPER LANDSNeed Your Voice

By Upper Lands Working GroupCapilano Lake

Sea to

Sky Hwy.

Upper Levels Hwy.

HorseshoeBay

District of N

orth Vancouver

Cypress Provincial Park

WhyteLake

EagleLake

BC Hydro (Cypress Substation)

School DistrictWorks Yard

Hi-View Lookout(Barrett's View)

Quarry View

1200

Foot

Contou

r

EDate Saved: 2/27/2013

Orthographic Image (2011)Legend

Upper Lands Study Area Boundary

1200 Foot Contour

Legal Lot Lines

0 250 500 750 1,000125

Metres

1:7500

2011 Orthographic Image by McElhanney

DRAFT

The Power of Silenceby Frank Jarman

“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.”(William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing 2.1.260)

Is silence no more than absence of soundWhen its power to speak is undoubted?

A touch may transcend even eloquent wordsAnd a glance reveal innermost thoughts.

A sound may give hope to the loneliest soul

But listening to silence when silence is speakingShould relax and inspire bring comfort and ease

When those listening have trust and respect.

Silence is much more than absence of soundIt heralds with joy such beauty and peaceBy creating the time on ethereal planes

For their relationship with truth.

BEACON SUBMISSIONSThe Beacon is delivered bi-monthly to 3000+ households between Eagle Harbour and West Bay.

We are always seeking quality submissions at The Beacon. For submission guidelines and queries email the Editor: [email protected].

Please note that ALL submissions are subject to space constraints, and editing.

Deadline for the May 2014 publication is April 14.

For advertising queries email the Director of Marketing: [email protected] all other queries email the Publisher: [email protected] Photo credit: District of West Vancouver


Walk through the Village and you are bound to hear someone shout “Hi Kent!” or “How are you doing

Kent?” and the reply, with a smile and thumbs up is always “Awesome!”. Even though walking is difficult for him, Kent will travel long distances each day in his duty to retrieve Safeway carts from the parking lot in rain or sunshine. Kent’s father, David Collard, tells the story of the errant car that veered across the road several years ago, hitting Kent’s car head on. What followed was over four months in a coma and then years of rehab as he learned to regain mobility, to eat, speak and function in society. Thanks to Safeway’s extraordinary programs that assist young people who would typically have difficulty finding work, Kent has been an employee at our Caulfeild Safe-way for fourteen years.

When asked about Kent, Ron, Safe-way’s Manager, responds “Kent is the most positive and upbeat person I know. He isamazing.”

Chat with Kent and you will think he wrote a Chapter of Dale Carnegie’s Power of Positive Thinking. He says things are awesome because “I have a job, I’m outside and I get to meet some terrific people.” n

Looking for advice on a good bottle of wine for your salmon dinner tonight? Then you need to talk with Rolf.

How about barbecued ribs? Rolf's your man. Chicken cordon bleu? Yup, Rolf. Rolf wasn't always a go-to wine guy. As a boy growing up in Kitsilano he had a passion for music. Right after gradu-ation from Prince of Wales High School he knocked at the doors of well-known Mush-room Studios. "I was prepared to do anything to work there. Clean the floors, run messages. I just wanted to be where music was being played and produced." Just seven years later Rolf was studio manager and chief engineer. And then, after thirty years in an industry that was constantly changing, he found himself, ironically, in a young man's world. He had to move on. Seven years ago the liquor board was hiring. Rolf has always enjoyed helping people, and learning a new field was an excit-ing challenge. “I decided to make wines and beers my knowledge niche and I do enjoy be-ing the go-to guy". Look for Rolf at our local Village Shopping Centre liquor store. n

Kent Collard hard at work rounding up the shopping carts in the parking lot. nPhoto credit: Chris Stringer

Rolf Hannemann of the Caulfeild Village BC Liquor Store. nPhoto credit: Chris Stringer

Pastameli owners Colin (5th from left) and Kim (far left) quickly pose with their team on a busy Friday Night. nPhoto credit: Chris Stringer

Colin and his Pastameli team have been part of the Caulfeild Village family for just over a year now, and during this time they have captured the hearts and bel-

lies of the community. You can watch the hockey game at the bar with beer 'n wings or relax in a comfortable booth over a delicious three course dinner. Sundays is now Prime Rib night, slow roasted prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire with gra-vy to top, all for $24. Or come in for Champagne and Buck a Shuck Oysters on special Fridays nights, perfect for an end to the work week. Tuesdays are the usual $10 pasta nights if you prefer the comfort feel, And now Mondays they have reserved

In a curious case of gremlins and New-Year's madness, we gave Cindy two names in our last edition. Our apologies Cindy! And we'll check in with you in a month or so regarding your resolution for 2014. n

AROUND THE VILLAGEby Chris Stringer

specials for the ladies, come in with your girlfriends for a nice evening of good conversation with martini specials, and the chef’s daily creations made to suit the feminine taste. They also have brunch on the weekends from 11-3pm as well as live local music Saturdays nights 6pm till late.. Reserve your table now for whatever night may suit your taste!!! n

signs of spring - westvanbeacon.ca · russian writer, maxim gorky, once wrote that “happiness...

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