June & July 2017 – InFocus Magazine https://www.infocusmagazine.ca An in-depth look at the Comox Valley. Fri, 19 May 2017 22:58:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 The Last Word https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/the-last-word/ https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/the-last-word/#comments Fri, 19 May 2017 22:55:26 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4673 My dog’s muzzle is grey. Really grey. And I don’t remember when that happened. I am sure my other dog, who is 14 and deaf, would have a grey muzzle too if you could see it through her white fur. This may seem like an odd analogy for the passing of time, but it is just one more reminder of how quickly time passes—and we can’t do anything to stop it. But one thing we can do is slow down and enjoy. Stop and smell the roses, as they say. So that is my new motto, and that is exactly what I am going to try to do.

You hold in your hands the final issue of InFocus. After 24 years—more than half my lifetime—and 195 issues, we are moving on. My mom and right hand for every single one of those 195 publications, is retiring, and I am excited to put more attention into my busy graphic design business, our farm and my family—toddler son and aging pets included.

There are not enough words to thank you, the people in this community, for embracing InFocus like you did. When we started in 1993, the concept of a magazine-style publication was a foreign one around these parts. But we had great support right from the get-go, and I am forever grateful for those who took a chance on an unseen publication and concept. We hope we have done you proud.

Special thanks also have to go out to all the wonderful local people who have contributed to InFocus along the way, including our current roster of wordsmiths, Kenzie Andrews, Debbie Bowman, Laura Busheikin, Kerry Hale, Terri Perrin and Kendra Quince. As an editor, I was blessed with having faith in the talents of my writers to do justice to each and every story they were assigned, and I was very rarely disappointed. And of course to Boomer Jerritt, who set an impossible standard for quality photography right from the first issue. I am very grateful he walked into our makeshift home office that day more than 24 years ago to apply for the job of staff photographer. InFocus would not have been the same without his talented eye and insightful photographs.

And to my mom, Nancy, who as mentioned above has been my right hand for 24 years. As I stayed tucked behind my computer she was often the face of InFocus, and we could not have had a better ambassador. I am so fortunate to have the relationship we do, and to have been able to work so closely with her all these years (even though I am sure she wanted to bail on me many, many times!) But that is the thing about moms—they support you in everything and have nothing but your best interests at heart, even if it is sometimes at their own expense.

Which brings me back to stopping to smell the roses—I am looking forward to the extra time and freedom to be there for my three-year-old son, and teach him to follow his dreams as I have done. Time flies by and life is precious, as our whole family has learned this year in particular. Make time for the people and things you love, and do what makes you happy. Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. Don’t be afraid to choose wisely.

For now, farewell. You can read more about our journey with InFocus in this issue. Thanks for the memories Comox Valley.

~ Tyra Lewis, Editor / Publisher

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One of the first people I met when I started selling the advertising for InFocus Magazine was a very experienced older man who was responsible for the advertising for his business in Courtenay. I still remember his words, “This is a good magazine, but I wonder what you will find to write about in six months’ time.” Well, that was 24 years ago, and over many months, countless issues of InFocus, and many more visits with this gentleman (who, by the way, turned out to be one of our most loyal advertisers)—we have never run out of ideas for articles. The Comox Valley is a very unique community. We are fortunate to have a climate that allows us to ski, swim, hike, play, fish, golf—often all in the same day!

I have also been fortunate to meet and engage with so many people involved in every aspect of business in the Comox Valley. Over the years, I have seen many businesses come and go—changing the face of Downtown Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland. Some of my advertisers have retired, many have revamped their businesses to change with the changing times. I’m always sorry to see some of my advertisers leave, always concerned about how the change will affect the downtown core, and always amazed that the new stores fit in so well with the overall scene.

Many of the stories you read in InFocus come from suggestions given to me by people I come in contact with during my travels around speaking with people about advertising. They are always taken back to the office for discussion, and many great articles have come out of those suggestions.

I have made many lasting friendships with my advertisers—relationships I will always cherish. Some of our advertisers have been with us for the entire time, and I have enjoyed discussions with them about so many things other than advertising. I will miss working with them and seeing them on a regular basis. I would like to thank each and every one of them for the support they have shown to us over the years—they have been a pleasure to work with.

~ Nancy Newsom, Advertising Manager

 

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A Lasting Legacy https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/a-lasting-legacy/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:55:05 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4675

“I believe we have produced a very real chronicle of life in the Comox Valley for almost a quarter of a century,” says InFocus Magazine publisher Tyra Lewis (left), with her mom and InFocus Advertising Manager Nancy Newsom, and son Colten at Lewis’ Merville farm.  Photo by Boomer Jerritt

In June of 1993, fresh out of college and journalism school and driven by a dream, 22-year-old Tyra Lewis (then Newsom) began InFocus Magazine in a spare room in her parent’s home in Courtenay.  Her main objective was to craft feature-length articles not usually found in newspapers—positive stories to showcase local people, places, events and hot topics with a local, unbiased perspective. At the time, the only print media in circulation was two newspapers reporting the news, which by nature, generally focused on the negative aspects and dark underbelly of the local community.

She decided on a name and a simple tagline—‘An in-depth look at the Comox Valley.’ “I wanted to cover real people and real issues,” says Lewis. “We opted for an in-depth format that would really allow readers to feel they could grasp the whole story. Our goal was always to be balanced and objective.”

Her brother’s old vacant room became the magazine office and a darkroom was installed downstairs for developing photos. Nancy Newsom, Lewis’ mom, agreed to sell advertising despite having no experience. Lewis placed ads in the local paper for writers and photographers and started interviewing suitable applicants. Boomer Jerritt, a carpenter with photography aspirations and a diploma from the Western Academy of Photography, applied and was hired as staff photographer.

“I thought InFocus was a great opportunity,” he says, looking back. “I thought it would be a wonderful way to get my name into the community.”

Francis Penny, an experienced wordsmith whose writing style set the tone for the next two and half decades of stories, and Dianne Hawkins, somewhat of a protégé, were added to the InFocus roster as freelance writers, along with a few others.

Hawkins says she feels honored to have been part of InFocus’ history. “I met Tyra when Francis was a student in one of my desktop design classes. He suggested the class take a field trip to Tyra’s magazine to see what was being created in the Valley’s backyard. I was instantly intrigued by her heart and dream for the magazine and wanted to somehow find a way to be part of the vision,” she says.

As print deadlines loomed, Hawkins recalls, “Tyra was—and is—a stickler for accuracy and putting out a polished and professional product. Many times Nancy would feed us all, and then after a fabulous meal we’d continue working late into the night—writing, re-writing stories, proofreading, editing, proofreading and more proofreading. A deep sense of team and camaraderie was launched.”

From the outset, Lewis was meticulous about the quality of the publication. Despite tight deadlines and the constant rigors of multitasking, she never took shortcuts. “She has an absolute attention to detail,” says Nancy. “Nothing was finalized until it was perfect in her eyes.” When the first issue came back from the printers she was proud but also nervous. Looking at that first black and white issue now, this many years on, she cringes—design styles, fonts and graphic design practices have altered quite dramatically over time.

Lewis and her parents hand delivered 8,000 copies of the inaugural issue to Comox Valley homes and business. The new magazine was very well received. “It’s a format that has worked for us over a long period of time,” Lewis says. “The local focus was an important thing and I am sure a key to our success. People liked to read a bit more in-depth about the issues and we’d cover a different angle than the newspapers.”

The magazine was a full time job. “In the beginning, I thought we were going to run out of story ideas, but we never did,” Lewis adds. “The way the Valley continued to grow meant there were always new people coming here. There was always a huge bank of issues, people, events and businesses to consider.”

For 24 years, InFocus has delivered well-researched, emotive, relevant and sometimes contentious stories to a growing community in the midst of profound change. Despite the altering environs—or perhaps because of it?—InFocus became a “must read” for locals, and a great tourist treasure-trove for visitors.  It captured a loyal following.

“I know people collect the issues, like National Geographic magazines,” says Hawkins, who is now the CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.  “It’s really quite heartening to see the strong community ownership of this magazine that has existed for a long time.”

The first issue of InFocus featured articles on issues that still resonate today—amalgamation of the Comox Valley, the future of education, the battle to save a stand of old growth forest on Denman Island, impaired driving and tips for preventing break and enters. It captured the history of the former Old House Restaurant, profiled a local kayak shop still in business today, and offered recipes—still a regular InFocus feature—and the column, From the Volcano. This long running candid and witty column was written for teens, about teens by Vanier teacher and councillor Fred Johnson, who died in 2008.

Now, 24 years and 195 issues later, the team behind InFocus is switching gears. In your hands is the final issue of the magazine that has chronicled the happenings of this growing community for close to a quarter of a century. Nancy is retiring, and Tyra is focusing on her graphic design work—she has operated another business, InFocus Design, since 1998—raising her three-year-old son, Colten, and tending to her Merville farm with her husband, John.

Two and a half decades is a substantial chunk of time in the life of both a grassroots publication and a small community. It covers a time of unprecedented growth in technology, and in the Comox Valley it is the difference between 55,000 and more than 70,000 people; a new airport and hospital, two malls and a downtown and big box stores in every direction. Today, the Comox Valley ranks in the top five fastest growing rural regional districts in BC.

Throughout this period of growth, InFocus Magazine zealously stuck to its overriding vision of providing long-form features about unique aspects of the local area. The publication morphed from black and white to full color, changed its logo over the years as the digital age bit, and went from monthly to bi-monthly, then quarterly the last three years after Lewis’ son was born.

InFocus embraced changes to the Valley not only because it had to, but because it wanted to—economic expansion, political ambitions, municipal hearsay, environmental concerns, First Nations perspectives, new businesses and young entrepreneurs making their mark, all the while giving voice to the old custodians such as Ruth Masters and many more.

According to Hawkins, whose kids graced the cover and pages of InFocus on more than one occasion, “The magazine became a fixture in the Valley; necessary, essential, a true depiction of Valley life. People are going to miss it, especially its loyal following.  I know first-hand it has a loyal following, because every month locals stop by the Chamber to pick up the magazine or inquire when the next issue is going to be out.

“Having the opportunity to meet and interview incredibly interesting people, write their stories and bring their ambitions and dreams to life was inspiring,” remembers Hawkins. “I met so many diverse characters through the magazine.  I remember when Francis wrote an article about local artist George Sawchuck, and told the story of George’s magical forest, the ‘Wacky Woods’.  I was so intrigued by the story, Francis took me to meet George and his wife Pat.  For a few years we would attend their July 1st celebrations and my kids would play in the forest. My kids still talk about that forest.

“So many great connections were made through the magazine, especially my friendship with Francis—he the seasoned writer and me the novice.  He would vet my stories, add comments or re-work my headlines.  I remember him quoting Ernest Hemmingway to me one day as I stared at my notebook attempting to write a story: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” The pressure of writing was worth it—writing introduced me to people I wouldn’t have necessarily had the opportunity or privilege to meet otherwise.

“The focus on local people, businesses and events brought real pride to our community—we were introduced to another world outside of our day-to-day lives in the Valley,” Hawkins adds. “We were invited to share and embrace the richness of these people, their lives and crafts.  We were graced with learning the depth of engagement, creativity and kind-heartedness of our community, spanning from raising miniature donkeys, to taking sauces and jams to market, to one woman’s devotion and creation of Boomer’s Legacy.  This was the heart and soul of the magazine—to celebrate the Valley.”

One of staff photographer Boomer Jerritt’s favorite photo shoots for InFocus was flying with the Snowbirds.

Boomer Jerritt—the aspiring young photographer who essentially traded hammer and nails for his camera back in 1993—managed to turn his art form into a successful full-time career. His skills behind the lens have since taken him to some of the most awe-inspiring pockets of the planet and his iconic shots, both mesmerising and thought-provoking, have been featured in countless publications and public spaces. “InFocus basically launched my career here in the Valley,” he says, “allowing my images to be seen within the business community and the public en masse.”

Give or take a few issues when he was off on other photo shoots, Jerritt has taken the photos for almost every issue since its inception. “Boomer’s photos are a huge part of the success and attraction of the magazine over the years,” says Lewis. “His style of photography is unique and he has a great way of making people feel at ease in front of the camera, which shows in his photos.”

Regarding his most memorable, interesting, or difficult photo shoots, Jerritt says, “Riding in the Snowbirds was pretty cool, as I actually got to fly the plane!  On another occasion, hanging out off the back of the Search and Rescue Buffalo on its lowered ramp photographing the Snowbirds and F-18 flying in formation over the Glacier, not more than a couple hundred feet away. Riding along in the Labrador on a trip to Tofino where Search and Rescue was practicing water rescues—I was hanging out the door near the winch capturing images. That was fun.

“But the most challenging shoot hands-down,” he adds with a smile, “was, and still is, photographing Tyra.”

All joking aside, Jerritt says, “I think that the amount of information that we have collectively recorded both in words and images over the 24-year period with InFocus cover a very distinct time in the Valley before unprecedented growth occurred, certainly before Westjet began operation.  I remember photographing the old guard, the established families who lived here for generations—many of whom are not with us any more (George Hobson, Isabelle Stubbs, Tucky Schellinck, Bus Griffiths and more)—listening to their stories and experiences and how life in the Valley shaped their lives, lives that were much smaller in scope so to speak.

“It is very different now—more influences from people from a variety of places and backgrounds now make up the Valley and that has changed the area forever.”

Terri Perrin, who joined the InFocus team as a freelance writer when she moved to the Valley in 2009, has written more than 75 stories for the magazine. “Writing for InFocus has offered me the privilege of meeting and interviewing some pretty amazing people,” says Perrin. “I have laughed with some, cried with others, and been inspired by all. People opened up their homes and their hearts to me, knowing that InFocus had a reputation for story-telling that was authentic and pure.

“Writing gave me a chance to go whale watching, bottle feed a water buffalo calf, touch a bald eagle, and sip tea from a cooperative in Assam,” Perrin adds. “Two of the stories that I produced for this magazine were recognized as runners-up in the Professional Writers Association of Canada’s national writing awards, of which I am very proud.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to have been part of the InFocus team and I am really going to miss having this unique connection to my community.”

For Tyra Lewis, the young lady with a bold vision, the past 24 years stewarding InFocus have been rewarding beyond measure. “What stands out most are the relationships made over the years, for me and my mom both,” she says. “Writers, contributors, advertisers—many of these connections have turned into lasting friendships. This job has allowed me to be my own boss and all the freedom that comes with that.  It has afforded me a lifestyle I love, and one I am very grateful for.

“I am most proud of how the community and our readers embraced what we were trying to do with InFocus, and supported us wholeheartedly, right from the start,” Lewis adds.  “It was—and still is—always rewarding to see someone sitting in a coffee shop having a coffee and reading the magazine, or waiting for their copy as we drop the latest issue off at newsstands.”

For Lewis, the decision to bring InFocus Magazine to an end has been extremely onerous. “It has been incredibly difficult,” she says. “It has been my baby for a lot of years and it is never easy to let go of something you created and poured your heart and soul into for such a long time—more than half my life.

“I hope that the 195 issues we have produced will serve as a snapshot of life in the Comox Valley,” Lewis adds. “Wouldn’t it be cool if 100 years from now people will use our publication to research the history of this community?  Really, I believe we have produced a very real chronicle of life in the Comox Valley for almost a quarter of a century.  That is a solid chunk of time.  You can look through our issues and get the flavor and feel for how life was at any given time here, and also gain an understanding of what shapes this community—the characters and attributes that those fortunate enough to call the Comox Valley home love so much.

“I hope we have been able to shed light and bring attention to so many positive stories and people doing incredible and often unique things, and give them a voice they may not have otherwise had. That is something I am proud of, and a legacy I hope people remember.”

From that spare room in her parent’s home in Courtenay all those years ago, something magic unfolded. For two and a half decades, InFocus has been a fixture, both ‘necessary’ and ‘essential’, peering into the beating heart and breathing soul of the Comox Valley—objective, balanced and bold, proof of the absolute beauty and far-reaching power of words, good storytelling, and the generous actions of humankind.

For Dianne Hawkins, “Being welcomed and invited by Tyra to write for the magazine, regardless of my writing experience, and being mentored by Francis Penny were highlights in my career journey. Tyra and Nancy created an environment that felt more like a family than a job.  Little did I know, in 1993, that the opportunity to write for InFocus and work with Tyra would evolve into a life-long friendship that’s still going strong.

“On a personal note,” she adds. “I absolutely adore and celebrate Tyra. She created this magazine in her early 20s. She stewarded it, cared for it, kept the focus and shared her vision every month without fail.  She was the drive behind the magazine, the success, the team she built around her.  To have so many people love and enjoy the magazine over the years is a testament to her love of the Valley, and her heart for our community.”

A Historical Perspective

Perhaps there aren’t many local citizens better equipped to lend insight into the changes the Comox Valley experienced throughout the lifespan of InFocus Magazine than Lawrence Burns and Judy Hagen.
Burns is a former longstanding Fire Chief of the City of Courtenay and now Fire Department Chaplain and member of the local Heritage Committee. Profiled in InFocus in September, 1994, Burns has resided in the Comox Valley since his birth in 1929. Today, at 88 years of age, his language is wonderfully eloquent, his memory recall brilliant, and he manages to paint a replete picture of bygone days with graceful ease.

Having graduated from Courtenay High School in 1946, he then joined the Volunteer Fire Department in 1950, becoming the first full paid Fire Chief in 1969. Looking back over the years, working through the vast recesses of his memory to pinpoint the last 24 years since InFocus has been in operation, he acknowledges with equal parts excitement and caution that the area has experienced exponential growth in every regard imaginable. When pressed, he pinpoints several key amendments to the local landscape—the commencement of the Crown Isle development (1992), which had massive repercussions for land development and rising value, North Island College (construction began in 1990), Mark Isfeld School (1993), Superstore (1992-93), the Aquatic Centre (1999), the current Courtenay City Library (2001) and Art Gallery (2005), Comox Airport (2004), and numerous big box stores in the early 2000s.

“It’s true that as a small town person I perhaps preferred the area more when it was smaller because it was a friendlier atmosphere,” says Burns. “But,” he adds with consolation, “our Valley is still a beautiful place to live. We have all the amenities now, and I for one wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

Judy Hagen is an evergreen local historian who has written countless articles for local publications—including the “Hunt for History” column for the Comox Valley Echo since 1992—and has authored books about the history of the Comox Valley and surrounds. So thorough is her knowledge and so engaging are her words that she received an award from the Canadian Museums Association for her book Comox Valley Memories, published by the Courtenay and District Museum in 1993. Hagen too has witnessed the changing landscape of the Valley, through the discerning eyes of a bona fide historian.

“Life was so much slower a few decades ago… but the Comox Valley is still a wonderful place to raise kids,” she says. In addition to the bolstered infrastructure, continual housing developments and big box stores mentioned by Lawrence Burns, Hagen highlights the artistic flair of the Valley, the fantastic work of the local Arts Council and theatres in promoting the arts, including First Nations artworks. She talks with fervor about the excellent work done by local museums in capturing moments in time and relaying those moments to younger generations. Hagen reiterates Burns’ praise of NIC—which has enabled many young adults to remain in the area for their tertiary studies, instead of being forced to leave the Valley—and adds the positive impact of the ongoing development of Mt. Washington Alpine Resort at a critical time when the area was in the midst of losing fishing, mining, and logging as mainstay economic providers.

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Home & Garden Gate https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/home-garden-gate/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:54:47 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4682

Home & Garden Gate owner Jody Williams.  Photo by Boomer Jerritt

When Jody Williams moved to the Comox Valley from Vancouver in 1992, she was finally able to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening her own business.

“The desire to start a business was the catalyst for the creation of a store then called The Garden Gate,” recalls Williams. “I was trained as an interior designer, and I had worked in retail on and off since the age of 14. I had always wanted to open a store and, when I visited a little garden decor shop in a house in La Conner, Washington, I was inspired to open a similar store in the Comox Valley.”

The Garden Gate’s first location was in a stand-alone building above the barber shop on the corner of Cliffe Avenue and Fifth Street, Courtenay. Right out of the proverbial garden gate, Williams made the decision to invest some of her annual advertising budget to support what was then also a new local enterprise—InFocus Magazine. She has been a dedicated advertiser ever since.

The garden decor store was a resounding success. Within a couple of years, the product offerings expanded from gardening items to also having a full range of home decorating items, necessitating a name change to ‘Home & Garden Gate.’ In 1993, due to their success and need for more space, Williams moved to her current 1,200-square-foot location at 319 Fifth Street. Today Home & Garden Gate is filled with an inspiring mix of home and outdoor décor, body care, candles, kids’ activities and books, kitchen gadgets and accessories, cookbooks, storage solutions, cozy throws, lighting, Sid Dickens tiles and much more.

Over the years Williams has opened several seasonal pop-up stores, the first one during the Christmas season in 2003 in the Driftwood Mall, the same year London Drugs opened. She continues to have HG Winter pop-up stores in various locations in Downtown Courtenay annually.

In 2005, while living in Cumberland, Williams opened a second Home & Garden Gate location in the village. The store was there for seven years before closing in 2012 so Jody and her husband Noel could focus on raising their young family.

Never one to sit still for too long, Williams’ opened her newest enterprise in March 2017. Ivory & Grey is a clothing store that naturally grew from the success of the unique imported and Canadian-made clothing lines she had begun carrying at her flagship location.

“The clothing was a hit, and it kept evolving from a single rack to a full corner of the store and squeezing a fitting room in the back room,” Williams says.  “When retail space became available a couple of doors down from us, at Suite 202, 307 Fifth Street, it made sense to expand.

“During the flurry of activity in opening this new store in just over three weeks, I was agonizing about a suitable name. One day, I looked at the business card that Tyra Lewis had designed for Home & Garden Gate and realized that the colors in our logo, of ivory and grey, sounded perfect. I bounced the name idea off a few people, and everyone loved it. That’s how ‘Ivory & Grey’ was born.”

This fall, Home & Garden Gate will celebrate 25 years in business and Williams couldn’t be more proud. She has not only created a job for herself but five others, too.

What’s the secret to her success? “I think keeping it interesting, and providing good quality at a great price has been key,” concludes Williams.  “I love things that are beautiful and so do my customers. I know my stores will continue to evolve.”

And as things evolve in the community, Williams is happy to have collaborated with InFocus over the years—in fact she was featured in the second issue of the magazine, back in July 1993, for a plan she came up with to help raise awareness and donations for the Comox Valley Food Bank, called “Plant-a-Patch”.

“I first met Tyra when she was launching InFocus Magazine and we have become more than just colleagues, we are friends,” says Jody Williams, owner of Home & Garden Gate. “We have worked together to create my store’s branding and advertising through a collaboration where she takes what I have ‘in my head’ and she puts it in print.

“She had a vision for this magazine, and I think that she was ahead of her time, as far as this type of publication was concerned. She wasn’t having writers write ‘fluff’.  They were in-depth, informative articles that you wouldn’t necessarily see in a newspaper. They were about people’s personal lives, their achievements and struggles.  Tyra is a perfectionist and it showed in her work and in this magazine. I am really going to miss InFocus but I look forward to continuing to work with Tyra for my graphic design and advertising needs.”

For more info follow Home & Garden Gate on Facebook and Instagram.

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Level 10 Eurospa https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/level-10-eurospa/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:54:35 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4686

Level 10 owner Leanne Boyd.  Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Leanne Boyd, owner and founder of Level 10 Eurospa in Courtenay, didn’t grow up with aspirations of being in the beauty industry. The Ontario born and Comox Valley raised businesswoman explains with a smile that she finished high school, set out to travel the world, and came home many months later flat broke. A chance boat ride on the MV Uchuck, from Gold River to a logging camp on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, found her working as a cook’s flunky at said logging camp.

One day, between peeling spuds and washing dishes, someone asked if she could cut their hair. Despite the fact that she had no prior experience, she picked up a pair of scissors and started snipping. The results were surprisingly great!  Others soon lined up to have their hair done, too.  When Boyd returned to the Comox Valley to get her own hair cut by a professional, she told him about her experience and the stylist invited her to join his team as an apprentice. She has never looked back!

“From there, I worked at several different salons for a few years until 1990, when one of my relatives, Danny Woodrow, contacted me with a business proposition,” Boyd says. “Danny owned a clothing store at the corner of Cliffe and Mansfield at the time and the salon beside him was closing. He invited me to take over the salon, loaned me an initial $5,000 to get started, and helped me write a business plan. That’s how Level 10 Hair Design & Esthetics began.”

Boyd adds that she can’t take credit for the name and also that it has nothing to do with what level of the building they are located on, or the fact that they are now located on 10th Street. Nor is it connected to Bo Derek’s infamous scene in the 1979 movie ‘10’, as some people have suggested.

“One of the girls I was working with at the time suggested that we base the name on the fact that hair color is measured in levels,” says Boyd. “Black hair is level one and blonde hair is level 10. I’m blonde, so that’s what we picked.”

Shortly after opening the salon, Boyd was recognized by her peers with the ‘Master of the Craft’ award. This set the tone for her future business practices and accomplishments. It was also at this time, with advanced training through US-based MATRIX Professional Hair Care & Salon Services, that she became an industry educator travelling throughout the province and teaching fellow hair designers.

Providing the optimal work environment and ongoing education has always been a priority for Boyd. The reward has been a long term, loyal team of professionals that are passionate about their chosen career and truly care for the clients.

Over the next few years, Boyd continually expanded her salon’s menu of services. In 1995, that growth necessitated a move to a new (and larger) location at Cliffe Avenue and 10th Street. With more space and expanded service offerings, she dropped the ‘Hair Design & Esthetics’ part of the name and added ‘Eurospa.’

“The services we offer at Level 10 Eurospa have grown in diversity, from hair design, facials and skin rejuvenation, manicures and pedicures, to relaxation massage, reflexology, steam, hydrotherapy and body wraps,” says Boyd. “We offer some exquisite signature treatments and packages.”

Staying on the leading edge in the industry has always been very important to Boyd. Level 10 was the very first full service day spa in the Comox Valley, amongst the first in Canada to introduce the Hot Rock Massage, the first on Vancouver Island to become certified in Thai Stem Massage, and the first spa in Western Canada to introduce Hydradermabrasion Skin Rejuvenation.

Wanting to offer their clients the utmost in quality skin care and cosmetics, they also created their very own lines of all natural, botanical skin and body care products called ‘L10 haute naturals’, as well as a mineral-based makeup line.

The stellar guest services and professionalism at Level 10 has not gone unnoticed. They have been repeatedly recognized for service excellence.  Awards include: the 2014 Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, 2016 Vancouver Island Retail Business of the Year, the 2016 Comox Valley Sustainability Award, and the #1 Independent MATRIX salon in British Columbia three years in a row. In the BC Living People’s Choice Awards they were voted in the top three salons on Vancouver Island, and were winners of the Comox Valley’s ‘Favorite Place for a Makeover’ and finalists in the ‘Favorite Hair Salon’ categories.

A career highlight for Boyd and her team is that Level 10 is now a ‘Certified Green Circle Salon’. One hundred per cent of all hair clippings, foils, color tubes, papers, plastics, spa waste and excess chemicals are recycled and/or repurposed in an environmentally responsible way.

All hair clippings are made into ‘hair booms’, to soak up oil and chemical spills in waterways, while all the spa waste is cleanly incinerated to create green energy that goes directly to BC Hydro. Since 2014, Level 10 has diverted 1.5 tonnes of salon waste out of landfills and waterways!

“Our philosophy has always been ‘beauty and wellness are a result of taking care of one’s SELF’, says Boyd. “Now it also includes helping to take care of the planet.”

This year Level 10 celebrates 27 years of providing ‘A Beautiful Experience!’ Boyd and her team are proud of their accomplishments, the service they provide, and the many wonderful relationships developed and maintained over the years, including with InFocus Magazine.

“I feel extremely proud to have been part of the InFocus family,” says Boyd.

“They were the first publication of this kind in our community 24 years ago. It is not like I am an advertiser and they are the magazine—we have become very special friends. I wish them all the luck in the future and admit that I feel privileged to have been selected as one of the chosen few advertisers to be featured in the last issue of the magazine and to have been part of their journey.” ¦

For more information go to level10eurospa.com

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Blackfin Pub https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/blackfin-pub/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:54:19 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4684

Blackfin Pub owners Edd and Lisa Moyes.   Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Ask anyone who lives in the Comox Valley where you can enjoy a fabulous meal with a fabulous view of the Comox Marina and they are guaranteed to answer ‘The Blackfin Pub in Comox!’

The Blackfin has been locally owned and operated by Edd and Lisa Moyes since 2005, but the restaurant-style pub has a history dating back to 1989.  Originally known as the Black Fin—two words not one—the ‘old’ establishment was a traditional pub. The first building (and the pub) at this location burned down in 1991 and was rebuilt.  By the time the Moyes came along in 2005, ‘The Fin’ was in dire need of a facelift. When the Moyes’ were looking to purchase a restaurant/pub in the Comox Valley, a bar room with a view was at the top of their list. Despite the run-down condition of the Black Fin, the pub delivered as a prime location.

For credentials to operate a pub, Edd and Lisa brought a wealth of hospitality industry experience to the table. Edd had previously been a Vice President with the Oak Bay Marine Group and had owned a marketing company. Lisa had been a manager at the Oak Bay Marina Restaurant.

“We took possession of the pub on May 2nd, 2005, and did a massive renovation, reopening just four days later,” says Edd. “We had 35 sub-trades working inside and out and we invested $250,000 in the makeover.  We rebranded as

‘The Blackfin’ and re-opened with a whole new look, new ambiance, and new menu.”

“We had some challenges initially because we had decided we would be going in a new direction for the pub,” recalls Lisa. “We wanted to be a little more upscale and elegant, with locally-sourced food, wine and beer. We were just hoping that the existing clientele would welcome the change… some did, and some didn’t. Some staff stayed, and some moved on. Change can be a challenge but we persevered and it worked.”

Some people may not realize that just as there are two sides to every story, there are also two levels to the Blackfin Pub. The walk-out lower level was extensively renovated a couple of years ago and is now available for private bookings for lunch or dinner for corporate meetings, socials, weddings, anniversaries and more. It can seat up to 100 people. Edd says the lower level actually has a better view than upstairs. You can also access the patio to walk about, inhale the ocean air, and take in the spectacular marina view.

With their location, menu, management and staff, the Blackfin today is a popular meeting place that is generously supported by the community. It has been voted as the ‘Best Patio’ and ‘Best Pub’ in the Comox Valley Record’s ‘Readers’ Choice’ Awards numerous times.

“Our entire team is locally-focused and is well connected to this thriving and growing community,” says Edd. “We support numerous charities and are represented on a variety of committees and boards.”

Since taking ownership in 2005, the Moyes’ continue to be committed to ensuring their guests experience one of the most unique oceanfront dining experiences in the Comox Valley.  They ensure the restaurant maintains its appeal by annually upgrading and renovating. Guests can enjoy a West Coast-inspired menu while taking in the ever-changing view of the Comox Harbour against the backdrop of the Beaufort Mountains.

“While the business climate has evolved over the last 12 years, including changes to liquor laws and rising food costs, The Blackfin Pub has retained a committed and focused staff that has been amazing at creating long-term relationships with our loyal clientele,” says Lisa. “We look forward to many more years of success in the Comox Valley.

“The Blackfin team is very grateful to have worked with the successful business team of Tyra Lewis and Nancy Newsom at InFocus Magazine for all these years,” adds Edd and Lisa.

“In addition to InFocus advertising, Tyra has created all of our ads, menus and marketing materials. She has been amazing! While we will miss seeing their excellent publication in our community, we wish them much happiness as Nancy enjoys her retirement and both she and Tyra have more time with their families. We hope to see them both on our deck with a glass of wine in hand!”

For more information visit blackfinpub.com

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Graham’s Jewellers https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/grahams-jewellers/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:53:49 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4678

Graham’s Jewellers owners Wendy and James Graham. Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Erected in 1951, with a steel lamp post transported up from Victoria, the Graham’s Jewellers’ electric clock with the neon top that stands on Fifth Street in Downtown Courtenay has become a local landmark. While the inner mechanics of the clock have been upgraded over the years, and the lamp post has been moved to accommodate changes in sidewalk patterns, the clock is unchanged and has been diligently keeping shoppers on time for decades.

While the infamous clock celebrates its 66th birthday this year, the history of the business enterprise that graces the clock face goes back more than a century, explains Graham’s Jewellers owner James Graham.

According to James Graham, owner of Graham’s Jewellers, there has been a jewelry store at 261 Fifth Street since 1912. The building that housed the first store was torn down in 1951, during which time the businesses’ glass showcases, vaults and all inventory, were temporarily relocated to the old EW Theatre Building at Fifth and England. (That building has since burned down.) When the new building was ready for occupancy, the jeweler moved back and the clock was proudly placed out front.

“The original store was owned by my great uncle Charles Simms and it was called Simms & Sons,” recalls Graham. “The Simms family owned the store up until 1945, and then it was sold to Walter Crosby and the name changed to Crosby’s. My father, Richard Graham, started working at Crosby’s as a watchmaker in 1951. When Walter retired in 1970, dad welcomed the opportunity to buy the store where he had worked for 20 years. Of course, he too changed the name of the store—and the clock face—to reflect the new ownership. In 1976, he took over the adjacent retail space (where Jean Burns Ladies Wear used to be) to accommodate an expanded china and giftware department that my mother Valerie managed. This increased the floor space to its current 2,200 square feet.”

Graham grew up hanging out in the store, and he began working there part time in 1974, when he was in Grade 10. His sisters Catherine and Jackie both worked in the store as well, helping out during Christmas and summers. When his father retired in 1988, James purchased the business and has been running it ever since. His wife, Wendy, had worked at the local credit union before leaving work to raise a family. She started working at the store around 1990 and has been managing the giftware department since Valerie retired in 1997. Their daughter, Amy, has also worked in the store since 2004.

“Owning a jewelry store wasn’t something I thought that I would end up doing my entire life,” says Graham. “But here I am! I did leave the business in the late 1970s. I worked in the mill in Campbell River for a few years, but I realized that I loved the jewelry business and I came back in 1979.”

Graham says that one thing he loves about the jewelry business is that you are generally dealing with happy occasions like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. People tend to be in great spirits when picking out gemstones and gold! He loves the fact that he is now selling engagement rings to the children (and some grandchildren) of the men and women who bought rings from Graham’s when they got married decades ago.

When asked if he had any special memories, Graham says there are many. One in particular brings a smile to his face.

“You have to understand that when you have been in this business for as long as I have, you tend to notice the jewelry that people are wearing—and if it is unique, you remember,” he says. “Many years ago, I had this young kid and his mom come in with a man’s wedding ring that they had found buried in the sand at Comox Lake… and it happened to be a ring that I recognized! I had not sold it to the person who had lost it, but I knew whose ring it was right away. I asked the finders to wait while I called this fellow to ask if he has lost anything important to him. He laughed and said, ‘Wow! Word sure travels fast in this town!’ Needless to say, I made sure that he got his wedding ring back. Just think, if those two had taken the ring anywhere else it might have been pawned and he would never have seen it again.”

Today, in addition to more than a century of great memories, Graham’s Jewellers stocks a wide variety of gold and gemstones, as well as popular new brand-name products like Pandora bracelets, Victorinox and Tissot watches, and Simon G Jewellery from Los Angeles. They carry a delightful line of hand-blown glass birds from Finland called ‘iittala’, as well as Maxwell Williams dishes and flatware, and much more.

“The basic rule that guides our purchasing is to look for products that are high quality and unique,” says Graham. “The merchants on Fifth Street are pretty good about keeping our product lines unique from the each other, so that each of us has been able to create our own market niche.”

As far as trends in jewelry purchasing over a lifetime, Graham has seen the popularity of yellow versus white gold come and go—and come and go again. Gold prices have also dramatically changed, considering that the same ounce of gold that used to sell for $30 now sells for $1,700! Another significant shift is that most diamond buyers want to know that they are purchasing Canadian diamonds that are ethically mined, and he is vigilant to ensure that everything in his store is ethically sourced.

“Today’s consumers are simply more knowledgeable and conscientious regarding quality, because there is more information available,” he says. So, what does the future hold for Graham’s? “I don’t really have a family member looking to take it over,” he says. “I would like to see it sell some day… but we will see what happens. For now, it is business as usual.”

Graham’s Jewellers is the longest running advertiser with InFocus. “I have advertised in every issue of InFocus since day one,” says Graham. “Nancy and Tyra have always been great to deal with and have treated us well. I am sorry to see it go.”

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Searles Shoes https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/searles-shoes/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:53:37 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4680

Searles Shoes owners Derek and Cathy Newnes. Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Anyone born and raised in the Comox Valley during the last 99 years has most likely walked more than a mile or two in footwear from Searles Shoes in Downtown Courtenay. This locally-owned, small town grown shoe store has a history dating back to 1918 when shoemaker Jas E. Aston decided to stock footwear at this Fifth Street location. Shoe sales did so well that it wasn’t long before the store caught the attention of Victoria businessman Bob McCoubrey, who purchased it in 1919.

Over the next few years, the shoe store would change hands—and names—several times, due to various life circumstances. When McCoubrey passed away in 1923, Jack Paterson bought the store. Due to failing health, he sold it to Cy Paxton soon after. Paxton carried on until 1929 when A.T. Searle (whom the business was then named after) became the new owner.

Early in the 1950s Searle entered a partnership with Archie Welsh and Sid Williams and they took over the business. In 1955, Freddy Pisto joined as a partner. In 1963 Welsh retired, followed by Williams in 1966. Then, Neil Woodrow and Larry Holmes joined as partners, until Pisto sold the business to Woodrow in 1973.  Woodrow retired from the shoe business in 1993, and the husband and wife team of Derek and Cathy Newnes became the newest owners. A shoe store was the perfect fit for Derek, considering that he had had a long and successful career with Woodward’s Department Stores, as a buyer of shoes and accessories.

Having now worked in retail for almost 50 years, Derek and Cathy have seen many changes in merchandising.

“During our 23 years owning Searle’s Shoes we have seen our share of peaks and valleys,” says Derek. “The community has grown, and our business had to grow with it. It has been a challenge at times, but it has also been a wonderful pleasure to grow with such a vibrant community.

“Whether it has been with the Merchants’ Association (of old) or the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Area, we found it best to always have a good working relationship with the City,” he adds. “Like with any family, the loudest voice does not always make the best decision for the whole family.  As proprietors of the Searle’s legacy, we have tried to keep an ear to the community needs while maintaining its past and delivering our best, for the betterment of the City core and its future.”

Adds Cathy: “One of the biggest challenges we have being the custodian of Searle’s Shoes for the past 23 years, is to work on passing the history torch on. Being the oldest retail business in the downtown core, we are developing a succession plan to ensure that Searle’s Shoes maintains its legacy in the years to come.”

While they work on that succession plan, the Newnes family will continue their involvement within the community.  Derek, a long-standing member of the Courtenay Rotary Club, never has a shortage of projects to choose from and Cathy willingly helps out. “Whether at home or internationally, it will be our focus to give back where we feel we can help the most,” insists Derek. “We are confident that philanthropy and our family will keep us busy in the years to come.”

In conclusion, as a farewell to the InFocus Magazine team, Derek says: “As the InFocus team wraps up publication after 25 years, we want them to know the value we have received from being part of this great magazine will be part of us.

“InFocus has firmly consummated itself as a chapter in this area’s rich and vibrant history book.  Searle’s loved being there from its beginning and wishes them all a fulfilling future.”

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Plight of the Honeybees https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/plight-of-the-honeybees/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:53:06 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4690

“The Comox Valley is a prime location for beekeeping,” says Daniel Ludwig of Big D’s Honey. “Our climate is great. Our environment is one of the cleanest. People here are much more conscious about avoiding chemical sprays and doing things organically, which is good for bees.” Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Everyone knows bees are interesting. But what most people don’t realize is that once you start learning about them, taking care of them, living with them, bees are actually fascinating.”

So says Del D’Arcangelo, a Royston beekeeper. “The drama, battles, sacrifice and organization in each hive is truly amazing. There’s nothing I like better than sitting among my busy hives, coffee in hand, and enjoying the industry, harmony and calming sound of the bees at work.”

At a time when the news about bees is predominantly bad—very bad—D’Arcangelo is seeing something positive: a renaissance in beekeeping. The Comox Valley Bee Club, of which he is a long-time member, is thriving, with membership more than quadrupling in recent years.

“I remember about five years ago at our monthly Dove Creek Hall meetings we’d have 12 to 15 members. Now our membership is up to 70! Interest in beekeeping is growing exponentially, mostly because of increased awareness of the plight of bees,” says D’Arcangelo.

It’s hard not to be aware of the global decline in bee population over the past 15 years, with organizations ranging from the United Nations, to Greenpeace, to General Mills (with their Bring Back the Bees marketing campaign for Cheerios) letting us know the stark facts and urging us to take action.

Albert Einstein was once quoted saying, “Mankind will not survive the disappearance of honeybees for more than five years.” At the time, “the disappearance of honeybees” was a purely theoretical idea. Today, it is an undeniably real threat. Since 2006, the global honeybee population has declined sharply—in the United States it’s down 40 per cent, in Europe 25 per cent and in the UK 45 per cent. This is mainly due to habitat loss, poisoning by pesticides and other chemicals, and climate change.

The North American bumblebee population has plunged almost 90 per cent since the 1990s, and earlier this year, the rusty patched bumblebee, a native species that is a key pollinator of blueberries, tomatoes and wildflowers, was listed as an endangered species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature ranks the rusty patched as one of 47 species of native US and Canadian bumblebees, more than a quarter of which face a risk of extinction.
Why this matters so much—why Albert Einstein linked it to the extinction of humans—is bees’ role as pollinators. One-third of our food supply—you could think of that as one in every three bites we eat—is made possible by bees and other pollinators. Without the pollinators, we’d see massive failure of all flowering crops—apples, cherries, grapefruit, broccoli, carrots, onions, canola, and much much more.

Without pollinators, we’d have no more chocolate or coffee. Farm animals wouldn’t have hay, and we’d have to find an alternative to cotton for our jeans and t-shirts. Also, we need bees for plant-based medicines. If it lowers cholesterol, boosts your immune system or improves your eyesight, it was probably pollinated by a bee.

If the spectre of a loss of 1/3 of the global food supply doesn’t scare you, you might try looking at the situation through the lens of economics—pollination services furnished by various insects in the US, mostly bees, are valued at an estimated $3 billion each year. The global estimate ranges from $9 billion to hundreds of billions.

So while most of us, like Winnie-the-Pooh, associate bees primarily with honey, this golden liquid is just a sweet byproduct of bees’ main job as pollinators.

“Small scale beekeeping is important in that most of us are interested in the welfare of our bees over any monetary profit,” says D’Arcangelo. “We all like the benefit of surplus honey at the end of the season, but honey is seen more as a measure of the success and health of the hive.”

The focus on pollination holds true not just for hobby beekeepers, but also for the bigger commercial operations

“It’s all about sex, right?” says Stan Reist with a chuckle. Reist, along with his wife Cheryl, is proprietor of Flying Dutchman, one of Vancouver Island’s biggest commercial beekeeping operations. Flying Dutchman is based in Nanaimo and has close to 500 hives in strategic locations from Duncan up to Campbell River.

“Scientists and researchers are making crops that are self-fertile but they are never as good as what good old Mother Nature can do,” says Reist. “In nature, flowers and plants have evolved to sexually attract pollinators, whether hummingbirds, bees or butterflies.” It is the bee’s role as, um, a sexual helper that provides the foundation of Flying Dutchman’s business.

Reist, who started out as a hobby beekeeper with two hives back in the late 1980s, travels up and down Vancouver Island with his bees to pollinate blueberries, cranberries, apples, nuts and more. One of their biggest clients, Iron River Farms on Cranberry Lane just south of Campbell River, has one of the largest cranberry bogs on Vancouver Island. “We provide about 175-plus hives for pollination in this bog, plus we also provide hives for five other bogs.”
Reist explains why pollinators are a farmer’s best friend. “If you go back to the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Okanagan was the fruit basket of America. But the harvest date was always in the first part of September, by which time all your tourists were migrating back to the cities. So they brought in the honeybees to pollinate the trees. And now you are going to set that fruit a lot quicker. You can cut off five to eight days till ripening. And you can get a more consistent fruit, and a bigger fruit, and more fruit.

“If you’re talking about blueberries, if you pollinate a field you would be looking at an $18,000 increase in crop value between pollinated and unpollinated. And an advanced harvest date as well. But you need guys like me who will go out and play with the little suckers and try to get them to do what we want,” says Reist.

Honeybees are under threat worldwide because of virulent viruses against which they have no natural defences. Nearly all colonies in the wild have died out and without beekeepers to care for them, honeybees could disappear in a few years.

Photo by sumikophoto - Fotolia

Pollination was one of the main reasons Daniel Ludwig got into commercial beekeeping. Ludwig is founder and proprietor of Big D’s Honey, another major Vancouver Island beekeeping operation. Big D’s is based in Black Creek on a 600-acre four-generation family farm that includes Coastal Black Winery and a sawmill and lumber business, and also produces market fruits and sweet corn. As well, for the past four years the farm has hosted the Comox Valley Pumpkinfest, a month-long harvest festival that draws 15-18,000 visitors each year.

In a previous incarnation, the property was a thriving dairy farm run by Ludwig’s parents. As Daniel and his two siblings reached adulthood, each found their own way to contribute to—and in the process, transform—the farm. Ludwig chose honeybees.

“Ever since I was a kid I’d been interested in bees. As I got older and started doing more on the farm, I saw it would be useful,” he says. “I could see there was so much potential to help our farm if we had bees to pollinate all the blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and everything else here.”

Ludwig got started with two hives he bought from a neighboring farmer.

“I knew nothing,” he says. “The day after I brought the hives home me and Abel [his brother-in-law Abel O’Brennan, who runs the winery] went to check them. We had no protection gear on of any kind. Abel got stung in the face. That was it for him. He said, ‘I’m out,’ but I kept going.”

In 2007, at age 22, Ludwig launched Big D’s. Today, Ludwig and his wife Justine, who runs the business side of things, have close to 500 hives and produce up to 60,000 pounds of honey per year. They like to offer variety and currently make Fireweed Honey, Blackberry Honey, Wildflower Honey, Creamy Honey, Creamy Cinnamon Honey, and Cocoa Honey, which are sold at major grocery chains on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, along with health food stores and farmers’ markets.

The Comox Valley is a prime location for beekeeping, says Ludwig. “Our climate is great. Our environment is one of the cleanest. People here are much more conscious about avoiding chemical sprays and doing things organically, which is good for bees. They plant things that are bee friendly. This helps with the quality of the honey and the assurance that our product is clean and organic.”

Also, the mountains that shelter the Valley provide wonderful habitat for bees. Like many local beekeepers, Ludwig takes hives up to the mountains every summer, so the bees can feed off the copious salal, fireweed, wildflowers and salmonberries. Regular trips into the backcountry are part of his working life. It’s something he loves, but it has its downsides.

“The worst part of this job is the bears!” says Ludwig. “Three years ago I lost 60 hives to bears. So I do everything I can to protect them. I play the radio; I have noisemakers connected to motion detectors; I have electric fences.”

The best part of the job is the knowledge that the bees are contributing to the whole farming operation. “It’s awesome to know that wherever I am working, if I’m picking blueberries or working in the sweet corn, thousands of bees are working away, pollinating and making honey.”

Ludwig has been watching the burgeoning interest in beekeeping in recent years. “I think for most people it’s about the joy of learning how bees interact with people and with the environment around them. And people are worried about bees, so more and more people are taking up beekeeping.”

Denman Islander Eli Hason, founder of the Denman Island Bee Club, is one of those people. A beekeeper for three years, Hason formed the Denman Island Bee Club early this year, inspired by the Comox Valley Bee Club, which he is still part of. The club has about 15 members, about half old-timers with experience to share, and half younger people.

Hason moved to Denman Island in 2012 from Montreal where he worked as a DJ and a sound designer for video games and film. He’d been interested in bees for years and with the move from urban to rural, buying a couple of hives made sense.

“I wanted to do something for the environment around me and to have bees to pollinate our garden. One cool thing I didn’t expect is that neighbors tell me they have more bees around. They fly up to three miles away,” he says.

Keeping bees helps balance the impact humans have on the natural environment, says Hason. “I look at what we’ve done to the ecology here. I live in a clearcut. Whatever natural habitat that was here is gone. There are, I’ve been told, 22 kinds of local bees on Denman. They get a lot done but there’s been so much rearrangement of their natural habitat. Just cleaning up your yard kills their habitat, because they live in the ground,” he says.

Hason says the highlight is getting to know the bees. “The coolest thing is just watching he bees. You can tell the season by what they are bringing back to the hive. I love learning more about bees and how they live, and also reading about the history of beekeeping, which goes back 10,000 years.”

This is the ongoing fascination beekeepers talk about—the endless learning involved, the complexity of the bees’ social structure, and the magic of how they communicate. D’Arcangelo can talk endlessly about how bees share information about the location of pollen sources by performing what he calls a “waggle dance” inside the hive.

Reist, who runs Flying Dutchman as a business, not a hobby, still loves to watch his bees come back from harvesting. “If the bees are into the Scotch Broom, they come back absolutely yellow and smelling like Scotch Broom. It’s really nice!”

The current renaissance in beekeeping is clearly matched by a growing interest in buying locally-produced honey. Retail sales of honey in British Columbia almost doubled in 2015 over 2014, to almost $16.5 million, thanks to more people buying direct from beekeepers, according to the BC government. This in itself is not enough to “save the bees”—government action, changes in individual gardening practices and commercial agriculture, and a significantly more careful approach to how humans alter landscape and use resources will be needed for that—but it’s a good start.

bigdsbees.com
flyingdutchman-bees.com
comoxvalleybeeclub.com

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The Way of the Future https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/the-way-of-the-future/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:52:53 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4688

The Valley is home to 18 VEX robotics teams made up of members like Alex Bowman (second from right) Andy Walker, Teagan Parkin and Mariah Rasmussen.  Bowman’s team, Byte Me Robotics, was one of two local teams representing the region at the recent VEX Robotics World Championships in Kentucky.  Photo by Boomer Jerritt.

 

Do you remember the audio visual club from your high school days? If you do, you probably recall it was where you would find the students who were enamored with technology—the students who loved to tinker with wires, knobs and circuit boards, and who could work that troublesome video projector better than anyone, even the teacher. Obviously, things look a bit different today.

If you were to scan through a recent yearbook from one of the local high schools you might not find an audio visual club. However, especially here in the Comox Valley, you would find a robotics club—specifically, a VEX robotics club. And just like the audio visual club back in the day, the VEX robotics club is where you will find the technology leaders of tomorrow—the CEOs of the technology-based corporations as well as the top scientists, mathematicians, researchers and engineers.

You may never have heard of VEX robotics, but it’s been around for more than 10 years and it’s a pretty big deal. In fact, with more than 19,000 teams from more than 40 countries, playing in more than 1,300 competitions, VEX robotics is the largest and fastest growing middle and high school robotics program in the world.

It’s hard to describe a VEX robot to someone who has never seen one. First, you need to remove the stereotypical robot from your mind, you know, the one that looks like R2-D2. You can also remove the robot that looks like a person covered in shiny metal. Oh, and wipe out any recollection you have of robots destroying themselves on TV, i.e. Robot Wars or Battle Bots.

Basically, the VEX robotics program is based on a meccano-like system of parts—structural components made of steel or aluminum, plus wheels, motors, gears, pneumatics, sensors, a programmable controller—and of course, lots and lots of nuts and bolts. With these prescribed parts, students design, build and program their robot to address the engineering challenge put forth by VEX—a challenge that changes every year. These challenges encompass difficult maneuvers for a robot, such as gathering and throwing objects, reaching or travelling over and under things, expanding in height to place objects, and even attaching itself to bars and supporting its weight in a hang. The students have a few months to build and perfect their robots before they begin to gather for competitions.

The Comox Valley is currently home to 18 VEX robotics teams. That may not sound like a large number at first, but it’s quite a bit when you realize that’s 12 per cent of the 155 teams in all of BC, yet our population makes up only 1.4 per cent of the total population of BC.

Lance Balcom is the organizational head of the Pacific Youth Robotics Society (PYRS), a society created to increase the competitive robotic community in British Columbia. Balcom is aware of all of teams throughout the province, and he feels our Valley should be proud of the robotics community we are fostering here.

“The Comox Valley is definitely punching above its weight when it comes to participation in robotics and it reflects a broader trend of supporting learning and enterprise,” he says. “Citizens of the Comox Valley should be rightfully proud of the level of participation and depth of skill involved in the community as a whole and the students of robotics in particular.”

Recently, two teams from the Comox Valley—Byte Me Robotics from the Cumberland Robotics Club and the Navigators from North Island Distance Education School (NIDES)—earned a chance to represent our region at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. They were joined by more than 560 teams from around the globe.

Byte Me Robotics is comprised of two students, Alex Bowman, who is the team captain and studies Grade 12 from home, and Kate Waddell, who is in Grade 10 at Highland Secondary. This is the second year that Byte Me Robotics has competed and only the first year that Bowman and Waddell have joined forces.

“I love the problem solving part of robotics as well as the friendly collaboration that occurs between competitors,” says Bowman, 18. “VEX robotics has been extremely enjoyable yet I’ve also learned a lot over the years. I encourage young people to consider taking part in robotics, even if you don’t consider yourself mechanically inclined. That’s because VEX applies to more than just building a robot. So much of it is about creativity and teamwork. Really, robotics is just a lot of fun and I think more kids should be given the opportunity to experience it.”

The Navigators, from NIDES, is comprised of three team members, Sam Crouch (captain), August McClellan and Maggie Johnson. Actually, their team is one of many that compete under the NIDES banner. In fact, NIDES is a force when it comes to VEX robotics, as they currently have 11 teams and are growing bigger every year. This is the also the second time NIDES has sent a team to the World Championships, but that doesn’t dampen coach Stew Savard’s pride when he talks about his current students.

“This is a team that has worked very hard, and I’m enormously proud of their success— both at the provincial level and at the World Championships,” Savard says. “It’s always interesting to see a team evolve during the year—from first plans to more refined plans. These three students have done a great job of working and learning well together through three generations of their robot in just one year.”

VEX robotics is based on a meccano-like system of parts—structural components made of steel or aluminum, plus wheels, motors, gears, pneumatics, sensors, a programmable controller and lots of nuts and bolts. Photo by Boomer Jerritt

It’s important to note here that when students study robotics they are essentially studying STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering and math—in an interdisciplinary and hands on manner. These four STEM subjects meet at the juncture called robotics. When students study robotics they learn mathematical and physical concepts such as gear ratios, the mechanics of movement and structural strength, as well as technological skills in areas such as electronics, control systems and computer programming.

Arguably, however, STEM subjects are about more than the sum of their obvious parts, as educating students in STEM subjects prepares them for life, regardless of the profession they choose to follow. That’s because STEM subjects teach students to think creatively, critically, and how to solve problems. In fact, according to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, these three skills—complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity—were listed as the top skills needed to excel professionally by the year 2020.

Since VEX robotics is a team sport, it’s also necessary for students to learn effective ways to communicate abstract and complicated ideas with each other, and how to work as a cohesive team, oftentimes under extremely stressful conditions. In addition, perseverance, strategy, collaboration, innovation, and project management are skills that students of robotics take home with them.

But the most incredible thing is that when students build robots, all this learning happens effortlessly and enjoyably.

Imagine education that is as entertaining and addicting as video games. That’s what happens when the robot enters the classroom. Here’s a good example of how excited young people get about robotics and STEM learning: At the most recent World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, the new engineering challenge for the coming year was unveiled with tremendous fanfare and excitement. The competitors in the stands were literally jumping up and down and cheering. But here’s the rub. Essentially, the students were being handed their STEM homework for the next year. Yet instead of shrugs and groans, the students immediately started coming up with design ideas and strategy to solve the new challenge.

When do you ever see kids so excited about homework? Not often, but with robotics, you see it all the time. And this fun creates interest. In fact, 95 per cent of students who take part in VEX robotics report an increased interest in STEM subject areas and an interest in pursuing STEM-related careers—a fact especially important for girls.

Gender disparity is especially prevalent in fields related to STEM subjects. In fact, here in Canada, women are chronically under-represented across all STEM-related fields, making up just 22 per cent of the science, tech, engineering and math workforce. The reason for this workplace gender disparity can be traced back to the school years, where it has been proven that girls are far more likely to lack confidence in their ability in STEM subjects compared to boys—despite the fact that girls often outperform boys in STEM subjects.

Although it’s also true that girls are affected by gender stereotyping from the wider society in general, creating a shift in attitudes during the school years is a great place to affect positive change in this area. That’s where the robot comes in. When girls are allowed to freely create their robot, they are often surprised to see that they are just as good as, if not better than, their male teammates. For many girls, this realization constitutes a paradigm shift that will change the trajectory of their lives.

Happily, there are a good number of girls who play with robots here in the Comox Valley. In fact, both local robotics teams who went to the World Championships have girls on their teams and Vanier Senior Secondary has a team made entirely of girls.

Teagan Parkin is the captain of the Vanier all-girls team and has been involved with robotics for three years. “VEX is a lot of fun,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot about robot design and working together this year. “To me, it’s more interesting and more exciting than conventional sports. The people are great— it’s no different being a girl, other than that there are usually fewer of us. Although at Vanier, half of us are girls.”

Growing local interest in robotics, from all genders and ages, is important for the future economy of the Comox Valley. The world faces an unprecedented need for new innovators, thinkers, and problem solving leaders. In fact, some experts say we are at the beginning of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. For example, developments in previously disjointed fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, 3D printing, genetics and biotechnology are all building on and amplifying one another. It is also believed that at the current growth rate there are simply not enough students choosing STEM-related paths to meet the global demand predicted for the future. As a result, it’s incredibly important to find creative and innovative ways to get students interested in learning and embracing STEM subjects. Robotic education will prove to be an essential bridge to the future of innovation.

Businesses in the Comox Valley and on Vancouver Island are recognizing the fact that we need to be supporting our young minds as we move into this Fourth Industrial Revolution. For example, our local robotics teams received a good deal of support from the Lift Comox Valley organization, a business and community economic development initiative designed to grow our local economy. Hans Peter Meyer is the facilitator of Lift and was instrumental at garnering the support for the local robotics teams. “It’s important for the business community to support these kinds of talented young people because they are the ones who are going to be building our economy in the future,” says Meyer.

Inuktun Robotics is a Nanaimo-based robotics manufacturing company with distribution offices in the United States, Europe, China and Singapore. Inuktun has supported Comox Valley robotics teams in the past and continues to support the teams ongoing. Jeff Christopherson, in charge of technical sales at Inuktun, says, “Inuktun is happy to support the community and the efforts of young minds at an age that positions them for future growth. On a personal level, there seems to be a lot of attention given to smart devices and computers. However, the product of these devices is just more information. With robotics, the product is a physical, real world action designed to accomplish a task. Robotics bridges the gap between the virtual world and the real world.”

To learn more about VEX Robotics visit:

vexrobotics.com
roboticseducation.org
facebook.com/comoxvalleyrobotics
pyrs.ca

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Riding the Waves https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/riding-the-waves/ Fri, 19 May 2017 22:52:37 +0000 https://www.infocusmagazine.ca/?p=4697

From left, Kevin Lawrence, Carl Tessmann and Ryan Stuart hit the ocean waves near Goose Spit in Comox in their surf skis. Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Okay, we’ve got some boat wash coming towards us that’s going to cause some waves.” These words were from Carl Tessmann, guide for my inaugural foray out on a surf ski. And I’ll admit, I stiffened up a bit when I heard those words, wondering if I was going to suddenly end up in the water instead of on the water.

But I forced myself to relax and instead of going for a swim, after a few strokes I realized I was having fun. My boat was more stable than I thought it would be and I was actually enjoying the sensation of the boat rising and speeding up as it was pushed along by the boat wash. I imagined what it would be like to surf some real waves. At that moment I knew I wanted more. And just like that, I was smitten by the surf ski.

Tessmann and I enjoyed a long conversation at the Comox Marina after our time on the water. We talked about the sport of surf skiing, how it came into existence, and why it’s garnering such interest. Tessmann also shared his personal story of how he came to love surf skiing and why he believes it is a sport that could take off here in the Comox Valley.

One just has to talk surf skiing with Tessmann for a short while to see that he’s slightly obsessed with the sport. In fact, Tessmann has created a website as well as a Facebook page just to share his love of surf skiing. “People often ask me if I’ve got a business or something, but I tell them I’m just excited about spreading the word about this fantastic new sport. I want to see more people out on the water enjoying their surf skis.”

The name surf ski conjures up different images in different people’s minds and can cause a bit of confusion. Surf skis were named such because the boats were initially designed to rescue surfers who got into trouble. With the boat’s sleek and fast design the rescuers could quickly get beyond the breaking waves where they could reach the endangered surfer. The surfer could then easily grab onto the boat for the rapid ride back to shore.

Since those early days, however, the surf ski has evolved from a single purpose craft to a boat designed for fun in varied water conditions. “The surf ski is now a relatively narrow, long kayak with an open cockpit, designed for speed on flat water and efficient movement in downwind ocean conditions,” explains Tessmann.

Surf skis are also easy to enjoy. The boats are made of fibreglass and as a result are incredibly light. It’s easy to load and unload the boats onto any vehicle and to carry them to and from the water. “Because you sit on top of a surf ski, you don’t need as much stuff—the spray skirt, bailer/pump, and paddle float are all unnecessary. If you fall out, you simply flip the boat over and jump in, as they have built in drains that suck the water out of the cockpit as soon as you start paddling,” explains Tessmann. “So as a recreational boat you have a lightweight, simplistic way to explore or play in the waves.”

As a result of the new design, the surf ski is now at home in any type of water. “Surf ski paddling can be a calming cruise on flat water or an adrenaline inducing rip in the wind and waves. They are fun on a calm sunny day, in a big downwind storm, or on a mushy beach break in Tofino,” Tessmann says. “Many surf ski paddlers have no interest in rough water and seek flatter protected conditions like in Victoria’s Gorge, or protected bays. They are happy to get on the water for a bit of exercise and scenery.”

“Flat conditions, downwind paddling in a storm, recreational focus, or racing, this boat offers me an incredibly diverse athletic experience,” says local surf ski enthusiast Carl Tessmann.  Photo by Boomer Jerritt

And it is a work out. After only 30 minutes I could feel it in my core. In fact, surf skiing works every major body area, from your arms to your legs and everything in between. As a result, surf skiing is becoming a sport of choice for those who want to give their body a break from running or cycling. “Flat conditions, downwind paddling in a storm, recreational focus, or racing, this boat offers me an incredibly diverse athletic experience,” Tessmann says.

Although Tessmann appreciates the great workout, he actually got into surf skiing to give him a competitive edge at the Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR), held last year in Cumberland. “I got into surf ski paddling last June because I signed up for MOMAR and didn’t want to pay over $100 to rent a slow standard ocean kayak. I spent a lot of time learning to paddle leading up to the race and in the end had a 10 minute or more advantage over my direct competition, who were in much slower boats. It seems a bit of an unfair advantage, but in the end I was so glad I spent the time learning to paddle my ski.”

Although Tessmann has become quite comfortable on his surf ski, he recalls that getting to that point was a challenge. “The learning curve in this sport can be steep as you progress, but the rewards are so big it’s worth the time and effort. My first few times out I endured countless itchy noses for fear of taking my hands off my paddle. I remember times on the water when I couldn’t talk, look sideways, or even adjust my position in the bucket without falling in!” he says with a laugh.

Tessmann admits, though, that he started out on a boat that was not perfectly suited to his skill level. According to Tessmann, the right boat will make learning the sport much easier. “New boat designs are shortening the learning curve significantly. Manufacturers are now easing the barriers to entry by creating more stable boats to suit any body type. The cool part of this is that the slowest, most stable surf skis can still rip it up in the wind and waves and be faster than any traditional sea kayak on flat water. In fact, there is a growing trend to purchase more stable boats instead of the elite racing rockets that can be a handful to master. Even so, I equate learning to surf ski to learning to surf. It’s very hard to be good at it if you don’t put the time in. The nice thing is that you don’t have to travel to the West Coast to play in a surf ski.”

This leads us to why Tessmann feels the Comox Valley is a perfect place to grow and enjoy the sport of surf ski.

“Here on Vancouver Island, we have a climate that allows for paddling year round in conditions suitable for any paddler. Lakes and sheltered bays offer the perfect conditions to learn the sport. Flat water is where you get started, establish balance, learn proper paddle stroke technique, and practice your re-entry—but it is also a perfect setting for a serene cruise or a fast paced workout for skilled paddlers.

“As storms roll through, many opportunities arise to paddle these boats as they were intended,” Tessmann adds, noting that 15-20 knot winds create waves from a foot to more than a metre. “Paddlers often choose a point-to-point route for a ‘downwinder’, where they ride the waves for a higher speed, rough water experience.

“One thing I have noticed is that no matter what the conditions, every experience on the water is different. Flat water cruises or rough water adventures, I can’t say that any two outings are ever the same,” continues Tessmann. “With so much wildlife, changing weather patterns and completely varied water conditions, the Comox Valley is perfectly suited for the sport of surf ski. And there is no shortage of places to explore. I’ve never been in such a dynamic environment.”

Kevin Lawrence, owner of the Ski and Surf Shop in Courtenay, also loves to surf ski and agrees that we live in an incredible place for exploring the water. “We live in a stunning location surrounded by gorgeous water and wildlife. The Comox Valley is such an amazing place to surf ski. I see wildlife almost every time I go out,” Lawrence says.

An important take-away for most readers is that surf skis are not only for thrill seekers who just happen to have amazingly good balance. “The fastest growing group to the sport is women of intermediate skill,” Lawrence says. “They appreciate the lightness of the boat and how efficient it is in the water—a couple of strokes and you’re really moving—faster than you’d ever get going in a standard kayak. Add to this the fact that these newly designed boats can be quite stable, and you’ve got a sport that can be enjoyed by most people. In fact, with these new stable boats the learning curve can be quite quick. Before you know it you’re looking for waves. The fun factor comes very fast.”

Photo by Boomer Jerritt

Although the sport is definitely growing, it’s true that here in the Comox Valley surf skis still turn heads and cause people to point and ask questions. “At this point, very few people know or understand what surf ski is here in the Valley,” Tessmann says. “But in other areas surf skiing is just huge.

“For example, if you go to North Vancouver’s Deep Cove, or Bellingham, Washington, you’ll see big groups paddling daily. Deep Cove Kayaks hosts some big events. Their Tuesday night races have a surf ski focus but also a good SUP contingent. They often get over 50 surf skis out to their Tuesday night races. And the neat thing about Bellingham is that they have a huge community of surf ski paddlers and many races and weekly meet-ups. Many of the people who participate are 50 years old or more. Yes, there are younger people there too, but to see the older guys and ladies out there shows me that this is a sport that I’ll be able to do for the rest of my life.”

Surf skis are available for purchase at Ski & Surf Shop in Downtown Courtenay, and the store will be offering demo days this summer. To learn more about the sport of surf ski and to keep abreast of local events visit the following sites:
visurfski.ca
facebook.com/groups/visurfski
skiandsurf.ca
canadiansurfskichamps.com

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