Search Results for: Environment and Nature
Volume
22
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EASY, BREEZY E-BIKES
Words & Photo by Dave Prothero
Rad new rides give biking a boost.
How many times have you thought about how nice it would be to drive less? Maybe you want to reduce your...
Volume
22
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THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS
Words & Photo by Sophie Vigneau
From fresh waters to the salty sea—the K’ómoks Important Bird Area.
Soft whitecaps glisten atop cresting waves, tall green grasses...
Volume
22
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AIMING FOR ZERO
Words by Tanis Gower
Photo by Femke Overmaat
From circular to linear and back again: the human economy on a finite planet.
One of nature’s fundamentals is the way matter flows in...
Volume
22
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TURNING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE: CUMBERLAND 2040
Words by Ryan Stuart
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
How Cumberland reached carbon negative years from now.
The second in our series imagining how the Comox Valley's communities could...
Volume
22
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LEARNING TO FLY
Words by Mac Newton
Photos by Alexandre Crouzet
MARS's newly expanded rescue centre is a haven for Valley wildlife.
As the sun breaks through in a brief respite on a day of steady rain, the 11...
Volume
21
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THE ELK IN OUR BACKYARD
Words by Dave Flawse
Illustration by Christine Boyer
Cameras in hand, two determined documentarians spend a season in pursuit of the Comox Valley’s elusive Roosevelt elk.
“What was...
Volume
21
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FEATURED WORDS: WINTER'S POEM
Words by Meaghan Cursons
Photo by Eugene Chung
Even in the darkest winter
under the frost-hardened earth
the roots are deep in discussion
through mycelium threads
exchanging plans for spring
sharing secrets...
Volume
21
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THE BIG ONE
Words by Andrew Findlay
Photo by Ron Pogue
In 1946, Forbidden Plateau was the epicentre of the Island’s last big earthquake. The Comox Valley experiences minuscule tremors all the time—are we due...
Volume
21
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HERITAGE FARMERS: JO SMITH AND HELEN NIXON
Words by Jen Groundwater
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Think you’ve lived in the Comox Valley a long time? These women run a farm that’s been in the family since John A. Macdonald was prime...
Volume
21
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SALMON AND STEWARDSHIP
Words by Lisa Levesque
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
The K’ómoks First Nation Guardian Watchmen use the bounty of the sea to help protect the forest.
The late autumn sun lazily...
Volume
21
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WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
Words by Tim Ennis
Photo by Brett Kroeker
Winters in the Valley aren’t what they used to be. What does this mean for our water supply?
I grew up on Vancouver Island, the...
Volume
21
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THE SEASON OF EARTH
Opening Introduction by Jen Groundwater
Photo by Dave Prothero
Almost all the ancient civilizations identified four similar basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water. I believe there’s a part within all of us—even in...
Volume
20
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PERSONAL STYLE
Words by Nicole Bertram
Photos by Meredith Rose
By rethinking what we wear, the slow fashion movement provides support for local artistry and a path to sustainability.
As concern...
Volume
20
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WITCHES OF THE WOODS
Words by Meaghan Cursons
Photo by Karley Bracey
Folklore tells of female forms that dwell in the forest, personifying the power of this dark, natural world to frighten and...
Volume
20
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ABOVE AND BEYOND
Words by Ryan Stuart
Opening Photo by Chris Istace
Article Photos by Juanita Wells
The Comox District Mountaineering Club is doing hard work on the ground, encouraging our community to enjoy and protect the great outdoors.
If...
Volume
20
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PROPHETS AND HARBINGERS
Words by Neil Borecky
Photo by Alexandre Crouzet
While we mostly live in harmony with owls, our fascination with these highly evolved predators is well represented in literature and...
Volume
20
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WHERE YOUR HEART IS
Opening Introduction by Allie Jenkinson
Photo by Sara Kempner
“I discovered mountain rivers late, for I was a prairie child… All I knew was that it was pure delight to be where the land lifted in peaks and plunged in...
Volume
19
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STOLEN MOMENTS
Words by David Benton
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Time slows and memories collect and blur together while climbing amongst the Valley’s age-old terrain.
Desperately pinching...
Volume
19
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DEEP BLUE
Words By Tim Ennis
Photo By Jenn Dykstra
One of our community’s most crucial water sources is right under our feet.
It is amazing to stand on the shores of Comox Lake and...
Volume
19
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GROWING CONSCIOUSNESS
Words by Sally Podmore
Photo by JoAnne McElroy
Whether for our health, our planet, or the simple joy of food, the benefits of plant-based eating have become impossible to...
Volume
19
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HIDDEN RICHES
Words & Painting by Nick Hutton-Jay
Long before it became a popular tourist destination, two adventurers stumbled upon the unexpected while exploring the Upana...
Volume
15
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GROWING CALM
Words by Ashley Hamilton-MacQuarrie
Photos by Jenn Dykstra
Local businesses team up to provide a resort sanctuary that naturally soothes and inspires.
Fresh water flows through the Kingfisher...
Volume
15
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A SELFLESS PROTECTOR OF ALL THINGS WILD
Words by Andrew Findlay
Remembering the legacy of Ruth Masters and the priceless gifts—both physical and intangible—that she bestowed on our community.
If...
Volume
15
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FASHION FORWARD
Words by Bevin Clempson
Photos by Meredith Rose
How one small business is making an environmental sea change with thoughtfully crafted swimwear.
Nearly invisible, a fishing net...
Volume
15
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ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Words by Ryan Stuart
With the Federal Government on the verge of legalizing recreational marijuana use, Comox Valley municipalities drag their heels on implementing non-medicinal...
Volume
15
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THE GREAT INDOORS
Words by Laurel Sliskovic
Photos by James Headrick
Blurring the lines between woods and water, comfort and camping, Brown’s Bay Resort is a charming getaway for Vancouver Island...
Volume
15
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PIONEERS AND BROKEN DREAMS
Words & Photos by Tim Ennis
Exploring northern Vancouver Island’s San Josef Bay with Cove Adventures.
Drive northwest past the ferry line-ups, strip malls, and...
Volume
15
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THE PLACES WE MAKE
Words by Meaghan Cursons
Article photo by Janelle Lee
Gallery photos by Bobby Herron
and Laurel Rankin
The Cumberland Community Forest Society reflects deep-rooted passions to map out a flourishing future.
In Cumberland, the community...
Volume
14
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THE PEACOCK BEAN PARADOX
Words by Joyce Lindemulder
Photos by Re Bastien
How a drive to be independent and self-sufficient unexpectedly led to community connection.
Both of my parents emigrated from Europe...
Volume
14
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THE TROUBLE WITH WOLVES
Words by Andrew Findlay
Photos by April Bencze
In an attempt to protect ungulate species, BC is faced with a difficult dilemma. Is culling their predators an ethical response—and a scientifically sound...
Volume
14
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HOME VIDEO
Words & photos by Ross Bodenmann
Balancing the give-and-take required to responsibly host the filmmaking process in our own backyard.
We’re familiar with boom and...
Volume
13
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The Sweet Spots
Words by Terry Folks
& Wendy Turner
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Using Shinrin-Yoku and the beauty of our surroundings to heal during times of transition.
Shinrin-yoku, sometimes known as “forest...
Volume
13
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Field of Dreams
Words by Tim Ennis
Article photo by Robert Lundquist
Gallery photos by Dan Bowen
and Rick Ward
Turning the tides to de-industrialize the estuary in the heart of our community.
“I just want to wake up one day, open the...
Volume
13
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The Science of Safety
Words by David Kallai
Photos by Lorenz Jimenez
The progression of a local avalanche centre.
Avalanche forecasting on Vancouver Island is getting a boost this winter thanks to the...
Volume
12
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Harvest & Shadows
Words by Meaghan Cursons
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Summer lays down to sleep in the cool woods. The crisp fall air wakens. Trails of dark wet earth wind through the forest. The prints of thirsty animals in the...
Volume
12
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Putting Your Vegetable Garden to Bed
Words by Mike McDonald
Photos by Trevor Moore
Prepping for Winter.
After our vegetable gardens has pumped out all of the food and flavour it can, one very important job remains:...
Volume
12
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Weighing our options
Words by Nick Ward
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
One family's tally of their waste.
I’m standing at the sink, doing the dishes, washing out the plastic yoghurt pot before tossing it...
Volume
11
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Paradise Meadows
Words & Photos by Wendy L. Macdonald
The name says it all.
They say you should stop and smell the roses if you want to enjoy the journey. I’ve discovered my own...
Volume
11
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Paddle to the sea
Words & Photos by Tim Ennis
Exploring the Puntledge Hatchery.
As a very young child, I enjoyed my mum reading to me the story of Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C....
Volume
11
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Full of life: Clam gardens in the Salish Sea
Words by Kelly Forbes
EARLY MEMORIES
One of my earliest memories is on the beach. I am six years old and I am standing next to my dad who is digging in the sand. I stare,...
Volume
11
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Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society
Words by Allison Morrison
Photo by Sandy Royer
Giving hope and care to orphaned wildlife.
Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre where...
Volume
11
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Making an Impact
Words & diagram by John Gower
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Building blocks of sustainability
Picture a small boy sitting on a tall drafting stool, drawing rocket ships, submarines, and houses...
Volume
10
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Forest to Faucet: Life in the Era of Humans
Words & Photos by Tim Ennis
“Man must make himself small and humble to live in [nature] rather than a ruthless giant to conquer it” – Roderick Haig-Brown
...
Volume
10
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Rainwater Harvesting 101
Words by Mark Miard
Illustration by Ian Adams
Capturing nature's bounty
The principals of rainwater harvesting have remained the same for centuries: collect and contain clean...
Volume
10
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Naturally Aware: April Bencze
Interview & article photo by Ross Bodenmann
Gallery photos by April Bencze
With stunning visuals and captivating words, April Bencze is reconnecting humans with the natural world. Her portfolio, Instagram following, and contributions...
Volume
10
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Living Landscapes: Cultivating the garden of your dreams
Words by Arianne Huene
and Louis Lamb
Photos by Aaron Pitt
Illustration by Arianne Huene
Daffodils, snowdrops, pussy willows, and crocuses are popping up madly, desperate to attract the attention of some drunken bumblebee that is just waking up...
Volume
10
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Free-Diving, With A Catch
Words by Galyn Franklin
Photos by Jeremy Koreski
Bringing peace to your soul and food to your table.
I hold my breath, feeling a trickle of cold that distracts me for a second; there...
Volume
9
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Off-the-grid: the Beauty of Disconnecting
Words by Dave Nowak
Photo by Allan Sawchuck
Mention to someone that you want to live off-the-grid and it will conjure up images of a smoke-filled tarpaper shack, pit toilets, and diesel generators...
Volume
9
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Black-Tailed Deer: Respecting our neighbours
Words by Angeline Seed
Photos by April Bencze
Upon moving to the Comox Valley at age seven, I developed a newfound appreciation and sense of amazement at the volume and diversity of wildlife in my new...
Volume
7
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Lost In The Wilderness
Words & Photos By Sara Kempner
A close encounter with the Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society
For those of us fortunate to live in the Comox Valley, we find ourselves...
Volume
6
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Magic In The Mountains
Words & Photos By Sarah Seads
Nearby alpine gems inspire locals and visitors alike.
An endless coastline, mild climate, and constant ocean breeze are all part of...
Volume
6
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Growing Up In The Woods
Words By Heather Thomson
And Alix Wilson
Photos By Karen McKinnon
The technique of Métissage storytelling blends a child’s, an educator’s, and a historical point of view, for a holistic understanding of learning in the...
Volume
6
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Forest Flow
Words By Evan Gough
Photo By Nik Dunn
The esoteric feeling at the heart of forest conservation.
In our work to protect and conserve forests around Cumberland, arguments are...
Volume
5
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Complex Terrain
Words & Paintings By Clive Powsey
Strike inwards on foot from Vancouver Island’s inhabited perimeter and, in a few hours walk beyond the strip malls, residential neighbourhoods, industrial...
Volume
3
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Shared Source
Words By Meaghan Cursons
Photos By Ian Adams
And Sara Kempner
The Comox Lake watershed is beautiful. The bird’s eye view is truly epic. Crystal clear icy water flows down from the Comox Glacier and craggy snow topped...
Apr
20
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A River Runs Through It
Categories Volume 2
On a summer afternoon with life jacket-less tubers bobbing by, teenagers jumping off cliffs and dogs fetching sticks, it’s hard to believe the Puntledge...
Volume
1
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Challenging Mother Nature
Words By Jacob Hanson
Photos By Brett Watson
While it is a small community of athletes, it is a passionate community that craves what most others dread, the season of storms.
Its 7am and light hasn’t...