Volume

22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ONLINE ONLY

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

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...