Jenn Dykstra

Founder / Publisher

Jennifer is an accomplished photographer and graduate of the Western Academy of Photography (Victoria, BC). She views life as a series of memorable moments and creatively and professionally captures those moments for her valued clients. Jennifer’s philosophy is to beautifully compose her images and provide her clients with both the expected and unexpected. In turn, she thrills and inspires her clients and other photographers by showcasing people, places and relationships in a stunning way and precisely for who they are.

Jennifer finds sanctuary adventuring in the great outdoors. The Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains are her favourite playgrounds and she is also inspired by locations further afield. With her passport stamped on every page, she loves to travel and appreciates culture and diversity. Her life, relationships and work are all shaped by making the most out of life.

Jennifer divides her time between the West Coast and the Rocky Mountains, and is also available for assignments in other locations.

Connect with Jenn

jenndykstraphoto.com

Volume

31

SUNSET AT SMITH LAKE FARM

Words by Sara Kempner

Photo by Meredith Rose

Gallery photos by Jenn Dykstra

Sara Kempner

Karen McKinnon

and Meredith Rose

Four photographers capture more than just snapshots. As I pull through the gates of Smith Lake Farm, I’m greeted by the sounds of chickens...

Volume

31

VIVA LA TRASH PANDA

Words by Neil Borecky

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

It’s been around for 19 million years. So can the raccoon get a little grudging respect? I’ve occasionally yearned to wear a Davy...

Volume

30

FROM CLEARCUTS TO COMMUNITIES

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Gallery photos by Jen Groundwater

The Valley’s community halls have stories to tell. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably driven past the community halls north...

Volume

30

ALL IN THE SAME BOAT

Words by Jim Whyte

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Connected by water—reflections after an afternoon on Comox Lake. On Friday, May 13, 2022, a group of paddlers from many backgrounds made...

Volume

30

ELDER VALLEY: BETTE KOSMOLAK

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Reflections from an older resident. Every day, we hear and say, “I love this.” And this. And this. And this. And oh, that over...

Volume

30

FRIENDS OF FELINES

Words by Mac Newton

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

The Kitty Cat P.A.L. Society cares for the Comox Valley’s under-loved cats. Two “very pregnant” cats. That was the delivery at the...

Volume

29

NOSY NEIGHBOURS WELCOME

Words by Meaghan Cursons

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

During the Cumberland Home, Garden, and Culture Crawl, it’s totally okay to peek into your neighbours’ lives. They might even offer you a drink while you...

Volume

29

TUNED TO THE COMMUNITY'S FREQUENCY

Words by Dave Flawse

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

100.7 The Raven’s diverse team revitalizes a language and works to heal a nation. A lone modular office building with blue vinyl siding...

Volume

29

GREENING YOUR MONEY

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Is it possible to invest for retirement—without supporting companies you don’t approve of? When Kermit the Frog said, “It’s not easy...

Volume

28

LIVING LARGE

Words by Amy Woods

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Five can fit fine inside a tiny home. Most people are shocked when they learn our family of five lives in a tiny home. “How many square...

Volume

28

RETHINKING ONIGIRI

Words by Britt Hanson

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

A Hornby Island entrepreneur takes a beloved Japanese seafood snack to the next level. Hornby Island local Jake Berman first encountered...

Volume

27

COME TO THE DARK SIDE

Words by Wendy Mayers

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Heighten your senses with a walk in the forest after dark. Does the thought of walking in the forest at night make you feel uneasy? Does it...

Volume

27

THE NORTHEAST WOODS

Words by Kerry Hale

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Comox’s favourite forest playground has many stories to tell. Etched into the fabric of Comox life, the Northeast Woods are considered by...

Volume

27

WORD LOVERS UNITE

Words by Joline Martin

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The origins of the Comox Valley Writers Society. For over 5,000 years, the written word has carried knowledge and information to readers,...

Volume

27

THE VILLAGE TINKER

Words by Dave Nowak

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Forging ahead in uncertain times. After the year that was 2020, we’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel—a return to the way...

Volume

26

TOWARD A MORE LIVABLE VALLEY

Words by Bobby Herron

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness combines compassion and action. You pretty much can’t have a conversation anywhere in the world...

Volume

26

FREE THE LAWNS!

Words by James McKerricher

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The front lines of food production, coming to a neighbourhood near you. Urban agriculture can mean a number of things depending on who you...

Volume

26

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY

Words by Ryan Stuart

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

At SOS Gear, every sale helps save lives. What separates SOS Gear from other outdoor stores is not what it carries, but what it...

Volume

26

SAILING FORTH

Words by Judith Wright

Opening photo by Jenn Dykstra

A thirst for adventure, a boat of her own, and the Salish Sea as her playground. There’s no real place to start this story of sailing. I...

Volume

26

RECHARGED AND READY

Opening introduction by Jen Groundwater

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

After so many months of navigating an ever-changing pandemic landscape of worries, warnings, restrictions, and rules, I think it’s safe to say most of us...

Volume

25

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Comox Valley Head Injury Society helps people with acquired brain injury walk the path toward recovery. Often in an instant, an acquired...

Volume

25

PERCEPTIONS, PREJUDICE, AND PRIDE

Words by Sam Patterson

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

A small-town boy reflects on coming out in the Comox Valley. “Hi, I’m Sam. I’m trans.” I start quite a number of conversations this...

Volume

24

SPEAKING FOR THE TREES

Words by Andrew Findlay

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The lush forest along the Puntledge River feels like a protected sanctuary, but some areas are slated for logging. A new local group aims to change...

Volume

24

LITTLE VALLEY: ZOË HENDERSON

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in. My name is Zoë, and I am nine years old. I have lived in Cumberland my...

Volume

24

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Words by JoAnne McElroy

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

A pledge to jump into Comox Lake once a month for a year. On January 1, 2019, a large group of adventurous Cumberland residents gathered on...

Volume

24

THE THREADS OF RECOVERY

Words by Andrea Townsend

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

A former adrenaline junkie becomes a different kind of adventurer, exploring new cultures through weaving. My adventures used to involve...

Volume

24

GETTING THE DRIFT

Words by Ed Varney

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

As a vibrant poetry scene emerges in the Valley, a new anthology showcases over three dozen poets’ work. Every poem tells a kind of story,...

Volume

24

TAKING THE TEMPERATURE ON GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

Words by Daniel Booy

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

When it comes to energy efficiency, what’s hot may not be that cool. I’ve been intimately involved in the ground-source heat pump (GSHP)...

Volume

23

COURTENAY AFTER COVID

Words by Ryan Stuart

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Twenty years after the pandemic, a local historian looks back. The third in our series imagining how the Comox Valley’s communities could...

Volume

23

SWEAT IT OUT

Words by Bevin Clempson

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Bathing in the benefits of hot-cold rituals. True story: my first-ever sauna experience included pitchers of gin Caesars and a...

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

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL LAND

Words by Andrew Findlay

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

The history and community behind Courtenay’s beloved Airpark. When my kids were younger, I logged long hours at the Rotary Skypark, going...

Apr

9

ONLINE ONLY

COVID-19 and hunger in the Comox Valley

Categories Covid-19, Online Only

Reflections on the journey from the centre of the storm. The people of the Comox Valley have always had a special knack for community organizing, but the...

Volume

21

THE PERKS OF PLAYING PRETEND

Words by Curt Carbonell

and Sam Larente

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Roleplaying games open up a world of adventure and exploration… and it’s all in the players’ imaginations. You have been...

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

20

REBUILDING CHARACTER

Words by Jenn Laing

Article photo by Jenn Dykstra

Gallery photos by JoAnne McElroy

After a Cumberland home catches fire, local professionals help the owners pay homage to history. Our heritage house was built in 1895...

Volume

20

IN THE FIELD

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

and Alexandra Stephanson

PETER GEE: CONNECTOR If you recently arrived in the Comox Valley and found a family doctor with little trouble, you can thank Dr. Peter Gee. As Site...

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

ADAPT OR DIE

Words by Jenn Dykstra

Photos by Boomer Jerritt

Boomer Jerritt’s long history with photography represents the unique combination of skills needed to succeed in a...

Volume

19

IN THE FIELD

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

MO MOSHIRI: EXPLORER “I’ve been a traveller since I was three,” says Comox-based MC, songwriter, and producer Mo Moshiri. He was born in Iran during...

Volume

19

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

Words by Christa Petch

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The economic boom of the early 20th century brought more than coal to the surface. This is the tight-lipped history of the Comox Valley sex...

Volume

18

IN THE FIELD

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

ERIC RUSH: EXPLORER To put it mildly, Eric Rush is pretty fond of road biking. A member of Courtenay’s Riverway Dental Racing team, he regularly puts in...

Volume

18

HOME BASE

Words by Camille Douglas

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The history of CFB Comox tells of the West Coast’s strategic landscape and Canada’s defence strategies dating back to 1942. Under...

Volume

17

BEARING WITNESS

Words by Jen Groundwater

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Just across the Salish Sea, only 70 kilometres from Campbell River as the crow flies, the Xwémalkwu (Homalco) people share the land with dozens of grizzly...

Volume

17

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Words by Dave Nowak

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

A lot of change comes with the passing of multiple decades, but a committed gathering of floor hockey players shows that some good things stay the...

Volume

17

SMOOTH MOVES

Words by Ryan Stuart

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Through hard work and distinct vision, a network of local trail builders are carving out the future of mountain biking in Cumberland....

Volume

17

WHAT MOVES US

Words by Mike B

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The rivers of the Comox Valley have the power to carry us home. We are made of the place we came from. If you eat locally and don’t drink bottled water,...

Volume

16

ON ANY GIVEN THURSDAY

Words by Dave Nowak

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Dropping in on the members of the Comox Valley Horseshoe Club, where simple pleasures are honoured and everybody’s welcome. I came...

Volume

16

STANDING TALL

Words by Roger Albert

Article photo by Jenn Dykstra

Gallery photos by Sara Kempner

Karver Everson and Randy Frank are resurrecting a style of totem pole carving traditional to the K’ómoks people. Their Guardian poles continue to be raised...

Volume

16

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENT

Words by Mac Newton

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

Paying attention, being aware, and having presence of mind is habitual. So is distraction. On a sunny afternoon six years ago while...

Volume

16

THINKING BEYOND BUSINESS

Words by Laurel Sliskovic

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Much more than a local accommodation, a lodge in BC’s oldest provincial park trains outdoor educators and guides while acting as a steward to the surrounding...

Volume

16

SHUT IT DOWN

Words by Allie Jenkinson

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

I am a true introvert, my husband a true extrovert. Which means we spend a lot of time telling each other how weird we think the other one is. He gets anxious...

Volume

15

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Words by Paula Worthington

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Cycling opportunities in the Valley are growing, combining the best of the area’s food, wine, and scenery into a selection of man-powered...

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

FLOATING ON

Words by Allie Jenkinson

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

I don’t think I truly understood the word “bittersweet” before I became a mother. When I watch my son play with toys, whispering to himself on the floor,...

Volume

14

GRAVITATIONAL PULL

Words by Nicole Rippel

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Straight across the strait, a manicured bike park and cycle-forward community provides a draw for amateur and experienced riders...

Volume

14

A WILDERNESS RETREAT, REIMAGINED

Words by Allie Jenkinson

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Gallery photo by Todd MacSween

With a pair of new managers at the helm, a Comox Valley lodge switches gears to service both locals and tourists. High on the...

Volume

13

Anchored in Iceland

Words & Photos by Jenn Dykstra

An experienced traveler connects the past, present and future on a sail and ski adventure. In the late seventies, Sandra Dykstra skied...

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

12

Our Church Buildings

Words by Dawn Copeman

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Opening the doors to change. When I was a little girl in the 1960s, we’d play hand games to amuse ourselves: cat’s cradle, shadow...

Volume

12

Dairy Farming on Vancouver Island

Words by Jennifer Sieffert

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

Happy Cow Dairy, farm to table. My husband Kyle and I grew up in the Comox Valley, both of us lovingly raised on the family farms...

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

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

Casting Light

Words by Allie Jenkinson

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

The process of illumination at the Fanny Bay Candle Company. The setting of The Fanny Bay Candle Company is pastoral. Donalda Lauzon...

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

11

At Journey's End

Words by Dawn Copeman

Article photo by Jenn Dykstra

The radiant compassion and wisdom of Amida Buddha and the grace and forbearance of the Japanese who once lived here. It's 5:30 a.m.,...

Volume

10

If I Had A Hammer

Words by Dave Nowak

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The Shed Tool Library & Makerspace Co-op In the 1980s, I was living in a subdivision in the suburbs just north of Toronto. On any...

Volume

10

A Closer Look At Hypnotherapy

Words by Britt Hanson

and Carly Panzenboeck

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The inner workings of the heart & mind. So often we think of hypnosis as a magic trick or simply good for a laugh. My first experience...

Volume

9

Choral Valley

Words by Wendy Nixon Stothert

Photos by Jenn Dykstra

The joy of lifting your voice with others. Mind. Body. Heart. Spirit. The experience of communal singing nourishes them all. The Comox...

Volume

9

Caffeinated: Getting your fix in the Comox Valley

Words by Bevin Clempson

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

The coffeehouse dates back to the Middle East, with origination suggested as early as the late 1400s, where they were primarily used as a place for political...

Volume

8

Market Innovators: Lentelus Organics

Words By Bobby Herron

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

In these days of shifting consciousness around food production and consumption, it’s encouraging to meet a young person with a fresh and inspired approach to...

Volume

8

Memories In Mud

Words By Terry McKall

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

A look at the work of the Comox Valley Community Arts Council. Cyclocross, as a type of racing, tends to be limited to a clearly...

Volume

8

Hidden Treasures

Words By Dawn Copeman

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Nikkei No Haka, Cumberland’s Japanese Cemetery. As a tour guide for the Cumberland Museum, I am drawn to stories of people within...

Volume

8

Float Your Boat: Hilmark Boats

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Quality, handcrafted & traditional wooden boats. In the past I have waxed poetic about the beauty of wood; how it can be shaped,...

Volume

8

Where Curiosity Meets Brilliance

Words By Nora Bingham

Article Photo By Jenn Dykstra

Observations of the Public Library. Imagine a library. Books lining the shelves, open ceilings, and the wonderful smell of endless...

Volume

7

Market Innovator: Estevan Tuna

Words By Meaghan Cursons

Photo by Jenn Dykstra

A deliciously sustainable Comox Valley product Fishing may be one of the planets oldest professions, but Estevan Tuna is all about...

Volume

7

Water-Proofed Pioneers: Aqua Quest

Words By Dave Nowak

Article Photo By Jenn Dykstra

Gallery Photos By Lorenz Jimenez

'Wet-Coast' inspired waterproof solutions for world travels and backyward adventures. They say necessity is the mother of all...

Volume

7

Comox Valley Soap Artists

Words By Lisa Levesque

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

They have distinct products and personal journeys, but their motivation is shared: your skin is your body's largest and fastest-growing organ, and it deserves...

Volume

7

Brick By Brick

Words By Bevin Clempson

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Habitat for Humanity: helping to build the foundation for happier, healthier lives. Imagine living a childhood without water flowing...

Volume

7

Staying The Course

Words By Bevin Clempson

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Many of us fear to take risks. Fear to surrender. Fear the outcome. Although this life is altogether calm and tumultuous, somehow we make our way through...

Volume

6

Complete Combustion: Mason Heaters

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

A young mason unites modern heating challenges with ancient solutions Since it was first discovered, fire has been heating our caves,...

Volume

6

The Art Of The Pick Up

Words By Bevin Clempson

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Flexing your inner badass at the bar. In my happy place, I’m away from the world and all its noise. I’m free from unnecessary thought and...

Volume

5

Herbalism 101

Words By Yarrow Willard

And Philippa Joly

Photo By Jenn Dykstra

How to use supplements to reclaim health in the winter months. The summer months have faded into fall as many look forward to the...

Volume

5

Show Of Progress

Words By Meaghan Cursons

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

The stories told during the World Community Film Festival voice the passionate and varied work of present day activists and...

Volume

5

Sewing Wild: Sew What I Sew

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

A man, his sewing machine, and a passion for new experiences come together in a Cumberland business. Adventure is dirty business. With...

Volume

5

Lake Of Dragons

Words By Allie Jenkinson

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

An accomplished paddler reveals how Comox Lake’s appeal extends well beyond summer. Though Comox Lake is a short drive from Cumberland’s...

Volume

5

The Fire Inside

Words By Allie Jenkinson

Photos By Dave Prothero

And Jenn Dykstra

Our associations with the notion of inspiration are more fiction than fact, made evident by the familiar image of depressed and disheveled artist waiting for...

Volume

5

Volume 5: Inspiration

Cover Photo By Jenn Dykstra

THE INSPIRATION...

Volume

4

Eclectic Tones: Joi Guitars

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

We all have a virtual playlist running through our minds that gets us from one day to the next. Music can inspire and motivate, it can lift us up, or ground us...

Volume

4

A Yoga State Of Mind

Words By Alex Leikermoser

Photo By Jenn Dykstra

It doesn’t matter whether you have tried yoga, or not. Whether you’re good at it, or not. Yoga isn’t really about all the poses we see in magazines or...

Volume

4

Movement

Words by Ross Bodenmann

Photos by Dave Prothero

And Jenn Dykstra

Arguably one of the only constants that exist in our world is the reality that nothing is constant. Change itself is one of the few things we can be sure of....

Volume

3

The Filberg Evolution

Words By Meaghan Cursons

Photo By Jenn Dykstra

It is perhaps one of the most quintessential views in the Comox Valley. The spit wrapping its sandy arm around the Comox Harbour. Denman and Hornby Islands...

Volume

3

The Naked Truth: Naked Bikes

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

The first bike I ever owned was a black triumph BMX with yellow gum-wall tires and matching grips. I have always wished I had kept that bike. Not to ride or...

Volume

3

Volume 3: Power

Cover Photo By Jenn Dykstra

THE POWER...

Volume

2

Wreckin' Shop

Words By Allie Jenkinson

Photo By Jenn Dykstra

For the past 90 years Royston’s rusty monuments to Vancouver Island’s nautical history rests on the Comox Harbour seabed. Welcome to the Royston Ship...

Volume

2

Recreating Nostalgia: Exquisite Auto Creations

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

North Americans love their cars. No matter how hard we try to avoid it and might hate to admit it, the automobile is an essential and integral part of our...

Volume

1

Love Is A Burning Thing

Words By Mike B

Photo By Jenn Dykstra

Contrary to the expansive vision of the young, it’s often the tiny details where we live the largest parts of life. Idealistic youth move away from home to...

Volume

1

Kindred Spirit: Kindred Custom Snowboards

Words By Dave Nowak

Photos By Jenn Dykstra

Three years ago I first laid eyes on a Kindred snowboard in a local sporting goods consignment store. The top sheet depicted a saw tooth mountain using wood...

Volume

1

Volume 1: Home

Cover Photo By Jenn Dykstra

After months of planning, collaborating with various talented contributors and amazing advertisers, our inaugural issue is now available! THE HOME...

back to contributors / see all articles