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2 May 2013 • FOCUS contents meridian May 2013 VOL. 25 NO. 8 Shiatsu

20 42 24 gentle, deeply effective oriental medicine for neck/shoulder tension, back/hip problems 4 INSPIRING A GIRL TO VOTE editor’s letter 4 migraines, chronic fatigue/pain History lessons do make a difference. insomnia, anxiety/depression Leslie Campbell readers’ views 6 “How relaxing shiatsu is! I now enjoy days free of the pain 8 AT A GLANCE at a glance 10 & stiffness of fibromyalgia and can do many activities I couldn’t • Numbers guy speaks out before. I’m grateful for all you’ve taught me, Sarah. Your • Ministry of Health watch shiatsu has given me a new lease on life.” — Cherie Coppin • Elderly woman still hiding from VIHA talk of the town 14 • Amalgamation, yes? • Give yourself a medal culture talks 28 Sarah Sowelu Rob Wipond, Alan Cassels, Aaren Madden, David Broadland Tokyo Trained & Certified, 1985 the arts in may 30 Meridian Diagnosis & Treatment IS THE LAW CATCHING UP TO BC’S POLICE CHIEFS? 14 Meridian Yoga Workshops The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Registrar of palette 40 Lobbyists are hot on their association’s trail.But a former BC police chief May 5 & June 9 and solicitor general doubts they’ll ever be caught. plus weekly classes coastlines 42 Rob Wipond 778-440-0871 • [email protected] 18 THE POLITICS OF NATURE (PART 2) urbanities 44 The Liberals have fumbled the biodiversity ball; so what are the alternatives offering, and what are they hedging on? finding balance 46 Briony Penn 20 GOING VIRAL A new film is making sure salmon are on the menu of the provincial election. Katherine Palmer Gordon 22 THE MAYOR’S DILEMMA Was the Mayor accurately briefed on the financial state of the City’s largest-ever infrastructure project before the last election? David Broadland 24 HAS CRD UNINTENTIONALLY PUSHED THE RESET BUTTON? Its $17 million purchase of property in a residential neighbourhood as a possible ON THE COVER location for biodigesters has critics of the sewage treatment plan—and at least Photograph of Shutters in the two NDP candidates in the BC election—calling for a rethink of the entire plan. Leslie Campbell and David Broadland Songhees by David Broadland. See Gene’s Miller’s story on this building 28 SHOULD GOVERNMENT FOSTER CREATIVITY? on page 44. Why funding the arts makes sense. • Aromatic flavourful teas Chris Creighton-Kelly • High quality essential oils 40 WORTH THEIR SALT • Top quality herbs and tinctures for This year’s Fired Up! exhibition celebrates history, process, and function in ceramics. your health & well being Aaren Madden • Books, incense and other gift items 42 BOG TENDER EXPERIENCED STAFF Long-slumbering memories are awakened • R.N. • aromatherapists • herbalists and explored in George Szanto’s new book. • consultations available Amy Reiswig 44 CASA BLANCA White and curvaceous, Shutters flaunts Victoria’s unwritten cultural code. Gene Miller Celebrating 37 years 46 GARDENERS BEWARE 1106 Blanshard St. • 383-1913 Keeping the bullies out of your garden helps protect local parks too. best prices • mail order available Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic

May 2013 • www.focusonline.ca 3 editor’s letter THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT. Inspiring a girl to vote LESLIE CAMPBELL History lessons do make a difference.

ack in the 1970s, during the second wave of the women’s move- ment, I often felt angry as the blinders came off, exposing the Binjustices of the patriarchal culture I lived in. But I also recall sweet pleasure in discovering my foremothers. I devoured books and History was made in 2011 when articles about women in history, both Canadian and otherwise. I went to see Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Table.” I even bought and restored Nellie Green Party MP in Canada. She shows us McClung’s house in Winnipeg. Those inspiring history lessons had a what democracy can look like. profound influence on me: I ended up teaching women’s studies, then Change provincial politics forever, vote Green. starting a women’s magazine. And, as you’ve likely noticed, they ignited Help create a culture of governance, not in me a keen interest in politics and democracy. In other words, they politics. Help move democracy to the next made me, if I can be so bold, a good citizen. level and add new voices to the legislature. So I get it that knowing our history and having role models is crucial to both women and the broader society. And I assumed that over the Be an important vote for history, not just for last few decades women would have found their way into the history today but for the generations to come. books so that everyone could benefit from those lessons. There’s certainly More about this important moment: no lack of dramatic stories and interesting characters in women’s history. www.greenparty.bc.ca Yet, Sandy Mayzell, a woman who’s made it her mission to turn Vote young women on to politics, says those history lessons still aren’t happening, at least not in any consistent way. And the result is Authorized by M. Johnston, apathy: “When I go into the classrooms, I’m struck by how oblivious

on May 14 778-351-0404 and apathetic most students are about politics, particularly the crucial and challenging role of women in politics.” This is not a good thing for democracy. A disengaged citizenry leads to poor governance. “We need all voices present to get good decision- making,” says Mayzell. According to her research only one in four Canadian politicians are women (we’re tied with Australia at 39th, just behind Mexico, Iraq and Sudan). Mayzell has been working diligently, bringing her considerable enthu- siasm and skill set (past program manager of BC Arts Festival, filmmaker, actor, speaking coach), to bear, free of charge, to turn things around. Her project is called “Dancing with the Octopus: Women and Politics in Canada and Beyond.” It’s multimedia and non-partisan, with a goal “to encourage conversation about women’s involvement in poli- tics—to get our voices heard and our needs reflected in government policy, and to encourage equal partnership with men.” The second goal, she says, “is to address youth apathy; I believe that it’s critical to engage young women and girls to think about leadership and political participation by providing role models and sharing stories.” To these ends, she’s produced numerous short video interviews with Canadian politicians, including Elizabeth May, Carolyn Bennett, Denise Savoie, Leona Aglukkaq, and others.

Editor: Leslie Campbell Associate Editor: Rob Wipond Publisher: David Broadland Sales: Bonnie Light, Rosalinde Compton ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS: 250-388-7231 Email [email protected] EDITORIAL INQUIRIES and letters to the editor: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.focusonline.ca MAIL: Box 5310, Victoria, V8R 6S4 Subscriptions (tax included): $33.60/year (12 editions); $56/2 years (24 editions) Copyright © 2013. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher of Focus Magazine. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40051145

4 May 2013 • FOCUS ADVERTISEMENT Focus presents: Iyengar Yoga Centre

Focusing on excellence in teaching

Most recently she’s been concentrating on one “tentacle” of the Octopus (there are eight): “Dancing Backwards: Let’s Get Canada’s Political Women into History.” She’s already launched the pilot program involving students in four Victoria schools—in grades 5, 8 and 11— where she does lively presentations about the contributions of Canadian historical women. Over ensuing classes, students choose one politically influential woman from Canada’s past, and tell her story using poetry, video, skit, puppet show, graphic story, narrated dance, etc. These are filmed, with the strongest ones posted on the Dancing Backwards website. Mayzell is gathering and creating other materials for teachers to work with. She says teachers are keen to include women in their Canadian history curriculum, but are often overtaxed; so they need easily accessible, good resources Join Ann Kilbertus for the Working Wisely workshop on May 4. at their finger tips—or a nearby online library such as Mayzell is creating. ictoria is fortunate to have a dedicated yoga centre where teachers are Mayzell has now worked with about constantly upgrading their skills and understanding of yoga—and providing 100 students and reports transforma- Va wide range of classes and workshops for the rest of us. In fact the Iyengar tional results: “It’s amazing to observe Yoga Centre offers about 50 classes a week, including Beginner to Advanced; Pre- how quickly their attitudes flip from Natal; Family; 50+; Gentle; Special Needs; and Restorative. And everyone is invited apathy to enthusiasm and curiosity, when to try out their first class for free. students see video clips of political women The Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria—which will be celebrating its 12th anniver- in action.” sary on September 10th—follows the teachings of BKS Iyengar. Time magazine has As for the historical information she described Iyengar as a living yoga master and named him one of the 100 most influ- imparts, she says, “The students are ential people in the world, noting that the popularity of yoga in the West can be shocked that someone had to fight for attributed in large part to Iyengar, who first introduced his style of yoga to North Sandy Mayzell their rights as women, to fight for them America over 50 years ago. The 93-year-old master lives in Pune, India, and still prac- to be recognized as persons. It’s fantastic tises many hours a day. Victoria teachers travel regularly to India to study from Iyengar to see their eyes light up and go whoa!” and his children. At the beginning of each presentation, Mayzell always asks: Who plans Shirley Daventry French, a founding member and teacher at the Centre, says, to vote? Virtually no one puts their hand up. But at the end, when asked “The aim of yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity and peace and free it from again, all hands go up. “There’s excitement, there’s an understanding confusion and distress. BKS Iyengar puts it simply: the practice of yoga fills the reser- that they count. And for me that’s worth a billion dollars!” says Mayzell. voirs of hope and optimism within us.” French, who turned 82 in October, is respected She feels there’s a hunger for this type of content and the personal world-wide and continues to teach yoga classes to the 22 Iyengar teachers at the storytelling form of presentation (particularly in the wired age). Describing Centre, as well as workshops and retreats. the first time she did her presentation—to 55 grade 8 students on a BKS Iyengar has written: “The effects of yoga practice are beauty, strength, clarity Friday afternoon—she says: “Do you know, I could hear a pin drop for of speech, calmness of the nerves, increase in digestive powers and a happy dispo- almost the full two hours. It was unbelievable.” sition that is revealed in a smiling face.” The Iyengar yoga style of teaching is marked Despite her energy and passion, Mayzell knows she can’t do it all on by precision of the alignment of bones, muscles and joints in performing the yoga her own. She wants to train others to do presentations. She’s looking poses, or asanas. It is unique in the innovative use of props—blankets, belts, ropes, into interns from university education departments and theatre schools, chairs, bolsters and wooden blocks which allow even the stiffest and most chal- but also foresees a role for boomers who want to do something posi- lenged students to do the poses and gain benefits. tive and fun. “I think we can deal with serious subjects in an entertaining “In Canada, Iyengar Yoga teacher training requires a minimum of three years for way, with humour and even elegance,” says Mayzell. an introductory teacher,” says Wendy Boyer, general manager and teacher at the “If we want to ensure democracy, we need to reengage our young Iyengar Yoga Centre. “You are in good hands with Iyengar teachers who teach a people,” says Mayzell. “Young women need to learn that they count, progression of poses to boost mobility, stability, strength and stamina,” she says. their vote counts and there is a place for girls in every conversation and Remember: your first class is free! Choose from any of the regular classes offered political arena.” seven days a week, morning through evening. “Yoga is for all of us!” says Ann Kilbertus, assuring: “No one is too old, too young or too stiff. Iyengar Yoga is fun Leslie Campbell is the editor of Focus. For more infor- and challenging.” Ann is teaching Working Wisely, a three-hour workshop on mation and videos see www.dancingwiththeoctopus.com. May 4th. Check the website for the schedule of classes and details. There’s a fundraising campaign which runs till May 11 at www.indiegogo.com. P.S. Don’t forget to vote on Iyengar Yoga Centre Victoria May 14. 202-919 Fort Street (above the Blue Fox Café) 250-386-9642 • www.iyengaryogacentre.ca Visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/IyengarYogaCentre www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 5 readers’ views

Handmade with care using quality meats, Grassroots copwatch yeoman effort to stop this comedy and to insin- cheeses and produce sourced as close to Simon Nattrass very effectively covers two uate common sense into City Hall is laudable. home as seasonally possible! indispensable steps toward policing account- I would certainly be willing to contribute; I ability and fairness: an end to 1) discrimination am a retired economist with experience primarily (“profiling”), and 2) selective harassment and in less developed countries in Latin America, prosecution of low income persons, often Africa and Asia. engaged in the substance use economy (i.e. Robert O’Regan “drug dealers” and “abusers.” It’s worth noting that legal pharmaceuticals kill many more Thanks Gene for words that had to be said. people than all street drugs combined, including Two points. First, the financial manage- crystal meth, according to Law Enforcement ment by the City demonstrates the skill of Against Prohibition). amateurs. Second, in the interests of the life A critical element remains before full account- of Victoria’s citizens, dare I suggest that the ability and fairness can occur. When Ben Isitt noble approach would be to cancel the bridge proposed revisions to the police budget to project as currently planned and revert to the contain costs last year, no council members minimal restoration (paying the penalty)— supported the motion. This year he proposed appropriate mea culpa for a mistake. capping the 2014 and 2015 police budgets at Roger Smeeth no more than a one percent increase, an initia- tive supported by councillors Helps and Gudgeon. Gene Miller’s thesis that the City of Victoria Only when the police budget is reduced will is robbing the future to pay for today has merit. the police department have to justify its purchases For the most part, we’ve loved living down- and practices openly. They will be caused to town for the last three-and-a-half years choose between new machines, high tech and have eight ideas that will help rescue the communications and surveillance equipment downtown: and systems, and massive amounts of wasted 1. New bus depot: The bus depot is a scruffy labour time on non-violent behaviours—or embarrassment for a major tourist destination seriously solving violent social deviance. and needs replacing. Let’s get on with it in co- All violence is preventable with a strong operation with the other 12 fiefdoms. City of dose of social justice. Victoria taxpayers are weary of going it alone Frances Pearson on these capital projects. Breakfast, Lunch 2. Showpiece art gallery: To service the Dinner, Drinks The smoking gun and accountability regional population and a $850-million tourism The taxpayers of Victoria for years have industry, the Victoria art gallery is poorly been treated like docile lemmings. Since Focus located and simply not up to standard. Let’s came on the scene and informed the public build a showpiece gallery in co-operation with how their tax dollar was being squandered, the 12 fiefdoms in the region. information conceived, and the City poorly 3. Building tax incentives: Agreed we need managed, the public has become aware of another 10-15,000 new residents living and the situation. working south of Bay Street and west of Cook Instead of pay increases, all salaries should Street. Let’s offer some short-term City tax be frozen and management salaries rolled incentives to make that happen. back 10 percent per year until such time as 4. Close Government Street to weekend the public gets its money’s worth. Any employee traffic: Strolling and people watching Downtown not in agreement can look for employment is a huge draw for the public and tourists. At elsewhere. little or no cost, let’s maximize this attraction Keep the exposures coming—the public by closing Government Street to vehicles during needs you. summer weekends. Mike McSorley 5. Crackdown on cyclists: A lot of the public won’t come downtown because of maniac Grow op cyclists going through red lights, stop signs, Excellent outline of the urban planning riding on sidewalks and worse. stages used to destroy economic growth in a 6. Support year-round farmers’ market: BISTRO city. Victoria is following the prescription; it The new farmers’ market at the Hudson should achieve your forecast easily. complex is a major improvement and draw 1002 Blanshard St The concepts of “capital account” and to the downtown. Let’s patronize it and support Kitty Corner to the Royal Theatre “depreciation” do not exist in the language local agriculture. 250-590-6657 understood by the City administrators. Your 7. Focus special edition on the “Grow op”?

6 May 2013 • FOCUS 8. Bolster economic development: Negligible dollars from the City of Victoria are budgeted for economic development. The “Let’s create a vibrantrantnt budget must be vastly increased as a major priority of City Hall. economy that balancesnces Stan Bartlett the needs of the people,ople, Gene Miller’s perceptive and visionary article reminded me of the late ’70s and the slow but certain decline of the city which seemed to be in evidence. A long-time businessman and great friend of Victoria - Jane Sterk Tom Denny (Standard Furniture) put forth a vision to transform the downtown. Tom’s idea was to redevelop the entire four blocks bounded by Yates, Broad, Johnson and Douglas. Part of the development would include a central transit hub below ground level. • Strong, local, innovative, job-creating The result would have influenced the long term future of the City. economies Just think how many buses would be removed from traffic along • Informed decision making that considers Douglas as well as the wonderful concentration of people embarking and disembarking and creating a dynamic atmosphere and renewal environmental impacts of a tired part of our Downtown. The transit hub in downtown Seattle • is not only a sight to behold but also a significant contributor to the economic policies dynamism of their Downtown. Each of us shares responsibility to support and encourage those who put forth creative and selfless www.JaneSterk.ca 1075 Pandora Avenue visions which go beyond two- or four-year election cycles. If UpTown 778-265-9230 Victoria, BC V8V 3P6 could be built with no obvious vision, just think what could be done Downtown. Vote Thanks to Gene and Focus for (re)igniting a process. JANESTERK Tony Southwell @JaneSterk Victoria · Beacon Hill AuthorizedA by on May 14 LuLuke Acker, /JaneSterk Re-branding Victoria 250-265-923025 Thanks to Chris Creighton-Kelly for sowing the seed to re-brand Victoria. I’m all for it. First, I suggest we need to change the image of a capital city that does not care enough for its citizens to empower them to get off the streets. I think citizens and councils need to support the creation of a tent Leading edge dentistry city with services and dignity—a place where people are safe while Down to Earth dentists waiting for affordable housing. Second, we need to address the many empty commercial spaces • General & Cosmetic downtown. We have so much local, exceptional, creative expertise in • Minimal exposure BC. Why not subsidize rentals in specific buildings, like the Convention digital X-rays Centre, to attract the myriad of crafts and products made in BC—a & 3-D imaging centre for BC sustainable products with a local food market? Joanna Wilkinson • Invisalign orthodontics

Here’s the challenge, BC Hydro • Affordable implant placement Many thanks to Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic for last month’s piece on BC Hydro. • IV sedation Is Hydro a charitable organization run by Santa Claus? Nope. So why would anyone believe that the cost of meter reading wasn’t already • Non-invasive laser incorporated into the billing price? Hmmm. dentistry Yet curiously, Mr Coleman and Mr Horgan are unanimous. Trudy, • All ages welcome in her wickedness, is insufficiently sensitive to poor BC Hydro’s dire needs. By perversely electing not to participate in the smart meter boon- 250.384.8028 doggle, Trudy will harm Hydro with unconscionable “additional cost.” www.myvictoriadentist.ca Sounding like parakeets, so sayeth Horgan and Coleman. #220 - 1070 Douglas St Could someone impartial, like an auditor general, show us what (TD Bank Bldg) “additional” cost both the Libs and NDP imagine is there? For those unaware of how impoverished BC Hydro is, Wikipedia shows its revenues (2010) as $3.822 billion, with total assets of Dr. Benjamin Bell & Dr. SuAnn Ng $16.5 billion, and net income of $447 million. Avery Moore www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 7 BRAND NEW JOBS How will we re-democratize government? FOR A NEW ECONOMY. Rob Wipond canvassed some who are running for office in the upcoming provincial election for ideas on how to improve democracy. Canadians do not have the mindset, education, or training they need by which to democratically govern themselves. Liberal democracies the world over, as they were born, knew that the existence and strength of a liberal democracy is based on a citizenry with a political education, a citizenry which could govern itself. And so the liberal democracies created free and universal education towards that end. Without political education the sovereign people is like a child BC needs a strong economy. We need playing with fire and constantly endangering the home. [But] the people job opportunities today, while who are supposed to be sovereign are now going to schools and univer- creating new work and jobs for the future. sities and colleges and brought up by parents, caregivers, and teachers who know no better than that their goal is to prepare the subjects of Your Green Party candidates support the state for the tasks corporations (whether small or large, incorpo- clean technology investments in BC. rated or not) have for them. Many thousands of full-time permanent jobs If we really wish to re-democratize government, we, the people, must will be created as a result. take back our education system, both the formal and the informal. We Vote Green to provide clean energy for need to have a non-partisan constitutional assembly to reform the generations to come. constitution so as to improve our democracy, increase transparency of decision-making, and eliminate the power of special-interest groups More about jobs & clean tech: (mostly corporate-paid lobbyists). www.greenparty.bc.ca We must have freedom of the press. We wrested the press away from Vote censorship by oligarchic state power only to hand it over to corporate

Authorized by oligarchic power. Corporations and their interests own it and use it to Patrick von Aderkas, mould public opinion and enforce their own ideology.

on May 14 250-885-1565 Human history has been a struggle for liberty, equality, and frater- nity of the mass of people against the tiny minority of the powerful and moneyed rich. A civilization worth living in starts and becomes strong with a citizenry with a political education. Get your feet R.D. Helm Carbon conversation The ongoing effects of oil spills like the Valdez in Alaska, the Deepwater sandal-ready Horizon leak on the Gulf Coast, and the Canadian train that recently spilled 30,000 gallons of crude in Minnesota are devastating. Obviously, every effort must be made to prevent them. The proposed Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines would create serious spill risks in BC (there are virtually no major pipelines in North America that are spill- free); however, the focus on pipelines can distract us from the fact that any diluted bitumen carbon that gets through successfully is destined to be dumped into our atmosphere anyway. NEW laser therapy effectively treats At the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, 167 coun- tries agreed that the average global temperature rise should be limited toenail fungus and plantar warts to a maximum of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It Covered by most Extended Health Plans doesn’t seem like much, but scientists believe that a 2ºC rise would be extremely disruptive to humanity. For perspective, consider that the WE ALSO OFFER last Ice Age was only 5ºC below pre-industrial average global temper- • Podiatric Medicine atures. We are now 0.8ºC above pre-industrial temperatures and there • Orthotic Therapy are already serious effects. In Texas, for example, there have been billions of dollars of annual crop loss over the last few years due to • Podiatric Surgery droughts that are completely consistent with climate models. What about fisheries? Wikipedia shows that the world’s oceans have more Dr Gregg Congdon & Dr Bill Mirchoff than 400 oxygen starved “dead zones” and rising acidity, both of which 350 - 1641 Hillside Ave are also linked to global warming. 250-592-0224 According to Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the very conservative International Energy Agency, “under current policies, Learn more at: www.drgreggcongdon.com we estimate that energy use and CO2 emissions would increase by

8 May 2013 • FOCUS a third by 2020, and almost double by 2050. This would be likely to send global temper- atures at least 6ºC higher within this century.” Parents and grandparents of children who are already born hope for them to live to the end of the century. Given the problems we face today, what kind of effects could we expect on food and water production in a 6ºC hotter world? The recurring quote that I hear from climate experts referring to food and water collapses, species extinctions, sea level rises, evaporating rivers, hurricanes, etc. is “game over.” Project briefs for pipelines, refineries and other oil infrastructure projects often assume a useful life of at least 40 to 50 years. Sinking billions of dollars into oil infrastructure that would take decades to realize a return on is a poor investment when peer-reviewed main- stream science is clear that we need to reduce fossil use drastically now. Why not recognize that we have to think in new ways, and follow GENERAL CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CHARACTER RENOVATION the advice of Amory Lovins and many other credible experts on improving the economy David Dare while getting off fossil fuels? 250-883-5763 Focusing only on measures to reroute oil roadsend.ca transport away from dangerous or sensi- tive passages misses the point: we need to focus immediately on policies and mecha- nisms that drastically reduce the burning of oil, and eventually stop fossil fuel burning altogether. As BC ticks over another four- year election cycle, I hope we find the will to raise the price of carbon (while reducing income tax) and consider better alternatives to fossil-fuel business as usual. Bob Landell

Salish Sea Regional Trail You continue to do meaningful, top-quality work. Your readers will appreciate knowing about the Salish Sea Regional Trail, particu- larly during this BC election season. Please check out www.scribd.com/doc/135198846/ Salish-Sea-Regional-Trail-Opportunities for the document I’ll be circulating to all candi- dates in the nine South Island electoral districts connected by the Salish Sea Regional Trail. We need the vision to complete it, enhance it, and promote it to keep our region vibrant and green. Brenda Guiled, Chair, Island Pathways

LETTERS Send letters to: [email protected] www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 9 at a glance

Numbers guy speaks out Ministry of Health watch PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS that bolster Canadian democ- A LARGE QUESTION MARK still hovers over 1515 Blanshard Street, racy “are under attack right now like I’ve never seen them before in headquarters of the BC Ministry of Health, as observers try to make my 35 years of public service.” The warning had a particularly sharp sense of the tsunami that has, and continues to wreak havoc in that sting coming from recently departed federal building and delay drug safety evaluations. Just last month another Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page. fired Ministry employee filed her lawsuit against the government, raising Brought to UVic by the Green Party, Page the tally to seven lawsuits or wrongful-dismissal grievances. Two other was speaking to a packed lecture hall in April. employees were let go (with severance) and one died, a co-op student No partisan firebrand, Page is just a lifelong who was three days away from finishing his work term. bureaucrat and self-described “numbers guy” Sources within the Ministry say that four new people have been hired who became increasingly frustrated, then to help with the investigation, some calling this a clear sign of the appalled, and then positively worried witnessing Ministry’s desperation to find something that will stick. As staff continue Kevin Page important national financial decisions being to be interrogated, the new hires are busy combing through the emails made “based on ideology alone” and without of the fired employees, surely a morale-boosting exercise for everyone accountability to anyone. still left in that toxic environment. Page discussed his office’s court case seeking the actual details of the None of the wrongful dismissal and defamation suits have yet been Conservatives’ 2012 Budget and its proposed billions in cuts. “I cannot proved in court. Ron Mattson, one of the fired employees, and his lawyer even think of a more fundamental way to undermine parliament were in court last month trying to pry further details from the Ministry than to say we’re not giving you any plans; we’re giving you nothing on the nature of the charges against him (a largely fruitless attempt). to hold us to account,” said Page. “That is what is happening right now. The start of the legal skirmishes ahead foreshadows how much time and That, to me, is unbelievable. That is wrong.” money this fiasco will consume, especially given the fact the govern- Page described a litany of financial decisions related to vast under- ment’s legal team, from a Vancouver firm, will be Helijetting over at takings—the war in Afghanistan, fighter plane purchases, old age taxpayers’ expense with the legal meter running. security—where no budgets were provided, even to Conservative back- There are no answers as to why this investigation has been so stretched benchers who had to vote for them. In many cases, Page’s office was out, but the dominant theory at the moment is that the “premature the first to research the costs. “There’s not even one piece of paper that evacuation” (firing people and cancelling contracts) without any of the explained; there was nothing that showed up in any budget on the normal protocols or evidence you’d typically need in such circum- tough-on-crime legislation,” said Page. And when his office asked how stances, was the work of amateurs within the Ministry. much the mandatory longer sentences would cost provincial prisons, Two curious things remain: The Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid provincial governments told him the Conservatives had never asked. has maintained that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are part of “We were doing the only analyses of some of these big decisions,” said this investigation, yet repeated calls to the RCMP by myself and other Page. “And the government was providing press releases with no numbers journalists have yet to deliver any sense of how they are involved on to the majority of Canadians and saying, ‘Trust us.’” the file, and they haven’t even talked to any of the fired employees. This previous Finance Ministry and Treasury Board insider also The other curious thing: Why is this not an election issue? Perhaps contended that intra-government budgets are deliberately written so it’s just seen as a bureaucratic and not a political problem, yet the long- convolutedly that “nobody” can make sense of them. “How do I know standing eagerness of the BC Liberals to transform the drug evaluation that?” asked Page. “Guilty as charged. I worked in that system.” landscape in BC raises questions around motive. All the lawyers and Page said his son’s death gave him a passion to live differently. Yet RCMP officers are certainly useful in creating an atmosphere that he found his own positive impacts were limited. “We have no system produces delays and unanswered questions, all nicely packaged to punt in place right now to hold the government to account,” said Page. forward for the next government to deal with. “Where can you go to the bank and say, ‘You know what, I could really —Alan Cassels (See feature report at www.focusonline.ca) use $30 billion right now. And here’s my press release.’” The roomful of pained laughter gave the answer: apparently, you can do it in Canada, that’s where. Elderly woman still hiding from VIHA Witnessing the frequent spontaneous applause and three standing EIGHT MONTHS AFTER an independent tribunal ordered her released ovations, it was obvious we’re hungry in these troubled times for a from hospital, the Vancouver Island Health Authority is still pursuing Canadian hero, and Page is such a hero to many. Yet ironically, or perhaps a Saanich woman. Focus previously reported on 82-year-old Mia (“The pointedly, it seemed Page was simply someone who’d done his job appro- Case for Electroshocking Mia,” November 2012), whom VIHA senior priately—but without fearing potential repercussions for his own career. geriatric psychiatrist Dr Michael Cooper had slotted for electro-convul- On solutions, Page challenged us to demand more of our elected sive shock therapy against the wishes of her and her family. Last July, representatives. “You need to wake up. How is this going to get better? an official inquiry determined Mia needn’t be forcibly treated for depres- Are we just going to wait for political leaders someday like [Elizabeth] sion nor even hospitalized; however, almost immediately VIHA May to turn it around for us, or are people going to stand up?” representatives began calling, coming by the family home, and demanding When Page in passing criticized recent attempts to muzzle govern- that Mia check in with them. Mia, her granddaughter Michelle and ment scientists, I probably wasn’t the only one wishing that most grandson-in-law Russel and their children fled the city. government bureaucrats like him weren’t muzzled already. They’d hoped they could have quietly returned to their normal lives —Rob Wipond by now, but in March, VIHA sent a letter to Mia’s lawyer demanding

10 May 2013 • FOCUS “evidence” of Mia’s exact current location ANNIVERSARY SALE and that she’s undergoing “treatment of her medical conditions.” Otherwise, continues the letter, “VIHA will need access to [Mia].” The BC Mental Health Act and Adult Guardianship Act—the latter cited twice in SAVE UP the letter—give health authorities broad powers to search private medical records, enter homes TO $100 without warrants, “use any reasonable force,” On any complete Pair of incarcerate indefinitely, and forcibly treat Glasses (Frame & Lenses) anyone they feel may be at risk for “physical with fully coated lenses or mental harm” or “deterioration.” Yet Some restrictions according to VIHA’s own records, upon discharge SAVE apply from hospital Mia wasn’t taking any psychi- atric drugs and had no serious medical conditions. 10% – 25% And there’s never been any suggestion that Mia is a victim of family abuse. Nevertheless, OFF VIHA’s letter concludes, “If we do not hear from you…we will pursue assistance from the Non-prescription police in locating [Mia] as a missing person.” Sunglasses “It’s been one thing after another,” comments Russel. Another time, he says, VIHA prompted police to contact them by suggesting Mia had secretly died. Mia is currently seeing a doctor, thera- pist, and psychiatrist, says Russel. “She’s under very, very competent care—much more compe- tent than [VIHA’s] little horror show.” Indeed, Mia’s psychiatrist has diagnosed her with post traumatic stress disorder, says Russel. “Because of what VIHA did to her.” “She has really bad nightmares from what happened,” says Michelle. “She’s so worried she’s going to be hunted down by the police TH and VIHA.” MAY 4 Russel says they’ve repeatedly given VIHA TH information about Mia’s status, but VIHA wants & 18 to locate her. “I think they’re scared,” says Add “TRANSITIONS” Russel. “She’s essentially evidence of their crime.” at no extra charge Russel and Michelle wonder if the few elderly people like Mia who have the means and where- withal to fight back against VIHA’s poor long-term care practices are being regarded as “a first domino” that has to be stopped from falling to prevent wider rebellion, scandals, and lawsuits. A more charitable interpretation would be Downtown Nanaimo that Mia’s former VIHA doctor simply still Campbell River 1318 Blanshard Street Country Club Centre believes he knows what’s best for Mia. Of Discovery Harbour Centre course, that’s just a nicer way of saying that 250-384-4175 250-758-4175 250-850-2020 VIHA is reluctant to let her escape their clutches. The “missing person” herself tells me she’s feeling better than when we last spoke, and her family is taking good care of her. I ask about VIHA’s letter. Mia’s voice shakes. “I’m kind of scared about it,” she says softly. COMPLETE EYE EXAMINATIONS BY OPTOMETRISTS: Mia has begun writing about her experiences being incarcerated in hospital. “Michelle thinks VICTORIA DR. JASON MAYCOCK • NANAIMO DR. JESSE PETREMAN www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 11 it will make me feel better,” says Mia. Does it, I ask. There’s a pause. Does writing about it make you feel better? There’s a longer pause. I wonder if the cell has cut out. Finally, Mia says faintly, “I hope so.” As I hang up, I think, if VIHA doctors truly cared, wouldn’t they understand this damage they’re doing and stop it? —Rob Wipond

Amalgamation, yes? “WITH AN AMALGAMATED community, there would be no CRD,” Earl Anthony told those attending the April 10 launch of the Amalgamation Yes office on Pembroke Street. Once the thunderous applause and cheering died down, he continued, “You would at least have a district represen- tative at the table, which doesn’t happen in our current structure. Chances SPRING SALE 40% OFF of something coming out of the woodwork like Viewfield Road [site of the proposed biosolids plant] would be less likely.” His comments were in answer to a question from the audience regarding the main concern held by the 90-odd people present: accountability. Amalgamation Yes, as the Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society is known informally, is a recently-formed nonprofit, joining various groups already pursuing the issue—“an amalgama- tion of amalgamators,” as cofounder John Vickers quips, declaring the centre marks the beginning of “a new, unified, shared vision with the goal to finally extend to citizens the opportunity to express their voice.” The group seeks to fulfill that by making amalgamation a referendum question during the next municipal elections in November 2014. That would give the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development the mandate for an in-depth study of the viability of amalgamation in the region and the form it would take. After public hearings, a binding referendum would then be held. Anthony noted, “Each step is critical…if this goes together incor- rectly, all we have done is substitute one cumbersome, ineffective system for another cumbersome, ineffective system.” That risk is somewhat mitigated since amalgamation would not be imposed by the provincial government here, as was the case in Toronto, Halifax and other cities (it’s against our Community Charter). The impetus must come from the municipalities. But our many mayors aren’t exactly falling over themselves to become redundant—which means citizens have to force the issue if they want it to happen. And some citizens are naturally sceptical about pressing for amalgamation, because they fear a larger municipality will endanger what they hold most sacred: community identity and voice. It’s a bit of a catch-22. BEST OF BOTH As a Society cofounder, Victoria Councillor Shellie Gudgeon is confi- dent amalgamation will actually strengthen neighbourhoods by allowing WORLDS them to focus on enhancement instead of having to fight against, say, IMPORTS AND DESIGN sewage treatment plants. She believes “the future is working together in a more cohesive structure than we currently have,” and urges, “Let’s 2713 QUADRA (AT HILLSIDE) learn from best practices [elsewhere].” By focusing on a grassroots- 250.386.8325 based amalgamation process, our region could even establish some best WWW.BESTOFBOTHWORLDSIMPORTS.COM practices as well. If we can have 13 municipalities in the tiny tip of one island, anything is possible. —Aaren Madden

12 May 2013 • FOCUS Give yourself a medal SLEEP CHEST THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE from the City of Victoria’s Great small space solution • No installation required Communications Director Katie Josephson noted that three City employees had been awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals. Josephson’s media advisory stated, “The distinction highlights the exemplary efforts of those who strive to make communities great places to live.” One of the Victoria staffers was apparently given the award for developing a City program as a part of his $106,000-a-year job. Josephson’s press release noted that Josephson herself had been awarded the medal. With 60,000 of the medals distributed “to honour significant contri- butions and achievements by Canadians,” the process by which recipients were chosen has been controversial. The medals weren’t exactly thrown into the air for anyone to claim, at least as far as we know, but Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella discovered a number of highly dubious awardings, including a politician “convicted of municipal corruption,” and a jailed “anti-abortion fanatic.” Includes storage for pillows & bedding • Easy to operate The awards have turned out to be a kind of litmus test to help taxpayers detect hubris in tax-funded places. Not everyone failed to pass the test. As Kyle Wells reported in the Oak Bay News, Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton was considering sending her medal back because she thought keeping it might diminish the honour intended for more significant contributions than merely being elected a mayor. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which was given 4000 medals to bestow on the worthy, sent some 1300 to mayors of Canadian communities, including Colwood’s. That’s likely how Mayor Stew Young came by his, which, by the way, he is keeping. The City of Langford would not confirm the process by which Young obtained his medal. I asked Josephson what process was used by the City of Victoria to award the medals that she and her fellow staff members received. After all, she was the media contact person on the press release. As of press time I had received no response. In the spirit of acknowledging “significant contributions and achieve- Comfy Queen-size memory foam mattress ments by Canadians,” Focus has, at some expense, printed the front and back of the medal, below. If you feel you, too, are deserving, go ahead and cut out the two sides, join them together with glue, and put out a press release. You never know, it might be a slow day down at the Business Examiner. —David Broadland

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13 talk of the town Briony Penn 18 Katherine Palmer Gordon 20 David Broadland 22 Leslie Campbell 24

Is the law catching up to BC’s police chiefs? ROB WIPOND The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Registrar of Lobbyists are hot on their association’s trail. But a former BC police chief and solicitor general doubts they’ll ever be caught.

here’s one thing the police tell you never through,” said Heed, when I expressed my to do when they want to question you, frustrations with trying to learn about the asso- Tright? Run. Running makes you look ciations. “I can tell you right now, you’ll never even more suspicious. So why do British get the information that you need.” Columbia’s chiefs of police keep running from Heed, long a strong proponent for unified me? Fortunately, I’ve gained some high-profile regional police forces in Metro Vancouver and help in this now year-long chase. the Capital Region, and for stronger trans- I first began looking last summer into the parency and accountability for the RCMP activities of the BC Association of Chiefs of in BC, sat on both the BCACP and BCAMCP. Police (BCACP), which includes all chiefs in Heed became convinced the associations were the province plus RCMP and provincial govern- in large part tools to help protect police fief- ment representatives, and the smaller doms throughout BC from exactly those kinds sub-organization, the BC Association of of changes. “It’s the old boys culture in its Municipal Chiefs of Police (BCAMCP). It’s a strongest sense. Not much more to say if you complicated story but, basically, it seemed understand that this old boys culture is part impossible to obtain virtually any informa- of the reason why we have such a balka- tion about these organizations, even though nized police system here in British Columbia.” they play prominent roles in BC law enforce- Heed added that, “There were times where ment (see “Are BC Police Chiefs Evading the Former West Vancouver police chief and I spoke out on various issues and [the BCACP] Law?” October 2012 at www.focusonline.ca). BC solicitor general Kash Heed did not like that…They were very upset.” They’ve publicly advocated and helped craft And having sat on the other side of the table legislation around issues as diverse as drug looking for incorporation records, I discov- as solicitor general, Heed said he has no doubt laws, expanding police powers, and mass ered neither of these associations legally existed. that the BCACP is primarily a political lobby surveillance programs, but my attempts to And I also found no records of the associa- group. “That’s what it actually is. They lobby better understand these associations’ activi- tions’ existence or activities in BC’s Lobbyist for specific changes.” Yet Heed confirmed that ties became like a game of mental whack-a-mole: Registry, even though our police chiefs were both self-described “private” associations’ wherever I reached, all document records certainly doing more political lobbying than meetings, activities, public relations, and disappeared into a conceptual vortex. many other similar, appropriately-registered lobbying are being performed by chiefs and Victoria Police Chief Jamie Graham, pres- and tracked lobby groups like the professional police staff during regular working hours. “If ident of the BCAMCP and senior executive associations of Massage Therapists, Aboriginal it’s a private entity, that entity is being created with the BCACP, didn’t speak with me. West Friendship Centres, or Guide Outfitters. and funded by the public taxpayer,” said Heed. Vancouver Police Chief Peter Lepine, then On and on the chase went—I, of course, It sounded like damning evidence to me; president of the BCACP, was friendly and becoming ever more suspicious. how would the OIPC and Lobbyist Registrar professional, but not particularly forthcoming So I submitted complaints to both the see it? on key issues. The business of the associations Office of the Information and Privacy The OIPC found no Association of Chiefs was seemingly being performed by police staff Commissioner (OIPC) and the Registrar of of Police listed in Schedule 3 of the BC Freedom on the public dime and time, but when I Lobbyists. (The Commissioner is also offi- of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, submitted FOI requests, both associations cially the Registrar, but the two offices operate and so were not empowered even to consider claimed they were not subject to BC’s freedom separately.) As I awaited replies, I gathered my complaint about the associations’ refusals of information legislation covering public more dark hints that much of the governance to proffer records. This, even though Schedule bodies because the associations were actually of policing and development of law enforce- 3 empowers us to submit FOIs to virtually every just “private” groups. ment legislation in BC might be running other professional association doing work of When I submitted FOI requests directly to through these associations, with the delib- even tenuous public interest, from associations Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich and West erate intent of hiding it all from public of Music Teachers and General Accountants Vancouver municipal police departments, all transparency and accountability. to Land Surveyors. On the other hand, even if four departments stated their BCACP and One knowledgeable person who was willing our elected representatives had wanted to BCAMCP records were not theirs to release to talk on the record was former West Vancouver include these police chief associations in Schedule because the records were actually the legal Police Chief and former BC Solicitor General 3, they couldn’t have—because neither asso- property of the associations. Yet, when I went Kash Heed. “I can imagine what you’re going ciation legally exists.

14 May 2013 • FOCUS THE BUSINESS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS was seemingly “Good governancencece being performed by police staff on the public dime and time, needs good opposition.on. but when I submitted FOI requests, both associations claimed they were not subject to BC’s freedom of information legis- It’s what democracy lation covering public bodies because the associations were looks like.” actually just “private” groups. - Adam Olsen

The OIPC, however, did begin to investigate my requests for records from the four police departments. The police departments, though, maintained to the OIPC that all their BCACP and BCAMCP records • Safe workplaces, housing and healthcare were actually legally “in the custody” and control of these legally non- for family members of all ages existent associations, and refused to turn any of the records over. As • Full-time jobs by supporting local business arguments went back and forth through the OIPC, the police depart- ments eventually offered a compromise: they’d negotiate giving me and innovative technologies some documents but they would never admit they were legally required • Better transportation options, to and from to give them to me, so they could cut off the flow at any time. I didn’t our region like the sound of where that was heading. With no solution emerging, a full-scale OIPC legal inquiry was the only remaining option. The www.Olsen4MLA.ca 7173 W. Saanich Road associations and police departments would bring their platoon of 778-351-0404 Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1P7 publicly-funded legal experts, and on the other side would be…well, honestly, just me. It seemed hopeless. Vote But on October 30, Deputy Registrar of Lobbyists Mary Carlson ADAMOLSEN Saanich North & the Islands sent me an email. “This is to acknowledge receipt of your complaint @Olsen4MLA AuthorizedA by under the BC Lobbyists Registration Act (LRA) that the Association of on May 14 MM. Johnston, /Olsen4MLA Chiefs of Police may be engaging in activities that qualify as lobbying 778-351-040477 and have not registered as required by the LRA,” wrote Carlson. “In response to your complaint, we have commenced an investigation…” This was exciting. My intent when complaining to the two offices simultaneously was to try to corner the associations. I reasoned that, if they were finally going to claim definitively under official investi- gation that the police chief associations were “private” organizations, then they would have to become registered and have their activities tracked as political lobbyists. This would also be tantamount to confessing that they’d been breaking the lobbyist laws and improperly funnelling taxpayer money into private political lobbying for years. On the other hand, if they were going to claim that they were simply public servants properly doing their normal public service as our police chiefs, then that would essentially be admitting that the public had the right to access their records. Cornered, the mole was going to have to choose one of those two holes…and then… Bang. It worked. All of a sudden, on behalf of all four police departments, Victoria Police Department Information Manager Debra Taylor deliv- ered a long list of all the records pertaining to the BCACP and BCAMCP that they had and promised to start processing them for me. I was elated. Meanwhile, in November the BCACP applied to incorporate itself as an independent legal entity under the Society Act, like other above- board police chief associations across Canada. That didn’t clear the BCACP of any past improper use of public funds or unregistered lobbying they might have done, but at least they were now coming clean and going straight. This was all good. Equally encouragingly, some of our chiefs actually started being more careful about distinguishing their private lobbying from their roles as impartial public servants. For example, though West Vancouver Chief Lepine and the BCACP have previously lobbied for tough “war-on- drugs” laws, the Vancouver Sun quoted Lepine in September declining www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 15 even to comment on a BC citizens’ petition to police departments “did not locate a main defence of roadside prohibition legislation, decriminalize marijuana. “At the end of the ‘archive’ or ‘library’ of documents for the tasers, licence plate surveillance, and giving day, from a policing perspective, we’re tasked BCAMCP or the BCACP.” Of course, that police the powers of crown prosecutors? Tellingly, with enforcing the laws as the laws are written,” was merely a confirmation that the archive even this April, Office of the Police Complaints Lepine said—entirely appropriately. was at present gone; it did not answer my Commissioner adjudicator Ben Casson criti- How much more could I have asked for? question about whether the older files cized VicPD Chief Jamie Graham and his Deputy But something started to niggle at me. As had been there when I’d originally submitted Chief John Ducker for making inflamma- I looked more closely at the list of documents my request. tory public comments about a hearing concerning the police departments were preparing to give I submitted the same question again directly two VicPD officers. Casson then appealed to me, I noticed there were almost no records to Chief Lepine and West Vancouver police the BCACP. “BC Chiefs would think the same from before 2008, yet these associations had information officer Corporal T. Nelson. Nelson way, hopefully, [and] issue some guidance to existed for at least 30 years. Surely there were wrote back that West Vancouver PD did not their chiefs...” So even an ex-judge and policing older records, an association library or archive, have “custody” or control of such an archive. expert like Casson apparently didn’t realize he perhaps in hard copies in some file boxes? But of course, back in the beginning of this was in effect asking a murky, untransparent, Neither association had an office, so those whack-a-mole game, Nelson had also stated unaccountable private group to rein in seem- files presumably would have resided at the their police department did not officially have ingly unaccountable police brass. police station of some association official. For the custody or control of any BCACP or Heed suggests it’s municipal police boards that very reason, I’d deliberately targeted my BCAMCP records at all. So were they simply that should be more vigilant about such issues, FOI requests to the police departments that once again creatively interpreting the meaning especially with respect to their police chiefs were home to the associations’ current top of these legal terms? and police staff spending on-duty, publicly- officials. So where were those records? Could That dang mole. I felt like giving up. funded time working for these private it be that, during the months of wrangling Nevertheless, I persisted. associations. “Some of the problems are, Rob, after I’d submitted my requests in July, someone For his part, I get the impression Kash Heed that the police boards are not doing anything had secretly absconded with the bulk of BCACP doesn’t share the intensity of my worry about about it,” says Heed. “Some of the members and BCAMCP records archives and moved what these associations are up to—though of the boards, I think, are confused about what them from those police stations? Heed admits he avoided attending their meet- their roles are and how much power they have I asked VicPD’s Taylor if that could have ings as much as possible. He does believe BCACP over their chiefs of police.” happened, and she wrote back that the four lobbying helps preserve a “chaotic“ system of Hopefully our police boards, along with police governance and accountability in BC. the rest of us, will soon gain a slightly clearer Heed singles out the RCMP, whose voting reps picture of what these private associations have Dispute resolution support seemingly dominate the BCACP according to been doing—at least since 2008. And the for your parenting, your its now-public constitution, for wanting to Lobbyist Registrar will almost certainly issue family and your workplace. keep things that way. “I think that’s intentional,” a public report, if not penalties; their inves- says Heed. “I don’t think [the RCMP] want tigation has stretched into months. As for that •MEDIATION the people out there really to know what they’re fabled archive, West Vancouver PD’s Nelson PATRICIA all about and what they do and how they do finally wrote back again: “I asked some specific •DECISION it… They’ve been doing it for so many years questions and can advise there is a collection LANE and they’ve managed to get away with it, of records pertaining to the BC Association MAKING C. Med, LL.B and they continue to do it.” of Chiefs of Police which contain records SUPPORT Lawyer*/Mediator It’s certainly clear I’m not the only one asking made prior to 2008.” That archive, it turns •PARENTING 250.598.3992 questions and still coming up confused. There out, is sitting at the RCMP’s Surrey headquar- are Hansard records of our elected politicians ters—hence under federal jurisdiction and CO-ORDINATION *denotes Law Corporation expressing bafflement as to whom is being far out of reach of our province’s much stricter represented when a police department employee enforcement of information access laws. makes an official submission proposing changes Besides, contends RCMP Inspector and new to BC’s freedom of information laws, appar- BCACP President Brad Haugli to me in an ently on behalf of the BCAMCP, yet on police email, “the BCACP archives itself is not within department letterhead. Last fall, Geoffrey the custody or control of the RCMP.” Cowper’s report to the province on reforming Anyone got a bigger hammer? BC’s criminal justice system recommended the BCACP direct a provincial crime reduc- Rob Wipond spent two years tion strategy—while Cowper showed no submitting information recognition that the BCACP is just a private requests which ultimately lobby group. helped prompt the Privacy Looking back, how many of us are sure if Commissioner to investi- we were hearing the opinions of our public gate and declare much of servants or of private, professional political BC polices’ licence plate lobbyists when our police chiefs spoke out in surveillance program illegal.

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The politics of nature (part 2) BRIONY PENN The Liberals have fumbled the biodiversity ball; so what are the alternatives offering, and what are they hedging on?

s mentioned in last month’s article, the BC already has a biodiversity designation. The Auditor Liberals have left a perfect vacuum for other General challenged the efficacy and enforcement of Apolitical parties to fill on the biodiversity file. those designations, so there’s lots of room for improve- It’s been five years since government scientists warned ment—and timing is everything. that immediate action was necessary to avoid rapid Fleming said we need “a comprehensive conserva- deterioration of BC’s flora and fauna, especially in tion strategy in BC. We only have fragments of light of climate change. what government can be accountable for and the During the last provincial election, the NDP’s axe- Conservation Framework hasn’t been funded for the-carbon tax policy cost them seats in tightly-contested Jane Sterk and Rob Fleming years.” But he is providing no numbers or time- ridings as environmentally-concerned voters migrated lines. “I think the case has been made that there are to the Greens. This time round, the wedge issue could be around the areas in BC that need more protection than the existing designations, very stuff that sucks the carbon out of the atmosphere: BC’s biologi- but a Conservation Strategy would prioritize the most threatened ecosys- cally rich flora—and the fauna that digest it. tems: grasslands, coastal Douglas-fir. That figure can only go up.” How So key questions for candidates in the upcoming election are: high will it go? “There is a range of opinions out there in the scien- How much and how quickly are their respective parties prepared to tific community, so where everyone agrees that ecosystems are under act? More specifically: How much of the land base are they committed threat and we are going to lose these areas, we will look at it.” to protecting? How dedicated to the concept of “cumulative impacts” A desire to maintain wiggle room was clear in the NDP’s response are they—especially when such impacts could halt major projects to coastal old-growth logging. Fleming stated, “the word ‘moratorium’ like LNG plants and the Kinder Morgan pipeline? How committed is difficult because of cutting rights and tree farm licenses.” The NDP are they to applying the polluter-pay principle (which could influence are interested in “securing” additional coastal old-growth lands and industrial practices)? And how are they going to generate revenue if improving connectivity—not, it appears, through legislated moratoria they really take biodiversity conservation seriously and revenues from or forest practices, but through alternative financing. Fleming studiously— resource extraction are reduced? and somewhat curiously—steered the conversation towards philanthropists I spoke with Jane Sterk, leader of the Greens, and Rob Fleming, envi- and supporting federal government initiatives, which echoed much of ronment critic for the NDP, about their commitment to protecting the BC Liberals’ response. On provincial jurisdiction, Fleming was biodiversity should they form the next government. guarded. “If the provincial government signals its intent on securing First, let’s quickly review the “safe” policies that both parties agree old-growth forests, partnerships might emerge; this is where we think on. Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline is a non-starter for both. there will be the most traction and do the most for taxpayers.” Fleming Both parties are also committed to getting more scientists back on was not to be drawn out on this issue, so my guess is that there is no the ground doing inventory, monitoring, reporting, and developing a appetite from NDP brass at this stage to voluntarily reduce the provin- proper conservation strategy. Both parties are set to “deliver science cial annual allowable cut by pulling out any old-growth. This means and evidence-based environmental assessments.” Both parties are calling they want someone to pay for saving it. for a Species at Risk Act with protection of critical habitat a key element Greens have integrated biodiversity conservation through a of that legislation. And both agree on public participation in land use variety of policies, but there is some inconsistency in how they label planning with a less fragmented approach across the ministries, with protected areas and how much land they are pledging to protect. minor variations on how they will do it. And the pace of protection seems slow. They’ve suggested a very conser- Fleming wants to get “democracy back into land use planning for vative five percent increase of protected areas—bringing the total of public lands,” noting the legislative Standing Committee on the BC’s protected lands to only 20 percent of all lands over “the next 100 Environment has not met since 1996. He is proposing a citizen’s assembly years.” They do advocate an increase in the Ecological Reserves program on climate change and energy (“Is nature in there?” I ask. “Is that a and they’ve pledged to eliminate logging of old-growth forests. These suggestion?” he replies.), resourcing the Environmental Assessment might add to that 20 percent, but it’s not clear. What is clear is we don’t Office, and bringing back reviews by First Nations and local govern- have 100 years, and these recommendations fall far short of the “nature ment, with strict timelines. needs half” principle advocated by scientists. Greens are proposing something similar, as well as a new “Ministry However, the Green Party is proposing a new Environmental Protection of Environment, Energy and Climate Change” with an independent Act that will place biodiversity on an equal footing with economic Commissioner of the Environment. considerations, so that on the larger landscape view, biodiversity values Where the parties diverge is on how much and how fast they will will determine which projects go ahead through an assessment process. move to protect biodiversity. On the basis of cumulative impacts, the Greens are saying an outright On expanding protected areas with some level of biodiversity protec- no to “potentially disastrous” projects like the Kinder Morgan pipeline tion, the top provincial scientists are recommending the protection of and new fracking projects. They have identified their proposed Environmental a full half of the province as critical for adaptation and resilience to Protection Act as the best mechanism to evaluate biodiversity impacts. changing climate. The Liberals claim, in their rebuttal to the Auditor The NDP, though recently throwing cold water on Kinder Morgan's General’s recent report on biodiversity, that 37 percent of the land base plans, is not saying an outright no to such projects. They are stating

18 May 2013 • FOCUS that cumulative impacts need to be considered and that industry under- “Thehe time has come to stands that need. Fleming stays right on message with wanting to provide ininvest in the clean certainty for industry. “With proper assessments for cumulative impacts, then it is either ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ no rubber stamps. We will raise the bar techtechnology economy to and projects will either require certain types of mitigation or they will not be doable. This will impact the pace and scale of the current prprovide stable jobs in projects on the books.” But are more studies really necessary in BBC for generations.” places like the Peace Country—where up to 90 percent of the land base is already impacted by resource extraction and wildlife populations are - Andrew Weaver perilously close to collapse? This is one area of definite divergence between the Greens and NDP. Sterk said, “The NDP are calling for studies on impacts, but we don’t • Strong economy, clean energy, green jobs need anymore studies to tell us that these projects are a problem.” for generations Fleming argued, “The studies aren’t in one place and there is nothing • Revitalized democracy, strong, independent to guide development, reclamation activities or government permit- ting. You need to take all these studies and do an overarching assessment voice in the legislature of the cumulative impacts…” • Will work across party lines for innovative On adopting the polluter-pay principle, where nature’s services to solutions slow climate change are valued, Fleming responded: “We certainly need to make the link between carbon storage in forests and estuaries www.VoteWeaver.ca 2A-4071 Shelbourne St 778-265-7783 Victoria, BC V8N 5Y1 and biodiversity conservation more explicit. The trick is to find ways of forest conservation, legally and monetarily, for carbon sequestra- tion benefits and in the absence of the reporting system.” I imagine this Vote ANDREW means the NDP will be looking at some kind of carbon pricing mech- WEAVER anism to help pay for keeping old growth standing and restocking @AJWVictoriaBC Oak Bay · Gordon Head AuthorizedA by the vast backlog of inadequately replanted forests. on May 14 PaPatrick von Aderkas, /AndrewWeaverBC The Greens have adopted a polluter-pay principle as one of their 250-885-156525 main policy platforms and revenue drivers. Sterk acknowledged that “forest practice can have a profound impact on climate change, so we need to value the services that retain carbon dioxide in the system.” The Green party proposes to convert 50 percent of Crown tenures to community and First Nation woodlots overseen by Regional Resource Management Boards. Still, neither party has really integrated their biodiversity strate- gies with climate/energy strategies, and in both party’s responses, climate, forest and biodiversity policies were curiously disconnected. This is not unusual across the Western world where the economic drivers behind environment policy are energy-related. You have to go to Bhutan and Bolivia, where charters of rights include nature, to get integrated policy. Lastly, if the Greens and the NDP really did take nature’s needs seriously, how would they make up for the revenue that might be lost with diminished resource extraction? Sterk proposed “strong local economies with tax shifting to polluter-pay principles. That should be the foundation on which our communities are based. We can’t continue the economy that we have got.” Faced with forming the next provin- cial government, the NDP are saying little about Plan B should their “evidence-based” processes suggest putting the brakes on expanding LNG plants, Site C, coal developments, fracking, etc. Fleming simply says, “No one should be getting a free pass.” But any pass, even with a hefty fee, doesn’t bode well for biodiversity.

Briony Penn has been reporting on the environment since her first article in The Islander in 1975 on Garry oak meadows and has been a columnist in Victoria publi- cations since 1993.

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 19 talk of the town

Going viral KATHERINE PALMER GORDON A new film is making sure salmon are on the menu of the provincial election.

ere’s the good news: While the docu- tested positive for disease. “People who don’t mentary Salmon Confidential is an know any better are eating these fish,” says Hincredibly disturbing exposé of govern- Morton incredulously. “The fish are being ment efforts to hide the truth about devastating inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection diseases affecting the West Coast’s wild salmon Agency (CFIA), and cleared for sale to an unsus- population, it does end on a positive note. Both pecting public. It’s very disturbing.” filmmaker Twyla Roscovich and wild salmon Morton likens the destruction caused to wild expert Alexandra Morton, the film’s protago- fish from introduced European viruses to a nist, believe strongly that there is still time to “never-ending” oil spill that governments do save our wild fish. nothing to contain. She is convinced that But during most of the 70-minute documen- containing the spread of disease requires shut- tary, you’re more likely to gasp in outrage than ting down all open-net feedlots on wild salmon cheer. Roscovich and Morton pull no punches. migratory routes, but to date she’s had no success They not only link recent deadly disease outbreaks in getting governments to listen. Indeed, as the in our wild fish to the spread of European viruses film clearly demonstrates, the only thing govern- from open-net Atlantic salmon feedlots situated ments seem to be interested in closing down is on their migratory routes, they mercilessly expose the truth: “It feels intentional,” she concludes. the devious and contorted machinations of “It’s difficult to see how it isn’t.” government officials denying this is happening, Local Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) labs despite compelling evidence to the contrary. wouldn’t analyze Morton’s samples, so she was Infectious Salmon Anemia, or ISA, was first forced to send them to accredited ISA experts detected on Atlantic fish farms in Norway in Prespawn mortality on central coast river in Prince Edward Island and Norway. Their 1984. A deadly internationally reportable findings were unequivocal: ISA is present in disease, the ISA virus has since found its way around the world through BC. When that information became public, a vicious campaign to strike the export of infected farmed Atlantic salmon eggs from Norway. The down the official accreditation of these scientists was immediately results have been devastating. Chile’s fish farming industry took a two- launched by DFO and the CFIA. billion-dollar hit after ISA appeared in its salmon feedlots. At the same time their results were being dismissed out of hand by But at least Chile doesn’t have wild salmon to worry about. BC does. Ottawa bureaucrats, Nanaimo-based scientist Dr Kristi Miller, a DFO Now ISA has arrived on BC’s coast as well, along with several other employee, was giving evidence at the Cohen Commission (struck in frightening diseases such as piscine reovirus (PRV). Judging by what 2010 to investigate potential causes of the almost non-existent Fraser Morton and her colleagues have discovered, the impact on BC’s wild River sockeye runs of 2009) that she too had discovered the presence fish is not merely overwhelming; it’s terrifying. of viruses affecting BC’s wild fish. Dr Miller was prohibited by DFO Spoiler alert: this film may put you off eating any kind of from speaking further about her findings. Nonetheless, she fish for a while. Over the two months in 2012 that Roscovich stuck to her guns in her testimony, insisting her findings were follows Morton and her colleagues around with her camera legitimate. DFO then threatened to cut her research funding. as they collect samples of wild fish for analysis, they find What was behind DFO’s actions? Film clips of bureaucrats diseased salmon in shocking numbers. We are shown graphic giving evidence at the Cohen Commission seem to provide images of bloated, mottled organs—typical ISA symptoms— the chilling answer: Both the federal and the provincial govern- and the soft, flaccid hearts of salmon infected by PRV. Scenes ments are apparently willing to go to any length, including from last year’s runs show tens of thousands of dead salmon, outright deception, to protect the salmon feedlot industry at still full of roe, clogging streams. “PRV weakens the hearts Twyla Roscovitch the expense of our wild fish. But why? of the fish, turning them from incredibly strong muscles to “For the life of me I can’t figure out what the government complete mush,” explains Morton. “They don’t have the strength to has invested in fish farms that makes it fight so hard to protect swim upstream any more, and they die before they can lay their eggs.” them,” Morton told the audience at a film showing in Nanaimo in Morton wanted to test farmed fish as well, but with fish farms refusing April. Dr Kim Klotins of the CFIA may have provided the answer when to cooperate, getting samples directly proved impossible. There is an she told the Cohen Commission that if ISA was found to be present in enchanting scene in which Morton and Roscovich wait breathlessly to BC’s fish, international trade markets would close. In other words: It’s see if a bald eagle will drop a farmed Atlantic salmon that it swiped from more important to keep the farmed fish economy going than to admit a nearby feedlot, allowing them the chance to test it. Morton turns to there’s a problem for the wild fish. grocery store seafood departments to purchase farmed salmon for Whatever their motivation may be, anyone watching this film will sampling instead, and even surreptitiously tests sashimi ordered in be left with little doubt that neither federal nor provincial government Vancouver restaurants. A shockingly large number of these samples officials are on the side of wild salmon. That’s why Roscovich and

20 May 2013 • FOCUS Morton are also saying that now, it’s up to us. “I think we have “Democracy simply become too used to the stocks being so low,” observes Roscovich, needs strong voiceses tot a veteran independent filmmaker with numerous documentaries on West Coast environmental issues under her belt. “We’re taking the fish keep governmentnt for granted. We need to get out there and use the opportunity of the upcoming provincial election to influence the political parties to do accountable.” something about this.” - Susan Low Roscovich and Morton are currently touring the province with the film, encouraging audiences to put pressure on political candidates in the run-up to this month’s provincial election by demanding they commit to ridding the West • A voice in Legislature to stand up for Coast of fish farms situated along Pacific salmon what’s best for this community migration routes. Morton points out that the • Quality, lasting jobs built by supporting provincial government, as landlord to the fish farm companies, holds the solution in its hands: locally-owned businesses “They have the right to terminate their licences • Evidence-based decision making to guide of occupation. That’s what they should do.” policy and spending The track record to date of the BC Liberals Alexandra Morton makes it pretty clear that isn’t in the cards should www.SusanLow.ca 890D Esquimalt Road they be re-elected. The Green Party has committed 250-704-2727 Esquimalt, BC V9A 3M4 to removing all salmon feedlots from wild fish migration routes, but the BC NDP, at time of deadline, had yet to release their policy posi- Vote tion on fish farms. Alexandra Morton is sceptical: “We heard [Environment SUSANLOW Critic] Rob Fleming say in March that the BC NDP would initiate a @SusanLow2013 Esquimalt · Royal Roads AuthorizedA by review to look at banning fish farms from key migration routes, but on May 14 LM Bluma, /SusanLow2013 two weeks later, he back-peddled on that.” Now he’s gone completely 2250-704-2727 silent on the issue. Fleming didn’t return calls requesting a comment. In the meantime, however, Salmon Confidential is rapidly gaining the traction it deserves. “When Alexandra first asked me to make the film, I wondered who would be interested in seeing a documentary about salmon diseases,” recalls Roscovich wryly. “But it turns out a lot of people DISCOVERY ISLANDS LODGE want to see it. The audiences are getting bigger, and the film is going viral online. I hope it will influence change,” she continues. “There’s never been a better time to persuade politicians to do the right thing.” In Nanaimo, Morton shocked her audience after the film ended when she told them: “When the salmon farms moved into my home community in Echo Bay, I knew I had to do something to get them out again. That was 1989. I was so naïve. I thought I would have it sorted out quickly, but I’ve failed to achieve anything for 24 years.” Gasps of protest were quickly silenced as she continued firmly: “I realize now that of course I can’t do it by myself. What is needed now is all of you. You need to hold governments to account, and there will never be a better time than now. We can do this. We can save our fish.” Quadra Island’s Kayak Inn Salmon Confidential can be viewed online at www.salmonconfidential.ca. The website also has links to film showings and talks in various BC Discover affordable backcountry comfort communities, and contact information to request a showing. Also see at our truly-green kayaker’s inn near www.deptwildsalmon.org, and for other films by Twyla Roscovich, Quadra’s best sea kayaking! see www.oceanfilms.net.

Katherine Palmer Gordon’s in-depth review of the • Friendly, oceanfront B&B Cohen Commission report, “A Damning Indictment,” • Guest kitchen & sauna appeared in the December 2012 issue of Focus (see www.focusonline.ca). An award-winning author based • Parks, lakes & hiking trails on Gabriola Island, her sixth book, We Are Born With the Songs Inside Us, is scheduled for release by Harbour www.Discovery-Islands-Lodge.com Publishing this fall. www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 21 talk of the town

The Mayor’s dilemma DAVID BROADLAND Was the Mayor accurately briefed on the financial state of the City’s largest-ever infrastructure project before the last election?

hortly after Focus went to press last month project was on budget, Fortin had asked both with my “The smoking gun & account- Project Director Mike Lai and the City’s engi- Sability” story, a group of 12 Victoria citizens neering consultant Joost Meyboom if their plan sent letters to Victoria City councillors and City to shorten the bascule span—the most expensive Manager Gail Stephens. component of the project—by over 10 percent The letter to Stephens included a copy of an would produce “cost savings.” Meyboom had August 12, 2011 memo produced by the City’s answered, “I think it’s…ah…I don’t wanna... I Assistant Acting Director of Finance Troy Restell don’t know. In all these cost estimates, when you in which he reported that the Johnson Street do them, you’re high in places, you’re low in Bridge project had accumulated $5.2 million places.” Lai had offered, “There would be, theo- in unbudgeted costs. retically, some cost savings…I don’t think there’s The citizens group asked Stephens for a a specific number that has been divined.” “legitimate explanation” of why she had given Meyboom’s and Lai’s hedging was followed a report on October 6, 2011 that the bridge by a request from the Mayor for a written report project was “within the budget of $77 million.” on whether there would be “cost savings.” If In their letter to councillors, they stated, “If such a report was ever provided—it would have

[Stephens] cannot provide a legitimate expla- PHOTO: TONY BOUNSALL come from Meyboom—it has never surfaced in nation, we believe you must appoint an Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin FOIs of Meyboom’s communications to the City. independent inquiry into her conduct.” The Up to that point in the process Lai and group of citizens also sent letters to media apprising them of the issue. Meyboom had been the only credible sources of information about Over the next week, on local radio programs, the fur flew. the direction costs were headed, and it’s clear they were reluctant, In interviews with Gregor Craigie on CBC and Stephen Andrew on on October 6, 2011 to attribute much, if any, “cost savings” to CFAX, Mayor Dean Fortin echoed the position that Stephens had even this major reduction in the scope of the project. expressed in Focus: the City Manager could not declare the project No wonder. Forty-six days later, just two days after the civic over budget until she had all the information; all the information was election, Meyboom officially sent Lai the news that the estimate provided in a March 15, 2012 report, by which time the project was for project management and construction-related costs had risen $16 million over budget. The Mayor implied that the report Stephens an additional $5.85 million. made to councillors, media and the public on October 6, 2011, just In a follow-up interview, Craigie posed Fortin’s argument to Councillor before a civic election, didn’t require the same process of due diligence. Geoff Young: “The Mayor’s point was—I think this is a fair summary At one point in the CBC interview, Craigie asked Fortin, “Do you of it—you wait for your staff, who you trust, to tell you the informa- have any concerns that, although it came out in the fullness of time, tion once they’ve assembled it all and you don’t need for them to that concern that the budget was already over budget should have come labour you with every little detail along the way.” Young responded, out just before the last civic election?” Fortin responded, “Yeah. I “There’s the question of what is a ‘detail’ and what is ‘substantial.’ I mean…I think…Our staff are apolitical; I mean elections don’t factor think the [$5.2 million unbudgeted costs] report from the finance into any information of when they bring stuff forward…” department was substantial; it wasn’t a detail. There’s also the ques- Craigie persisted: “Would it have been a factor for voters to know tion of, it’s one thing to say ‘we don’t have information, we’re assembling in the last election that the bridge project was already over budget?” information and will report to Council.’ But that’s not what happened. Fortin replied, “Well I don’t think that...I mean that was [sigh, Council did get a report. The public got the report. The report said pause]. There’s an implication in there, an assumption you’re making, ‘we’re on budget.’ So that’s quite a different issue from the question when that came forward, whether it was or not…” Craigie, interrupting, of the timing of the information.” said, “But it’s not my assumption, Mayor; it’s a memo from the Acting Craigie asked Young, “Is this the kind of thing that there should Assistant Director of Finance. I have no numbers to go on; I’m just be repercussions for senior members of staff?” Young responded, “I going by a City of Victoria document…which categorically stated three think it’s a very serious question that Council has to be talking about.” months before the last election it was over budget by more than $5 Fortin repeated the same arguments when he appeared on Stephen million. Shouldn’t voters have been aware of that?” Andrew’s CFAX radio program, during which Andrew gave an unusual Fortin replied, “Um, so, what I’m saying is there is a complete process blow-by-blow account of Fortin’s use of scripted talking points, which of gathering information, not only from finance but from what’s going were, according to Andrew, “prepared by [the City’s Director of on elsewhere with the rest of the bridge process. There may have been Corporate Communications] Katie Josephson.” Following that lively cost increases suggested in one area and cost savings coming in another.” show, Andrew interviewed Young and Councillor Lisa Helps on the But the Mayor offered Craigie and his audience no examples of any issue. Andrew told the two, “The Mayor, again from notes prepared “cost savings” that were on the table at the time. Indeed, at the very by the director of communications, said to me on the air: ‘I am not same October 6, 2011 Council meeting at which Stephens said the interested in entertaining these claims; I am comfortable with the infor-

22 May 2013 • FOCUS ADVERTISEMENT Focus presents: Triangle Healing

SO WHY WOULDN’T Mayor Fortin want to clear the Your every day health show air on this issue? An inquiry would allow Ms Stephens to set the record straight, which is what the group of citi- t Triangle we’re all about health and well-being,” says Diane Regan, Triangle zens who petitioned Council for an inquiry were requesting: Healing’s owner and health guru. “That’s why we’ve always encouraged a legitimate explanation. Apeople to come in and try our products. It’s a great way to see firsthand if the product is right for you,” she explains, adding, “and it gives us a chance to explain mation presented and steps taken with the process to get here.’” Helps the right way to use the product.” Triangle is it’s own little health show, every day. responded, “Well the Mayor is one of nine and we speak as a Council. This hands-on business practice is much of the reason Triangle has so many loyal So that was the Mayor speaking on behalf of himself, perhaps with customers. Diane tells a story of a young woman who called recently inquiring about some assistance. That’s fine. The letter that came to us was to Mayor Blendtec Blenders. “She mentioned that she had a great hummus recipe, but wasn’t and Council, and Mayor and Council will have a discussion.” happy with the consistency. I invited her to bring in her ingredients and give it a Andrew asked, “Are you comfortable with the information and the whirl—and she did,” says Diane. Before the end of the day the young woman steps taken in the process to get there?” Young responded, “Well, no. I was the proud new owner of the Blendtec Blender and the little power-house Twister personally will want to have a very detailed explanation first, from the Jar—and Diane had a jar of the most amazing hummus. “She was impressed City Manager. I would want to give her an opportunity to explain this with Blendtec’s ease of use and cleaning, apparent discrepancy, and that explanation, for me, would have to be in and the wonderful smooth texture of writing and preferably public so that other people who have a lot more her hummus,” says Diane. Blendtec’s knowledge of accounting principles than I do…can examine it. That’s Twister Jar is especially designed to the kind of information I would want to have to put my mind at rest.” blend your thickest recipes—creating Following the public airing of the issues, Focus received a threatening a whole world of possibilities—smooth letter from Stephens’ lawyer Joe Arvay. Arvay copied his letter to coun- creamy dips, home-made baby food, cillors, thereby making it a public document. Amongst other things, or your own healthy nut butters—all Arvay wrote: “We can also advise you that in the fall of 2011, Ms Stephens made easy in the Twister Jar. was advised that some of the estimated costs had actually been reduced, Another wonderful small kitchen based on changes to the cost of materials and that such cost-savings appliance that makes achieving would offset any of the added costs set out in the memo. There was optimum health so much easier is the no reason for Ms Stephens to doubt the accuracy of the advice that Green Star Twin-Gear Juicer. “We love she had received in September that the project was on budget.” it when people come in and ask to I wrote to Mr Arvay with an offer of a full retraction and an apology see the Green Star in action. It gives to Stephens if she would provide us with documentary evidence of that us the opportunity to really show advice. I noted that Focus had done its due diligence in the filing and off and to demonstrate exactly how processing of nine FOIs related to the issue, including one that should to get the most from your machine,” definitely have captured the advice to Stephens that Arvay had refer- says Diane. The Green Star Elite Juicer enced. Arvay did not reply. has a revolutionary jumbo twin-gear So why wouldn’t Mayor Fortin want to clear the air on this issue? system, which results in higher juice An inquiry would allow Ms Stephens to set the record straight, yields—which means more nutrition, Clockwise from top left: Green Star Elite Juicer, which is what the group of citizens who petitioned Council for an for less money. Blendtec Blender, Bellicon Rebounder inquiry were requesting: a legitimate explanation. If getting in shape for summer is Could it have been the Mayor’s instinct for political self-preservation? on your mind, come in and try out the Acu Hoop weighted hula-hoop and the Bellicon Ten days before the City Manager made her “on budget” report, the Rebounder. Both are ideal for people who are interested in having fun while getting— project’s Steering Committee met in the City Manager’s office. The and staying—healthy. The Acu Hoop’s acupressure balls effectively strengthen your records of that meeting, obtained through FOI, show that a decision abdomen and lower back while improving blood circulation to those areas. The was made to brief the Mayor about what would be said in the October weight makes them three-times more effective than a regular hoop. Considered the 6, 2011 report. That pre-report briefing was going to be done by Best Rebounder in the World, the Bellicon’s many long-term benefits include a Stephens, Lai, General Manager of Operations Peter Sparanese, and stronger immune system, healthier back, and fat burning with a full-body workout. Josephson—a high level meeting. From another FOI we know that While you’re at Triangle you’re invited to try any number of filtered, energized, at least three of these people had been told by Restell through his memo or enhanced waters. Whether it’s tap water that has been run through the new and a presentation to the Steering Committee that the project had $5.2 Natural Action Water Dynamically-Enhanced line of water structuring units, or the million in unbudgeted costs. Did they tell the Mayor? Mayor Fortin immune system-boosting Double-Helix water, you’ll find out just how healing did not respond to questions from Focus about whether he was briefed. water can be. The dilemma for the Mayor is this: either he was accurately briefed Come into Triangle this week and see why they have so many happy and or he wasn’t. If he wasn’t, as he has publicly stated, then why isn’t he healthy customers! concerned about not being accurately briefed? Isn’t that essential for him to effectively watch over the public interest? And if he was accu- Triangle Healing Products rately briefed, why has he said he didn’t know about the cost increases? An inquiry is needed and ought to focus on the Mayor’s role in this issue. 770 Spruce Avenue, Victoria, BC 250-370-1818 • www.trianglehealingproducts.com David Broadland is the publisher of Focus. Triangle Healing Products, its owner, its employees do not provide medical advice or treatment. They provide information and products that you may choose after evaluating your health needs and in consultation with health professionals of your choosing. www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 23 talk of the town

Has the CRD unintentionally pushed the reset button? LESLIE CAMPBELL AND DAVID BROADLAND Its $17-million purchase of property in a residential neighbourhood as a possible location for biodigesters has critics of the sewage treatment plan—and at least two NDP candidates in the BC election—calling for a rethink of the entire plan.

What the CRD says Why did the CRD purchase the Viewfield property? Why are they even considering it? Initially the CRD’s Biosolids Energy Centre (BEC) was to be built at the Hartland Landfill site—and this is still a possibility—where it would have more room and face fewer neigh- bourhood issues. CRD’s Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee Chair Denise Blackwell has suggested the main reason to consider building the BEC in Esquimalt is to eliminate disruption caused by constructing dual 18-kilometre pipelines to Hartland from the proposed McLoughlin Point sewage treat- ment plant. But given the $17-million price tag of the Viewfield site, she told the Times Colonist, there were no cost savings. “It’s a wash,” she said. That calculation doesn’t quite equate with Four anaerobic biodigesters at Vancouver’s Annacis Island treatment plant. The CRD says a biosolids previous estimates of the pipelines’ cost. Saanich plant at Viewfield Road in Esquimalt would have “little in common” with this facility. Councillor Vic Derman, who has been a member of the sewage committee since its inception he day after we attended a Victoria West probability of exploding biodigesters, but also in 2006, told Focus the pipeline to Hartland Community Association meeting, a the negative impact such a facility would have was expected to cost $30-40 million. Tmassive explosion destroyed a fertil- on air quality and property values. The CRD’s Andy Orr provided Focus with izer plant in West, Texas, where 15 people They would have heard community activist a document that appeared intended to counter were killed. Most Victorians wouldn’t have Kim Bellefontaine excoriate the CRD for the comments Corps made at the Vic West meeting. made any connection between the explosion flawed public engagement process it used That document noted, “It is not unusual for in Texas and a proposed sewage treatment throughout its campaign to promote a plan sewage treatment plants to be located near facility in Victoria. But along with a hundred for a centralized sewage treatment plant; they residential areas.” It gave as examples Vernon, or so other citizens at that meeting—called would also have heard Corps critique the Nanaimo and Kelowna. The document stated, to discuss a CRD proposal to locate several CRD for not conducting a proper life cycle “In the case of Kelowna, in addition to resi- anaerobic biodigesters in a residential neigh- cost analysis on their plan; they would have dential neighbourhoods there is an elementary bourhood—we heard land economist Chris heard Maurine Karagianis, running for her school, a middle school, a high school and a Corps say such biodigesters occasionally blow third term as NDP MLA for Esquimalt-Royal college in close proximity to the sewage treat- up. There’s nothing like the possibility, however Roads, express dismay at the process used by ment plant, which because of its older design, faint, of an explosion in your neighbourhood CRD to come up with what she implied has open tanks. The design proposed for both to focus the mind. was a 20th-century solution to the sewage the wastewater treatment plant and the biosolids It was a bad night for the CRD at the meeting, treatment problem; and they would have digestion facility are enclosed with state of the which was organized to express opposition to heard Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins art odour control.” whatever plan it had in mind for Viewfield say her council would not necessarily agree The CRD’s examples, however, don’t easily Road. Perhaps wishing to spare themselves a to rezone the Viewfield property. compare with the Viewfield Road site. They public thrashing, no one from that organiza- If someone from the CRD had been at that are all several decades old. Kelowna’s treat- tion admitted to being present when someone meeting they might have even heard an almost ment centre, built in 1982, doesn’t include a asked out loud if the CRD was present. The audible “click” as the whole political dynamic biodigester; Vernon’s does, but it’s located CRD recently purchased, without so much as around the treatment plan seemed to shift. 600 feet from the nearest residence and, besides, a whiff of public consultation, a 1.7-hectare After Mayor Desjardins suggested her council would be processing a much lower volume of property from Wilson Foods for $17 million. would decline to rezone the Viewfield Road sludge than would digesters at Viewfield Road. But had a CRD representative shown up, not property, Karagianis said, “I will absolutely Vernon’s plant services a population of about only would they have heard Corps’ assessment not tolerate any overruling of individual 40,000 and has been on that site, in one form of the very low but nevertheless measureable communities’ zoning.” or another, since the 1930s. In Nanaimo, popu-

24 May 2013 • FOCUS IT IS BEING PRESUPPOSED that it will be rezoned and we will move forward. That is wrong.” “ —Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardines lation 85,000, the 1970s-era treatment plant case for a distributed network of 32 small sites Corps noted, “Most of the time, these things is in a suburban setting; the nearest home is where costs would be recouped through sales operate well, and are a totally acceptable solu- 300 feet from the digester. of recovered resources. The CRD rejected the tion. But most of the time they are not put The CRD has not made public their plans plan, saying it was too costly, though many, like in residential neighbourhoods,” and showed for the site so it’s impossible to say how close Corps—who has advised Metro Vancouver and slides of a number of such facilities in more the nearest homes might be to biodigesters. other municipalities in BC and Alberta on maxi- rural areas. Citing a statement from an asso- That’s expected to be made clear when the mizing recovery of resources from waste and ciation for anaerobic digesters in the UK, he CRD holds “five open houses to present the worked with such developments as Dockside claimed that there had been 62 accidents in facts about biosolids digestion facilities and Green, False Creek in Vancouver and Canary such facilities, some of which were serious, the advantages and disadvantages of the two Wharf in London—have not given up that fight. with three deaths in Germany and one in potential sites [Hartland and Viewfield]” Corps described how, after secondary treat- Britain, though these were mostly within starting on May 30. ment at the planned McLoughlin Point plant, the site boundaries. the residual biosolids would have water added Besides possible truck noise (from delivery Do biodigesters make good neighbours? to them so they could be pumped through a of kitchen waste), occasional odours, and the With no one from the CRD willing to address pipeline to the biosolids treatment facility. slight chance of explosion, Corps predicted the meeting, the Victoria West Community There, the slurry of water, sewage and “bugs” market uncertainty for real estate values, partic- Association organizers invited land economist would be dewatered and the resulting sludge ularly in the short term. Chris Corps to explain what biosolid treat- processed though an anaerobic digester. Corps ment plants generally entail, along with their drew a simplified picture of what a digester Lack of public consultation potential problems. is: “Very basically a very large tin in which the The CRD’s commitment to engage mean- Corps is the co-author (with Stephen Salter, bugs eat the sewage, and the bugs pass wind. ingfully with citizens during their sewage Jon O’Riordan and Patrick Lucey) of the 2008 The wind is methane…which can be captured treatment planning process was questioned provincial study Resources from Waste which and upgraded to do different things with it.” at the meeting by several speakers. That the examined recovering resources—including The water that’s removed in the process would CRD would choose to pay $17 million for a water, heat and electricity—from sewage treat- be pumped back through a second set of pipes property with an assessed value of $12.9 million ment in the CRD, and developed a business to the McLoughlin plant. (the land is assessed at $5.4 million; the existing

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 25 building, which would have to be demolished, really worth it.” This is a vastly different message STERLING & GASCOIGNE is valued at $7.5 million) in the hope that the than the CRD was putting out just a few years Certified General Accountants CRD could use it for a purpose that it could ago when they were stressing the need for have foreseen would be highly controversial, water conservation.) suggests a disinterest in what the public thinks. Desjardins also noted there’s little energy Kim Bellefontaine of the Esquimalt Residents recovery planned. Biogas and fertilizer will be Association told the meeting that the $17 produced along with fuel pucks for cement million the CRD paid for the site is not eligible kilns, but she added, “We’ve heard from cement for shared funding with other levels of govern- kilns ‘we don’t really want them’.” In all, claims ment. Bellefontaine has been a vocal critic of Desjardins, the $783-million project, will only the public engagement strategy used by the capture $3 million a year through resource CRD to arrive at the current plan, describing recovery, adding, “and it will cost you $13- it as a “completely flawed public process in 15 million a year to run these plants. The general, not just with this site.” “Consultation,” dollars don’t make sense…we need to continue she noted “is supposed to happen early; it’s to push for something better.” (According supposed to happen before important deci- to CRD documents, operating and mainte- sions are made. And in fact the Environmental nance costs for a centralized treatment plant Management Act has very strong require- and a bioenergy centre would be about $15 Kim Sterling, FCGA, and Alison Gascoigne, CGA ments for public consultation on sewage million per year.) Experienced • Knowledgeable • Approachable plans—and that’s because, once they are Corps gave special attention to the CRD’s approved, there’s no appeal process whatso- unwillingness to spend even $20,000 on a Accounting and Income Tax ever. So the province is relying on consultation full and updated life cycle cost analysis for for Individuals and Small Businesses being done right.” the massive project. Flashing an image of a The smallish size of the Viewfield site means document on his overhead projector, Corps NEW ADDRESS the facility would likely fully occupy it, and called it “a smoking gun.” “It’s a public docu- 307 – 1625 Oak Bay Avenue being right in the middle of a built-up neigh- ment; that document said 12 months ago bourhood, the plant would in effect have little almost exactly, that $20,000 should be spent 250-480-0558 or no buffer. Bellefontaine pointed out that on trying to get a business case to understand www.sg-cga.ca Alberta demands a 300-meter buffer around what the economics should be. Right now anaerobic digesters. my math tells me that they’ve spent $50 Desjardins outlined the four pillars for million so far but they don’t have a $20,000 community consultation that the CRD’s Core business case.” Upcoming Area Liquid Waste Management Committee Although he didn’t go into details at the Workshops had come up with “so we would get the very Vic West meeting, Corps’ dissection of best public consultation process.” These pillars the 13-year life cycle cost analysis that was included: outreach and education; commu- done by the CRD in 2011 criticizes it on a nity dialogue; community validation; number of bases: it only considered the first neighbourhood-based siting workshops. 13 years of operation of a plant that’s expected “We have not followed this process,” said to be operational for 50 years; the analysis Desjardins. “We have absolutely not followed omitted 63 percent of project costs; and it this process with the Viewfield site. We have omitted 48 percent of debt costs. Corps’ spent $17 million of your dollars and then put dissection points out that the 2011 life cycle it on the table for discussion.” cost analysis assumed population projec- tions that the CRD has since said are So much dissatisfaction “unlikely.” That suggests the original life The biodigester controversy has refired the cycle cost analysis was based on a plant that overall controversy over whether the CRD’s would have 33 percent overcapacity, and Rainy Days Raincoat, Sat. June 15 & 22, 10-1, $90 plan for one centralized secondary treatment that would result in the expenditure of $267 Kids Sewing, Weds. 3:30-5:30, $120/4 classes plant (a second plant would be built in Colwood million in avoidable costs. sometime down the road) at McLoughlin Point At the end of his presentation Corps said, “I represents 21st-century “best practices.” That would be less restrained, but the media would was evident at the Vic West meeting where have to leave the room.” He carefully stated: dissatisfaction was expressed about practically “I’m a former government director, desig- every aspect of the plan. nated from treasury board. This is not Desjardins complained that there is no water appropriate. This is not how the province reclamation or re-use in CRD resource recovery works; this is not how business works. Sorry 108-1841 Oak Bay Ave plans. (The CRD’s Andy Orr told Focus, “Our to say but this is incorrect…I’m terribly sorry 250.590.4254 region has an abundance of fresh water which that you’re living the experience. I would not www.avenuefabricstudio.com is very unusual, but makes water recovery not have chosen this and I advocated against it.”

26 May 2013 • FOCUS ADVERTISEMENT Focus presents: The Prostate Centre

What a new government might mean Celebrating the men we love The problems the CRD’s current plan might face under a new provincial government became clear later in the meeting. Maurine Karagianis, running for her third term as NDP MLA for the Esquimalt-Royal Roads constituency, expressed dismay at the process and the results thus far. “It seems to me eight years into the process, we are not clear on what we’re doing, where we’re doing it, and what the best solu- tions are…It seems pretty evident to me that we have not found the best practice.” Of the Viewfield site in particular, Karagianis labelled it the “wrong choice for our commu- nity, the wrong location,” and expressed concern over “the method by which the CRD purchased that property and imposed it into this process.” She also made clear her scepticism about the CRD’s plan, noting “We need to have 21st century solutions and not try to build on last The Father’s Day Walk/Run for Prostate Cancer takes place June 16, at Royal Roads University. century’s solutions in such a nonconsultative way as the CRD has done.” ver their lifetimes, one in seven men will develop The Centre’s Interim Executive Director Heather Karagianis argued the province has a respon- prostate cancer, making it the most common Gardiner says, “One of The Centre’s key fundraisers is sibility to demand the CRD meet the agreed Ocancer afflicting Canadian men. The good news our annual Father’s Day Walk/Run for Prostate Cancer. on requirements for resource recovery, a good is, if the cancer is detected in its early This year we’re looking to make a trans- business plan, and full consultation—and left stages, there is a 90 percent survival rate. formational difference in how we take little doubt that, if elected, she and her NDP Victoria has its very own Prostate Centre action around prostate cancer here in colleagues would be doing just that. She said that supports men from all over Vancouver Victoria. At this year’s run, we will be she’d received assurances from the federal Island and the Gulf Islands. Last year, The celebrating ‘Men Who Lead, Women government that their funding will be there Centre helped close to 200 men and their Who Love and Children Who Adore’— even if the project is delayed. families through the decision-making and as everyone can help save a life by talking, Desjardins chafes at the presumption of healing phases of prostate cancer. One in seven men will walking and running for prostate cancer.” rezoning inherent in the CRD’s plans: A diagnosis of prostate cancer natu- develop prostate cancer. The event will be held once again on “Suggesting that Viewfield is the appropriate rally causes stress, and usually involves the beautiful grounds of Royal Roads site for the biosolids really assumes that weighing different treatment options and making some University. Participants can do an eight-kilometre run McLoughlin Point will be rezoned for the difficult decisions. So the unbiased, detailed overview through the stunning forest on the Royal Roads grounds, liquid site,” Desjardins said. “So it presup- of options given by skilled nurses is a great support to or bring along the whole gang for the pleasant three- poses a whole process that hasn’t been done many patients and their families. And after treatment, kilometre family fun stroll. “This is a great time to come yet. The zoning process is the right of a munic- The Centre’s nurses help men develop a program to together as a family and as a community to cele- ipality. It is within the Community Charter mitigate the side effects of treatment (eg. radiation) and brate the guys we love,” says Gardiner. “Everything one of our highest rights. And it is being presup- can advise them on how to maintain their health goals. wraps up just after noon, leaving the rest of the day posed that it will be rezoned and we will move One local man, after receiving a positive biopsy, to enjoy other great activities with Dad. All funds raised forward. That is wrong.” says: “I was blessed to have not only good doctors, through the event go directly to supporting local men And it sounded like Karagianis had her but the amazing services of The Prostate Centre at my and their families.” back when she assured the meeting that if disposal. This was invaluable in helping me with all of One or more of the men we love is likely to face a she was part of the provincial government, my decision-making and healing phases. A wonderful diagnosis of prostate cancer at some time in their lives. “I will absolutely not tolerate any overruling” nurse volunteer answered all of my personal ques- What better way to honour our fathers, brothers, uncles, of individual communities’ zoning.” tions, helping to put my mind at ease.” He later attended grandfathers and sons this Father’s Day than to join As Focus went to press, Carol James, NDP the monthly prostate cancer support group where men with others to raise funds to help them and their fami- candidate in the BC election for Victoria- at various stages of recovery—from the newly diag- lies through difficult times? Beacon Hill and the party’s platform co-chair, nosed to long time survivors—learn from and support Full details on the Father’s Day event, along with confirmed Karagianis’ position. James told one another. The support group has helped more than lots of information on prostate cancer, are available the Times Colonist’s Rob Shaw that the CRD than 14,600 men along with their partners, families on the website: www.theprostatecentre.org. needed to “go back and consult again, go back and friends since it first started in 1992. and re-look at the plan, go back and look at The Prostate Centre receives no healthcare or govern- The Prostate Centre what other possibilities might be there.” ment funding, and relies on private and corporate 100-1900 Richmond Road donations as well as special events to provide services 250-388-0214 Leslie Campbell and David Broadland are the editor free of charge. Patients do not need a medical referral and publisher, respectively, of Focus. to access the programs and services. www.theprostatecentre.org www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 27 Creative Coast culture talks 28 the arts in may 30 palette 40 coastlines 42

Should government foster creativity? CHRIS CREIGHTON-KELLY Why funding the arts makes sense.

here is a half-way decent case against arts funding. It goes some- thing like this: We taxpayers should not have to pay for activities Tthat are elitist. Art is commodity production like anything else. Put it in the marketplace. If it sells, that means people like it and there- fore, it must be good. And if it is good, it will sell. So no need to subsidize it. If you look at public funding through a limited lens, this argument seems to make sense. Well, sort of. The problem with the “if it is good, it will survive in the marketplace” argument is that we, as a society, fund many human activities that cannot survive in the so-called free market. Or put another way, if they did survive, necessarily by making a profit, our whole understanding of what they are would change drastically. Take education, for example. In the Victoria region, quite a few fami- lies pay for their kids to go to private school. Why not everyone? Imagine how low our taxes could go if we, especially those without school age children, did not have to pay for public education. The rich would still be able to pay. Maybe some middle-class families could scrape up their pennies (OK, I know, let’s say nickels) to make it work.

The rest of us? Yeah, well, that is the problem. You cannot make a PHOTO: PETE ROCKWELL profit on people who cannot pay at all. Not to mention what would Hot issue: 2010 protest against Liberal government arts funding cuts. happen to all those kids who would suddenly not go to school. It would mean a radical re-structuring of our society. Now, I am just getting warmed up here. How about community Or consider healthcare. A quick glance south of the border shows cultural development, urban planning, spirituality, cultural tourism, what that looks like. If you have enough money or even a decent insur- innovation, emerging technologies, etc. Seen through these lenses, it ance plan, you get some of the best health care in the world. If you becomes obvious that we should fund the arts. cannot pay, well, hmmmm, ahhhh…please do not get sick. In Victoria, we have perhaps the highest level per capita of artists in Even under the much lauded Obamacare, with its Byzantine condi- Canada. They are visibly active in visual art, performing arts, writing, tions of opt-out and opt-in, private companies will still make huge and media arts. Plus most audiences for their work are arts-literate, amounts of money. More folks will get healthcare, yes, but more profits educated and blessed with disposable income. will be built in. The majority of our region’s arts organizations are based in Victoria, If we encouraged a market-based healthcare system in Canada, some yet most arts funding comes from a regionally-based CRD pot of money. citizens would certainly get excellent care. Others not so much. And But that is another column for another day. still others, not at all. Right now, we have a provincial election coming up. The Liberal So we do fund lots of activity that would not survive if it had to make government has had an uneven, mostly inexplicable, record on arts a profit. But why the arts? The answers are legion and growing every funding. In 2008-09, they unexpectedly slashed arts funding, particu- day. Let’s get beyond the stale ’60s argument—art is good for the soul, larly the BC Arts Council. and the lame, limited ’80s argument—art is good for business. Here This was also the beginning of the redirection of so-called “gaming are a few of my responses: funds.” This is a pot of money that comes directly from lotteries and 1. The arts encourage critical thinking—handy in an increasingly other forms of gambling and was committed to non-profit, chari- complex society. table organizations as a condition of extending the legalization of 2. The arts help people to be empathetic and compassionate—qual- gambling. It should not go into general revenues. ities that enhance the impulse for social and economic equality. Then in the lead up to the Vancouver Olympics, there was suddenly 3. The arts stimulate a deeper understanding of cultural and racial bushels of money to restore some of the Arts Council funding; for arts diversity. consultations; to create a Cultural Olympiad; and for special commis- 4. The arts are fun; they give us pleasure, we dance, we sing, we make sions and projects. Full disclosure: I gladly accepted some bucks as an marks on paper or canvas or walls. Ask any cultural evolutionist why arts consultant. this is important. So it seemed that a new, post-Olympic-party truce was in place, that 5. The arts are good for R&D. Not unlike scientific research, the the government had seen the absolutely vital role that the arts had arts create creative contexts which generate useful research in archi- played in showing off BC to the world. At the very least, it seemed that tecture, fashion, pop music, commercial design, etc. they “got” the cultural tourism argument.

28 May 2013 • FOCUS WE DON’T SPLIT VOTES.

RIGHT NOW, we have a provincial election coming up. The Liberal government has had an uneven, mostly inexplicable, record on arts funding.

Then, suddenly, within a few months of the closing ceremonies, orga- Our BC candidates don’t split votes, nizations were slashed, some over 50 percent, causing protest and we earn votes from all parties. outrage in the arts community. This with no consultations with cultural Healthy democracies include a diversity organizations or even the government’s own bureaucrats. Staff at the of voices. This helps us meet the needs of BC Arts Council itself were surprised. One employee mentioned that all citizens, not just the few. if the government had simply asked, the staff, would have told them not to cut, but rather to build on the amazing success of the Cultural Greens will provide diversity in the legislature Olympiad and related Olympic arts events. to meet the needs of all British Columbians When I talked with Spencer Chandra Herbert, the NDP critic for while keeping a majority government culture, about why this had happened, he responded, “Honestly, I accountable to the people. think it was a mistake. I do not believe that the Liberal government Vote Green to bring more democracy to our understands the crucial link between the creative economy and the province for generations to come. BC economy in general.” I asked him what that means in real terms. He continued, “Take the More about voting & democracy: BC film industry. Over the last couple of decades, our province has www.greenparty.bc.ca built up a thriving, creative industry that provides thousand of Vote direct jobs, shows off BC to the world and also creates spin-off employ- Authorized by ment. With the policies of this government, we are losing our edge, LM Bluma, we have slipped from third place to fourth after LA, New York and on May 14 250-704-2727 Ontario. We are simply not providing the incentives to keep produc- tions shooting here.” Even the Liberals themselves seem to recognize that their slash-burn- restore-and-then-repeat policies are not working. In January 2012, a few months before stepping down as finance minister, Kevin Falcon acknowledged that arts groups got the short end of the stick in the name of fiscal discipline. He stated, “In retrospect, it was a mistake at how aggressively we did that.” Now as we approach an election, the provincial government has miraculously announced new, record levels for arts funding! At the press conference, Minister Bill Bennett declared, “There is a natural resource more important than any other—creative minds.” I guess creativity is especially important in an election year. When I queried Herbert if things would be different under the NDP, he offered three components of their arts and culture plan-in- progress: money for cultural infrastructure not just operating funds; multi-year funding so arts organizations can plan properly (increased, multi-year funding is also part of the BC Greens’ platform) and thirdly, a fresh look at revitalizing incentives in the the film sector. Chandra Herbert, who could easily become the next provincial Minister of Culture, ended by saying, “Honestly, I would like to see more creativity in all aspects of government.” Something else to think about when you mark an X on your upcoming ballot.

Chris Creighton-Kelly is a Canadian artist and writer who lives in the Victoria area. Along with France Trépanier, he is the co-author of Understanding Aboriginal Arts in Canada Today.

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 29 the arts in may

visual arts May 3-26 DRAWING COMICS LIKE I WAS 10 Continuing to May 15 Xchanges Gallery THE ME SHOW A presentation of comics and drawings The Apartment Gallery by Miles Giesbrecht about work, growing Featuring the eclectic comic creations up and daydreaming. The artist floats of local artist Lyle Schultz. Wed-Fri 2- between embracing technology and 6pm; Sat+Sun 12pm-4pm or by becoming a hobbit. Opening May 3, appointment, 1016 A Fort St,778-430- 7pm. Otherwise Sats and Suns, 12-4pm. 5585, www.victoriaemergingart.com. 2333 Government St, 250-382-0442, www.xchangesgallery.org. May 1-31 THREADED LINES May 3-31 Fallen Tree Art Studio/ Gallery SPRING FLING IN LINNYLAND A multimedia exploration by three artists She Said Gallery who map their worlds through painting, A new selection of Linny D. Vine’s drawing and stitching. Meet the artists Linnyland paintings. Artist reception: May May 5. Open 10am-5pm, Wed-Sun. Located 5, 1-4pm. Fernwood at Gladstone 250- at Russell Nursery, 1370 Wain Rd, N. 361-3372, www.shesaidgallery.ca. Saanich, www.fallentreeartstudio.com. May 4 & 5 May 2-July 7 VICTOR LOTTO POSTCARD FROM VICTORIA Artist’s Studio Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Recent paintings. Noon to 4:30pm, An immersive exhibition that features 2605 Cotswold Rd. video, artifact and works on paper. The video is the result of a 1983 Western May 4-30 Front Media Residency by Quebec artists MAKING THE SCENE and Robert Morin & Lorraine Dufour, who GOING FOR THE GOLD travelled to Victoria to make a time-based Martin Batchelor Gallery work that tells the eerie story of a visitor Graduates of the Victoria College of from England who is interviewed for the Arts programs. Opening reception for job of tour guide at Anne Hathaway’s Diploma Graduates May 4, 2-5pm. Cottage. Questions arise: of place, class, Opening reception for Master level and authenticity and belonging. An array of post-Diploma Graduates May 18, 2-5pm. postcards of the Empress Hotel from as 712 Cormorant St, 250-385-7919. early as 1900 are included in the instal- lation. www.aggv.ca. May 4-June 2 ELEGANT EYE May 3 & 4 Metchosin Art Gallery SECRET LIFE OF POTTERS A group show that highlights the unique Mahon Hall, Ganges aesthetic of the West Coast with an Spring Show of the Salt Spring Potters’ emphasis on influences from Japan. Guild. Opens May 3, 5-7pm; May 4, 10am- Featuring the works of Jennifer Waelti- 4pm. www.SaltSpringPottersGuild.com. Walters, Susan Underwood, Dale Horricks and Lorraine Douglas. Opens May 4, 2- May 3-11 5pm. Thurs-Sun 12-5pm. 4495 Happy 2013 MFA THESIS EXHIBIT Valley Rd, www.metchosinartgallery, Visual Arts Building, UVic 250-478-9223. Featuring works by Hilary Knutson, Chris Lindsay, Yang Liu & Paola Savasta. May 6-26 Opening May 3, 7-10pm. Weekdays 10- SHAKE IT UP! PRE-FIRED UP! 5 & weekends 1-5. Eclectic Gallery A preview for Fired Up! (see story, page May 3-17 40). Artists Reception May 9, 6-8pm. PICTURE THIS: DOODLE NIGHT 2170 Oak Bay Ave, 250-590-8095, Slide Room Gallery www.eclecticgallery.ca All supplies are provided. Doodles will be put on the wall of the gallery. 2549 May 6-June 15 Quadra St, www.slideroomgallery.com. COASTAL MAGIC Eclectic Gallery May 3-29 Vibrant paintings by Phillipa Hudson, GOWARD HOUSE ARTISTS who recently received a commission from Goward House the Fairmont Hotel/Chateau Lake Louise Show and sale. Artists’ reception, to create three 6 x 8-foot paintings. May 5, 1:30-3:30pm. 2495 Arbutus Reception with artist May 9, 7-9pm. 2170 Rd, www.gowardhouse.com/artshow. Oak Bay Ave, www.eclecticgallery.ca.

30 May 2013 • FOCUS May 8-31 May 28-June 29 ART & SOUL PLAY, FALL, REST, DANCE Island Blue Art Store Open Space Many of the participating artists struggle Valerie Salez, Open Space’s artist-in- with mental health and/or addictions residence, invites willing participants to issues and have experienced an extended reconnect and come into alignment with period of homelessness. Presented by larger forces through the use of music, Pacifica Housing, Island Blue Art Store videotaping, and photography. 510 Fort and the Market on Yates. Opening May St, 250-383-8833, www.openspace.ca 8, 6-7:30pm, 905 Fort St, $10 (100% to Pacifica Housing’s tenant art program). May 24-26 250-385-2131 ext 103. 29TH ANNUAL FIRED UP! Metchosin Hall May 9-30 Ceramics show. See story, page 40. CAITE DHEERE: ERASURE Polychrome Fine Art May 25 & 26 The inspiration for these paintings is MT TOLMIE STUDIO TOUR drawn from organic patterning in nature, Artists’ Studios states of fluctuation in the urban environ- Featuring five painters, a photographer, ment, and how these demarcations relate a potter, a ceramist, and two silversmiths. to our internal and external world. The See details at www.mtstudiotour.ca. effect of the gradation of layers, both translucent and opaque, mirrors the inten- May 28-June 9 tion of her themes. Opens May 9, 7-9pm. FOR THE LOVE OF ART 977-A Fort St, www.polychromefinearts.com. Cedar Hill Recreation Centre MadArters is a group of Victoria area May 16-31 residents who explore ideas and philoso- DREAM-TIME Alcheringa Gallery phies of art, and create art together. This Small paintings by Kwakwaka'wakw is their first exhibit. Opens May 30, 7- artist Rande Cook. 665 Fort St, 250-383- 9pm, www.madarters.ca. 8224, www.alcheringa-gallery.com. Ongoing May 17-27 ONLINE EXHIBIT: KARL SPREITZ VICTORIA ART FINALE uvac.uvic.ca/gallery/spreitz Slide Room Gallery Caroline Riedel of UVic Art Collections Grade 12 students from Vancouver curated this unique exhibit of over 100 Island and Gulf Islands participate in this digitized reels of 16 mm film by Karl juried exhibition. 2549 Quadra St, Spreitz, “a pioneer and mentor in docu- www.slideroomgallery.com. mentary and experimental film-making in BC as well as one of the founding May 17-June 10 members of the Limners Society, an art W. HOUGH WALL DRAWINGS group that virtually defined the modern Open Space art scene here in the 1970s.” Born in Wendy Hough is Open Space’s artist- Austria in 1927, in 1959, he moved to in-residence. Hough will create a large-scale Victoria where his distinctive filmic and drawing as part of her Wall Drawings photography style began to flourish, as series. The creation of the piece will be a staff photographer for “Beautiful British seen from its beginning through its erasure Columbia” magazine in the late 1960s as the installation becomes a public perfor- and especially at the height of the under- mance that invites the viewer to each ground film movement of the 1970s. See stage of its installment. Opening recep- uvac.uvic.ca/gallery/spreitz/. tion May 17, 7:30pm, 510 Fort St, www.openspace.ca. Ongoing STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR May 18 & 19 www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com SCATTERED ARTISTS TOUR After 12 years showcasing the work Studios in Saanich of 26 award-winning artists working in For the 10th anniversary of this studio a variety of media for ten days in the tour of 15 artists’ studios, an additional summer and two days in the fall, Stinking six artists from the Studio at the Art Centre at Fish members have decided to give the the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre will partic- public the opportunity to meet the artists ipate. Art includes pottery, wood sculpture, at any time of the year. They’ve devel- fused glass, textile, basketry, photog- oped an illustrated guide of the studios raphy, printmaking, and painting. 12-5pm. that are open throughout the year, Brochures at community centres or available at various locations and www.scattered-artists.ca. www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com. www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 31 “HAULING JOB STURGES HOUSE” DAVID BLACKWOOD 17.3 X 34.6 INCHES, ETCHING AND AQUATINT ON WOVE PAPER May 3-September 8 DAVID BLACKWOOD Art Gallery of Greater Victoria David Blackwood is one of Canada’s leading print- makers and most popular artists. This exhibition, “Black Ice: Prints from Newfoundland,” situates his epic visual narratives in time and space by looking at the history of Newfoundland and the people who settled there. Blackwood’s dramas encapsulate class, gender and intergenerational issues that can only be understood in the context of the formation of the land- scape, its natural resources, immigration and settlement, religious and political debate, economic and social conditions, and the environmental threat to the survival of traditional lifestyles. www.aggv.ca, 250-384-4171.

“UNTITLED, FIVE FIGURES” ANGELA GROSSMAN Continuing to June 15 CREATING CON[TEXT] Legacy Gallery Creating Con[text] activates works of art in the University of Victoria’s Michael Williams Bequest Collection through the oral history research of Dr Carolyn Butler Palmer and her grad students, who gathered interviews with people associated with the late down- town businessman/art supporter Michael C. Williams. Featuring paintings by Angela Grossman, Jack Shadbolt and Emily Carr, and others, the exhibit allows stories of artists, dealers, collectors, and viewers to infuse the works of art with more meaning. Wed-Sat, 10-4. 630 Yates St, 250-721-6562, www.uvac.uvic.ca,

“ISLAND VIEW 11” KEN KIRKBY, 24 X 48 INCHES, OIL Throughout May KEN KIRKBY Morris Gallery Born in London and raised in Portugal, Ken Kirkby arrived in Western Canada in 1958, to spend five years walking from Alaska to Baffin Island. Kirkby was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation by the Governor General in recognition of his significant contribution to Canada. Through his artwork, Ken has rediscovered and exalted the ancient aboriginal stone symbols known as inukshuks, capturing the mystic grandeur of these creations. His work is found in many public and private collections around the world. On Alpha St at 428 Burnside Rd E, 250-388-6652, www.morrisgallery.ca.

“BEACH SUNSET” BI YUAN CHENG, 24 X 48 INCHES, OIL ON CANVAS Throughout May YUAN CHENG BI The Avenue Gallery Under the guidance and encouragement of his father, Bi began practising art at age five. At the age of 11, Bi was mentored for 10 years by one of China’s most prestigious art professors, learning landscape, watercolour, and oil. In 1986 he was chosen out of over 100 competitors to design the sculptural land- mark for Shandong Stadium, the province’s largest sports facility. He also designed a fountain standing in Jinan Centre Square. Emigrating to Canada in 1990, Yuan Cheng Bi lives in Vancouver and has established himself in the local and national art scene. Fifty of his murals can be found in Alberta. 2184 Oak Bay Ave, 250-598-2184, www.theavenuegallery.com.

32 May 2013 • FOCUS WEST END GALLERY “Quiet” by Grant Leier, 30 x 30 inches, acrylic on canvas acrylic on canvas 30 x inches, Leier, by Grant “Quiet”

Nixie Barton, Grant Leier & Tammy Hudgeon West Coast’s Most Wanted May 18 - 30, 2013 Gallery Hours: Mon - Fri 10 - 5:30, Sat 10 - 5, Sun 11 - 4 1203 Broad Street • 250-388-0009 • www.westendgalleryltd.com

IceBear “The Flower that Blooms in the Forest” (detail) 48 x 60 inches “The Flower that Blooms in the Forest”

“Summer State Stamp” Meghan Hildebrand, 20 x 16 inches, acrylic and oil on board 20 x 16 inches, Meghan Hildebrand, Stamp” “Summer State Meghan Hildebrand: NEXT YEAR Saturday, May 18, 1 - 4pm May 4 - 18 Artist in attendance Opening reception: May 4, 1 - 4pm; artist in attendance 2506 Beacon Ave, Sidney 606 View Street • 250.380.4660 • www.madronagallery.com 250.655.1282 www.pengal.com

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 33 the arts in may

theatre music

Continuing to May 11 May 3 & 4 BETTER LIVING OPERA SHE SAW Langham Court Theatre Metro Theatre An action-packed farce written by George F. Walker. An original vocal movement piece created and 250-384-2142, www.langhamtheatre.ca. performed by Lynda Raino, Cathy Fern Lewis, and Denise Lieutaghi. 8pm May 3 & 4, and 4pm May 4. Continuing to May 19 $22 at Ticket Rocket, 250-383-2663. LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART Belfry Theatre May 3-12 The world premiere of a new musical from Victoria’s MISS SAIGON A Retreat with Hildegard of Blingen Bruce Ruddell and Salt Spring Island’s Bill Henderson. McPherson Playhouse with Mary June Wilson CND Told she must leave her home in a seniors’ residence, Vic Operatic Society presents this epic pop opera set Friday May 3, 7 – 9pm, and Saturday May 4, 9:30 – 3:30 85 year-old Nora resolves to follow her heart. 250- during the Vietnam War. 250-386-6121, www.rmts.bc.ca. $176 includes overnight accommodation, or $99 for commuter 385-6815, www.belfry.bc.ca. Includes lunch; Bethlehem Retreat Centre 2371 Arbot Rd, Nanaimo May 4 May 18 SATURDAY NIGHT JUKE JOINT Brian Swimme’s Earth’s Imagination THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER Upper Deck Sports Lounge Video series with Gertie Josch SC DMin Langham Court Theatre Victoria Blues Society launches a series of blues 5 Tuesdays, May 7 – June 4, 10 – 12pm Target Theatre presents a fundraising play in Old Time concerts on the first Saturday of each month, starting $70 or $15 drop-in Radio Drama style, starring local celebrities Jack Knox, May 4, when it will feature Suzie Vinnick, a six-time Vic West Community Centre, 521 Craigflower Road Barry Bowman, Michael Forbes, Lisa Marshall, String Maple Blues Award winner and Juno nominee. 250- of Pearls. Expect hilarious miscues, 40s songs, refresh- 592-5764, www.victoriabluessociety.ca. Liberating Minds and Voices ments, silent auction items. Reception/auction at 6:30pm, with Rupert Sheldrake PhD, and Jill Purce performance at 8pm. $30 at 250-590-6291. May 4 & 5 Friday July 12, 7 – 9pm, $20 VIA CHORALIS: HAYDN’S CREATION Canadian Memorial United Church, 1825 West 16th Ave, Vancouver May 22-June 1 Victoria/Sidney 16TH UNO FEST Via Choralis’ 50 singers and 32-piece orchestra [email protected] Metro Studio & Intrepid Theatre Club perform in this oratorio. May 4, 7:30pm at Alix Goolden 250-220-4601 • www.earthliteracies.org Celebrating the best of independent theatre. This Hall; May 5, 2pm at St Elizabeth’s Church, 10030 Third year’s offerings include Fringe Fest favourites Jayson St. $10-30. Tickets from Tanner’s Books, Ivy’s Bookshop, McDonald, Tara Travis and John Grady, and profoundly Long & McQuade, Dollar Den (Brentwood Bay). moving stories from Canadian solo artists including Montreal’s Johanna Nutter, Vancouver lighting designer May 7 Itai Erdal, Toronto’s Chris Cardinal and Whitehorse CRYSTAL SINGERS puppeteer Brian Fidler. Ticket and program info at St Aidan’s United Church www.intrepidtheatre.com. Music from the 1960s. 7:30 pm, 3703 Saint Aidan’s St. $10-15, includes refreshments. 250-727-3538. May 22 to June 1 GOOD TIMBER May 7 Chemainus Theatre HILLARY'S RIDE BENEFIT CONCERT Set against a multi-media backdrop of rarely-seen Alix Goolden Hall archival imagery, Good Timber is inspired by the logger Roy Forbes, Valdy and Rick Scott help raise aware- poetry of Robert E. Swanson, the 'Bard of the Woods,' ness around youth suicide. Co-sponsored by Need2. and celebrates the golden age of the forest industry. 7:30pm, $28/35. 250-386-6121, www.rmts.bc.ca. 1-800-565-7738, www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca. May 8 May 25-26 CANTOR ROB MENES IN CONCERT WAR OF THE EAGLES Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue Fort Rodd Hill The Cantor plays sax, guitar and piano and will sing Set in Prince Rupert during the turbulent years at the Hebrew melodies, traditional Jewish liturgy, and Broadway beginning of World War II, War of the Eagles investi- tunes—in celebration of Congregation Emanu-El’s gates the consequent effects on First Nations and 150th anniversary. With the Jewish Community Choir Japanese Communities on the remote BC coast. A world and Josie Davidson. 7:30pm, 1461 Blanshard St, $15 premiere from Kaleidoscope, www.kaleidoscope.bc.ca, at Ivy’s Bookshop, Russell Books, Long & McQuade, tickets 250-386-6121, www.rmts.bc.ca. Tanner’s, synagogue office and door. 250-382-0615.

May 30, 31 & June 1, 2 May 11 GODSPELL “DIVINE” SOCK HOP St Matthias Church St John the Divine Hall The Gospel According to St. Matthew is explored An auction and dance for the Emergency Food Services with skits and songs, told by a cast playing instruments of St John the Divine Anglican Church. Auction dona- while they sing and dance through the audience. tions include a Leonard Cohen work of art! (value 7:30pm, June 2 at 2pm, 600 Richmond Rd. 10% of all near $4300–on display and open for bidding at Avenue ticket sales will be donated to a local charity. Gallery, till noon, May 10). Dance to the rock ‘n roll of www.epiphanyproductionstheatre.wordpress.com. Ruckus. $20 at St John’s church office, 1611 Quadra St.

34 May 2013 • FOCUS May 11 & 12 EHNES PLAYS SIBELIUS Royal Theatre This acclaimed violinist with the Vic Symphony orchestra. www.victoriasymphony.ca.

May 11 & 12 MOTHER’S DAY GARDEN TOUR Around the City Glorious scents and wonderful music in 10 enchanting gardens and two public spaces with Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions. $30 at Thrifty Foods, gardening stores and Victoria Conservatory of Music or vcm.bc.ca, 250-386-5311. All proceeds support VCM.

May 12 NEWCOMBE SINGERS CHOIR St Mary’s Church Annual Spring concert and tea. 2pm, 1701 Elgin St. $15 at Long & McQuade, door. www.newcombesingers.com.

May 15 THE ARBUTUS SINGERS St Elizabeth’s Church Proceeds go to providing clean water for villages in Eritrea and South Sudan. 7:30 pm, 10030 Third Street, Sidney. $10/25 family, available at the door.

May 15 LINDEN SINGERS: “ALLULUIA!” Lutheran Church of the Cross Choral music. 7:30pm, 3787 Cedar Hill Rd. $20/$17/under 25 free. www.lindensingers.ca.

May 18 LATIN MUSIC St Mary’s the Virgin Church Maestro Pablo Diemecke leads the DieMahler String Celebrating Local Artists Quartet. 1701 Elgin Rd. $25 at door or Ivy’s Books.

May 24 OFF THE GRID MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL Fort Rodd Hill Celebrating youth empowerment in environmental stewardship, with live music. www.offthegridfestival.ca.

May 25 VICTORIA BAROQUE PLAYERS St John the Divine Anglican Church Montreal-based violinist Chloe Meyers leads the VBP performing French Baroque Music. 7:30pm. $25/23/5, 250-383-7169, www.victoria-baroque.com.

May 28

PGI PLAYS THE BELFRY oil on canvas 24 x inches, Vine, Linny D. “Downtown Spot” Belfry Theatre A benefit concert for Literacy Victoria’s 25th anniver- sary, with a star-studded line-up of Canadian talent. Linny D. Vine Proceeds directly support adult literacy in Greater Victoria. 6pm appetizers/cash bar/raffle; 7pm concert. $45 and Spring Fling in Linnyland $100 (VIP package), 250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca. May 3 - 31 May 29 A CELEBRATION OF ENGLISH MUSIC Opening Reception May 5, 1 - 4pm Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic The Galiano Ensemble. 8pm. $33/30 at Ivy’s, Munro’s 2000 Fernwood Road Books,250-704-2580 or door. www.galiano.ca. 250.361.3372 • www.shesaidgallery.ca www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 35 “URSULA” TAMMY HUDGEON, 24 X 42 X 15 INCHES, FUSED GLASS & METAL “1492” ICEBEAR, 44 X 54 INCHES, ACRYLIC ON CANVAS May 18-30 May 18-June 21 NIXIE BARTON, GRANT LEIER & TAMMY HUDGEON ICEBEAR: MURAL AND SHOW West End Gallery Peninsula Gallery Nixie Barton and Grant Leier present a much anticipated exhibition of new works First Nations artist Chris Johnson (IceBear) will be showing works at the gallery, with exciting new imagery. Grant Leier says, “Over the last six months my work as well as restoring a mural called “Nil/tu,o” in Sidney. This giant 63 x 23-foot mural has undergone the biggest shift in 30 years. The new animal imagery has allowed depicts 10 Salish paddlers escaping a storm. It is one of three Sidney murals to be me to become less concerned about the representational and focus on the pure restored this summer. Johnson studied at the Toronto Artists’ Workshop and Sheridan joy of painting. Colour is still the biggest player; however the application is loose College in Toronto. Drawing from a rich spiritual connection that is his cultural heritage, and confident.” Accompanying the paintings are large playful sculptural pieces by IceBear visions each piece as a completed work before beginning to create it. A Gabriola Island fused glass artist Tammy Hudgeon. 1203 Broad St, 250-388-0009, sculptor as well as a painter, IceBear’s work evolved from realism to his current www.westendgalleryltd.com. powerful abstract pieces. 2506 Beacon Ave, Sidney, 250-655-1722, www.pengal.com.

“WORK SMARTER LESS HARDER” MEGHAN HILDEBRAND, 38 X 32 INCHES, ACRYLIC AND OIL ON BOARD MASK, MILES LOWERY May 4-18 May 16-26 MEGHAN HILDEBRAND: NEXT YEAR MULTIPLE CHOICE (FOUR TELLERS) Madrona Gallery Mercurio Gallery This collection of new paintings by nationally celebrated artist Meghan Hildebrand An all-star event featuring new and collected work from painter and memoirist explores the idea: What if all the wonderful ideas that people had to make the Phyllis Serota, print and collage expert Dorothy Field, potter/weaver Tobias Tomlinson world a better place came together? In her iconic “Story Maps” she pieces together and painter/sculptor Miles Lowry. It’s an exciting collection of Victoria artists linked imagination and reality, offering the viewer suggestions of narrative to connect as they by a passion for craft, experimentation, and a powerful connection to the tactile. On please. Enthusiastic brushstrokes and vibrant colours build on the canvas to celebrate May 19 the artists will be present for informal discussion of process, materials, and new beginnings, growth out of destruction, and other themes. Opening reception creativity. The next weekend the show coincides with the annual Fired Up ceramics with artist May 4, 1-4 pm. 606 View St, 250-380-4660, www.madronagallery.com. show just down the road. 4357 Metchosin Rd, 250-388-5158, www.mercurio.ca.

36 May 2013 • FOCUS “Bamboo Brushes in Glass” (detail) 10 x 8 inches, oil on canvas Catherine Moffat 2184 OAK BAY AVENUE VICTORIA www.theavenuegallery.com 250-598-2184

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 37 the arts in may O’Malley’s Greenscapes Certified Horticulturist

GARDEN SERVICES • pruning • bed tending • lawn maintenance • what have you

Bryan O’Malley 250.389.1783 PHOTO: DEREK FORD Paul Destrooper and Amanda Radetzky

May 30 &31 push him towards a path of self-destruction, DANCES WITH WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART continues Destrooper. Royal Theatre Most of the music will be Mozart’s; however, DANCES WITH WOLFGANG AMADEUS Destrooper has added some more modern Mozart promises something different in the pieces to heighten the pathos of the work and treatment of Mozart’s life and music in dance. help make Mozart the man more relevant to We make and sell pottery Other ballet companies have used his music modern audiences. “Who wants to live forever” Pottery classes for all levels for individual dances, or to add historical by Queen will open the ballet and set the tone context to a new period ballet. The Atlantic of the piece by drawing a link to Freddy Mercury, Ballet of Canada has even adapted the movie another artist of large appetites whose star Amadeus for ballet. But, Paul Destrooper, the also burned out too quickly. Says Destrooper, artistic director of Ballet Victoria, has created “Freddy Mercury, his life skyrocketed, and a fascinating look at Mozart the artist, one talk about burning!” that brings the man, his music, and his tragic In a final coup de grace, Destrooper plans end crashing into the 21st century. to use Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” at Earth & Fire Pottery Studio While Destrooper is careful to clarify that the end of the ballet, as Mozart struggles against 1820 Government Street this ballet does not draw from Amadeus, seeing his demise. Freddy Mercury recorded this 250-380-7227 that movie when he was very young did serve piece shortly before his own death from AIDS. www.earthandfirepotterystudio.ca as his introduction to Mozart. He explains, “I He renders the piece with the angst of a dying liked the way they characterized him as this man who has hidden the truth of his impending character who was tormented, and pretty flam- doom from the world. He sings, “Inside my boyant, and pretty goofy.” heart is breaking,/ My make-up may be flaking,/ In Destrooper’s work, an allegorical muse But my smile, still, stays on!” For Destrooper, will be the composer’s inspiration, his love, this song and Mercury’s performance crystal- and his curse, eventually driving him “to lizes the anguish Mozart himself may have felt exhaustion and death.” Destrooper paints at his end, when “the artist has given it all, and this allegorical character from the French he has to go on for the fans and for life and to pun, “l’amour et la mort,” that inextricably survive,” which, tragically, he does not. links love with death. So, he says, “I’ll have this beautiful woman that is death and she Both performances are at 7:30pm. Tickets will…kind of lead him on to extremes to are $37-$80 and available online at create beautiful pieces.” And all the while www.rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121. Also see the composer will “ride the roller coaster of www.balletvictoria.ca. his successes and failures,” letting his muse —Lisa Szeker-Madden

38 May 2013 • FOCUS ADVERTISEMENT Focus presents: Victoria Hospice

The 8th Annual Teeny Tiny Garden Tour is on June 9th readings & presentations

May 4 errie-Ellen Wilcox’s garden is not only PAULO DA COSTA: BOOK LAUNCH lush and colourful, but everything in it Church of Truth Mhas a function. This Commonwealth Book Prize Winner launches “It’s all been created to feed my family, or the birds his second book of fiction, “The Green and Purple Skin of the World.” 3pm, 111 Superior St. Music by Dan and the insects, or to sustain the Garry Oak ecosystem,” Weisenburger and Ken Hall. Free. www.paulodacosta.ca. she says, surveying her sun-drenched front yard which features drought-tolerant Mediterranean style plants. May 4 Down both sides of her house are hedgerows of native 29TH ANNUAL BC BOOK PRIZES plants; throughout the back yard, shade-tolerant Government House native species are separated by driftwood-lined gravel Lorna Crozier and Sarah Ellis have been named co- pathways. Interspersed throughout are vegetables, recipients of the 10th annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, but many other awards berry bushes, and herbs. will be presented as well. Hosted by author and broad- When Merrie-Ellen’s husband suggested they add caster Grant Lawrence. $125 at www.bcbookprizes.ca. honeybees, it only seemed natural to locate two beehives in the centre of the miniature Garry Oak May 14 ecosystem in her back yard. READINGS This wonderful natural garden is only one of the Russell’s Books With authors Esi Edugyan, Steven Price and Marita gardens featured on this year’s Victoria Hospice Teeny Dachsel. 7:30pm, 734 Fort St. Tiny Garden Tour, set for Sunday, June 9th. In addi- tion to being a Victoria Hospice Society Board Member, May 17-October 14 Merrie-Ellen has studied restoration of natural systems, RACE TO THE END OF THE EARTH and appreciates the relationship between her bees, Royal BC Museum which depend on the plants in her garden, and the Chronicles the epic adventures of Amundsen and Scott in their daring quests to be the first to reach the ecosystem, which is entirely dependent on the work South Pole. 1-888-447-7977, www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca. of the bees. “I see a lot of similarities between my bees and May 18-20 the care provided by Hospice. They both perform a HISTORIC WALKING TOUR vital service for our community, and in turn depend Merrie-Ellen Wilcox Downtown on the support of the community,” says Merrie-Ellen. Celebrate Victoria Day weekend with family and friends on an entertaining walking tour through Historic While the garden tour is a fund-raiser for Victoria a member of the organizing committee. “She wanted Downtown with local author Danda Humphreys. $16, Hospice, it’s also a gift back to Victorians who will to establish a distinctive garden tour for Hospice that min 10. 250-382-8029. www.dandahumphreys.com. have the opportunity to visit some of the city’s was different from other established tours. Thus, the most unique small gardens. Teeny Tiny Garden Tour was born.” May 23 “The idea of celebrating gardens in small spaces Kelly looks for eye appeal and diversity when she GATEWAY TO PROMISE originated with Carolyn Thomas, a former Hospice scouts out gardens for each year’s tour. This year’s James Bay New Horizons Centre Retired teachers Ann-Lee and Gordon Switzer docu- employee,” says Kelly Redlin, a Hospice nurse and attendees will walk through a rose lover's garden, a mented local Japanese graves and then studied Victoria’s garden that successfully works around rock, a water Japanese community. Presented by Victoria Historical Wilcox tending a beehive feature garden, and of course, Merrie-Ellen’s garden Society. 234 Menzies St. victoriahistoricalsociety.bc.ca. with her resident bees, which she assures everyone are gentle. May 23 The Hospice rooftop garden, a much-loved feature AT THE MIKE MYSTERY NIGHT of Victoria Hospice, was part of the tour one year, Chronicles of Crime Authors Phyllis Smallman, Cathy Ace, Kay Stewart and according to Kelly. “Gardens bring peace and comfort, Chris Bullock. 7pm, 1048 Fort St. Free. 250-360-0829. and the rooftop garden is about having something visual and not clinical as patients and their families May 27 take a breather from Hospice. Gardens are life affirming.” FICTIONKNITSTAS Be sure to pick up your ticket from Thrifty’s or Dig Beehive Wool Shop Authors Gillian Campbell, Stella Harvey, Nicole Dixon, This or the Victoria Hospice Thrift Boutique. You will Dede Crane. 7pm, 1700 Douglas St. Free. 250-360-0829. come away with ideas for your own garden and the satisfaction of supporting a vital link in our commu- May 29 nity. As a bonus, Kelly says, “There will be master IN AMUNDSEN'S FOOTSTEPS gardeners at two of the gardens and they will be Maritime Museum of BC there for the day.” She encourages everyone to “Come Jay Ruzesky, whose ancestor Roald Amundsen was the first person to reach the South Pole, and who made with a leaf in your pocket or a photo or a question.” his own pilgrimage to Antarctica, will read from his Victoria Hospice new book. 7pm, 28 Bastion Square. 250-385-4222. 250-519-1744 • Give online at www.VictoriaHospice.org www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 39 palette

Worth their salt AAREN MADDEN This year’s Fired Up! exhibition celebrates history, process, and function in ceramics.

hen you describe that the salt in the kiln would interact with the silica in the clay body someone as “the and make this wonderfully yummy orange-peel glaze surface.” The Wsalt of the earth,” practice died out but was revitalized in the 1950s by American potter you are valuing their inherent Don Reitz, and when Jefferson first started working with clay in 1974, goodness, their awareness of it was those pots that attracted her the most. “I loved the colour tones, and commitment to something the textures, the way they kind of capture light in the surface. It was greater than themselves. The my dream to have a salt kiln,” she says. She got her first in 1993, and phrase takes on broader is now on her third (the method is a bit hard on a kiln, she says). meaning as the compelling Jefferson will present a series of salt boxes along with salt and pepper theme of this year’s Fired Up! shakers and a selection of her work, all of which will be in the earthy Contemporary Works in Clay oranges and greens she favours. She adorns her work with motifs from exhibition at the Metchosin nature—leaves, Chinese lantern blossoms, ferns—using terra sigilata, Hall, May 24-26 (with a preview a fine clay slip that becomes a luminous glaze in the firing process. show at Eclectic Gallery). Salt and pepper shakers by Pat Webber She moved to Vancouver Island and began teaching ceramics at UVic After each year’s show—this in 2007, but has been part of Fired Up! for 17 years. She is thrilled to one will be the 29th—this esteemed group of nine potters from Vancouver be hosting a salt firing for the entire group in April at her Duncan studio. Island, the Gulf Islands and BC’s mainland, brainstorm the next year’s “The whole gang’s coming. It’s going to be wonderful!” she says. “This theme and invite five guest artists to participate. Pat Webber, an orig- is really outside people’s boxes,” she says, adding that such opportu- inal member of the group, explains from her Salt Spring Island studio: nities for sharing knowledge is a major benefit of membership in the “We have a couple of people with salt kilns, and we decided that would group. “The themes are really great for that; they really challenge us be a great theme. Within that, as a mini show-within-a-show, we each to do different things we haven’t done before.” decided to make salt and pepper shakers.” Salt of the Earth, therefore, Gary Merkel would certainly agree. “I have not done it yet at all, so refers to both object and process in the ceramics context. it’s very exciting for me to think about having some of my pieces done Webber found great inspiration there. “I sort of went crazy making [salt and pepper shakers] in January and February, and I have all these creatures all over my table,” she laughs. In addition to the charming pair of penguins pictured (above), “I have the tortoise and the hare, Red Riding Hood and the wolf, and umpteen others—salty dogs, and so on. It has been such fun!” she enthuses. This menagerie is not surprising, since, on vessels that are wheel- thrown, hand-built or a combination of both, Webber often places small animals she forms from clay. With their addition her work moves beyond elegant contemplations on function and form to include both whimsy and greater meaning. A frog climbing a teapot handle delights, but is also “a metaphor for the beauty and fragility of nature,” she explains. Once a year, Webber makes a pilgrimage to Oregon, where she studied, to wood-fire many of her pieces. It involves many people keeping a fire stoked over a few days. The resulting surface finishes are more organic and unpredictable than what an electric kiln creates. Everything from the placement of the pots within the kiln, to the direc- tion and intensity of the flame, will affect the end result. It can be quite a journey. “Often I will get something home and I’ll be a little disap- pointed at first. Then about six weeks later, I will think, “Oh my gosh, I love that.” Often what you are hoping for is the last thing you thought you could do that would enhance your pot, but then something entirely built on that, but richer, will come along. And it’s absolutely thrilling,” she shares. Salt firing is similar. It actually derived from wood firing, the histor- ical method of firing ceramics. Back in 16th century Germany, foods were preserved in barrels containing salt brine. “The theory is, when

the barrels were too old, they would recycle that salted wood in the PHOTO: TONY BOUNSALL kilns,” explains Cathi Jefferson. “They paid attention and discovered Gary Merkel

40 May 2013 • FOCUS that way,” he says. Most of his work, which is in galleries and collec- tions world wide (and locally at Madrona Gallery), is composed of elaborate hand-built forms that are meticulously adorned with glazes in a variety of vivid colours and shapes. After the fact, he sometimes adds additional materials for support or embellishment. His pieces are theatrical; “They speak about function,” he says, “but they are much more interesting as sculpture than for their functionality.” Having the privilege of seeing Merkel’s work in progress at his Victoria West studio allowed for a direct connection to the aesthetic sources of the unusual handles, spouts, and embossed surfaces on his vessels. “I grew up in a Texaco station in Thunder Bay,” he says. His parents owned it and he later worked there; he absorbed the visual riches and reinterprets them as, say, a spout reminiscent of an artic- ulated hose or a handle that looks like it could be a piece of machined metal swiped from a carburetor. A pair of salt and pepper shakers he presents, as yet unglazed, resemble tools that might be brandished by a

burly mechanic (they even say nancy ruhl by Nancy Ruhl, 16 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas “Parked” “lever” on the side). Once these pieces are glazed Madrona Gallery, Victoria and fired, however, their util- www.nancyruhl.ca itarian look will be counteracted. He calls them “unpainted canvasses” for that reason, and approaches them very much with a painter’s eye, working with each piece to “hear” where the colour wants to go. He does some wood firing, though, so he under- stands the unpredictability of the salt firing he is about to partake in. “For me, it’s a fabu- lous exercise in trying to let go of my obsessive-compul- Salt-fired vessel by Cathi Jefferson sive control-freak self,” he laughs, reflecting, “I think working with clay and some of the lessons that it teaches you—patience, humility—are applied to life skills and relationship skills, too. It’s really kind of a nice development of character within yourself.” Salt of the Earth indeed.

Salt of the Earth: Vessels for Tasteful Living runs May 24-26 at the Metchosin Hall, 4401 William Head Road. Opening gala May 24, 6-9 pm. A special preview show runs May 6-25 at Eclectic Gallery, 2170 Oak Bay Avenue, opening reception May 9, 6-8pm. More infor- mation and participants’ list: www.firedup.ca.

Aaren Madden shares Pat Webber’s view that a beautiful ceramic piece “elevates daily tasks to acts of affirmation.”

www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 41 coastlines

Bog Tender AMY REISWIG Long-slumbering memories are awakened and explored in George Szanto’s new book.

abriola Island writer George Szanto and internal worlds that have changed his opens his new memoir with a quote mind, his heart, his life. And the process itself Gfrom Thoreau’s Walden: “Hope and becomes part of the transformative theme. the future for me are not in lawns and culti- For example, the chapter “February” begins, vated fields, not in towns and cities, but in as they all do, in the present. “It’s cold and the impervious and quaking swamps.” wet” out on the bog leads to thoughts of an This epigraph stands as a good introduc- upcoming trip to Hawaii, then to a family tion not just to the book’s nature-writing birthday while away, then to the birth of his aspect or to the bog Szanto lives and writes own daughter and how that changed him: “I beside. It also introduces one of the funda- had become a different kind of son, discov- mental elements of Bog Tender: Coming ering that my own father had once experienced Home to Nature and Memory (Brindle & this closeness with his son, with me, was in Glass, March 2013): attending respectfully fact still feeling it. All this had been invisible to what many find unremarkable or even to me for years.” slightly fearful. Like a bog. Revealing the invisible is a major part of Or, another example: growing old. We are Szanto’s bog/memory/writing process. And taught by the media to fear especially the so February’s associations lead him to thinking changes of age. We will lose, we are told, our of his mother, a lament that he has fewer memo- beauty, health, autonomy, money, memory ries of her than of his father—or so he thinks. and, ultimately, all of the people we love. By letting his mind open, like the unfurling of While retirement can be an unkind time, a tight-fisted fiddlehead, he discovers— depending on physical and financial condi- recovers—stories of his mother, her education, tions, living long also means developing a George Szanto work, family trips, house-building, moments reservoir of knowledge, experience, percep- of laughter and tears, and concludes: “So. It tion and perspective. And if you are a reflective Fulbright scholar, National Magazine Award seems I’ve found more memories of my mother observer like Szanto, the life changes along winner, winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize than I thought I had in me. Up from the depths the way add to the deep, sweet well of one’s for fiction and a fellow of the Royal Society of the memory bog.” own becoming which, in turn, can be distilled of Canada. His publications include several The book, therefore, is not just about indi- into words and shared through the transfor- books of essays on subjects such as theatre vidual observations and recollections; mative power of art. and propaganda, narrative consciousness, underneath the stories, Szanto’s work is also Bog Tender is all about transformation. and Mexican culture, as well as a dozen works about the act of seeing with renewed vision, Seasonal changes observed month by month of fiction (including, with Sandy Duncan, of turning experience into thought, thought in and around the wetland Szanto’s writing the “Island Investigations International” into word, and then making the personal cottage overlooks inspire reflection on moments mystery series). public. Thus he looks with equal attention of change—some great, some small—in his In Bog Tender, the genre of memoir blended at branching pipes in his septic field and the own life. While many memoirs trace a life with nature-writing allows Szanto to tap his way plum tree branches look coated with wet lived chronologically, Szanto lets memory life’s reservoir in a surprising, non-linear way snow: “a suit of white armour on scraggly burble up, revealing things both delicate and representing our own experience of memory. arms.” And he chronicles the family life of a weighty in seemingly no rational sequence “The stories have been there for a long time,” pair of shy ducks on the bog as well as the other than that of mysterious natural process. the gentle-voiced, now-retired Szanto explains 1962 Parisian romance with his beloved Kit, Thus, while we do see Szanto’s transforma- looking out to his home’s painterly vista of where they walked the streets all night because tion from a child in Londonderry, Northern trees, birds and water far below. “It was all no one would rent a hotel room to a couple Ireland (after his parents fled Nazi-occupied free-floating, and the question was how to with non-matching names on their passports: Austria in 1938) to a distinguished and put it together in a package.” And so he writes: “this was 1962—not even in Paris,” he writes. diligent student, world traveller, husband, “I have used my bog writing to discover what Szanto shares many personal revelations academic, playwright, novelist, fisherman, I am doing here, how I got here. As I’ve focusing on moments of transition. For father, and more, it is through non-linear followed the changes in insect, animal, and example, we learn about his great-grandfa- narrative—the telling it like it is of the mess botanic life, each season has awakened, month ther moving from Vienna to Budapest and of memory. by month, long-slumbering memories.” “magyarizing” the family name from Schwartz It’s a bit of a departure from Szanto’s His free-association telescopes readers to Szanto, making it more Hungarian. We previous work. With a PhD in comparative through time and place to potent moments hear about the death of two uncles in the literature from Harvard, Szanto has been a both personal and historical, in the external Theresienstadt concentration camp. And we

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see Szanto having to face his father’s ageing and ailing: “He’d take my hand again, my fingers, as if they held the air his body needed.” great finds for your home Though Szanto tells me that writing Bog Tender was “purely and simply fun,” he also admits that “emotionally, it was a diffi- cult book to write. It’s my history and a sense of what I love, and there were times when I wasn’t sure I wanted it to go out into the world.” Fortunately he got over that. Bog Tender is a book of humanity and humour, sweet- ness and sorrow—of everything you celebrate and suffer by being attentively alive. When Szanto tells me “I want readers to recognize the possibility of change,” I think he’s refer- ring to embracing changes through age, changes of perception, and changes through the artistic process—including valuing remem- bering itself. As the book’s second epigraph states, “The ability to relive those parts of life that have been significant is a gift equal to life itself.”

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Casa Blanca GENE MILLER White and curvaceous, Shutters flaunts Victoria’s unwritten cultural code.

hutters, the improbably-white and unexpect- resort-size pool that sits almost invisibly on an edly-sinuous condominium building in elevated patio space. Overall, the project scan- SSonghees, is not so much a building as a sculp- dalizes its grumpy, beige-painted or red shingle-hatted ture people live in. Proper buildings, after all, are neighbours, and colour and shape-wise in Songhees squared up and have right angles. Everyone knows comes off like a unicorn picking its way through that. And they’re brick-y red, not wedding-cake a chivvying herd of hippos. white. So, let’s study this one-off that flaunts all of It’s an impossibly jazzy and sexy development, Victoria’s unwritten cultural code regarding colour as dazzling, distracting and disconcerting as Marilyn and shape of buildings, and that seems not so much Monroe captured by Cecil Beaton’s camera in to have been built as to have landed. gauzy white petticoats, or Marilyn standing on a I was led to consider Shutters after I sat in windy grate, her white dress billowing sculpturally one of the city’s coffee shops frequented by the in the updraft—and enjoying it! double latte crowd, and overheard an artist/philoso- Shutters’ two building curves have been set on pher-in-residence explaining to the tattooed bunny axes roughly at right angles to each other, and as at his table that white was not a colour but a you walk around the site, more of one building concept, an idea. is revealed as the curve of the other recedes—a White an artifice? My view is, if you can buy a photographer’s dream and an urban aesthete’s can of it in a paint store, it’s a colour. I typed “Is delight. It’s interesting that in a city whose devel- white a colour?” into Google, hoping for Wikipedia opers and builders will swear that every angle, solidarity, like: “Hey, stupid, do fish swim?” No jut-out, and deviation from the geometry of four such luck. I was immediately swept up into light Marilyn Monroe straight walls spells financial ruin for the project, theory, pigmentation theory, molecular theory. In Shutters is nothing but circumference. a tactical retreat I plodded to the basement and dragged out the volu- The building is called Shutters because of a repeated design motif of minous Benjamin Moore Designer’s Kit—the “Good Book” of colour. quartets of white-painted louvered shutters that have been staggered A whole fan of colour chips was labelled “Whites.” I rest my case. from one floor to the next on the exterior walkways of each storey. But not in Victoria, architecturally. We may be mostly a white-people Funny, actually, to have named so glassy and transparent a building city, but not a white-building city. We’re much more in the shrubby after an object intended for opacity and privacy. Shutters wears all of palette: pomes, mustards, duns, beiges, greys, yam skin maroons…proper, its circulation systems on the outside: Glass columns enclose its numerous serious, rooted colours. White buildings here stand out like college elevators and stairs; and its wide exterior entrance corridor makes occu- pranks involving lots of toilet paper. White’s about an endless faith in pants visible when they leave their front doors. The slightly hypnotic blue skies, and such faith is in short supply here on the raincoast. White’s and spacey effect as people pop out of their homes, walk the corridors sybaritic, Mediterranean—not Scottish, disapproving and hellfire. and visibly descend in glass-walled elevators is a bit like watching some- Hold on: white is also an aspirational colour, and it inspires the same thing from Second Life or a video animation. meanings in many cultures. Think of how germs flee before a white A friend who lives in the building informs me that short bridges cross starched nurse’s uniform, or how a tunnel of bright white light guides a narrow void between the elevators and the curving walkways that us to the afterlife, or how the good witch wears white. lead to front doors. He suggests that the act of crossing over is a profound If you take white to this level of metaphor, Shutters is the one Victoria and dramatic event, akin to stepping across the gangway between dock residential building that forces us to think about what white means and cruise ship: You leave one world behind and step into a new one. expressively. Shutters was undertaken by Ian Gillespie’s Westbank With room to burn, the building sports a graceful and remarkably Developments in Songhees, and designed by Vancouver architect James spacious lobby filled with designer-istically geometric, furniture show- Cheng. It is the most architecturally flamboyant building in Victoria, room-like white-and-chrome seating and table arrangements, bathed all nerve, curve, brazen performance and exhibitionism. in a faint aqua glow from its glass walls. I note this because so many of Shutters is entirely sun-loving, carefree and sea-cruise, and has taken our recent buildings, facing both cost and security concerns, seem to its cues from Miami Beach, cribbing some of its design pedigree from have opted for a penitentiary aesthetic featuring miserly lobby spaces architect Morris Lapidus’ Fountainbleu Hotel. I take slight liberties in and the lockdown look. describing it as a mismatched pair of single-loaded (units extend fully On its lower south-facing side, Shutters rises glassily out of a low cliff across the building) punctuation marks—a nine-storey comma and a of raw Songhees rock, emphasizing its crystalline grace. The land- six-storey parenthesis—on a roughly two-acre site in Songhees—to scape designer has lopsidedly dropped in a copse of white birches to date, the only building “over there” to suggest that it might actually be one side of the main building entrance. Nice! In its totality the building fun to live at the edge of the ocean. The buildings share in common a must leave occupants happily confused about whether life’s a bummer

44 May 2013 • FOCUS Shutters or a vacation, and humming along with Tony Bennett, “Where am I? I’m a stranger in Paradise.” In that vein, Victoria’s countless thousands of urban critics habitu- ally bemoan how ego and idiosyncrasy invariably get boiled out of major developments because in the development field flamboyance is equated with cost and risk, if not outright mental imbalance. Westbank is a major developer, yet Ian Gillespie, the company’s president, presum- ably with his banker’s and investor’s approbation, has installed something eccentric and unexpected in virtually every one of Westbank’s build- ings, often with great success—notably, the beautifully controlled The Falls on Douglas Street and his many projects in Vancouver including the Flatiron Building-like Woodwards tower in Gastown, the Fairmont Pacific Hotel and condominium tower near the new harbourfront convention centre, and the planned Beach and Howe Tower by BIG Jim loved to coach, not just because he loved (the very hot Dutch architects Bjarke Ingles Group), a completely insane soccer, but because he believed sports could architectural tour-de-force that will rise between some of the Granville teach important lessons. To continue those Street Bridge on-ramps and that looks in renderings, unnervingly, like it will fall over in a strong breeze or a tremor. lessons, Jim placed a bequest to fund camp While the Bay building re-purposed as The Hudson stands in creamy, scholarships in his will. off-white splendour, and smaller white buildings, homes and such, dot the Victoria landscape, Shutters and the tower portion of the epony- Thanks to Coach Bindley, a few more kids will mously named The 834 at 834 Johnson Street remain the city’s two major residential studies in white. Not enough to nudge our city toward reach their goals. Include your favourite cause Mediterranean bliss. We may have to wait for the full-on local effects in your will or estate plan. Contact a charitable of global warming (tropical palms, a hot sun, blondes in bathing suits) organization, lawyer, financial advisor or local before we shake off Edinburgh and embrace Miami. LEAVE A LEGACY™ program to learn how. Can Shutters be faulted for not respecting its context? Probably not. Ex-industrial Songhees itself has been a-historical—Victoria’s “wild west” where almost anything goes (and has gone). No reminders of our civic history excepting the nearby railroad roundhouse, car barns, assorted stores buildings and rusting railyard tracks remain to be offended. Can it be faulted for being capricious, or overly self-congratula- tory about its daring curves and good looks? These are hard questions to answer without tumbling down the rabbit hole into a swamp of archi- tectural semiotics. Last time I tried, I broke my leg and almost drowned. What I sense—without knowing the mind of its developer—is that Shutters and Gillespie’s other clever and playful projects are not at all synthetic, Las Vegas products (Egyptian pyramids, castles, faux villas, etc.) but serious attempts to express a new architectural language—a mix of technical daring and design brio intended to bring character to large and tall buildings, and not just the iconic skyscrapers, but all. Last, can Shutters be faulted for being too curvaceous, provocative and white in a city of well-behaved, soberly coloured cubes? Hey, do fish walk?

Gene Miller, founder of Open Space Cultural Centre, Monday Magazine and the Gaining Ground Conferences, is currently writing Massive Collaboration: Stories That Divide Consider a gift in your will for your favourite charities. Us, Stories That Bind Us and The Hundred-Mile Economy: Alan, 250-414-4781 or Barbara, 250-721-6207 Preparing For Local Life. www.leavealegacy.ca www.focusonline.ca • May 2013 45 finding balance

Gardeners beware TRUDY DUIVENVOORDEN MITIC Keeping the bullies out of your garden helps protect local parks too.

fter a few years of procras- down a stately tree in your neigh- tination we’ve finally bourhood park. Given time, ivy Atackled a dreaded job in will climb up to the highest branches the garden, that of digging a deep and completely cover the tree. It’s trench and installing a root barrier not a true parasite—it digs in for between our vegetable patch and support only—but unchecked it a neighbour’s cedar hedge. We becomes like an elephant up there knew the hedge was siphoning and inevitably the tree will buckle food and water away from anaemic under the weight. vegetable plants and stunted straw- As with all highly successful berries—we just didn’t know to species, ivy propagates in several what extent. What a creepy surprise efficient ways. Any small piece of to find the invading roots every- root left in the soil or thrown on where, a vast and tenacious network the compost pile will quickly grow of tentacles lurking just below the into another plant. Seeds remain food crop. very viable even after passing through While chipping away in the a bird, so they are easily scattered trench with my crowbar, shovel far beyond the boundary of the and various pruning tools, I had home garden. And regardless of plenty of time to meditate on the where they’re dropped, they will many invasive species that have quickly establish themselves into a been haplessly spread around thick sinewy groundcover and then town and are often still for sale gambol off to the nearest trees. at the local nurseries. I admit to According to the CRD’s invasive planting some in my own garden, species website, ivy on the rampage naive as I was at that time and will inevitably reduce a forest to a impatient to transform a bare yard clearing, thereby setting up an ideal

into a lush green space. Now I do APRIL CAVERHILL ILLUSTRATION: ecology for an even more notorious the penance on my hands and invader, Scotch broom. knees, routinely yanking out another flush of periwinkle, lily-of-the- It’s worth taking precautions to keep bullying species out of the valley, sweet woodruff, Japanese anemone, goutweed and two aggressive garden and out of the larger landscape as well. No longer do I buy varieties of cranesbill geranium. unfamiliar plants without first carefully researching them. I’ve learned They all looked so sweet and innocent in their little pots at one that clumping roots stay contained while spreading roots—well, time. But once let loose, they began running all over the place and spread, and often in all directions. I watch for wording on plant tags rapidly lost their attractiveness. Soon the lily-of- the-valley was pushing that might suggest aggressive growth, and keep in mind that nursery up its shoots everywhere. The periwinkle forgot about flowering and associates are not really in a position to tell me to pass on that plant started pumping out enough greenery to choke everything in its path. in my shopping cart. And though it might seem a tad ungrateful, I’m The beautifully scented sweet woodruff has shown an especially wary of unfamiliar offerings from friends and neighbours. I’m equally sinister side: It’s insinuated itself around a rose bush that attacks careful when I give plants away. me every time I reach in to break some of the stranglehold. A little vigilance up front can protect community parks and green Over by the shed it may look as if I’ve finally eradicated the goutweed spaces from ruin by invasion. It will also prevent hours and hours but I’m not gullible enough to let my guard down. All of these pests of tedious or backbreaking work in the home garden. For me with are groundcovers that spread via runners, both above and below my aching hands and freshly blunted garden tools, that’s a mighty ground. I know they’ll never be completely gone. powerful motivator. But I also know I can keep them confined to my garden, which, unfortunately, is not the case with a more notorious non-native species, Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic was pleasantly surprised English ivy. This graceful vine with its heart-shaped leaf is hardy and that she grew a few muscles while conceptualizing lush and stays green in winter, so its enduring attraction is understand- and creating this column. Writing about gardening able. It also quickly fills a planter and beautifies the most challenging combines two of her long-held passions. corner in the garden. On the other hand, it’s so insidiously adapt- able that in your neighbourhood you’re apt to find both a young specimen potted up in a lovely planter box and an old one bringing

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