December 2021 - The Collective Magazines

If there is one truth the pandemic has disclosed, it’s that, as humans, we yearn for connection to the elements. ...

Words by

Kerry Hale

Photo by

Glenn Naylor

THE GIFT OF MOTION

Comox Valley Collective, Spring

Growing up in the Comox Valley, Mal Irvine, who uses they/them pronouns, often felt uncomfortable. They were ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Meredith Rose

RETHINKING ONIGIRI

Hornby Island local Jake Berman first encountered onigiri while visiting his sister in Japan in 2006. This ...

Words by

Britt Hanson

Photo by

GETTING THE DRIFT

Every poem tells a kind of story, but poems are not short stories. They are a unique medium which is concerned ...

Words by

Ed Varney

Photo by

DROP INTO A DEEP READ

In 2015, on his way to Whistler, Duncan Hague flew over the Rocky Mountains and peered out the plane’s little oval ...

Words by

Dave Flawse

Photo by

Duncan Hague

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

We’ve all heard the adage “It takes a village to raise a child.” Now imagine we’re talking about your child. ...

Words by

Trish Weatherall

Photos by

Crystal Chowdhury

MUD, MESS, AND MAGIC

I respectfully acknowledge that we are on the unceded traditional territories of the K’ómoks First Nation, and I ...

Words by

Britt Hanson

Photos by

Sara Kempner

SALMON AND STEWARDSHIP

The late autumn sun lazily streams through dwindling golden leaves. Live music drifts across the smiling, ...

Words by

Lisa Levesque

Photos by

BREWMOX VALLEY 2.0

When I wrote The New Brewmox Valley for the inaugural issue of this magazine in 2014, I told a hopeful and ...

Words by

Max Oudendag

Photos by

Sara Kempner

WHERE THERE’S WATER, THERE’S HOPE

Imagine noticing smoke in the distance, then, less than ten minutes later, your property is fully consumed by ...

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Jenny Deters

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

I grew up on Vancouver Island, the fourth of five generations of my family to have done so. I have had the great ...

Words by

Tim Ennis

Photos by

Brett Kroeker

KNIT LIKE A NORWEGIAN

I pull up to Kelsey Epp’s Merville farm, and, before my feet hit the ground, the silence of the long, verdant ...

Words by

Allie Jenkinson

Photos by

Joslyn Kilborn

MUSIC WAS OUR CONTRABAND

May 31, 2021: “Hey, Meaghan, we’re thinking if some restrictions lift this summer we might try to book some shows ...

Words by

Meaghan Cursons

Photo by

RJ Herron

LET THE RIVERS RUN

In case you haven’t noticed, the Comox Valley has been experiencing a population boom of late. Newcomers choose ...

Words by

Tanis Gower

Photos by

Meredith Rose

THE DUBIOUS PLEASURES OF WINTER BIRDING

The first time Tom (not his real name) had someone call the cops on him was in the winter. He was several blocks ...

Words by

Jason Straka

Photo by

James Mackenzie

BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED

This is a tale of resilience. A tale of how, if your resolve is true, you can make it to your destination. Even ...

Words by

Anja Roberts

Photo by

Crystal Chowdhury

A LIFE LIVED WITH VOLUME

Comox Valley Collective, Intro, Winter

Everyone remembers the first time they met Thomas Dunn. He was a rare individual who made an impression—mostly ...

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Nik Dunn

COME TO THE DARK SIDE

Does the thought of walking in the forest at night make you feel uneasy? Does it sound strange? And if you were to ...

Words by

Wendy Mayers

Photo by

BULBS OF GLORY

Comox Valley Collective, Fall, Featured Photographer

The ashen moon hung low that brisk October night. Despite the obscuring fog, I could see my breath. The chill cut ...

Words by

Darren Howlett

Photo by

Jennifer Brazil

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CURTIS BLACKBURN

Curtis was born and raised in the Comox Valley, where he pursues a number of hobbies and seasonal interests, ...

THE COHOUSING CONCEPT

Comox Valley Collective, Fall, Featured Artist

t’s 7:30 a.m. and my 11-year-old daughter skips out to join our 74-year-old neighbour for a sprightly walk around ...

Words by

John Gower

Photos by

Meredith Rose

FEATURED ARTIST: SHARON LALONDE

Sharon Lalonde has been creating all her life, using all forms of artistic expression. The medium she chooses ...

THE NORTHEAST WOODS

Etched into the fabric of Comox life, the Northeast Woods are considered by many locals, especially newcomers, to ...

Words by

Kerry Hale

Photos by

The Origins of the Comox Valley Writers Society

2021, Comox Valley Collective, Fall

For over 5,000 years, the written word has carried knowledge and information to readers, supporting the ...

Words by

Joline Martin

Photos by

PUBLISHED IN A PANDEMIC