ALL CV Collective
LIVES OF LOGGERS AND FARMERS

LIVES OF LOGGERS AND FARMERS

The earliest inhabitants of the Comox Valley lived lightly on these lands for millennia and didn’t capture their ...
FEATURED ARTIST: JARED POPESCU

FEATURED ARTIST: JARED POPESCU

Jared was born and raised in Saskatchewan but spent his adult life in various pockets of British Columbia before ...
A LINK TO THE PAST

A LINK TO THE PAST

One of the oldest buildings in the Comox Valley stands silent vigil on the highway to Campbell River. You can see ...

Words & Photos by

Jim Whyte

A (SNOW) SHOE-IN

A (SNOW) SHOE-IN

The mountains beckon me throughout the year, but somehow their call in winter is different and holds a special ...

Words & photos by

Joanne McElroy

FROM THOUGHT TO REALITY

FROM THOUGHT TO REALITY

As we go into our 10th year of publishing this magazine, I am stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s often assumed ...

Publisher's Introduction & Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

FEATURED ARTIST: SARAH CLARK

FEATURED ARTIST: SARAH CLARK

As a creative generalist working in an array of art practices, Sarah Clark is less interested in becoming an ...
A WORK OF COMPASSION

A WORK OF COMPASSION

Since 1983, Comox Valley Hospice Society (CVHS) has been working to support the physical, psychological, ...
FEATURED ARTIST: JULIAN BARKER

FEATURED ARTIST: JULIAN BARKER

This quiet, unsung artist was born in July 1939 in North Vancouver. After a troubled time in boarding school, he ...
MOUNTAINS AND MOTHERHOOD

MOUNTAINS AND MOTHERHOOD

All of us who love the alpine have our own reasons for getting out there. A hiker I once passed in the Kweishun ...

Words & featured photo by

Eryn Tombu Haigh

WILD GARDENING

WILD GARDENING

I remember the sweet satisfaction of pushing peas into the slowly warming spring soil of my first garden “plot,” a ...

Words & Art by

Sally Podmore

EYES ON THE TREES

EYES ON THE TREES

Introduced in 2018 by Comox Valley Nature (CVN), this event encourages Comox Valley residents to pay attention to ...

Words by

Carol White

Photo by

Jim Whyte

ADVENTURES IN PADDLING

ADVENTURES IN PADDLING

As we rounded the northern tip of Nootka Island, we were struck with sizable swell, wind, and refracting waves ...

Words & Photos by

Erica Keen

THE ELEVENTH HOUR FOR OLD GROWTH

THE ELEVENTH HOUR FOR OLD GROWTH

The Beaufort Range sits temptingly in our backyard. If you’re a backcountry skier, then you’ve probably gazed at ...

Words & Featured Photo by

Andrew Findlay

Gallery photo by

Chris Istace

BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

Have you ever noticed that the flowers you see in local gardens—maybe even in your own yard—are rarely available ...

Words & photos by

Lydia Jackson

BY DESIGN

BY DESIGN

While some of us were out celebrating Valentine’s Day this past February, Eugen Sushko was feverishly drawing at ...

Words by

Vivian Dean

Photos courtesy of

Supermod

FEATURED ARTIST: LAURIE MARTZ

FEATURED ARTIST: LAURIE MARTZ

Laurie is a “late in life” painter who moved to the Comox Valley after retiring in 2015 from a busy career as a ...
FOLLOW THE MOUNTAIN HOME

FOLLOW THE MOUNTAIN HOME

It is usually late May when I embark on the first mountain trip of the season. In this particular year I was ...

Words & photos by

Claire Gordon

THE COAL BENEATH OUR FEET

THE COAL BENEATH OUR FEET

Starting in 1888, a vast labyrinth of extraction tunnels was carved beneath the village of Cumberland, the old ...

Words by

Dawn Copeman

WERE IT NOT FOR THE BIKE

WERE IT NOT FOR THE BIKE

This past January, I received an email from the organizer of the BC Epic thanking me for my registration. Which ...

Words & Featured Photo by

Dave Nowak

Gallery Photo by

Gary Egli

THE DAY THE PRINCE CAME TO TOWN

THE DAY THE PRINCE CAME TO TOWN

Over a century ago, on a Monday in late September, crowds of young and old thronged Vancouver’s sidewalks. Mothers ...

Words by

Dave Flawse

FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN

FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN

What an ugly night. It’s dark, pouring rain, and there are still remnants of slushy snow melting in the driveway, ...

Words & photos by

Kyle Hansen

WHALE BREATH AND ANGEL WINGS

WHALE BREATH AND ANGEL WINGS

You don’t need to be an oyster farmer or sport fisherman for the daily ebb and flow of the ocean to impact your ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Luke Phillips

JUMP SCARES AHEAD

JUMP SCARES AHEAD

Decades ago, I was sitting in a cinema seat in Toronto, gripping the armrests as the tension heightened, and ...

Words by

Mac Newton

Illustration by

Ian Adams

A DOORWAY TO HOPE

A DOORWAY TO HOPE

When David and Angela Mackenzie open the door to their new home, they will bring with them an unwavering ...

Words & Photos by

Karen McKinnon

SUNSET AT SMITH LAKE FARM

SUNSET AT SMITH LAKE FARM

As I pull through the gates of Smith Lake Farm, I’m greeted by the sounds of chickens clucking and disc golfers ...

Words by

Sara Kempner

Featured photo by

Meredith Rose

CHEERS TO THE LAZO BARREL COLLECTIVE

CHEERS TO THE LAZO BARREL COLLECTIVE

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon as I make my way through Alex Blais’ yard, following the sound of laughter toward an ...

Words & Photos by

Sara Kempner

RIDING DRAGONS ON THE SALISH SEA

RIDING DRAGONS ON THE SALISH SEA

The very first time I dipped my paddle into the Salish Sea, wedged awkwardly in the belly of a dragon boat, I was ...

Words by

Anne Arseneau

Photos by

Sara Kempner

CHEERS TO THE LAZO BARREL COLLECTIVE

CHEERS TO THE LAZO BARREL COLLECTIVE

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon as I make my way through Alex Blais’ yard, following the sound of laughter toward an ...

Words & Photos by

Sara Kempner

GET THEE TO A GALLERY

GET THEE TO A GALLERY

I-HOS GALLERY K'ÓMOKS FIRST NATION Owned and operated by the K’ómoks First Nation, I-Hos Gallery showcases a ...
WILD SPACES BELONG TO EVERYONE

WILD SPACES BELONG TO EVERYONE

Some of my dearest early memories involve water. My dad would tie a rope on my sister’s and my life jackets as we ...

Words & featured photo by

Erica Keen

FEATURED ARTIST: MARIANNE ENHÖRNING

FEATURED ARTIST: MARIANNE ENHÖRNING

Marianne Enhörning is a West Coast Canadian artist. Born in Sweden, she split her work life for many years between ...
T’AAM LAAN, STEERSMAN OF THE CANOE

T’AAM LAAN, STEERSMAN OF THE CANOE

In 2008, novice paddleboarder Norm Hann hatched a plan to travel by stand-up paddleboard (SUP), with boat support, ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Bruce Kirkby

A COMMUNITY’S HEART IS IN ITS FORESTS

A COMMUNITY’S HEART IS IN ITS FORESTS

The ferns have their fresh, feathery leaves and everything in sight is electric green. This is Vancouver Island in ...

Words & Photo by

Jennifer Jellett

FROM CLEARCUTS TO COMMUNITIES

FROM CLEARCUTS TO COMMUNITIES

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably driven past the community halls north of Courtenay along Highway 19A ...
THE SNOWLINE

THE SNOWLINE

In 2021, I decided to travel across British Columbia with my bike and my skis—or, more accurately—with my skis on ...

Words & Photos by

Damien Jannet

FEATURED ARTIST: CHRISTIAN GEISSLER

FEATURED ARTIST: CHRISTIAN GEISSLER

Born and raised on British Columbia’s West Coast, Christian grew up with a deep appreciation for nature, thanks to ...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MORGAN NORTH

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MORGAN NORTH

Eighteen-year-old Morgan, a Comox Valley resident, started taking photos with a smart phone when he was 12 and ...
TUNED TO THE COMMUNITY’S FREQUENCY

TUNED TO THE COMMUNITY’S FREQUENCY

A lone modular office building with blue vinyl siding rests at the end of a gravel driveway on the edge of Homalco ...

Words by

Dave Flawse

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

THE THRILL OF THRIFTING

THE THRILL OF THRIFTING

Last year a friend messaged to let me know there was a promotional Walking Dead backpack at one of the thrift ...
BURNING QUESTIONS

BURNING QUESTIONS

When we invite young people to visit the engineered landfill at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, we ask ...

Words & photos by

Tina Willard-Stepan

SEAWEED, SVP

SEAWEED, SVP

Seaweed is a food resource long celebrated by traditional coastal peoples across the globe, including throughout ...

Words & Photo by

Angela Willard

FEATURED ARTIST: SHELLEY VANDERBYL

FEATURED ARTIST: SHELLEY VANDERBYL

Born in Hay River, NWT, Shelley has lived in Edmonton, Switzerland, and five Canadian provinces. Her work, both ...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CURTIS BLACKBURN

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CURTIS BLACKBURN

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

FEATURED ARTIST: SHARON LALONDE

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

PUBLISHED IN A PANDEMIC

MY DELIGHTFULLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AUTHOR: LORAINE HARTLE GENRE: MEMOIR A fascinating and engaging story ...
SHELTER IN A NEW LAND

SHELTER IN A NEW LAND

On a sunny summer evening, Janeth Recinos served up delicious pupusas filled with shredded pork and fresh salsa ...

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Photo collage courtesy of

Sue Rambow

THE VILLAGE TINKER

THE VILLAGE TINKER

After the year that was 2020, we’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel—a return to the way life was ...

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

FROM SECRET KNOWLEDGE TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT

FROM SECRET KNOWLEDGE TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT

If you take a moment to reflect upon the immense amount of organization, dedication, and perseverance required to ...

Words by

Kevin Flesher

Featured photo by

Jim Whyte

SHOW US YOUR WORDS

SHOW US YOUR WORDS

BECAUSE I AM QUEEN   I wear a crown of many eyes that sees right through your bullshit lies. My ...

Photo by

Sara Kempner

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: FRANCOISE GERVAIS

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: FRANCOISE GERVAIS

Born and raised in Quebec, Françoise is a self-taught wildlife/landscape photographer. Her first career was as a ...
FEATURED ARTIST: BRIAN JESSOP

FEATURED ARTIST: BRIAN JESSOP

A member of the Taku River First Nation by birth, Brian was adopted as an infant by Linda and Perry Jessop and ...
COMOX VALLEY STARGAZING

COMOX VALLEY STARGAZING

Fighting the urge to crawl back into my warm bed, I force myself to grab my camera bag and head into the chilly ...

Words & photo by

Sara Kempner

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GREEN BURIAL

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GREEN BURIAL

It’s better to burn out than to fade away? Not always. New alternatives to cremation allow bodies to return to the ...

Words by

Madeline Christie

Featured photo by

Sita Then

ROCK BEATS WATER

ROCK BEATS WATER

Watching John Waters scramble up a rock face is like watching a monkey climb a tree. A moment ago, he stepped off ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Featured photo by

Sara Kempner

THE MCLOUGHLIN GARDENS

THE MCLOUGHLIN GARDENS

When Sarah McLoughlin passed away on February 10, 2021, at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver—her husband ...

Words by

Kerry Hale

Featured photo by

Susan Healy

TOWARD A MORE LIVABLE VALLEY

TOWARD A MORE LIVABLE VALLEY

You pretty much can’t have a conversation anywhere in the world today without one of our global crises popping up ...

Words by

RJ Herron

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

GETTING HIGH ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

GETTING HIGH ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

The secret’s out regarding Vancouver Island and its amazing mountains. While all alpine environments are ...

Words & Photo by

Shane Johnson

ART AND MENTORSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY

ART AND MENTORSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Haida art is internationally recognized as part of the Indigenous artistic tradition of the peoples of the Pacific ...

Words by

Keisha Everson

Featured photo by

Zac Whyte

FEATURED ARTIST: MIKE SAVAGE

FEATURED ARTIST: MIKE SAVAGE

Michael was born in Campbell River and currently resides in Fanny Bay with his partner Anna and cat Sophie Bean. ...
THE POOP ON CUMBERLAND’S AMBITIOUS NEW WETLANDS PROJECT

THE POOP ON CUMBERLAND’S AMBITIOUS NEW WETLANDS PROJECT

Your recent travel plans may have gone down the toilet, but was there ever a better time to start planning another ...
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Often in an instant, an acquired head injury can change everything. How do you make sense of so much loss? Where ...

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

PERCEPTIONS, PREJUDICE, AND PRIDE

PERCEPTIONS, PREJUDICE, AND PRIDE

“Hi, I’m Sam. I’m trans.” I start quite a number of conversations this way, and although it’s an unfortunate ...

Words by

Sam Peterson

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

DEMYSTIFYING MUSHROOMS

DEMYSTIFYING MUSHROOMS

My mom used to make stuffed mushroom caps at the drop of a hat. “We’ve been invited to so-and-so’s for dinner. ...

Words & Photo by

Darren Howlett

FEATURED ARTIST: ZOEY MAYENBURG

FEATURED ARTIST: ZOEY MAYENBURG

Originally from Comox, Zoey currently lives in Victoria. Her work is inspired by nature, the seasons, the cycles ...
COASTAL COLLABORATION

COASTAL COLLABORATION

It was late August in the Great Bear Rainforest and the salmon were starting to return to their nascent streams ...

Words & Photos by

Oriana Smy

TAKING THE TEMPERATURE ON GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

TAKING THE TEMPERATURE ON GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

I’ve been intimately involved in the ground-source heat pump (GSHP) industry for 20 years. I began with mud up to ...

Words by

Daniel Booy

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

UNHINDERED GOOD TIMES ON FORBIDDEN PLATEAU

UNHINDERED GOOD TIMES ON FORBIDDEN PLATEAU

Katherine Kirk suspected the roof of Forbidden Plateau’s day lodge was going to collapse. “One day, a woman in the ...

Words by

Mike B.

Featured photo by

Lindsey Pattinson

THE MYSTERIOUS FAROE ISLANDS

THE MYSTERIOUS FAROE ISLANDS

The rising sun cast a pink glow on the cliffs as we prepared for landing on a crisp November morning. Just five ...

Words by

Kat Craats

Photos by

Kat Craats

GOING DEEP

GOING DEEP

When I'm under the water, I feel at home. As soon as my head goes below the surface, an almost instant calm comes ...

Words & Photos by

Ryan Miller

FROM FENCE BOARDS TO SURFBOARDS

FROM FENCE BOARDS TO SURFBOARDS

When you first look at a Waterman surfboard, you wouldn’t expect it had been crafted by a guy who grew up on the ...

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photos by

Sara Kempner

THROUGH THE VENEER

THROUGH THE VENEER

“Now gently let your breath out and slip beneath the surface. I’ll go under first and be ready for you to join ...

Words & photo by

Lisa Graham

THE BEAUTY OF THE BURN

THE BEAUTY OF THE BURN

Oh my god, this hurts so bad... Why does this hurt so bad?? Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. Uggggggghhhhhh, this burns so ...

Words & Photo by

Sarah Seads

ALL FIRED UP

ALL FIRED UP

“I take a lot of my inspiration from the natural world around me,” says Gordon Hutchens, Denman Island’s ...

Words & Photo by

Trish Weatherall

FEATURED ARTIST: RICHARD MRAVIK

FEATURED ARTIST: RICHARD MRAVIK

Richard Mravik was born in 1973 in the city of Nove Zamky, Slovakia. Of Hungarian descent, he was noted from a ...
EASY, BREEZY E-BIKES

EASY, BREEZY E-BIKES

How many times have you thought about how nice it would be to drive less? Maybe you want to reduce your carbon ...

Words & photo by

Dave Prothero

THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS

THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS

Soft whitecaps glisten atop cresting waves, tall green grasses dance in the wind, an eagle swoops low across ...

Words & photo by

Sophie Vigneau

CHASING SUNSETS

CHASING SUNSETS

Bula! Pronounced “boo-la,” this is Fiji’s version of “aloha,” an all-purpose word that makes you feel instantly ...

Words and Photos by

Paige Owen

THE MOUNTAIN CENTRE IS HERE. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY?

THE MOUNTAIN CENTRE IS HERE. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY?

Have you ever parked at Mount Washington’s Raven Lodge and wondered about the impressive, yet solitary, building ...

Words by

Alycia Traas

Photo by

Kyle Hansen

FEATURED ARTIST: ANOUK HARTWELL

FEATURED ARTIST: ANOUK HARTWELL

A former dog sled and kayak guide, Anouk’s paintings amplify her love for the outdoors. If she could, she would ...
A BACKCOUNTRY, MODULAR ROOM  OF ONE’S OWN

A BACKCOUNTRY, MODULAR ROOM OF ONE’S OWN

Gaining popularity in the mid-1950s, the modest A-frame, with its inherently simple aesthetic, defined a way of ...

Words by

Dave Nowak

PROFILE OF COMMUNITY IN ACTION SPONSORED BY NORTH ISLAND UROLOGY

PROFILE OF COMMUNITY IN ACTION SPONSORED BY NORTH ISLAND UROLOGY

The first thing you need to know about Glen Alwin Farm is that nobody involved is named Glen. Or Alwin. The people ...
THE SONSHINE LUNCH CLUB: A LOCAL LIFELINE

THE SONSHINE LUNCH CLUB: A LOCAL LIFELINE

It’s a Tuesday, and when the doors of St. George’s United Church hall open at 11:30am, Gail, who is 70, comes in ...

Words by

Mac Newton

Photo by

Sara Kempner

NOW OR NEVER

NOW OR NEVER

Last summer my family and I embarked on an epic journey. 10 months, 10 provinces, 25 US states, 17 Mexican states, ...

Words & Photos by

Alice Grasby

COVERING NEW GROUND

COVERING NEW GROUND

Despite the perpetual spotlight that the world of technology enjoys for “changing the world”, few technical ...

Words by

Mike B.

Photo by

Scott Bell

A NATURAL TEACHER

A NATURAL TEACHER

Local hunter, fisher, conservationist, and author Ralph Shaw once said, "The role of the successful fisherman and ...

Words by

Kerry Hale

FEATURED ARTIST: SARAH BERGERON

FEATURED ARTIST: SARAH BERGERON

Sarah is a Comox Valley-based artist primarily working in oil painting. At the core of her practice is an ...
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: VIKTOR DAVARE

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: VIKTOR DAVARE

Viktor came to Canada from Switzerland in 1978, eventually immigrating here. He spent 13 years in Calgary before ...
RADICAL VULNERABILITY

RADICAL VULNERABILITY

“Every child, every person, needs to know that they are a source of joy; every child, every person, needs to be ...

Words & photos by

Alex Nataros

DARK SCIENCE

DARK SCIENCE

[On Judgement Day] …men will cast away their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship—to the moles ...

Words by

Tim Ennis

Photos by

Neil Borecky

ABOVE AND BEYOND

ABOVE AND BEYOND

If you know what to look for, the signs of the Comox District Mountaineering Club (CDMC) are everywhere. A new log ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Featured photo by

Ryan Stuart

FEATURED ARTIST: AVA LUNA

FEATURED ARTIST: AVA LUNA

Ava Luna is a professional henna and visual artist born and raised on Vancouver Island and new to the Comox ...
BENEATH THE HIGH

BENEATH THE HIGH

When it comes to doing drugs, Adam isn’t interested in getting high. “I’m a busy man,” the 49 year-old creative ...

Words by

Mike B.

Photos by

Sareh Puetz

IN THE FIELD

IN THE FIELD

MO MOSHIRI: EXPLORER “I’ve been a traveller since I was three,” says Comox-based MC, songwriter, and producer ...
HIDDEN RICHES

HIDDEN RICHES

We descended into a magical underworld. Giant, spider-like cave crickets filled the vast corridors of karst ...

Words & Painting

Nick Hutton-Jay

IN SEARCH OF THE SIMPLE LIFE

IN SEARCH OF THE SIMPLE LIFE

No matter where I’ve ended up on this journey, the coast has always called me back and the surf has kept me sane. ...

Words & Photos by

Andrew Talbot

FEATURED ARTIST: ALEX MAERTZ

FEATURED ARTIST: ALEX MAERTZ

Alex Maertz is an illustrator based on the west coast. Born a stone’s throw from the woods, she instinctively ...
CRUMBLING CANNERIES

CRUMBLING CANNERIES

It was the 1880s and “The Great Salmon Industry” was in its golden years on the British Columbia coast. Entire ...

Words & Photos by

Oriana Smy

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

I’d heard of Ecuador for years: stories of great rivers, easy transportation, and friendly people. Now was the ...

Words & Photos by

Dave Prothero

THE WATERS WITHIN

THE WATERS WITHIN

Every person is made up of water. The Comox Valley Art Gallery Youth Media Project is nine folks coming together ...

Words & Photos by

Paige Brown

UNLIKELY SHIPMATES

UNLIKELY SHIPMATES

I’m tied to the dock as a gale grows outside the protection of the bay. Snow is piling up on the sailboat, but ...

Words & Photo by

April Bencze

WHAT TIME LEAVES BEHIND

WHAT TIME LEAVES BEHIND

Have you ever wondered about parked cars at the side of Highway 19, near the bridge about three kilometres south ...

Words & Photo by

Pat Trask

IN THE FIELD

IN THE FIELD

NAZANEEN DIZAI: CONNECTOR Nazaneen Dizai brings ideas and people together. Whether in the corporate heart of ...

Words & Photos

Ross Bodenmann

WITH CHILDLIKE WONDER

WITH CHILDLIKE WONDER

Our trip to South Africa was twelve years in the making. In 2006, my mother returned to her native homeland to be ...

Words & Photos by

Andy Phillips

THE GEM OF ISLAND  MOUNTAINEERING

THE GEM OF ISLAND MOUNTAINEERING

Mt Colonel Foster is among the most impressive peaks on Vancouver Island. Its east face rises over 1000 metres and ...

Words & Photos by

Tyler Bellows

VOTING FOR  VITALITY

VOTING FOR VITALITY

If there was ever a time to exercise your democratic right to vote, it's now. Across the globe, research has shown ...

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Illustration by

Ian Adams

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENT

PREPARING FOR THE PRESENT

On a sunny afternoon six years ago while riding my motorcycle home from Campbell River on the Old Island Highway, ...

Words by

Mac Newton

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

SPINNING GOLD

SPINNING GOLD

I feel most at home in vast wilderness landscapes. Here, the bears and wildflowers alike are my equals, and the ...

Words & Photos by

Leah Ballin

PIONEERS AND BROKEN DREAMS

PIONEERS AND BROKEN DREAMS

Drive northwest past the ferry line-ups, strip malls, and highways choked with RVs. Carry on until you’re out of ...

Words & Photos by

Tim Ennis

INTO THE GREAT WHITE OPEN

INTO THE GREAT WHITE OPEN

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest of earth’s continents. Though it’s a region of extremes, it’s much ...

Words & Photos by

Gordon Ross

GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

Eric Greene’s mornings are different from most people’s. The New York city-based 36 year-old wakes before dawn, ...

Words by

Mike B

Photos by

Lucy Laucht

BAR CART BOUNTY

BAR CART BOUNTY

For many, spring means decadent chocolate Easter eggs and sunny daffodils. For others it’s the first taste of our ...
DEATH OF A WORKER’S FRIEND

DEATH OF A WORKER’S FRIEND

Near the end of July 1918, the blackberries were just starting to ripen, a welcome development for the hungry ...

Words by

Dawn Copeman

HOME VIDEO

HOME VIDEO

We’re familiar with boom and bust on the west coast, with the effect of a fluctuating economy challenging us all. ...

Words & Photos by

Ross Bodenmann

BRIDGING THE GAP

BRIDGING THE GAP

American sociologist Matthew Desmond said that housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. These days, ...

Words & Photo by

RJ Herron

THE DIRTY AND THE DEDICATED

THE DIRTY AND THE DEDICATED

To some, it’s the Village in the Forest, to others simply “Cumby.” But to those of us who crave the mud ...

Words by

Ryan Parton

Image supplied by

DODGE CITY

ANCHORED IN ICELAND

ANCHORED IN ICELAND

In the late seventies, Sandra Dykstra skied into Skoki Lodge, an historical backcountry destination in the ...

Words & Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

POWER MOVE

POWER MOVE

If you’re of a certain age, you’ve likely watched Flashdance. As a full-blown Gen Xer, I’ve watched this iconic ...

Words & Photo by

Bevin Clempson

SPOKEN LOCAL

SPOKEN LOCAL

While California’s Marin County is credited with the invention of mountain biking, there is little debate that ...

Words by

Mike B

Photo by

Amy Kumler

GOING PUBLIC

GOING PUBLIC

Armed with a limited budget, dedicated volunteers, and a substantial amount of exuberance, the Downtown Courtenay ...

Words & photos by

Ross Bodenmann

COFFE AND COASTLINES IN PERU

COFFE AND COASTLINES IN PERU

My first impressions of Peru came on a domestic flight between Lima and Cusco. Bleary eyed after 20 hours of ...

Words & Photos by

Sara Kempner

A CABIN BUILT FROM THE WOODS

A CABIN BUILT FROM THE WOODS

I met Cyril Werlen from cascadianwoodtech almost a year ago in our favourite coffee shop. Unbeknownst to me, this ...

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photos by

Caleb Hansen

OUR CHURCH BUILDINGS

OUR CHURCH BUILDINGS

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

Words by

Dawn Copeman

Photos by

Ron Pogue

HOLISTIC HEALTH

HOLISTIC HEALTH

In 1874 in Kirksville, Missouri, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still pioneered a form of manual therapy that emphasized the ...
ALL POINTS TO THE WATER

ALL POINTS TO THE WATER

On the water, the fastest way between two points is rarely a straight line. Sailing, surfing, paddling, it's all ...

Words by

Ryan Stuart

UP, UP, AND AWAY FROM IT ALL

UP, UP, AND AWAY FROM IT ALL

The Comox Glacier is such an iconic mountain for the Comox Valley. Since moving here in the fall of 2006, it’s ...

Words & photos by

Sarah Hauser

PADDLE TO THE SEA

PADDLE TO THE SEA

As a very young child, I enjoyed my mum reading to me the story of Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling. It is ...

Words & photos by

Tim Ennis

FULL OF LIFE

FULL OF LIFE

EARLY MEMORIES One of my earliest memories is on the beach. I am six years old and I am standing next to my dad ...

Words by

Kelly Forbes

FEATURED ARTIST: JULIE SABEY

FEATURED ARTIST: JULIE SABEY

Julie Sabey's creative work has, until recently, only been viewed on screens. Her writing and directing career has ...
RAINWATER HARVESTING 101

RAINWATER HARVESTING 101

The principals of rainwater harvesting have remained the same for centuries: collect and contain clean ...

Words by

Mark Miard

Illustration by

Ian Adams

FIELD NOTES

FIELD NOTES

The idea of market farming became a possibility for us after visiting the Comox Valley and falling in love with ...

Words & photos

Sarah Kehler

PAINTING WITH FIRE AND SODA

PAINTING WITH FIRE AND SODA

The kiln has been firing for six hours. Brilliant orange light is emanating from every crack in the brickwork. The ...

Words & Photo by

Jeff Brett

NATURALLY AWARE

NATURALLY AWARE

With stunning visuals and captivating words April Bencze is reconnecting humans with the natural world. Her ...

Interview & photo by

Ross Bodenmann

FOREST TO FAUCET: LIFE IN THE ERA OF HUMANS

FOREST TO FAUCET: LIFE IN THE ERA OF HUMANS

“Man must make himself small and humble to live in [nature] rather than a ruthless giant to conquer it” – ...

Words & photos by

Tim Ennis

TASTING ROOM ETIQUETTE

TASTING ROOM ETIQUETTE

We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to high-quality food and beverage producers in the Comox Valley. ...

Words by

Katie Phelan

GROWTH

GROWTH

This season, rivers and streams swell and grow like open hearts and minds, reminding us what we’ve left behind and ...

Vol. 10 Intro by

Julie Sabey

Photo by

Tim Ennis

NANAIMO

NANAIMO

In its infancy, much of the development of Vancouver Island was the result of exploration and the search for ...

Words & Photos by

BEES IN A MAILBOX

BEES IN A MAILBOX

They’ve been compared to a hive of bees trapped in a mailbox. If there’s truth to this metaphor, don’t be ...

Words by

Kerry Hale

Photos by

SauvAir

SERENITY IN SEAL BAY

SERENITY IN SEAL BAY

Smooth leather reins are held tightly in the hands of a nervous six year old who is guiding an eternally patient ...

Words & Photos by

Kyle Hansen

A LIFE’S WORK, IN PROGRESS

A LIFE’S WORK, IN PROGRESS

Whether it’s hanging out with High Lamas in the Himalayas, studying palaeontology in Drumheller, hosting poetry ...

Interview & Photo by

Ross Bodenmann

LENTELUS ORGANICS

LENTELUS ORGANICS

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

Words by

RJ Herron

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

COMPOSTING 101

COMPOSTING 101

Turn waste into earth! Composting completes the life cycle as organic waste becomes humus, and feeds new organic ...

Words & photo by

Joyce McMenamon

MORE THAN GOOD DESIGN

MORE THAN GOOD DESIGN

Dialect is a small design studio based in the Comox Valley that was created by Alex Dunae and Nik Szymanis in ...

Words & Photos by

Jamie McCue

BURN HOT, BURN CLEAN

BURN HOT, BURN CLEAN

There are really only two ways to understand what’s going on in the world. Argue about it over good beer (my ...

Words by

Evan Gough

GET OUT THERE

GET OUT THERE

My first experience hunting was with my dad. Over the years I've made many great hunting buddies, but the biggest ...

Words & Photo by

Al Adams

ELEGANT STRENGTH

ELEGANT STRENGTH

The stalwart CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has been going to bat for local business people since ...
HIDDEN TREASURES

HIDDEN TREASURES

As a tour guide for the Cumberland Museum, I am drawn to stories of people within our local history—I read family ...
FAST FOOD ISN’T ALWAYS BAD FOOD

FAST FOOD ISN’T ALWAYS BAD FOOD

The local food movement is often seen as the antithesis of ‘fast food’. These three Comox Valley food providers ...

Words by

Hans Peter Meyer

Photos by

Ron Pogue

FINDING THE FLOW THAT FITS

FINDING THE FLOW THAT FITS

I once practiced yoga regularly. During good stretches, I was attending class two to three days per week, and ...

Words & Photos by

Bevin Clempson

THE MAN, THE LEGEND

THE MAN, THE LEGEND

If you’ve been in the valley for a while, you’ve most likely heard of Bronco Moncrief. He grew up in the Village ...

Interview by

Sydney Moncrief

ABANDON LAND THIS SUMMER

ABANDON LAND THIS SUMMER

The Museum at Campbell River is a pure gem with outstanding permanent gallery exhibits, inspiring and thought ...

Words & Photos by

Mary Ruth Snyder

LOST IN THE WILDERNESS

LOST IN THE WILDERNESS

For those of us fortunate to live in the Comox Valley, we find ourselves encompassed by mountains, lakes, ocean, ...

Words & Photos by

Sara Kempner

THE ULTIMATE  SINGLETRACK  EXPERIENCE

THE ULTIMATE SINGLETRACK EXPERIENCE

The air is electric and alive with energy. Cumberland is packed with people. 600 competitors from all over the ...

Words by

Tara Miller

Photo by

DAVE SILVER

MAGIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

MAGIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

An endless coastline, mild climate, and constant ocean breeze are all part of life on Vancouver Island. Most ...

Words & Photos by

Sarah Seads

HENS 101

HENS 101

While the idea of collecting fresh eggs at home sounds idyllic, don’t think you can wing it. Like most things ...

Words & Photos by

Rebekah Kenway

FLOATING BELOW

FLOATING BELOW

Floating lazily in the glassy, calm waters of Shearwater Passage, our boat tied off to the mooring buoy, we get ...

Words & Photos by

Eiko Jones

COMPLEX TERRAIN

COMPLEX TERRAIN

Strike inwards on foot from Vancouver Island’s inhabited perimeter and, in a few hours walk beyond the strip ...

Words & Paintings by

Clive Powsey

DANCING IN THE DARK

DANCING IN THE DARK

When I arrive at Horne Lake caves, I’m warned by the guide that “it will be wet.” Myles leads us to Main Cave. ...

Words by

Terry McKall

LOVE IS A BURNING THING

LOVE IS A BURNING THING

Contrary to the expansive vision of the young, it’s often the tiny details where we live the largest parts of ...

Words by

Mike B

FUMBLING TOWARDS GRACE

FUMBLING TOWARDS GRACE

It took momentous effort to get to the top of this hill and I celebrate the fact that I haven’t vomited on Mt. ...

Words by

Sandra Szabo

Photo by

BRIDGING HISTORY

BRIDGING HISTORY

Roaming north along Royston’s Union Colliery Line, the air is damp and heavy with the scent of smoke wafting from ...

Words & Photos by

Bevin Clempson

FORAGING 101

FORAGING 101

A bucket bumps gently against my hip, filling slowly with ripe purple-black berries. This is high summer gathering ...

Words & Photos by

Kristy Pedersen

MATERIALIZING THE SOUL

MATERIALIZING THE SOUL

The wearable art of jewellery has been a form of self-expression for millennia. These adornments have been seen as ...

Words & Photos by

OUT OF THE BLUE

OUT OF THE BLUE

Marla Limousin and her husband George are the fermentation alchemists conjuring up the innovative wines coming out ...
THE NEW BREWMOX VALLEY

THE NEW BREWMOX VALLEY

When I moved up to the Comox Valley from Victoria over 10 years ago, I noticed a huge lack of what I call ‘good’ ...

Words by

Max Oudendag

THE VERDANT VALLEY

THE VERDANT VALLEY

There is a deep-rooted satisfaction in food production for both commercial and personal use. On the outside, the ...

Words by

Nik Dunn

Photos by

Nik Dunn

JOY DISTRICT

JOY DISTRICT

Halfway through Joy District's set, the power to their bass, both guitars, and all four microphones cut out. On ...

Words by

Andrew Wood

REACHING OUT  WITH ROBOTICS

REACHING OUT WITH ROBOTICS

From a converted classroom on the second floor of NIC’s Discovery Hall, Albert Balbon is changing the way students ...
GET ON BOARD

GET ON BOARD

Get on Board is a Comox Valley based registered non-profit organization which uses board sports-surf/skate/snow ...

Photos by

Ron Pogue

SQUEEGEE VALLEY

SQUEEGEE VALLEY

Screen-printing is enjoying a resurgence on a worldwide scale, in part because the industrial/functional side is ...
POWER

POWER

It can be defined as ability, force or potential. Some call it influence or pressure, others relate it to ...

Words by

Photo by

GARDENING 101

GARDENING 101

1. CHOOSING YOUR SEEDS A blend of Mesclun mix, oriental greens, or lettuce mix for raised beds or container ...

Words & Photos by

Rowan Helliwell

MARKET INNOVATORS: HEALING BLISS BOTANICALS

MARKET INNOVATORS: HEALING BLISS BOTANICALS

Healing Bliss Botanicals inspires people to nurture their bodies and restore themselves and the planet through the ...
THE FILBERG EVOLUTION

THE FILBERG EVOLUTION

It is perhaps one of the most quintessential views in the Comox Valley. The spit wrapping its sandy arm around the ...
GIDDY UP

GIDDY UP

Gone are the days of bundled up rides, getting home with frozen toes, and wet rain jackets. Today, we leave the ...

Words & photo by

Kyle Hansen

ALPINE TO OCEAN

ALPINE TO OCEAN

It’s go time. I know the big day has arrived when I see canoes in the parking lot of Mount Washington Ski Resort. ...

Words by

Sarah Seads

Illustration by

Ian Adams

UNVEILING STORIES

UNVEILING STORIES

Daniel Kooman is a local filmmaker and a partner of Unveil Studios, an independent studio finding its roots in Red ...

Interview & photo by

Ross Bodenmann

THE COMPETITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

THE COMPETITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

With a spirit of excellence and determination Darcy Lange has overcome serious illness and found legendary status ...

Interview & photos by

Ross Bodenmann

AUDIBLE INSPIRATION

AUDIBLE INSPIRATION

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. – John Muir Silent Season is a music label ...
LAST STAND IN THE  LAND OF PLENTY

LAST STAND IN THE LAND OF PLENTY

It was a hot day in May. My first spring as a resident of the Comox Valley and it felt as though summer was ...

Words by

Tim Ennis

VAN ISLE SKI TOURING

VAN ISLE SKI TOURING

It was the perfect storm for backcountry success on Vancouver Island; a skier’s dream.     Okay, ...

Words & Photos by

DRAC’S CASTLE

DRAC’S CASTLE

If you’re rattling down the back roads of Merville on your way to Mount Washington or searching the Tsolum River ...

Words & Photos by

Ross Bodenmann