GETTING THE DRIFT
As a vibrant poetry scene emerges in the Valley, a new anthology showcases over three dozen poets’ work.
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ALL 2020
MUD, MESS, AND MAGIC
Making a case for outdoor education.
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DEMYSTIFYING MUSHROOMS
Move over, sourdough. The newest homesteading trend is mushrooms, and they’re popping up all over the place.
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THE THREADS OF RECOVERY
A former adrenaline junkie becomes a different kind of adventurer, exploring new cultures through weaving.
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SPEAKING FOR THE TREES
The lush forest along the Puntledge River feels like a protected sanctuary, but some areas are slated for logging. A new local group aims to change that.
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FEATURED WORDS: LONGEST NIGHT
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FEATURED ARTIST: ZOEY MAYENBURG
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: JARRETT LINDAL
HEALING DIRT
Building up communities, one bike trail at a time, with Patrick Lucas.
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LITTLE VALLEY: ZOË HENDERSON
Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.
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COASTAL COLLABORATION
In a pandemic season, tourism operators partner with First Nations to protect the shoreline.
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THE VINYL REVIVAL
Why records are making a comeback.
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TAKING THE PLUNGE
A pledge to jump into Comox Lake once a month for a year.
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RAISING WOMEN
Now in its 21st year, Comox Valley Girls Group provides a safe space for the development of female empowerment.
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CALLED TO THE BAR
Hornby Organic is building an energy-bar empire based on a family recipe.
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STORM, SPIRITS, AND ISOLATION: LIFE ON THE LIGHTS
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RAKING THE COALS
Seeking meaning in a beloved mother’s dementia.
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TAKING THE TEMPERATURE ON GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
When it comes to energy efficiency, what’s hot may not be that cool.
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UNHINDERED GOOD TIMES ON FORBIDDEN PLATEAU
It was all fun and games ’til the roof caved in—but the former Wood Mountain Ski Park still delivers the goods.
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ARE WE OUT OF THE WOODS YET?
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THE MYSTERIOUS FAROE ISLANDS
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GOING DEEP
Reflections on life under water.
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HOW YA GONNA KEEP ‘EM DOWN ON THE FARM
Exploring family connections where farm meets sea, at Hornby Island’s Fossil Beach Farm.
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GLOBAL BUSINESS, LOCAL IMPACTS
When is it better to do something by half? Allow AquaQuest to demonstrate.
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BEAVERS, WIDE OPEN!
As RuPaul might say, getting to know more about our beavers may improve our quality of life.
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THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH
Hunger Moon is a shining read for a season of strangeness.
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FROM FENCE BOARDS TO SURFBOARDS
No foam here: old cedar takes on new life in handcrafted heirloom surfboards.
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GREY TURNED GREEN
Comox, British Columbia, tops the list of Best Communities to Live in Canada 2040.
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MORE THAN KUS-KUS-SUM
Project Watershed is using a federal grant to restore the salmon highway: the Salish Sea's nearshore habitat.
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THROUGH THE VENEER
Getting creative in the place between water and air, where the perspective is elastic and welcoming.
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EAT YOUR MEDICINE
On a mission to teach all kids that healthy food can taste great.
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MOVING THROUGH CHANGE
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ON SMOKING AND PICKLING
SIMPLE PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES PROVIDE FOOD SECURITY—AND FLAVOUR.
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INFLUENZA’S DEADLY TRAIL
At the close of World War I, the so-called Spanish flu claimed lives all over the world, even in the Comox Valley.
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THE BEAUTY OF THE BURN
Buddhist wisdom tells us that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Try telling your body that.
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THE SUSPENSE WON’T KILL US
COVID-19 has changed global tourism forever. Here on the island, local operators and residents need to imagine a new future for the industry.
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ALL FIRED UP
Award-winning potter Gordon Hutchens may be in his seventies, but he’s still got plenty of clay to shape, students to teach, and ideas to pursue.
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FEATURED ARTIST: RICHARD MRAVIK
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: GLYNNIS GREY
FEATURED WORDS: DISTANCE
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PLAYING WITH FIRE
On a hot summer day in 1938, a few sparks from a locomotive caused Vancouver Island’s largest blaze.
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COURTENAY AFTER COVID
Twenty years after the pandemic, a local historian looks back.
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DRAWN TO THE FLAMES
Because our personal relationship with fire is a cautious one, we love the excitement of fire shows.
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ART, A HARVEST, AND A BLESSING
Public Place / Sacred Space leaves a meaningful legacy in downtown Courtenay.
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SWEAT IT OUT
Bathing in the benefits of hot-cold rituals.
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VERACITY OF THE VESPIDS
Wasps are a family of insects truly to be loathed. Or are they?
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PUTTING THE SUN TO WORK
Vancouver Island’s first Passive House Plus is healthful, comfortable, beautiful—and costs nothing to heat.
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FORGED IN TOUGH TIMES
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Small Town, Big Music Scene
What you not know about the Sayward Valley Folk Music Society
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Haig-Brown Writer in Residence Program
A place of welcome and inspiration on the banks of Campbell River.
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Freedom, Flexibility, and Adventure
Enjoying the region in an unconventional way.
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Born Wild
Meet Matt Ravai, The Oudoorsman.
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Finding Connection, Nourishing Community
One family's renewed commitment to celebrating food, family, and friends.
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Braving The Storm
Surfing wind waves during winter is not for the light-hearted.
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Little River: Jonah E. Richter
Reflections from a younger resident
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Small But Mighty
Meet one of Campbell River's community builders.
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From Tater Tots to Full-Fledged Foodie
How an inedible childhood cultivated a Campbell River chef.
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A Very True Story
My grizzly attack and run of exceptionally good luck.
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Always A Rock in my Pocket
Transforming the way we look at simple, everyday objects.
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Featured Photographer: Moira Le Patourel
Featured Artist: Sonny Assu
It Began as a Dream
Helping people help others for over 30 years.
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An Aerial Perspective
Seeing the forest and the trees without leaving the ground.
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Exploring West
Thirty-five kilometer of trail, six friends, six backpacks, four days, three nights, and one impromptu adventure.
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If Dogs Could Talk
The Adventures of Cole and Archie.
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A Hiługwila for Mia
Ceremony, Heart, Tradition, and Family.
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COVID DISCOVERIES
COVID MOMENTS
Reflections on going with the flow with a young family in this unusual time
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COMOX VALLEY SCHOOLS AND CORONAVIRUS
Pivoting with compassion
COLLABORATING AGAINST COVID-19
NATION OF STAIRS
Dogs, donkeys, and other delights of trekking in Nepal.
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THE EGG EQUATION
Not all eggs are created equal—here’s some straight-up clucking about which ones are best.
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EASY, BREEZY E-BIKES
Rad new rides give biking a boost.
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LITTLE VALLEY: SAM GOLDBY
Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.
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FED UP NO MORE
Edible Island and the evolution of alternative eating in the Comox Valley.
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FEATURED ARTIST: JO PAYNE
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MATT NEWFIELD
BELTANE
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ON THE SHARP EDGE
Local swordfighters get medieval at the Comox Valley Combat Guild.
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AIMING FOR ZERO
From circular to linear and back again: the human economy on a finite planet.
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THE CURVE OF TIME
The classic story of a BC family’s sailing adventures still thrills modern readers.
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THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS
From fresh waters to the salty sea—the K’ómoks Important Bird Area.
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THE ART OF THE ARCHTOP
At the pinnacle of guitar making, you might just find Comox Valley luthier Wyatt Wilkie.
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NO FEAR OF FALLING
BASE jumper Angelique Vinnedge loves being airborne.
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LEARNING TO FLY
MARS’s newly expanded rescue centre is a haven for Valley wildlife.
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HOME IN THE HILLS
It took a community to build Vancouver Island’s backcountry hut.
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IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL LAND
The history and community behind Courtenay’s beloved Airpark.
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DOWN IN THE PIT
Inside the unseen world of musical-theatre musicians.
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BLANKETED IN HOPE
A meeting of art, reconciliation, and the law in the K’ómoks Bighouse.
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BREEZING INTO SPRING
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Salmon, Fundraising, and Volunteering
How one night of celebration supports a community vision.
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Biking and Learning with Sprockids
Seeing health and connection to community in kids of all ages.
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It Just Tastes Better
A look at the growth of the Farm-to-Table movement in the Strathcona Region.
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THE CAMPBELL RIVER CRICKET CLUB
Global influence, local action
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Lost and Found
The history of the restoration of the Campbell River Estuary.
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Kusam Klimb, Sayward
Reach your peak
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LITTLE RIVER: RAEGAN COLLINS
Reflections from a younger resident
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Transforming Campus and Community
How North Island College's new bistro space has gone from vision to reality.
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Seed Sowing 101
Witnessing the wonder of nature in your own backyard.
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My Playground
A local's perspective of the place he calls home.
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CAMPBELL RIVER’S SPIRIT SQUARE
Where community gathers and spirit is celebrated
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Calling the Rains and the Salmon
The Petroglyphs of Quadra Island.
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Words on the Water
The year 2020 is the 19th year for an ever-changing community of readers, a celebration of words, and an inspiring weekend of connections.
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Featured Photographer: Eiko Jones
