Strathcona Collective
As I look in the mirror to wash my face, car loaded, kayak on roof, ready to embark on the drive to Gold River, I think back on some of my first trips to this community. For paddlers of canoes, kayaks and rafts trips out here are a bit like finding the “Gold” at the […]
Words & Photos By Dave Prothero
CV Collective Summer
For over a year, we’ve all been dreaming of getting away, and perhaps Island adventures will once again be possible in the summer of 2021. If so, put the village of Gold River, on the edge of Nootka Sound, on your list. Here, you can breathe freely, walk amid the giants of old growth, and […]
Words by Anita LawrenceFeatured photo by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Spring
Behind every non-profit there’s at least one driven, talented founder willing to make sacrifices to chase their vision. For Society of Inclusion and Participation (SiP) Global Adventures, that guy is Dave Calver. Calver—an avid paddler, occupational therapist, and wheelchair user—has recently launched SiP, a Comox Valley-based group that teaches youth and adults with disabilities to […]
Words by Haeley DewhirstPhotos by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Spring
How many times have you thought about how nice it would be to drive less? Maybe you want to reduce your carbon footprint, or you don’t want to sit in traffic, or you want to get more exercise and fresh air. However, the idea of biking to and from work or errands seems too hard, […]
Words & photo by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Intro Winter
Almost all the ancient civilizations identified four similar basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water. I believe there’s a part within all of us—even in our modern times, where many of us are disconnected from the seasons and cycles of the earth—that resonates with this concept. Think about it: earth corresponds to winter and north, […]
Words by Jen GroundwaterPhoto by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Winter
I’d heard of Ecuador for years: stories of great rivers, easy transportation, and friendly people. Now was the time to experience it for myself. Rivers with names like Quijos, Oyacachi, Misahualli, Jondachi, and Casonga would be mine to paddle. The journey began with a plan that was waylaid by a year after a passport issue. […]
Words & Photos by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Winter
What a difference a year makes. I’m watching a small train of two-foot waves roll through a pack of paddlers at the start line of the 2017 MOMAR. One of these paddlers is Carl Tessman. A year before, in this same race, even calm waters caused Tessman stress while in his surf ski, a speedy sit-on-top […]
Words by Ryan StuartPhoto by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Summer
1 Start with a stainless steel saltwater hook, in sizes 4 to 8. Pinch the barb with pliers to produce a smooth bump–this is required by law for all salmon fishing, fresh or saltwater. 2 Next, place the hook in your tying vise. Make certain that the hook is well in place and will not […]
Words by Lydia JacksonPhotos by Dave Prothero
CV Collective Spring
What is that? A question often posed by onlookers as Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club (CVCRC) members cart a 44ft, 300lb, six-person outrigger canoe down the Courtenay marina ramp for practice. Polynesian in origin, outrigger canoes were key to the settlement of the South Pacific islands as these large crafts were made for crossing open […]
Words by Laurel ArcherPhoto by Dave Prothero
