This Comox-Valley based writer loves telling stories about interesting places, people, and experiences. She’s the author of several works of non-fiction including photography books (other people took the photos), the Western Canada SuperGuide, and Alexander Graham Bell: the Spirit of Innovation. She is currently a travel and lifestyle writer for a number of companies and publications, and also works as an editor, helping other people tell their stories.
Jen was born in Montreal and has been migrating steadily westward ever since. After twenty years living in the Canadian Rockies, she now enjoys life and adventures in the Comox Valley with her unruly family and dog. She isn’t too sendy on a bike and will probably never take up kiteboarding, but loves all the many other outdoor activities the island has to offer.
Communities in the Pacific Northwest are essentially human settlements in logging clearcuts. Whack down trees, lay out a street grid, start framing buildings, then landscape around them. Trees were viewed […]
Words by Andrew FindlayOpening photo by Jen Groundwater
My husband and I sometimes travelled with our kids when they were tiny. If we ever stayed in a motel, we would make them a “cozy nest” out of spare […]
In this Community in Action feature, we’ve profiled dozens of charitable organizations who work to improve various aspects of life in our community. Over the years, many of these groups […]
Words by Jen GroundwaterPhotos by Kareen Sanderson
Dance is a language that transcends borders, barriers, and abilities. We use it to share stories, communicate ideas, and connect with one another. Through dance, we bring our inner world […]
Welcome to our ZEST issue, which has nothing to do with citrus fruit and everything to do with gusto, enjoyment, and delight. The pages of this magazine are always filled […]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIVING A LIFE: PAY ATTENTION. BE ASTONISHED. TELL ABOUT IT. – MARY OLIVER In the process of editing this magazine, I’m often awestruck by the stories that appear […]
When I was a kid growing up in the ’70s and ’80s in Montreal, stores were closed on Sundays. Every single store. Every single Sunday. Sure, at the dépanneurs (corner […]
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. – Søren Kierkegaard, 1843 I don’t usually go around quoting Danish philosophers, but I think Kierkegaard was on […]
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably driven past the community halls north of Courtenay along Highway 19A many times without giving them a second thought. They’ve seen better days, […]
When LOVE was suggested as our summer theme, I jumped on it. I planned to write an inspiring intro that would bring the whole valley together in shared appreciation for […]
When Kermit the Frog said, “It’s not easy being green,” he wasn’t talking about investing, but he might as well have been. It’s a complicated topic to cover on just […]
If you’ve ever spent time with a toddler, you’ll know they ask “Why?” about seven thousand times a day. When my first son was about two or three, my husband […]
Imagine noticing smoke in the distance, then, less than ten minutes later, your property is fully consumed by flames and there’s no time to do anything but flee. Imagine watching, […]
Everyone remembers the first time they met Thomas Dunn. He was a rare individual who made an impression—mostly positive, sometimes abrasive, always fun—with people he met. Born in Wigan, England, […]
Things are changing in the Comox Valley: our population is growing as more people move here in appreciation of the Valley’s natural qualities and lifestyle. And our population is aging: […]
I’m so glad you’re here. As many readers know, each issue is part of a cycle with four linked themes. COVID-19 has made the 2021 cycle our most challenging yet. […]
After so many months of navigating an ever-changing pandemic landscape of worries, warnings, restrictions, and rules, I think it’s safe to say most of us are feeling pretty damn depleted. […]
Welcome to the 25th volume of our ongoing love letter to the Comox Valley. In 2014, Ross Bodenmann had the honour of writing the first editor’s introduction, which he closed […]
It began in a small kitchen on a small island, with peanut butter, honey, and oats. It was 1993 when Trish Vet’s business got, ahem, rolling. After years of refining […]
I began to write this letter on a rainy, blustery day in early November—possibly not the best time to reflect on resilience. With the ongoing news about the pandemic, institutional […]
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Fossil Beach Farm is a-bustle with activity. People are sitting at long picnic tables on a wide lawn, tasting the half-dozen ciders that are made […]
Words by Jen GroundwaterPhotos by Kali Wexler Photography
Early in 2020, our editorial team envisioned the general look and feel of the covers and themes for the year ahead: four issues, four seasons, four elements. It would be […]
When I wrote the last Editor’s Letter, things were still reasonably normal in the Comox Valley. But some time between our spring issue heading off to print and the time […]
Musical wizardry is something I’ve always admired, and after meeting Comox Valley luthier (guitar maker) Wyatt Wilkie, I now understand that the magic of music begins long before any musician […]
Ah, spring. It’s the time when the light begins to spill over our valley again—a little longer every day—and the air is filled with possibility. April showers bring May flowers? […]
The first thing you need to know about Glen Alwin Farm is that nobody involved is named Glen. Or Alwin. The people who run the show are Joanna (Jo) Smith […]
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 […]
PETER GEE: CONNECTOR If you recently arrived in the Comox Valley and found a family doctor with little trouble, you can thank Dr. Peter Gee. As Site Director of the […]
ERIC RUSH: EXPLORER To put it mildly, Eric Rush is pretty fond of road biking. A member of Courtenay’s Riverway Dental Racing team, he regularly puts in weekly 100-kilometre rides. […]
Words by Jen GroundwaterFeatured photo by April Bencze
On a late October day, a pale sun shines through sparse golden leaves, making sparkles on the Orford River. I know there are four grizzly bears just across the water […]
As the light dims, we must find ways to fill our hearts, challenge our minds, and keep our bodies healthy. We turn to the elements to satisfy ourselves and make […]