Explore Collective Magazine Articles By Topic

Browse our growing collection of articles from current and previous issues of both the Comox Valley Collective and Strathcona Collective magazines by topic.

CREATING A SANCTUARY FOR CORKY THE ORCA

My work for cetaceans began in the 1990s. Using my love of ocean sailing and racing as a platform, I raised ...

Double Bay Sanctuary

Words & photos by

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TRANSIENT ORCAS ARE THRIVING IN THE SALISH SEA

Through conservation efforts and education, humans have finally made space for our supernatural neighbours, the ...

Bigg time

Words by

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THE ART AND CRAFT OF WOODTURNING

Woodturning, one of the most ancient of crafts, is a way of producing wood creations using razor-sharp chisels and ...

From wood to wow

Words & photos by

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HOW COMMON BROOM BECAME ALL TOO COMMON ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

Colonialism has taken many forms and has had many legacies. Beginning in the 1840s, settlers on what is now called ...

A golden killer

Words by

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A WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE HOME

Universal access Julie and Ramesh Lad moved into their new home in February 2022. The home, which was custom ...

Aging in place—and in style

Words by

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THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not ...

Finding healing and nourishment in the garden

Words by

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Illustration by

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WESTCOAST TRIPLE PLANK

SOAKED AND STOKED Founded in 2017 by friends Marie-France Roy and Alicia Gilmour, the WestCoast Triple ...

A fun weekend for a fishy cause

Words & photos by

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NATURAL COLLECTION STANDS

FROM YOUTHFUL OBSESSION TO THRIVING BUSINESS I first became obsessed with woodworking in junior high. I ...

Handcrafted furniture for your musical instruments

Words by

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WEST COAST EXPEDITIONS ON TLE:HOH

Beyond Kayaking I first saw a presentation about West Coast Expeditions (WCE)’s guided sea kayak adventures ...

Building business and community on Spring Island

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NAWALAKW HEALING CENTER

The beautiful sound of kwak'wala flows from the mouths of fluent speakers, filling the air and my heart. Among our ...

A reawakening of the kwak'wala language

Words & photo by

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ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Sam Rae Harriss

Five can fit fine inside a tiny home.

Words by

Amy Woods

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

VIDEOGRAPHERS AND FILMMAKERS

The Comox Valley is home to a diverse group of visual artists who use video to tell compelling stories about nature, humanity, and community.

Words by

Featured Artist: Terri-lynn Papagiannis

Featured Words: Neall Calvert

Poems by

Neall Calvert

Photos by

Jennifer Jellett

Featured Photographer: True Dennison

Art, Medicine, and Soap

There’s tradition and luxury in every batch of RavenSong.

Words by

Nicole Berns

Photos by

Alison Dawn

Q̓ʷalayu House

Words by

Paige Jarvis

Photos by

Dasha Armstrong

Leña Residency

An artist’s retreat on Galiano Island.

Words by

Jody Hagel

Photos by

Dayna Szyndrowski

Experience Tahsis

Ample adventure, history, and nature on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Words & Photos by

Kira Marshall

Inspired by Nature

West Coast images travel the world on clay.

Words by

Anita Lawrence

Photos by

Neil Lawrence

It’s In The Details

A local homebuilder shares his love for West Coast architecture.

Words by

Tony Lebid

Photos by

Nycky-Jay Vanjecek

Healthy Hives

How to inspect for a thriving, growing bee colony.

Words by

Rachel Halliwell

Photos by

Kent Bernadet

Riding Off-Grid

Words by

Terri Perrin

Photos by

Nancy Carr-Hilton

LITTLE RIVER: SOPHIE AND SIMON KUHL

Reflections from our younger residents

Words by

Sophie Kuhl

Simon Kuhl

The Gardening Movement

Three soil experts share their knowledge on the past and future of growing

Words by

Arzeena Hamir

Words by

Heather Gray

Building a Technology Hub

How angel investors support economic development through innovative projects.

Words by

David Baar

Photos by

Damien Jannet

Paddling Adventures

A family explores Cortes Island by kayak

Words & Photos by

Lisa Levesque

Traffic Jam

A newcomer’s reflections on migrating to the Strathcona region.

Words by

Tacey Keighley

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

Small Farm, Big Ideas

A family grows on Quadra’s SouthEnd Winery

Words by

Ben McGuffie

Photos by

Erin Wallis

Vertical Madness

Students sewing themselves into the sky

Words by

Mike Davies

Photos by

Allan Sawchuck

Burrell’s Bog

Protected space for the birds in Beaver Lodge Lands

Words & Photos by

Bob Dice

Words by

Trevor McMonagle

In Motion

Words by

Trevor McMonagle

Photos by

Tyrah Hofer

WANTED: DEATH COMPANIONS

We’re all going to die, but most of us don’t want to talk about it. Let’s reframe the conversation.

Words by

Madeline Christie

Photos by

Jennifer Jellett

MEET THE BOOT FITTER

When you’ve got happy feet, you just ski better.

Words by

Neil Borecky

Photos by

Luc Antaya

IT’S A WET COLD

Winter camping in Strathcona Provincial Park.

Words by

Kayleen Vanderee

Photos by

Matt Meredith

LITTLE VALLEY: AVA THOMAS

Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.

Words by

Ava Thomas

Photo by

Sara Kempner

THE BLUE BUZZ

Wild swimmers are only ever one swim away from a good mood.

Words by

Kerry Hale

Photo by

Glenn Naylor

THE GIFT OF MOTION

A new non-profit wants all queer athletes to have role models and cheerleaders.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Meredith Rose

RETHINKING ONIGIRI

A Hornby Island entrepreneur takes a beloved Japanese seafood snack to the next level.

Words by

Britt Hanson

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

GETTING THE DRIFT

As a vibrant poetry scene emerges in the Valley, a new anthology showcases over three dozen poets’ work.

Words by

Ed Varney

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

DROP INTO A DEEP READ

Photographer Duncan Hague creates space to tell mountain biking’s unsung stories.

Words by

Dave Flawse

Photo by

Duncan Hague

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Meet the organization that aims to help all Comox Valley children reach their full potential.

Words by

Trish Weatherall

Photos by

Crystal Chowdhury

MUD, MESS, AND MAGIC

Making a case for outdoor education.

Words by

Britt Hanson

Photos by

Sara Kempner

SALMON AND STEWARDSHIP

the K’ómoks First Nation Guardian Watchmen use the bounty of the sea to help protect the forest.

Words by

Lisa Levesque

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

BREWMOX VALLEY 2.0

Not even a pandemic has stopped our growing love for local craft beer.

Words by

Max Oudendag

Photos by

Sara Kempner

WHERE THERE’S WATER, THERE’S HOPE

Clearflo Solutions was already working on the global clean water crisis. Then their technology was needed much closer to home.

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Jenny Deters

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

Winters in the Valley aren’t what they used to be. What does this mean for our water supply?

Words by

Tim Ennis

Photos by

Brett Kroeker