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.

Original music blooms within a cozy circle of songwriters

A look inside the Comox Valley Songwriters Circle, a monthly gathering where local songwriters share their ...

Wisdom sung from the heart

Words by

Photos by

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Vintage cameras draw memories from the shadows

I have always loved the look of old cameras, their shape and design. Over my decades as a photographer, I ...

A return to film

Words and Photos by

Freediving in Comox Lake

Imagine a place where your mind goes quiet—completely quiet. No buzzing thoughts, no inner to-do lists. Just the ...

Beyond breathing

Words by

Photos by

One bean at a time

Did you see what she did to him, did you hear what they said? —Lou Reed, “New York Telephone Conversation,” ...

An Introduction to Vol. 43

Words by

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Photo by

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Q&A with Denise Mitchell

Denise is the owner of Denise Mitchell Interiors, a luxury interior design studio based in Campbell River. She has ...

Denise Mitchell Interiors: Discussion with Campbell River designer

Photos by

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A trip to Okinawa, the birthplace of karate-do

For many of its practitioners in the West—Europe and the Americas, say—karate is a sport. However, when practiced ...

Members of a Courtenay dōjō experience the culture of their traditional martial art

Words by

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Photos by

The watery history of Lewis Park

Tracing the watery past of Lewis Park and the efforts to hold back the riverIf forced to pinpoint the ...

The struggle for a beloved gathering place

The Dirt on Biochar

Biochar is a word that many of you may not have heard before, but it describes something as old as the hills, as ...

Black Gold

Words by

Photos by

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A single lady at Maple Lake ponders life and the one that got away

I grew up in the Comox Valley and spent my whole life here. When I was younger, I never thought it would be so ...

Lonely Sam

Words by

Illustration by

Featured Poet: Naveena Gill

I still remember that very first evening at Goose Spit Park. All the way from Toronto, the Valley welcomed me with ...

Mysterious orange sky: a poem about a sunset over Goose Spit

Words by

Photo by

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FALLING IN LOVE WITH FUNGI

The Cumberland Fungus Fest celebrates the marvellous multitaskers of the natural world.

Words by

Meaghan Cursons

Photos by

Shawn Pigott

THE NEXT RIGHT THING

Intro by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Ron Pogue

REMARKABLY UNSINKABLE

Denman Island’s Hilda Slayter Lacon was a stalwart survivor of multiple disasters.

Words by

Claire King

Opening photo by

Alan Hustak

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Paige Whitehead is going beyond glow sticks to disrupt an entire toxic industry.

Photos courtesy of

NYOKA Design Labs

BRIDGING THE ART/TECH GAP

The Comox Valley Digital Creation Hub: a new resource for local creatives.

Words by

Jennifer Casey

Photos by

Caresse Nadeau

ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT

There’s not much you have to do to a summer cucumber to render it delicious.

Words by

James McKerricher

Photo courtesy of

Shamrock Farm

ELDER VALLEY: PIQUANCY AND JOY

Reflections from an older resident.

Words by

Denham Kelsey

Photo by

John Kelsey

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

Della & Winter Podmore-Goggins, ages 12 & 9

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

NOT A BIKE SHOP

Everyone’s welcome at Gravity MTB’s new Cumberland clubhouse.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Luke Phillips

BEYOND BUSINESS AS USUAL

The CVCF is pioneering an innovative trust-based approach to grants. It's helping community funds get to where they're needed, faster.

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photos by

Kareen Sanderson

A 4,200-KM JOURNEY

Reflections on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike.

Words by

Bent "Aloha" Hansen

Opening photo by

Jenn Dykstra

SAFE AND SOUND

For modern festivals, harm reduction services are part of the game plan.

Words by

Max Lyman

Opening photo by

Zenon Kai Imaging

RECOMMITTING TO FILM

Pick up a manual camera and see what develops.

Words by

Nora Bingham

Photos by

Meredith Rose

EQUINE ENJOYMENT

The NVIHA—local riders with unique ways to have fun on a horse.

Words by

Lori Moffat

Photo by

Clio Rose Photography

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH COMMUNITY IMPACT DAY

Words by

Emma Levez Larocque

Photos by

Karen McKinnon

LISTENING TO PLANTS

In tending to the land, we can restore diversity—and restore ourselves.

Words & Gallery Photos by

Opening photo by

Words by

Photos by

A TRUE COMOX GEM YOU’LL LOVE

Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park.

MARMOTS IN FOCUS

The world’s rarest marmot lives on Vancouver Island. Photographer Catherine Babault wants to share its story with the world.

Words by

Mac Newton

Photos by

Catherine Babault

THE POWER OF KEEPING DANCE ALIVE IN ADULTHOOD

Art in motion

Words by

Meghan Williams

Photo by

Pamela Powell Photography

COME AS YOU ARE

Conscious dance requires no skills or substances. And it’s remarkably freeing.

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Photos by

Meredith Rose

WE CAN DANCE IF WE WANT TO

Two stories exploring different perspectives on this passionate, beautiful art form.

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Meredith Rose

DISCOVERY

Words by

Ross Bodenmann

Photo by

Dan Owen

LIVING YOUR ZEST LIFE

As Bill Nye said, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” So keep an open mind..

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Nick Thornton

MOUNTAINS AND MOTHERHOOD

Not every new mom’s to-do list includes summiting 53 peaks over 6000 feet.

Words & featured photo by

Eryn Tombu Haigh

LITTLE VALLEY: FARRAH RUSSELL

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

Words by

Farrah Russell, age 8

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

BALANCING NATURE AND NEW ENDEAVOURS

Opening Introduction

Words by

Camilla Sampson

Photo by

Tyrah Hofer

Respect, Protect, Flourish

HOW TO LIVE WITH THE LAND, NOT JUST ON IT.

Words & Photo By

Jake Tinkler-Josephi

Migration of the Grizzlies

AN EXERCISE IN WILDLIFE ECOLOGY SPECULATION.

Words By

Andrew Findlay

Photos By

Moira Le Patourel

Saying Yes to South East Asia

Words & Photos By

Hayley Zumkeller

A PRESSING MATTER

The story of Black Cat skateboards.

Words by

Andrew Pressault

Photos by

Sara Kempner

AN ICONIC TRAIL IN THE MAKING

It’s time to get The Vancouver Island Trail across the finish line.

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Featured photo by

Chris Istace

WINE FROM THE SOIL UP

A commitment to sustainable prosperity keeps 40 Knots Winery growing.

Words by

Allie Jenkinson

Photos courtesy of

40 Knots Winery

WILD GARDENING

Being a part of the great chain of life, and nourishing it.

Words & Art by

Sally Podmore

THE TAIL OF THE KITE

Hamilton Mack Laing’s sudden involvement in the 1925 Mount Logan expedition.

Words by

Trevor Marc Hughes

Photo courtesy of

Richard Mackie

EYES ON THE TREES

The nominations are closed, but the voting has just begun in the annual Tree of the Year (TOTY) contest. And everyone, of any age, is eligible to vote for their favourite tree between April 1 and May 31.

Words by

Carol White

Photo by

Jim Whyte

THE KLAHOOSE WAY

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC AND INNOVATION OF KLAHOOSE WILDERNESS RESORT.

Words By

Camilla Sampson

Photos By

CHRIS TAIT

FROM BEAN TO BAR

THE ORIGIN OF COAL CREEK ROASTERS.

Words By

JAN BONK

Photos By

BRACEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Explore Collective Magazine Articles By Topic

Wisdom sung from the heart

A return to film

Beyond breathing

An Introduction to Vol. 43

Denise Mitchell Interiors: Discussion with Campbell River designer

Members of a Courtenay dōjō experience the culture of their traditional martial art

​​The struggle for a beloved gathering place

Black Gold

Lonely Sam

Mysterious orange sky: a poem about a sunset over Goose Spit

The Cumberland Fungus Fest celebrates the marvellous multitaskers of the natural world.

Denman Island’s Hilda Slayter Lacon was a stalwart survivor of multiple disasters.

Paige Whitehead is going beyond glow sticks to disrupt an entire toxic industry.

The Comox Valley Digital Creation Hub: a new resource for local creatives.

There’s not much you have to do to a summer cucumber to render it delicious.

Reflections from an older resident.

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

Everyone’s welcome at Gravity MTB’s new Cumberland clubhouse.

The CVCF is pioneering an innovative trust-based approach to grants. It's helping community funds get to where they're needed, faster.

Reflections on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike.

For modern festivals, harm reduction services are part of the game plan.

Pick up a manual camera and see what develops.

The NVIHA—local riders with unique ways to have fun on a horse.

In tending to the land, we can restore diversity—and restore ourselves.

Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park.

The world’s rarest marmot lives on Vancouver Island. Photographer Catherine Babault wants to share its story with the world.

Art in motion

Conscious dance requires no skills or substances. And it’s remarkably freeing.

Two stories exploring different perspectives on this passionate, beautiful art form.

As Bill Nye said, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” So keep an open mind..

Not every new mom’s to-do list includes summiting 53 peaks over 6000 feet.

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

Opening Introduction

HOW TO LIVE WITH THE LAND, NOT JUST ON IT.

AN EXERCISE IN WILDLIFE ECOLOGY SPECULATION.

The story of Black Cat skateboards.

It’s time to get The Vancouver Island Trail across the finish line.

A commitment to sustainable prosperity keeps 40 Knots Winery growing.

Being a part of the great chain of life, and nourishing it.

Hamilton Mack Laing’s sudden involvement in the 1925 Mount Logan expedition.

The nominations are closed, but the voting has just begun in the annual Tree of the Year (TOTY) contest. And everyone, of any age, is eligible to vote for their favourite tree between April 1 and May 31.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC AND INNOVATION OF KLAHOOSE WILDERNESS RESORT.

THE ORIGIN OF COAL CREEK ROASTERS.

The struggle for a beloved gathering place