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.

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: LUC ANTAYA

Luc is a transplant from the prairies who made his way to the Comox Valley seven years ago in search of the ...

Photo By

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FEATURED ARTIST: SHANNON FORD

Shannon Ford is inspired by the magic of discovering beauty in chaos: “Walking up to a huge, empty canvas is pure ...

Words & Artwork by

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ELDER VALLEY: REFRAMING REST

Restful interludes are integral to the rhythm of life. In the natural world, winter is ...

Reflections from an older resident.

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LITTLE VALLEY: CADE HALE

Winter tells us to chill out. But that doesn't mean we have to sit still. The dictionary says rest is “to ...

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

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A BENEFIT FOR ALL

Except for Indigenous people, Canadians are settlers—immigrants themselves, or the descendants of immigrants. ...

The Immigrant Welcome Centre helps new residents succeed in the Comox Valley.

Words by

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A TALE OF TWO WOODLOTS

There are two basic ways to look at a forest you manage—as a tree farm or an ecosystem. To see the difference, ...

Small-scale operations offer hope for the future of forestry.

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Opening photo by

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STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Homelessness can happen in many ways: job loss, injuries and accidents, mental health issues, and substance use. ...

A student-led walk in the snow to help end homelessness.

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A THEATRICAL FORCE FOR GOOD

Music and theatre provide an environment where, through collaboration, we are encouraged to celebrate diversity, ...

Exploring the human experience with laughter, love, and hard work.

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THE GIFT OF LIFE

In the early morning hours of the winter solstice, December 21, 2021, my life and health changed forever. I was ...

It’s not on your driver’s license! Register to become an organ donor.

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FAREWELL TO THE DENTAL BUS

Things are often done a little differently on the Gulf Islands. Partly by necessity, partly by inclination, these ...

After over three decades, Peter Walford has parked his mobile practice.

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JOURNEY

Vol. 11 Intro by

Julie Sabey

Photo by

Jennifer Armstrong

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: BRYAN WALWORK

MERVILLE ORGANICS

Words by

RJ Herron

Photo by

Arzeena Hamir

FEATURED ARTIST: JULIE SABEY

RAINWATER HARVESTING 101

Capturing nature's bounty.

Words by

Mark Miard

Illustration by

Ian Adams

ELDER VALLEY: AGING GRACEFULLY

Reflections from an older resident.

Words by

Wei-Ching Chang

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

IF I HAD A HAMMER

The Shed Tool Library and Makerspace Co-op.

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

THE ROOT OF INDOCHINA

A pilgrimage to Fanispan Mountain.

Words & Photos by

Lindsay Elms

LOSS OF THE COMMONS

Ghosts of Vancouver Island’s past.

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Illustration by

Laurel Meyer

THESE LEGENDARY WALLS. THESE STORIED WATERS.

Many of the Comox Valley’s iconic pubs have come and gone, but, like empty cans of Lucky Lager beside a gravel road, the memories remain.

Words by

Mike B

Photo courtesy of

Courtenay and District Museum 990.24.299

LIVING LANDSCAPES

Cultivating the garden of your dreams.

Words by

Arianne Huene

Louis Lamb

CAMPBELL RIVER

More than simply the salmon capitAl of the world.

Words by

Laurel Sliskovic

Photos by

James Headrick

FIELD NOTES

Homesteading in the Comox Valley.

Words & photos

Sarah Kehler

SID WILLIAMS THEATRE

Lifting community spirits through the years.

Words by

Tara Murphy

Photo by

Boomer Jerritt

PAINTING WITH FIRE AND SODA

Conjuring art in the midst of chaos: ceramics of Jeff Brett

Words & Photo by

Jeff Brett

NATURALLY AWARE

An interview with April Bencze.

Interview & photo by

Ross Bodenmann

FOREST TO FAUCET: LIFE IN THE ERA OF HUMANS

Life in the era of humans.

Words & photos by

Tim Ennis

LITTLE VALLEY: VIJAY HOWE

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

Words by

Vijay Howe, age 13

COMOX VALLEY TRANSITION SOCIETY

Making a difference for 30 years.

Words by

Anne Davis

Photos by

Karen McKinnon

COAL HILLS BMX

Staying on track.

Words by

Tara Bursey

Photos by

Stew E Radford

OUTRIGGER CANOEING IN THE COMOX VALLEY

Working together with water, wind, and tide.

Words by

Laurel Archer

Photo by

Dave Prothero

TASTING ROOM ETIQUETTE

Words by

Katie Phelan

HEIRLOOM SEEDS

Connecting us to the past, present, and future.

Words by

Nora Bingham

Photos by

Meredith Rose

A CLOSER LOOK AT HYPNOTHERAPY

The inner workings of the heart and mind.

Words by

Britt Hanson

Carly Panzenboeck

IGNITING A SPARK

Learning at the Fine Arts eCademy.

Words by

Tom Keenoy

Photos by

Laura Mann

FREE-DIVING, WITH A CATCH

Bringing peace to your soul and food to your table.

Words by

Galyn Franklin

Photos by

Jeremy Koreski

GROWTH

Vol. 10 Intro by

Julie Sabey

Photo by

Tim Ennis

LOST SAVANA FARM

Finding bounty at the end of the road.

Words by

RJ Herron

Photo by

Britt Arbanas

STOCK 101

How to build a base.

Words by

Jake Galbraith

Photos by

Julie Sabey

CAFFEINATED

Getting your fix in the Comox Valley.

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

JAPOW

Magic on the slopes of Japan.

Words & Photos by

Max Oudendag

LET IT RAIN

Helping combat the symptoms of SAD.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photo by

Dave Prothero

OFF-THE-GRID

The beauty of disconnecting.

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photo by

Allan Sawchuck

NANAIMO

Appreciating the old and discovering the new.

Words & Photos by

BEES IN A MAILBOX

The age of drones.

Words by

Kerry Hale

Photos by

SauvAir

SERENITY IN SEAL BAY

Finding beauty on the trails.

Words & Photos by

Kyle Hansen

COMOX VALLEY’S CRAFTING COMMUNITY

Connecting a community of Comox Valley crafters with the world

Words by

Nat Raedwulf Pogue

Photos by

Ron Pogue

A LIFE’S WORK, IN PROGRESS

An interview with Comox Valley’s Poet Laureate Kevin Flesher.

Interview & Photo by

Ross Bodenmann

SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE

Words by

Cheryl Condly

Photos by

19 Wing Imaging

LITTLE VALLEY: WALLACE BAIKIE

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

Words by

Zakary Wallace Baikie, Age 9