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.

FUNKANOMETRY’S JACKSUN FRYER

Jacksun Fryer vividly remembers the exact moment when he got turned on to hip hop dancing. He was six years old, ...

Popping and locking happiness

Words by

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Photos courtesy of

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FUNGI’S POTENTIAL ON OUR REMOTE COASTLINE

The wild mushrooms of Vancouver Island hold extraordinary secrets—from life-saving medicines to underground ...

A mysterious world of wonders

Words by

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Illustration by

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WILD CORTES

Humans have an innate longing for the wild. It is our true home. We evolved in wild places, and our mental and ...

The origins of a special exhibit

Words by

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Photo by

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THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MYSTICAL TAILS

My business, Mystical Tails, embodies the deep connection between humans and dogs. This journey began with my two ...

Bridging souls

Words & photos by

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CUMBERLAND’S WOODSTOVE FESTIVAL

How we all make magic at the Woodstove FestivalFestival attendees lined the sidewalks in front of all the ...

Fall in love, I dare you…

Words by

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Photos by

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GARRET T. WILLIE

Old concert tapes, rewound and replayed, were the gateway to classic rock for 23-year-old guitarist and vocalist ...

Having a hell of a good time on stage

Words by

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Photo by

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CUMBERLAND’S REVAMPED JUMP PARK

We all need a place to play. For dirt jumpers, that place is simple: a few giant piles of soil are the key to a ...

The merchants of dirt

Words by

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Photo by

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RESTORING CRITICAL EELGRASS HABITAT

“Estuaries are extremely important for biodiversity and the significant driving factor is salmon,” says Jordon ...

Collaboration and conservation in the Campbell River estuary

Words by

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Photos by

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THE TIMELESS APPEAL OF TINTYPE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

A tintype, also known as a melanotype or ferrotype, is a photograph made by creating a direct positive. This is ...

A memory set in metal

Words & photos by

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THE SANDWICK CAIRN

The Sandwick Cairn is a stone sentinel that has stood vigil at the north exit of Courtenay, near St. Andrew’s ...

Comox Valley remembers

Words by & photo courtesy of

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THE BRIGHTEST PATH

A serendipitous trip to New Zealand provides soothing reprieve from the west coast winter.

Words by

Nora Bingham

Photos by

Meredith Rose

MARKINGS OF THE MIND

A designer and artist utilizes his craft to break down the barriers of schizophrenia.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photos by

Ian Mckenzie

STOLEN MOMENTS

Time slows and memories collect and blur together while climbing amongst the Valley’s age-old terrain.

Words by

David Benton

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

LITTLE VALLEY: ARLO FLEENOR

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

Words by

Arlo Fleenor

One of our community’s most crucial water sources is right under our feet.

Words by

Tim Ennis

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

FORTUNE FLAVOURS THE BOLD

Add depth and novelty to the summer season by branching out from your standard wine selection.

Words by

Ashley Shelest

Photos by

Yolanda Holderness

GENERATION GAP

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Photos provided by

Cumberland Museum & Archives

WHEREVER HELP IS NEEDED

Celebrating 10 years in the Valley, the Comox Bay Care Society’s mobile Care-A-Van continues to drive forth positive values in our community.

Words by

Mac Newton

Photo by

Sara Kempner

ADAPT OR DIE

Boomer Jerritt’s long history with photography represents the unique combination of skills needed to succeed in a saturated industry.

Words by

Jenn Dykstra

Photos by

Boomer Jerritt

REMARKABLE SOFTNESS

Yarn bombing, the spontaneous act of applying textiles in public spaces, liberates both artist and observer from expectation.

Words by

Leanne Prain

Photos by

Jeff Christenson

AN ISLAND OF SOUND

Now 38 years in, the team behind the Hornby Festival continues to do world-class their own way.

Words by

Dierdre Atkinson

Photo by

Jennifer Armstrong

BENEATH THE HIGH

Microdosing has become popular in places like Silicon Valley to increase productivity and creativity. Can taking a hit expand our thinking, or will it just mess with our minds?

Words by

Mike B.

Photos by

Sareh Puetz

GROWING CONSCIOUSNESS

Whether for our health, our planet, or the simple joy of food, the benefits of plant-based eating have become impossible to ignore.

Words by

Sally Podmore

Photos by

Joanne McElroy

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

The economic boom of the early 20th century brought more than coal to the surface. This is the tight-lipped history of the Comox Valley sex trade.

Words by

Christa Petch

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

IN THE FIELD

HIDDEN RICHES

Long before it became a popular tourist destination, two adventurers stumbled upon the unexpected while exploring the Upana Caves.

Words & Painting

Nick Hutton-Jay

ON A WING AND A PRAYER

The misunderstood sport of speed flying requires practiced skill and careful calibration. It can also take a leap of faith.

Words by

Kyle Hansen

Photos by

Marc Jardine

BREAKING THE SURFACE

Vol. 20 Intro by

Allie Jenkinson

Photo by

Scott Bell

IN SEARCH OF THE SIMPLE LIFE

Through an ever-changing landscape, a visual artist finds direction with a four-month road trip in a customized Chevy school bus.

Words & Photos by

Andrew Talbot

CURIOUS CREATURES

Catch-and-release aquariums provide a unique learning experience, sparking deep appreciation for the natural world.

Words by

Christa Petch

Photos by

Justine Adams

FRIENDLY COMPETITION

As well as a destination trail race, The Cumby is a fundraiser to protect the forest it winds through.

Words by

Cathy Clark

Photos by

Lorenz Jimenez

LITTLE VALLEY: JUSTIN YARETZ

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

Words by

Justin Yaretz

In partnership with School District 71, skilled timber framers are teaching their craft to Comox Valley youth.

Words by

Randy Churchill

Randy Grey

IN HER ELEMENT

Through the push and pull of turbulence and peace, strength and submission, a surfer awakens.

Words & featured photo by

Laurissa Cebryk

Gallery photo by

Mélina Lamoreux

PROTECTING THE BALANCE

Roughly one-sixth of Denman Island residents are a member of the Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards, an organization doing work on the ground for the sake of surrounding waters.

Words by

Mac Newton

Photo by

Keith Clark

THE RETURN OF GIANTS

Following a decline due to the West Coast’s whaling history, the humpback population around Vancouver Island is making a massive comeback.

Words by

Sarah Hauser

Photo by

Brandon Hamilton

CRUMBLING CANNERIES

The profits from a thriving fishing industry dried up, and businesses moved on. Some of the sites left behind are in hazardous decay, polluting our oceans and tarnishing BC’s coast.

Words & Photos by

Oriana Smy

AQUA MAN

The original underwater superhero swims the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Words by

Mike B.

Photo by

John Kelsey

CURRENT DEMAND

The nutrient-rich waters of Baynes Sound provide the ideal conditions for oyster harvesting, drawing workers to the Valley’s steady industry.

Words by

Dave Flawse

Photo by

Mike LeBlanc

CRUCIAL AND COMPASSIONATE CARE

The Vancouver Island Hospice Society provides assistance for people with terminal illnesses and the families that surround them. One woman takes to the bike to provide support in return.

Words by

Ellissa Prendergast

Photos by

Leah Hull

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

During a kayaking trip to Ecuador, a local photographer’s interests converge with like-minded North American adventurers.

Words & Photos by

Dave Prothero

A LIFE THAT BENEFITS OTHERS

Now a permanent resident of the Valley, A Tibetan Buddhist Monk has turned hardship into a teaching legacy.

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Photo by

Gordon Ross

THE WATERS WITHIN

Reflecting our past through a lens of sustainability to voice our hope for the future.

Words & Photos by

Paige Brown

ABANDON SHIP

Orphaned by their owners, a number of derelict boats litter the shores of Comox harbour. Due to murky jurisdiction and a lack of accountability, they’ll remain indefinitely.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Photo by

Sara Kempner

IN THE FIELD

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Featured photo by

April Bencze

UNLIKELY SHIPMATES

A coast dweller and her dog navigate life's currents aboard a small sailboat.

Words & Photo by

April Bencze

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