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 ARTIST: LEE GASS

Lee Gass has been sculpting all his life. He carves stone and wood sculptures for indoor and outdoor display and ...

CAMPBELL RIVER FOOD BANK’S DREAM FOR THE FUTURE

It's been a tough winter for our island community. We all know a neighbour who has suffered an unexpected job ...

Planting the seeds of food security

Photos by

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LITTLE VALLEY: ODUS ATKINSON

A flowing rhythm: thoughts on a creative life My name is Odus. I am 12 years old, and I have lived on Hornby ...

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

Words by

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Photos by

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THE JOYS OF KEEPING BIRDS

A FLOCK OF OUR OWN Two years ago, we moved from Cumberland to Black Creek and brought our small flock of hens ...

… and some avian advice

Words by

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Photos by

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HOMALCO NATION’S NEW TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

Today, they’re taking staff up to April Point Resort. Tomorrow, they’re headed up the Toba Inlet. “We go where ...

Shooting the breeze with Qaya Way West

Words by

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Photos by

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MAKING CUMBERLAND TRAILS MORE INCLUSIVE

To the casual observer, Gene Wey is a glass-full-to-the-brim kind of person. When a doctor told him he would never ...

Careful "edits" and a new Wey forward

Words by

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Photos by

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MEET THE ARTISTS AT THE QUADRA ISLAND STUDIO TOUR

It started with four thousand bricks—hauled by two high school sweethearts, newly married, from Calgary to Quadra ...

The HeART of Quadra

Words by

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Photos by

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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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Photos 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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Spending the day among strands of seaweed.

Words by

Shaelynne Bood

Photos by

Kimberley Kufaas

KEEP IT GREEN

In an era of climate change and housing pressures, how can urban forests survive and thrive?

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Opening photo by

Jen Groundwater

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

The history of fire protection services in Cumberland.

Words by

Bevin Clempson

Photos by

Sara Kempner

10,000 Volunteer Hours of Urban to Alpine

Campbell River’s Search and Rescue Society.

Words by

Tim Fairbank

Photo courtesy of

Daniel Gelson

DRIPPING IN CULTURE

Sweating my way through the public saunas of Finland and Estonia.

Words by

Lisa Jaster

Dan Webb

THE SEA IN THEIR BLOOD

Meet the diving family who’ve been harvesting geoducks by hand for three generations.

Words by

Serena Kerr

Photos by

Coast Seafoods

A CARING PRESENCE

Every week, Indigenous Elders connect with students at 11 Valley schools through the Ni’nox¯sola program.

Words by

Ni’nox¯sola program Elders

ELDER VALLEY: NESTING INSTINCT

Taking pleasure in the rituals of the changing seasons.

Words by

Doloris Paquin

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

FROM VENTURE CAPITALIST TO VINTNER

Alex Guertin’s circuitous path to a Comox Valley vineyard.

Words by

Dave Nowak

Photo by

Michelle Bucher

LITTLE VALLEY: AZALEE BANKS

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

Words by

Azalee Banks, age 11

Photo by

Jen Rollins

LISTEN TO THE WHISPER

Self-discovery at hollyhock retreat centre.

Words by

Mary Ruth Snyder

Photos courtesy of

Hollyhock Retreat Centre

Drawn to the Water

Documenting coastal mariners.

Words by

Suzanne Jolly

Photos by

Stan Novotny

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: CHUCK BURDICK

The Heriot Bay Inn

Where ghosts, custodians, and community gather.

FEATURED ARTIST: SARAH CLARK

CAMP ROAD SPECIAL

Putting down roots in a place where people and stories live.

Words by

Simone Gingras-Fox

Photos by

Luke Phillips

Exploring the Roots of Midwifery

A midwife’s reflections.

Words by

Lindsay Wells

Photos by

Nycky-Jay Vanjecek

WHY WITCHCRAFT?

Modern witchcraft and how it may be able to help heal the planet.

Words & Photo by

Catriona Richardson

Little River: Clementine & Pepper Wiltsie

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

Words by

Clementine & Pepper Wiltsie, ages 6 & 7

Photo courtesy of

Caitlin DeMill

Discovering Ancient Coastal Migration Patterns

The Hakai Institute’s new ancient DNA lab opens on Quadra Island.

Words by

Camilla Sampson

Photos courtesy of

The Hakai Institute

The Journey is the Gift

Finding Mick Taylor’s forever place.

Words by

Kathleen O’Reilly

BOW HUNTING: A MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIFETIME OF LESSONS

Raising daughters to appreciate nature through conservation.

Words by

Alison Bell

Opening photo by

Scott Bell

CREATING COMMUNITY BY THE KEG-LOAD

The family legacy behind the North Island Craft Beer Festival.

Words by

Ross Bodenmann

Photos by

Amanda Rentiers

UNCOVERING THE MYSTERIES OF TWIN ISLANDS

Stories from Sheltering in the Backrush.

Words by

Jeanette Taylor

Photos courtesy of

Cortes Island Museum & Archives

ANODIZED DOWNHILL DAYS

Local downhill and enduro racers fit right into the Valley’s monster mountain bike heritage.

Words by

Mike B

Photo by

Liam Wallace

GIVE BEETS A CHANCE

This slow, easy technique makes their rich, sweet, earthy flavour even better.

Words by

James McKerricher

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

THE SEA AS MUSE

Conserving the coastline with photographer John Kelsey.

Words by

Camilla Sampson

Photos courtesy of

John Kelsey

A DECADE OF DUELLING RÉSUMÉS

My Path to Vancouver Island’s snowy slopes.

Words by

Ryan de Milliano

Photo by

Sara Kempner

OLD HOUSE ON THE RIVER

The Kirk family home that houses Locals Restaurant is part of Courtenay’s history—and future.

Words by

Allie Jenkinson

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

FOSSIL FASCINATION

The Comox Valley has many ancient secrets for citizen palaeontologists to discover.

Words by

Mac Newton

Photos provided by

Experience Comox Valley

A WORK OF COMPASSION

The Comox Valley Hospice Society (CVHS) marks its 40th anniversary of care.

ECHOES IN CHINATOWN

How exclusion, discrimination, and racism took their toll on a thriving community.

Words by

Erica Keen

Photos courtesy of

The Keen Family

CREATING SPACE FOR TRADITIONS, OLD AND NEW

Intro by

Camilla Sampson

Photo by

Matt Newfield

THE ART OF DRYING FLOWERS

A fusion of Indigenous heritage and modern artistry is a way to keep memories forever.

Words by

Karen Bezaire

Photos by

Meredith Rose

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