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.

EVERYONE CAN (AND SHOULD) MEDITATE

Cultivating stillness We experience so much in our lives. Sometimes life’s momentum is so fast that we miss ...

Yes, even you

Words by

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Photos by

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AT HOME WITH RODERICK HAIG-BROWN

“A river is water in its loveliest form; rivers have life and sound and movement and infinity of variation, rivers ...

Larger Than Life

Words by

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Photos courtesy of

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GETTING TO KNOW THE AWAKENEERS

The story of the Awakeneers starts more than 30 years ago on an off-grid homestead in the mountains of BC where ...

For the love of music

Words by

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Photo courtesy of

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CVOX: COMOX VALLEY COMMUNITY RADIO

Our devices can bring music and news from almost everywhere in the world. But most of the content is ...

A local fountain of music, culture, and information

Photos by

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REFLECTIONS OF A YARD CAR

When I first rolled off the assembly line decades ago, I couldn’t wait to hit the road for a life of adventure. ...

Content to be still after years of motion and freedom

Words & photos by

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HANDCRAFTING LINEN

LIVING FROM LINEN I’m Karla, and I create linen. That’s right, I start with a handful of unassuming flax ...

From tiny flax seed to majestic fabric

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Photos by

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HA̱’ME’ RESTAURANT REOPENS AT KWA’LILAS HOTEL

BEYOND THE PLATE AT HA’ME‘’S (RE)OPENING The eagerly anticipated (re)opening of Ha̱’me‘ Restaurant, in its ...

Food security and a celebration of culture

Words by

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THE HERRING GOLD RUSH OF 1979

In 1979, a certain smell sustained the herring gillnetters of British Columbia. It hung from their bibs and clung ...

For BC’s fishers, it was the year of money

Words by

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BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES

A steady stream of people stops in front of a typical home in Courtenay’s Old Orchard neighbourhood. They come by ...

Take a book, leave a book

Words by

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Photos by

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THE STRATHCONA REGION IS GUIDED BY PASSION AND PURPOSE

As the editor of the Strathcona Collective, it is my privilege to help writers and community members throughout ...

Editor's introduction to Vol. 9

Words by

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Photo by

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Featured Photographer: Kiley Panziera

Photos By

Kiley Panziera

A GAME CHANGER FOR FISH FARMING

THE REVOLUTION HAPPENING IN THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.

Words By

HALEY BURNS

Photo By

BLUETREE PHOTOGRAPHY

LITTLE RIVER

REFLECTIONS FROM A YOUNGER RESIDENT.

Words by

Autumn Lott, age 7

Photos by

Francesca Lott

WHERE THE WIND TAKES US

HOW A COUPLE SAILED THEMSELVES INTO A BUSINESS VENTURE.

Words By

STEPHANIE RACINE

MAXIME TREMBLAY

Generations of Sound

LIFE AT ORCALAB’S RESEARCH STATION.

Words & Photos By

MEGAN HOCKIN-BENNETT

GOLD AT THE END OF THE ROUTE

WHITE WATER KAYAKING IN GOLD RIVER.

Words & Photo By

Dave Prothero

WILD BUS FILMS

How Wild Bus Films tells some of the planet's biggest stories

Words By

CORTNEY GILBERT

Photo By

OLLIE RICHARDS

Lights. Curtain. Go!

Reimagining the Rivercity Stage.

Words By

Cleo Corbett

Featured photo by

Lucas Schuller

GOATS AND BOATS

An Annual Migration From One Island To The Next.

Words & Photo by

Dood Turner

VENTURE NORTH

CHALLENGE YOURSELF AT SNOWDEN DEMONSTRATION FOREST.

Words By

JOHN VANDERVEEN

KEN CLAUSEN

SO SAY THE FERRYMEN

Reflections on three careers on the water with BC Ferries.

Words by

Laura Busheikin

Photo by

Jennifer Armstrong

STOCKING THE WORLD

Got an appetite for DIY global cuisine? Find international ingredients right here at home.

Words by

Nicole Bergot

Photos by

Jenn Dykstra

INSPIRING RECOVERY

Rediscovering the joy of sport and my own spirit at the Invictus Games.

Words by

Nick Holyome

Photos courtesy of

Soldier On

LITTLE VALLEY: MAX WARD

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

Words by

Max Ward, age 13

IN SEARCH OF OUR INDIGENEITY

Diving into ancestral stories from Europe with Mythology Club Comox Valley.

Words by

Kester Reid

Photo by

Amy Shaw

FERMENTATION 101

Simply Sauerkraut.

Words by

Jake Galbraith

Photo by

Julie Sabey

PUTTING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN TO BED

Words by

Mike McDonald

Photos by

Trevor Moore

BLACK AND RURAL

An intimate account of Black folk in the Canadian countryside.

Words by

Joline Martin

Illustration by

Keely O’Brien

ALL HAIL THE MAY QUEEN

Cumberland settlers brought ancient traditions.

Words by

Meaghan Cursons

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

FRASER CAIN’S UNIVERSE

The Valley resident behind one of the galaxy’s most popular websites.

Words by

Ryan Stuart

Featured photo by

Sara Kempner

THE NIGHT RIDE

Moody, quiet, calm, serene. Wild, reflective eyes. Oh, how I love the secrets of the darkness.

Words by

Mical Dyck

Photo by

Lorenz Jimenez

THE SURROUNDING BLUE

Words by

Allie Jenkinson

Photo by

Paige Owen

ADVENTURES IN PADDLING

Circumnavigating Vancouver Island by sea kayak.

Words & Photos by

Erica Keen

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Macdonald Wood: A peaceful park born from controversy.

Words by

Susan Barratt

Photos by

Deanne Matell

GLOOM AND BEAUTY

Why are we doing this? Because we can.

Words by

Jen Groundwater

Photo by

Ron Pogue

THE ELEVENTH HOUR FOR OLD GROWTH

After decades of clearcutting, can a fundamental shift protect what’s left of BC’s ancient trees?

Words & Featured Photo by

Andrew Findlay

Gallery photo by

Chris Istace

BUSINESS IS BLOOMING

Farm-to-table flowers are a growing movement in the Comox Valley.

Words & photos by

Lydia Jackson

TUNING IN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Invented for music festivals, silent disco headphones find new life during COVID-19.

Words by

Ellian Bell

Photo by

Eugene Chung

ALWAYS HERE FOR US

Let brassicas delight your taste buds through the long winter months.

Words by

James McKerricher

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

THE COOL OF CURLING

There’s a place for everyone within the quintessential Canadian game.

Words by

Keith Parry

Photos by

Sara Kempner

Reflections from an older resident.

Words by

Diane Jacquest

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

LITTLE VALLEY: CADE HALE

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

Words by

Cade Hale, Age 9

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

A BENEFIT FOR ALL

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

Words by

Mac Newton

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

A TALE OF TWO WOODLOTS

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

Words by

Andrew Findlay

Opening photo by

Jarrett Lindal

STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

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

Words by

Carrera Teal

Photo by

John Gower

A THEATRICAL FORCE FOR GOOD

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

Words by

Chelsea McCannel-Keene

Photo by

Tim Penney

THE GIFT OF LIFE

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

Words by

Sara Cherewaty

Photo by

Jenn Dykstra

FAREWELL TO THE DENTAL BUS

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

Words by

Laura Busheikin

Photos courtesy of

Peter Walford