December 2009 Village Vibe

villagevibeNews and views from the heart of Fernwood

December, 2009

More on-street parking proposed for FernwoodLoading zone, crosswalk also discussed

in this issueNeighbourhood Non-Profi t

Boys & Girls Club Services page 3

Feature

Has Fernwood Become Gentrifi ed? page 4

Gleanings

Fall Foraging for Free Plant Stockpage 6

›› by lee herrin

A proposal is in the works by City Hall’s Transportation Division to increase on-street parking in Fern-

wood. Th e proposal aims to address a long-standing shortage of parking in the core of Fernwood Village by converting the “Resi-dent parking only” zones in front of Glad-stone CRD Housing (1320 Gladstone) and the Gladstone side of Springwood Strata (1313-1323 Gladstone) (see map inset). Th is would likely increase the available parking in the 1300 block of Gladstone from room for approximately nine cars to room for 25.

Th e parking would be an enforced two hour parking zone Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and parking with no restrictions at other times. Retention of a small amount of “Residential parking only” in front of the aff ected properties on both sides of the street will allow residents to park in the remaining half block of resident parking zones.

Aft er consultation in September with neighbourhood businesses and organiza-tions including Fernwood NRG, Trans-portation Division offi cials came up with a plan that met the need for additional park-ing. A meeting, hosted by the Fernwood Land Use Committee, was held November 23 for public consultation.

Surprisingly, less than 20 people showed up for the meeting, which was also attended by Councilors Philippe Lucas and John Luton, along with a representative from

the City’s Transportation Division. Even more surprisingly to many of the attend-ees, no one spoke out against the proposal. Th ere was some concern from residents of Springwood Strata about the lack of a load-ing zone in Fernwood for commercial vehi-cles. Frequently, commercial trucks park in the alley between 1313 Gladstone and the strata complex. Th e alley is in fact private property of the strata and must be left clear as a fi re lane.

Another issue that came up was the proposed work on the crosswalk on Fern-wood Road. Th e city offi cial stated that the Transportation Division was look-ing to include those improvements in the 2010 capital budget (see Village Vibe cover, October 2009).

Following the meeting, Marcelle Hara-piak of the Springwood Strata said “It was a positive, productive meeting with good representation from the neighbourhood. It shows that neighbours care what’s hap-pening in their neighbourhood. And it looks like the City is willing to listen to the neighbourhood too.”

Mike Colwill, part-owner and opera-tor of the Fernwood Inn, on hearing the results of the meeting, said “It’s great news. It sounds very promising. I’m really pleased with the response of our neighbours to sup-port the growth of our vibrant neighbour-hood core.”

Th e City will be issuing letters to aff ected residents and business owners in the near future. Photo by Steve Carey. Map courtesy of the City of Victoria.

To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca

villagevibe December 2009 News and views from the heart of Fernwood

declarationof principles

& values

Editor Lee Herrin

Founding Editor Lisa Helps

Contributors

Lee Herrin

Johanna Henderson

Sarah Hancock

Stacey Curtis

Margaret Hantiuk

Art

Steve Carey (1, 4)

Patrick Neilson (2)

Stacey Curtis (3)

Johanna Henderson

Margaret Hantiuk

Production

Ellen Rooney

Contact us

1240 Gladstone Street

Victoria, BC V8T 1G6

T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509

[email protected]

www.villagevibe.ca

The views expressed in the Village Vibe

do not necessarily refl ect the views of

Fernwood NRG.

villagevibePublished by Fernwood

Neighbourhood Resource Group

›› We are committed to creating

a socially, environmentally,

and economically sustainable

neighbourhood;

›› We are committed to ensuring

neighbourhood control or

ownership of neighbourhood

institutions and assets;

›› We are committed to using

our resources prudently

and to becoming fi nancially

self-reliant;

›› We are committed to the creation

and support of neighbourhood

employment;

›› We are committed to engaging

the dreams, resources,

and talents of our neighbours

and to fostering new links

between them;

›› We are committed to taking

action in response to

neighbourhood issues, ideas,

and initiatives;

›› We are committed to governing

our organization and serving our

neighbourhood democratically

with a maximum of openness,

inclusivity and kindness;

›› We are committed to developing

the skills, capacity, self-worth,

and excellence of our

neighbours and ourselves;

›› We are committed to focusing

on the future while preserving

our neighbourhood’s heritage

and diversity;

›› We are committed to creating

neighbourhood places that

are vibrant, beautiful, healthy,

and alive;

›› and, most of all,

We are committed to having fun!

››by lee herrin

At a meeting a few months ago, the guest speaker stated in a “matter-of-fact” manner that “Fernwood is becoming gentrifi ed.” An anarchist sticker in the square urges “Resist Gentrifi cation in Fernwood.” To me, the word “gentrifi cation” suggests a decrease, rather than an increase in spirit.And anyone who has lived in Fernwood for the past fi ve years knows that spirit has increased rather than decreased. Another word might be diversity. And again, diversity has increased in Fernwood, not declined. Th ere is a broader mix of people in the neighbourhood now than there was fi ve years ago.

Averages can be deceiving. I used to work in statistics, and there is a joke about the statistician who drowned in a river with an average depth of six inches. Numbers can inform our thinking, but only when com-bined with an on-the-ground sense of what we are actually quantifying. Property val-ues have risen in Fernwood, and certainly they have risen rapidly following the pur-chase and renovation of the Cornerstone Building and the Fernwood Inn. Everyone knows this. But as the photos show (see Scene: In Fernwood), even in the core of the neighbourhood there is considerable

variation in the size, confi guration, age and state of repair of the housing stock. It is this variability that encourages a broad mix of residents, both homeowners and tenants.

Although the average price today is over $540,000, there is a considerable range in values within the study area. And indeed, if the increased desirability of the neighbour-hood is attracting new homeowners who want to live in Fernwood because of what the neighbourhood represents (i.e. they have a choice of neighbourhoods but chooseFernwood), they will pay higher prices even for rundown property and invest (oft en sweat and dollars in equal parts) to

bring the property up to the level of repair that they desire. In the coming years, this reinvestment might tend to raise property values further, but will also bring more resi-dents who are engaged by Fernwood as a neighbourhood and who want to participate actively in the life of the neighbourhood. It is hard to see this as a negative.

What do you think? Drop us a line at [email protected] and let us know how you want to be engaged in revi-talizing the neighbourhood. What project do you think the neighbourhood should work on next?

editorial:

Revitalization and diversifi cation

››by johanna henderson

Until recently, options for recovery groups in Victoria have been largely limited to a twelve-step model. For those looking for possibilities beyond this, or even as a com-plement to it, there’s now LifeRing.

LifeRing meetings focus on peer sup-port and self-help, “self-help meaning we encourage each member to create a recov-ery plan that is very individual, and the notion around that is that there’s no one way to do this; there’s multiple ways to be in recovery,” says Michael Walsh, Executive Director of the LifeRing Secular Recovery Society.

Although the group originated in 2001 in Oakland, California, the Canadian ver-sion of the group is in its relative infancy: Walsh says Victoria meetings are only now nearing their second year of operations, and the group only received nonprofi t status in Canada in the past few weeks. Despite being a relatively new model for recovery in Canada, response to the meetings has been positive: there are now six groups operating in Victoria, including one group especially for women, and another off ering meetings out of the Victoria Community Medical Detox.

Walsh says what makes LifeRing unique is its whole-life approach to recovery. “[We’re] trying to get people not to just

think about their recovery as going to meetings and groups and counsellors and always thinking about “recovery stuff ,” but also including all the other stuff in their life, like their personal life, their profes-sional life, music, art, whatever is driving them whether it’s creative or hobbies or volunteering,” says Walsh.

Meetings are peer-facilitated and include discussion and resource-sharing. “[It’s about] fi nding out what other people are doing in their recovery and fi nding out what’s work-ing and what’s not...it’s kind of like a living

room atmosphere where people are just talking back and forth and off ering feed-back if that’s okay,” says Walsh. Many people use the meetings independently, while others complement them with counselling and/or twelve-step meetings.

LifeRing meetings are off ered on a drop-in basis; those interested in partici-pating are encouraged to show up at meeting start time. Meetings in Fernwood are

held at Fernwood NRG (1240 Gladstone) at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays. Meetings are also held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Pacifi c Rim Alliance Church (women’s group), Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Pacifi c Centre in Langford and at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthias in Victoria, Th ursdays at 7:30 p.m. at the S.O.S. Centre in Parksville and at 8:00 p.m. at the Victoria Community Medical Detox (closed meeting), and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. at Victoria Fairfi eld United. For more information, check out liferingcanada.org or call 250-920-2095.

buzz:Fernwood gets its own LifeRing

revitalization gentrifi cationdiversity uniformityinvolvement apathythriving stagnantvitality deadness

Separating the fertile from the fl ammable in 10 words or less —

Fernwood Dead Wood

BC Assessment data show that the average house price in Fernwood’s core has

increased considerably over the past four years, but averages can be deceiving.

LifeRing meetings focus on

peer support and self-help

Art by Patrick Neilson.

www.fernwoodnrg.ca December 2009 villagevibe page 3

neighbourhood non-profi t:

Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria

›› by sarah hancock

Many Fernwood residents will know us as a ‘club’ based out of the old fi re hall on Yates Street, but we’re doubtful they know the full extent of our work throughout Greater Victoria. Our ‘club’ is actually a family of services, held together through a common purpose—to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confi -dence and skills for life. Our services encom-pass social and recreational programming, programs for parents, care homes (sup-ported living environments) and intensive support systems that address issues such as youth homelessness, youth pregnancy, men-tal health and addictions and youth justice. Whether they are preventative programs or responsive interventions, all of our programs are positive, strength-focused, and build capacity based on where that individual is at and what they need.

Our community clubs are at the heart

of our philosophy to provide youth with a ‘good place to be’. Th e downtown com-munity club off ers aft er-school drop in programs for youth from Monday to Fri-day and is an important resource for many families whose children attend the Central Middle School. Run by friendly and sup-portive staff and volunteers, the program gives youth an opportunity to engage in a

range of recreational activities, prepare and eat healthy snacks and have free time to hang out in a positive environment. Once a week the club makes out-trips to our Wil-derness Camp in Metchosin or other places such as the museum or the ice rink.

Investing in our youth should be a prior-ity for all of us—it is essentially an invest-ment in the future of our community. Boys

& Girls Clubs believes community-based approaches hold the greatest potential for building the capacity of our youth. We have expertise and experience in doing this, but the support of local families, businesses and other organizations is a vital piece of the puzzle. We are facing critical funding chal-lenges to keep our four community clubs running as they are now. If you feel, as a resident or business in Fernwood, that you could contribute in some way, we would be delighted to hear from you. Likewise, if you would like to know how our programs and services could help you and your fam-ily, please get in touch.

With our 50th anniversary coming up in 2010, we are looking for people to join us in celebrating our legacy and our future. Also, if you have memories or stories about Boys & Girls Clubs, please share! With regards to anything mentioned above, please con-tact Kate Mansell, Director of Develop-ment at 250-384-9133.

Do you know of a great Fernwood non-profi t

organization (society, club, church, service

group, etc) that is doing amazing things in our

neighbourhood? Tell us about it! Email us at

[email protected].

›› by stacey curtis

On 11.11.11., at 11 p.m., Andrea Mattson announced the opening of the Red Gate Healing Space. “Th e choice of name was obvious,” says Mattson, “there’s a big red gate outside.” Numerologically speaking, the name adds up to 33, which is triple 11: Mattson’s favourite number. “Eleven signifi es the coming together of humanity through community. Brother and sister-hood.” In Japanese, the red gate, or torii, may have acted as a bird perch; it signifi es an entrance to sacred space. “Birds,” says Mattson, “are messengers of the soul.”

Mattson is all about community. Her objective: to provide an aff ordable space for practicing healers and resources for those seeking healing. “Th ere’s a wait-ing room where there will be a library for people to borrow books. Th is will also be a social area, providing information about what’s available within the community and contacts for healers.”

Th e space comprises three rooms: the waiting area, the main room and the offi ce. Th e main room holds 15–20 seated people and 5–10 where the healing or workshop

is movement oriented. Th e offi ce space is available for spiritual counselling: tarot and tea leaf readings, for example.

Mattson shares the grand and tranquil building with two other spiritual havens: the Buddhist meditation Shambhala Cen-tre and the Victoria Miracle Centre. “I’m giving this space a facelift right off the start. It’s such a serene place, being right between the two centres celebrating their own spiri-tuality. Th e energy in here is right and now it’s just a matter of making the place look how it feels.”

Th is past October, Mattson hosted the fi rst of a now annual Island Intuitive Arts Festival at the Orange Hall, here in Fern-wood. To Mattson, “healing arts is a lot to do with self discovery, personal develop-ment and embracing holistic health.” Th e two-day festival aff orded individuals con-nection to their community by combining myriad healers from the intuitive arts fi eld—tarot, crystal ball and star-trek card readers, sound healers, reike, massage, shamanism and laugher yoga. Th e success of this festival certainly played a part in Mattson opening the centre she’d always dreamed of.

Aft er a six-year hiatus from living in

Fernwood, Mattson is returning to house both herself and her business in the area. “Fernwood chose me,” she says of having stumbled into her new abodes. “Fernwood is so creative. Everybody is very open, very free and very relaxed…I think that this is the start of a really big healing journey for me and I’m excited to embrace the com-munity, to meet like-minded people and to join together with people who want peace and love in their life.”

Th e centre’s grand opening—a social gathering to view and learn about the space over tea—is set for December 10, from 7-10 p.m. While Mattson is also a musician, her intuitive art is as a psychic. She off ers 15-minute drop-in readings Wednesdays and Th ursdays from 3–7 p.m. in synchron-icity with massage in the centre. To learn more, drop by the centre at 2033 Belmont Avenue or contact Mattson through her website: www.psychicsong.com.

A gateway to healing

BGC participants take a ride outside the society’s Fernwood offi ce. Photo courtesy of BGC.

Andrea Mattson stands in front of the Red Gate Healing Space. Photo by Stacey Curtis.

A good place to be,

right here in Fernwood.

Come in from out of the cold.

Join us daily from 11:30

1302 Gladstone 412-2001


feature:

Gentrifi cation. It’s a term that’s thrown around a lot, especially in Victoria. Coined by British soci-

ologist Ruth Glass in 1964, the term is now commonly defi ned as “the process by which an (urban) area is rendered middle-class” (Oxford English Dictionary). Even this somewhat negative defi nition is a depar-ture from Glass’ original intentions for the word, which she used interchangeably with words such as “invasion” and “colonizing”.

It can’t be denied that Fernwood has undergone considerable transformation from its George-and-Dragon days. With the restoration of the Cornerstone Build-ing and the Fernwood Inn came increased liveliness in Fernwood Square, and the area continues to see a growing interest in com-munity activities. Fernwood is a neighbour-hood with a life-force and heartbeat. But is this newfound revitalization harming the quality of life in the community?

It’s not who you are,

it’s how you are

Th e eff ects of gentrifi cation, referred to more positively as urban revitalization, depend on the kind of people who move in, says Dr. Robert Giff ord, an environmental psychologist and researcher at the Univer-sity of Victoria. Environmental psychology is the study of how the environment—buildings, neighbourhoods, and nature—aff ect the way people interact and make decisions. Giff ord is currently wrapping

up research on how neighbourhood is con-nected to quality of life.

Whether a new resident in a neighbour-hood has a positive or negative eff ect on the community as a whole is not necessar-ily determined by their fi nancial status, says Giff ord, but rather their level of engage-ment within the community.

“You know, a fairly wealthy couple could come and build a new house… they

wouldn’t have place attachment to begin with too much, but they could be involved, they could provide social support, receive social support, be active in the neighbour-hood, so it depends on the people, really,” says Giff ord.

Giff ord’s research points to four diff er-ent factors that positively aff ect quality of life: place attachment; involvement in neighbourhood activities; social support; and getting out into the neighbourhood.

First, one must get out into the neigh-bourhood. Th e simple act of walking or biking around the neighbourhood and say-ing hello to the people in the community helps new neighbours to become more acquainted with the place and the people in it. Secondly, one can give and receive what Giff ord calls “social support.” Th is includes activities of interdependence, such as borrowing or sharing tools, off ering to look aft er a pet or a lawn, looking in on a neighbour, and the like. Th irdly, one must become involved in neighbourhood activi-ties, such as a block party or involvement in the community centre. Engagement in these activities is thought to produce place attachment, which in turn, improves the quality of life in a neighbourhood.

“Th e more that you like your neigh-bours, lend them tools or help look aft er their kids, or make maybe business connec-tions, certainly the quality of life is going to

go up,” says Giff ord. “Th e more that people are out on their porches in good weather and walking around, what it does is that people end up saying hello or haven’t I seen you before, or that’s a nice dog you have and connections get built, so that physi-cal activity leads to social support, which leads to involvement, which leads to place attachment.

Does gentrifi cation reduce quality of life or improve quality of life? Ultimately, according to Giff ord, it’s up to us.

Fernwood by the numbers

Glass maintained that the improvement of housing in London neighbourhoods currently in disrepair would reduce aff ord-able rental accommodation to the point that low-income residents would be forced to leave the neighbourhood. However, researchers at the Universities of Colorado and Pittsburgh, in partnership with Duke University, have found evidence to suggest that in many cases, the opposite may hold true. Th eir study suggested that migra-tion from gentrifying neighbourhoods by lower-income demographic groups was occurring at a similar rate in non-gentrify-ing neighbourhoods. Th e research echoes similar fi ndings from Columbia Univer-sity (Freeman, 2005). While both studies refute Glass’ theory, even those who dis-agree with it as a rule have admitted that it could be the exception: “We’re not saying there aren’t communities where displace-ment isn’t happening,” says Randall Walsh, one of the University of Pittsburgh study authors, in an interview with Time Maga-zine last year.

So how has Fernwood fared in terms of housing aff ordability? If the law of supply and demand is to be believed, we should be doing fairly well: from 1996 to 2006, the number of dwellings in Fernwood increased by over 54%, including the creation of 1,100 apartments. However, according to the Demographia International Housing Aff ordability Survey, Victoria as a whole isn’t doing too well: the city has consistently ranked as the second-most unaff ordable market in Canada since its fi rst inclusion in the study in 2007.

As for rental numbers, Canada Mort-gage and Housing Corporation data sug-gests that from 2006-2008, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Greater Victoria area increased from $681 to $764 (a 12.2% increase), while

Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group

will be holding its Annual General Meeting on

Wednesday, December 9th at 7:30pm in the Cornerstone Cafe (1301 Gladstone Ave).

Not a member of Fernwood NRG? All residents

of Fernwood are eligible for free membership.

Visit fernwoodnrg.ca and click on “Who We

Are” to download a Membership Application.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Coming December 1st to the Cornerstone Cafe.

May Your Days be Merry and Caffeinated.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will provide leadership and direction to the supervisors of our childcare, recreation and family support programs including Best Babies. With a staff of 24, and an annual budget of nearly $1M, this is a significant management position for an experienced leader. We are the change we want to see in the world. If the idea of building and growing an excellent front-line service delivery organization excites you, perhaps we are the change you want to see in your world.Visit fernwoodnrg.ca/job-posting-director-family-programs for a detailed job description. Please apply with a resume clearly stating your qualifications and a letter outlining your experience and commitment along with your salary expectations to the attention of Lee Herrin at [email protected] before 9am on December 11th.

Career Opportunity: Director of Family Programs

›› by johanna henderson

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A variety of businesses now line the Fernwood Square. Photo by Steve Carey.

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A variety of businesses now line the Fernwood Square. Photo by Steve Carey.

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constituency office:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3

telephone: 363-3600e-mail: [email protected] the web: www.denisesavoie.ca

Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria

Your voice in OttawaYour voice in Ottawa

Got a talent you’d like to share with the neighbourhood?

Fernwood NRG is currently accepting Recreation Program Proposals for the Winter/Spring 2010 Semester (January-April).If you’re interested in offering a course, please drop by the Community Centre at 1240 Gladstone Ave. and pick up a program proposal package.

Mondays - Kundalini YogaTuesdays - Hatha Yoga & Floor Hockey

Wednesdays - Falun GongThursdays - Floor Hockey

Fridays - Beginners’ Yoga & Fairuza Fridays Sundays - Karate & Women’s Soccer

this autumn with Fernwood NRG Recreation!

visit fernwoodnrg.ca for more information

Editor’s Note:

Fernwood NRG has a mortgage of nearly $1 million outstanding on the Cornerstone building after the purchase and renovations—any of our neighbours who would like to contribute some of their new-found wealth toward help-ing us retire the mortgage should contact Lenore Rankin, Director of Development, at 250-381-1552 ext. 103. Make a charitable dona-tion before December 20, 2009 to receive a tax receipt you can fi le with your 2009 taxes. Your invest-ment in Fernwood NRG will allow us to do more good work in the neighbourhood.

rent for a one-bedroom in the Fort St. Area (a CMHC boundary which includes Fernwood) showed only a slightly higher increase, from $672 to $758 (12.7%). Th is fi gure is particularly surprising when this fi gure is considered in its historical context: 2006 marked the year that the Cornerstone opened. It also marked the year that hous-ing prices in Fernwood’s core were most disparate from the Victoria average; houses in the Fernwood core were assessed an aver-age of $37,000 lower than the rest of the city. As indicated by Figure 1, this irregu-larity had corrected itself by 2008, but the increase in assessed value was not passed on to renters in an appreciable way. Addition-ally, the creation of ten aff ordable hous-ing units by Fernwood NRG has provided housing especially for modest-income fam-ilies in the neighbourhood.

Of course, the aforementioned increase in house prices has also benefi ted home owners in Fernwood who have owned since 2005 or earlier. Th ese owners have seen their property values increase 42% from 2006 to 2009. On average, this has added over $160,000 to their assets. By com-parison, homeowners city-wide saw their property values increase only $120,000. Th e diff erence of $40,000 per property could be attributed to the revitalization of the neighbourhood. Th is represents nearly $7.5 million in increased value just in the study area of four square blocks (see map).

Th e lag in pricing between Fernwood’s core and Victoria as a whole (see Figure 2: House Prices) parallels the decline in the Cornerstone Building, which lost its last tenant in 2002. In 2005, when Fernwood Square was in danger of becoming a ghost

town, prior to the opening of the Fernwood Inn and the purchase and revitalization of the Cornerstone Building, the average house in Fernwood sold for nearly $40,000 less than the average price city-wide.

In 2005, the Cornerstone and the Fern-wood Inn changed hands. Investment returned to the commercial core. Fernwood became desirable again. And house prices began to rise—quickly. Two years later, by 2008, the gap between city-wide prices and prices in the core of the neighbour-hood had shrunk to nothing. In January of this year (although these fi gures may not be accurate due to the B.C. government’s decision to freeze assessments), houses in the core of Fernwood actually sold at a 1% premium to prices city-wide.

Who else has benefi ted from the changes in Fernwood’s core? Residents (both hom-

eowners and tenants) who want to live in a safe and vibrant neighbourhood, due to the return of social and economic life to the neighbourhood core. Th e few businesses that were hanging on in the square have more customers and a healthier environ-ment for doing business. New businesses have opened and are thriving. Neighbours greet each other on the streets and in local eateries, celebrate neighbourhood events and accomplishments, share resources and look aft er one another. All in all, it’s a pretty great place to be.

Interested in what other Fernwood residents

have to say about the changes in the neigh-

bourhood? Check out our Views From the

Street section of this paper. Want to add your

opinion? Email [email protected]

and let us know what you think.

Figure 2: House Prices: City of Victoria vs. Fernwood Coreassessed values based on market value July 1st or prior year

Victoria Price

Fernwood Price

Source: BC Assessment

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

$600,000

$550,000

$500,000

$450,000

$400,000

$350,000

$300,000

$250,000

$200,000

Figure 1: Difference in House Prices: City of Victoria vs. Fernwood Coreassessed values based on market value July 1st or prior year

Source: BC Assessment

$4,507

-$37,242

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

$10,000

$5,000

$0

-$5,000

-$10,000

-$15,000

-$20,000

-$25,000

-$30,000

-$35,000

-$40,000

Fernwood NRG

buys Cornerstone

Building in August

2005

Integrated Safety

Enforcement Team

evicts remaining

tenants from

Cornerstone

Cornerstone Building

boarded up

Last commercial

tenant leaves

Cornerstone Building

Fernwood less expensive

Fernwood more expensive


Jennifer:

I think Fernwood has always had vitality and character. And we’re just experiencing a diff erent expression of that vitality and character.

Keah:

I feel that the café here is really key. I think that in order to keep the diversity here, there needs to be somewhere for all the diff erent groups of people, whether it’s the high school students or the eclectics or the

artists, the punks, or the “upper class” to come. Without this space, you might drive some groups of people out.

As well, I feel that any true intentions [of development] will be proven. If some-thing is a positive revitalization, then it’ll really be there. And if it’s based on money and based on profi t, you’ll start to see that.

Sarah:

I’ve lived in Fernwood for thirteen and a half years, and I’ve seen it transform from an old neighbourhood that didn’t have very much life in it into a thriving com-munity. I think that the Cornerstone and the revitalization of the square is a big part of that. Th ere was a time when you could walk along here and there were abandoned buildings, an old dingy inn that not too many people liked to go to, there was a bak-

ery and a pizzeria that were short lived that brought the neighbourhood together, but then the buildings were empty again. What I’ve seen over the last couple of years is that Fernwood has a heart—and it’s a thriving heart, and it’s bringing more people in.

Th e other nice thing about this neigh-bourhood is that it’s a very sustainable neighbourhood with pocket markets and local businesses. It’s defi nitely an improve-ment for the better.

views from the street:

Fernwood: revitalized or gentrifi ed?

›› by margaret hantiuk

In olden days, there were no nurseries or gar-den stores to buy plants, and few had extra cash, so people saved seed, traded plants or foraged for them. We can still forage, as long as we follow a few sensible and prudent rules. First is that we should not remove plants from the wild if they are precious or in a designated park, sanctuary or protected area. By precious, I mean if the plant seems to be scarce—only one or two, or a small iso-lated cluster, or if in a fragile eco-system. It is in fact illegal to remove plants from public parks, protected areas, and public gardens. (Many public gardens now have annual plant sales to raise funds).

Sometimes it’s heroic to remove plants that are rare, if they are about to be exca-vated. Otherwise, it is illegal to remove plants from private gardens without per-mission, but many seasoned gardeners are oft en happy to give a clump of a perennial, a cutting or some seeds to an admiring passer-by—it is not harmful to the parent plant if done properly. (Do watch out for any uninvited pesky weeds coming along, though). It is upsetting to see evidence of someone having hastily plundered—oft en ripped off , literally—your garden when you would have been fl attered to be asked for the plant.

Taking cuttings is actually quite easy

and successful if handled correctly. Th e best time of year to do this is in the early spring and late fall. Shrubs that are vigor-ous and hardy are the easiest for gardeners without greenhouses or fancy propagating set-ups. Old stand-bys such as lilacs, roses and forsythia are examples. Many heritage varieties can be found in derelict yards, old cemeteries, churchyards, or abandoned rural gardens and hedgerows—still sur-viving aft er years of neglect. You may have family roses that you would like to bring to your new home to grow as heirlooms.

First, pick a fi rm, young piece of stem and

cut at least one or two feet at a 45-degree angle. Wrap the end immediately in wet tissue, and put it into a plastic bag. Keep it damp until planting, which should be as soon as possible. When planting, remove all but a few top leaves, and then trim off the top and any side branches. Make a wound at the base, and if you have it, dredge the bottom in rooting hormone. Th is growth promoting powder is not necessary for vigorous shrubs, and it’s expensive. If you plan on doing many cuttings, it could be a worthwhile investment and is found at any good gardening store.

Your cutting can be put into a pot of moist sand mixed with potting soil, or out into the garden. In the garden, mix some compost into the hole if your soil is heavy. Place the cutting into the soil at least about 4" to 6", pack it gently and keep it moist. If potting inside or in warmer weather, you may want to loosely place a plastic bag around the plant. If you’re planting cut-tings in the spring, shade the plant when the sun gets hot until it’s well established. All plants need to be watered well through-out their fi rst two summers. You’ll know if it has taken when new leaves sprout—it should take about two to four weeks in the spring, and four to eight weeks in the fall.

Overgrown and congested perennials can be separated in the spring or fall. Th is means digging the clump out and either pulling or cutting apart the roots. A knife may have to be used, and oft en the older, tired core should be thrown into the com-post heap: usually the outer edges are the newer and worthwhile part to either replant or give away. Th row some compost and bone meal into the new hole to rejuvenate the soil, pack in the teased out roots gently to the same level of soil it originally grew at. Some perennials need to be divided every two or three years, others require it much less oft en if at all—each one is diff erent. Th e indicator is how well they are fl ower-ing and growing, (other needs met).

gleanings:

Fall foraging for free plant stock

Many gardeners are more than happy to share a cutting with a neighbour. Photo by Margaret Hantiuk.


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdaySaturday

1

Parent & Tot Playgroup

9:30-11:30am

Hatha Yoga

3:30-5:00pm

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey

7:00-9:30pm

Victoria Bluegrass

Association Jam

7:30-10:00pm @ Orange Hall (1620 Fernwood Rd.)

2

Parent & Babe Playgroup

9:30-11:30am

Falun Gong

5:00-7:00pm

Bluegrass Jams

7:30-10:00pm@ the Cornerstone Cafe.

3


9:30-11:30am


7:00-9:30pm

Open Mic

8:30-11:30pm@ the Fernwood Inn.

4

Seniors’ Exercise,

Lunch and Activities

11:00am

Fernwood Youth Fridays

7:00-9:30pm

Music

7:00-11:00pm@Cornerstone Cafe.

5

Work party

3:00pm@ Springridge Commons.

6

Sunday Storytime

9:30am@ Cornerstone Cafe.

Drop-In Karate

1:00-2:30pm

Drop-In Soccer

5:00-6:30pm

Victoria Folk Music

Society Open Stage

7:00pm @ Norway House (1110 Hillside).

7

Kundalini Yoga

7:00-8:30pm

LifeRing Secular

Recovery

7:30-8:45pm

8


9:30-11:30am

Hatha Yoga

3:30-5:00pm


7:00-9:30pm

Victoria Bluegrass

Association Jam


9


9:30-11:30am

Green Drinks

4:50-6:50pm@ The Belfry Theatre.

Falun Gong

5:00-7:00pm

Bluegrass Jams


Fernwood NRG AGM

7:30pm: @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

10


9:30-11:30am


7:00-9:30pm

Open Mic


11



11:00am


7:00-9:30pm

Music


12

Outrageous

Recycling Day

10:00am-1:00pm

Work party


13

Sunday Storytime


Community

Wellness Clinic

10:00am-4:00pm@ Alembic Centre (235 Market Square.)

Drop-In Karate

1:00-2:30pm

Drop-In Soccer

5:00-6:30pm

Victoria Folk Music

Society Open Stage


14

Kundalini Yoga

7:00-8:30pm

LifeRing Secular

Recovery

7:30-8:45pm

15


9:30-11:30am

Hatha Yoga

3:30-5:00pm

Food Security

Collective Meeting

7:00-9:00pm


7:00-9:30pm

Victoria Bluegrass

Association Jam


16


9:30-11:30am

Bluegrass Jams


17


9:30-11:30am


7:00-9:30pm

Open Mic


18



11:00am


7:00-9:30pm

Music


19

Work party


20

Sunday Storytime


Drop-In Karate

1:00-2:30pm

Drop-In Soccer

5:00-6:30pm

Victoria Folk Music

Society Open Stage


21

Kundalini Yoga

7:00-8:30pm

LifeRing Secular

Recovery

7:30-8:45pm

22


9:30-11:30am

Hatha Yoga

3:30-5:00pm

Food Security

Collective Meeting

7:00-9:00pm


7:00-9:30pm

Victoria Bluegrass

Association Jam


23


9:30-11:30am

Bluegrass Jams


24


9:30-11:30am

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

25

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

26

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

27

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

28

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

29

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

30

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

31

Fernwood NRG Closes

for Holidays

what’s on in Fernwood: December

mark your calendars:

The 2010 Fernwood Art StrollCall-out to neighborhood artists and artisans

Th e Fernwood Art Stroll is a two-day event that coincides with FernFest, our annual neighbourhood festival, which happens around the summer solstice in late June.

Th e Art Stroll is a self-guided tour presented by partici-pating artists and artisans. We open our studios to show our work and sell it to interested people. We advertise this studio tour all over the city. Many interested Fernwood-ians tour our studios and get to know their neighbours and neighbourhood better. Th is event also attracts people from all across the city and even tourists from out of town have come into our studios and enjoyed our community too.

We are now meeting to plan the upcoming 2010 Art Stroll. It is not juried and open to any artists/artisans whose

studio is in Fernwood. (We use the larger neighbourhhood borders: Cook St., Hillside, Shelbourne and Pandora). Participants must also be willing to work on a committee level as we put this on ourselves. Th e entry cost this year has been set at $50, which is due in January. Th is will cover the cost of our brochure (with a map of all the participat-ing studios, list of these addresses and thumbnail photo of the artist’s work). As well, this year we have booked the Fernwood Inn for a group show in the month of June, with an opening booked for Sunday aft ernoon, June 6.

For more information and for upcoming meetings, please contact Margaret Hantiuk at [email protected] or 250-595-1684.

Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to CanadaHelps.org and

make a donation.

Where’s that event?

Fernwood NRG

1240 Gladstone Ave.

Cornerstone Cafe

1301 Gladstone Ave.

Belfry Theatre

1291 Gladstone Ave.

Fernwood Inn

1302 Gladstone Ave.

Orange Hall

1620 Fernwood Rd.

Scene in Fernwood : Gentrifi cation or Revitalization?

December 2009 Village Vibe

Documents

Transcript of December 2009 Village Vibe