VillageVibe January 2009

villagevibeNew Year, New Foot Forward>> by James Kasper

“Money is like a sixth sense – and you can’t make use of

the other fi ve without it.” –William Somerset Maugham

Investors Group Consultant Casey Buikema off ers a fr ee

Financial Literacy drop-in every Wednesday at Fernwood

NRG (1240 Gladstone Ave) fr om 7:30 to 8:30pm. Th e

session is a chance for Fernwoodians to pick up some

fr ee advice of managing their money. I recently had the

chance to sit down with Casey and talk shop…

Village Vibe How did you get started in the money

management business?

Casey Buikema It was calculated. I was in the

restaurant industry. I was 30, and wanting to make a

change and get ahead. I was running into a lot of ‘there

is nothing we can do for you’ at fi nancial institutions I

approached. I wanted to do something where I could

help people. I applied to all the banks, and I eventually

started as a consultant with Investor’s Group.

VV In a nutshell, what is the most important piece of

fi nancial advice you could give the average person?

CB Become educated. Understand what your fi nances

are doing. Pay yourself fi rst instead of last.

VV People oft en either dread money matters or fi nd the

topic dry and boring. Make your case for the contrary.

CB (Laughs.) Freedom is exciting. Understanding allows

you the opportunity to do certain things. I think once

you realize the big diff erences small changes can make, it

starts to get more exciting.

in this issueTh ank You Best Babies Page 3

Feature: Imagine A Village Page 4

Interview with Claire Paulette Turcotte Page 6

>> by Roberta Martel

On November 2nd, Fernwood NRG

received an award for the Cornerstone

Building from the Canada Mortgage

and Housing Commission (CMHC) for best

practices in aff ordable housing. Lenore Rankin,

Fernwood NRG’s Development Coordinator, and

I, the Society’s Executive Director fl ew to Ottawa to

represent Fernwood NRG at this national ceremony.

With the same kind of serendipity that has graced

the Cornerstone project since its inception, board

member Paula DeBeck and builder Garde Collins had

separately found themselves in Ottawa during the time

of the awards ceremony and were able to participate

alongside us.

Th e day we received the award was a jam-

packed one day event with loads of opportunities to

meet other aff ordable housing providers and share

information about design, funding, operations, and

innovation. Aft er a long fl ight, we landed in Ottawa on

a bitterly cold day and started setting up our Fernwood

NRG booth.

Anchored by the eye-catching banner that

Marianne Unger of Fernwood’s own Mud Studio had

designed for us only two days earlier, our Fernwood

booth was a smorgasbord of information. We had

copies of the Village Vibe, annual reports, and before

and aft er pictures of the Cornerstone. Th roughout

the day during the ‘Meet the Winners’ event, the

transformation of the Cornerstone as captured in

our power point presentation played repeatedly

on the large-screen t.v. as crowds of jaw-dropping

spectators stopped by to learn about the tale of this

neighbourhood-driven transformation. Of note was

the unbelievable role of resident volunteerism in the

transformation! Congratulations go out to all.

With four of us present at the booth, we each

found the opportunity to go around to the other

displays and learn about projects from across Canada.

Of most interest to us was learning that in many other

parts of Canada, municipalities are not only waiving

Development Cost Charges (DCCs) on aff ordable

housing projects, but are donating City-owned land

to non-profi ts so they can build aff ordable housing.

Neither of these has happened for Fernwood NRG,

which was a fact that we mentioned eagerly to Mayor

Fortin upon our return home.

Th en we were on to the town hall portion of

the event. It was an opportunity to hold a more

formal, plenary discussion of the issues surrounding

aff ordable housing. It was a bit nerve wracking as it

was in both offi cial languages, webcast live, with virtual

participants submitting questions and comments via

the moderator. I raised the issue of sustainability and

the challenges of green-building in aff ordable housing.

It was a topic that struck a chord with participants

and for the remainder of the conference I was able

to discuss our experiences with geothermal and solar

heating with our cohort. On the last night we were

treated to the formal awards dinner and presented with

the beautiful etched glass award for the Cornerstone

Building which we received on behalf of the

neighbourhood.

On the fl ight home, excited by all that we had seen

and learned, but weary from the travel and the cold,

I fl ipped open the En Route magazine and couldn’t

believe my eyes! It read that Stage Small Plates and

Wine Bar, at 1307 Gladstone was one of the top 10

new restaurants in Canada! Stage, one of the best in

Canada, in our building that just won an award as one

of the best in Canada? Now that was the cherry on the

icing on the cake! A Fernwood moment at 35,000 feet.

Be sure to catch the interview about Fernwood’s

CMHC award January 5th at 6:30 pm on the

news magazine Island 30, hosted by Dana Hutchins

on CHEK TV. Also be sure to check out January’s

Boulevard Museum “Secret’s and Lies” feature

with Fernwood NRG’s Executive Director,

Roberta Martell.

Cornerstone Building Wins National Award

January 2009 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood

– continued on page 6

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!

declaration of principles and values

In January 2008 the Village Vibe predicted

that the year to come would bring chickens running

through the streets of Fernwood, Fernwoodians sharing

garden spaces, Fernwood’s small business community

fl ourishing, and an artistic renaissance spurred by the

opening of the Collective Works Gallery. Looking back

through the year we weren’t that far off , though we’re still

waiting for the chickens.

Yet glancing back through 2008 also reveals what

many of us already know: this place on earth that many

Village Vibe readers call home is fl uid and it’s a place

where many good things seem to happen.

In January Fernwood NRG broke ground at Park

Place, its second building of aff ordable housing in the

neighbourhood. And only eight months later six new

Fernwood families called Park Place home.

By summer time Rainey Hopewell and Margot

Johnson and all the folks around Haultain and Asquith

had won their graciously fought battle with the City Parks

Department and the Haultain Common was laden with

food for all commoners to share.

Not only did the Collective Works Gallery bring

fame to Fernwood’s visual artists, but Fernwood’s musical

community also came more alive. James Kasper and

a whole troupe of Fernwood musicians founded the

Cornerstone Collective Records and recorded a live

album at the Cornerstone Café. A mere few weeks later

when Fernwood Square was transformed for the biggest

Fern Fest ever, CCR released its album and played to the

happy crowd – along with many other local acts – under

sunny Fernwood skies.

In the fall, Mark Lakeman of Portland’s City Repair

Project returns to Fernwood for the second time in 2008

to share and gather stories of place-based transformation.

All in all 2008 was a good year in the neighbourhood.

Welcome to 2009.

editorial : Waiting For Chickens

| News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2009 VillageVibe

The Paint Box Art Show

On Saturday December 13th as the snow

began to fall soft ly outside, proud Fernwood child

artists and their parents and friends made their way

to the Paint Box School of Art – one of the newest

additions to Fernwood Village – for the fi rst annual

kids’ art show. Paintbox owner, operator, and art

teacher Emily Grav greeted us at the door with

words of welcome and hot cups of tea. Th e children

pointed out their art, ate festive candy-covered

cupcakes, and then presented a series of impromptu

puppet shows in the puppet theatre Emily has set up

in the space.

Th e Paint Box off ers art classes to both children

and adults (ages 2 to 102!); there’s something for

all levels and interests. Art themed Birthday

Parties are also available, but they only do one a

weekend so book ahead! In the new year, Th e Paint

Box is moving from the back of 1284 Gladstone

Ave to the front, right next door to the Pink Sugar

Cupcakery. Stop in anytime aft er

January 1st to fi nd out about the new classes

being off ered, or check out their new website,

www.thepaintbox-victoria.com.

1284 D1 Gladstone Ave.

Fernwood Village

Victoria

250-418-0924

[email protected]

the Fernwood buzz

Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to

CanadaHelps.org and donate

to Fernwood NRG.

Congratulations! If you’ve received this

issue you likely picked it up out of a freshly built Vibe

box. Starting this month, the Village Vibe is no longer

being delivered by Canada Post directly to your doorstep.

Instead, the Village Vibe volunteer team has initiated a

neighbourhood-based distribution system. Here are some

plans and photos to help you build your very own Vibe Box.

Email us at [email protected] and

let us know where your box is. We’ll place it on our Vibe

Box map to be posted at the Cornerstone Café and make

sure it’s fi lled with papers. Want to receive the Village Vibe

digitally? Sign up at www.villagevibe.ca. All back issues can

also be found at this site.

A Vibe Box Near You

VillageVibe January 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca |

views from the street : How has the snow aff ected you?

I could write a whole essay on that. It’s beautiful but very

hard to make progress on the renovation I’m working

on. But at least it’s Christmas!

It’s made for tense highway driving over the holidays... as

a passenger.

I’ve spent much more time in front of my fi replace than

usual!

Chris Whitehead Lucky Budd Emily Ellingsen

Th ank You Best Babies>> by Candice Caron

Hello again Fernwood. I am a fourth

year nursing student from UVIC who just fi nished

a practice placement in December 2008 at the Best

Babies program at the Fernwood Community Centre.

I am happy to report that this is my second placement

in your neighbourhood so far in my 3.5 years of

education. Th e amount of knowledge I have gained

from my experiences is immeasurable and the beauty of

it belongs in the stories, questions, and time that people

in this community have shared with me.

I have learned that learning and creating change

starts at a micro level. It starts when a story is told or a

question is asked, and steps are taken toward a ripple of

growth extending to macro levels of change. As Roberta

Martell, Executive Director of Fernwood NRG stated

(well, sort of stated), it takes one molecule in a river to

shift the fl ow of the stream. Fernwood has an incredible

voice and the people are the vehicles taking action

towards change.

I especially want to thank the mothers at the Best

Babies program who have shared their pregnancy and

birth stories with me and the group. Your stories have

opened my eyes to how I can adapt my practice to meet

the needs of childbearing women and families. Th ey

have also increased awareness of how changes at both

the institutional and community levels could be made.

I plan on working with childbearing mothers in the

future, possibly as a labour and delivery nurse. From

your stories I take with me a reminder of the respect

and advocacy for informed decision making that is

needed in the hospital.

Currently I am working with a group of midwives

with the goal of starting a birthing centre here in

Victoria. I have researched various Canadian and

international philosophies of birthing centers and

I support the work the midwives have done and

are continuing to do. I am also looking at how to

apply some of the concepts of a birthing centre to

the existing maternity unit at the hospital. Th ere

are many barriers, such as a highly medicalized and

illness focused environment (the hospital), a socially

constructed ideology that birth is always safest in the

Rejuvenate Your Neighbourhood>> by Trish Richards

The Canadian Housing and Renewal

Association (CHRA) 2008 Symposium REJUVENATE

YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD was held in Edmonton,

Alberta on November 3rd and 4th. Fernwood NRG was

invited to present on the Cornerstone building and I was

asked to do the honours.

I joined a group of approximately 200 neighbourhood

activists, municipal politicians and offi cials, provincial

offi cials, and representatives of real estate foundations from

across Canada for an inspirational two days on how social

housing can be a leverage point to revitalizing inner city

neighbourhoods.

Presentations ranged from BC-Yukon Coordinator

of the Canadian Community Economic Development

Network Nichole Chaland’s theoretical paper,

“Understanding and Responding to Neighbourhood

Decline and Renewal” to Manager, Housing and

Neighbourhood Planning, City of Regina Bruce Rice’s

practical presentation, “Regina’s Secret Places,” on the long

established municipal housing improvement program in

three inner city neighbourhoods in Regina.

For my part, I decided just to tell the Cornerstone

story, as a story of neighbourhood renewal that needs little

embellishment! I talked about Fernwood NRG’s purchase

of the Cornerstone in response to neighbourhood decline,

about how people came together for demolition Saturdays

over the summer/fall of 2005. I noted the over 10,000

hours of volunteer labour that went into the restoration.

I spoke of David Suzuki’s benefi t for the building’s

geothermal heating system. Finally, I revealed the end

result: four families housed on the upper fl oor, and

Collective Works, Stage, and the Cornerstone Café

below.

Th e ‘indicator of program success’ I relayed was that

June evening I sat in the Cornerstone, listening to the

Cornerstone Collective Records recording its inaugural

CD and looking out over Fernwood Square fi lled with

the conversation and laughter of Fernwoodians. Th e

same Square that only three years earlier people had

hesitated to walk through at night! Th e Square that had

fi lled with over 1,000 celebrants for Fernfest 2008! Yep,

the Cornerstone had proved to be the leverage point to

revitalizing the heart of Fernwood!

My anecdotal talk was more than warmly

received and sparked much discussion about program

sustainability through “building neighbourhood

from the grounds up” as Fernwood NRG has done

with the Cornerstone Café. Th ere was great interest

in the “enterprising non-profi t” model whereby

Fernwood NRG runs the Café like a business then

dumps all the profi ts directly back into neighbourhood

programs and services.

All in all, it was a highly informative and fun

symposium. I brought home a number of innovative

ideas about how the City of Victoria can better facilitate

neighbourhood initiatives and I know that many

others were intrigued and inspired by our uniquely

Fernwoodian approach.

For more info on CHAR head to www.chra-achru.ca

hospital and a strong unit culture in maternity care as well

as a need for improved collaboration between various health

care professionals. Th ere are also many obvious benefi ts that

the hospital team and setting can provide and I have heard

of many positive experiences from women who have given

birth in the hospital. But there is always room for some

improvement.

Th anks again to the women at the Best Babies program

in Fernwood; I now have a better understanding of what is

appreciated and where improvement can be made and I

look forward to overcoming barriers and infl uencing change

in the future.

2006 Fernwood Road

250·361·4199 www.yogatogether.org

Yoga and Thai Massage Yoga TogetherHappy New Year!

New Class Schedule on our website

Monthly workshops:Sat Jan 17 12-2 Beginners Akhanda YogaSat Feb 14 12-2 Heart Chakra for Valentines Day


Imagine a village. Perhaps you see a little cluster of

homes and small shops. It’s probably larger than a

hamlet but smaller than a town; conceivably a rustic

setting, possibly somewhat isolated and self-suffi cient,

perhaps even quaint?

A village can indeed exhibit all these characteristics. But a

village also can be a self-contained district or community

within a town or city, regarded as having village-like

features.

But what features transform a group of houses within a

town or city into a village? And especially, considering the

challenges we humans are now compelled to face, what

makes a village within a city sustainable? What makes that

village part of the solutions we seek rather than part of the

problems we’ve created?

Imagine a village. Let’s call it Fernwood. Let’s imagine

it into sustainable existence. But what does “sustainable”

mean? It’s used now so frequently and casually that its

meaning has become uncertain. It’s the buzz word of

the year.

What would we actually be doing individually and

collectively in a sustainable village? What would our

village look like? What would our sources of power be?

What would our social structures look like? What would

our village economy look like? What would our homes

look like? What would our work and play look like? What

would we be eating? How would we be moving from

place to place? How would our village fi t into the jumbo

jigsaw puzzle of Victoria, the Capital Region District,

Vancouver Island, Canada, North America, and the rest of

the wondrous blue-green pearl we call Earth? And how on

Earth can we possibly aff ord sustainability when we think

we can hardly aff ord what we already have?

If you’re wondering, as we are, how to get from where

we are – still in crisis – to where we need to be – living

sustainably – perhaps you’d like to gather with other

villagers to explore our options. To help this process

evolve we’ve created a new village entity called Oak &

Fern Centre (descriptive of our location on the edge of

Oaklands and Fernwood). Some of you will know us from

the Haultain Common. Oak & Fern Centre is our current

response to the vast curiosity, enthusiasm and yearning so

many Fernwoodians and Oaklanders have expressed for

even more connection, co-operation, sharing, and change.

Oak & Fern Centre is a social profi t, community

education centre with the objective of providing

opportunities for folks to explore the form and essence

of sustainable village life. Th e goal, of course, is to create a

sustainable 21st century village!

We suspect that in order to get from where we are to

where we need to be will take a powerful lot of talk. So

this winter, Oak & Fern Centre is organizing a series

of small group discussions. We’re using a format and

materials created by the North West Earth Institute in

Portland and circulated in Canada by Th e Canadian Earth

Institute (www.CanadianEarthInstitute.org). Within the

context of small group dialogue, these discussion Circles

will enable folks to explore environmental issues in a

supportive, inspiring, nonjudgemental group culture.

In small Circles of fi ve to ten neighbours, meeting for

90 minutes, four to nine times, you can satisfy your

curiosity and explore your concerns about the challenges

that beset us and the choices we can make. You can fi nd

your own right-enough answers for the conundrums of

this Earth time.

Participants say that Canadian Earth Institute Circles are

thought-provoking, community-building, enriching, and

inspiring. AND THEY ARE FUN! (We’ve heard that

fun is the fi ft h law of sustainability.) Discussion Circles are

a perfect forum for exploring individual and community

action for sustainable village life.

feature : Imagine a Village

Oak & Fern Centre is a social profi t,

community education centre with the

objective of providing opportunities for

folks to explore the form and essence of

sustainable village life.


2009 EarthInstitute Winter Circles:

> Global Warming: Changing Course Learn more

about the history and science of global warming,

explore personal values and habits as they relate to

climate change and consider action to curb global

warming. Four sessions.

> Menu for the Future Everybody eats! Learn more

about modern food systems and refl ect upon our role as

eaters in a global food marketplace. Six sessions.

> Voluntary Simplicity Explore the personal and

cultural benefi ts of living simply and consuming less.

Eight sessions.

> Healthy Children ~ Healthy Planet Advertising,

media and the cult of consumerism aff ect children’s

world views profoundly. Exploring nature, time and

creativity, food and health are some of the topics for

discussion. Eight sessions.

> Choices for Sustainable Living We all make

choices that have impacts upon the Earth. Learn

about sustainability at multiple levels and consider

various steps toward ecologically sustainable lifestyles,

communities and organizations. Nine sessions.

For each set of Circles, the fi rst meeting will be at

Oak & Fern Centre on Haultain Street, with a

facilitator trained in the simple facilitation method

described in each curriculum. (Th e facilitation style

emphasizes inclusivity and nonjudgemental attitudes

and is very simple to apply.) Following sessions will

occur in the various homes of Circle participants, with

weekly facilitation rotating among participants. Th e

basic format, including suggested questions relating to

the week’s readings, is outlined in detail.

Earth Institute discussion Circles enable you to explore

timely issues in the comfort of your own home or a

neighbour’s, in the comfort of your very own Village.

Circle fee is $20/person/curriculum (the cost of your

study manual). To sign up for a discussion Circle in

Fernwood or Oaklands, call Rainey or Margot at

250-380-5055.

We’re also off ering a Spring series of facilitated events

called “Workshops on the Edge of Social Change:”

> Riding the Winds of Change We’re oft en told that

humans don’t cope well with change, yet we’ve gone

from the horse and buggy to landing on the moon

within living memory. Let’s reclaim our inherent

capacity to embrace change with creativity and

enthusiasm. Since we have to change, let’s make it fun!

> Radical Hope It’s hard to stay hopeful when the

News is full of doom, yet hope may be the most

enduring and powerful tool we have. Reclaim your sense

of hope and use it to make positive change in the world.

> Self-Care for Change-Makers Creating social

change is inherently rewarding, and can also be

exhausting. Share and explore ways to take care of

ourselves as we move into the new Normal.

If any of these topics intrigues you, give us a call.

Would you like to see “An Inconvenient Truth” again

or see it for the fi rst time, in a group discussion format?

Give us a call!

Would you like to join a neighbourhood support

group for folks who are making lifestyle changes for

sustainability? Give us a call!

Would you like to help with the Haultain Common or

help reclaim other Commons? Give us a call!

We are Margot and Rainey and you can reach us at

250-380-5055 or [email protected]

Let’s imagine a village. Let’s call it Fernwood. Let’s

imagine it together into sustainable existence.

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

> > b y R a i n e y H o p e w e l l a n d M a r g o t J o h n s t o n

We’ve heard that fun is the fi ft h law

of sustainability.


>> by Margaret Hantiuk

What better time to learn some botanical

Latin as we sit with a cup of tea by the window, enjoying

the view of the garden in winter and thinking of garden

renewal for the coming year. Understanding a few rules of

Latin nomenclature will assist in remembering names and

provide clues about the plant itself. Latin is the universal

scientifi c language for the worldwide plant identifi cation

system that is used everywhere, whereas common names

for plants are not and some are used for diff erent plants in

diff erent places. Most reference material, public gardens

and nurseries use Latin names.

Plant identifi cation in Latin employs at least two

names: the fi rst is the Genus, or group it belongs to (based

on shape and method of reproduction). Th is name ends

with: ‘aceae’, with large families broken down into sub-

groups and names ending in ‘oideae’ and ‘eae’.

Species is the smallest grouping of plants with similar

characteristics in a smaller geographical area that breed

true from seed with one another. Th is classifi cation

will follow the fi rst genus name, is always Latinized, is

not capitalized and should be in italics. Sometimes it is

followed by abbreviations such as ‘ssp’ (subspecies), ‘var’

(variety) and ‘f ’ (forma) with another name attached.

Species names may indicate (in Latin) the native habitat,

the place of origin, may describe the distinguishing

characteristics of the plant, or may commemorate a

person or place. Describing names end with anum or

ia, and possessive names may end in i aft er vowels or ii,

consonants.

Cultivars are hybrids, bred either accidentally or

deliberately between two species, usually for better form,

fl owers, foliage, stems or fruit, and whose distinguishing

characteristics will breed true when propagated. Th e name

of the cultivar follows the family names, sometimes with

‘cv.’ (‘cvs.’ for plural), and is written in the local language

of origin (but in Roman letters) enclosed in quotation

marks, with a capital fi rst letter.

Hybrid plants – where two species have been cross-

pollinated – oft en have an ‘X’ aft er the family name and

before the hybrid name, in lower case, which refers to all

progeny of that particular cross. It’s worth noting that wild

species can’t be a named cultivar.

Here are examples of plant names: Rosa (genus)

rugosa (species) ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ (cultivar), or:

Mahonia (genus) X media ‘Charity’ (hybrid species). All

of these names are required to correctly identify the exact

plant that you may be aft er.

Here are some common descriptive Latin words that

are used to describe features of a plant. Th ey are written

with the family name and describe a species or cultivar.

Head to http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary for

a helpful website.

garden gleanings : Gardener’s Latin

New Year | fr om page 1

Dream a Little DreamInterview with author/artist/dream analyst Claire

Paulette Turcotte

>> by James Kasper

“The dream is a hidden door to the innermost recesses of the soul...” – CG Jung

Village Vibe How long have you been doing dream

work?

Claire Paulette Turcotte I began, formally, 20

years ago with a dream analyst and studied everything I

could get my hands on. I am a prolifi c dreamer so there

was a lot of material. I began to teach in 1990 and have

had students off and on since then. I am semi-retired but

the work keeps calling me back out.

VV For those who might be cynical, what results have

you seen for yourself and others?

CPT Well, dream work isn’t suitable for everyone.

Briefl y, the benefi ts can be summed up with ‘it is always

useful to know what you are up to.’ Th e dreams can

give you information about yourself that you are out of

touch with or would rather not know. We don’t like

consciousness very much. We would rather blame our

messes on someone else. True? Look at the state of the

world. Meander through our own backyard these past few

weeks in politics.

VV Why is it important for people to be in touch with

their “dream life”?

CPT Th ere is an analogy to an iceberg with the tip out of

the water and the rest of the mass below the surface out of

sight. What we know of ourselves is the tip of the iceberg.

Working with dreams is like developing a relationship

with a part of yourself you don’t know. Also, you get a

sense that you are on a specifi c path and the dream is

supporting that.

VV What is your interpretation of a “lucid dream” and

how closely connected are our real and dream worlds?

CPT I’m glad you asked that. Th ere is a lot of interest

in lucid dreaming these days. Th is work we are doing

here is not about controlling our dreams but is more like

developing a respectful relationship. Yes, it is more like a

relationship really. It is typical of our culture to want to

control everything. All the same, it’s good to be aware in

your dreams.

VV What kinds of symbols most oft en show up in

people’s dreams?

CPT Symbols are as varied as human experience.

Th e dream picks up anything in your experience and

uses it to get your attention. So everything is a symbol.

Take “cooking” for instance. Cooking is a symbol for

the transformation process, since we are transforming

something from one state to another. Also, you have the

intense heat that can sometimes feel excruciating in our

outer lives. But knowing what we are working on, from a

deeper level, somehow makes it easier to bear. Th ere are

personal symbols that resonate with the individual which

belong uniquely to that individual.

VV Is there a dream of yours that stands out above the

rest?

CPT Th ere are many. One dream specifi cally was the

impetus behind my next book, Barking up the Sacred

Tree, as well as the courses based on the book. I am

working on an experimental play that was given to me

almost complete, in a dream.

VV How will your Fernwood workshop in January help

people to interpret their dreams?

CPT Dream work gives you a better connection to your

life. Th is workshop is a fairly basic approach that will

give students some insight through understanding how

symbols work in their dreams and in their lives.

VV How will the participants express their dreams in the

workshop?

CPT Crayons and pencils, markings on paper and

journaling are tools that bring the image into the

day world and bring more of the dream’s energy into

our lives.

Further information on Claire and her work can be found

at www.cdris.com

Th e Secret Lives of Symbols: A Dream Workshop with

Claire Paulette Turcotte. 4 Classes, Tuesdays, Jan. 13, 20,

27, Feb.3. 6:30 - 8pm. $50 total for the 4-session package.

Art supplies included.

Fernwood NRG 1240 Gladstone Avenue

To register, call James @ 381-1552 Ext.25.

VV For those who may know you only as a

fi nancial consultant, what is something that may

surprise them about you?

CB I coach grade ten boys basketball.

VV What New Year’s fi nancial resolution do you

recommend to the people of Fernwood?

CB Learn something new about your money.

VV Any books you recommend?

CB Th e Richest Man in Babylon, Rich Dad, Poor

Dad, and Th e Wealthy Barber.

-‘alba’- whilte

- ‘augustifolia’ - narrow

leaved

-‘aurea’- golden yellow

-‘aurora’- pink

-‘chamae’-like (&: ‘..iella’

‘..iopsis’)

-‘F1’- fi rst (oft en the best)

generation of a hybrid

-‘fl ava’- yellow

-‘fl ora’- about the fl owers

-‘folia’- about the leaves

-‘glaber’- smooth

-‘glauca’- blue

-‘hirsutum’- hairy

-‘japonica’ –from Japan

-‘littoris’- from the seashore

-‘macro’- large

-‘montana’- from the

mountains

-‘nana’- small

-‘nigra’- black

-‘pseudo’- resembles, but

isn’t

-‘purpurea’- purple

-‘reticulata’- netted veins

-‘rubra’- red

-‘rugosa’- wrinkled

-‘salicifolia’- like a willow

leaf

-‘sinensis’- from China

-wilsonii’ discovered by

Wilson


>> by Lisa Helps

I’ve already had an elaborate tour of the

1969 Volkswagen Type 3 Notchback named Felicia that

Gerry Gaydos is currently converting to electric. I’m

perched on the stairs that run between Gerry’s shop and

the rest of the house when he tells me that at the age of

four he stuck a paperclip into an outlet in the wall. “In my

head, I was looking for an ignition switch for my sports

car,” he assures me, “but what I discovered was the power

of electricity.” He’s spent much of his adult life reconciling

his love of cars with the knowledge that cars are a key “part

of the toxic lifestyle we’ve all been participating in.” His

search for an alternative has lead to his recently established

Fernwood-based company, Funkymoto™ Electrifying Cars.

Th e dream of Funkymoto™ has been a long time in

the making. In the mid 1990s Gerry lived in London

Ontario and heard tell of a group of University of Western

Ontario students that was building a solar electric race car

for the world solar challenge. He spent time volunteering

with the student solar team because he saw an overlap

between the work he was doing at the time – researching

electric mobility devices for people with disabilities –

and the alternative energy technology the students were

exploring. One of things he saw as fascinating about the

student project is that they had to plan for effi ciency.

Even the contours of the land along the race route became

important. “Th is really appeals to me,” he said, “it’s is like

fl ying; you need to keep your mind engaged, processing

time, motion, and the realities of the world around you.”

Working with the students made him wonder how he

could apply alternative energy to his life-long interest in

sports cars.

When he moved to Victoria a few years later, he

wondered whether to continue his research related to

mobility devices, or, as he said, “to fi nd a way to get my

electric sports car dream on the road.” In 2001 he took a

road trip to California to meet the electric car gurus at AC

Propulsion and the decision was made. “I saw their car and

its electric drive system,” he recalls, “and I fell in love.”

Th is is where Felicia enters the scene. About nine

years ago Gerry’s wife Sue didn’t have a car. Gerry spotted

Felicia – as Sue later named her in the spirit of good

fortune – in a driveway on Arbutus Road with a for sale

sign in her friendly curved windshield. Aft er an interview

with an advocate of the owner, an 83-year-old women who

had purchased the car new here in 1969, and aft er hearing

the car’s entire life story, Sue was deemed to be a worthy

new owner and took Felicia home.

Fast forward to two years ago when Gerry established

Funkymoto™ and was planning to build a prototype. One

day over breakfast Sue suggested that if they were planning

to restore Felicia anyway, maybe they should convert her

to electric as part of the process. “Th e validation of Sue

off ering Felicia as a candidate for conversion said she really

believed in what I was doing. Th is was energizing,” Gerry

remembers.

And so Gerry’s fi rst conversion to electric began. At

press time, all of Felcia’s mechanical systems have been

overhauled and she has a snazzy new paint job – the

kind that show cars get. Gerry has made mock-ups of the

batteries and placed them in the car for planning purposes

while he waits for the high-end Lithium batteries to

arrive. When Felicia is fi nished, she’ll be able to recharge

by plugging into any regular household outlet, or a dryer

outlet for faster charging. Best of all, the technology exists

to enable Felicia to supply emergency back-up power to

the household when she’s all charged up. Th is may sound

like the year 2050 to some of us, but for Gerry Gaydos and

Funkymoto™ the future is right now.

Unsurprisingly, Funkymoto™ is also a business

with a social conscience. An initiative called Next Car

Neighbours is one of Gerry’s intended ways of giving

back to the community. Modeled in part aft er Habitat for

Humanity, Next Car Neighbours has the threefold goal

of reducing poverty, improving road safety, and lowering

emissions. Gerry explains that cars become liabilities

on the streets when maintenance is neglected. But this

neglect, he realizes, occurs when people who depend

on a car – for example single parents with two or three

children – are unable to aff ord to maintain a car properly.

His thinking is to use the Funkymoto™ shop to refurbish or

replace rundown clunkers with safe, clean, and aff ordable

cars. Next Car Neighbours volunteers and benefi ciaries

can restore and/or convert to electric drive good used cars

that are donated by community supporters. Maintenance

bills will be lower, traffi c hazards will be reduced, and we’ll

all breathe a little easier.

Gerry jokes that Sue calls him the “car whisperer.”

Aft er an engaging hour with him, I would have to agree.

Funkymoto™ is on its way to healing both Victoria’s

roadways and drivers.

faces : Th e Car Whisperer

>> by James Kasper

“I come to you with only Karate, Empty Hands.

I have no weapons, but should I be forced to

defend myself, my principles, or my honour,

should it be a matter of life or death, of right or

wrong, then here are my weapons, Karate, my

Empty Hands.” – Ed Parker

Lucas Trottier’s karate drop-in class happens every Sunday

fr om 1:00pm to 2:30pm in the Fernwood NRG gym,

1240 Gladstone Avenue. I recently sat down with Lucas to

chat about his program and his approach to this enduring

martial art.

VV What makes you unique as a karate instructor?

Lucas Trottier I teach karate as a life art more than

as a fi ghting art. I approach it as personal growth and

confi dence through martial arts.

VV What are the advantages of learning karate?

LT It’s great for physical health, as it makes you stronger

and more fl exible. And it’s great for your mental health, as

it builds confi dence through teaching you how to defend

yourself. It makes the whole body useful as a self-defense

tool.

VV Who can drop in to your karate class?

LT It’s versatile and applicable to any body shape or size

or age. Anybody can do it. Karate allows anybody and

everybody can feel empowered and feel 100% safe and

strong in any situation.

VV For people who may know you only as a karate

instructor, what would surprise them to know about you?

LT Music is another main passion of mine. I have two

years of professional music training, with a major in

composition. I am also quite interested in mythology.

VV You’ve lived in Fernwood for a few months now.

What is your impression of the neighbourhood so far?

LT I like it because it’s a community that is pro-active

about being a community, and it is fl exible about lifestyles.

It reminds me of my hometown of Nelson – friendly and

open-minded.

Empty HandsEmpower


what’s on in FernwoodArts, Theatre and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre.

THE REAL THING. A play by Tom Stoppard.

Jan 13-Feb 15. 1291 Gladstone Ave. Info:

250.385.6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca

Bluegrass Wednesdays.

Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass

Association present Wednesday night

bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-

10pm. FREE!

Collective Works Gallery.

“Surface Tension.” New works by Karna

Bonwick and PJ Kelly. Opening>Friday,

Jan 2. 7pm. Shows until Jan 15. “Sari-Likha

– Nature in Watercolour and Prelude to

Socio-Realism.” Works by Roberto Maralag

3. Opening>Jan31, 7pm. Show runs Jan 30-

Feb 13.Gallery hours>11am-6pm Tues-Thurs;

11am-8pm Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun; closed

Mon. 1311 Gladstone Ave. 250.590.1345. www.

collectiveworks.ca

Cornerstone Café Events.

Sat, Jan 10>The Cornerstone welcomes

up-and-coming singer-songwriter Daniel

Kosub (www.dankosub.com), as he performs

to release his debut music video for his

song “Blue and Grey.” 8pm start. Admission

by donation. Thank you for supporting

independent touring and local musicians!

Live Music at Fernwood Inn.

Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302

Gladstone Ave. FREE!

Live Music at Logan’s Pub.

1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com

Ministry of Casual Living.

“Carpet World.” Rhonda Weppler and Trevor

Mahovsky. Jan 11-31, 2009. 1442 Haultain St.

Info: www.ministryofcasualliving.ca

Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam.

Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall. 1620

Fernwood Rd. $2 to play ($3/non-members).

Listen by donation. www.victoriabluegrass.ca

Victoria Folk Music Society.

Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature

Performer. (Jan 4>SASSENACH REBELLION.

Jan 11>ANJOPA. Jan 18>TOM RAWSON. Jan

25>BEN SURES). Norway House. 1110 Hillside

Ave. $5 feature performer nights/$3 all open

stage night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca

Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community CentreFamily Community Day.

Family Fun directed and facilitated by the

participants. Snacks, crafts, play equipment

and varied themes. Mondays 9:30-11:30am.

Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE!

Parent and Tot Playgroup.

Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays

and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. Fernwood

Community Centre Gym. $1 per family.

Youth, Adults and SeniorsNew!! Financial Literacy with Casey from

Investor’s Group.

Learn to manage your money effectively.

Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30pm. Drop-in.

Fernwood Community Centre. FREE!

New!! Kundalini Yoga. (Starts Jan 9, ’09)

Mondays, 7-8:30pm. $5 drop-in. Fernwood

Community Centre.

New!! The Secret Lives of Symbols.

Dream Workshop with Claire Paulette Turcotte.

Tuesdays, Jan 13, 20, 27, Feb.3. 6:30pm. $50

for 4-week workshop. Art supplies included

(see this month’s Vibe story “Dream a Little

Dream”). Call 250.381.1552 ext. 25 to register.

Fairuza Fridays.

Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 10-14. Nintendo Wii, big

screen movies, basketball, fl oor hockey, roller

skating, music. Fridays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood

Community Centre. Info: 250.381.1552 ext.25

FREE!

Falun Gong.

Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome!

Wednesdays, 5-7pm. Fernwood Community

Centre MPR. FREE!

Fernwood Seniors.

55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities.

Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays, 11am

Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $2 for

lunch.

Floor Hockey.

Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and

Thursdays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood Community

Centre Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11

sessions.**

Flow Yoga with certifi ed instructor Jay.

Adult. Fridays 5:30-7pm. $5. Fernwood

Community Centre Gym.

Hatha Yoga.

With certifi ed instructor Elke. Gentle poses,

breathing practice, deep relaxation and

meditation. Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm. Fernwood

Community Centre Gym. $5.

Karate.

Drop in. Adult Co-ed. Instructor Lucas Trottier.

Sundays, 1-2:30pm. Fernwood Community

Centre Gym. $3.**

Modern Day Wizard classes for January.

> Wizard School - Two classes starting Tues,

Jan 13 and Wed, Jan 14.

> Intuitive Development - starts Monday, Jan

12.

For more info please visit moderndaywizard.

com/classes.htm

Refl exology with Marianne McLauchlin.

Feel like a new person after hand and foot

treatments. Drop in. Tuesdays, 1:30-4pm.

Fernwood Community Centre MPR. By

donation.

Women’s Soccer.

Drop-in. Sundays 5-6:30pm, Fernwood

Community Centre Gym. $3.**

**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and

Canadian Tire Money at face value!

Special EventsFernwood Business Network.

Everyone welcome. Tues, Jan 6 (fi rst Tues

monthly). 10am. Fernwood Inn. For info

contact Ryan Rutley at [email protected]

Victoria Green Drinks.

An inclusive gathering of the sustainability-

minded for refreshments and conversation.

Tues, Jan 13 (second Tues monthly). 5-7pm.

Canoe Brew Pub, Marina and Restaurant

405 Swift Street. For info see www.

greendrinksvictoria.ca

Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.

Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing

and food trays, electronics and foil-lined

coffee/chip bags. Sat, Jan 10 (second Sat

monthly). 10am-1pm. Across from Fernwood

Community Centre. By donation. Fernwood’s

Outrageous Recycling Day seeks volunteers!

Come help us make it all happen! For info

contact villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.

ca

Fernwood Place Making Troupe.

All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square

and the neighbourhood. Mon, Jan 19 (third

Mon monthly). 7pm. Cornerstone Café.

Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective.

All welcome! Tues, Jan 20 (third Tues monthly).

7-9pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR.

[email protected]

Fernwood Community Kitchen.

Cook nutritious, creative meals with your

neighbours! Info: fernwoodkitchens@gmail.

com

Spring Ridge Commons Workparties!

Come get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s only

public food garden. Thursdays, 5-7pm at the

Commons. Please bring tools if you’ve got

‘em.

The Fernwood Commons: A Fernwood

Community Communication Forum.

For info on Fernwood comings and goings

and neighbourhood news and views, check

out The Fernwood Commons online: http://

thevillagevibe.ning.com/

If you have a workshop or special event

idea for the Fernwood Community Centre

or the Cornerstone Café email james@

fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

If you have a Fernwood event you would like

listed in the Village Vibe calendar please send

an email with the subject line “vibe calendar”

to [email protected]

Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group)

1240 Gladstone StreetVictoria, BC V8T 1G6T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509villagevibe@fernwoodneighbourhood.cawww.villagevibe.ca

Editor: Lisa HelpsAssistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen, Trish Richards

Contributors:Candice CaronMargaret HantiukRainey Hopewell Margot JohnstonJames KasperRoberta Martel

The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily refl ect the views of Fernwood NRG.

villagevibe

Come on in out of the cold, where neighbours gather!

Open daily from 11:301302 Gladstone 412-2001

VillageVibe January 2009

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Transcript of VillageVibe January 2009