Download - April 2009 Village Vibe
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in this issueBlue Eggs for Peace Page 2
Feature: Jim Diers Visits Victoria Page 4
Greater Victoria Citizens’ Trust Page 7
April 2009 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood
On the aft ernoon of March 21st
Fernwoodians gathered in the square to
paint Village Vibe boxes as part of the
Vibe team’s ongoing local distribution strategy.
Th e event got underway at 1:00 p.m. and by 2:30
p.m. there were about 20 people in attendance –
children, families, teens, and adults – and all the
boxes were accounted for. Emily Grav of Th e Paint
Box located in Fernwood Square instructed and
directed anyone who had questions about painting
techniques, colour choice, etc. Some boxes were
collaborations (one person drew the outline, then
left , the next person that came by painted the
background, then left , someone came and fi nished
the foreground).
Th ere were lots of people coming and going and
asking questions about the boxes and the Village
Vibe more generally. It was a great opportunity to
let people know about the Village Vibe and about
where they could pick up the Vibe hot off the press.
(See map above.)
Th anks to Emily Grav of Th e Paint Box for the
use of her brushes and tools and her expertise,
to Johanna Henderson of Fernwood NRG for
coordinating the event and to all of those who
spent a sunny day painting with your neighbours in
Fernwood Village Square.
Vibe Box Paint In
To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at
www.villagevibe.ca
Gladstone
Pembroke
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Village Vibe Box Locations
Fernwood Community Centre–1240 Gladstone
Cornerstone Cafe–1301 Gladstone
Mom’s Market–1358 Gladstone
Chez Beau Soleil–1317 Camosun
Fernwood Square–1284 Gladstone
Fireside Video–1508 Haultain
Koffi–1441 Haultain
Bicycleitis–1623 Bay
The Parsonage Cafe–1115 North Park
2232 Belmont
Arriba Coffeehouse–1610 Cook
Larsen Music School–1808 CookPh
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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
Last Saturday night at 8:30pm – like millions
of people around the world in their respective time zones
– I turned out the lights. I shut down the computer,
turned off the telephone, lit candles, and sat quietly.
Started by the World Wildlife Federation in Sydney
Australia in 2007, Earth Hour went global last year. Th is
year – as the Globe and Mail reports – more than 4000
cities in 88 countries participated compared to only 400
in 2008. Th e Globe credits this increased participation
as part of a push by environmentalists to raise awareness
about the new agreement to be reached in Denmark this
December to replace to Kyoto Protocol.
Perhaps.
But maybe there is something more going on.
Something more than concern about a (unenforceable)
protocol, which world leaders will come together – fl ying
on carbon emissions from their respective corners of
the planet – to design.
Over the past two years, the global warming crisis
rose as the hottest item in mainstream media. Th en the
economy crashed. And since then, the economic crisis
has out-performed the crisis in global warming in media
air time.
Maybe people are simply tired of so-called crisis.
Maybe people need darkness. And quiet. Maybe
people need – even if only for one hour on one night –
not to receive emails or phone calls but to connect with
each other and with themselves in diff erent ways. Maybe
that is why so many people turned out their lights. Th ere
was something really good about just sitting quietly with
candles. Something so good that I didn’t turn the lights
back on at 9:30pm, but rather crawled quietly into bed
thanking the universe for darkness. And for light.
editorial : Earth Hour
Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | April 2009 VillageVibe
On Monday, March 16 Fernwood
Placemakers were treated to the world premier of
Bubble Man. Th e creative endeavor of Fernwoodian
Chantell Mussell, the four minute docudrama stars
– you guessed it – Fernwood’s own Terry Wilson
and celebrates Terry’s place as the ‘bubble man’
of Fernwood and Gladstone. Th is delightful and
fi tting tribute to a special Fernwoodian was greeted
with thunderous applause. Th e star himself was in
attendance and met his adoring fans with his usual
quiet appreciation.
In response to audience demand, Bubble Man
will be screened again at the April 20 Place Making
meeting. Both the star and fi lmmaker will be in
attendance. You don’t want to miss this one!
Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to
CanadaHelps.org and donate
to Fernwood NRG.
>> by Deryk Houston
As an artist I have always been interested in
what is going on in the larger world. Th e subject of war has
always caught my attention because many of us can see very
clearly that it causes more harm than good – the collateral
damage, the innocent deaths, millions of refugees, fi nancial
ruin, etc.
I have to admit that attempting to create artwork or
even write about peace is a diffi cult task. Part of the problem
is that peace doesn’t come easily, one has to work at it all
the time. For example, if someone slaps me in the face,
my fi rst reaction is that I want to slap them back. History
teaches us that I am not that much diff erent from most
people. However, in my heart I know that slapping back is
the wrong approach to fi nding a solution. Creating art helps
set me on the right path to fi nd a better way to express my
feelings, my worries, and dreams.
But it isn’t easy, and every day I struggle against my
natural instincts, even when I know better. It is easy to
get embroiled in a heated discussion about the world
when someone points out that this or that country used
disproportionate force or talks about how one country
should or should not be allowed to develop nuclear power
for peaceful purposes.
I have to work at it to avoid focusing on that destructive
energy, and my art helps me do that. I’ve found that it is
more productive to talk about how fragile life is rather than
talk about how futile war is.
And so with that in mind, I displayed three large, six
foot by ten foot blue eggs at Beacon Hill Park with the
help of my friends from Collective Works Gallery here
Blue Eggs for Peace
the Fernwood buzz
Blockbusterfeatures Bubble Man
in Fernwood. Th e art project was a celebration of life
and peace. Th ere were paintings specially created by
children from Lochside School in Victoria, and these
were enclosed inside the eggs. Some of the artwork
came from children in Africa. Th e idea was my way of
injecting a bit of beauty into the world through art.
Th e eggs were set out in contrast against the wind
shaped bushes of Beacon Hill Park. Th ey were moved
around to diff erent locations, laid on the grassy slopes
and among the trees and the natural beauty of the park.
I chose this time of year because I liked the contrast of
the bare trees and the winter light. I also didn’t want to
disturb any natural fl owers that burst out over the area
in a few weeks. Th e City of Victoria gratefully issued
a permit to me for the one day, and it was fun to see
people’s faces light up with big grins full of curiosity and
joy.
Th e eggs were constructed out of very light plastic
panels covered in chicken wire and then thin fabric
painted in a nice robin’s egg blue colour and then tied
with rope to secure everything. I decided to make the
rope a feature rather than struggle to hide it.
‘If you would like to see more photos from the day,
please take a look at my website at http://coastnet.com/
dhouston/
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VillageVibe April 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3
>> by Amy Crook
Time stops in my busy world when I bite
into a homegrown, sun warmed, perfectly ripe tomato.
It is one of my joys and triumphs, and a highlight
of summer. Th ere are many techniques and tips to
growing great tomatoes. Join us for a workshop to share
knowledge and increase your success. We’ll cover lots of
>> by Anke van Leeuwen
As you may know, we go to the polls here
in British Columbia to elect a new provincial government
on May 12.
Th is time we again have an opportunity to change the
system by which we have traditionally elected our MLAs.
Th e referendum will ask: “Which electoral system should
British Columbia use to elect members to the provincial
Legislative Assembly?” If you want change, check the
box beside the choice for the “Single Transferable Vote
Electoral System.” In the 2005 election nearly 58% of
British Columbians voted YES, just short of the 60%
requirement that the Campbell government imposed for
the referendum to pass.
Unfortunately, many people are choosing not to
exercise their right to vote because they feel their vote
doesn’t count. And that’s understandable, because
under the current First- Past-the-Post (FPP) system the
composition of the government really doesn’t refl ect what
the voters asked for. Look at these fi gures:
- In 1996, the party that formed government received less
votes than the opposition.
- In 2001, the result was so lopsided that although the
opposition received 43% of the votes, only two NDP
MLAs were elected and BC ended up without an
offi cial opposition for the next four years.
- In 2005, over 13% of voters voted for smaller parties that
received no seats, and half of British Columbians are
represented by an MLA for whom they did not vote.
Th e proposed new electoral system, known as Single
Transferable Vote or STV, is a modern system designed
to ensure that voters have eff ective voices in government.
It has been used successfully for decades in many countries
such as Ireland and Australia. Most democracies in
the world are now using some form of proportional
representation system in which voters are free to support
the candidate or party that best refl ects their values. Only
Britain, the United States, Canada, and a few other ex-
British colonies are still using FPP.
To fi nd out more about BC-STV, go to www.stv.ca
And whatever you do on May 12, be sure to get out
and vote!
Growing Terrifi c Tomatoes
Single Transferable Vote
information, provide reference material, and plant
many varieties of tomatoes and peppers for you to take
home and grow.
Th e workshop will cover:
> Seeding, growing, and harvesting tips to help your
plants thrive
> Soil-building and location as keys to success
> Suitable seeds for our local area
> How to successfully save seeds
When: Saturday, April 4 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Fernwood Community Center, 1240 Gladstone Ave.
Cost: $20
Presented by: Amy Crook certifi ed Master Gardener in
conjunction with LifeCycles Fruit Tree project
Th is workshop helps support LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED as space is limited.
Please contact [email protected] or 250-479-5475
for more information and/or to register for workshops.
Victoria Community Health Co-operativeCommunity Wellness Clinics
>> by James Christian
Clinic PhilosophyTh e Community Wellness Clinic off ers Co-op member-
participants complementary treatments from various
co-op natural health practitioner members at a pay-what-
you-can rate. Th e clinics are held the third Sunday of
every month; the aim is to increase access to integrated
multidisciplinary health care in an aff ordable and inclusive
way. From doctors to integrated energy workers, from
physiotherapists to hypnotherapists, from massage
therapists to homeopathic doctors all practitioners are
dedicated to working together to improve your health
and wellness. Th e donation money goes into the Co-
op Health Access Fund which is designed to support
member participants access to complementary health care
modalities. Th e practitioners are off ering their services
gratis to the community.
Here’s how it works:
1) Become a Member of the Victoria Community Health Co-operativeTh e Wellness Clinic is open to member-participants of the
co-operative. You can either join the co-operative before
the clinic starts or you can join the co-operative at the
clinic itself. You can join the Co-op by visiting our website
at www.victoriahealthcooperative.ca
2) Choose Your PractitionerHave a look at the biographies of the practitioners and
what health benefi ts their modalities have to off er you.
Decide what type of treatment you would like to try based
on your current health concerns.
3) Set Up Your AppointmentOnce you have decided on your practitioner call the
VCHC telephone number (250-483-5503) to book an
appointment. If you have any questions about what is right
for you, you can talk to Nicole who is our volunteer health
navigator or you can email or call the practitioner directly.
Th eir contact information is included in their description.
Going to the Wellness ClinicOn the Sunday of your appointment come to the
Community Wellness Clinic being held at Alembic
Healing Arts Centre in Market Square, Suite #235,
560 Johnson Street at Store Street. Th e clinic is on the
second fl oor and can be accessed from the Pandora Street
entrance, as well. Please arrive 15 minutes before your
appointment to fi ll in a medical history and sign a consent
form. Aft er your session, pay what you can, knowing that
your donation goes towards helping to create a healthier
community.
Continuing to Improve Your WellnessMember participants are free to continue to work with the
practitioners outside of the clinic. Arrangements can be
made directly with the practitioner.
Th e Community Wellness Clinic seeks to establish
relationships between member participants, strengthen the
community of the VCHC and improve individual and the
overall health of member/participants.
To fi nd out more about the Victoria Community Health
Co-operative check out http://victoriahealthcooperative.ca
or see the Village Vibe Calendar for monthly Community
Wellness Clinic information.
Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | April 2009 VillageVibe
Th at’s the number one
requirement for community involvement, according
to Jim Diers, a veteran community organizer and a
member of the Urban Policy Committee for Barack
Obama’s Presidential campaign.
Diers spoke to a standing-room only audience
March 2 at Victoria’s City Hall. His message:
reconnect with your neighbours and you’ll discover
the skills and resources available to make your
community a better place. Together, people can
achieve things which would be impossible alone.
“I’ve got a friend from Calgary. He says, ‘Jim,
you know the problem with getting people involved
in community? It’s those G.D. activists.’ I say, what
do you mean? He says ‘Grim and Determined,’”
said Diers.
“It cracks me up. I know so many people like
that. Th e people who feel that civic life is their cross
to bear. Th e people who love to be sour all the time,
to always think the worst of everything, to always
be pessimistic and love to complain. Th ey’re oft en
the leaders of our community organizations, almost
self-appointed, because they drive everyone away.”
So, said Diers, start where people are, and
speak the language they do. Participate in causes
other than your own. Ask people what they care
about, and help them achieve it. Look at the half-
full glass, instead of the half-empty glass. Recognize
what you’ve got as a community, and don’t sit on
your assets.
“Every person has gift s to give. Gift s of the
head, knowledge. Gift s of the heart, compassion.
Gift s of the hand, unique skills. But the problem
in our society is labels. Labels that say they have no
gift s.” Labels like ‘homeless,’ or smearing ‘youth’ with
‘at-risk.’ “Labelling people ‘disabled’ — that drives
me nuts. Defi ning people as ‘clients’ rather than
‘citizens,’” said Diers. “We need to take those labels
off and recognize everyone has gift s.” But how do we
do that? How do we make real life more interesting
than TV? How can we compete against wardrobe
malfunctions and the season fi nale of Lost?
Build a BMX park under a bridge. Start a café.
Paint a mural. Set up a Drug Free Zone with citizen
patrols. Start an art crawl or a music festival or a
community garden. Get things done on a local level
with resident power!
Th e city of Fremont in Seattle put sculptures
in the streets, painted murals in city squares,
constructed a giant rocket, and then sent the word
out that it was aimed at City Hall if they wouldn’t
shape up.
In San Francisco, residents who wanted parks
created them. Th ey put money in a parking meter,
uppercased the PARK on the sign, rolled down
grass over the pavement, then sunbathed and played
croquet. Th ey fed a meter and sent a message.
In the community of Ballard, California,
residents planted trees along their boulevards, then
bought abandoned lots and turned them into parks
and gardens.
In Diers’ own Seattle neighbourhood, one block
in the business district had been empty for years.
Th ey revitalized it with murals of shops. It started
with one storefront, then a bookstore, a dance
feature : Resident Powered Neighbourhood
Evolution:>> by Steve CareyHave fun.
Ph
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Car
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Cornerstone: the story
VillageVibe April 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5
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
studio and a toy store mural. People got excited.
“People wanted to stop and shop! Eventually
people wanted to get in on the action,” said Diers.
One by one, the painted stores were replaced with
real businesses and real patrons.
“Th e way to fi x the neighbourhood isn’t to
drive people out but to put legitimate businesses
in,” said Diers. “Th e best way to deal with crime
is to bring in legitimate activity, to create a
vibrant space.”
Th e fi rst director of Seattle’s Department of
Neighbourhoods, Diers served in the position
for 14 years. He is currently the director of the
University of Washington’s Seattle Community
Partnerships Program and teaches courses in
community development.
Diers is the instigator of “the Seattle Way,”
initiating community involvement from the
bottom up. His book, Neighbor Power: Building
Community the Seattle Way, was released in
January 2005. Cities such as Melbourne, Beijing,
and Austin have adopted its bottom-up style of
involvement and development.
Following Diers’ Victoria appearance, three
small group discussions were held on community
success stories. Th e Fernwood NRG presented
on the Cornerstone Building and neighbourhood
involvement, Victoria West presented on
Th e Victoria West Visions Project, and the
Fairfi eld Gonzales Community Association
presented on their funds matching program.
All are grassroots initiatives that use the power
of people to their advantage.
“We need to start thinking about how we
get satisfaction and meaning out of our lives by
connecting with and supporting each other, by
caring for the place we share rather than how
we get ahead by accumulating more,” said Diers.
“When we lose everything else it’s community we
have to fall back on.”
Fernwood NRG’s Infant
and Toddler Daycare is
looking for the following:
• Paint for interior and
exterior of building
• Wood to build a deck• A tree for shade in the
summer• Walkie talkies• Video monitors• New exterior light
• Storage shelving• Storage cupboards• Food processor• Digital camera• Emergency supplies• Large bulletin board
• Kitchen & food toys• Large foam blocks• Outside play house• Wooden kitchen set• Mini sofa and chairs• Trains
Spring Cleaning? De-Cluttering?
If you can help us out, email [email protected] or call 250.381.1552, ext. 22
>> by Trish Richards
In a breakout session following Diers
presentation, I shared the Cornerstone story with
some 30 interested folk.
I told them how the inspiration for the
Cornerstone purchase began with notes scrawled
across paper banners by neighbours attending
our Visioning Forum in the spring of 2004.
When asked: “What can we do to reclaim our
neighbourhood?” Fernwoodians answered: “Do
something about the boarded up building at
Fernwood and Gladstone!” So aft er some months of
creative negotiation and much nail-biting suspense,
on August 2, 2005, Fernwood NRG bought the
building, festooned it with Fernwood fl ags and
renamed it the Cornerstone. And the amazing
transformation began!
I talked about how ‘Demolition Saturdays’
became a Fernwood tradition and how neighbours
turned out in droves to put 10,000 plus hours
into restoring the Cornerstone. I told them that,
as a result, the centre of our neighbourhood is
now graced by a beautifully reclaimed, geothermally
heated heritage building that has become a leverage
point for the ongoing invigoration of Fernwood
village. I acknowledged how proud Fernwood NRG
is of housing four families in its upstairs suites
and of Stage Restaurant, Collective Works Gallery
and of course the Cornerstone Café, Fernwood’s
living room.
Jim Diers Visits Victoria
I characterized the Cornerstone as the
bricks and mortar of an amazing neighbourhood
revitalization. Just as important as the building
itself was the process that brought people together
and continues to inspire ongoing initiatives like
our award-winning Food Security Group, our Place
Making Group, the Fernwood Artists’ Collective,
the Cornerstone Record Collective, Park Place and,
yes, the collective voice of our neighbourhood, the
Village Vibe.
Concerned about my tendency to longwinded
ramblings, I stopped there and shared with them
the Cornerstone Power Point, a photo montage that
takes viewers on the Cornerstone transformation
journey in a way no words of mine could ever do.
(If you haven’t seen it yet and want to, let the Village
Vibe know and we’ll hold a screening! Email
It is a story that many of you have heard and
many of you have played a part in. But telling it
to folks who are not familiar with it takes on a
whole diff erent feel. People in the audience spoke
to me later of being moved and inspired by the
Cornerstone story and of wanting to talk further
about how they could walk the Fernwood walk in
their own communities!
And I am moved and inspired all over again
each time I tell the tale. We – and I mean you and I
together – have achieved something amazing in the
Cornerstone and as we continue to meet and talk,
work and play and dance under the stars at Fern
Fest, together we can only achieve more.
Resources
For a video of Jim Diers’ presentation, visit www.jimdiers.blip.tv For more information on Diers and his book, visit
www.neighborpower.org For more information on upcoming City of Victoria events, visit www.Victoria.ca, or as
always, the Fernwood NRG’s website, www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Diers recently published a paper titled From the Ground Up: Community’s Role in Addressing Street Level Issues.
Read it at the Canada West Foundation’s website, www.cwf.ca
Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | April 2009 VillageVibe
>> by Margaret Hantiuk
By what I see in my own yard I think the
growing season is about two weeks late this year. We need
to be patient and spend this time planning, getting ready,
and purchasing supplies. We can do some cleanup, though,
pruning dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs
that may have suff ered winter injury.
It is wise to wait for new growth to see what is really
dead. Some tender shrubs may have ‘die-back’ on branches
even as far down as the basal (ground) area. When you
are sure (areas of no growth when everything else is well
into leaf ) prune back to ‘green wood’ or to just above new
growth, always neatly and at an angle.
On a shrub, cut above an outward-facing leaf sprout,
so the shrub grows outwards, increasing air circulation and
sun access. Tree branches should be cut close but not into
the ‘collar’ (the swelling where the branch joins the larger
stock) so that this collar may grow over and eventually
cover the open cut. Th is can be rejuvenating for many
shrubs so don’t rip out a shrub you think is dead in
early spring.
With a cold spring, it may not be worth planting
your veggies too early (unless you have a green house, cold
frame or cloche covers). Th ey will grow slowly if at all, and
you may lose them to rot and insect infestation. Seedlings
are best put out when smaller, as they are less vulnerable
to ‘vernalization’, the stress response to cold temperatures
where seedlings fl ower prematurely and then do not
mature properly.
If your yard has low areas or heavy soil that stays
soggy late in spring, delay working in these areas, as it is
damaging to soil structure to stand on heavy, wet soils.
Th is is the advantage of raised beds: they drain well and
warm up early. Th ey should be built small enough to be
reached from all sides; without standing in them the
soil isn’t compacted and requires less cultivation. Because
there is less wasted space, added soil amendments go
further and are easier to apply. Watering and weeding are
easier too.
Soil amendments that should be added annually
to build up your soil are compost and, in our region,
an annual dressing of agricultural (dolomite) lime, as our
winter rains tend to leach this out of our naturally more
acidic soils. While there are some acidic loving plants
that shouldn’t be limed (blueberries, rhodos, azaleas
for example) garden veggies, lawns and most fl owering
plants and shrubs do benefi t. Bone meal contains a small
amount of it.
As lime leaches slowly down into the soil, the annual
dressing maintains the Ph balance that most garden
plants thrive in. A 500g yoghurt container should cover
about two square meters; apply before rain or prior to
cultivating.
If you don’t have enough compost, there are some
excellent amendments that can be purchased at a good
garden center. Th e fi rst is Seasoil, a composted mix of
wood and fi sh wastes that can be bought bagged or in
bulk. It is expensive, but it’s rich and should be spread just
an inch thick.
Th ere are also organic fertilizers (Gaia Green All-
Purpose for example) that are not chemical based, but
rather natural materials such as ground rock (greensand,
gypsum, glacial rock dust) plant materials (alfalfa, kelp,
seaweed) and also bone and blood meal. Some of these
materials represent diverted waste.
Organic fertilizers contain trace minerals that
chemical fertilizers do not, and being slow release don’t
‘burn’ plants or create imbalanced growth. Integrity Sales,
up on the Saanich peninsula at Keating Cross Rd, mixes
its own organic fertilizers at reasonable prices.
Wood ashes may also be spread over your beds. Alaska
or Pacifi c fi sh fertilizers are liquid mixes that may be
diluted and then applied to containers or heavy feeders
(roses, tomatoes, etc.) Compost tea is easily steeped in
large pails of warm water for a week or so, then applied
diluted to plants as they grow. Plants love this organic
stuff , and so does the soil and microorganisms: it’s a total
diet that lasts a long time.
Ready? Let’s grow!
gleanings : Getting Ready to Spring Into Action
– continued on page 7
what is usual size?
>> by Alex Kerr, Chair North Park
Neighbourhood Association
We have had a busy few months in North Park,
as several projects came together.
First, we had a planting bee at the Native Plant
Garden on the corner of Pembroke and Vancouver where
we planted more than 100 shrubs. We fi nished it on the
Saturday, and it snowed on the Sunday. But they all seem to
be doing just fi ne.
We then had a work party at the corner of Cook and
North Park to start work on the rest area. We poured the
cement for the two benches and a bulletin board. As well,
we put down some gravel on the path across this area. Th e
bulletin board and benches have now been installed. Th e
Do It Centre has also installed a new sign to refl ect their
name change to Castle Building Centre.
We wish to thank Do It Centre for all their help on the
busy Saturday of work. Th ere will be ongoing changes to
this area with a perennial garden and new walkway. Drop
by, relax and read the news.
We then had another planting bee at the Pembroke
and Vancouver corner where neighbours planted another
350 perennials. Th is Native Plant Garden will also
have signage to identify the plants etc. We are also
developing a website to answer your questions about
plants. Th anks to Todd Doherty for all his work and
planning on this project.
North Park’s Neighbourhood festival this year will
be on September 12. Th ere will be more to follow in later
issues of the Village Vibe.
Make sure to go to our website at www.npna.ca for the
latest news. Take care and enjoy life.
North Park News
VillageVibe April 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7
>> by Lisa Helps
In the early 1930s, 25% of Victorians were
unemployed. Th ere was a severe housing crisis. Th e cost
of living was skyrocketing. And small local businesses
were being forced to close their doors. In the summer
of 1931 a group of citizens, recognizing the needs of
their neighbours, came together to form the Citizens’
Emergency Relief Fund. Th ese people realized that taking
action was a more powerful response than waiting for the
government’s stimulus package to trickle down.
In July 1931 alone the Citizens’ Emergency Relief
Fund raised more than $50,000. A July 29, 1931 Victoria
Daily Times headline proclaims, “Relief Fund Passes
$50,000,” and the article notes the recent contributions of
citizens. R.P. Butchart had donated $5,000 that week. G.
Bornsfelt had contributed $5.00. And every contribution
mattered. By the time the Relief Fund had disbursed its
last dollar in the summer of 1934, the Fund had aided over
5,000 Victorians in need.
Th e Greater Victoria Citizens’ Trust – created in part
by a number of Fernwoodians – is a 21st century response
to a similar economic crisis. Th e Greater Victoria Citizens’
Trust will provide loans to small local businesses, social
enterprises, and citizens hit hard by the current economic
crisis.
Th e Trust will be structured as a micro-credit fi nance
fund. Th is does not mean that the Trust will expect
payment in cash back from everyone it loans money
to (though in most cases it would). For example, the
executors of the Trust may decide to fund an impoverished
citizen’s necessary dental surgery, or pay the damage
deposit so that someone can rent an apartment. Th e
recipient may not be able to pay the Trust back in cash
– perhaps, for example, he or she is also a musician and
could play at a fundraising event, or is an artist and could
produce goods for sale by the social enterprise arm of the
Citizens’ Trust.
Th e Trust is premised on the fact that there are lots of
ways to contribute to the community, to give back what
is taken, and that everyone has something to off er that is
worth something if we look with a broader lens at what
“worth” is.
Th e Trust is founded on the principle that small, local,
socially-conscious and community-engaging businesses
are integral to the local economy and to the fabric of the
community more generally. Businesses – oft en hived off
as a separate “corporate” sector – are run by citizens
who are making critical and visionary investments in
the city’s present and future. Th ey should be invested
in, supported, sustained, and asked to contribute to the
community in return.
Th e Citizens’ Trust will raise money through
community engagements eff orts. Th e fi rst public event
was a singalong in Bastion Square on a freezing cold day in
early March where citizens came out and withstood the
cold to raise a few dollars for their fellow neighbours.
Like the singalong, other fundraising events will be
community building eff orts. Part of this is encouraging
and assisting so-called “average citizens” to realize that they
can make a diff erence in their communities in big
and small ways and supporting them to do so.
Part of the very fundraising strategy, then, is
about community engagement and empowerment. In
other words, both the input and the output are about
community engagement.
Th e Trust is fl exible and as such will help create new
opportunities for imagining and enacting visions for
Victoria. For example, the Trust could create something
like an Urban Sustainability Fellowship through which
folks from across the country might apply to come to
Victoria and share and teach and learn what they know
about urban sustainability. Th e Trust might cover living
expenses, rent, and an honorarium, etc., in exchange for
a year of engagement in and dedication to contributing
to Victoria’s sustainability. Or the Trust might fund a
Leadership Mentorship (maybe in conjunction with
Leadership Victoria), which might enable an amazing
leader from somewhere in the country/world to come,
fully funded, to Victoria for a year to mentor local leaders.
Or perhaps – even better – we likely have urban
sustainability and leadership mentors right here in the city.
Th e Fellowships/Mentorships could support those people
for a year to focus all of their eff orts in those areas.
To fi nd out more or to donate to the Greater Victoria
Citizens’ Trust head to www.victoriacitizenstrust.ca
Greater Victoria Citizens’ Trust
What in the world are
Christian Science Reading Rooms?
Come to our Open House and fi nd out!
April 16-19, 20091205 Pandora Ave at
Chambers St Thurs: 12 noon - 7pm
Fri, Sat, Sun: 12 noon - 5pm
www.victoriachurch.ca250-383-0216
it is the scale
of this city that makes things
workable not elsewhere
like the singer in black
tight velour striped pants
bound up to the neck
in black leather studded somethings
you know the kind I mean that match
belts with two lines of silver holes
leather boots stomping
beside him at the microphone cowboy
in too tight jeans
and fl annel shirt pocket
ripped from one too many
local poets Hootenany by lisa helps
a pack of the harshest brand
and yet they sing in almost perfect harmony
as the Hootenany host
pushes her tongue
into another woman’s mouth
in the perfect spot
the two of them
to block the fl ashing lights
of the ambulance
pulled up in front likely
to pull a recent patron
from the pavement
or maybe to collect
again a person without
a home gathered in front
of the Sunday pub
where generous regulars
high on something like music
easily spare a smoke or a toke
while inside someone pulls down the blind
and as the ambulance pulse fades
we turn our attention again
to the perfect punk and cowboy
to this city
where scale grace and good will
dictate that dissonance
might be something like
almost harmony
Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | April 2009 VillageVibe
what’s on in FernwoodArts, Theatre and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre presents:THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. An award-winning comedy by Morris Panych. Directed by Amiel Gladstone, and starring Paul Fauteux, Vanessa Holmes, James Long, Lucas Myers and Camille Stubel. Apr 4 to May 17. See website or call for showtimes or additional info. 1291 Gladstone Ave. Info: 250.385.6815 or www.belfry.bc.caBluegrass Wednesdays.Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass Association present Wednesday night bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-10pm. FREE!Collective Works Gallery.icon. Works by Lia Crossley. Show runs Mar 27 to Apr 9. TELLINGS STORIES. Works by Jenny Waelti-Walters, painter-printmaker and Jan Johnson, sculptor. Opening Apr 10, 7-9pm. Show runs Apr 10 to 23. Gallery hours>11am-6pm Tues to Thurs; 11am-8pm Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun; closed Mon. 1311 Gladstone Ave. 250.590.1345. www.collectiveworks.caLive at the Cornerstone – 1301 Gladstone (at Fernwood Ave.)Tues, Apr 14. 8pm>Music – an intimate evening with REVIVAL DEAR, on the road for their cross-Canada He Said/She Said tour. By donation.Mon, Apr 20. 7pm> Victoria Magazine Cabaret. Everyone welcome.Thurs, Apr 23. 7pm> Book night with selected local authors from Touchwood Editions.Ongoing Friday events at the Cornerstone, Fernwood’s living room:> First and third Fridays (Apr 3 and 17). “Sound Spa.” Down tempo and dub reggae with local and guest djs.>Second and fourth Fridays (Apr 10 and 24). “Shot in the Dark” open mic night with hosts the Bumbling Sisters. Bring your poetry, music, jokes, stories, etc.Thank you for supporting independent touring and local musicians and your neighbourhood!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.comMinistry of Casual Living.1442 Haultain St. Info: www.ministryofcasualliving.caVictoria Bluegrass Association Jam.Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood Rd. $2 to play ($3/non-members). Listen by donation. Info: www.victoriabluegrass.caVictoria Folk Music Society.Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature Performer. (Apr 5>JOHN WORT HANNAM. Apr 12>JIM PAGE. Apr 19>HEADWATER. Apr 26>CLOVER POINT DRIFTERS.) 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!Food Skills for Families Workshop.Workshop provides participants with the tools and inspiration to create nutritious, interesting and delicious meals while having fun in a social setting.Six-week session started Mar 28. Saturdays, 3-6pm. Fernwood Community Centre. For info contact [email protected] or 250-381-1552 ex.122. 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 SeniorsFairuza 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.**Kundalini Yoga.Mondays, 7-8:30pm. $5 drop-in. Fernwood Community Centre.Moksha Yoga.With instructor Lena Simmons. Tuesdays. 7:30-8:30. $5 drop-in. Fernwood Community Centre.Tai Chi.Thursdays. 4:30-5:30pm. Fernwood Commu-nity Centre. 1240 Gladstone. $5 drop-in.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 EventsFern Fest 2009!!Sat, June 20, 2009. 11am-11pm. Come out and help us in our celebration of the wonderful Fernwood Community! Live entertainment, family activities, beer garden, BBQ, Workshops and more! Free admission.Wise Daughters workshops:>Starting Apr 1, Wise Daughters is pleased to be hosting a six-part series of interactive home design talks presented by Wo-Built, a local women-owned construction/design company. Perfect for new home owners or anyone contemplating improvements to their living space.>Come make a sock monkey on Apr 8, conquer your fear of drawing April 18, and get in touch with your inner diva April 26. There’s something for everyone next month!>Plus weekly Sit ‘n’ Stitch, of course – come for great conversation and a chance to fi nish those projects languishing in your closet.For info call 416.761.1555 or see www.wisedaughters.comFernwood Business Network.Everyone welcome. Tues, Apr 7 (fi rst Tues monthly). 10am. Fernwood Inn. For info contact Ryan Rutley at [email protected] Green Drinks.An inclusive gathering of the sustainability-minded for refreshments and conversation. Tues, Apr 14 (second Tues monthly). 5-7pm. Canoe Brew Pub, Marina and Restaurant 405 Swift Street. For info see www.greendrinksvictoria.caFernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing and food trays, electronics and foil-lined coffee/chip bags. Sat, Apr 11 (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: [email protected] Wellness Clinic.Victoria Community Health Co-operative. Experience complementary modalities to support your well being. Clinics by members for members. Sunday, Apr 19 (third Sun monthly), 10am-4pm, Alembic Healing Arts Centre, Market Square, Suite #235, 560 Johnson St. Book appointments at 250.483.5503. More info at: www.victoriahealthcooperative.caTaiko in Fernwood!Uminari Taiko offers a three-hour workshop on Taiko Japanese drumming. Apr 19. EuroStudios, 1821 Cook St., Unit 3F. $49/$45 before Apr 12. Pre-register at: [email protected], and come prepared to have fun!Fernwood Place Making Troupe.Come out and talk Place Making with Fernwood’s new City Council Liaison, Phillipe Lucas. The evening will begin with a screening of BUBBLEMAN. A quintessentially Fernwoodian event! Mon, Apr 20 (third Mon monthly). 7pm. Cornerstone Café. All Welcome!
Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood
Neighbourhood Resource Group)
1240 Gladstone Street
Victoria, BC V8T 1G6
T 250.381.1552
F 250.381.1509
www.villagevibe.ca
Editor: Lisa Helps
Assistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen,
Trish Richards
Contributors:
Steve Carey
James Christian
Amy Crook
Margaret Hantiuk
Deryk Houston
Alex Kerr
Anke van Leeuwen
Jo Roueche
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
Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective.All welcome! Tues, Apr 21 (third Tues monthly). 7-9pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. [email protected] Community Kitchen.Cook nutritious, creative meals with your neighbours! Info: [email protected] Ridge Commons Workparties!Come get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s only public food garden. Saturdays, 10-12pm at the Commons. Please bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.Village Sustainability Workshops.Ongoing workshops at the Oak and Fern Centre. Contact Rainey and Margot for information at 250.383.9171 or [email protected] 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 [email protected]
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]