villagevibeJanuary 2008 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood

>> by Trish Richards

Ever notice that the boulevards in the ’hood

are home to much more than seasonal

vegetation. Th ey are usually sprouting a

range of things that their owners no longer have any

use for. Everything from boxes of old clothes to sofas

to toilets. What is going on here?

Th ere is a rather fi ne line between Freecycling

and garbage dumping. Freecycling is a time-

honoured tradition in Fernwood. Everyone

knows that rather than mess about with a garage

sale, you can put a couple of boxes out on the

boulevard, mark it “Free” and much of it will be

gone come morning. Another fi ne example of this

is the unoffi cial Freecycle site below the gazebo in

Fernwood Square. While some of us might prefer a

tidier version, it actually works fairly well.

Th e thing about Freecycling is that if no one

takes your castoff s, the responsibility remains with

you to fi nd some way of disposing of them. If WIN,

Saint Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army won’t

take them and they can’t be recycled, then they are

probably destined for the landfi ll, and it is up to you

to get them there.

With larger items, the old mattresses, the sofas,

the obsolete electronic equipment, the problem is

of a diff erent sort. Th ese are items that the agencies

won’t take, and generally, no one else wants either.

Although you might be able to freecycle a sofa – in

fact, just the other day I saw a couple of hardy souls

hoofi ng a large sofa up Roseberry Hill – this is the

exception. For the most part, boulevard sofas get

left out in the rain for long enough to be of no use

to anyone. Some provide seating for passersby in

the night, sometimes just long enough for a stray

cigarette to set them afl ame. Like the one left in

Kings Park last summer, the fi re from which took

half my neighbour’s fence along with it.

Th e City will pick up large boulevard leavings

if someone calls to complain. However, City staff

estimate the cost of ad hoc pickup to be $100,000

per year. It is an expense that they are none too

happy about. Dumping is illegal and you can be

fi ned up to $500 if you are caught at it.

In November’s Village Vibe we published

a letter that asked the City to work with the

neighbourhood on the dumping problem. Now we

need to look at some made-in-Fernwood solutions.

One idea is to hold a Fernwood Freecycle day each

year. We could designate a Saturday in April where

throughout Fernwood anyone with stuff to get rid

of could put it out and anyone who is looking could

check it out. Th en, on the Monday, the city crews

could pick up the leavings.

Another idea is to revive the Fernwood NRG

spring and fall garage sales. We could encourage

Fernwoodians to turn out by providing the option

of disposing of unsold items to the agencies, Plastics

Recycling, or the landfi ll.

If you have other freecycling ideas, we

want to hear them. Write to placemaking@

fernwoodneighbourhood.ca. Tell us your idea and

how you could help to make it happen. Lets work

together to keep our boulevards clear enough to give

the seasonal vegetation a fi ghting chance!

Some things you can do right away before taking

the boulevard route are:

> Call the CRD Recycling Hotline at 360-3030

> Try the FREE postings on:

- Used Victoria at http://www.usedvictoria.com/

- Freecycle at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/

victoriafreecycle/

Freecycle or garbage? Sharing gardens>> by R ainey Hopewell

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match,

fi nd me a garden, catch me a... Pole bean?

Beet? Potato? Introducing the Fernwood

NRG Food Security Collective’s newest brainchild

…“Sharing Gardens!”

Are you a Fernwoodian or Oaklandish vegetable

lover with a fallow garden space, or space for a new garden

plot? Are you thinking you could grow food in that space,

if only you had some help? Are you a thwarted urban

vegetable-gardener with no access to garden space? Are you

thinking you could grow the vegetables of your dreams,

if only you had a plot? If you recognize yourself in either

of these descriptions, the Fernwood NRG Food Security

Collective’s “Sharing Gardens” program might be able to

arrange a match for you.

Here’s how it works:

If you have a productive vegetable garden with which

you need help, or a garden lying fallow, or space where a

new garden plot could be created, register that information

with the “Sharing Gardens” program by calling Rainey

Hopewell at 380-5055. Someone will come to your space,

in this issueArmchair reads for a neighbourhood evolution Page 3

Feature: Th e all-ages scene Page 4

Fernwood fl oor hockey fl ying high Page 6

– continued on page 4

Ph

oto

: K

eith

Ho

on

Peace and love to you

in the new year!

Ph

oto

s: B

ill M

cKec

hn

ie

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

Looking back isn’t as much fun as looking

forward. 2007 was a good year in Fernwood. What can

we expect for 2008?

Chickens will soon be running the streets. Aft er the

success of the Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective’s

urban chicken-raising workshop held last fall, neighbours

have already been plotting to get together and raise

chickens between them. Th is summer, at the Fernwood

Square market, there’ll be vendors selling eggs labeled

“Product of Fernwood/Produit de Fernwood.”

Th e multifaceted and talented gamut of Fernwood

artists will fl ourish with the opening of the Collective

Works Gallery this month. Fernwood artists now have

a new home, a gathering place, and the true Fernwood

Renaissance will begin.

Currently dormant backyards will spring to life as

neighbours dial up Rainey Hopewell at 380-5055 and

begin to share backyard gardening spaces and gardening

skills. Who knows, maybe there’ll even be an upswing of

made in Fernwood romances as folks fi nd their perfect

match in the potato patch!

Th e Fernwood Business Network, brainchild of

the late Roger Colwill, will transform the lives of small

business people in Fernwood and will stimulate an even

more vibrant business community in the neighbourhood.

Join other business people in Fernwood for an inaugural

meeting, February 4th at 10:00am. Email ryan@

rutleyventures.ca for details.

Fernwood NRG’s Placemaking Troupe – which

includes anyone interested in transforming Fernwood’s

public spaces – will move from pinwheels to poetry

cans, to Village Vibe boxes, to … whatever your heart

desires. Th e action of neighbours coming together will

accentuate the eclectic, eccentric, and funky character of

our neighbourhood.

All in all? It looks like a fi rst-rate year!

editorial : Predictions for 2008

>> By Kasper

“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three

things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace

of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone

else.” – Peyton Conway March

On Saturday, October 20, 2007, you really

could feel the love at the Cornerstone Café in the heart of

Fernwood. Th e love was in appreciation of a worthy cause.

It was for music and dance performed with conviction and

grace. It was expressed in the camaraderie between musicians

and the connection between performers and audience. It was

the love of a community of people who fi lled the Café for ten

straight hours to show their support and generously donated

over $875 to the Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault Centre

(VWSAC), in honour of the Centre’s 25th anniversary.

Th e event was called “20/20/20.” Twenty local artists

performed twenty minutes each on the 20th day of October,

hence the 10-hour marathon from 1:00 to 11:00pm. In

opening “20/20/20,” Fernwood NRG Board Chair, Lisa

Helps, welcomed the VWSAC and all the musicians to “our

neighbourhood living room.”

Long-time Fernwood resident and veteran of the

Victoria music scene Mike Demers kicked off the event with

a powerful punch of acoustic numbers. Demers was followed

by the duo Palomitas De Maiz – belly dancing accompanied

by conga percussion. Other artists who graced the

Cornerstone stage included: Irene Jackson, Tom Sandford,

Boxcar, Azul Salvaje, Gord Phillips, Chelsea Rich, Th e Flying

Barista Brothers, Dana Waldman, Steven Del Rizzo, Pedro

Java, Greg Wolfe, James Kasper, Nastassia Yard, Jennifer

Louise Taylor, Char, Quinn, Hollydene, Stacie Black,

Th omas P. Radcliff e, Caroline Spence, Adam Basterfi eld, and

Pauline Edwards.

Th e response to the call for performers for the benefi t

was so overwhelming that the 20 performer spots were not

enough to accommodate everyone. So, surplus performers

were squeezed in for single songs during transitions between

offi cial acts.

“I experienced a wide range of emotions and continued

to talk about it for many days aft er,” said Tracy Lubick,

Resource Development Offi cer for VWSAC, who spoke at

the event. “At times I found myself smiling and laughing, at

other times I found myself moved to tears by the passion of

the performer, the music itself, a voice, or an instrument.”

Lubick commended the event’s participants for their

“commitment to community” and added that by helping the

organization to raise awareness and funds, “20/20/20” will

make a diff erence in the lives of many.

Last year VWSCA provided services to over 2,800

people who have been aff ected by sexualized violence.

Donations are used to provide counseling to survivors of

sexual assault and abuse, training for volunteers on the

Sexual Assault Response Team, and prevention education

workshops for youth through a program called Project

Respect.

Th ank-you to all who participated in the event and

supported the cause.

Twenty minutes goes a long way

Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe

the Fernwood buzzThe Fernwood NRG Placemaking Troupe met

Wednesday December 12th in the Cornerstone Café for an

evening of Zippy Action Projects. Th e event was a hybrid of

show and tell, arts and craft s, and community building.

Fernwood NRG’s Placemaking Troupe put forward

several creative ZAP ideas. Tania Wegwitz introduced her

handmade newspaper boxes for the Village Vibe. “If we get

people painting and building Vibe boxes we will no longer

need to use Canada Post,” Wegwitz said, standing beside her

sky-blue polka-dotted box. A network of boxes throughout

Fernwood will make the paper more accessible to all.

Next in line was Cathy Martin, a coff ee can in her hand.

“Th is is not just an empty coff ee can,” she said and explained

how containers like these can be transformed into poetry

cans. “A RAP ZAP,” one participant called out – Random

Acts of Poetry. Cans will be painted and posted around

Fernwood to provide a place for people to leave whimsical

musings and notes for neighbours. Sean Newton’s brightly

coloured pinwheel-topped un-traffi c cones were the ZAP of

the evening. Roberta Martell explained that the cones came

out of the discussion around traffi c calming measures along

Fernwood Road.

Under Newton’s direction, the Cornerstone Café

became a craft studio humming with activity. Troupe

members outlined, cut, folded, and stapled in assembly line

fashion. Newton kept a close eye on the manufacturing of

pinwheels. Elsewhere in the Café, manager Lenore Rankin

got assistance moving furniture out of an alcove to make

space for a placemaking centre. To fi nd out more about the

next Fernwood NRG Placemaking Troupe event contact

placemaking@fernwoodneighborhood.ca

Ph

oto

: P

ete

Ro

ckw

ell

Ph

oto

: P

ete

Ro

ckw

ell

VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3

views from the street : What are your wishes or resolutions for the year to come?

Like most moms out there, I defi nitely need to fi nd more

time for myself this year! As for my worldly wishes – I am

a bit cynical. I don’t think our North American bubble

will change much this year, but if it were to change, I wish

for individuals to realize that people are more important

than belongings, and to make our world a better place.

I wish for tolerance, understanding, respect and peace,

both for myself, my family and for all other living

creatures on this planet.

I personally need to give myself more adult social

time. My worldly wish is that more people make

resolutions to live a greener and more environmentally

sustainable life.

Armchair reads for a neighbourhood evolution

Laura Rhiannon Véronique and Sophia

Two recent books rethinking economics

>> by Tania Wegwitz

The recent media coverage of economic

events like the spiraling US housing debt and the impacts

of a soaring Canadian loonie has been a great illustrator

of some of our current cultural quirks when it comes

to money.

Why are we folks who used to be referred to

as “citizens” now almost exclusively referred to as

“consumers?” How come very intangible and extremely

theoretical events like a two-cent jump in the value of

a currency provoke more comment and response than

the very tangible, extremely concrete event of, say, a

continental ice shelf sliding into the slushy Arctic?

Two recent books explore these modern cultural

tendencies when it comes to money and look at how we

can make our economic systems work for and not against

sustainable and democratic communities.

In Bill McKibben’s Deep

Economy: The Wealth

of Communities and the

Durable Future (Times

Books, 2007; GVPL

Call #: 306.3 MCK),

the answer to most of

our current and future

problems is to go local.

Whether it’s for food,

or entertainment, or

goods and services,

McKibben’s premise is that we can best support and

protect our environmental and social networks by

increasing the many and diverse exchanges that happen

on the small scale.

Written in a conversational and upbeat style,

McKibben’s book is an easy and enjoyable read. He

includes many examples of how diff erent groups and

individuals are reshaping and protecting their local assets

and economies, with quite a few stories drawn from his

home state of Vermont.

Fans of the Fernwood Tuesday Night Market take

note: McKibben cites research that you will typically

have ten times more conversations buying your veggies

at a farmer’s market than at a grocery store, an important

gain in a society where material goods are relatively

plentiful but human interactions oft en scarce.

While this book reads much like the print-equivalent

to having an amiable conversation with a like-minded

friend, it doesn’t really delve into the complexities of

rebuilding our economic systems. Deep Economy would

be a good book choice if you were looking for a general

introduction to – or a reaffi rmation of – the positives

side of going local and reducing your reliance on big

corporations and goods from afar.

Edmonton ecological

economist Mark Anielski

goes much more to the

heart of the matter in The

Economics of Happiness:

Building Genuine Wealth

(New Society Publishers,

2007; GVPL Call #:

330.019 ANI).

Anielski’s premise

is that the fi rst step to

making our economic systems work for a sustainable

future is to shift how we think about and keep track of

wealth. Rather than focusing on meaningless and oft en

destructive measures like Gross National Product (GNP),

he argues that we need to consider “wealth” in its original

meaning of “well-being” and measure the things that

actually matter to most people, such as access to clean

water, meaningful work, social inclusion and so on.

I found this book to be completely fascinating

and inspiring. Anielski talks about the evolution of the

meaning of “wealth” and the value systems of diff erent

cultures. He also shows how individual households,

communities, and businesses can measure and monitor

their well-being beyond simply monetary terms (and

make the monetary measures they might still use more

truly refl ective of actual ecological impact).

Th e sections that really stood out for me included

his description of what monetary currency actually is and

how it is created and his summary of the environmental

impact of our relatively new obsession with charging

interest on loans (usury). I also found important his

discussion of how measures like the GNP oft en obscure

the ways in which the accumulation of private profi ts

destroy common natural resources and correlates more to

rising societal debt than it does actual gains in well-being.

From describing Inuit value systems and Bhutan’s

“Gross National Happiness” index, to Salt Spring

Island Dollars, to a section on Sweden’s JAK

Members Bank (a 30,000 member fi nancial institution

that charges and pays no interest), Th e Economics of

Happiness provides a diverse set of examples of how

other citizens, communities, and business are charting

a new economic path.

One thing is for sure: whether Deep Economy or

The Economics of Happiness is more your cup of locally-

brewed tea, either book is a better read than yet another

article on the credit-card-dazed glories of cross-border

shopping.

A copy of The Economics of Happiness has been

donated to the Cornerstone Café to browse and share

the next time you stop by.

Vie

ws

ph

oto

s: V

éro

niq

ue

da

Silv

a

Why are we folks who used to be referred to as ‘citizens’ now almost exclusively referred to as ‘consumers’?

Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe

>> by Natalie North

Imagine a city without music: no summer festivals, few aff ordable arena

shows, and for the kids, a dwindling number of all-ages shows. Th e

direction that live music in Victoria is headed can seem more like the

sequel to a popular ’80s teen fl ick than reality. Th e fi rst two situations

aren’t great, but they’re livable; we’ll fi nd other summer activities and when we

can’t aff ord the $80 ticket price when a big act comes to town, we’ll read the

review in the paper. But what are the young folks to do when fewer and fewer

venues are willing to host all-ages shows, and a lack of underage activities

ensues? It’s not like Kevin Bacon’s going to dance into town any time soon

and save the day.

Of the seven community centres around the greater Victoria area, only

the James Bay Community Centre and the Fernwood Community Centre

continue to host all-ages shows. Just about every venue downtown is either

a licensed establishment, or costs far more than the budget for a small show

allows. Without liquor sales, promoters of all-ages shows rely on ticket sales

alone. When the cover charge is usually less than $10 a head, it’s easy to see

that putting on these shows isn’t exactly a lucrative business. It’s not much of

a business at all – far more for pleasure. By the time the venue has been rented

and all other costs have been covered, oft en the bands and /or the organizers

aren’t making a cent. Not that making a profi t is necessarily the goal of

members of the all-ages scene. A passion isn’t usually measured in dollars.

Come check out a couple of shows and it will be abundantly clear that “all-

ages” is an all-encompassing term that really does mean just that. Th ese shows

aren’t just for the kids. Th ey’re for anyone who enjoys experiencing a good

night of entertainment, regardless of whether or not you’re able to hold a beer

in your hand while doing so.

Daniel Poncha, 18, a Vic High hairdressing student who comes to every show

he can fi t in, is quick to vocalize his love of the all-ages scene. “Counting

Heartbeats is my favourite band because they’re all so stoked on life!” Poncha

says excitedly. And just what is it about the scene that keeps him coming back,

to show aft er show? Th e atmosphere. “Kids get pretty riled up,” he says, “they

know the words and sing along.”

When the conversation turns to a violent incident that occurred outside

the Fernwood Community Centre aft er an all-ages show in late October

– perpetrated by teens from outside the neighbourhood, who weren’t at the

show – Poncha echoes a sentiment that seems to be prevalent amongst most

all-ages show-goers.

“Th at’s the fi rst thing like that I’ve seen happen at a show, and it wasn’t even

related to the show,” he says. “It had nothing to do with the show, and it’s

never happened before; it’s always really friendly. Everyone likes each other

and has a good time. Th at was a complete freak accident.” Poncha, like the

majority of music lovers that fi nd their way down to these shows is far too

interested in all the antics on stage to start any off the stage.

All-ages shows are an integral part of the local music scene, for both the

people who attend them and the bands that gain support from them. A rock

show is a great place for escape and it’s also a positive avenue for the underage

attendees to explore. It can also be a rite of passage. Some kids are naturally

sports buff s and spend their aft ernoons on a fi eld or in a gymnasium. Others

grow up strumming out their fi rst power chords or learning the ropes of a

drum kit in their parents’ basements. Th e fi rst all-ages

shows are as necessary for these kids as the fi rst sports

tournaments are to the other demographic.

Th e premier experience with live music can be a powerful

thing. Th ese shows are crucial for the bands, too. Oft en

many of the shows’ spectators are members of one of the

bands on the bill or are friends there to support just one

band. Over the course of the show, they’ll end up discovering another band

that they otherwise wouldn’t have heard. Especially for bands just starting out,

all-ages shows can be a vital networking tool. Th ey’re a realistic stepping stone

towards continued success.

Th e main roadblock facing show organizers today seems to be wholly

fi nancial. Tyler Pantella, 20, host of a hardcore show on UVic’s CFUV and

a supporter of the local hardcore scene, has organized a couple of shows

and has been a part of the all-ages scene for years. He believes that the city

isn’t supportive enough of all-ages shows, despite the fact that Victoria has

a thriving arts community. “I think it’s already a big struggle for a kid like

me trying to get the money together to put on a show without any support,”

Pantella explains. “Th e city could help fund shows or step up – maybe help

with promotion, help with advertising fees – that sort of thing. I know there’s

lots of arts grants for more legitimate, more formal art forms.”

Until that day, many all-ages shows depend on the continued support of the

local community centres, like the Fernwood Community Centre. If these

shows were to go, who knows what up-and-coming talent would be left

feature : Th e all-ages sceneTo being and becoming

Collective Works Artists Association Raffl e

5 works donated by CWAA membersTickets $2 each : 1 in 500 chance to win

19+ to play Sales end on Jan.25, 2008 and draw is on Jan.26, 2008 at 5:00 pm at the Collective Works gallery,

1311 Gladstone Ave.

(Members of CWAA may not enter the draw)Publication of winners names at the gallery Jan. 27, 2008

BC Gaming Event Licence #4692 “Know your limit, play within it”Problem Gambling HelpLine 1-888-795-6111 www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca

meet you, see your site and add your needs to the “Sharing

Gardens” database.

If you’re looking for garden space, the process is the

same; contact “Sharing Gardens” and let us know what

you hope to fi nd. We’ll add your information to our

database, and let you know of potential matches.

Th e rest is up to you. Garden seekers and garden

owners meet, share relevant information concerning

expectations around work issues and crop-sharing and

decide together whether a match has been made. If it’s a

match you let us know so your names and information can

be taken out of active circulation on the database.

If it’s not a match, you let us know so we can continue

our search for a match that works for you.

It’s that simple. Just call Rainey Hopewell at

380-5055 for more information or to sign up for the

best dating service ever – matching vegetable gardens

and vegetable gardeners – surely the most compelling

and magical match imaginable!

Sharing | fr om page 1

Not that making a profi t is necessarily the goal of members of the

all-ages scene. A passion isn’t usually measured in dollars.

constituency office:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3

telephone: 363-3600e-mail: Savoie.d@parl.gc.caon the web: www.denisesavoie.ca

Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria

Your voice in OttawaYour voice in OttawaCarole James, MLAVictoria - Beacon Hill

Our Office is Open to Serve YouCommunity Office1084 Fort Street, VictoriaP: (250) 952-4211F: (250) 952-4214carole.james.mla@leg.bc.cawww.opposition.bc.ca

VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5

behind, without a shot at success – which for some might just be the simple

triumph of performing in front of an audience for the fi rst time.

Fortunately, Fernwood NRG’s Executive Director, Roberta Martell, spent

years as a youth worker in North Vancouver where she was instrumental in

creating the all-ages scene at Seylynn Hall. “Th e teens would pull together

talent, make posters, and we’d rent equipment and every second week, we’d

have a huge five bands for five bucks show,” says Martell. “Th ere was a lot

of talent,” she continues, “and the kids learned a tonne about business, art,

promotions, accounting, banking, and mostly about themselves.”

Seylynn Hall hosted bands such as Pansy Division, the Queers, I Farm, DBS

and even DOA. Th e shows would see up to 500 kids a night. “In all the years

we ran them,” notes Martell, “we never had any serious incidents.”

Martell says she’s committed to working with the all-ages scene to ensure a

safe, aff ordable venue for creative youth expression. With Martell at the helm,

the Fernwood Community Centre will continue to host all-ages shows and is

in the fi nal stages of working out a new security plan.

So my story is I got into punk rock about 4 years ago, 14 years old, and my f

irst show ever was at the fernwood community

center. I still remember it, headlining was Harmless Heroes and a little band

called Kincaide. It was wild to me, that

there was something like this in Victoria, live music! I live out by Swartz Bay

and I didn’t get out much, so when my friends

started a band I was jealous. I continued to go to shows and got into hardco

re through that. This changed my life, it made

me start to think about what was being told to me and portrayed to me thr

ough the media, it made me feel strongly about

_something_ and made me want to make a difference. It still does. Hardcore’s probab

ly the best thing

that’s ever happened to me, I could end up like my peers and be doing coke

and

that’s it, but instead I’m completely abstinent from drugs and am happy, and

try to

make a difference in our world. What happened at Fernwood last night is somet

hing that I’d never seen

before at a show. It could happen anywhere though, it was some thugs who we

re completely unassociated with anyone I’d

seen go to shows in the 4 years I’ve gone, who were there to get drunk and

start a fight. They threatened my friends, and

eventually, just after I had left, they attacked them. I feel that this, in n

o way, represents anything to do with the scene

or punk rock music at all. It’s a case of young hooligans who make me ashame

d of my generation. My name’s Sean and I’m

more than willing to do anything I can to help you out Roberta. Let me know

if there’s anything at all I can do. Thanks for

sticking up for a scene that’s helped me out so much throughout my (albeit sh

ort thus far) life.

Ph

oto

: K

asp

er

An observer of the post-show violence on October 27th shares his thoughts.

Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe

>> by Margaret Hantiuk

A great way to start the New Year is to invite

birds into your yard. I love to watch birds gliding through

the trees and I especially enjoy watching them bathe in

my little birdbath. Last winter we had a majestic Barred

Owl sleeping for a few days on a branch of the plum tree

in our back yard. We have a bird feeder hanging near the

living room window and enjoy watching the birds as they

feed, some waiting in nearby shrubs for their turn. When

I planted a large Mahonia media X ‘Charity’ outside

the living room window, little did I know that the bright

yellow winter blooms would attract the wonderful tiny

hummingbirds that over-winter here. Bonus!

How can we attract these wonderfully entertaining

wild birds into our yards? First, provide a safe place for

them to drink and bathe. It should be a shallow pan or

bowl with clean water (this may mean changing it daily

in the hot summer days, as birds love to bathe and they

do get dirty!) If you have cats, fi nd a way to place your

birdbath up high enough or, like mine, lodged between

pots on a corner of the deck railing to prevent a cat from

pouncing on them. In winter if the water freezes, it’s

important to thaw it out for your little feathered friends.

A bird feeder is more important in the winter than

in the summer. Th e birds that will visit your garden in

the summer are oft en not the same birds that will visit

in the winter. Birds of summer tend to eat bugs and

worms. Toxic chemicals will either directly or indirectly

harm birds when they eat insects that are contaminated.

Remember that insects and birds are tiny and so even

minute amounts can be fatal. If you refrain from using

these toxic chemicals, then wildlife will return to your

garden. Th e bugs that you would like to get rid of will

be taken care of by the birds that will come into your yard

to feed on them. Your garden will become an ecosystem;

the less you interfere with it, the better it will take care of

itself.

Birds that visit in the winter months are usually

berry and seed eaters that will benefi t from a bird feeder

with seeds. A good general feed is comprised of black

oiled sunfl ower seeds (not the ones we eat with the white

stripe), red millet, and black niger seeds. Corn is not

useful to birds here. A suet cage in the winter (peanut

butter can be substituted) is a treat for birds. Again,

ensure their safety by placing the feeder where cats cannot

reach them. Some birds are ground feeders that eat the

seed knocked off the feeder, so see if you can fi nd a place

that allows for safety underneath. Buy a feeder that is

squirrel proof and then hang it in such a way to prevent

access from rodents. Try to fi nd a spot out of the elements

too, especially wind and rain. Finally, place the feeder

so that it is either far away or else close to windows, to

prevent aerial disasters as they land and take off .

In the winter, it is wise to not fi ll up a large feeder, as

feed can go moldy. If your feed is not being eaten, it’s time

to clean the feeder with a 10% bleach solution; then let

it dry thoroughly. Hummingbirds should be fed a sugar

solution of 1:4 of sugar to water. Lastly, leave some seeds,

fruit, and berries on your shrubs, trees and perennials –

don’t cut everything down in the fall and strip everything

off of the branches – share a little. Try growing plants

with berries, nuts and fruits for birds.

Resources and feeders Wild Birds Unlimited 595-3595;

Swan Lake Sanctuary 479-0211; The Victoria Natural

History Society; www.vancouverislandbirds.com;

www.hatbc.ca/vnhs.html

gleanings : Backyard bird watching

Floor hockey fl ying high>> By Kasper

Sure, lacrosse is Canada’s official sport, but

let’s face it, hockey is where it’s at for most Canadian sports

fans. And Fernwood is no exception.

Th e ball hockey program at Fernwood Community

Centre has now been running year-round for four

consecutive years. For the fi rst three years, it ran twice

per week. But the program was in such demand that, a

year ago, a Saturday aft ernoon was added to the Tuesday

and Th ursday evening schedule. Two participants, John

Bell and Dave Nilson, have been playing from the very

beginning of the four-year run, rarely missing a session

during that time and always spearheading the Fernwood

teams in tournaments.

“I actually started playing here right aft er I moved to

Victoria,” Bell explains, “I didn’t know many people. Most

of my friends in Victoria I met at this program.”

When asked about highlights over the years, Bell and

Nilson brought up the Fernwood vs. Th e Media game

which took place during festivities for Vancouver Island

Music Week in 2006. Th ey describe how the game had a

kind of “Harlem Globetrotters” vibe to it.

“Th ere was one incident where I got hauled down on a

breakaway,” Nilson recalls, “I took a dive, and the guy who

hauled me down also took a dive.”

“And they both got penalty shots,” Bell adds, “and

one of the players’ moms took one of the penalty shots.

Th ey hauled her out of the crowd and gave her a stick

… Also, we counted a goal that someone scored on the

basketball hoop.”

Bell remembers a diff erent tournament, one of the

Victoria-wide, Fernwood-hosted Bell Cup Championships,

in which something strange and humourous happened

when he scored the tournament-winning goal.

“Th e entire other team piled on top of me,” Bell laughs.

Two other players, Ian Indridson and Henry Skey, added

their own thoughts on the benefi ts of Fernwood’s ball

hockey program.

“It keeps me off the street,” Indridson jokes, “I don’t

steal hubcaps anymore.”

“He still does it,” Skey quips, before continuing, “the

program encourages exercise and at the same time meeting

a lot of new friends.”

Skey, an Oak Bay resident but regular Fernwood

hockey participant, summed up his thoughts on the

Fernwood neighbourhood.

“For a small neighbourhood, it does have a lot going

on. Th ere’s a good sense of community here, and it

seems like people are putting in the eff ort to create that

community.”

>> by Caspar Davis and George Sranko

“The fabric of society is fraying in a variety of ways.”

“The future is going to be more and more challenging

if we don’t recognize the long-term implications of our

actions today.”

If these statements resonate with you, don’t

be surprised. Th ey are part of a unanimous statement

composed by a randomly selected group of Victoria

citizens. Th ese groups, known as Wisdom Councils, are

convened by Wise Democracy Victoria (WDV), a local

non-partisan group of volunteers who are concerned about

the state of democracy in Victoria, in BC, in Canada, and

on the planet.

WDV has already convened two successful Wisdom

Councils in Victoria (sponsored by the World Federalist

Movement-Canada, Victoria Branch) and would like

to involve the Fernwood community in developing a

third council, which will take place in the spring of 2008.

Th e conveners’ group includes active members of the

Fernwood community and several previous participants

have also come from Fernwood.

We believe that a council rooted in the already strong

community spirit of Fernwood could potentially address

important local issues in a way that complements the

broad direction provided by the fi rst two councils.

Th e process involves randomly selecting eight to

twelve people from the community and bringing them

together for a day and a half in a professionally facilitated

session. Immediately aft erwards they report to the whole

community at a public meeting.

Th e experience is exhilarating for both the

participants and the conveners. Participants tend to rise

above the divisive opinions that usually bind them and

articulate views that elevate and enrich the public dialogue

– out of which both community attitudes and public

policy arise.

Wisdom Councils have no set agenda and

participants are free to discuss whatever they choose.

Th e Councils generate a free, creative voice of the people.

Th ey are not one-off events, but part of an ongoing process

that produces a feedback loop between the community

as individuals and the community as a whole. Random

selection means that over time the full range of voices in

the community become heard.

We face challenges of a scale and complexity that are

unprecedented. We need to harness the wisdom and good

will of all the people – not just experts and politicians

– if we are going to develop meaningful, creative, and

sustainable solutions.

WDV believes that wise democracy involves:

1. Engaging citizens in building community by using tools

that develop social cohesion and collaborative capacity

(i.e. building our co-intelligence rather than our co-

stupidity).

2. Developing processes that are self-generating, easily

replicated and based in the spirit of community.

3. Articulating our collective wisdom, based on the

legitimacy and authority of “the people.” Aft er all,

Democracy means “rule by the people”, from the Greek

demos, “people”, and kratos, “rule”.

Other groups around the world, in New Zealand,

Australia, Austria, Germany, and several North American

cities, are watching our activities with great interest.

We hope that you will consider joining us in this great

adventure.

For more information and to get involved, please see:

www.WiseDemocracyVictoria.com.

Wise Democracy Information Session: You are invited to

an information session on Wisdom Councils; January 28,

2008 in the Fernwood Inn, 7 - 9 pm. Everyone Welcome!

Phone 598-0124 or 598-5917 for more info.

VillageVibe January 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7

faces : Fernwood fi lmmaker on the go

Wisdom council comes to Fernwood

>> by Aaron Ellingsen

If you don’t know Bryan Skinner, chances are

pretty good someone you know does. Bryan’s been on the

Fernwood scene since the early ‘90s. Whether you’ve seen

him at the front of Shillelagh or another band, involved

in grass-roots activism, running for city council, playing

soccer with Fernwood FC – a club he helped organize – or

running Cinevic-sponsored music, fi lm, and multimedia

events at venues around town, you’ve probably enjoyed the

fruits of his creativity and hard work.

I was at a party a few months back, and I got talking

with a young Mexican fi lmmaker about his experience of

the local fi lm scene. His enthusiasm leapt when he spoke

about how much he’d learned through his involvement

with various projects – including Bryan’s most recent – at

Victoria’s Cinevic Society of Independent Filmmakers.

Bryan tells me about his work at the Society. “I’ve been

working at Cinevic since 2002,” he says, “although I had a

year break where I worked for the Victoria Film Producers

Association (ViFPA). I started here as the equipment

coordinator, and it’s just coming up on three years now

since I’ve been the Executive Director.”

Th e part of his job that drives him is his role in plotting

the artistic and creative trajectory of the organization, a

focal point for a variety of Victoria’s creative communities.

At any time, 120-plus fi lmmakers, multimedia artists,

writers, directors, actors, musicians, technicians, animators,

and painters make up the Society’s membership.

Given his roots, perhaps it’s not surprising to fi nd

Bryan drawn toward work in this kind of rich cultural

space. Bryan grew up in Chilliwack. By the time he

graduated from high school he was fi nding the Bible belt

too tight. A committed left y with an artistic vision, he

attended the Vancouver Film School in ‘91 and started

playing music before striking out abroad.

He was living a greasy working-class dream, and was,

as he tells it, “fl ipping hamburgers near the train station

in Oxford, England,” when a girl he had a crush on came

through town. She invited him to move in with her and

some friends in Victoria. Sensing opportunity, he made the

trip. His senses were off – a story of “unrequited love.”

Bryan landed in Gordon Head, and he didn’t like it.

He returned to music, and before long he’d abandoned the

UVic vicinity for Fernwood. “Th ose two things changed my

experience of Victoria vastly,” he says. “When I moved into

Fernwood I got in touch with a real creative community.

Really, the early ‘90s in Fernwood were a pretty magic time.

Th ere was this kind of confl uence of a lot of musicians, and

also a real activist community. Th ey had a lot of interaction,

and I was involved with both communities.

“I started making my living as a busker and living in

Fernwood. It made Victoria work for me. People always

think I was involved in music at that time. I would say

I was more involved in the tourist industry – like many

Victorians. Th at was how I paid my rent.” Bryan, with

Shillelagh, was a mainstay of the busking scene for over a

decade.

I asked Bryan for his thoughts on the ‘wood in ’07, and

he’s refl ective: “You know, the only constant is change. I’ve

been really pleased to see what’s been going on in Fernwood

the last while. Th ere are elements of it that I’m concerned

about – with real estate prices as they are, who’s going to

be here? How will the character of our neighbourhood

change?

“At the same time, what was happening in Fernwood

beforehand – the closed shops and rampant vandalism,

graffi ti everywhere … it looked like shit. It wasn’t headed for

a positive future. It’s been babysteps, but over the past four

years it’s become an incredibly vibrant area again.”

Bryan’s been making his living through various

downtown and Fernwood artistic and creative endeavors

for the last 14 years, and his commitment to Fernwood

and the broader Victoria community hasn’t waned. He’s

consistently involved with – and oft en ringleading in – local

grass-roots political activism, music, sports and the arts.

Th e one thing that somewhat slowed Bryan’s hectic

schedule was the birth of his daughter Fiona last winter.

Bryan and Helen, married for nine years, spend lots of time

at home encouraging Fiona’s (auspicious?) early talent for

dancing.

Fernwood fi lmmaker/director Bryan Skinner debuts his 44-

minute burlesque mockumentary, Tumbling Aft er, January

20 at the Roxy Classic Th eatre, 2657 Quadra St. Tix fi ve

bucks. For trailer and info see www.tumblingaft er.ca

Cinevic’s Film Slam, January 18 – 27th with a Slam

Screening at 7:30 on January 27 at the Victoria

Events Centre, 1415 Broad Street. Tix $7. For Cinevic

membership or Slam info see www.cinevic.ca.

Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | January 2008 VillageVibe

what’s on in Fernwood

Arts, Theatre, and EntertainmentBohemian Open Mic at Cornerstone Café.Saturdays. 8-11pm. Saturday Spotlight performer at 10pm (Jan 5> theinimitable acoustic performer SHYNE. Jan 12> the lovely and talented ERINTURK). 1301 Gladstone Ave. Hosted by James Kasper. Everyone welcome! FREE!Intrepid Theatre at the Metro Studio.FOUR HORSEMEN PROJECT. Jan 10-13. 8pm. 46 CIRCUS ACTS IN 45 MINUTES. Jan 18. 8pm. INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODERN LIVING. Jan 24-26. 8pm. 1411 Quadra St. (at Johnson St.). For info www.metrostudiotheatre.com/events.html#header.Belfry Theatre.THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Henry James, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Jan 15-Feb 17. 1291 Gladstone Ave. (at Fernwood Rd.). For info contact Belfry Box Offi ce at 385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.caDebut screening – TUMBLING AFTER.Fernwood fi lmmaker Bryan Skinner debuts his latest fi lm. Jan 20. RoxyClassic Theatre. 2657 Quadra St. $5. For info see www.tumblingafter.caThe 30 Cent Players present...30 90 LIVE! SPECIAL 3RD ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT EDITIONSketch comedy/variety show featuring a ton of special guests. Fri, Feb 1. 7:30pm. The Downtown Activity Centre. 755 Pandora Ave. Tickets $5 studentsand underemployed/$10 adults – ticket proceeds to the Victoria Cool AidSociety. For info contact Mike Vardy at 891-0869 or www.30centplayers.comLive Music at Fernwood Inn.Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302 Gladstone Ave. FREE!Live Music at Logan’s Pub.1821 Cook St. For listings: www.loganspub.comVictoria Bluegrass Association Jam.Tuesdays. 7:30-10:30pm. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood Rd. $2 to play. FREE tolisten.Victoria Folk Music Society.Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature Performer. 1110 Hillside Ave. $5feature performer nights/$3 all

open stage night. For info see www.victoriafolkmusic.caCall for Fernwood Artists.Seeking Artists with studios in Fernwood for the 1st annual FERNWOOD ARTSTUDIO TOUR. (planning for June 2008). For info contact Deryk Houstondhouston@coastnet.com or Anne Hoban ahoban@shaw.ca.

Kids and FamiliesCommunity Family Day.Family-directed and facilitated programming. 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. FernwoodCommunity Centre Gym. $1 per family.Rhythm Circle Time.Tuesdays 3-4pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. Drop in. FREE!Mother Goose.Songs, rhymes and stories. Tuesdays 1-2:30pm, Fernwood Community Centre MPR. 10 weeks per session. To register call 381-1552 ext 22. FREE! ($2 forsongbook).

Youth, Adults and SeniorsNEW! Badminton.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Saturdays 1-2:30pm. Fernwood Community CentreGym. $3.**NEW! Basketball.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Fridays 8:30-10pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**Floor Hockey.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-9:30pm. Saturdays2-4:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11sessions.**NEW! Youth Floor Hockey.Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 9-18 (Group 1/ages 9-13. Group 2/ages 14-18). Sundays3:30-5pm, Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**Indoor Soccer.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Mondays 8:45-10:45pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.**NEW! Volleyball.Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Fridays 7-

8:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $3.*****We accept Sports Trader Bucks and Canadian Tire Money at face value!*Internet and Computer Access.Complete your one-time registration and then get online through the Community Access Program. Monday to Friday 9:30am-5pm. Fernwood CommunityCentre Community Room. FREE!Falun Gong.Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome! Wednesdays 5-7pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. FREE!Fernwood Autumn Glow.55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities. Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays 11am. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $5.50 for lunch.Seniors Wanted!Three or four seniors (55+) needed to complete a small group exploringrhythm on Wednesdays. No musical training necessary. For info call Gillianin Fernwood: 592-2848.Ear Acupuncture.Treatments 15-20 min. Jan 2 and 16 (1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month).2:30-4:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR. By donation.

Special EventsFernwood NRG Food Security Collective.All welcome! Tues, Jan 8. 7-9pm Fernwood Community Centre MPR.Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.Bring your plastics, styrofoam packing and food trays, electronics and foil-lined coffee bags. PLEASE make sure it’s clean. Jan 12 (2nd Sat every month). 10am-1pm. Back of Fernwood Community Centre. By donation.Fernwood Placemaking Troupe.All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square and the neighbourhood. Wed, Jan 16. 7:30pm. Cornerstone Café. FREE!Fernwood Business Network.Inaugural meeting! Mon, Feb 4. 10am-noon. Please rsvp Bruce and Ryan Rutley at ryan@rutleyventures.caFernwood Pocket Market.Local organic produce and baked

T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Jan 2008

Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood

Neighbourhood Resource Group)

1240 Gladstone Street

Victoria, BC V8T 1G6

T 250.381.1552

F 250.381.1509

villagevibe@fernwood neighbourhood.ca

www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

Editor: Lisa Helps

Assistant Editors:

Aaron Ellingsen

Trish Richards

Photographer:

Veronique da Silva

Contributors:

Caspar Davis

Margaret Hantiuk

Rainey Hopewell

Kasper

Natalie North

George Sranko

Tania Wegwitz

The views expressed in the Village Vibe

do not necessarily refl ect the views of

the Fernwood NRG.

villagevibe

goods. Tuesdays 2-6pm. Cornerstone Café 1301 GladstoneFernwood Sharing Gardens.Have a garden but no time? Time but no garden? Contact Rainey at 380-5055 orfoodsecurity@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca.Fernwood Community Kitchen.Cook nutritious, creative meals with your neighbours! For info contact Tracyat veldhuis@gmail.comGreen Drinks.An inclusive gathering of the sustainability minded for refreshments and conversation. Tues, Jan 8. 5-7pm. The Canoe Brewpub, Marina and Restaurant,450 Swift St.

If you have a workshop, program or special event idea for the Fernwood Community Centre or the Cornerstone Café email james@fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

Under new ownership!

Open For Lunch!

From 11:30 Daily

Check out our new

Lunch Specials

1302 Gladstone 412-2001