Boulevard Magazine, April 28, 2014

blvdmag.ca | MAY 2014 | LIFE AT ITS FINEST

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URBAN GARDENSFLOURISH IN

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FINALIST: ADAM W

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We measure our success by excellence of reputation

Private investment portfolios for individuals, families and foundations, focusing on Income and Capital Growth.

Telephone: 250.595.7955 www.georgiancapital.ca

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Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. continues to spread the word about government rebates for new-home purchases, owner built homes and substantial renovations to existing homes during the tenure of the HST throughout Ontario and British Columbia. Happy clients are receiving up to $42,500, which is the upper limit a homeowner can receive for a project. Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. has already helped homeowners apply for rebates totaling over $4 million through our Victoria office alone. With new offices in Vancouver and Toronto the number of homeowners we are helping is growing exponentially.

“There is a misconception that if your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to any government rebates, but this is just not true,” says Sean.

Do I qualify has to be the most frequently asked question my staff get say’s Sean Leitenberg, Manager of the Victoria Office. Each renovation or new build is not exactly the same so we have to determine that the best we can on a case-by-case basis.

There are definitely some clear-cut rules though. There is a deadline of 2 years from the time you completed your major renovation or new build to apply though there are a couple exceptions to that rule too.

To qualify for a major renovation you must do substantial work to the majority of the inside of your home. If your work was limited to a small portion of your home, such as a bathroom or kitchen, or you just painted or put down new floors, you would not qualify for this rebate. The end result of your renovation should be that your home or condo is like a new home. When it comes to the expenses incurred on the outside of

your home, you can only claim these amounts if you have first met the requirements on the inside of your home.

If you purchased a new home or condo for yourself, the builder has probably claimed the rebate. If you purchased that property as an investment rental property, the builder could not claim the rebate and as the owner of that condo or home you may be entitled to a rental rebate for as much as $42,500 once you have signed a lease with your tenants.

If your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to a federal rebate; however, you may be entitled to a provincial rebate if a portion of the construction took place during the term of HST. If your home is worth less than $450,000 you are entitled to both a federal rebate as well as a provincial rebate for the portion spent during the period of HST.

A new home built or renovated for your self, or as a family members’ primary place of residence qualifies if it was completed within the last 2 years. If the home’s value is more than $450,000 then you are only entitled to a rebate for money spent between July 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013.

Canada’s Reno Rebate has representatives throughout British Columbia and Ontario who

are happy to help clients with the forms that need signing and a brief questionnaire. For the areas where we do not have a representative, or if you would prefer to download the forms for signing right from our website in the comfort of your home and use our free courier service, the time involved is minimal and your rebate could be huge.

There is a brief questionnaire on our website which allows you to see if you qualify for the rebate and only takes a few minutes or if you like you can give us a call and in just a few minutes we can determine if you qualify.

Everyone seems to know someone who qualifies for this rebate, so if you know someone who might qualify make sure to let them know before they miss their deadline.

Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. handles all the paperwork and follows through with the government until you receive your cheque. Because Sean and his staff know the forms, the processes, and who to call, they efficiently and quickly collect the information and submit exactly what the government agencies need. The company charges no upfront fee and if you don’t receive a rebate, the application costs you nothing. So give us a call or check us out online. What have you got to lose?

CANADA’S RENO REBATE INC.

Vancouver office:C4 770 Terminal Ave.

Vancouver, BC V6A 2M5Toll free: 1-877-724-4624

[email protected]

Victoria office:1267 Fairfield Rd.

Victoria, BC V8V 3B3Toll free: 1-877-724-4624

[email protected]

Found Money is What Clients Like to Call it

$42,500Tax Free Rebate

might be on the horizon

5

CONTENTSMay 2014 Issue 05, Volume XXIlI

MAY

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Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. continues to spread the word about government rebates for new-home purchases, owner built homes and substantial renovations to existing homes during the tenure of the HST throughout Ontario and British Columbia. Happy clients are receiving up to $42,500, which is the upper limit a homeowner can receive for a project. Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. has already helped homeowners apply for rebates totaling over $4 million through our Victoria office alone. With new offices in Vancouver and Toronto the number of homeowners we are helping is growing exponentially.

“There is a misconception that if your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to any government rebates, but this is just not true,” says Sean.

Do I qualify has to be the most frequently asked question my staff get say’s Sean Leitenberg, Manager of the Victoria Office. Each renovation or new build is not exactly the same so we have to determine that the best we can on a case-by-case basis.

There are definitely some clear-cut rules though. There is a deadline of 2 years from the time you completed your major renovation or new build to apply though there are a couple exceptions to that rule too.

To qualify for a major renovation you must do substantial work to the majority of the inside of your home. If your work was limited to a small portion of your home, such as a bathroom or kitchen, or you just painted or put down new floors, you would not qualify for this rebate. The end result of your renovation should be that your home or condo is like a new home. When it comes to the expenses incurred on the outside of

your home, you can only claim these amounts if you have first met the requirements on the inside of your home.

If you purchased a new home or condo for yourself, the builder has probably claimed the rebate. If you purchased that property as an investment rental property, the builder could not claim the rebate and as the owner of that condo or home you may be entitled to a rental rebate for as much as $42,500 once you have signed a lease with your tenants.

If your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to a federal rebate; however, you may be entitled to a provincial rebate if a portion of the construction took place during the term of HST. If your home is worth less than $450,000 you are entitled to both a federal rebate as well as a provincial rebate for the portion spent during the period of HST.

A new home built or renovated for your self, or as a family members’ primary place of residence qualifies if it was completed within the last 2 years. If the home’s value is more than $450,000 then you are only entitled to a rebate for money spent between July 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013.

Canada’s Reno Rebate has representatives throughout British Columbia and Ontario who

are happy to help clients with the forms that need signing and a brief questionnaire. For the areas where we do not have a representative, or if you would prefer to download the forms for signing right from our website in the comfort of your home and use our free courier service, the time involved is minimal and your rebate could be huge.

There is a brief questionnaire on our website which allows you to see if you qualify for the rebate and only takes a few minutes or if you like you can give us a call and in just a few minutes we can determine if you qualify.

Everyone seems to know someone who qualifies for this rebate, so if you know someone who might qualify make sure to let them know before they miss their deadline.

Canada’s Reno Rebate Inc. handles all the paperwork and follows through with the government until you receive your cheque. Because Sean and his staff know the forms, the processes, and who to call, they efficiently and quickly collect the information and submit exactly what the government agencies need. The company charges no upfront fee and if you don’t receive a rebate, the application costs you nothing. So give us a call or check us out online. What have you got to lose?

CANADA’S RENO REBATE INC.

Vancouver office:C4 770 Terminal Ave.

Vancouver, BC V6A 2M5Toll free: 1-877-724-4624

[email protected]

Victoria office:1267 Fairfield Rd.

Victoria, BC V8V 3B3Toll free: 1-877-724-4624

[email protected]

Found Money is What Clients Like to Call it

$42,500Tax Free Rebate

might be on the horizon

on our cover:

FEATURES

12 PHOTOS BY FINALISTS Reader entries

38 ARCHITECT OF THE LAND By Lia Crowe

46 CITY PLOTS By Amy Mitchell COLUMNS

35 HAWTHORN Whitfield, Kreek after the Olympics By Tom Hawthorn

Sherringham Point

Lighthouse by Photos

By finalist Adam Wang

DEPARTMENTS

8 EDITOR’S LETTER The reluctant gardener

11 FASHION FAVES Roshan Vickery By Lia Crowe

18 HOT PROPERTIES All points to the view By Carolyn Heiman

32 DESIGN MATTERS Outdoor chair affair By Sarah Reid

42 FOOD & DRINK Scones for mum By Cinda Chavich

50 TRAVEL FAR Reford Gardens, Quebec By Suzanne Morphet 54 HEALTH & WELLNESS Fighting insulin resistance By Kristi Meredith

56 TALKING WITH TESS Dan Matthews By Tess van Straaten

58 FRONT ROW No Gimmick Required, Fired Up!, Centennial Festival and more By Robert Moyes

62 SECRETS & LIVES Stephen Green, VCM By Susan Lundy

12 18 38 42

Whether designing your dream kitchen or envisioning a beautiful wood design as the finishing touch

for your fireplace, library or staircase, Island Dream Kitchens and Custom Millwork will help create a space you’ll happily call home for years to come.

Visiting the Island Dream Kitchens showroom reveals the breadth of their skill, from a stunning, ceiling-high, Shaker-style cabinet in creamy-white painted maple, to a sleek, horizontal-grain bamboo topped with glass-and-concrete counters. The quality of workmanship is obviously that of true craftsmen.

It takes a special group of artisans to first envision, and then create and construct kitchen cabinets and millwork that match their clients’ dreams. The talented craftsmen at Island Dream Kitchens and Custom Millwork do just that, offering the expertise that homeowners and contractors expect from a high-end production facility.

Father and son Mike and Dylan Brown have combined their unique passions and talents to forge a company that relies on timeless principles of quality work and exceptional service.

Mike, who brings decades of business experience, was eager to work with son Dylan, a skilled craftsman, who learned early that attention to detail and superior craftsmanship are essential qualities of a successful cabinetmaker.

The Browns acquired their Keating-area display centre, workshop and equipment from a long-standing local cabinetmaker, and were pleased to also retain many of the skilled, experienced craftsmen. So with the new business comes a longstanding

reputation of high-quality workmanship.

“A business like ours is all about the finished product,” Mike notes. “Excellence is easy to talk about, but can be difficult to achieve consistently. Pride of workmanship is rare and we are fortunate to have passionate, energetic folks bringing their best to work each day.”

During a tour of the expansive, state-of-the-art workshop, Dylan pauses from his

work at the table saw to demonstrate a unique pantry system designed to maximize space in a client’s kitchen. The artfully trimmed walnut-stained bamboo is at once sleek and richly textured, opening to reveal a series of nesting, stainless steel shelves that provide seemingly endless storage. It’s stunning!

The workshop is where Dylan and the Island Dream Kitchens

craftsmen bring clients’ visions to life, and where they’re earning a well-deserved reputation buoyed by the referrals that follow a job well done.

Said one client, “as a quality home builder it is paramount to have a cabinet partner who understands the customer’s needs and can translate that into a quality delivered product — you worked diligently to make our project look its best and exceeded our expectations!”

For homeowners, custom cabinetry and millwork provides a number of benefits larger manufacturers can’t match.

Dylan’s creativity and Mike’s ability

to source unique woods and quality products come together in designs that match clients’ aesthetic and functional needs. Soft-close doors and drawers, high-quality, full-extension pantry shelves and a full range of accessories enhance their kitchen’s functionality, and through that, the enjoyment that emerges from the space.

The Browns also have the vision to see solutions to potential design challenges.

“Some of our guys have decades of experience in the business,” Mike says. “And the reason they chose to become craftspeople is because it’s what they love to do; it’s their passion.”

That commitment continues through the installation process, with service that befits the craftsmanship of the cabinetry itself.

As Dylan observes, “It’s not enough that clients are happy with the end result; we want to exceed their expectations. We want it to be perfect.”

boulevard business profiles

Quality & craftsmanship drive the Island Dream Kitchens Team

advertising feature

Michael Brown Cell: 250.686.9987

6660 Butler Cres., Saanichton www.islanddreamkitchens.com

“As a quality home builder it is paramount to

have a cabinet partner who understands the customer’s

needs and can translate that into a quality delivered

product — you worked diligently to make our project

look its best and exceeded our expectations!”

– Terry Johal

7

Whether designing your dream kitchen or envisioning a beautiful wood design as the finishing touch

for your fireplace, library or staircase, Island Dream Kitchens and Custom Millwork will help create a space you’ll happily call home for years to come.

Visiting the Island Dream Kitchens showroom reveals the breadth of their skill, from a stunning, ceiling-high, Shaker-style cabinet in creamy-white painted maple, to a sleek, horizontal-grain bamboo topped with glass-and-concrete counters. The quality of workmanship is obviously that of true craftsmen.

It takes a special group of artisans to first envision, and then create and construct kitchen cabinets and millwork that match their clients’ dreams. The talented craftsmen at Island Dream Kitchens and Custom Millwork do just that, offering the expertise that homeowners and contractors expect from a high-end production facility.

Father and son Mike and Dylan Brown have combined their unique passions and talents to forge a company that relies on timeless principles of quality work and exceptional service.

Mike, who brings decades of business experience, was eager to work with son Dylan, a skilled craftsman, who learned early that attention to detail and superior craftsmanship are essential qualities of a successful cabinetmaker.

The Browns acquired their Keating-area display centre, workshop and equipment from a long-standing local cabinetmaker, and were pleased to also retain many of the skilled, experienced craftsmen. So with the new business comes a longstanding

reputation of high-quality workmanship.

“A business like ours is all about the finished product,” Mike notes. “Excellence is easy to talk about, but can be difficult to achieve consistently. Pride of workmanship is rare and we are fortunate to have passionate, energetic folks bringing their best to work each day.”

During a tour of the expansive, state-of-the-art workshop, Dylan pauses from his

work at the table saw to demonstrate a unique pantry system designed to maximize space in a client’s kitchen. The artfully trimmed walnut-stained bamboo is at once sleek and richly textured, opening to reveal a series of nesting, stainless steel shelves that provide seemingly endless storage. It’s stunning!

The workshop is where Dylan and the Island Dream Kitchens

craftsmen bring clients’ visions to life, and where they’re earning a well-deserved reputation buoyed by the referrals that follow a job well done.

Said one client, “as a quality home builder it is paramount to have a cabinet partner who understands the customer’s needs and can translate that into a quality delivered product — you worked diligently to make our project look its best and exceeded our expectations!”

For homeowners, custom cabinetry and millwork provides a number of benefits larger manufacturers can’t match.

Dylan’s creativity and Mike’s ability

to source unique woods and quality products come together in designs that match clients’ aesthetic and functional needs. Soft-close doors and drawers, high-quality, full-extension pantry shelves and a full range of accessories enhance their kitchen’s functionality, and through that, the enjoyment that emerges from the space.

The Browns also have the vision to see solutions to potential design challenges.

“Some of our guys have decades of experience in the business,” Mike says. “And the reason they chose to become craftspeople is because it’s what they love to do; it’s their passion.”

That commitment continues through the installation process, with service that befits the craftsmanship of the cabinetry itself.

As Dylan observes, “It’s not enough that clients are happy with the end result; we want to exceed their expectations. We want it to be perfect.”


Quality & craftsmanship drive the Island Dream Kitchens Team

advertising feature

Michael Brown Cell: 250.686.9987

6660 Butler Cres., Saanichton www.islanddreamkitchens.com

“As a quality home builder it is paramount to

have a cabinet partner who understands the customer’s

needs and can translate that into a quality delivered

product — you worked diligently to make our project

look its best and exceeded our expectations!”

– Terry Johal

Penny Sakamoto

Susan Lundy

Lily ChanPip Knott

Pat Brindle Janet Gairdner

Oliver Sommer

Janet Gairdner

Kevin Laird

Bruce Hogarth

Cinda Chavich, Lia Crowe, Tom Hawthorn, Carolyn Heiman, Kristi Meredith, Amy Mitchell, Suzanne Morphet, Robert Moyes, Sarah Reid, Tess van Straaten

Lisa Baumeler, Cinda Chavich, Doug Clement, Don Denton, Vince Klassen, James Patterson, Sandy Rossignol, Adam Wang

Victoria Boulevard ® is a registered trademark of Black Press Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher's

written permission.Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Black Press Group Ltd. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred.

The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents, both implied or assumed, of any advertisement in this publication.

Printed in Canada.Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #42109519.

ADVERTISEBoulevard Magazine is Victoria’s leading lifestyle magazine,

celebrating 24 years of publishing in Greater Victoria. To advertise or to learn more about advertising opportunities

please send us an email at [email protected]

Group Publisher

Editor

Creative

Advertising

Advertising Director

Advertising Manager

Editorial Director

Circulation Director

Contributing Writers

Contributing Photographers

Mailing Address:818 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1E4Tel: 250.381.3484 Fax: [email protected] blvdmag.ca

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8

EDITOR’S LETTER

MY FIRST GARDEN flourished in those remarkably uncomplicated, post-university and pre-baby years. At first I was a reluctant gardener. I had books to read, poetry to write, a 9-5 job . . . and besides, veggies were cheap and abundant at the grocery store in the summer.

But the boyfriend insisted, so I dug little holes and dropped in the seeds — covering them back up with firm pats. As I got used to the feel of soil in my fingernails and dirt on my kneecaps, I started to find the process . . . likeable . . . even addicting. I spoke soothingly to the sprouts of greenery, and savagely attacked any weeds that threatened them. I wanted to frame my first zucchini, and shook my fist at the Deer of the World after my cabbage plants disappeared.

I liked gardening! Fast forward 20 years to find that

particular thrill buried and dormant. I have to practice deep breathing when

my partner, Bruce, looks at the large grassy area in the backyard and becomes exuberant, sprouting words like: backhoe, deer-fencing, big bags of soil, mulch and tomato plants.

Fact: we both work long hours, and leisure is more of a concept than a reality. Fact: Bruce travels frequently to Calgary on business and I once plucked an entire bed of wildflowers, thinking they were weeds. Fact: all the children arrive home from university amid the crucial gardening period, and life suddenly revolves around keeping the refrigerator full, not spending blissful, meditative hours playing in the dirt. And finally, fact: last year we churned up a piece of lawn, planted herbs and veggies on a thick, raised bed of soil, watched the plants grow with the pride of new parents, and

then lost the entire bounty to wily rabbits who

managed to slide under the chicken-wire.

So when Bruce gets all bubbly about it, I agree gardening is a marvelous notion.

However, I haven’t gone out and purchased a rototiller. So I was pleased to read Amy Mitchell’s story about

gardening in small urban spaces (page 46). The idea of small-scale gardening allows me to squeak out a little exuberance myself. Perhaps, instead of tearing up the backyard and buying out the entire stock of a local nursery, we could build a planter for the deck. A small planter, that is.

Gardens feature in several Boulevard stories this month. Readers can take a trip to Reford Gardens in Quebec (page 50); meet Louise Boutin, landscape designer (page 38) and consider some seating ideas for outdoor spaces in Design Matters (page 32-33). This is also our “Photos By” issue. What a tremendous response! Boulevard staff, led by photographer Don Denton and designer Pip Knott, faced an extremely challenging task in determining the winners (pages 12 to 17). Check out our Facebook page for some of the runners-up, and many thanks to all the people who contributed.

At this point, I’d like to acknowledge the obvious: I’m new to the editor’s chair at Boulevard. Luckily for me, this is the gardening edition, allowing me to weave in a garden metaphor or two as I introduce myself. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to watch Boulevard flourish and blossom as it moves through a period of regrowth. While I may have once been a “reluctant gardener,” there is no hesitancy here — this is the type of “gardening” (read “cultivating” and “tending”) that I relish.

Please feel free to email me your thoughts and comments at [email protected] — I welcome your input and feedback.Boulevard Buzz: Here’s a perfect way to celebrate gardens this

month: the Victoria Conservancy of Music’s 32nd annual Mother’s Day Garden Tour runs May 10-11, and features 10 stunning gardens. As a fundraiser for the school, it also features VCM students and faculty providing music in the gardens. Sounds spectacular. FMI: http://vcm.bc.ca/victoria-garden-tour/ Also worth checking out this month is the

inaugural Victoria International Kite Festival, May 31 to June 1, at Clover Point. FMI: www.tourismvictoria.com Finally, congratulations to Little Jumbo on Fort

Street for becoming the Victoria Partner Bar of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Good news for scotch lovers.

U-turn for a reluctant gardener

PH

OT

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Effective May 1 until August 31, 2014.† Purchase 3 Pirouette® Window Shadings and receive a $200 rebate. Also, when you purchase any number of these additional shades, you’ll receive an extra $40 for each. Valid at participating retailers only. The rebate will be issued in the form of a Hunter Douglas Prepaid American Express® Gift Card. THE PROMOTION CARD is a trademark of The Hunt Group. All Rights Reserved. THE PROMOTION CARD is a Prepaid American Express® Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada. ® Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

when you purchase†

Pirouette® Window Shadings. Rebate

Effective May 1 until August 31, 2014.† Purchase 3 Pirouette® Window Shadings and receive a $200 rebate. Also, when you purchase any number of these additional shades, you’ll receive an extra $40 for each. Valid at participating retailers only. The rebate will be issued in the form of a Hunter Douglas Prepaid American Express® Gift Card. THE PROMOTION CARD is a trademark of The Hunt Group. All Rights Reserved. THE PROMOTION CARD is a Prepaid American Express® Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada. ® Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

when you purchase†

Pirouette® Window Shadings. Rebate

Saffron Window Fashion, Drapery & Blinds#107-2220 Sooke Rd., Victoria, BC 250-744-2523 saffronwindows.ca

Island Window Coverings Ltd.3381 Tennyson Ave., Victoria, BC250-475-2600 islandwindowcoverings.com

The Finished Room#5-2353 Bevan Ave., Sidney, BC 778-426-1515 [email protected]

United Floors#101-2700 Beverly St., Duncan, BC 250-746-4851 [email protected]

Lana Lounsbury Interiors#103-1931 Mount Newton Cross Rd., Victoria, BC 250-665-7795 [email protected]

Ruffell & Brown Window Fashions#1-2745 Bridge St.,Victoria, BC 250-384-1230 [email protected]

Design One-Stevens Interiors1503 Fell St., Victoria, BC 250-598-5714 [email protected]

1 1

LIFE & STYLEFASHION FAVES

with ROSHAN VICKERY

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

AN APPRAISER/AUCTIONEER IS ALSO kind of like anthropologist/showman — it's the two sides of this man who, when appraising, loves hearing people’s stories, and is then tasked with selling 360 items every Thursday night.

Invited up to his Chinatown apartment one Saturday evening, I am delighted to walk into a post-modern heaven. An art wall of Tretchikoff-ian blue skinned women, a shelf of sweet Kakinuma ceramic creatures and the sexy curve of teak everywhere. Similar to my first impression of Roshan, it’s not cool because it’s trying, it’s cool because it isn’t.

“Everything I own is second hand. And I don’t

really use much technology.”Born in 1966 in Halifax, he is the son of a jazz

pianist, and has a degree in art history. He also has a collection of over 400 8mm and 16mm films that he projects for groups of lucky people in his apartment or on warm summer evenings in the back courtyard. He doesn’t have any fav apps or devour any style blogs, but says good style to him means having passion. In a world obsessed with forward motion, instead of propelling us further ahead, Roshan settles us backwards and deeper, with a few stylish nuggets to consider and take away.

“Everything I own is second hand. And I don’t really use much technology.”

Life: Who cuts your hair?:

Jimmy the Barber on Fort Street. Fav Cocktail: Gin martini.

Coveting: Vespa p200e in industrial green. City you may disappear to

one day: Barcelona. Favourite Album: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane. Film

(It wasn’t easy but I made him pick just one): Paris, Texas by

Wim Wenders.

Reading Material:

Weekly: Globe and Mail style section. Photography book: Men at

Work by Lewis W. Hine. All time favourite source for good content: The New Yorker. Last

good read: The Dream at the End of the World by Michelle Green. Currently on bedside table: Into

the Silence by Wade Davis.

Style: Personal style: “I wear a suit and tie twice a

week, otherwise it’s one of my vintage curling sweaters.” Artist: Sculptor Alexander Calder. Era: Post-Modern: “I’ve always

thought it was hot, everything was optimistic at that time.”

BY LIA CROWE

Auctioneer at Kilshaw’s Auctioneers Ltd. and serial cardigan wearer.

12

“In a world awash with photographs — where

images stream by us on our computers, our

phones, tablets and televisions — it is amazing

to witness the power that a single photograph

still has on the printed page. It holds a moment

of beauty, wonder or maybe meditation, in colour

or black and white, just for us. A moment to take

a breath in a breathless world.”

— Boulevard photographer and Photos By judge Don Denton

BOULEVARD’S annual Photos By contest drew over 300 entries, making the selection of our favourites a challenging task. Led by photographer Don Denton, Boulevard staff narrowed it down to just under 20 images, and then cut further to choose the images that are featured here. (Be sure to watch and “like” our Facebook page in early May, when we’ll post all of the finalists’ images). New to the contest this year was the People’s Choice award. With a total of 234 votes cast, Mandy Jo Burbank’s colourful bee in the blossoms emerged as the winner. We proudly present the following stunning images, representing our favourites and yours.

Photos By

ADAM WANG, 39, VICTORIASHOT TAKEN: March, 2013, early morning at the Sherringham Point Lighthouse.CAMERA: Canon 5D Mkii, 50mm 1.4 lens, stacked Neutral Density filters. ISO 200, f11, 240 sec shutter speed.TAKING THE SHOT: "My process for this image started with just sitting, watching and listening until I knew what I would try to create. A 240-second exposure time with 16 stops of ND filtering gave me strong cloud movement and misted out the water, allowing the sun time to kiss off the tip of the rock in the foreground. Eventually, I got the dynamic image I was after, with the lighthouse dominating the natural elements."PHOTGRAPHY: “My goal is simply to create an image that evokes an emotion.”

PHOTOS BY

“A great example of how colour isn’t always needed in the creation of an eye-catching image.” — Don Denton

13

JAMES PATTERSON, 59, SAANICHSHOT TAKEN: March 3, 2013, in the early morning at Panama Flats Park.CAMERA: Canon 5d mk II with a 400 mm lensTAKING THE SHOT: “I like to go there in the early morning at first light, look for a view with a good background and hope the wildlife cooperates. This time the blackbird landed and sang long enough to get this shot.”PHOTOGRAPHY: “My goal, first off, is to take pictures that I like. I always try for my shots to be technically correct, but as important, I try for something unique and hopefully a little artistic.”

PHOTOS BY

“A peaceful moment in nature captured in a beautiful side light.” — Don Denton

14

DOUG CLEMENT, 51, COLWOODSHOT TAKEN: From the top of Mt. Tolmie, July 13, 2012. CAMERA: Canon T1i EX 30sec f5.0 ISO 100.TAKING THE SHOT: “I used a long exposure to get in as many lightning strikes as possible. If you look closely you can see Mt. Baker in between the strikes.”PHOTOGRAPHY: “My goal is to find an image with emotion — whether it’s a beautiful landscape that makes you feel happy, or a dark forbidding scene that makes you sense fear. I find the best pictures are always the ones that evoke a strong emotion.”

SANDY ROSSIGNOL, 23, QUADRA VILLAGE (VICTORIA)SHOT TAKEN: Taken in the middle

of the night from a rooftop in downtown Victoria.

CAMERA: Nikon D7000TAKING THE SHOT: “It was

achieved by a long exposure (3+ seconds) — taking advantage of the

uniform glow of the halogen street lamps reflected off the seagull —

with a flash in the very last instant of the exposure.

PHOTOGRAPHY: “I hope to draw the ‘is that real?’ reaction, and

if possible, to provide a fresh conceptual experience for viewers that may inspire them in some way,

and blurring the lines of realism and narrative whenever possible.”

PHOTOS BY

“A technically unusual photo that shows both the poetic and standard views of a bird in flight” — Don Denton

“This photograph shows the power of weather, and a rare island lightning storm, over the landscape.” — Don Denton

15

LISA BAUMELER, 47, NORTH SAANICHSHOT TAKEN: May, 2010 at the Calgary Zoo.CAMERA: Nikon D80 body with a Tamron 18-270mm lens.TAKING THE SHOT: “I remember thinking that the way this elephant was standing, with one foot balanced coyly against the other, made it look “dainty”— a word I wouldn’t ever associate with an elephant! This, plus the sand-papery, grainy skin, is what appeals to me most about this capture." PHOTOGRAPHY: "I love looking beyond what the average eye sees when I am photographing, whether it is an animal, a person or a place. And I also love tight, subject-focused crops."

MANDY JO BURBANK, 41, SAANICHSHOT TAKEN: May 31, 2013, in her backyard.

CAMERA: Canon EOS Rebel T4i using a 55 - 250 mm lens.

TAKING THE SHOT: “I was out in the backyard taking pictures of the plants and flowers . . . I

decided to focus in on a bumblebee resting on the pink flowers and just see what

I could capture.”PHOTOGRAPHY: “My goal . . . is to capture a

clear and crisp image of my subject and obtain the best photograph I can get.”

READER'S CHOICE WINNER

PHOTOS BY

“The readers have spoken: close up and colourful with nature.” — Don Denton

“The photographer captures the a detail that makes an elephant look both delicate and bashful.” — Don Denton

16

PHOTOS BY

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Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, who often didn’t design homes with front entranceways facing the street, the main entrance is off a front patio landing.

19

HOT PROPERTIES

PON ARRIVAL TO GARY MATHIES and Niece Garry’s home, and before ringing the doorbell, guests peak around behind to check out the breathtaking waterfront backdrop. After all, it’s impossible to resist the enticing, come-hither ocean

glimpses created by serpentine landscape elements that command the eye to look further and further beyond — all the way to boats gently rocking on their moorings. The curving green lawn pulls the eye to cascading granite steps and to a lower secret patio bathed in warm sunlight, inviting thoughts of a good book.

Gary and Niece call out to guests to enter the side door, bringing everyone back to the present. A side entryway is not where most homes invite great impressions. But never mind that. Bathed in

Classic View Royal home makes waves

BY CAROLYN HEIMAN PHOTOS BY VINCE KLASSEN

VIEWALL POINTSto the

U

20

light that pours in from every direction, this classic grand dame has no imperfect side in need of camouflage or hiding. Indeed, the home’s orientation — it’s perched on a small point of land jutting into a protective bay — safeguards views from every vantage point. There’s even a view of the water from the main floor den, reflected in the antique-etched mirror bookcase doors, so those sitting with their backs to the water are not deprived of the view. It seems no detail has been overlooked.

A TOUCH OF FRENCHDesigned by Bruce Wilkin, the almost 3,500-square-foot View

Royal home is the manifestation of the owners’ dreams for a rambling, East-coast style shingled house touched with a hint of French. It is Gary and Niece’s retirement dream home, and Gary’s enthusiasm for the result is palpable as he tours his guests around, giving all the credit to Niece and the collaboration with Wilkin.

“We found throughout the project that Bruce never said ‘no,’ but he didn’t roll over and play dead either. We did acquiesce to his knowledge from time to time.”

PH. 250.361.4714 TF. 1.800.563.5558 2-2745 BRIDGE STREET, VICTORIA

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“If you had an idea they found a way to do it,” says Niece.Niece is a retired designer from Jordan’s and her time spent

around luxury furnishings and accessories has imparted to her a certain je ne sais quoi that shows through in all the carefully chosen details and furnishings in the home.

Wilkin notes it was clear that Niece had been thinking about what she wanted for a long time. For example, “She wanted black and charcoal going through the home . . . It didn’t take much meeting of the minds to come up with that perfect . . . house.”

MODERN APPROACHES IN THE PASTIn dreaming about their future home, Niece collected a

catalogue of ideas she liked, while she and Gary looked along the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island for a retirement property. (They settled on the Victoria area after realizing that they still wanted to be near great theatre and restaurants.) After doing the “contemporary thing” in their Vancouver condominium, Niece wanted to do something different this time.

“It was a case of been there, done that,” she says. “It’s a bit like when I cook. Once I do a recipe I can’t do it again.”

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The windows fronting the vaulted living room experienced the effects of her spell when she realized that the floor-to-ceiling version — being framed in by the construction crew — would contradict the traditional feeling she wanted to evoke.

“We re-drew that window half a dozen times before getting it right,” recalls Wilkin.

“It was the only ‘deconstruction’ we did,” says Gary, who trusted Niece’s sense of design in all matters. “You could tell it wouldn’t work. Niece was so strong minded.”

He did, however, have to come to her rescue when the seemingly over-large metal barrel-style light pendants were installed in the kitchen before the island was in place.

“I knew when I ordered them they were 23 inches in diameter, but seeing them was a surprise,” says Niece. “I thought OMG, I made a big mistake.”

Gary soothed her by pointing out that the Currey and Company lights could be returned if they didn’t work, but Niece needn’t have lost sleep. Once the warm white cabinetry with pewter glazing and granite countertops were in place, the lighting was perfect, adding appropriate drama to the area.

“If we had put three small light fixtures there, it wouldn’t have been the same,” notes Gary.

Niece, along with cabinet maker Jason Good,

26

sweated over getting the right proportions for the cottage ceiling with the wainscoting trim.

“I wanted a linear look stretching out to the water,” says Niece, and that meant positioning the trim in precisely the right way. For added effect, she called for a high gloss paint finish on the ceiling, which is an unusual treatment, but allows light from the water to be refracted off the ceiling.

“It was a tough job for the painter because every little thing shows,” says Gary.

Niece’s familiarity with furniture lines also came in handy when it became necessary to find creative solutions around office/desk space for Gary.

RETHINKING HOW SPACE IS USED“I was going to have an office. Then it became a desk. And

now it’s an armoire,” he says without a tinge of regret as he opens the doors of a Drexel Postobello armoire that ingeniously conceals a full computer set up, similar to old “secretary desks,” but with transitional elegance

Upon being asked what she likes most about the home, Niece pauses, and then says: “The kitchen. The living room. The catwalk overlooking the living room. How the home is light even on the darkest of days. There are a whole bunch of things.”

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35 YEARS EXPERIENCE

250.380.0550

250.380.0550HARDROCKMASONRY.COM

[email protected] HASTINGS STREET, VICTORIA, BC

From lot prep to design, knowledge to know-how, quality to completion. We take pride in every step we take and every project we do.

SUPPLY LISTContractor/Builder: Bruce Wilkin Design

Interior Designers: Bruce Wilkin and Niece Garry

Cabinetry: Jason Good Custom Cabinets Inc.

Counters: Matrix Marble and Stone

Flooring: Jordan’s

Appliances: Trail Appliances

Plumbing fixtures: Victoria Speciality Hardware

Windows: Pella

Lighting: Mclaren Lighting

Landscaping: Woodland Landscape Arts

Carolyn Heiman explores beautiful Island homes each month for Boulevard. If you know of a gorgeous home you’d like to see profiled, she can be contacted at [email protected].

Through trial and error, until made perfect, stair railings and caps were stained to match the soft pewter-washed oak flooring.

Dallas Chapple RE/MAX Camosun • Tel: 250.744.3301 • Toll Free: 1.877.652.4880 www.dallaschapple.com • Email: [email protected]

UPLANDS WATER VIEWSWonderful water views, renovate or rebuild on .84 acre. Beautiful terraced gardens. 4 bdrms, 5 baths, 3 fireplaces, 4,719 sq.ft. Gorgeous gar-dens & former tennis court. This is your oppor-tunity to build your waterview dream home! $1,695,000

Dallas Sells Victoria/Oak Bay“My goal is to find your dream homeand ensure that the decision you make stands as a wise investment over the long term.”

BRENTWOOD WATER VIEWSOne of the best 1 level suites in the complex, this townhome has exceptional water views. Quartz counters in kitchen, new tile backsplash & new appliances. Spacious master with views. Large deck, double garage & driveway too! Small pets OK. $499,900

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

OAK BAYFabulous renovation including stainless and mar-ble kitchen, Thermador gas cooktop and double ovens. Plus new family/great room opening to a wonderful deck and .37 acre garden! 4 bed-rooms, 3 bathrooms, hardwood floors, media room and workshop area too! $1,295,000

BEACH DRIVEStunning ocean & mountain views are yours in this new 4 bedroom home. This ¼ acre prop-erty backs onto Anderson Park & is completely private. The chef’s “Urbana” kitchen features professional appliances & quartz counters & all bathrooms have heated floors. Great room with fireplace opens to 850 sq. ft. deck. $1,695,000

LUXURY WATERFRONT CONDOYou will feel like you are in the bow of a yacht in this absolutely stunning waterfront penthouse! Completely renovated by Jenny Martin & her team, featuring new hardwood floors, quartz counters, s/s appliances, new custom cabinetry & lighting throughout & state of the art ensuite. Fly in to golf - only steps to the Victoria Golf Club. $1,750,000

TANNER RIDGEWatch the cruise ships in the distance from your gorgeous completely remodelled 3 bdrm, 3 bath home. New kitchen with quartz counters & stain-less appliances, gas range, 3 new bathrooms with heated tile floors, maple floors, new insulation, windows, metal roof, deck, patio & more! Beautiful valley & water views & Mt. Baker too! All on .31 ac. $739,900

BOULEVARD LUXURY REAL ESTATE

Boulevard magazine supports

Southern Vancouver Island's top

Realtors representing the region's

finest real estate. In our pages, we

hope you will find your next home,

whether it is in the listings of the

Great Homes/Great Realtors or here

in the Boulevard Luxury Real Estate

listings. Both of these monthly

advertising features bring you

the finest selection of homes and

condominiums Victoria has to offer.

$450,000

Dallas ChapplePERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

250-744-3301dallaschapple.com

Camosun

ON THE QUIET SIDE of this extremely well run complex, this pristine townhome is one of the 3 largest; 1,953 sq.ft., 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom. Master on main floor, family room off of kitchen opens to the east facing sunny patio with awning. Upstairs offers guest bedroom, bath, plus a bonus room. Many upgrades include German engineered flooring, low flush toilets, and lighting. Close to shopping, buses & library. 2 parking spots.

PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEWSBeautifully maintained 4 bdrm+den, 3 bath home. Two levels, 3400 SF. Living rm with gleaming oak floor, wood burning fireplace, floor to ceiling windows & vaulted ceiling. Tiled entry with vaulted ceiling. Formal dining rm. Kitchen has solid surface counters & breakfast nook. Family rm with skylight & fireplace. Large ocean view deck. Master bedroom has ocean views, walk-in closet & updated ensuite. Large rec-room with fireplace & sliding door to patio & garden. Double car garage. Cul-de-sac location. RS12A zoning. Close to excellent schools. ML 355259

Robert Young250-385-6900robertyoung.caCelebrating 30 years of award winning real estate service

$985,000$1,980,000

Lisa Williams250-514-1966lisawilliams.ca

10 ACRE MODERN OASIS!Spectacular 4,500 sq. ft. residence, completely rebuilt with a dramatic, sun-drenched, totally open design ... massive wall-to-wall windows, custom woodwork, Brazilian slate flooring, terraced lawns, manicured gardens & incredible infinity pool with sculpture cabana ... Enjoy world-class, panoramic views and total privacy in this fabulous location just 20 minutes from the inner harbour!

$17,998,800


WORLD CLASS UPLANDS ESTATE showcasingsunny 2.5 acres and 1000’ of ocean frontage inVictoria’s most exclusive UPLANDS neighbourhood!15,000 sq. ft. main residence, 5 car garage and access tosandy beach ... spectacular!

Camosun

YOUR DREAM HOME awaits you at Shoal Point. This spectacular ONE level 2,901Sq. Ft. suite offers dramatic sea views with 2 distinct exposures. Custom kitchen and nook, living room, office, and covered balcony overlook the Inner Harbour. The 2 bdrms, library, and 2nd covered balcony enjoy panoramic views of the open ocean and Olympic Mountains. From the moment you enter there is a “wow factor”. You are greeted by your own personal art gallery entrance which opens onto an elegant dining room/gas fireplace. 2 secured parking spaces.

$1,999,000

Margaret Leck250-413-7171margaretleck.com

ELEGANT COUNTRY ESTATE, 6.3 acres with a 5,600 sq. ft. home set up for extended family with two fabulous independent spaces. Very large rooms and sense of space with high vaulted ceilings, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, den, workout area and two laundry rooms. Plenty of parking, plus room for an RV or boat as well.

$889,000

Wayne & Cindy Garner250-881-8111cindygarner.ca

THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY home is on the market for the first time in years. A half acre lot in Ten Mile Point. On the main floor you will find a living room/dining room combination perfect for entertaining. A large sunroom overlooking the garden and three bedrooms, including a master with three piece ensuite. The kitchen has been upgraded. On the lower level you will find a fourth bedroom and three piece bath, family/games room, laundry area, workshop and storage. This home is ready for new owners.

$995,000

Sharen Warde & Larry Sims250-592-4422wardesims.com

$409,900



Camosun

LOOKS LIKE A SHOW HOME! Beautiful, private and quiet town home. Lovely big modern eat-in kitchen, living room with gas fireplace and sliding doors to patio (with gas BBQ hook-up) and back yard. Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms, a beautiful main bath & spacious ensuite. Lots of storage and parking for 2 cars. Small pets OK. Very close to schools, shopping, buses. Small (8 unit) well self-managed complex.

SUPERB PARKER AVE. WATERFRONT. Recently refurbished Pamela Charlesworth home will impress even the most discerning buyer. Gleaming Brazilian hardwood floors, soaring vaulted ceilings, & sweeping views of the Ocean to San Juan Island and Mt. Baker’s glowing glacier beyond. Fabulous new kitchen. 4 bedroom, master with commanding views. Private .33 acre lot with patio hot tub, to enjoy the views. Dbl car garage. 5255 Parker Ave., Cordova Bay

$1,698,000

Lynne Sager250-744-3301lynnesager.com

Camosun

31

BOULEVARD LUXURY REAL ESTATE

Boulevard magazine supports

Southern Vancouver Island's top

Realtors representing the region's

finest real estate. In our pages, we

hope you will find your next home,

whether it is in the listings of the

Great Homes/Great Realtors or here

in the Boulevard Luxury Real Estate

listings. Both of these monthly

advertising features bring you

the finest selection of homes and

condominiums Victoria has to offer.

$450,000



Camosun

ON THE QUIET SIDE of this extremely well run complex, this pristine townhome is one of the 3 largest; 1,953 sq.ft., 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom. Master on main floor, family room off of kitchen opens to the east facing sunny patio with awning. Upstairs offers guest bedroom, bath, plus a bonus room. Many upgrades include German engineered flooring, low flush toilets, and lighting. Close to shopping, buses & library. 2 parking spots.

PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEWSBeautifully maintained 4 bdrm+den, 3 bath home. Two levels, 3400 SF. Living rm with gleaming oak floor, wood burning fireplace, floor to ceiling windows & vaulted ceiling. Tiled entry with vaulted ceiling. Formal dining rm. Kitchen has solid surface counters & breakfast nook. Family rm with skylight & fireplace. Large ocean view deck. Master bedroom has ocean views, walk-in closet & updated ensuite. Large rec-room with fireplace & sliding door to patio & garden. Double car garage. Cul-de-sac location. RS12A zoning. Close to excellent schools. ML 355259

Robert Young250-385-6900robertyoung.caCelebrating 30 years of award winning real estate service

$985,000$1,980,000


10 ACRE MODERN OASIS!Spectacular 4,500 sq. ft. residence, completely rebuilt with a dramatic, sun-drenched, totally open design ... massive wall-to-wall windows, custom woodwork, Brazilian slate flooring, terraced lawns, manicured gardens & incredible infinity pool with sculpture cabana ... Enjoy world-class, panoramic views and total privacy in this fabulous location just 20 minutes from the inner harbour!

$17,998,800


WORLD CLASS UPLANDS ESTATE showcasingsunny 2.5 acres and 1000’ of ocean frontage inVictoria’s most exclusive UPLANDS neighbourhood!15,000 sq. ft. main residence, 5 car garage and access tosandy beach ... spectacular!

Camosun

YOUR DREAM HOME awaits you at Shoal Point. This spectacular ONE level 2,901Sq. Ft. suite offers dramatic sea views with 2 distinct exposures. Custom kitchen and nook, living room, office, and covered balcony overlook the Inner Harbour. The 2 bdrms, library, and 2nd covered balcony enjoy panoramic views of the open ocean and Olympic Mountains. From the moment you enter there is a “wow factor”. You are greeted by your own personal art gallery entrance which opens onto an elegant dining room/gas fireplace. 2 secured parking spaces.

$1,999,000

Margaret Leck250-413-7171margaretleck.com

ELEGANT COUNTRY ESTATE, 6.3 acres with a 5,600 sq. ft. home set up for extended family with two fabulous independent spaces. Very large rooms and sense of space with high vaulted ceilings, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, den, workout area and two laundry rooms. Plenty of parking, plus room for an RV or boat as well.

$889,000

Wayne & Cindy Garner250-881-8111cindygarner.ca

THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY home is on the market for the first time in years. A half acre lot in Ten Mile Point. On the main floor you will find a living room/dining room combination perfect for entertaining. A large sunroom overlooking the garden and three bedrooms, including a master with three piece ensuite. The kitchen has been upgraded. On the lower level you will find a fourth bedroom and three piece bath, family/games room, laundry area, workshop and storage. This home is ready for new owners.

$995,000

Sharen Warde & Larry Sims250-592-4422wardesims.com

$409,900



Camosun

LOOKS LIKE A SHOW HOME! Beautiful, private and quiet town home. Lovely big modern eat-in kitchen, living room with gas fireplace and sliding doors to patio (with gas BBQ hook-up) and back yard. Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms, a beautiful main bath & spacious ensuite. Lots of storage and parking for 2 cars. Small pets OK. Very close to schools, shopping, buses. Small (8 unit) well self-managed complex.

SUPERB PARKER AVE. WATERFRONT. Recently refurbished Pamela Charlesworth home will impress even the most discerning buyer. Gleaming Brazilian hardwood floors, soaring vaulted ceilings, & sweeping views of the Ocean to San Juan Island and Mt. Baker’s glowing glacier beyond. Fabulous new kitchen. 4 bedroom, master with commanding views. Private .33 acre lot with patio hot tub, to enjoy the views. Dbl car garage. 5255 Parker Ave., Cordova Bay

$1,698,000

Lynne Sager250-744-3301lynnesager.com

Camosun

32

Sarah Reid is a designer, creative director and maker living in

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BY SARAH REID

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opportunities are gone, meaning the household tax bracket can increase,” Rod notes. “And while some expenses decrease, others can increase. Perhaps the widow needs to hire someone for maintenance her husband once looked after, or the widower who has never cooked has more restaurant expenses. It’s important to plan ahead and have a flexible plan to deal with that.”

“My clients appreciate having someone they can communicate with, and who can explain investment concepts clearly, including the basics. For me, that personal connection is often the most fulfilling part of my work.”

To learn how Rod MacMillan can you achieve your investment goals, call 250-356-4148.

For Investment Advisor Rod MacMillan, building a relationship with both spouses eases the burden when one passes away.

When Rod MacMillan’s father passed away 10 years ago, helping his mother with the innumerable

details that followed let him see first-hand the many challenges the death of a partner brings.

In addition to their grief, a surviving spouse must also wade through the many tasks accompanying their partner’s death, from preparing an obituary and making funeral arrangements to taking over portfolio management. While family finances may be the last thing they want weighing on their mind, often that’s just what happens, especially if a spouse dies suddenly.

Having the expert advice of a trusted advisor well-versed in the intricacies of investment planning, especially as it relates to more mature adults, can relieve some of that stress and allow spouses to make decisions with confidence.

“Often, the survivor must come up to speed very quickly at a time when they don’t want to or may not be able to,” explains Rod, an Investment Advisor with TD Wealth Private Investment Advice. “Each person will move through their grief at a different pace. Through this time, trust and communication with their advisor are critical.”

For Rod, who in addition to holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria, is both a Chartered Strategic Wealth Professional and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, planning ahead through long-term client relationships is key, especially when statistics suggest half of couples together at age 65 will have one partner live to age 90. Additionally, situations such as second marriages mean addressing the needs of

both the surviving spouse and any children from blended families.

While each situation is unique, “there are some common threads.”

Where younger investors with more time to build assets might seek aggressive growth, for example, older clients often prefer a more conservative growth strategy and protection of assets. Investment markets inevitably have volatile periods that can test the resolve of clients. “At these stressful times the value of an experienced advisor is crucial,” says Rod. “During the downturn of 2008 and 2009, I was fortunate to have my practice grow through referrals from my clients who said they appreciated my guidance and results.”

Rod believes the first step in building and maintaining an investment portfolio is establishing a relationship with both partners, where possible – a philosophy grounded in his experience with his own parents. Traditionally, older couples are more likely to have had one person –

often the husband – look after the investment portfolio. Unfortunately, when that person passes away, much of the information and experience can go with them if the surviving spouse hasn’t been involved.

“It’s easy in this male-dominated field for advisors to forget about the importance

of working with both spouses, especially if one spouse takes the lead,” Rod says. “I like to review the role each specific investment plays and how it relates to my clients, in addition to how the investments serve their purposes over time.”

Building relationships also allows Rod to help couples prepare for changes that follow the death of a spouse.

For those who haven’t prepared ahead, “one surprise that often catches people off-guard is that the income-splitting


Trust & Communication:Key to investment success

advertising feature

Roderick MacMillan, B.Comm, FCSI, CSWPInvestment AdvisorA. R. MacMillan Wealth ManagementTD Wealth Private Investment Advice1070 Douglas Street, 5th FloorVictoria, B.C. V8W [email protected]

“My clients appreciate having someone they

can communicate with, and who can explain investment concepts clearly,

including the basics.”

TD Wealth Private Investment Advice is a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. – Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. A. R. MacMillan Wealth Management consists of Roderick MacMillan, B.Comm, FCSI, CSWP, Investment Advisor. A. R. MacMillan Wealth Management is part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice.

35

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VICTORIA’S SIMON WHITFIELD taped a three-word message of inspiration to the handlebar of his bicycle. It read, “Sing like Kreek.”

He stared at the message as he put his head down to cycle through the blistering heat of a Beijing summer. After he parked the bike to run the final stretch of the gruelling Olympic triathlon, he repeated those words in his head, a silent mantra with the syllables providing a rhythm for tired legs beating down on unforgiving blacktop. Sing. Like. Kreek. Sing. Like. Kreek.

The words were inspired by his friend and fellow athlete Adam Kreek, who two days earlier had won a rowing gold medal with the men’s eights team. He celebrated on the podium with a ragged, head-back, off-key rendition of our national anthem.

In other circumstances such a display might have been regarded as disrespectful, but Kreek’s exuberance was seen as an expression of pride in his homeland, as well as an athlete’s prerogative following a triumph.

Inspired by Kreek, Whitfield pounded along the pavement past younger rivals. He crossed the finish line behind only one other competitor, adding a hard-won silver medal to the gold he won eight years earlier.

Settling back into the “real world”The two men are now retired from Olympic competition. After

living for years with routines set by daily training timetables — all designed to put them at peak performance for the Olympics or world championships — both men have routines and

After the Olympics

VICTORIA ATHLETES PUT GOLD-MEDAL TOUCH ON NEW ENTERPRISES

BY TOM HAWTHORN

opportunities are gone, meaning the household tax bracket can increase,” Rod notes. “And while some expenses decrease, others can increase. Perhaps the widow needs to hire someone for maintenance her husband once looked after, or the widower who has never cooked has more restaurant expenses. It’s important to plan ahead and have a flexible plan to deal with that.”

“My clients appreciate having someone they can communicate with, and who can explain investment concepts clearly, including the basics. For me, that personal connection is often the most fulfilling part of my work.”

To learn how Rod MacMillan can you achieve your investment goals, call 250-356-4148.

For Investment Advisor Rod MacMillan, building a relationship with both spouses eases the burden when one passes away.

When Rod MacMillan’s father passed away 10 years ago, helping his mother with the innumerable

details that followed let him see first-hand the many challenges the death of a partner brings.

In addition to their grief, a surviving spouse must also wade through the many tasks accompanying their partner’s death, from preparing an obituary and making funeral arrangements to taking over portfolio management. While family finances may be the last thing they want weighing on their mind, often that’s just what happens, especially if a spouse dies suddenly.

Having the expert advice of a trusted advisor well-versed in the intricacies of investment planning, especially as it relates to more mature adults, can relieve some of that stress and allow spouses to make decisions with confidence.

“Often, the survivor must come up to speed very quickly at a time when they don’t want to or may not be able to,” explains Rod, an Investment Advisor with TD Wealth Private Investment Advice. “Each person will move through their grief at a different pace. Through this time, trust and communication with their advisor are critical.”

For Rod, who in addition to holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria, is both a Chartered Strategic Wealth Professional and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, planning ahead through long-term client relationships is key, especially when statistics suggest half of couples together at age 65 will have one partner live to age 90. Additionally, situations such as second marriages mean addressing the needs of

both the surviving spouse and any children from blended families.

While each situation is unique, “there are some common threads.”

Where younger investors with more time to build assets might seek aggressive growth, for example, older clients often prefer a more conservative growth strategy and protection of assets. Investment markets inevitably have volatile periods that can test the resolve of clients. “At these stressful times the value of an experienced advisor is crucial,” says Rod. “During the downturn of 2008 and 2009, I was fortunate to have my practice grow through referrals from my clients who said they appreciated my guidance and results.”

Rod believes the first step in building and maintaining an investment portfolio is establishing a relationship with both partners, where possible – a philosophy grounded in his experience with his own parents. Traditionally, older couples are more likely to have had one person –

often the husband – look after the investment portfolio. Unfortunately, when that person passes away, much of the information and experience can go with them if the surviving spouse hasn’t been involved.

“It’s easy in this male-dominated field for advisors to forget about the importance

of working with both spouses, especially if one spouse takes the lead,” Rod says. “I like to review the role each specific investment plays and how it relates to my clients, in addition to how the investments serve their purposes over time.”

Building relationships also allows Rod to help couples prepare for changes that follow the death of a spouse.

For those who haven’t prepared ahead, “one surprise that often catches people off-guard is that the income-splitting


Trust & Communication:Key to investment success

advertising feature

Roderick MacMillan, B.Comm, FCSI, CSWPInvestment AdvisorA. R. MacMillan Wealth ManagementTD Wealth Private Investment Advice1070 Douglas Street, 5th FloorVictoria, B.C. V8W [email protected]

“My clients appreciate having someone they

can communicate with, and who can explain investment concepts clearly,

including the basics.”

TD Wealth Private Investment Advice is a division of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. – Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. A. R. MacMillan Wealth Management consists of Roderick MacMillan, B.Comm, FCSI, CSWP, Investment Advisor. A. R. MacMillan Wealth Management is part of TD Wealth Private Investment Advice.

36

lives more similar to the rest of us. And both are involved in innovative local companies.

Victoria is known for many things — nature (flowers and a temperate climate), institutions (the university and the naval base), successful musicians and singers (David Foster and Nelly Furtado). We also are home to a large number of world-class athletes, lured here by sporting facilities and weather that permits year-round training, a rarity in our snowbound land. Once the cheering stops and the medals are put on display (or put away), Olympic gold-medal athletes confront the ordinary demands of making a living. They call on the same qualities that make them champions in the sporting arena — dedication, perseverance, single-mindedness — to build successful businesses.

Kreek spent 13 years as a rower, something that might explain his quixotic quest two years ago to row across the Atlantic Ocean, a 73-day odyssey that ended after a rogue wave dumped him and three fellow rowers into the sea. In his 9-to-5 life, Kreek runs a biodiesel company and an organic food bar company. He is best known as a motivational speaker, presenting philosophical and psychological tools to make workplaces happier and more productive.

Gold-medal entrepreneurial spiritAcross town, Whitfield is following Kreek’s entrepreneurial

example. He heads the sports division of the Fantan Group, where he is developing a modified version of triathlon for indoor stadiums. Whitfield, who turns 39 this month, is also an investor in a business called Velofix for which he holds the franchise in Victoria.

The company operates what is described as a mobile bike shop. A fully-equipped truck with a bicycle repair mechanic makes house calls — or business calls, or recreation calls — to do repairs. The capital region is cycle mad. Bike paths stretch from the ferry terminal past the airport to downtown Victoria and out west on the Galloping Goose as far as Leechtown on the Sooke River. New paths are built every year, and a new designated bike lane along the Dallas Road waterfront from Clover Point Park to Ogden Point, is scheduled for completion in 2016. Cycling promises to become a tourist lure in coming years, too. Since delivering a broken bike to a repair shop presents problems of its own, you can’t help but think the mobile Velofix repair shop might be an idea whose time has come.

We get to cheer for top athletes in their competitive days. Then, after they retire from their sport, we benefit from their ingenuity and creativity as they transition into another stage of their lives. The qualities that made Kreek a success on the water — and Whitfield in the water, on the bike and on foot — will likely also make them winners in business. Sing like Kreek all the way to the bank (or credit union).

They call on the same qualities that make them champions in the sporting arena.

TM

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BY LIA CROWE

NE OF THE FIRST

messages I received regarding an interview from landscape “sculptress” Louise

Boutin only served to intrigue me further: “I’m a bit of a recluse,” she wrote. In my experience, those reluctant to attract hype are often the most interesting.

I first came to know Louise through social media, not as a Facebook “friend” but as a fascinated follower. Her posts are not personal, nor are they promotions of her work. They’re simply a curation of extraordinary images: challenging, beautiful, sexy and inspiring. Anyone can immediately see she has an incredibly sophisticated eye.

Born in Montreal, in 1961, and schooled in landscape architecture at UBC, Louise’s work ranges from public spaces such as Hastings Park in Vancouver, UBC Botanical Gardens, and art installations at the Vancouver Art Gallery, to private gardens for high-profile families, locally and as far away as penthouses in Manhattan.

“The children’s play area at Hastings Park is unlike any other,” says architect Sandra Moore, who collaborated with Louise on the Hastings

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I know a garden is successful when I have created sanctuary.

Louise Boutin says her designs are often based on sacred typologies

and arrangements that go back to Roman and Egyptian times. "It’s a tool for me, a

philosophy . . . an adaptation and an ordering of thought when I’m designing.”

Park project. “We played with sound, touch, poetry, geometry and, of course, the rain. Working with Louise was magical. [Her work] has the power to make you suddenly think about and see architecture, buildings, [and] landscapes in a new way.”

Louise and family moved to Vancouver Island several years ago from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Vancouver before that. Now that she’s surrounded by water, her design focus has shifted to waterfront locations via

her business, Ultramarine Tidal Atelier — described as “landscape and marine design for the life aquatic.”

She calls her style “modern forest” and defines herself as a landscape sculptress. She possesses broad expertise and her designs are steeped in ancient knowledge coupled with contemporary aesthetics.

Using a soft and slow approach, I am soon greatly rewarded when, on a few visits, I am brought into her visually rich world.

I fly down the incredibly beautiful stretch of West Saanich Road, hot on the tail of the landscape sculptress’s SUV. We are on our second outing to look at some of her work in gardens on huge waterfront estates across the

Saanich Peninsula. “I work with the

philosophy of the typologies of landscape,” Louise explained earlier. “These are degrees to which a human being feels comfortable; the ways of shaping the land — bosque, orchard, glade, single tree, amphitheater, allee and many more.”

A bosque, she added, is a grid of trees that creates a special space within it. An allee, meanwhile, is a row of trees that leads into a farm, “heightening the energy [and]

the anticipation of arrival.” Her words come back to

me as she gestures out of the driver’s side window, giving me a car-to-car, 50k/h tour of some typologies in Saanich. She points out a row of tall trees along a road, a huge single tree in a field, an impressively tall hedgerow.

Soon we’re tromping through a few beautiful waterfront properties, Louise’s blue mascara electric in the sunshine as she tours me through the visions behind these gardens.

She describes her work as the rough and the refined. Wonderful boxwood hedges with a billow of ephemeral grasses. Weeping Katsuras that trail down a concrete wall. Little pools that capture salt water. An orderly

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bosque of yew trees against a giant backdrop of bamboo.

“I know a garden is successful when I have created sanctuary,” she says.

“I prefer to see a property before I even meet the clients, because

the property tells me so much. It’s a silent dialogue between myself and the land. What is the setting? Oceanfront, forest, agricultural? What is the typology of the place and character? I start listing in my mind what is there and what is lacking. What are the hidden gems? What is the beauty inherent?”

Louise’s Saturna Island client Deborah MacNeill had her property

transformed into one of the most beautiful gardens on the island.

“We chose Louise Boutin because of her reputation; her unique, creative approach; and her solid background in contemporary garden design,” Deborah writes.

“We also sensed she would be interesting to work with; she was. Her quick wit, rigorous expectations and resourcefulness cut a swathe across our relatively laid-back island, quickly becoming the stuff of legend on Saturna.”

Client reactions like this prove that this unassuming artist makes an impression wherever she goes.

“A beautiful garden to me is one that has an exquisite relationship between the home, the owner and nature in the surrounding context,” Louise says. “It’s a beautiful harmony, an exquisite balance, and it has to be on a continuum of grace.”

Now that she has several thousand Facebook followers, I’m curious how the page fits into her design work.

“It’s a window for the imagination. I’m really interested in history and popular culture — the page is all about aesthetics, style aesthetics, how people are thinking. Those are all explorations in which I learn a lot,” she says.

“But it’s definitely a wish to be in a larger milieu of design thinking. I have to blow my own mind; nature will do it and really brilliant clients will do it, but I also need to constantly be doing it for myself.”

A beautiful garden to me is one that has an exquisite

relationship between the home, the owner and nature in the

surrounding context.

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FOOD & DRINK

HENEVER I THINK OF scones, it’s the tender kind I envision, topped with decadent clotted cream and raspberry jam, alongside a steaming cup of tea.

But a scone, as they say, is simply a biscuit with attitude. And whether sweet or savoury, it’s an easy and impressive addition to any breakfast, especially for a holiday like Mother’s Day.

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WSweet, savoury or straight from Buckingham PalaceSCONES

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Yogi estimates he’s made more than 5

million of them.

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In the American south, biscuits are served smothered with gravy alongside fried eggs and ham for breakfast. Often made with buttermilk, this is definitely a savoury sort of scone.

The kind you’ll traditionally find on the tea trolly here — or across the pond anywhere in Britain — are usually sweet scones, made with sugar and cream, and dotted with raisins or currants.

But modern bakers like to make oversized scones, filled with almost any combination of flavours to serve as portable breakfast fare. I’m rather partial to cheesy scones, like the Greek-style feta, spinach and caramelized onion scones at my favourite coffee shop, or tender potato scones made with mashed potatoes and cheddar.

CHANGE IT UPBiscuits and scones are infinitely adaptable. You can create

your own savoury or sweet combinations, and whether it’s sun-dried tomato and basil, roasted red peppers and smoky Gouda, caramelized onions and thyme, or white chocolate and dried blueberries, experimenting is fun.

Still, not every scone is created equal. Butter and flour are standard, combined with some kind of dairy product — milk,

Still, not every scone is created equal.

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cream, buttermilk or even yogurt. Scones may be enhanced with beaten eggs, too, making them richer and more cake-like.

And whether they are biscuits or scones, most of these quick breads are raised with baking powder or baking soda (not yeast), then simply rolled and cut into rounds or wedges for baking. Brush them with a wash of beaten egg and water (or cream) for beautiful golden tops.

At the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Joga “Yogi” Kaler has been in charge of making scones for its iconic afternoon tea for 23 years. He’s down in the hotel pastry kitchen most mornings, happily rolling out scones and baking them in big rotating ovens, even making the wee thimble-sized scones to serve alongside the hotel’s famous tea-based Empress 1908 cocktail.

They serve about 200,000 scones every year at The Empress, and Yogi estimates he’s made more than 5 million of them. And while he still loves to make scones — even in summer when his day begins at 3 a.m. — he admits, in all those years, he’s eaten less than a dozen himself!

Sweet and savoury options abound when it comes to baking scones.

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Pastry chef Joga (a.k.a. Yogi) Kaler says the original recipe for the famous Empress Hotel scones came directly from Buckingham Palace. This is a scaled down version of the hotel’s recipe, but it still comes out at 35 scones. Bakers are cautioned: don’t try to cut it in half!

8 1/2 cups (2 pounds 4 oz.) all-purpose flour1 cup + 2 teaspoons (9 oz.) sugarpinch of salt1 cup + 2 teaspoons (9 oz.) butter4 tablespoons (2 oz.) baking powder6 eggs, divided (see note)3/4 cup (6 oz.) golden raisins2 cups (16 oz.) whipping creamEgg wash (reserved egg yolk beaten with 2 tablespoons cream or water)

USING a large stand mixer, slowly blend flour, sugar, salt, butter and baking powder together. Mix slowly for about 5 minutes. The mixture should be crumbly but hold together when squeezed.BEAT the eggs lightly and, with the machine running slowly add the eggs along with the raisins. With the mixer still running on low speed, add just enough cream to make a soft but smooth dough; do not over mix — the dough should gather and be slightly sticky but not wet.DUMP the mixture out onto a floured surface and knead gently for a minute, just until the dough is smooth. Don’t overwork.ROLL out into a large, thick round (about ½-3/4 inches thick) and cut into 2.5-inch rounds using a biscuit cutter or glass. Reroll any scraps and cut more biscuits.SET them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with the egg wash.BAKE in a preheated 350 F oven for 25-35 minutes until golden brown. Makes 35 scones.

NOTE: Lightly beat 5 of the eggs and separate the 6th — use the egg white in the batter and save the yolk for the egg wash.

FAIRMONT EMPRESS SCONES

PREP 15 mins BAKE 30 mins MAKES 35

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N THE BOULEVARD of a quiet side street in urban Victoria sits a small patch of land, brimming with vibrant, even lavish, organic vegetables. Artichokes, raspberries, sage and lavender now grow in a space once reserved for a section of manicured

grass.Here, gardener Ian Abbott is finding a way to cultivate vegetables

in an urban setting. Victorians, it turns out, are growing food everywhere — in yards,

balconies, parking spaces, windowsills and shared community spaces around the city. As people embrace everything from container gardening to community gardens and even sidewalk

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“If you have the space, why not make it useful?” — Ian Abbott

BY AMY MITCHELL

Gardens bloom in small, urban spaces

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gardening, conversations are happening all over the city about where our food comes from, and how growing even a few things of our own can positively impact our health and our communities.

Urban agriculturists assert that having a hand in growing the food we eat offers more than just the food it produces. The process of preparing the soil and then planting, tending and harvesting is therapeutic; the food produced tastes better and is more nutritious than produce shipped from thousands of kilometres away.

With interest rising in the community, there are now multiple resources for getting started. Combine this with hospitable land and an excellent climate for growing produce, and everyone from seasoned gardeners to those just getting started can join Victoria’s growing local movement.

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Ian Abbott, seen with his daughter, Camille, makes use of the green space on the boulevard in front of his house to create a garden area.

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PLANTERS AND SMALL OUTDOORS SPACESStefan Jacob has lived in many places around BC, and for

him, growing food isn’t a hobby but an important part of his life.

“I’ve always been a vegetable gardener,” says Jacob. Moving into an apartment complex in Oak Bay two years

ago, Jacob noticed a small space of unused land alongside the building. With the building manager’s permission,

he set up a few small planters and has been growing food there ever since.

“Fresh food is just better,” says Jacob. “I like to garden; it’s therapeutic.”

With a modest investment of his time, Jacob now grows, among other things, all of his salad greens from

May to October.Gardening gives him a chance to get

outside and cultivate healthy and nourishing food for himself and his wife. Jacob

also takes advantage of wild food growing on Vancouver Island, harvesting nettles and berries on hikes throughout the spring and summer.

SIDEWALK GARDENSWhile he has a garden in his yard as well as a space he tends

in his neighbour’s yard, Ian Abbott also makes use of the green space on the boulevard in front of his house. Although

it initially required a few conversations with the City to ensure the garden isn’t obstructing anything, Abbott has an established a sidewalk area where he has grown zucchini, corn, potatoes, garlic, leeks and sunflowers.

“If you have the space, why not make it useful?” says Abbott.

His approach is a holistic one; he’s a Registered Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist with an interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine. His passion for growing food in the city is beyond simply providing produce for his family: like Jacob, it is part of a healthy lifestyle.

“Food is medicine,” says Abbott, who also grows peas, beans, salad greens, even quinoa, for his family. He considers growing his own food an expression of his values and his contribution to a healthy community.

“If you’re a gardener, you’re more in touch with the seasons and the weather. It grounds you, literally.”

Abbott has set up an extra-small plot in his front yard, just high enough for his two-year-old daughter, Camille, to plant her first vegetables this year.

“It’s not just for me, it’s for her,” he says.

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food locally. Matthew Kemshaw, urban agriculture coordinator for LifeCycles and local food enthusiast, helps ensure Victoria’s green spaces are put to good use by connecting people with land and food.

“There’s just something about having your hands in the dirt, literally connecting you to the earth,” he says, adding “Herbs in planters are an excellent place to start. Simple annual herbs, like basil and cilantro, or one of many perennials, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, mint or lemon balm, are fun and relatively easy to grow.”

LifeCycles has several programs for those interested in urban gardening: it can help start gardens, find spaces to plant, and obtain seeds.

• Urban Agriculture Hub: an online resource that provides forums, videos, courses, and an opportunity to connect with others about growing food in the city. www.urbanagriculturehub.ca

• Fruit Tree Project: volunteers pick fruit that would otherwise go to waste and distribute it among homeowners, volunteers, food banks and community organizations. www.lifecyclesproject.ca/initiatives/fruit_tree/

• Victoria Seed Library: in partnership with the Greater Victoria Public Library, this project is a way for hobby and beginner gardeners to share seeds and information about gardening. www.lifecyclesproject.ca

• Sharing Backyards Program: matches those who have time and an interest in growing food with those who have the land but not necessarily the time or interest. www.sharingbackyards.com

Amy Mitchell is a freelance writer, Sierra Club BC grants coordinator, and recent Royal Roads graduate.

50

TRAVEL FAR

N 1926, FIVE YEARS AFTER Jennie Butchart famously transformed an abandoned limestone quarry on the Saanich Peninsula into an exquisite sunken garden, an equally energetic woman at the opposite end of the country was

about to launch her own gardening project.Elsie Reford inherited a fishing lodge and more than 500 acres

of rugged wilderness on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River from a wealthy uncle, George Stephen, who made his fortune founding and financing the Canadian Pacific Railway. He had spent his summers there, indulging his passion for salmon fishing.

Elsie shared her uncle’s love for the sport. But as she recovered from appendicitis one year, her doctor suggested that gardening would be a gentler pastime than wrestling feisty salmon.

Elsie was 54 when she began her project. It would take her a decade to convert about 20 acres of spruce forest into an enchanting garden bisected by a babbling brook and filled with native and exotic plants.

Today, more than 3,000 species, cultivars and varieties of

I

Jennie Butchard's soulmate found in the wilds of Quebec

BY SUZANNE MORPHET

WESTEASTGARDEN CITIES

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plants thrive here, including some of Elsie’s originals, such as the diminutive Boyd Willow that she planted in the 1930s, surrounded by a carpet of saxifrage and double bloodroot.

As I strolled through Reford Gardens (also known as Jardins de Métis) in early fall, enjoying the autumn crocuses and last of the hydrangeas, I couldn’t help but compare this garden with Butchart Gardens. Butchart is larger and more traditional, while Reford Gardens is smaller and more intimate. The latter also stages an international garden festival each year that explores garden design and experiments with the idea of garden as art.

But in many ways, the stories of the two gardens are strikingly similar, right down to Meconopsis betonicifolia (also known as Meconopsis baileyi), the rare Himalayan blue poppy that both Jennie and Elsie grew.

“A lot of people compare this garden to Butchart,” agrees Patricia Gallant, a member of the gardening team at Reford Gardens. “What’s different is the climate.”

No kidding. This region— known as the Bas-Saint-Laurent — is almost 600 km northeast of Montreal. Winters are long, snowy and bitterly cold, with the temperature dipping to minus 30C. In spring, the stream at Reford Gardens becomes an icy torrent. Had Elsie not built stonewalls to contain it, her hard work and laboriously

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The rare Himalayan blue poppy, seen here

at Reford Gardens, is also grown at

Butchart Gardens.

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conditioned soil could have been washed away after one season.While winter is harsh, summers are humid with cool nights,

the ideal conditions — as Elsie discovered —for growing the blue poppy. Almost 400 poppy plants greet visitors in the Blue Poppy Glade, the progeny of the first plants Elsie grew from seeds, which she obtained in the 1930s from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh (the same source used by Jennie Butchart).

“I would say it’s the largest blue poppy garden in Canada,” says Gallant, noting that it’s also the garden’s official flower and was one of Elsie’s favourites. (Interestingly, both Butchart and Reford gardens operate a restaurant that goes by the name Blue Poppy.)

Unlike Butchart Gardens, Reford Gardens left family hands when Elsie’s son sold it to the government of Quebec in 1961. But today it’s run by a not-for-profit group headed up by Elsie’s great grandson, Alexander Reford — another fascinating parallel to Butchart Gardens, which is now owned by Jennie’s great granddaughter Robin-Lee Clarke.

Along with the original gardens, Reford Gardens has an herb

and picking garden and a greenhouse. Every year, chef Pierre-Olivier Ferry chooses about 20 new kinds of edible flowers and herbs to grow in the greenhouse, in addition to the 100 or so mainstays.

Last year, for instance, Ferry experimented with arugula, recording how the taste and texture changed every seven days, so he would know, for instance, “when we have to pick arugula to have a nutty taste without the spicy taste.”

As well as running the restaurant and two cafés on the property, Ferry and his team also produce between 1,000 and 1,500 jars of spreads, pickles and jellies each year, created with plants from the garden or from the wild.

Alexander Reford is delighted with his young chef’s creativity and passion. And focusing on food makes sense, since Elsie herself hosted countless dinner parties and events.

“The estate, like many others of the period, was self-sufficient in food production,” says Alexander, “with beef, lamb, cheese, milk, cream, vegetables and, of course, Atlantic salmon — so from a purely historical point of view, the increase in self-sustainability has a solid foundation.”

Sitting down to lunch in the Garden Café at the end of my

Winters are long, snowy and bitterly cold, with the

temperature dipping to minus 30C. In spring, the stream at

Reford Gardens becomes an icy torrent.

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garden tour, I’m presented with a bowl of foaming sweet corn soup, followed by a plate of gravlax salmon garnished with pickled daisy buds, dill mustard and tiny clumps of sulpher-yellow flowers from the Bronze Fennel plant. A side salad of sliced fennel bulb is brightened with Lemon Lasil (one of 12 cultivars of basil Ferry has grown) and red and orange Nasturtium petals.

For those of us in Victoria, it takes a lot more effort to visit Reford Gardens than it does to drive up the road to Butchart Gardens, but it’s one inspiring trip.

IF YOU GO:Reford Gardens (www.refordgardens.com) is open from June

to September. It’s midway between Rimouski and Matane and a 10-minute drive from the regional airport in Mont-Joli. The airport has regular daily service from Montréal and Baie-Comeau via Air Canada (Air Canada Jazz).

Suzanne Morphet is a travel writer and photographer who lives in North Saanich, conveniently close to both the Victoria airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. One of her favourite places in Canada is the Gaspe region of Quebec, where the Appalachian Mountains meet the St. Lawrence Seaway.

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Tourists walk past flowers in bloom in the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

ACK OF EXERCISE and poor nutrition are leading to more and more diagnoses of “insulin resistance” or “pre-diabetes.”

But what is it and how can it be reversed?

To start, you might look at it like this: if your body is a machine, insulin resistance is like having a faulty part. You not only need to fix it, but also maintain it to keep it running smoothly.

But more technically, insulin resistance occurs when the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. Instead of being absorbed by the cells and metabolized into energy, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, creating numerous problems. Insulin resistance can be caused by a genetic predisposition or — in most cases — what is or is not eaten.

A complex relationship exists between food, blood glucose levels (blood sugar), insulin and fat. Consuming carbohydrates — starches and sugars — triggers the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that stimulates cells to absorb glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. Insulin also regulates blood glucose levels and fat storage among other things.

“Insulin receptors on liver, fat and muscle cells are the targets when insulin is released into the bloodstream, and subsequently result in glucose uptake,” explains Sarah Garner, honours biochemistry candidate at the University of Victoria. “Depending on energy needs, this glucose will be stored as glycogen in fat cells or metabolized for energy.”

When cells stop responding to the normal stimulus of insulin, usually due to sudden spikes and crashes of blood glucose, more insulin is needed to regulate blood sugar levels. When that level of insulin in the bloodstream remains high, cells become resistant to the hormone; more insulin is needed to help glucose enter the cells, causing further resistance — and the negative cycle begins.

Weight gain is one possible result of insulin resistance as excess glucose in the bloodstream is converted into fat and carried throughout the body.

Advances in science have shown ways to control insulin resistance with the use of pharmaceuticals and drugs; however, it can also be prevented, and reversed, naturally.

BY KRISTI MEREDITH

Pre-diabetes can be reversed — naturally

FIGHTINGTHE RESISTANCE

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To help keep insulin levels in check and prevent or reverse pre-diabetes, follow these tips:

Stick to the outside aisles of the supermarket Spikes and crashes of blood sugar, and consequently insulin,

are typically related to eating highly processed and packaged foods.

“Often overlooked is the importance of dietary fibre in reducing the risk of diabetes and insulin resistance,” says Dr. Marita Schauch, naturopathic doctor at Peninsula Naturopathic Clinic in Sidney. “Sources of soluble fibre, such as legumes, nuts, psyllium, apples and most vegetables, are capable of slowing down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, thereby preventing rapid rises in blood sugar and keeping insulin levels balanced.”

Sticking to the outside aisles of the supermarket and choosing vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and fruits will help maintain a consistent insulin and blood glucose relationship in the bloodstream.

Meal size really does make a differenceThe amount of insulin secreted after eating is partially

determined by the amount of glucose encountered in the previous meal. Eating a carbohydrate-rich meal followed by a lower carbohydrate meal will cause an over-secretion of insulin. Since insulin aids in the storage of fat, this can lead to weight gain.

“Protein, fibre and good fats [should be eaten] with each meal to help delay blood sugar spiking. I encourage my patients to eat a well-balanced diet, with foods that are minimally processed,” says Dr. MJ Atkins, naturopathic doctor at Synergy Health and Wellness Clinic in Victoria.

Keeping carbohydrates consistent at each meal will help maintain glucose and insulin levels in the bloodstream.

exercise is an energy saver Exercise is key for an insulin resistant body; it helps use up

excess glucose in the bloodstream and also converts stored fat into energy. Until cells are no longer resistant to insulin, excess glucose and insulin will remain in the bloodstream. Exercise is the key to combatting already stored excess fat as well as maintaining lower blood sugar levels.

Reversing insulin resistance naturally is not just a fad weight loss diet; it is a lifestyle change to help keep that “machine” running smoothly.

Kristi Meredith is an aspiring naturopathic doctor currently studying at the University of Victoria. Her passions for nutrition and preventative medicine are rooted in her own challenges dealing with gluten and dairy intolerance, food sensitivities, and in caring for diabetic children.

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BY TESS VAN STRAATEN

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ownership and the financing. Bad structures lead to failed enterprises and too much debt can take any development off its course. Our purchase was all cash and our structure is such that we’re funded 100 per cent by the two partners of Ecoasis, so we can really focus on needs of community and the long-term goals of the resort.

One of the first things you’ve done is reverse a contentious decision to take away nine holes of golf. Victoria has a lot of golf courses, why was it so important to have 36 holes? We’re a lifestyle developer, so amenities are key to our core strategy; reducing amenities is not in line with that strategy. The retention of all 36 holes fits with our overall objectives. We came up with a business model and listened to the community prior to making that announcement, and it became loud and clear that the retention of the 36 holes was important.

IT’S GOLF SEASON IN

VICTORIA and after several years of instability, the embattled Westin

Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa is moving out of the rough. New owner Dan

Matthews, founder of BC-based Ecoasis Developments, wants to elevate the master-planned community to world-class status. It’s a full-circle moment for Matthews, whose family history in the area dates back more than 90 years. Tess van Straaten caught up with the sustainable development dynamo, who jet-sets between properties in Victoria, Hawaii and Whistler, to talk about growth, golf and getting a good work-life balance.

Bear Mountain has had a lot of trouble over the last few years — ownership issues, bankruptcy. What’s the biggest challenge turning that around? The trouble with Bear Mountain was never with the development itself, but the structure of the prior

TALKING WITH TESSfeaturing DAN MATTHEWS

57

What’s been your best business decision? My best business decision was to form Ecoasis (in 2009) with my partner Tom, and to start acquiring under-valued resort assets at a time when nobody wanted resort assets.

Where do you see the resort market now? In the U.S., we’ve certainly seen true tier one destinations hold their value. But there are many tier one destinations, which, in my mind, aren’t in tier one locations. The affordability in tier one destinations became so ridiculously high, new ones were suddenly being created. A great example is Phoenix, where communities started sprouting up in non-core areas. Or, look at the Florida interior, Orlando, and the interior of Montana, which just recently became littered with resort opportunities. They’ll improve from their lows, but they won’t go back to their former highs in a timeline that would be sensible from an investment prospective.

What destinations have really held their value? Hawaii, parts of Southern California — Newport Beach, Laguna Beach — and parts of New York. I throw New York in there because so many of the towers in Manhattan are lifestyle-driven with amenities that rival some of the best resorts in the world. The real tier one locations have come back strong in these places, and the best among them were really never impacted by the full severity of the downturn.

What’s your advice to someone looking to buy a resort property in North America? Don’t make the mistakes of the past by leveraging yourself too much. There are great alternatives to ownership, such as timeshares. You can also look at different types of resort management programs. If you’re looking at a second home in a resort area, make sure you can rent it out when you’re not there. This means it has to be highly desirable to other people. If you can, buy-in early before all the plans are rolled out, because once they are, prices will reflect that.

What’s been your biggest mistake? Not paying attention to the fine details. I think when you build an organization, you try to have great people around you, and sometimes you don’t always focus on the things you should. As a result, I’ve become a bit of micromanager, which can become a problem in and of itself. I also fell victim to a tech crisis in 2000. I stayed in a bit longer than I should have and I know the markets better than that. But I don’t look at those as bad investments — they’re learning lessons.

What‘s your best parting advice? Do what you love, make time for your family — above all — and try to create a sensible and desirable life-work balance. For us, it doesn’t really feel like it’s a job. Considering the geography of Whistler, Hawaii and Victoria, I can’t think of three better places to spend time.

Tess van Straaten is an award-winning journalist, television personality and fourth- generation Victoria native.

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FRONT ROW BY ROBERT MOYES

Maestra Tania Miller, conductor of the Victoria Symphony, will be working with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and the Victoria Choral Society to present Brahm's German Requiem.

THE MONUMENTAL BRAHMSUnchallenged as one of the greatest monuments of choral music, the German Requiem by Brahms requires a full symphony, a chorus of 170 singers. . . and plenty of endurance to preform its non-stop, 80-minute entirety. “This is an exhausting work for the chorus . . . they’re singing almost all the time,” explains Tania Miller, conductor of the Victoria Symphony. For this epic performance, she’ll be working with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and the Victoria Choral Society, both of which perform regularly with the symphony. According to Miller, the German Requiem is a very beloved and important work in the oratorio repertoire. “As a conductor, you are entering into an important musical journey and you want to do justice to the composer’s vision,” says Miller, who will have spent 60 hours studying the score by the time she picks up the baton. Considered a work of special profundity,the German Reqium is meant to offer consolation to those in mourning. And although Brahms took all the text from the Bible, the discussion is of God and spirituality, but not of Christianity, per se. “There are dramatic elements in the Requiem, passages that are exhilarating and captivating,” she says. “But overall it is one of the most peaceful and beautiful works ever written.”Performing May 10-11 at the Royal Theatre. For times and tickets, call 250-386-6121.

GGG presents a song from Stephen Sondheim’s famed Sunday in the Park with George, during a past performance.

NO GIMMICK REQUIREDGotta Getta Gimmick was founded by a trio of grads from the Victoria-based Canadian College of Performing Arts, aspiring to present musical theatre in Victoria. “It was really about creating performance opportunities for local theatre artists,” explains Clayton Baraniuk, who helped cofound GGG 12 years ago. Most recently they’ve been running a unique musical cabaret that happens several times a year in the “studio” at the Belfry Theatre. According to Baraniuk, there’s a curatorial aspect, insofar as each show focuses on the songs of one particular composer. About 25 performers are assembled, then put through some 30 hours of rehearsal. The resulting shows, heartfelt and brimming with talent, are spectacular enough to have attracted a cult-like audience. Their newest one focuses on Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Baraniuk is quick to point out that the GGG shouldn’t be dismissed as old-fashioned. “They have a great body of work, and musicals like South Pacific and The King and I were very progressive in the way they confronted racism,” he says. Anyone interested in attending should buy tickets early — these cabarets always sell out. Performing May 12 at the Belfry Theatre. For tickets, call 250-385-6815.

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Altered Pot, by Mary Fox, was enhanced by asymmetrically stretching the clay and finishing it with coloured clay slip and a textured glaze.

THE ART OF CLAYAs the longest-living ceramic exhibition group in Canada, Fired Up! has lots to celebrate as it heads into its 30th anniversary. Currently comprising 11 nationally renowned potters from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, Fired once again hosts its big annual show. “This is a chance to see how individual potters interpret the world differently,” says Salt Spring Island’s Pat Webber, a founding member of Fired, and one of two still active in the group. According to Webber, the exhibition will show everything from functional vessels such as mugs to exotic sculptural pieces. All are made by a wide variety of firing techniques. Aside from the group’s core members — including Gary Merkel, Gordon Hutchens and Kinichi Shigeno —the show features contributions from up to a dozen retired members of this exclusive club, such as Robin Hopper and Walter Dexter. “It’s hard to make a living as a potter unless you do other things,” admits Webber. “But it’s a fabulous life, from the freedom of the work to the beautiful objects that you make or buy from your colleagues,” she adds. “We live rich.”Fired Up! is at the Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Road, May 23-25. For information, call 250-590-5744.

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Daniel Lapp has organized an incredible lineup of roots, folk, and blues musicians for the Centennial Festival.

A CENTURY OF CULTUREFor the last two years, Victoria arts producer and manager Josh Keller has been planning a birthday party of truly epic proportions. Both the Royal Theatre and the McPherson Playhouse have just turned 100, and the elaborate, star-studded “Centennial Festival” acknowledges the unique contributions these heritage theatres have made to Victoria. “They were and still are incredibly important as the city’s cultural hubs,” explains Keller. “Whether it was touring artists or local institutions like the symphony and the operatic society, those two theatres were indispensable to the presentation and nurturing of the performing arts in Victoria.” According to Keller, the eight shows lined up are artistic companies or individual performers who have a long-term relationship with the city or the arts community. From opera superstar Ben Heppner anchoring the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria gala, to a mini-fest of different rock groups “curated” by Atomique Production’s Nick Blasko (reflecting the noisily proud history of rock ‘n’ roll in Victoria), these performances represent an opportunity to see a broad swath of the city’s cultural community in one incredible week. “There are some great out-of-town headliners like jazz trumpeter Chris Botti or Victoria-raised dancer/choreographer Crystal Pite,” says Keller. “But I’m just as interested in some of the local artists — like what Nick is doing — as well as the incredible lineup of roots, folk and blues musicians that Daniel Lapp has organized,” he adds. “These are musical collaborations that eloquently express the very best of our local scene.”Running from May 18-25 at the Royal and McPherson. For information and tickets, see www.rm100.ca

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Sunny Farmland, an oil on panel, is among the pieces by Ken Faulks that will be exhibited at West End Gallery.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIRVictoria-born Ken Faulks grew up on Portage Inlet and, as soon as he could hold a pencil, displayed an enthusiasm — and an aptitude — for drawing. By the early 1980s he was freelancing in the visual arts, doing everything from murals to book covers. Later that decade he became more dedicated to his vocation. Inspired by the Group of Seven he began plein air painting — hiking out into nature and putting lush layers of oil onto small wood panels. “Walking through the woods I’ve had sticks go through a canvas painting . . . that doesn’t happen with board,” says Faulks with a laugh. A professional painter for the last quarter century, Faulks reckons he’s still trying to make a living at it. “I don’t own a house, I don’t buy new cars . . . and whether or not I go on a painting road trip depends on the budget.” Mind you, with his largest paintings now selling for $7,000, Faulks is certainly getting by. Still a plein air enthusiast — he often heads out with an informal gang of painting notables who call themselves the Al Frescoes — Faulks also executes larger canvases in the studio. Both aspects of his output will be on display at West End Gallery, his exclusive dealer in Victoria. Faulks expects that approximately 30 pieces will be on the walls. Although best known for creating vivid landscapes, Faulks finds inspiration in many artistic movements. “Aside from the Impressionists, I’m just as influenced by New York Abstract Expressionists such as Robert Motherwell,” he says.Showing May 17-29 at 1203 Broad Street. For information, see West End Gallery (http://www.westendgalleryltd.com/).

Boulevard is pleased to announce Susan Lundy has taken over as editor, effective this edition. Susan brings a wealth of experience to the position, having worked as a journalist, editor and freelance writer for over 25 years. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Victoria, and has won more than 25 writing, design and project awards. She is also a two-time recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster Award of Distinction. She worked for numerous years at the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper as reporter, managing editor and design editor, but now focuses on freelance writing and editing. She is also the editor of Oak Bay’s Tweed magazine, and her column on family life runs in several Black Press newspapers. Last year, she published her first book, Heritage Apples: A New Sensation (Touchwood Editions, 2013). She has two daughters and two stepchildren, all in their early 20s, and lives with her partner, pollster and social media analyst, Bruce Cameron, their two dogs and a cat.

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What do you on a rainy day off? How about a sunny day off? [When it rains] I try to get out with the family and take in one of the many live performances at the VCM or elsewhere in town. Otherwise, enjoy some wine and cheese and practice fiddle. When it’s sunny, I can’t stay indoors: I’m down at the beach or on a walk somewhere.

Where do you turn for advice? Depending on what it’s for, to my friends and colleagues, the internet, the “man upstairs,” and most importantly, my committee of sober second thought, i.e. my lovely wife and three sons.

What has life taught you? Music is one of the greatest gifts given to the human race; it breaks down all barriers and teaches us to love and live life to its fullest. Depriving someone of a music education is like depriving them of oxygen.

Is there anything else we should know about Stephen Green?He has a crazy cockatoo named Tosca. She prefers to walk, rather than fly, is quite the diva, and keeps the whole family on their toes!

This interview has been condensed and edited.

Nice to meet you, Stephen Green. Where are you from and how did you get to Victoria? I grew up west of Toronto, mostly around Oakville. After completing my music studies in Salzburg, Austria, and working there a few years, I returned to Canada to work at the RCM for just over a decade. In 2012, I had the opportunity to come to Victoria to be the Dean of the wonderful Victoria Conservatory of Music. In other news . . . my mother’s family has been on this island for 200 years, so I guess in their eyes, I’ve finally found my way home!

What is one of your most significant childhood memories? When Oscar Peterson came to perform at my high school. I hadn’t known the man aside from seeing him in church from time to time; however, one day I just knocked on his door and asked if he might consider coming to perform. He said YES! It changed everything for me, and I knew I wanted to spend my life in music.

How and when did music come into to your life and what role does it play now? When I was three, my Sunday school teacher let me play on the piano at church. I was soon finding the notes to children’s tunes, and making up my own as well. Music is my way of life, and I do what I can to share that with everyone.

Who would you like to play a piano duet with? I’d love to use music technology to play

duets with people in other parts of the world online, the way we play online video games.

What impresses you most about the Victoria Conservatory of Music? The high quality instruction and diverse offerings for all ages and stages is what immediately comes to mind; however, it’s the passion and dedication of both the faculty and staff that impresses me the most. The VCM would not exist today without it.

What do you love most about your work? Having the opportunity every day to be creative in so many ways. For the VCM’s 50th anniversary, we are launching two new schools: one focused on the Contemporary (Popular) Music genres, and the other on Music Technology and Creativity. These are very new directions for a traditional music conservatory. We’re on a path of discovery, re-envisioning what music education means to our community; what it means to create music and be creative with music.

What do you love most about living in Victoria? It’s a tie between not having to shovel snow, and finally being able to get a proper cup of tea!

SECRETS & LIVES

STEPHEN GREEN, 53DEAN AT THE VICTORIA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

BY SUSAN LUNDY

It was the distinctive spindle grille that sold the car, Fraser Lee recalls with a laugh.

Of course, after settling into the comfortable driver’s seat, with the track-tested, performance-tuned Lexus IS 350 F Sport ready to claim the road, it was an easy sell.

A long family history led Fraser to Metro Lexus, where he fully expected his showroom visit would be met with exceptional vehicles and equally exceptional service.

He didn’t necessarily expect the Lexus IS 350 F Sport.“I didn’t think I’d be buying a Lexus at this point in my life,” says

Fraser, 29, a professional with Tri Eagle Development Corporation. His ideal vehicle? He wanted a car that is youthful and fun to drive, yet professional for clients.

“I wanted something that reflects my personality, but I also needed something that looks good and helps me make that first

impression.”The sleek, sexy styling of the Lexus IS 350 F Sport caught his eye

immediately. “It has an aggressive uncompromising look to it,” he notes.Inside the luxurious, ergonomic cabin, the IS 350 F Sport

expertly marries modern, sophisticated design with surround sound, connectivity and numerous innovative safety features for a truly dynamic driving experience.

After four months behind the wheel, Fraser couldn’t be more thrilled.

“It has everything you could want in a modern car,” he says, confident in the long-term relationship he’s building with the Metro Lexus team. “It’s really nice to deal with a group of people you can trust. And knowing you’re going to be looked after long after the sales process — that was really the reason I went there.”

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Boulevard Magazine, April 28, 2014

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Transcript of Boulevard Magazine, April 28, 2014