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9JULY 2019NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE 250.585.2767 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA

10 JULY 2019 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA 250.585.2767 NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE


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boarding, and can help these athletes with balance and skill as they strive to reach their peak. Flipside offers Gym-nastics Foundations for the popular Parkour and has classes through City of Nanaimo Parks & Recreation. Flipside also has a unique inclusive and indi-vidualised awards program with real medallions.

Imagine a memorable birthday party for your children where they are kept active and entertained?

Create a family account to register for one of their numerous programs www.flipsidegymnastics.ca. Parents will now be able to fully control class enroll-ment, make up classes and more, dir-ectly through the website. Call for more information at either the Nanaimo, or Parksville locations, and speak to one of their friendly staff members.

Come and experience the Flipside of life!

1911 Wilfert Rd, Nanaimo (250) 756-91025 - 1137 Smithers Rd, Parksville 250-586.FLIP (3547)

in Nanaimo and Parksville, with full size, Spieth-Anderson, Olympic-style equip-ment. The focus is on movement and safety, and the facilities have wheelchair accessible washrooms, and an innova-tive 24-foot foam pit with a tumble track and ground level trampoline - and a sep-arate viewing area for spectators.

The NCCP certified instructors combine games and gymnastics to promote par-ticipation, fun, and skills development – and with and 8:1 pupil ratio (6:1 for younger kids), gymnasts will receive top-notch individual attention. This means your child will develop confidence with rotation, landing, balance, flight, swing, and spring – in a fun and safe environ-ment. The basics of gymnastics are core exercises for numerous other sports like swimming, figure skating and snow-Just as the name implies, Flipside Gym-

nastics is a company that has an alter-nate focus from your average gymnas-tics gymnasium – it’s not all about com-petition, it’s about exercising your mind and body (keeping active) whilst having the maximum amount of fun! This recrea-tional gymnastics program is a privately run company with classes for all ages from toddler to adult, and from Beginners to Pre-Competitive, from special needs to school groups in a pristine, clean gym.

What better way to stay active than to hone your body and confidence in 2019 in Flipside’s state-of-the-art gymnasiums

VOYAGER COVER STORY

| BY JUDY STEPHAN

Experience the

FLIPSIDE of Gymnastics

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Gymnastics

Gymnastics

FLIPSIDEGymnastics

Fun, Fitness and inclusion are just a small part of the many benefits in joining Flipside Gymnastics.


Ten years ago, this month, I purchased Nanaimo & Voyager Magazine … all the way from South Africa. Although the magazines have been around for 15 years now, I have been the Editor and Publisher for the last decade. What a journey it has been! I arrived knowing nothing about the industry and nobody in the business com-munity. And now, ten years, 120 issues and 240 cover stories later, I feel like I’m part of the furniture in the business com-munity in the Mid Island. As a publication we have seen the rise and fall of compan-ies and councils; interviewed everyone of importance whether it be a politician or poet; artist or acrobat; musician or manager; volunteer or veteran; sports-person or scientist. We have covered literally every event; lauded the positive

and avoided the controversial and nega-tive. We have seen the rollercoaster ride that has been downtown Nanaimo and have championed the growth and the businesses that make Vancouver Island so great. “Nanaimo Magazine Was There” shows our involvement in the commun-ity, showcases all the events that we attend and is a regular feature on our Facebook page, and in our magazine. And, we have been nominated for two Chamber awards, one Small Business of BC Award, and a Multicultural Award.

Other publications have tried, and many have failed, and yet we persevere and are still here … embracing the online, increasing our distribution; forever improving. We still have the amazing and super-talented Racheal Talboys as

FROM THE EDITOR | JUDY STEPHAN

A Very Special Anniversary

our resident graphic designer, whose artistic flair means that we are continu-ally on the cusp of new developments, and the magazine gets more colourful and esthetically pleasing as the years pass. We thank the people that have assisted in the growth of the magazine, namely, Anne Middleton (2009-2014), Rosemarie Barnes (2014-2017) and Mary Williams (2018). We have a team of dedicated delivery specialists in the mid Island, Victoria and Comox Val-ley, as well as utilising Canada Post,

A decade after buying Nanaimo & Voyager Magazine Inc. and re-inventing herself as a writer and publisher, Judy Stephan is thriving.

It started in 2009 when Judy, a recent im-migrant from South Africa, sought out business broker Michael Naprawa. In South Africa, she had worked as a high school teacher but to teach in BC she would have had to go back to school. She decided to change careers but finding the right busi-ness wasn’t easy. “I had been an English teacher through out my working life so had no business experience. It was difficult to match my inexperience with a business.”

Michael found the perfect fit: a well-run publication in Nanaimo that needed an owner-editor. The business utilizes Judy’s

excellent English skills, ability to instruct, communicate, inform, and vibrant personal-ity. She loves it.

“This business and has been the perfect match for me. It allowed me to move and settle in the wonderful city of Nanaimo. Because I was working in this industry, I was immediately out in the community, interacting with residents, organizations, and businesses.”

At the outset, Judy had help from a previous owner who trained her during the transi-tion. She has since made the magazines her own: imbuing them with lively accounts of life on the west coast, local advertising, and upcoming events. Since Nanaimo & Voyager Magazines are also distributed on BC Ferries

and at visitor centres, incoming travellers learn about local restaurants, resorts, des-tinations, and activities.

Among the advertisers is Michael, who promotes his iBC Business Brokerage Inc. “I admire Judy for making this bold intercontinental move, followed by a career change, and now a decade of success. Every issue I see is an affirmation of how good a match this was.”

Judy has plunged herself into island life. She is a prominent member of the com-munity, serves on several community boards, and leads the Ambassador Program at the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

Her business is financially successful, has been nominated for multiple awards, and the magazines are now an integral part of Nanaimo.

Buyer still Loves Business a Decade Post-Purchase | BY VALORIE LENNOX


The Bulletin, Certified Folders and other companies to get our product to the public, whether in houses or businesses, on BC Ferries, at the airports, in the libraries and more. I have my dedicated assistant, Joy Murray, who helps me edit every month, and a slue of writers who are too numer-ous to mention. All have helped create this well-oiled machine that is Nanaimo & Voyager Magazine.

We have made several changes over the last few years including going all colour, having the full bleed option for advertising and adjusting and increasing options to suit the advertiser, as well as changing printers

to get the best product for our clients.

“Brava Judy on 10 years of creating an interesting magazine each month of what is happening on our Island! You are a true community champion!” (Margot C. Holmes, Executive Director, Vancouver Island Symphony)

“When most print media is in decline, its refreshing to find one terrific local publication bucking the trend. Nanaimo Magazine is celebrating its 10th anniver-sary and its no surprise. The articles are timely, interesting and well researched. As one very satisfied advertiser, we wish Judy Stephan (Editor & Publisher) our

congratulations and continued success for the future.” (Brian McFadden, Van-couver Island Military Museum)

“Huge congratulations to Judy and Nanaimo Magazine. That’s a fantastic accomplishment and a great publica-tion that the citizens of Nanaimo benefit from. Congrats!” Dan Morris - Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty

Check out our wonderful website, na-naimomagazine.ca, for more testimon-ials and information about our publica-tions. Here’s to the next 10 years!

Graphic Designer

Racheal Talboys

14 JULY 2019 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA 250.585.2767 NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE READ IT ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET - NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA

BOOK YOUR

SPOT NOWMONEY MATTERS | BY JUDY STEPHAN

Not everyone is a financial guru … that is why there are experts to help.Bettina Plendl is a Financial Divorce Strat-egist, owner of her practice “BP Divorce Strategies”. She is a Certified Financial Plan-

Five Steps To Being Financially Smart, Savvy & Confident

Bettina Plendl – Divorce Strategist (CFP, CFDS)

ner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS). She can act as the Finan-cial Neutral/Specialist in the Collaborative Family Law process or assist individuals/couples outside of that as well. In this capacity, Bettina has encountered people who had many basic questions about money and finances. Bettina has devised a monthly workshop to help provide answers to these questions.

Financial matters can get overwhelming and even depressing if you do not know or understand how to get your affairs organized or know what to do next. You need to protect yourself, and knowledge is the answer.

Are you madly in love and just starting out on a long-term relationship, or perhaps at the end of one for one of many possibly devastating reasons? If you consider your financial position now and contemplate your future financial security…

• Are you feeling lost and /or confused by the media and completely overwhelmed?

• Do you consider yourself being “not-a-numbers-person”, nor under-stand or have an interest in financial issues?

Bettina Plendl / BP Divorce Strategies t: 778 762 1070, w: bpdivorcestrategies.cae: [email protected]

• Are you an optimist who feels “it will all be good”, and think you’ll deal with it when the time comes … or perhaps your (potential) partner will?

• You have no idea where to start or whom to ask for help?

• You don’t have financial planner because you do not really understand what they do or think you cannot afford one?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then come to one of Bettina’s FREE monthly workshops to learn what the 5 steps to being financially smart, savvy and confident are!

Get the basic tools. Become financially organized.

If you have any of these concerns, contact Bettina Plendl and make your workshop reservation.Bettina Plendl is a fee-based CFP, receiving commissions from insurance sales only. She has no assets under management.


CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT | BY JUDY STEPHAN

Hannah ZirkeImagine being fourteen and already being in movies with credits which include the likes of Chris Hemsworth and Dakota Johnson. That is exactly what has happened to Nanaimo’s rising star, Hannah Jane Zirke, in her latest cameo role in Bad Times at the El Royale. I met with Hannah and her mother, Sarah, at their Cedar home to interview this vivacious and talented young Canadian actress. Born and raised in Nanaimo, Hannah attended Queen Margaret’s School and then Aspengrove, before becoming home schooled to deal with her auditions and increasingly busy career. She is now 14 and in Grade 8. Besides telling her mother she wanted to be on TV at an early age, it all started on a family trip to Los Angeles. While being a normal active 6-year old showing off in an elevator at Universal Studios, two women suggested that the Zirkes get Hannah into acting. The seed was sown, and when they returned to BC, Hannah’s mother organized a couple of headshots and sent them off to an agency in Vancouver. Literally the next day Hannah was called to audition and featured in a Fisher Price com-mercial as well as 2 others. That was just the start. She enrolled in acting classes at Spotlight Academy in Nanaimo under renowned acting coach, Jacqui Kaese, who said: “Hannah is the most advanced actor I’ve ever encountered.” She went on to say that Hannah’s abil-ity to read sides and understand the characters she reads about is well beyond her years.

Her natural gift and love of acting and singing landed her in pro-fessional musical theatre right after her 8th birthday when she began performing leads with rave reviews. By age 9, the first film she performed in, Smoke was awarded ‘Canada’s Top 10’ at the Toronto International Film Festival. The writers of Smoke were surprised to hear Hannah at 9 years old describe her lead with such accuracy and in such a profound way. Hannah says that

Jacqui Kaese instilled confidence in her, taught her how to act, and helped her with auditions. Even today, after many roles and 3 agencies, Hannah will still call on Jacqui if having difficulty with a role.

Hannah’s list of credits is lengthy, spans shorts, TV series and movies and includes: When Calls the Heart, Bad Times at the El Royale, ReBoot: The Guardian Code, Chesapeake Shores, Rogue, Lost and Wish Writer amongst others. She had a promin-ent role as Constance Bly in Sacred Lies and finished filming The Buddy Games with actor and director Josh Duhamel in 2017, which will hopefully be released soon. Hannah has also won several Joey awards, including Best Lead /Recurring Actress -Sacred Lies (2018), Best Ensemble – When Calls the Heart (2018), and Best Actress- The Wish Writer (2016).

Because Hannah is diminutive in size, she looks much younger than she is, which means she offers experience and maturity to the roles she plays. That being said, this pretty, blonde lights up a room with her colourful and animated character. She dreams of one day playing a lead in a blockbuster movie where she hopes her character will have some sort of hidden powers to overcome hardship. When she is not working, Hannah enjoys hanging out with her friends, going to the mall and cycling.

Nanaimo Magazine wishes her every success in her acting ca-reer.

A STAR IN THE MAKING

Phot

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What to do before you go? Knowing what to pack is one thing. But there are certain things to do even before you take one bathing suit out of your drawer.

• Make sure your travel documents, like your passport, are up to date. Make photocopies of your these and keep them in your luggage. Do the countries you are visiting require visas or inocu-lations – be sure these are in place at least 2 months prior to your departure.

• Inform your bank and credit card company as out-of-country purchases raise fraud flags.

• Keep your house in order: Find a neighbour to pick up mail, turn your lights on and off to look like you’re home. Arrange for pet care. If you have an alarm system, let the company know you’ll be away.

• Purchase local currency.

CRUISING | SUBMITTED BY SHAWN KILNER

Shawn Kilner - MCC, Master Cruise Counsellor/Owner

• BUY INSURANCE from a Certified Trav-el Agent for the unknown events in life like medical emergencies, cancellations and baggage loss:

Sickness – before and during your trip, from a broken toe to being air lifted to a hospital or to Canada. Insurance help lines are there so you don’t end up in an unsavory foreign hospital.

Dental work, crutches, glasses… do you have coverage?

Weather can create havoc – insurance of-fers assistance with flight changes – extra hotel nights.

Do you want to spend hours on the phone or have a 24 /7 help line?

First Aid EssentialsAccidents can happen anywhere, any time, so make sure you’re prepared.

• Pack your prescription drugs in your carry-on luggage in case of delays or lost luggage. The government advises carrying it in the original prescription bottle to confirm it is allowed in the country you’re visiting.

• Just-in case medication, like vitamins, cold & flu, antacids etc are good to have on hand, and cheaper than buy-ing them in a foreign country.

• Sun protection: make sure sun-screen is in your checked luggage and take a small amount (100ml) in your carry on. Even if your destination is not a sunny one, have a small bottle to be on the safe side.

• Sleep essentials - To achieve max-imum R & R, make sure you have what you need to have a good night’s sleep: pajamas, eye mask and ear-plugs. You can even use them to sleep on your flight.

• Extra pair of socks.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste.

Having these travel essentials will help ensure you have an amazing vacation. By the way, where are you heading next? Maybe it’s time to get out and explore, and check off somewhere new?

Imagine Cruise & Travel 2834 Norwell Dr, Nanaimo 250.758.7893 www.imaginecruisetravel.com

TRAVEL CHECKLIST


Eve Olive is in a quaint and cozy little wooden complex at Rutherford Boardwalk, on the top of Rutherford hill, on Vancouver Island. With a custom maple wood bar, wood floors and candlelit cedar table tops, in a 9-years young building, it has both a rustic and modern feel. Find local beers on tap, local wines and many cocktails, some from their local distillery, served by friendly and caring staff. The menu is tapas, with each tapa available in very generous entree size. The food is mostly handcrafted, such as the nutmeg-infused sweet potato ravioli with cashew cheesy cream sauce or the Greek plate with house-made feta, tzatziki, hummus, pita and house-made mushroom calamari. While featuring curries, pizzas, burgers and creative and delicious salads, their comfort food menu is small, but with something for everyone, including all dairy free and

Eve Olive, Plant-Based Cuisine, Wine and Cocktails...

85% gluten-free options! Eve Olive is only 10 months old and is becoming, not only a spot for locals in a developing community in the North end of Nanaimo, but a go-to destination spot for travellers from around the world, already having visitors and reviews from South Africa, Europe, Australia, India and more. It is the first fully plant-based restaurant on Vancouver Island that serves alcohol and is full service. Meat eaters dine at Eve Olive and are blown away by the taste and quality of

the food, changing the old story around plant-based, of only eating vegetables, to enjoying a plethora of flavours and textures and familiar dishes as well as new and creative ones. They even have an artisan cheese board, with nut-based artisan cheeses, olives and figs. If you know anyone visiting BC, especially beautiful Vancouver Island, make sure they go to Eve Olive! Check out their menu and nightly specials on their website, such as every Thursday for $30, a large hand-crafted, shareable pizza, and two Longwood draft beers.

eveolive.com, @eveolivecuisine 5281 Rutherford Rd, Nanaimo, 250-585-5337. Hours Wed-Sun from 5pm

EATING OUT


HOME IMPROVEMENTSWestwood Lake Campground was built in the early eighties, making it the oldest campground in Nanaimo!Ronda and Ian Johnson have owned and operated the park for the last 18 years. This scenic campground is located only steps away from Westwood Lake, Nanaimo’s favorite playground, with swimming, water sports, walking, running and mountain bike trails galore. There are beaches with lifeguards in the summer. While they are in the heart of nature, they are also just minutes from the bustling downtown, ferries, shopping and the great amenities Nanaimo has to offer.

Westwood Lake Campground offers a variety of choices for your stay;

• They have 44 full serviced sites available all year round.

• The campground also contains 7 partial service sites as well as 7 unserviced sites, beautifully canopied by the surrounding forest.

• Westwood Lake Campgrounds also has 10 cozy couple cabins, and a quaint cottage that sleeps 6 people with its own yard, BBQ, patio and firepit.

More they have to offer…Their property is a blend of indigenous forest which creates shade in the summer heat. They cater for nightly, weekly, and monthly guests. Their comfortable bachelor cabins, now with air conditioning, can accommodate tourists, couples, or locals looking for a bed for the night. There is also the option for workers and students renting them in the winter (student discounts available.)

Westwood Lake also offers paddle board, rowboat, kayak, canoes rentals with life jacket and paddles included. These rentals are open to the public (Credit card and ID required for boat rentals.) Their popular outside movies, and occasional dances are an attraction, and The Gathering Place is perfect for rental for functions for up to 45 guests.

The Snack Shack (open to the public), serves delicious hotdogs, poutine (with real curds), chicken fingers, fries and more! They also serve healthy 100% fruit smoothies, specialty teas and hot chocolate and coffee. Their convenience store has all those things you forget to pack for your camping trip and more.

Westwood lake R.V. Camping and Cabins Westwoodlakecampground.com 250-753-3922; [email protected]

380 Westwood Road, Nanaimo BC

Introducing their newest addition to the

campground…THE TINY HOUSE!

The newest addition to the campsite will be available for rent after its debut open house on July 1st from 12-4pm.

Come see this adorable home and see how much comes in such a tiny space!

This Tiny Home, which is 250 square feet, sleeps two adults in a

comfortable queen size bed, includes its own deck, BBQ, full size shower,

fully functioning kitchen, lots of storage and air conditioning!

NOW OFFERING…Zumba Classes, Full Moon Hikes

and Night Paddles!Contact Ronda at 250-753-3922

for more details.

[Westwood Lake Campground]

BUSINESS PROFILE


HOME IMPROVEMENTSORGANIZE YOUR LIFE | BY KATHY REILLY

Ah! Summer! Time for sprucing up the home and yard and time to play in the big outdoors. I want to remind everyone to work safe, play safe and be prepared.

We usually associate weather-related problems to the other three seasons, however, there are some real dangers in the summer too. We have definitely experienced climate change here on my native island. It gets hot sooner and stays dry far longer than when I was growing up in Victoria. We need to be aware that emergencies can happen at any time.

My first hard lesson was moving from Vic-toria to Prince George in August with two little girls under 2 years of age. Our car overheated and conked out at the summit near Spence’s Bridge. The temperature was 43˚C (110˚F) in the shade and there was no shade. Fortunately, there was a

Keeping Safe this Summer wee trickle of a stream

down the bank so I was able to scrabble down the rubble and get some water so we could stay hydrated. I had formula for the baby but that was all. Make-shift blanket shades did little to relieve the heat. Traffic was sparse and no one would stop despite our frantic wav-ing. We were there for a full hour and half before a highway worker travelling in the opposite direction stopped to assist. No cell phones back then, so he had to drive to the next stop to call a tow truck for us. What a relief when we saw that tow truck coming to the rescue. Young and ignorant then but older and wiser now. We always have an emergency kit in the car including one for the dog. We also have a full kit in the house which has proven useful for minor acci-dents, water and power outages.

I can help you put together a kit that meets your needs or you can get started easily by

ordering one through my website www.justsortit.ca If you are interested in a free emergency preparedness work-shop for your company, group or neighbourhood, please fill in the contact form on my website and we can work out the details.

Have a safe and happy Summer and stay hydrated!

KATHY REILLY Professional Organizer

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZING DONE RIGHTBook now: [email protected]


HOME IMPROVEMENTSBUSINESS PROFILE | BY JUDY STEPHAN

Do you need a service that can give you a helping hand around your home? Do you find you do not have enough time to keep up with the cleaning chores? Wouldn’t it be nice to come home and see your home clean and tidy? Wits End Solutions does a detailed clean and also addresses what is specific in your home. Some ex-amples besides housecleaning would be organizing areas in your home, like the pantry, closets, garages etc. We can do laundry for you or make beds. Some of our clients have us clean out their fridge once a month or sweep the deck. It depends, as we are all unique and have areas in our life where we could use a helping hand. Let us be that hand for you. We have packed up clients who found packing overwhelming or not enough time. We have cleaned hoarders’ homes and estate sale homes. If we can do it for you, we will. We have a new member in our mix who can be contracted out for small jobs in your home. He is a great handyman who does yard work as well.

We clean many homes with animals and special-ize in this field. We can let them out if requested and have great brushes to remove animal hair.

Waverlea Brawne started

Wits End Solutions over six years ago and has become a well-established business in the community. She developed this company to step outside the box of just any cleaning company, to one that stands apart for all the little extra things they do as she understands that we all have differ-ent needs beyond the regular clean.

The testimonials speak for themselves: “Wits End is trustworthy, respectful, on time and good at their job.” (Signy Madden); “When we moved into our home, I had the pleasure of using Waverlea and her team to do a move-in clean. What a pleasure it was to have the whole house sparkling! I highly recommend this company for all your clean-ing needs.” (Judy Stephan)

Not only do they do residential cleaning they also do post

At your Wits End with Cleaning?construction cleans, move-ins and move-outs, commercial cleans, staging and clean-ing homes for sale. Check out their website to find out all that they can do. www.wit-sendsolutions.caWits End Solutions - Cleaning the Mid Island – one house or business at a time.

1-250-390-4356, [email protected]

Then Wits End Solutions is the answer


HOME IMPROVEMENTSBUSINESS PROFILE | BY JUDY STEPHAN

You have probably driven past the beauti-fully appointed U-Lock Mini Storage facility on the Alberni Highway in Parksville with the attractive fountains flanking the se-cure and well-lit property. Their pristine fa-cility is ideal for residents and businesses near the Island Highway in the Oceanside area.

The need for self storage is often prompted by a life change, like moving, downsizing, renovating your home or business or even storing your RV or boat for the off-season. For each of these situations, U-Lock Mini Storage can help. They have varying sizes of units for your individual needs. You can drive-up for easy access, there is access control and heat-ing, all to enhance the comfort and reliability

of your storage experience and give you everything you need to store your precious belongings with ease.

When you store with U-Lock, you get the following features:

• Access 7 Days a Week 6am-10pm• $3,000 Insurance for each locker• 24 Hour Security Monitoring

with a Digital Surveillance System, Electronic Gate Access and Individually Alarmed Units

• Fenced & Lighted, Drive-up Access, Wide Driveways, Ground Level Units, High Ceilings

• Climate Controlled Units (non-heated lockers available)

• RV, Boat, Motorcycle Storage Lockers• November Special 50% off first month

on 5x10 and 10x10 lockersAlso offering Packing and Moving Supplies, Portable Storage Units, Tenant Insurance and the option of renting U-Haul Trucks, the friendly and professional staff can help tailor-make your storage experience. You can rent from month to month, or long term, and deliveries are accepted.

Why not stop by and see for yourself … Storage for every occasion.

1270 Alberni Hwy, Parksville BC V9P 2C9, 250-248-6622

U-LOCK Mini Storage in Parksville


HOME IMPROVEMENTS


HOME IMPROVEMENTS

• Real estate and moving fees are ex-pensive. Combined, they can quickly add up to $30,000 or more. If your existing home primarily needs cos-metic updates, rather than structural changes, you can do a lot with that budget. However, renovating can be more expensive than you think when you discover the unexpected.

• Renovating your home allows you to upgrade insulation or windows, which can result in significant energy saving costs in the years ahead. A new home, however, may have energy efficient features that your renovation budget won’t stretch to.

• When you buy another home, you can’t see what’s going on behind the walls. When you renovate your existing home, you can be on hand to make sure the work is done well and is up to code.

• Even if you think you’re going to move in a few years, renovating now will make your house more attractive when you sell. It will tell buyers in the future that you cared about your home and maintained it well. Plus you get to enjoy the updates now!

“Renovating not only restores the house, but restores the story of the home and the

neighbourhood.” Anonymous

POINTS TO PONDER | BY VIRGINIA BRUCKER

• New construction may mean smaller lot sizes. That can be an advantage if you don’t enjoy yard work anymore. But if you love your present lot and location, renovating makes sense.

• If you are getting older, moving to a smaller lot and a ranch style home or patio home may allow you to age in place.

• Good neighbours are hard to replace. Difficult ones make the choice to move easier.

• If you have a beautiful view, it’s hard to leave that behind. A new home, however, may offer a view when your present home does not.

• When you renovate, you get to make choices that suit your needs and taste. Choosing classic colours and styles will help your home sell well if you change your mind and decide to move.

• Sometimes working with the builder will allow input into the finishings or floor plan in your new home.

• Even a new-to-you home may require some changes to make it your own.

When we moved into our current home a few years ago, we wondered if we should do a major renovation to our existing home, look at brand new construction, or buy one that required some renovations and re-decorating to make it our own. We’d spent almost thirty years on a large acre-age in a rural setting. Our house was nearly a hundred years old and was a lot of work to maintain. We knew that as we aged, it made sense to move closer to shopping, our doctor, and the hospital. While newer homes had many attractive features, we chose to renovate an older one instead. We like the location, the view, the lot size, and even with renova-tions, it suited our budget better.

It’s hard to know whether to renovate one’s existing home or to move to a brand new or new-to-you one. Here are some things to consider when making your choice:

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Photo by www.freepik.com

26 JULY 2019 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA 250.585.2767 NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE 26 JULY 2019 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA 250.585.2767 NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE

Dear Voyagers,We spent a week traveling the Tasmin Peninsula and inland mountain areas of Mt. Fields and the Cradle Mountain/Lake St.Clair National Parks, walking an average of 15 km a day. Im-pressions of Tasmania are of a green and largely untouched is-land, not the typical tropical, palm-treed beaches you’d normally associate with an island.Tasmania is part of Australia, and we wanted to go for a taster visit - and it left me wanting more! The Tasmin Peninsula was spectacular. Tall, sheer dolerite cliffs plummet perilously into the Tasmin Sea, as the waves pound the rocks below. We walked the last day of the famous Three Capes

Walk, a moderate walk which has the most spectacular scenery. The weather was good, and armed with plenty of snacks, a thermos flask of tea and enough water, we came across the occasional wal-laby on the rough cliff paths. We spotted Cape Pillar in the distance on the Tasmin east coast, with 300m cliffs, said to be the highest in Australia, and with her lighthouse standing sentry. The ocean is never still, pounding the cliffs and sending spray spiralling upwards. We started the walk in pine and eucalyptus forests, which give way to Banksia and Greveallea bushes. We crested 3 cliffs of Cape Hauy, marvelling at the vast sea before us, and the wind whipped at us and we marvelled at the Dolerite Pillars called the Totem Pole and Candle-stick, which draw serious rock climbers from across the globe.Other stops on the Tasmin Peninsula are the Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck, with its time-worn, saltwater-created cobblestones; a walk in the Tasmin National Park to see the Blowhole and the Tasmin Arch, natural phenomena created by the sandstone cliffs and the sea.We walked around the historic sites of Port Arthur, a penal settlement started in the 1850’s, and had the best ‘fish & chips’ at the Dunalley Fish Market. The next stop was Mount Field National Park. We did 2 fabulous walks here, the highlight of the trip. The first walk was a gentle meander though the Swamp Gums, showcasing the tallest hardwood trees in the world dating back to the early 19th century, and 3 beautiful water-falls - Russell, Horseshoe and Lady Barron Falls. The following day we set off early for our first high alpine walk, through forests, alpine moorland, to the glacial tarns. We trekked along the Tarn Shelf, with

A Letter from Tasmania

LETTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

27JULY 2019NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE 250.585.2767 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CAREAD IT ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET - NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA 27JULY 2019

If you have travelled somewhere interesting, send us your letter to [email protected]

its spectacular dwarf beech trees (or fagus) in full autumnal colours - the only place in the world where these trees are found, and 3 spectacular tarns. At the first tarn, we came upon a harpist sitting on a rock playing haunt-ing music - what a treat! Walking via the Pan-dani Grove and small, ancient Pencil pines, we headed for Mount Mawson. We were lucky with the weather - icy cold, but the rain held off! We had been warned that we could experience 4 seasons in a day, and we did! Thank goodness for thermals and good ski jackets.

One evening, after our compulsory pub visit, we watched The Hunter, a movie about the Tasmanian Tiger - a sad tale of what we as humans are doing to our wildlife. A dog-like marsupial with a back-opening pouch and stripes, the Tasmanian Tiger was hunted to extinction in the 1930’s.Our next stop was the Cradle Mountain/ Lake St.Clair National Park, with its rugged glaciated mountains, temperate rainforests, button-grass plains and renowned for its wilderness walking trails - but first we stopped in at The Wall in Derwent Bridge.No photos were allowed, but we spent some time looking at some of the most amazing lifelike woodwork hewn out of 100m of Huon Pine, a rare, sought-after Tasmanian wood. The first day we did a walk around Lake St.Clair, the deepest fresh-water lake in Australia, at over 200m deep. It was sunny day, and we came upon some pademelons, small marsupials related to kangaroos and wallabies. The following day was a long and challenging walk, through Beech and Tasmanian Myrtle groves, over 2 mountain peaks,

experiencing icy winds and snow flurries. The platypus remained elusive for us, but we used our imaginations at every tarn we passed! We saw plenty of square-shaped Wombat droppings, but no wombats. We did see very small bats, about the size of a large moth, later identified as micro-chiropteran.We headed back to Hobart, expecting to do a hike up Mt. Wel-lington, but on arrival it was snowing heavily on the mountain, so we decided to drive up to see the city from above, chanced upon a craft market, and then a Beatles festival and food fair in Franklin Square. Supplied with warm mulled cider, fresh Bruny Island oysters and other gourmet food, we had a great evening out.Our last day in Hobart we visited the famous Salamanca Market, the creative hub of Hobart, which did not disappoint, and then onto MONA, Australia’s most cutting-edge art gal-lery. The impressive MONA is reachable by ferry from the city, carved out of a sandstone cliff, with most of the museum under-ground, and boasts many quirky features and inter-active art.I’m already planning another trip to Tasmania!From Lois Winter, Sydney, Australia


CATHY HOLMES

Change happens when you are busy making other plans. Things get all topsy-turvy and all the routines that you know to be familiar suddenly are behaving like something else. What? You get what I’m talking about! Kids grow up, graduate, get married, babies are born, jobs shift and it seems like a blinding boom-flash! Kaa-bam! Explosions of change!

Well, at least that’s how things have hap-pened for me in these last weeks.

Since returning from a fabulous Costa Rican adventure last month and becoming a new grandmama on the date of my ar-rival home, I also took on a new adventure at work. Many of our readers know that along with teaching fabulous students

TUTOR TALKS | BY CATHY HOLMES (RIGHT CHOICE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS & TUTORING SERVICES)

Red and White Name Dropping

with Right Choice Educational Programs, by day I am the Program Coordinator for NFLA Better at Home which is a provincially funded program, managed by the United Way of the Lower Main-land and hosted by Nanaimo Family Life Association. It has been a five-year ad-venture assisting elders in our commun-ity and we have served hundreds of sen-iors. It has led me to work on all kinds of committees including the Nanaimo Seniors Services Network, EPIC, and the British Columbia Community Response Network. The work has contributed to both Wise Folks Radio Show on CHLY 101.7 every Monday at 1pm, and our television program Wise Folks on Shaw Spotlight* seen Vancouver Island wide

pretty much every day of the week!

I’ve had so much fun while meeting so many incredible people… and the good news? I get to meet a whole bunch more fabulous people island wide with a new 10-month secondment to the United Way Central Vancouver Island and the United Way of the Lower Main-land! As their Regional Community Developer Vancouver Island, I have the great privilege of working with a new div-ision called Population Health.

I’m not totally clear about what all that means yet, but what I know for certain is that all of our incredible networks on Vancouver Island will be working togeth-er to support community.

July is the season for changes…dazzling in red and white!

* Subscribe to Wise Folks Channel on Youtube

29JULY 2019NANAIMO AND VOYAGER MAGAZINE 250.585.2767 NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CAREAD IT ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET - NANAIMOMAGAZINE.CA

PART OF THE SOLUTION OUR COMMUNITY | BY LEE HINDRICHS

I asked Barbara. “The neighbourhood helped to create and build it. They own it. They are proud of it. They’ve figured it out...by bringing great books, and by returning them, there is usually something intriguing when they open that door. Beyond that, it’s become a real community hub. It’s often that you’ll see people chatting outside the library. As the library has come into its own, so has the neighbourhood.”

When asked if she experienced any vandal-ism or theft, Barbara’s response was no, she hadn’t. In fact, she is part of a great, supportive, safe, fun community.

The south end has a marvelous street library; the South End Library (Main Branch). It’s a busy spot. Intrigued, I sought out Barbara Densmore; the initiator of this library.

Barbara arrived 13 years ago and felt chal-lenged by a neighbourhood whose repu-tation was one of flop houses, drugs and prostitution.

She saw what it could become: creative, supportive, safe, and friendly. A real com-munity. A sharing bookshelf in a friend’s Vancouver high-rise gave her the inspira-

tion to create Nanaimo’s first little library.

Version 1, a plain bookshelf was curious for many as the concept was so foreign. The current structure (Version 3) is a collaboration of local artists and crafts-men, made of bedposts, a sewing table, old furniture trim, all repurposed and donated. The doors of the current library are opened at least 100 times a day.

Others have attempted to bring lending libraries to communities, but none saw the same level of engagement as the South End Library. Why?


BOOK TALK | BY MARYANNA SINCLAIRE

LOOKING FOR LOVEsome point find yourselves caught in the blame game trap that can slowly turn into a long list of unforgiving grievances.

Matchmaking was most often a reward-ing challenge, and so in my book, while maintaining confidentiality, I share past clients’ and friends’ stories of how they often overcame obstacles with love. Other people’s experiences will make you laugh, smile, give you suggestions and insights to ponder or make you determined not to make the same blun-ders they did. They may not have much in common with you, but their experien-ces, both good and bad, can have a posi-tive impact on how you view the chal-lenges in searching for love. Whenever I became weary conducting countless interviews, making numerous phone calls and putting in the long hours that were needed to introduce couples; I realized it was all worthwhile when they found happiness meeting their true love.

To contact author: [email protected]

have the potential to be saved; and singles can find a lifelong mate. Knowing the basic principles of a strong healthy relationship maintains the integrity of your love, even when you face obstacles. It’s no longer enough to assume that a marriage license and those magic words “I do” will keep you together. If you view marriage as a permanent bond requiring no mainten-ance, you may come to take each other for granted without contemplating the possible consequences, and you may at

Recent statistical data in Nanaimo indi-cates that there are nearly 2000 singles in Nanaimo of all ages. We are all looking for the same answers to the age-old mys-tery of how to make our love life succeed, regardless if we are happily married, in a stale relationship, or single. Life is a series of paradigm shifts, and your love life should be no exception. We all deserve the hap-piness that is waiting to be found because couples that are in rocky relationships still

Maryanna Sinclaire


If you have a question for Cindy, contact [email protected]

DEAR INPUT NEEDEDI am so sorry to hear about your situation. No one should start on what looks like a new journey only to discover it is not a smooth road. Yes, I’ve encountered this before. What I’m about to impart to you may not be what you’re hoping to hear. Basically it follows that old fork-in-the-road story. In an ideal situation you choose one fork and the road is smooth. In another the road is bumpy and full of block-ages. Go back and try to find where your choice was not the best, where the wrong fork was taken. It is not easy to find. But it is there, somewhere! Or, create a new fork, a new direction in your life. Some-thing you may not have thought of, something that has not occurred to you. Take heart!

Ask Cindy

DEAR CINDYA year ago my boyfriend asked me to marry him. First there was the divorce from his wife to deal with. That went on for a couple of months. Then there was the motorcycle accident and the physiother-apy for another couple of months. Then Christmas came along and there was not enough money after that to put on a wedding. More delays after that. Now here we are with summer almost here. I love him and I’m convinced he loves me too. That should be enough to get us walking down the aisle. I can’t help thinking that something is not working in our favour. Do you have any idea or maybe you’ve heard about this kind of problem before? INPUT NEEDED

HOROSCOPE

METAPHYSICAL TREASURES

LOBELIA’S LAIR 8-321 Wesley St. Old City Quarter, Nanaimo 250-753-5440 LobeliasLair.ca

JULY 2019 | BY LIBERTY HARAKAS

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 - Feb 19) Energy around you is a bit chaotic. It is import-ant that you find time for yourself.PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20) Finances are somewhat strained; practise modera-tion at this time.ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20) Opportunities in com-munity expand your self awareness.TAURUS (Apr 20 - May 21) Career and personal in-terests align to bring you satisfaction.GEMINI (May 22 - Jun 20) You are safe and ground-ed, trust in yourself.Your magical commun-ity shoppe; celebrating 18 years in the Old City Quarter!

CANCER (Jun 21 - Jul 22) A time of release from past grudges; liberating yourself from old wounds.LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 22) Opportunities for self care should not be passed up. VIRGO (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Travel is imminent; experi-ence life “in the moment”.LIBRA (Sep 23 - Oct 22) You are in the flow of univer-sal magic.SCORPIO (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Self expression will be the key to balance in your life.SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Your spirit is soaring; you are about to realize your dreams.CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Finding your centre and maintaining a balanced approach will guide you through difficulty.


for it to actually happen feels surreal at this point,” says Joe. To qualify, he had to win the 2018 Skills Canada National Competition, then return to nationals at the end of May to participate in a special qualifying compe-tition. To prepare, Joe has been training five days a week for the past year. “This included school, homework, work, reading books and practice sessions,” he says. “I’d end up record-ing up to 40 hours of training per week.”

Skills Canada, founded in 1989 to promote skilled trades and technology careers amongst Canadian youth, hosts the only na-tional multi-trade and technology event of its kind for high school and post-secondary students and apprentices. Regional and provincial competitions are held to select the students who participate in nationals. Every second year, national winners move on to a competition that qualifies them to join Team Canada for the WorldSkills com-petition. This is Joe’s fourth year competing in Skills Canada competitions – he started in Grade 11.

“I think at first I hated to lose, and initially won silver. The idea of coming back and redeeming myself was satisfying,” he says. “Now I think

“Best in the World” is a title VIU Graphic Design student, Joe Thoong, hopes to earn this summer. Following a three-day competition in Halifax in early June, Joe earned a spot on WorldSkills Team Canada 2019, and heads to Kazan, Russia, in August to compete against top international con-tenders in the graphic design category.

“This is something I’ve wanted for years, and

OUR COMMUNITY | TAKEN FROM A PRESS RELEASE

VIU STUDENT EARNS SPOT ON WORLDSKILLS TEAM CANADA 2019

VIU Graphic Design student Joe Thoong’s hours of practice have paid off with a spot on Team Canada for the 2019 WorldSkills competition in Kazan, Russia.

Photo by Vancouver Island University

it’s becoming a lot more about craft and push-ing myself. I want to keep getting better and learning more.”

Joe had help from his coach, VIU Graphic Design Professor Nancy Pagé, as well as others in the department. “Nancy has vol-unteered hours and days of her free time to help me train and I can’t thank her enough,” he says.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Joe,” says Pagé. “He works hard and has made the training easy for me. Knowing the level of skill required to be on Team Canada, this win is a true testament to his abilities. I’m very proud of him and excited to see what happens in Russia.”

Joe’s goal for the WorldSkills competition is to achieve a medallion of excellence, need-ing to win at least 700 out of 800 points, if not a placement on the podium, to win. Aside from training, he’s also taken on an internship with a design studio in Victoria.

“Skills competitions have taught me how to focus, work quickly and efficiently, and tech-nical skills, but I’ve also learned life lessons such as sacrifice, the feeling of defeat, and how to focus on today,” he says. “It’s made me a better designer, but also a better person.”

* views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of the Editor

SLIGHTLY CORKED & MORE | BY DELBERT HORROCKS

Over the last six years, I have been drinking and highly recommending a wine made by aliens. That’s right. Aliens. The wine is called Prospect Winery Ogopogo’s Lair Pinot Gris and is made in BC, or so they say. Simply put, it’s a $14 wine that drinks like a $17 product and is consistent from year to year.

The turquoise green label features a line drawing of Ogopogo, who looks a lot like Godzilla crawling out of Tokyo Bay. No shortage of razor-sharp teeth on this boy. A regular flosser is my guess, also a damn good reason why waterskiing on Lake Okanagan is not a good idea.

How can I tell the wine is made by aliens? First clue. The winery doesn’t exist. It has no vineyard, no winery, no restaurant, no tasting room, and worse, if you’ve been travelling all day search-ing for the winery that doesn’t exist, no

Attached to the neck of each bottle by a clever rubber contraption, is a cigar-sized tube of what I initially thought was bird seed but turned out to be a nutbar. For this level of marketing brilliance, you simply have to go off planet:

Alien sales guy: Care to buy a perfectly delicious Pinot Gris with an excellent track record and a value driven price?

Customer: No.

Sales guy: What if I throw in a small piece of perfectly awful nut bar?

Customer: You’re crazy. I’ll take a case.

To take advantage of this incredible deal, act now. When people find out that they get a bottle of Pinot Gris, and a nut bar, all for $14, there will be no holding them back. Prospect Ogopogo’s Lair Pinot Gris. With nutbar, $14.

NUTBAR

bathroom. Such wineries are called vir-tual wineries and are preferred by aliens because they allow for a quick getaway should immigration show up. Virtual wineries are the gypsies of the wine world; buying grapes here, floor space and equipment there.

Virtual wineries don’t have to be owned by aliens, but it’s quite clear this one is.


Parents looking for a fun learning en-vironment for their 10 to 14 year-old this summer will be happy to know that Na-naimo campus-community radio station CHLY 101.7FM is presenting a different kind of summer camp - Radio Camp. Start-ing July 8, three two-week-long camps will run consecutively out of the CHLY studio. “I was a recreation programmer in a commun-ity centre for almost a decade,” CHLY Summer Camp Coordinator James Kasper explains, “and one of the aspects of that work I miss the most is working with youth. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and they’re sponges for new information. I’m happy to be immersed in a

broadcasting career now, and I’m looking forward to working with youth within the radio world.”The camp will involve regular field trips and interviews with local community members and business managers. It will cover the basics of radio broadcast-ing, including on-air experience and fun media-related daily activities. “This is the summer camp I wish I had when I was a kid!” says Kaylie Russell, CHLY Summer Station Assistant. “From learning invaluable interview skills to selecting your very own customized playlist of music, kids will learn all about the ins and outs of the wonderful world of radio. If you have a pas-sion for music, radio, and voice acting this

is the summer camp for you!” If your child is between 10 and 14 and you would like to enroll them in CHLY’s sum-mer radio camp, or you would like more information, email [email protected] or call 250-716-3410. The deadline to register is July 5. “Media making - whether it’s radio, podcasting, or other media - can seem daunting at first,” says CHLY Program Coordinator Arbie Fru. “We can show the kids how it’s done, and it can be a lot of fun in the process.”This camp is funded in part by the Com-munity Radio Fund of Canada.

CHLY RADIO HOSTS YOUTH SUMMER CAMP

OUR COMMUNITY | BY JAMES KASPER

What: CHLY Summer Radio Camp for Youth (ages 10 to 14)

When: July 8 to Aug 16 (three two-week camps)

Where: CHLY Radio 101.7FM, 34 Victoria Cres, NanaimoCost: $20/day. $85/week.

$150/camp (2 weeks)Contact: James Kasper,

Ph: 250-716-3410, [email protected]


Eric McLean “The Big Cheese”, Proprietor of

McLean’s Specialty Foods and Member of the Guilde

Internationale des Fromagers based in Paris

www.mcleansfoods.com 426 Fitzwilliam St,

Nanaimo | 250-754-0100

THE BIG CHEESE | BY ERIC McLEAN

It all started so innocently.“Do you guys have Fontina?”

You might be forgiven for thinking that Fontina is a particular model of a Ferrari or Maserati. It cer-tainly has that very special Italian cachet, so per-haps it’s not surprising that a customer might walk into a cheese shop asking for this fabled Italian delight, which just happens to be called Fontina.

So what is Fontina?

Genuine Italian Fontina is made in the valley of Aosta in northern Italy. The cheese comes in a 9kg wheel and is unpasteurised. It is one of the great

Say Cheese, Please

cheeses of the world, and is not easy to find in Canada.

It’s not to be confused with Danish or Swedish Fontina which come in a smaller 3kg wheel covered in red wax and are occasionally available in supermarkets. These versions of Fontina are as different as Cheddar is to Brie and it’s amazing that they are even allowed to be called Fontina, which is a DOP (Denomination Origin Protected) cheese but is nonetheless name protected, so anything goes.

Like Canadian VQA wines (Vintner Quality Assurance), a European Union DOP designation assures the buyer that the product has been certified and adheres to specific and strict quality control standards.

This all got me to thinking: Why are some cheeses made in such big sizes, like 10, 20, or even 40 kilos and more?

Some of the big cheeses include traditional UK Ched-dars at 25kg, Parmigiano Reggiano at 35kg, Comte, Gruyere at 40kg, Italian Provolone at 60kg. To put it in perspective, a pound of butter is only half a kilo!

But the big daddy of them all, the real “Big Cheese”, Swiss Emmental, weighs in at around 100 kilos! That’s over 200 pounds, the weight of a full grown man! Why so big?

Well, as always there is a story!

Many years ago the Swiss government decided to tax the farmers on cheese by the piece not by weight, so the crafty farmers decided to make the cheese bigger and thus heavier. Smart!

In a future column, we’ll talk about the biggest cheeses ever made.

Until then, Say Cheese!


films and TV shows. Now, it was moving from streaming content produced by others to making its own. Through a combination of data, killer content and, yes, smart marketing, Netflix quickly changed what we watched and how we watched it—much to the chagrin of traditional studios, movie-theatre chains and cable companies—and became an inextricable part of pop culture, first in North and Latin America, and then globally. In January 2016, Netflix began, overnight, to stream in 190 nations—every major market except China. Since then, it has gone from 25 million subscribers to roughly 150 million, and now has a market valuation of $150 billion…. He and his marketing team of 1,000 spread across the globe have helped persuade viewers, via billboards, ads, emails and social media, not just to tune in to shows like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black and Stranger Things, and movies like Roma, but to sign up for a monthly subscription in order to do so. And his team has done it in 20 languages.

Kelly’s team is also responsible for the overall Netflix brand, right down to the logo. The ads produced on his watch have been notable for their ingenuity and playfulness

Kelly decided to “retire” at 47 (leaving behind a $6.2-million salary) to spend more time with his family and contribute to the community. He has already accepted a seat on the board of the German e-fashion giant Zalando, and he hopes to join the boards of a few non-profits, particularly ones with environmental and educational missions. He even considers teaching a marketing class at a local college, where kids without much money—kids like he once was—would study.

This success story originated right here in the mid-Island!

FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO THE STARS | TAKEN FROM A GLOBE & MAIL ARTICLE BY ALEC SCOTT

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Kelly Bennet, Netflix Chief Marketing Officer helped transform the entertainment giant into a global cultural phenomenon. How did a hockey jock from Nanaimo hit the big times? His grandfather was a lumberjack, his mom a letter carrier and his dad a fireman. Kelly, however, had ambitions: he had a map on his bedroom wall full of pins to mark the places he wanted to go. As a boy, Kelly was TV- and movie-mad, but opted to study business at SFU. His family had insufficient funds for tuition, so he worked part-time at Save-On-Foods. He couldn’t afford to accept low-paying internships after graduation, and this handicapped him when it came time to apply for jobs.

Kelly applied for a job at the Save-On head office in Langley, but even though he knew the store well, he did not get it. With the thud of rejection, he went to visit a friend in London, England, for a few weeks which

turned into 13 years. There he met his wife, Dominique, who he is still married to 20 years later, and with whom he has 3 children. He landed a succession of jobs in advertising. He also wasn’t shy about diving into new things. In 1997, that meant the Internet and online marketing. His social media expertise got him hired at Warner Brothers’ in London in 2003, where he worked on the digital side of campaigns for The Hangover, The Matrix and the Harry Potter series. With each sequel, audiences grew and the challenge on the marketing side was to continue selling the films to this growing pool of fans.

In 2010, Warner Brothers moved Kelly to LA, where he caught Netflix’s cofounder, chair and CEO, Reed Hastings’s, attention. When Bennett joined the streaming company in 2012, it was on the brink of its second great transformation. Five years earlier, it had pivoted from mailing out DVDs to streaming

Netflix, then chill: Vancouver Island's Kelly Bennett

The Globe & Mail’s Report on Business magazine ran a cover story in June on Nanaimo-born and bred Kelly Bennett who rose to become the Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix. There he administered a budget of nearly $3-billion, and managed staff all over the world from Netflix’s LA office. The piece, BY ALEC SCOTT, details how Bennett helped Netflix become a global player and the reasons behind his decision, at age 47, to walk away from his post. We have excerpted, with permission, some parts of the piece below:


INSIDE SPORTS

WITH BERNIE PASCALL

Surfing and Tofino are synonymous in BC! Recreational surfing enthusiasts have been experiencing the beauty, chal-lenging waves and magnificent atmos-phere at Tofino for many years.Now the surfing community world-wide has been made aware of the area. Surfing will make its debut in the 2020 Summer Olym-pics in Tokyo, Japan. After many attempts at inclusion in the Olympics, the International Surfing Association has been successful in having Surfing included in the Games. That’s where Tofino and Canada enters the pic-ture. I don’t think Canada can be considered a top Olympic threat in surfing. However, many surfers from BC want the chance and are confident of representing Canada as members of the Olympic team. Once there, anything can happen.

Various trials have already been held and two prominent BC surfers have taken the first steps to making the team. Peter Devries, Canadian champion 9 times, and Mathea Olin, a 16 year-old sensation, both from Tofino, have secured spots on Team Canada. While no one from Canada has actually qualified for the 2020 Olympic team, making Team Canada is a good start. Canada is ranked 10th in the Internation-al Surfing Association rankings. In their attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Games, Canadian surf-ers will have to beat dominant countries like the United States, Brazil and Australia.

Besides Devries and Olin, Canada has other prominent surfers. Paige Alms from Victoria, Hanna Scott from Tofino and Bethany Zelasko , a Canadian from California, are also candidates for the Women’s team. Scott is the Manager of the Pacific Surf School. On the men’s side, Shane Campbell (Vancouver) Cody Young and Sean Forester, both with Canadian Citizenship, look to join Devries on the men’s side of Team Canada.

The demanding waves, a surfer’s delight at Chesterman Beach, Cox Bay and Wickaninnish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park on Vancou-ver Island, will be tested by Canada’s top surf-ers on a regular basis leading up to the 2020 Games.

It’s an exciting time for Canada’s elite surfers!

Bernie Pascall has an exten-sive background in TV Sports, and 30 years as Sports Direc-tor/Commentator with BCTV. He called the play by play of the Vancouver Canucks, World Hockey Champion-ships and broadcast several Olympics, CFL, Whitecaps, Figure Skating and other sports. He’s a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.


OFF TO THE MOVIES | BY KELLY STEPHAN

Films about iconic musicians are making a huge splash in the box office right now. With the recent hit, Bohemian Rhapsody, a film about the band Queen and specifically frontman Freddie Mercury, was a huge success both in theatres and during award season. The upcoming film Yesterday, takes a different spin on this trope but uses the Beatles music to show the timeless impact of the band, out in theatres June 28. And of course, Rocketman – the mystical musical based on (and produced by) Sir Elton John.

Rocketman, now in theatres, is everything you may expect of Elton John – an unpredictable spectacle that makes you want to sing along. The film opens with Elton (Taron Egerton) entering a group therapy session in stage costume stating that he is an alcoholic and drug addict. From there, the film bounces between various stages of John’s life and his journey into stardom, addiction and recovery. The audience witnesses the important moments and determining factors that defined Elton John, both then and now.

What’s interesting about how this film is executed is that rather than making a biopic showing the life of John, the film is a musical that uses his larger than life songs to tell the story and symbolize defining moments in his life. The film uses elements of fantasy to give you insight into how Elton sees the world and the creative element to his mind and his life.

Taron Egerton is terrific, singing, acting and dancing throughout the film and bringing icon Elton John to the screen in an authen-tic and entertaining way. The overall production is something to witness, keeping you with the story start to finish – the film is a spectacle.

Rocketman soars, and you don’t want to miss this trip.

ROCKETMAN

• What did the Tin Man say when he got run over by a steamroller? ‘Curses! Foil again!’

• How would you stop the Ti-tanic disaster? Imagine it with a lisp. It’s unthinkable.

• How do you find Will Smith in the snow? Look for fresh prints.

• I was in a band which we called The Prevention, because we hoped people would say we were better than The Cure.

• Pink Panther’s to-do List: To do, to do .... to do to do to do.

• What did Jay-Z call his girl-friend before they got married? Feyoncé.

*Adapted from a Facebook post - and does not reflect the views of the Editor or Nanaimo Magazine

LINES TOMAKE YOU SMILE

Lines to Make You Smile

• What’s ET short for? Be-cause he has small legs.

• Knock Knock Who’s There? Dishes Dishes Who? Dishes Sean Connery.

• What did Miley Cyrus eat on Thanksgiving? TWERKY

• How did Barack propose to Michelle? He got on one knee, pulled out a ring, and said “I don’t wanna be Obamaself.”

• What do you call it when Batman skips church? Christian Bale

• When Miley Cyrus licks a hammer it’s “art” and “music”... but when I do it, I’m “wasted” and “have to leave Home Depot”.

Fame at Last!

5 POPCORNS OUT OF 5

Summer is here and with it comes cocktail hour.From Vancouver-based editor, Jennifer Croll, comes Free The Tipple, a gorgeous and colorful tribute cocktail book that will inspire your patio gatherings this sea-son. It is a collection of short biographies describing the essence of iconic women

throughout history, along with the cocktail recipe inspired by their work or character. I love the women that were chosen for this book. They are fierce, exciting and just so cool. Ranging from the early 1900’s to now, you will be able to toast to such icons as Anaïs Nin, Jo-sephine Baker and Melissa McCarthy.

Paging through this book, you see it has been a labour of love. It is so well presented, well thought out. The illustrations are whimsical and beautifully drawn. There is colour everywhere! You have this book on your coffee table and every single person visiting your home will pick it up, this I promise. And who knows where this may lead? Maybe your Friday night with no plans turns into making Hibiscus tea with your best friends, for your Frida Kahlo cocktail, and toasting to each other while watching the sun set. This is what this book does. Cheers!

FREE THE TIPPLE: KICKASS COCKTAILS INSPIRED BY ICONIC WOMEN

BOOK TALK | BY ANDREE BIZIER (WINDOW SEAT BOOKS)


Leading the way in Vancouver Island Marine Sales & Service

BUSINESS PROFILE | COMPILED BY JUDY STEPHAN

Parksville Boathouse offers a friendly and highly certified team of experts who are eager to provide repairs and service for all makes and models of high-quality recreation-al vessels, including diesel inboard engines.

With an impressive inventory of parts, acces-sories and electronics, as well as salt-water tackle, Parksville Boathouse can be relied on as a one-stop shop, assisted by a team of boating enthusiasts. Parksville Boathouse also offers brokerage sales of quality used vessels in a wide range of sizes and styles, with on-site mechanical inspections on all used vessels prior to sale.

Centrally situated less than 2km off Highway 19 in Parksville, at 1300 Springhill Rd, Parks-ville Boathouse is Vancouver Island’s largest full-service marine dealer.

250 947 9666 / parksvilleboathouse.com / @parksvilleboathouse Parksville Boathouse, where the dreams begin…

With recent news on BC’s coast about Southern Resident Killer Whale protection, Chinook Salmon fishing regulations, Water Quality and Marine Traffic, nothing slowed the momentum at Parksville Boathouse.

For 29 years, Parksville Boathouse has been a leader in the BC marine industry and their exceptional growth continues. With recent sales agreements with Mer-cury Engines, Garmin Marine products and as Canada’s newest coastal dealer of exceptionally high-quality Grady-White boats, Parksville Boathouse has expanded. A reconfiguration of their 4-acre boat yard, and an expansion of their building accom-modates a new indoor showroom, ex-panded selection of marine supplies and additional rigging and service bays.

As a Five Star Yamaha Dealer, and the World’s Premier Dealer of BC-built King-fisher welded aluminum offshore Sport-fishing boats, your unique needs are met with numerous custom rigging options.

We live on an island surrounded by a very accessible watery playground, so why not play? Whether you are a hardcore sports fisherman who needs a strong boat for deep sea fishing; you want to simply cruise through the islands on the Strait of Georgia, or are a day-tripping marine enthusiast, Parksville Boathouse can help you with your needs, whatever your budget.

PARKSVILLE BOATHOUSE

nanaimo and voyager magazine 250.585.2767 … · nanaimo and voyager magazine 250.585.2767...

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