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We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets; We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment; We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness; We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;TRANSCRIPT
villagevibeAugust 2008 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood
>> by James Kasper
Many would argue that the most
professional approach to newspaper
writing involves the writer hiding
himself (or herself ) behind a fence of seamless
anonymity, stoic neutrality, and emotionless
omniscience. Some might say that the news should
have the same dry delivery as an obituary written by
an ostracized relative, because then the reader is left
to make up his or her own mind. Th is writer doesn’t
care about being neutral, because he cares too much
about the story. And he won’t apologize for this
biased approach.
I want to tell you about the free youth soccer
camp that took place in the Vic High School fi eld in
July, and I want to describe it from the perspective of
a recreation programmer at a community centre.
At Fernwood NRG, part of our mandate is to
off er aff ordable programs, services, and events to
the Fernwood community. When planning and
implementing these services, my list of criteria
includes aff ordability to the neighbourhood and
to the organization, convenience of the location,
demand for the service, age demographic for the
activity, proper safety and eco-friendly measures,
marketability, and most of all, community focus of
the individuals involved.
It is rare when a program meets every criteria
in such a big way. Th e youth soccer camp was one
such exceptional program. I cannot say enough
positive things about the fi ne folks at Opportunitas
Aequa (Latin for “Equal Opportunity”) who put
on this camp for the second consecutive year in
Fernwood. Volunteer coaches Chris Newcombe,
Andrew Brownlee, Peter Lonergan, Brenden
Smith, Sarah Walker, and Robert Prieto are all to be
commended for their contribution to the Fernwood
community and for providing a safe, positive, and fun
environment for twenty kids over the course of six
days. But what really matters is what the kids have to
say about the camp:
“It was awesome,” says 13-year-old Justine. “Th e
coaches were really fun to be around, and there was a
lot of skill development.”
Skills the coaches instructed on included passing,
volleying, headers, shooting, and defense. Each of
the six days ended with a big game, which all the kids
looked forward to.
Ron, father of nine-year-old camp participant
Alex, reported, “Alex had a lot of fun last year and
this year.” “And,” he added, “he made new friends.”
“I liked that the coaches taught me how to kick
properly,” says 12-year-old John, who is also signed up
for the NRG road hockey camp in August, “and the
people were friendly.”
John’s mother Renee adds, “Th e camp was so
close to my home, and it was something he enjoyed
doing, and they looked aft er him so well.”
Fernwood NRG was more than happy to
pitch in with advertising, registration, and a bit of
equipment. Mostly, though, we were just proud to be
involved.
Opportunitas Aequa is an organization which
aims to bring about positive change through soccer
– one of the most universal of sports. Th eir fi rst
project was carried out in Ecuador, where the group
made two soccer fi elds and presented children with
over 1,000 soccer balls, 900 pairs of soccer boots,
uniforms, and other equipment.
Soccer camp bridges global gap
Daycare graduation
>> by Lisa Helps with Joy Roberts
On Friday, June 30, ten children graduated
from Fernwood NRG’s Th ree to Five
Daycare and will be moving on to
Kindergarten in the fall. Parents watched proudly as
their children marched to Pomp and Circumstance
and were presented with certifi cates by daycare
supervisor Joy Roberts. Th e children sang “We’re Off to
Kindergarten”, for their captivated audience. For some
parents the day was a mixture of happiness and sadness,
as some of their children have been in Fernwood
NRG’s Th ree to Five Daycare since they were two-and-
a-half years old. Th e proud graduates are Julian Bird,
Hailey Fischer, Emma Leavey, Ayla McDonald, Richard
Morgan-Tom, Samer Rashead, Jade Ritchie, Aristeo
Vargas, Nikowa Williams, and Angelica Wood.
in this issue Otesha Project: Th eatre on two wheels Page 2
Feature: Dreamers of the day: Ten years Fernwood Page 4
Tom’s sock hop to rock Hood’s hot spot Page 6
Ph
oto
: S
hel
ley
McG
rath
– continued on page 3
Ph
oto
: Jo
y R
ob
erts
We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood;
We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets;
We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming fi nancially self-reliant;
We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;
We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;
We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;
We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;
We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;
We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;
We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;
and, most of all,
We are committed to having fun!
declaration of principles and values
Victoria City Council recently made a hard
but necessary decision. Aft er a public hearing that went
into the wee hours, Council voted, essentially, to replace
a park in the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood with a
homeless shelter. Arguably, the process wasn’t great.
As many folks at the hearing stated, the City did break
trust with the Burnside Gorge community, alerting the
Community Association to the shelter plan only the day
before B.C. Housing announced the funding.
But the Ellice Street Shelter, comprised of short-
term shelter rooms, emergency housing for families, and
transitional housing is a necessary fi rst step in housing
Victoria’s homeless and marginally housed citizens.
As more than one hearing attendee asked, however,
transition to what? Given the dearth of aff ordable and
supportive housing in Victoria what is the second step?
Here in Fernwood we have one answer. On August
1st fi ve families moved into Fernwood NRG’s Park Place
building on Yukon Street, bordering Haegart Park. (Th e
accessible suite is still available.) Built with the foresight
of the board and staff of the Society and with funding
from all levels of government, Park Place provides
supportive, market-based aff ordable housing for families.
Th e city needs more of this. Th e city also needs housing
for elderly folks, for single men and women, and for
couples too.
City Hall is contributing time, money, staff hours,
and property tax breaks to the Ellice Street Shelter
project. It would be good if the City supported the next
step – an increase in Victoria’s supportive and aff ordable
housing stock – with the same resources. Because only
then will people who spend nights or weeks at the Ellice
Street Shelter have somewhere to go next.
editorial : More aff ordable housing
Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | August 2008 VillageVibe
As many of you were all too aware, the
Cornerstone Café was closed for a few weeks aft er
Fern Fest for a makeover. Th e neighbourhood living
room is back and better than ever. Th e most apparent
change is the seating. No longer will clients be forced
to sit on something that more closely resembled
a cheese grater than anything that would ever be
designed for comfort. We now have cushy, built in
benches which will not only be a treat to linger on but
will also encourage chats with your neighbours. Th ere’s
new paint, fresh fl oors, and new counter tops as well.
Many thanks to all who helped design (Lenore),
build (all the trades folks), and clean (Megan, Sarah
and Howie). But most importantly, thanks to all the
loyal clients who have made the Cornerstone a success
and who have been made to suff er through the pain of
two-and-a-half weeks without coff ee. Your courage is
inspirational.
To enquire about booking the café space for your
evening event e-mail [email protected]
OR for musical events [email protected]
>> by Darrell Harvey
Young cyclists from across Canada ride
into Victoria this month carrying an inspiring message
of sustainability. Members of the Otesha Project
will perform “Reason to Dream” at the Fernwood
Community Centre, August 24th at 7:30 p.m.
Th e traveling theatre troupe is pedaling 1,500 kms
across B.C.’s Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island,
delivering performances along the way. On the road,
the actors live as a mobile sustainable community,
cycling from performance to performance, connecting
with communities en route, and exploring the
challenges of addressing environmental and social
justice issues through their every day actions.
Th e Otesha Project is a youth-run charitable
organization that uses theatre to mobilize young
people to create local and global change through daily
consumer choices. Otesha troupes have performed
to more than 72,000 people and won international
awards for innovative and eff ective youth-engagement
programs. Six performing tours are criss-crossing
Canada in 2008. Check out www.otesha.ca for more
information. See you at the show!
the Fernwood buzz
Otesha Project
Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to
CanadaHelps.org and donate
to Fernwood NRG.
Ph
oto
: E
lish
a B
arke
r
For the love of Fernwood
>> by Anne Cookson
I have lived in Fernwood for eight years and
have seen a vibrant transformation in this community. As
a new resident, I discovered the Fernwood neighbourhood
was a beautiful place to live. I had visions of Fernwood
becoming a thriving successful community and recognized
there was potential for indispensable change. Over the last
three-to-four years, this has become a reality. Th e residents
revolutionized the neighbourhood, they took action
against buildings abandoned by property owners, and they
formed communal businesses. I love to witness Fernwood
becoming a thriving, productive community.
Th ey preserved the buildings’ heritage and utilized
them for business opportunities without compromising
authenticity. Th ey are managed by residents to seek
practical ways in implementing changes that collectively
and individually meet indispensable goals without
following the industrialized corporate system. You will
not fi nd a modernization or renovation of the heritage
buildings into something that doesn’t merge well with
Fernwood’s history. Th ere are no franchise restaurants or
coff ee houses here.
What is distinctive about Fernwood is the
community’s awareness for their environment and
creativity. Th ey established the Cornerstone Café with
other restaurants and two distinguished art galleries.
Fernwood is a friendly ambient neighbourhood because
it encourages a diversity of people within the community.
Th e neighbourhood is enjoying Fernwood’s expanding and
varied community.
Recently while I was participating in the Fernwood
Tuesday market, I noticed an eclectic group of people
enjoying the pleasures of homemade jams, bread, and
fresh strawberries. I observed people sauntering their way
through the village and enjoying the pleasures of choosing
restaurants in a range of casual or fi ne dining. Aft er a meal,
people stroll and appreciate a couple of the art galleries
or the She Said bead store. I feel encouraged that
Fernwood is emerging to becoming a vibrant and
empathetic community, caring for the continued needs
of the neighbourhood. Th is is what strengthens a
community: its commitment to the people. Fernwood is
meeting that goal.
VillageVibe August 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3
views from the street : How is it, to run a business in Fernwood?
Good. Fantastic. I wouldn’t want to do it in any other
neighbourhood. My kids say to me, “Mom, do you
know everyone now?
Most of the people who come in are from outside of
Fernwood and trek down here. People actually come
from all over the world. It’s defi nitely a destination.
I (Sherri) grew up in Fernwood so it’s nice to be back. Th is
is such a diverse place. We’ve been open for a month and
hope people will come fi nd us here at the Green Goddess.
Tracey, Mom’s Market Sherri & Turiya, Green Goddess Restaurant Danielle, Black Raven Records
>> by Cameron Speedie
For the past three years the North Park
Neighbourhood Association (NPNA) has hosted
a Neighbourhood Festival. Th is event is an open
celebration of neighbourhood diversity and focuses
on the positive elements in the area. Participants
include businesses, organizations, and neighbours in an
informal festival atmosphere.
Th e concept evolved from the idea that we needed
a positive element to counter some of the less-than-
pleasant issues in the area. To that end the location was
chosen with the intent of bringing some community
spirit to some of the challenged areas. Th is concept
was furthered by moving the event to its current venue,
Franklin Green.
Franklin Green had become marginalized over the
years, and an NPNA action plan was put in place in
cooperation with the City to renovate and rejuvenate
the park, claiming it back for the people of the area.
Residents have been very happy with results that include
a children’s play area, pickle ball courts, a bocce ball area
and general improvements.
Now that NPNA and Fernwood have embarked
on the North Park Village concept with Franklin Green
Let’s get growing! >> by amy crook
Start now for a winter full of homegrown vegetables.
Do you ever look in envy at your neighbours’
bountiful salad greens? Do you wish you could feed
your family more organic fresh produce? Do you have
a small space in your yard or on your balcony that gets
good sun? Well hey neighbor, let’s get growing.
We all know eating locally is the right thing to do.
In Victoria we can grow an amazing amount of food all
year around. We’re all busy, but everyone can grow some
of their own food. Come learn about how easy it is to
grow a vegetable garden in the winter.
We’ll start you out with lots of information and
reference material. Th ere will be organic vegetable starts
for sale including brussels sprouts, chards, kales, leeks,
spinach, arugula, oriental greens, cabbages, kohlrabi,
broccoli, corn salad, radicchio and lettuces.
Th is Winter Veggie Workshop will cover:
> What vegetables grow best
> How to solve the biggest problems with winter
gardening
> Planning your winter garden
> When to plant
> Soil building techniques to increase your yield
When Saturday, September 6th, 10am - noon
Where Fernwood Community Centre (1240
Gladstone Avenue)
Cost $20 - includes reference material. Veggie starts
will be for sale.
Th e workshop will be given by Amy Crook, Certifi ed
Master Gardener. Proceeds from this workshop go to
LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project.
For more info and to register please email
Uni 101Free University Course
September 2008Info Session:Fernwood
Community Centre(1240 Gladstone)5pm August 5th
North Park Neighbourhood Festival
being one of the gatekeeper areas, it made perfect sense
to retain the area as our festival venue. As the Village
concept spans both North Park and Fernwood, we would
like to welcome everyone to come out and enjoy the
festival! Please join us for this fun event!
When Saturday August 16, noon until 4pm
Where Th e Newly Rejuvenated Franklin Green
– Cook and Mason Street – behind Wellburns
What Food, fun for all ages, entertainment, instruction
on how to play pickle ball, information, and a chance to
meet some neighbours
Gavin Hollett founded O.A. aft er being deeply
aff ected by Romeo Dallaire’s book Shake Hands with
the Devil. Th e book, which details Dallaire’s time in
Rwanda, describes a scene wherein children in the
midst of the horrors of civil war fi nd solace with a
soccer ball made of twigs.
Although somewhat removed geographically
from its original venue and politically from its initial
circumstances, the common thread here is a sense of
community through the sport of soccer … And let’s not
forget the most important part of all: “It was fun,” says
10-year-old Fatima.
We here at Fernwood NRG got a ‘kick’ out of it
too. Two camp participants were children of NRG
staff ers. And I even joined them in many of the day-
end games. Now who said journalists hide behind the
fence?
For more information on O.A., visit them at http://
oaprojects.org.
Soccer | fr om page 1
Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | August 2008 VillageVibe
Ten years is a long time, but it can pass in a seeming instant when you are
fully engaged in life. In the summer of 1998, the Fernwood Community
Centre Society was a moribund institution, governed by a Board of
Directors who did not live in the neighbourhood and who were taking instructions
from City Hall on how to best run the organization. Its capital assets were $13,113
– mostly superannuated furniture, computers and soft ware. From the outside, the
building was ill-kempt, unfriendly, and uninviting. On the inside, the space was
confi gured in such a way as to hide staff from the public and to discourage anyone
from lingering. Th e most public-facing and high volume program, Victoria Best
Babies, housed four staff and made dozens of daily client contacts in a 150 square
foot offi ce in the basement with no windows and no natural light. A fi nal telling
statistic: the Society’s annual report to the Corporate Registry in 1998 indicated the
Society had zero members. Zero.
Th e Fernwood Revolution is the story of how, in the summer of 1998, a group of
neighbourhood people took back control of one neighbourhood institution, and
then transformed it over fi ve years (1999 to 2004) into an organization capable
of consciously rebuilding the neighbourhood. It is the story of how a group of
neighbourhood people risked everything they had already accomplished – including
the acquisition, renovation and heritage designation of Fernwood House at 1423
Fernwood Road – in order to confront head-on the most pressing challenge facing
the neighbourhood: the deterioration of the heart of the neigbourhood, the village
centre at Fernwood and Gladstone.
Th ere are many possible lenses through which the story of the Fernwood Revolution
could be told, but none is more compelling to me than the lens of neighbourhood.
My fi rst letter to the membership in the 2000 Annual Report as Chair of the
Board of the Fernwood Community Centre Society was entitled “Building
our Community.” My second letter, in 2001, was entitled “Building a Healthy
Neighbourhood.” Leading up to that point and beyond, I became very conscious of
my language, always preferring the word “neighbourhood” when I meant the physical
place of “Fernwood.” A community is not a place it is a group of people. A group of
people living in a particular place has the potential to become a neighbourhood. A
community chooses its members. Neighbours choose each other when they choose
where they want to live, for better or for worse. Leaving a community isn’t easy, but
it doesn’t necessarily mean boxing up your belongings and physically relocating to
another setting. Leaving a neighbourhood to me has always meant leaving a piece of
myself behind.
Th is shift in language and thinking manifested fi rst in changes to the Society’s bylaws
in 1999. Th e Society restricted membership to residents of the geographic area of
Fernwood and removed the right of the City of Victoria to appoint directors to
its board, thereby ensuring the neighbourhood would govern its own Community
Centre. Th e shift culminated in 2005 when the membership voted to rename as the
Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Society or, simply, Fernwood NRG.
For the fi rst four years aft er the Revolution began, we watched somewhat helplessly
as Fernwood descended from a vital neighbourhood core into “Funky, junkie
Fernwood.” Th e neighbourhood died, for a time, and was reborn. Or perhaps rather,
it was re-birthed.
August 2008 is a great moment in the history of Fernwood. August 2nd marks
three years since Fernwood NRG purchased the Cornerstone building. And, this
month, the mortgage on the neighbourhood-owned building will transfer from
the hands of the former owner to Coastal Community Credit Union. Th ree years
ago, when Fernwood NRG purchased the property, no lending institution would
agree to fi nance the project. Th e building was derelict and dilapidated and hadn’t
been commercially tenanted for two years. It had no income and was close to being
condemned by the City. Only the owner and one neighbourhood resident were
willing to take a risk on the small neighbourhood non-profi t society.
At the time, there were many who predicted that the building would be back in
the former owner’s hands before long. Th ey believed the Society would not be able
to manage and fi nance the project, and that the former owner would foreclose,
repossess the building and leave the neighbourhood with nothing.
feature : Dreamers of the day: Ten years into the Fernwood revolution > > b y L e e H e r r i n
Dean FortinVictoria City Councillor
Working for strong, healthy and sustainable
communities.
Th ose who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the
day to fi nd that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are
dangerous, for they may act their dream with open eyes,
and make it possible. –T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
constituency office:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3
telephone: 363-3600e-mail: [email protected] the web: www.denisesavoie.ca
Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria
Your voice in OttawaYour voice in Ottawa
VillageVibe August 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5
History has been unkind to the sceptics. Fernwood NRG has fundraised and renovated
the building with the help of countless hours of neighbourhood volunteer labour. Th e
building is fully tenanted and producing income, which Fernwood NRG is reinvesting in the
neighbourhood, most notably in the recently completed Park Place aff ordable housing building
at 1222 Yukon Street.
When the Society fi rst made the decision to purchase the Cornerstone building, the Board of
Directors and senior staff tested the idea against the Declaration of Principles and Values (see
page two). We found that it checked against every single principle but number seven, which
spoke to governance.
Th e Society took the building project upon itself and found a way to make it work. We walked
with confi dence where most (including government and the banks) feared to tread, and we
didn’t wait for anyone to tell us how to do it or what to do. Ten years into the Fernwood
Revolution, the Fernwood NRG has capital assets of over $3 million, and over $1.5 million
in equity. It has better quality programs than it had ten years ago and employs more than
twice as many people, most of who live in Fernwood. It owns two buildings in the core of the
neighbourhood and runs a vibrant business in the Cornerstone Café. It is more independent and
responsive to needs of the neighbourhood, and less reliant on government grants. It is a shining
example to other neighbourhoods of what a small group of thoughtful, committed people can
do when they decide to change the world.
In the early days, we dreamt that the greatest export of the neighbourhood would be revolution
– that we would eventually be able to articulate a set of principles and values that would enable
us to transform the neighbourhood we had into the neighbourhood we envisioned, and that
we would later communicate and share those principles and values with other neighbourhoods.
Looking back, we have succeeded in everything we set out to accomplish, although there is
much more that can yet be done to further manifest our vision.
And so I say unto you, my brothers and sisters: Turn off your TV. Go for a walk. Talk to
your neighbours. Go to a meeting. Speak out. Take a stand. Volunteer. Be bold. Be fearless.
Attempt something no-one believes can be done. Dare to become dangerous. Open your eyes,
and dream!
Long live Fernwood! Long live the Revolution!
The Society’s Declaration of Principles and Values graces page 2 of every
issue of this newspaper, and was drafted by the Fernwood Community Centre
Society’s (FCCS) Board of Directors in the Spring of 2005 after the collapse of the
merger between the FCCS and the Fernwood Community Association (FCA). At the
time, four directors from the FCA (Lisa Helps, Tania Wegwitz, Dave Kesson, and
Lenore Rankin) who had been part of the transition team working to merge the two
societies resigned from the board of the FCA and joined the board of the FCCS
(Paula Debeck, Jim Starck, Vida Waltz, Margaret Hantiuk, and myself), in a sense
unifying two neighbourhood organizations, although not exactly as we had intended.
Have a look and see how the values and principles compare to the index cards which
I drafted roughly a year earlier in a conversation with Roberta Martell, the FCCS’s
then newly hired Executive Director, and Lenore Rankin, now Fernwood NRG’s
Development Coordinator. The conversation took place with liquid refreshments
one evening in a booth in the empty George & Dragon. Since the three of us were
born in the fi rst 20 days of November, we called our meeting the Secret Order of
the Scorpions, which shortened to SOS – at that time, a cry for help in a drowning
neighbourhood.
Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | August 2008 VillageVibe
>> by Margaret Hantiuk
Weeds are really just plants in the wrong
place. While some people consider a plant a weed, the
next gardener values it, so it is diffi cult to declare which
plants are weeds. I consider plants that are invasive and/
or plants that are unwanted and not useful in my garden
to be weeds. Basically every gardener must decide what
they do and don’t want in their garden. Here are tips for
removing the unwanted without hauling out the big guns
(herbicides and toxic chemical sprays that will destroy the
garden’s ecology).
First, get to know your garden: learn to identify the
plants. I have pulled out plants that I forgot I had put
there (the marker had been removed in fall raking?) and
I have unfortunately removed self-seeding fl owers and
veggies without realizing it. Th ere are various plants in
my yard that self-seed or ‘creep,’ and every year I pull out
some to keep them in check. Beware of plants you receive
as gift s; ensure that they are weed-free and not invasive.
When purchasing new plants check if they are invasive
(“spreads well”) varieties, which should be contained
when planted. Some invasive plants are easy to grow
and lovely, but they must be kept in check, as they can
become nasty thugs in the garden. Topsoil, compost,
manure and mulches should be purchased only where
they can be guaranteed to be weed-free. Th ere are some
weeds that are truly scourges, and it’s best that they are
not introduced at all.
Th e best way to weed is by hand – it is selective,
accurate, and not too disruptive. First, invest in a good
set of gardening gloves to save your hands and get a good
grip. Weeding is easiest when the soil is damp and the
plants are young. When you’re pressed for time, at least
remove the seed heads and fl owers of weeds by giving
them a yank or clip, thereby preventing their spread.
Have a pail handy for your culls.
In some areas and instances it is helpful to use a
hand tool, and there are now many good ergonomically
designed hand tools for weeding. Th ere are short- and
long-handled types that cultivate or hoe the weeds.
Be careful to not be so vigorous that you remove your
precious, desired plants, and be aware that the root zone
of plants should not be disturbed. Most plants have a
delicate root system near the surface with feeder roots
farthest away to catch rain off the canopy of their leaves
above. Th e larger the canopy, the wider the root zone
(trees and shrubs especially), so hand weeding is best in
these areas. Try to stay on top of your weeding, so that
weeds don’t establish themselves.
Th e use of groundcovers (desired plants chosen for
their propensity to spread slowly) will help to prevent
weeds. Every time you turn the soil over, weed seeds
are exposed to light and air and will then germinate, so
gardening with less cultivation is better. Th is is achieved
by applying thick mulches every fall or spring. Mulching
feeds the soil, keeps in moisture, and suppresses weeds
all at once. Th e soil below the mulch will not need to be
cultivated,as worms and soil bacteria will do it for you.
In the end, you’ll have a garden with fewer weeds,
naturally!
gleanings : Weeds: Th e good, the bad and the ugly
>> by Tracy James
Warmer weather is here! That means the
picking season for the LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project is
about to begin and volunteer pickers are needed!
Th e LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project harvests fruit all
over the city every summer. Th is amazing and innovative
project connects people who have surplus produce in
their yards with people who have the willingness and
ability to harvest it and with people and community
groups that do not have access to fresh produce. Tens
of thousands of pounds of fresh cherries, plums, apples,
pears and other fruit (or nuts and vegetables) are then
distributed through community centres and food
banks. Last year, LifeCycles established a special liaison
to create a Fernwood branch of the Fruit Tree Project
that benefi ted individuals and families living in the
neighbourhood.
LifeCycles needs volunteer pickers and team leaders
for shift s weekdays, evenings, and weekends. A pick
usually lasts two hours depending on the amount of
fruit to harvest. A portion of the fruit from every pick
is shared among the volunteers. Th ere is always one
team leader and usually two to four volunteers at every
pick. If you’d like be a team leader, you should be able to
volunteer once a week.
Fruit tree volunteering is a great way to meet
people, get to know the fabulous bounty of fruit trees
in Fernwood and beyond, and really give back to the
community. Last year, volunteers picked 35,000 pounds
of fruit between July and October! In addition to
increasing food security in Victoria, the Project also
partners with local businesses to turn a portion of the
harvest into a line of delicious products the sale of which
help sustain the project year over year.
To volunteer or for more information, visit www.
lifecyclesproject.ca, email fr [email protected],
or call 250.893.7848.
Fruit Tree Project in Fernwood Tom’s sock hop to rock ‘hood’s hot spot
Lawrence de la Haye A.R.C.M. (London)
Accepting students inSeptember on CClarinet, Flute,Saxophone, and Recorder.
Studio in Fernwood2226 Oregon St.250-592-9792
Fernwood Village
Night Market(Fernwood @ Gladstone)
Tuesday Evenings 5:30-8:30
Local Organic Produce, Baked Goods,
Artisans, and Entertainment
The best way to weed is by hand – it is selective, accurate, and not too disruptive.
>> by James Kasper
The rumour is that there is going to be a
sock hop in Fernwood on August 16. And the Canadian
still-building-his-legend icon Tom Glenne is apparently
the man responsible for this dose of nostalgia… I caught
up with him during one of his seasonal month-long lost
weekends in Victoria. I needed to get to the bottom of this
Ph
oto
: F
aire
n B
erch
ard
– continued next page
VillageVibe August 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7
sock hop rumour and fi nd out once and for all: Who is this
mysterious Tom Glenne character who parades his hard-to-
nail-down (alt-R&B-rock?) band across Canada year aft er
year… and just how many members are there in his band,
“Th e 5.5”?
VV: Tom, why is the August 16 show called a “sock hop”?
TG: Playing in a gym. Got to love playing in a gym, for the
high school dance memories. Hey, I saw nomeansno open
for DOA at this same gym! I wasn’t wearing socks.
VV: What can we expect from the August 16 show?
TG: We’ll set up in the middle of the room and let people
circle us, view the rock from all angles! And DJ Cassette
will sock hop you with ‘Bust a Move,’ ‘Let’s Go Crazy,’ and
‘Tainted Love.’
VV: You’ve been at this cross-country music marathon
for a long time – 15 years or so. What drives you to keep
doing it?
TG: Settled down life doesn’t really appeal to me. I like
going place to place and having my fi ngers in as many pies
as possible. Th en again, Junior Gone Wild had a record
called ‘too dumb to quit.’
VV: Th e Tom Glenne 5.5 is known for its live
performances; why do you think this is?
TG: I grew up going to nomeansno shows in the ‘80s.
Th at’s my standard for what the band should deliver in
terms of excitement. We actually still believe in the power
of rock and roll.
VV: Why is your band called “Th e 5.5”?
TG: We used to let the diff ering number of musicians
in the band from gig to gig determine the number, so
sometimes it was Th e Tom Glenne 4, or whatever.
Th en we had a gig with a new guitarist who was really tall,
so we called it 5.5. Everyone asked about it then, so that’s
what it’s stayed.
VV: Your lyrics have a kind of Dennis Miller-esque
academic obscurity to them at times, which is a bit of a
surprising contrast to the raw and angsty, blue collar sound
of the music. Do you think there is something about your
upbringing or the music you grew up with that might
account for this unique hybrid?
TG: Well, I like lyrics with interesting implications and
music everyone wants to dance to. I want it all, is what I’m
saying. Your heart, your mind, your ass.
VV: What is the highlight of your music career so far?
TG: I sang a newborn into her fi rst sleep.
VV: Both the Toronto version of your band and the
Victoria version will be represented at the August 16
Sock Hop. What is the biggest diff erence between the
two bands?
TG: Victoria band holds the groove while wearing striped
pants; Toronto band throws the groove away and tries to
get it back again in fl ashy shirts. Both will make you hop,
socks or not.
What sock hop featuring Th e Tom Glenne 5.5, with
DJ Cassette.
When Saturday, August 16, 2008. 7pm Doors.
Where Fernwood Community Centre Gym, 1240
Gladstone Ave.
Admission $6 per person.
Info 381-1552 Ext.25 or www.myspace.com/
thetomglenne55 or www.yap.com
>> by Aaron Ellingsen
Fernwood collage/multimedia artist Anne
Hoban has been named co-winner of “Best in Show” at the
prestigious Sooke Fine Arts Show for her collage sculpture
Anatomy is Destiny. “I wasn’t sure whether the piece
would be problematic,” she tells me. “It’s a life-size papier
mache dress on a black hanger. Th e body of the dress is
collaged with black and white anatomical drawings fi tted
together to look like a fl oral pattern, and has a beautiful
scalloped bottom. Some of the pattern is composed of
large vulva fl owers spread across the dress, and the back
of the dress consists in part of black ribbon–laced sections
of vertebrae.”
For several years friends have encouraged Anne to
enter work into the Sooke show. She’s found a number of
reasons to delay. At one time her collages were physically
too large to enter, and even getting works out to Sooke has
oft en been a snag, as Anne doesn’t own a car. Th ere have
also been periods when she wasn’t interested in entering
juried shows.
It might have been a friendly reminder and the off er of
a lift , or of having just the right pieces to submit. Whatever
made it happen this time, Anne is pleased about the result.
“It was a last-minute decision,” she says. “I wasn’t sure how
they would be received, but I thought the work might get
a bit of attention, if only for the fl owers. It worked well.
Now everything seems to have fallen into place for this.
Apparently they liked my piece.”
Part of the dilemma Anne faced in deciding whether
or not to venture out to Sooke was her intention to include
these two pieces in her upcoming solo show at Collective
Works. While she has exhibited a number of individual
pieces at the gallery on Gladstone, the Fernwood Inn and
the Cornerstone Café – where she also curates monthly
showings – her show, running October 24 to November
13, will be her fi rst solo show in Victoria. As at Sooke,
black and white collage will provide the theme for her
Collective Works show.
Over the last decade, Anne has regularly participated
in the Eastside Culture Crawl at Panefi cio Studios in
Vancouver, had a solo 2005 show at the Vancouver East
Cultural Centre, and has shown works internationally
in Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Milan, Italy; and at Sergines and
Paris in France, where her Mater Atomica won the
Prix du Publique at the Salon International du Collage
Contemporain in 2002.
Anne’s work is inward-looking and intensely
psychological in nature. As she says, it’s her voice, but it
took her some time to fi nd it, and it took more time to
identify collage as the medium she is most at home with.
Her work is driven by an aesthetic sensibility that demands
beauty and confl ict – bite – a foundational contrast borne
out of life experience. Her art is autobiographical and
refl exive in nature.
While collage has a strong lineage, Anne’s approach
is self-taught. Many collage artists combine images in a
manner intended to juxtapose the individual components
within a piece, creating a jarring eff ect through contrasting
these discrete images. Anne characterizes her own use of
collage as “more along the lines of painting with paper,
using the colour and texture of the paper as a palette.” She
enlists these fragments in the project of creating a whole
image. If a jarring note is present in her work, it represents
the confl ict as an integral part of the whole piece.
National Geographic and other magazines are the
sources of the materials Anne uses, and she thrives on
“working with what [she’s] given.” Unfortunately, her
choice of palettes also creates complications. “Permanence
is an issue,” she tells me. “Th e colours in magazines are
oft en fugitive,” and as a result her palette is inherently and
unavoidably unstable.
She describes the eff ects of light and time on one of
her sculptures – situated in a friend’s bright, sunlit room
– as antiquing, and says she likes the verdigris eff ect in
that case. Yet she is protective of her light- and humidity-
sensitive body of work. Much of it is fi led away in her living
room, blinds drawn. Her preferred format for distribution
is in limited edition high quality Giclée on watercolour
paper, which should maintain their integrity for decades or
centuries – which is to say we should have the opportunity
to enjoy Anne’s work for generations.
It’s also to say that you should seize upcoming
opportunities to see Anne’s work in its pristine state and
original form. Even gallery showing can prove wearing
on the large coloured works, so it’s unlikely originals will
appear frequently. Anne’s work is on display until August 4
at the Sooke Fine Arts Show (see www.sookefi nearts.com/
art-show.html for details) and will be at Collective Works
in October. (See www.collectiveworks.ca for info.)
faces : Anne Hoban in black and white P
ho
to:
Aar
on
Elli
ng
sen
Her work is driven by an aesthetic sensibility that demands beauty and confl ict
Ph
oto
: A
ng
ela
Bai
ley
Page 8 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | August 2008 VillageVibe
what’s on in FernwoodArts, Theatre and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre.
ANYTHING THAT MOVES. by Ann-Marie
MacDonald with Alisa Palmer. Music by Allen
Cole. July 29-Aug 16. 1291 Gladstone Ave. For
info contact Belfry Box Offi ce at 250-385-6815
or www.belfry.bc.ca
Bluegrass Wednesdays.
Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass
Association present Wednesday night
bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-
10pm. FREE!
Collective Works Gallery.
Isa Severain (solo show). Aug 1 to Aug
22. Opening reception Fri, Aug 1, 7-9pm.
Harumi Ota (solo show) Aug 22 to Sept 11.
Opening reception Fri, Aug 22, 7-9pm. Gallery
hours>11am-6pm Tues-Thurs; 11am-8pm
Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun; closed Mon. 1311
Gladstone Ave. www.collectiveworks.ca
Cornerstone Collective Records.
Cornerstone Collective Records (Fernwood’s
own non-profi t community-driven record label)
welcomes new members Sat, Aug 9. 2:30pm.
Drop-in to “talk shop” with us and launch your
music career! For info call James: 250-381-
1552 ext.25.
Live Music at Fernwood Inn.
Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302
Gladstone Ave. FREE!
Live Music at Logan’s Pub.
1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com
Sock Hop in the Fernwood Community
Centre Gym.
Featuring the alt-R&B sounds of The Tom
Glenne 5.5, with DJ Cassette. Sat, Aug 16.
Doors 7pm. Tix $6. 1240 Gladstone Ave. All
ages/everyone welcome. Preview at www.yap.
com.
Theatre on Two Wheels.
The Otesha Project presents Reason to
Dream. Fernwood Community Centre. Sun,
Aug 24, 7:30pm. www.otesha.ca.
Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam.
Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall. 1620
Fernwood Rd. $2 to play. FREE to listen. www.
victoriabluegrass.ca
Victoria Folk Music Society.
Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm Feature
Performer. (Aug 3>closed. Aug 10>CHRIS
CHANDLER and PAUL BENOIT. Aug
17>JESSICA FICHOT and band. Aug 24>JANE
EAMON and GORD. Aug 31>VARIETY
FEATURES). Norway House. 1110 Hillside Ave.
$5 feature performer nights/$3 all open stage
night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca
Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community CentreFamily Community Day.
Family Fun directed and facilitated by the
participants. Snacks, crafts, play equipment
and varied themes. Mondays 9:30-11:30am.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE!!
Parent and Tot Playgroup.
Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays
and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $1 per family.
Youth, Adults and SeniorsNew! One-Week Free Youth Soccer
Camp.
Boys and girls ages 8 to 14. Mon, Aug 18 to
Sat, Aug 23. 1-4pm, Basketball Court behind
the Fernwood Community Centre Gym, 1240
Gladstone. To register, call James at 250-381-
1552 Ext.25.
New! Women’s Soccer.
Drop-in. Sundays 5-6:30pm, Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $3.**
Ear Acupuncture at the Fernwood
Community Centre.
Treatments 15-20 min. Thursdays 2:30-
4:30pm. Fernwood Community Centre MPR.
By donation. Everyone welcome.
Falun Gong.
Peaceful meditation practice. All welcome!
Wednesdays 5-7pm. Fernwood Community
Centre MPR. FREE!!
Family Floor Hockey.
Sundays 3:30-5pm, Fernwood Community
Centre Gym. $5 per family.**
Fernwood Autumn Glow.
55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities.
Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays 11am
Fernwood Community Centre MPR. $5.50 for
lunch.
Floor Hockey.
Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and
Thursdays 7-9:30pm. Saturdays 2:30-5pm.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym. $4, or get
a punchcard: $40/11 sessions.**
Hatha Yoga. (off for summer – will
resume in September)
With certifi ed instructor Elke. Focus on gentle
poses, breathing practice, deep relaxation and
meditation. Tuesdays 3-4:30pm. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. Suggested donation
$5.
Internet and Computer Access.
Register and get online through the
Community Access Program. Monday to
Friday 9:30am-5pm. Fernwood Community
Centre Community Room. FREE!
Nintendo Wii Fridays.
Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 10-14. Fridays 7-9pm.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym. FREE!!.
Concession open.
Power Flow Yoga with Jenny Hyslop.
This more intense yoga session will leave you
invigorated and rejuvenated! Adults>Fridays
5:30-7pm. $5. Children ages 3-6>Saturdays
1-2pm. ages 7-12>Sundays 2-3pm. $3.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym.
Scrabble Saturdays.
Ages 13-adult. Saturdays 2-5pm. Fernwood
Community Centre. Drop in and meet fellow
Scrabbleheads. FREE!
Tot Soccer.
Ages 3 to 5. Instructor Bobby Kenny. Sundays
11am-noon. Rain or shine. Learn the basics
and have fun. Whether you call it soccer or
football, this game is great for one and all.
Please bring a kickable ball. In the fi eld behind
Fernwood Community Centre. By donation.
**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and
Canadian Tire Money at face value!
Special EventsFernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.
Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing
and food trays, electronics and foil-lined
coffee bags. Sat, Aug 9. 10am-1pm. Across
from Fernwood Community Centre. By
donation. Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling
Day seeks volunteers! Come out for an hour
or two and help us make it all happen! For
info or to volunteer contact villagevibe@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Fernwood Business Network.
Everyone welcome. Tues, Aug 5. 10am. (fi rst
Tuesday monthly!) Fernwood Inn. For info
contact Ryan Rutley at [email protected]
Victoria Green Drinks.
An inclusive gathering of the sustainability-
minded for refreshments and conversation.
Tues, Aug 12 at Canoe Brew Pub, Marina
and Restaurant 405 Swift Street. For info see
www.greendrinksvictoria.ca
Fernwood Place Making Troupe.
All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square
and the neighbourhood. Mon, Aug 18. 7pm.
Cornerstone Café.
Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective
– Monthly Meeting.
All welcome! Tues, Aug 19. 7-9pm. Fernwood
Community Centre MPR. foodsecurity@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Fernwood Village Night Market.
Local organic produce, baked goods, artists,
artisans and entertainment. Bring your family
and friends for a fresh, funky experience.
Every Tuesday until Sept 16, 5:30-8:30pm.
Corner of Fernwood and Gladstone.
Fernwood Community Kitchen.
Cook nutritious, creative meals with your
neighbours! For info contact Tracey at
Fernwood Sharing Gardens.
Have a garden but no time? Time but no
garden? Contact Rainey at 380-5055 or
Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood
Neighbourhood Resource Group)
1240 Gladstone Street
Victoria, BC V8T 1G6
T 250.381.1552
F 250.381.1509
www.villagevibe.ca
Editor: Lisa Helps
Assistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen,
Trish Richards
Contributors:
Elisha Barker
Fairen Berchard
Anne Cookson
Amy Crook
Tracy James
Margaret Hantiuk
Darrell Harvey
Lee Herrin
James Kasper
Shelley McGrath
Joy Roberts
Cameron Speedie
The views expressed in the Village Vibe
do not necessarily refl ect the views of
Fernwood NRG.
villagevibe
Under new ownership!
Have a cold one …
On our hot new patio!
Open daily from 11:30
1302 Gladstone 412-2001
Spring Ridge Commons Workparties!
Come and get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s
only public food garden. Thursdays, 5-7pm.
Please bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.
The Fernwood Commons: A Fernwood
Community Communication Forum.
For info on Fernwood comings and goings
and neighbourhood news and views, check
out The Fernwood Commons on line: http://
thevillagevibe.ning.com/
If you have a workshop or special event
idea for the Fernwood Community Centre
or the Cornerstone Café email james@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
If you have a Fernwood event you would like
listed in the Village Vibe calendar please send
an email with the subject line “vibe calendar” to