Living

Words Dr. Patrick Yang, Surgical Site Chief, Saanich Peninsula Hospital When people think about surgery, they often picture bright lights, advanced equipment and focused concentration. What I see, after many years in the operating room at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, is something broader. I see the patient, their family, our medical team and the community that

Words Natasha Jackson, CPHR, Psychological Health & Safety Professional and Workplace Health Consultant You know that feeling when you look around, and it seems like everyone else has got their life sorted and you're the only one barely holding it together? Maybe you're having a rough week, and someone casually mentions how well everything's going

Words Jesse Holth "Action is the antidote to despair.” – Joan Baez According to a recent study, almost one million Canadians have serious climate anxiety – meaning that it disrupts sleep and everyday functioning. With 90% of respondents concerned about climate change and almost three quarters feeling some kind of anxiety, this widespread issue is

Words & Photo Cynthia Philp Gardeners know that the first step is to start out with a good plan: to carefully lay out where the garden beds will be, to establish pathways and appropriate fencing. There are courses to take on plant groupings and proper pruning techniques. I am reaching the last stages of establishing

Words Janice Henshaw Photos Sarah Hartley Photography As I drive down the narrow lane towards the sea in North Saanich, the house colour catches my eye: not white-on-white minimalism, but the warm taupe siding and brick-red trim that is carefully matched to the arbutus trees that thrive on the waterfront lot. Homeowner Cheryl explains that

Words Sherrin Griffin, Sidney Seniorcare Last week, my husband came home with a scary-looking contraption that seemed best suited for a torture chamber. I found out that it was an inversion machine that he had borrowed from a buddy, determined to find some relief from a hip “situation.” After a brief conversation, oblivious as always,

Words Jackie LaPlante Audio books are rapidly gaining in popularity, with their production values becoming increasingly sophisticated. What was once a job for well-spoken readers has morphed into a format for voice actors, some of whom are specialists in the field and others who are famous Hollywood actors trying their hands (and voices) at audio.

Words & Photos Shelley Tice Spring on Vancouver Island has a way of calling you outside. We answered that call with a day trip to Sandcut Beach, just west of Sooke, about an hour-and-20-minute drive from the Peninsula. It remains one of my favourite beaches to explore on Vancouver Island. We made our customary stop

Words Dr. Marita Schauch, ND, Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre If you asked most people what their top priority is, many would say family. But if you looked at where most of our time and energy actually go, the honest answer is often work. We have bills to pay and deadlines to meet. But where