Living

Words & Photo McTavish Academy of Art When people think of McTavish Academy of Art, they may picture children heading into art camp, an artist sitting down at an easel or a busy evening of dance, yoga and creative classes. But behind the everyday activity at the Academy is another side of McTavish that many

Words Dr. Marita Schauch, ND, Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre Back-to-school season means the brain has a big job to do. Between remembering how to do homework, concentrating in class, managing emotions and navigating busy extracurricular schedules, the mental juggling is no joke! Let’s shine a spotlight on an important nutrient to support growing brains

Words Jackie LaPlante Photos Tanner’s Books Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away David Gelles Formidable outdoorsman and wildly successful businessman Yvon Chouinard was always uncomfortable with his wealth. His love of climbing inspired the founding of the extremely successful “Patagonia,” yet Chouinard lives an ascetic life,

Words June Murray Dagnall Photos Sarah Hartley Photography Tucked away in Sidney's tranquil marina floats “YA'AD,” a home unlike any other. While visitors are immediately drawn to its beautifully restored exterior, it is the story behind the walls that truly captures the heart. Years of determination, ingenuity and countless hours of hands-on craftsmanship transformed this

Words & Photo Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation Nearly 1,000 cataract surgeries are performed each year at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, helping local residents restore their vision and maintain their independence. Thanks to the generosity of Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation donors, those patients now have access to one of the world’s most advanced

Words Cassidy Nunn “Apparently we’re not really camping people,” I said to my cousin with a sigh as I stared at our massive tent that apparently could sleep nine people. Instead, it held a queen-sized air mattress, a crib mattress for our three-year-old and a foam couch cushion for our six-year-old. Tonight, it would only

Words & Photos Tina Kelly After a rain, two different rainbows can appear. One evokes a sense of awe and jokes about pots of gold. The other should trigger a sense of ewww and conversations about the environment. The iridescent rainbow of the latter is the shimmer of pollutants on roads, parking lots and driveways.

Words Connie Dunwoody Apparently, life comes with a bit of a social calendar. As children, we’re invited to birthday parties. As young adults, it’s weddings. Then come baby showers, graduations, anniversary celebrations and retirement parties. Every stage of life seems to have its own reasons for gathering with loved ones. Then, one day, the invitations

Words & Photos Ann Nightingale, Rocky Point Bird Observatory First, the good news: bald eagles, purple martins and trumpeter swans are successfully recovering from low population numbers in the 1900s. The bad news is that the majority of bird species are declining around the world. How do we know this, and how can you help?

Words Natasha Jackson, CPHR, Psychological Health & Safety Professional and Workplace Health Consultant Understanding Stress Before It Becomes Your Normal You know that feeling when you're lying in bed at 11 p.m., completely exhausted, but somehow you can't put your phone down because you absolutely need to finish the quiz: "If You Were a Chili