Living

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

Words Connie Dunwoody On aging, time changes, and the quiet urgency of now. The clocks do their quiet, bossy dance twice a year. One Sunday they leap forward like a caffeinated squirrel, another they slump back like a cat reclaiming a warm cushion. We grumble, we yawn, we reset the microwave and the oven, give

Words Amy Joy Mistal, Soul Ease Professional Organizing If organizing your home feels overwhelming, you aren’t alone. The good news is that you do not need hours of free time or a major overhaul to see results. Small, consistent efforts can completely transform how your home feels and functions. Start with a simple mindset shift:

Words Jackie LaPlante Photos Tanner's Books Departure(s) Julian Barnes The narrator of Departure(s), conveniently named Julian, is 80 and declares that this will be his final book. As Julian muses about aging, a medical diagnosis and not wanting to die mid-book, he promises a love story about fictional people. But as Julian Barnes sketches that

Words Dr. Ashlee Albright, Peninsula Veterinary Hospital It’s not lost on those of us who have pets that we are drawn to animals because they make us feel good and bring joy to our lives. Approximately 12.2 million Canadian households enjoy the benefits of the human-animal bond through cat and dog guardianship. A growing body

Words Tabatha Golat I don’t think I’m alone in believing that most people have, at some point, dreamed of staying overnight in a shopping mall. As a child, the idea felt magical. Empty hallways, toy stores at your disposal, endless food court snacks, and the freedom to explore without rules. When the trailer for the

Words Cassidy Nunn Photo Nunn Other Photography “Woof, woof,” my mum said softly, hovering over my crib with a stuffed dog puppet in her hands. He had brown floppy ears, a smooth button nose and dark marble-like eyes. “Woo-woo” I’d coo back excitedly, not quite able to say the “f” sound yet. And thus the

Words Deborah Reid, Raymond James Ltd. The financial industry is filled with acronyms and assumptions, and when a young man recently shared that he didn't understand his retirement savings options, it became obvious that the best place to start is with the basics. If you are one of the fortunate workers that contributes to a