Living

Words Jackie LaPlante Photos Tanner's Books A Season for Spies Iona Whishaw If you haven’t yet fallen into Iona Whishaw’s Lane Winslow detective series, this prequel may be the place to start. As a translator in wartime England, Lane is doing her bit when, surprisingly, she is asked to participate in a secret mission in [...]

Words Mabel Marin, Beacon Community Services Photos Janis Jean Choosing to thrift your holiday gifts isn’t just budget-friendly, it’s a meaningful way to support your community and the planet. Every purchase from Beacon’s thrift shops gives quality items a second life, reducing waste and keeping treasures out of the landfill. Even better, proceeds directly fund

Words Sherrin Griffin, Sidney Seniorcare This month I am turning the “Big 60” – a decade which heralds the entrance of seniordom, retirement and the “final chapter,” so to speak. I’m sure that some seniors reading this will think that I’m being melodramatic and maudlin, but I do think that this is the age when

Words & Photos Cynthia Philp After the drought of summer, our gardens are once again bursting with impossibly vibrant green foliage. Hellebores, camelia, viburnum and heathers are blooming, making it incredible to contemplate what our friends and families across Canada are experiencing. Our outdoor chores are done. Transplants have been transplanted, pots rinsed out, and

Words Tabatha Golat I’ve always been drawn to Kathryn Bigelow’s work. The Academy Award-winning director is known for her intense, meticulously crafted films that often explore high-pressure situations. When I heard the buzz around her latest project, House of Dynamite (Netflix), I had no expectations, yet I was immediately pulled into its high-stakes world. The

Words Janice Henshaw Photos Jody Beck Photography & Toby Moselen/Hussel Media This grand three-storey home is nestled on a waterfront 5.3-acre lot that offers both the privacy and serenity of a surrounding forest, as well as a stunning ocean view of the Saanich Inlet, facing towards Finlayson Arm and the Malahat on Vancouver Island. The

Words & Photos Shelley Tice When a friend invited me for an afternoon walk at Rithet’s Bog, I’ll admit that I had to look up where it was. Despite living on the Peninsula for many years, this unique conservation area in the heart of Saanich had somehow escaped my radar.  But as soon as I

Words Connie Dunwoody, Broadmead Care Just like that, it’s November: the month of bright colours and swirling winds, shorter days, lots more rain – and of remembering. November 1 is All Saints Day, when we remember loved ones who went before us. November 11 invites us to pay homage and remember with deep gratitude the

Words Jacqueline Nicoll, K & Co. Marketing Let’s face it: most pets don’t love going to the vet. The moment the carrier comes out or the leash gets clipped in an “unusual” way, pets everywhere activate full drama mode. There’s squirming, suspicious side-eyes, and sometimes, a very specific form of betrayal you can only get