Stories

Words Seaside Sue, Publisher & Owner After another day of deadlines and page layouts, I curled up to watch a new series on Netflix called Big Mistakes. It follows two wildly disorganized siblings who somehow find themselves working for the mob, constantly scrambling to fix problems of their own making. The storyline is outrageous, but [...]

Words & Photos Sue Hodgson I’ve lived on Vancouver Island for more than 30 years now, yet somehow I’ve spent very little time exploring the Gulf Islands. This Easter weekend changed that. My first visit to Mayne Island turned into a gentle reminder that sometimes the most memorable getaways are the ones waiting quietly just

Words Together Against Poverty Society Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) has advocated for economic and social justice in Greater Victoria since 1989. Now one of the largest anti-poverty organizations on Vancouver Island, with dedicated offices in Victoria and Nanaimo, TAPS has spent over three decades providing compassionate legal advice and representation in specialized areas of

Words Jo Barnes Photos Sarah Hartley Photography It all starts with the eyes. Brentwood Bay artist, Meaghan Crow, certainly takes into account accuracy in proportions, colouring and textures, but what is key for her in doing a pet portrait is the animal’s eyes. “I aim for the feeling coming through when you look at the

Words Paula Young, Former Reading Volunteer Coordinator Photos Wind Gypsy Photography The Sidney Elementary School’s reading program is the vehicle for doing just that. The program, designed to develop literacy, also helps build relationships between students and volunteers and fosters the joy of reading. When people first hear about the reading program, many imagine volunteers

Words Kelly Finerty Photos Wind Gypsy Photography A local non-profit on a mission to care for pets and their humans. Innovative ideas filling an unmet need, defined simply as “acts restoring faith in humanity,” are my favourite. This is certainly the case in the story of two best friends and trailblazing women in healthcare, Priya

Words & Photos Susan Beiderwieden Despite the early hour, the waiting area at YYJ was packed with some excited travellers ready to start their spring break in Mexico. Most, like us, had been up before dawn and were bleary eyed and silent. The departure gate was full of people of all ages, from retirees to

Words Jamila Douhaibi Photos Sarah Hartley Photography When Ruhee Janmohamed started her degree in physics and astronomy, she was often told “this isn’t for you.” Professors in these male-dominated fields weren’t supportive of students – female students to be specific. But Ruhee said this helped her in “finding the inner strength, and using their words