Stories

Words Jo Barnes Photos Sarah Hartley Photography Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses. That certainly is part of the joy for the growers at Eurosa Farms and is one of the dividends of their year-round hard work. “We are one of only two commercial rose growers in Canada,” shares Paul Bulk, Head

Words Tabatha Golat, Editorial Director Back in March, I attended an event celebrating the Power of Women in Philanthropy. The entire day was inspiring, but my biggest takeaway came from three-time Olympic rower Darcy Hortness. When asked what one thing people could do each day to move toward their goals, her answer was simple: stretch

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