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Living in a city, it’s a rare sight to look up and see stars twinkling and winking back at you. When I find myself on Vancouver Island, star gazing is a must. I’m always blown away by the wonder and expanse of the night sky.

The Nanaimo Astronomy Society is a group of amateur astronomers who meet each month to do just that: star gaze. The group is open to anyone and everyone with a fascination for the moon, milky way and beyond. In addition to the monthly meetings, the group also participates in observing sessions, telescope making, digital sky imaging and even public demonstrations.

Photo: Feet wet on Flickr

On November 25th, the group is gathering at the Paine Horticultural Centre at Vancouver Island University for their next monthly meeting, which also features guest speaker Garland Coulson sharing tips on finding the right telescope. If something low key is more your style, the group will also be meeting on December 2nd for a tasty pizza social.

To find out about these and other events held by the Nanaimo Astronomy Society, please visit them online. You can also find Garland Coulson on Twitter to stay up-to-date on any happenings with the Nanaimo Astronomy Society.

Thank You

Photo: _Skender_ on Flickr

After countless years of coveting everyone and anyone that has one, I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a KitchenAid stand mixer as an early birthday present to myself. For a piece of essential kitchen equipment that normally prices between $400-500, I couldn’t pass up the $299 sale tag.

I debated between a few different colours and happily settled on Green Apple. My dream kitchen consists of white glossy cabinets and chocolate brown wood flooring, so selecting the Green Apple mixer was based on sort of an “if you build it, they will come” theory. Buy the mixer and the coordinating dream kitchen will eventually follow.

Now all I need is a perfectly adorable and ruffled apron.

On our trips home to the Island, the journey for Jordy and I is both clockwork and routine. After taking the 257 bus to Horseshoe Bay, we wander in the waterfront grass for a bit before lining up with the other walk-on passengers to board the ferry. Rather than settling into the pet area, Jordy and I make a beeline for the stairwell landing between car decks. While it’s an unofficial space that I share with other dog owners traveling the Georgia Strait, it’s warmer and dryer than the pet area.

Photo: sunnyfunnyyellow on Flickr

This past Friday, however, I was stopped by one of the BC Ferries employees en route to the stairwell. The employee asked me if the stairwell was, in fact, where I was headed to. Once I confirmed that I was, the employee nodded in the affirmative and simply responded with “good.” As it turns out, this employee wanted to say more than direct me where to go.

I attempted to keep walking but was again stopped by this employee who whispered to me “you should e-mail BC Ferries and you should do it this week!” I questioned the reason behind this and was informed that the vessel I had boarded was to be taken out of service within a week or two for retro-fitting but that absolutely no plans were scheduled to amend the pet area in any manner. And further, the employee told me that senior staff on the ship were encouraging employees to pass this word along because even the ship’s staff were aware of how grossly inadequate the pet area of this and most other vessels truly are. I found this perplexing after being assured by the corporation last year that changes would be made sooner rather than later.

More than a year ago, I wrote a post outlining many of the deficiencies of the pet areas on BC Ferries’ vessels. Some of these included:

- No part of the area had been sanitized within a recent period of time, if at all

- One of the safety gates was entirely missing from the 1-foot gap between the wall and the exterior of the ship. Any smaller dog such as a chihuahua or terrier could have easily slipped between the bars and quite literally into the ocean

- No source of running water for animals or humans to consume (the Coastal Renaissance has a tap in the pet area, but a sign above it informs consumers that the water is non-potable)

- No speaker through which to hear safety announcements

- A confined space not large enough to accommodate more than two or three dogs (even budget-constricted animal shelters provide more space for dogs than the ferries do)

- Exposure to excessive exhaust and toxic pollutants from vehicles

- A lack of basic amenities that all passengers should be able to access, including a washroom, drinking water, comfortable air temperature, comfortable seating, et cetera

A recent comment within the last month from a reader informed me that not a single thing had been done to the pet area on that vessel and that the deficiencies were still glaring.

Following writing that particular piece, I was engaged in a series of back-and-forth e-mails and phone calls with someone at BC Ferries’ head office. Being that I wanted a record of our communication, I requested that all contact be through e-mail rather than the lengthy voicemails left on my cell phone. It would seem that my request was refused based on the fact that I heard nothing further from the corporation in any regard.

What I was told, however, was that my requests for improvements to basic amenities would be taken under strong advisement and that the corporation recognized the need for pet area improvements. I was encouraged to “schedule travel plans from now on to coincide with the Coastal Renaissance” since the pet area on that particular vessel has much better standards.

Unfortunately, the Coastal Renaissance is only used during the busy tourist months and one can assume that the vessel was designed to cater to tourists, not to the BC residents who rely on the ferry system for basic transport. Last year I received an anonymous e-mail from a BC Ferries employee who sent me this link; it would appear that the supposedly fuel efficient Super C class boats actually consume more fuel than their decades-old counterparts.

At the end of the day, it is not my ultimate goal to drag BC Ferries’ reputation or name through the mud. The corporation is a legacy of this Province and one of the most beautiful ways by which to see coastal British Columbia. It is, however, a crucial part of how British Columbia functions and, as a pet owner, they’ve left me with a perpetual sour taste in my mouth.

Would I pay a higher fare for a comfortable, adequate pet area? You betcha. Would other pet-toting passengers pay higher fares too? Undoubtedly. Next time you’re on a ferry, ask a passenger traveling with a pet how they feel. The sentiments are unanimous.

All you have to do is look at the photos above and ask yourself if those are conditions under which you’d be comfortable traveling, particularly in the upcoming chilly winter months. Pet owner, animal lover or not – they’re inadequate for anyone and everyone. And, 18 months later, BC Ferries is seemingly still unwilling to amend the issues.

If you feel so inclined, I urge you to please take a moment and send direct feedback to BC Ferries and encourage the corporation to take this matter seriously.

BC Ferries – Interactive Feedback

BC Ferries – Direct E-mail

Photo: Phil Petersen on Flickr

For me, there is no season that better captures the exquisite beauty and colour found in nature than Autumn. More than just crunchy scarlet leaves, it’s also in the crisp morning air, the reflection of fog on the water at Victoria Harbour, small houses with tiny chimneys puffing away in Union Bay, and late afternoon sunsets over the Island’s mountain spine.

Year after year, I am endlessly in awe of this season every time I set foot outside. Here are a few gorgeous shots captured so far during this year’s Autumn across Vancouver Island.

Photo: Guy Monty on Flickr

Photo: Feet wet on Flickr

Photo: Garry Zeweniuk on Flickr

Photo: Anna-Lena König on Flickr

Photo: ai.dan on Flickr

Photos: Johnny Tang on Flickr

Photo: Guy Monty on Flickr

Photo: cherrysweetdeal on Flickr

Photo: Anna-Lena König on Flickr

Photo: Phil Petersen on Flickr

Photo: Mark Margerison via BC Hydro on Flickr

Photo: ai.dan on Flickr

What do you most look forward to seeing each Autumn?

Though a blog post, a card or even words at all are required to let my mom know how much I love her, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t say it.

She has been the one consistent rock in my life, showing love unfailingly and demonstrating the kind of woman that is worth aspiring to be. Today her is birthday and though I take a moment to celebrate her in my life each and every day, I want to wish her a day full of joy and laughter and beauty. If anyone deserves all of those things and more, it is my mother.

Having grown up on Vancouver Island, recreation was always a part of my daily life. Throughout my late teens and early 20s, many of my friends were involved in the local skateboard scene, landing ollies on our city sidewalks and grinding rails at the community bank.

Vancouver Island has become home to a large number of skateboard parks over the last decade as municipalities are recognizing that it’s an important part of youth culture. In fact, a comprehensive list of the Island’s skate parks can be found online. While skateboarding has largely been seen as a nuisance by many, I wanted to take some time to dispel a few of those myths. Through the convenience of technology, I was able to sit down with Shawn and Davej – two veteran skateboard enthusiasts who were instrumental in developing one of the Island’s biggest private skateboard parks. It’s a lengthy read but very fascinating!

Photo: kristiewells on Flickr

Keira: How do skate parks benefit our communities?

Shawn: Providing a safe and useful location for skaters to do what they are already doing makes sense to me. A city or government that supports positive youth involvement is going to connect with the younger demographic… and their parents.

Davej: And recognizing and supporting alternative forms of sport and physical activity and the citizens who participate in them is a good way to build community.

Keira: What helped skateboarding become more socially accepted in our communities?

Davej: Skate boarding has had a roller-coaster history in North America. On the West Coast in the ’70s tons of kids were skating – almost as many girls as guys – but at the end of the decade a public wave of fear led to the demolition of many concrete parks. Skating made a comeback in the ’80s but by the the end of the ’80s it was almost non-existent as far as society was concerned. For more than a decade now I think the sport and the industry have made steady progress, even making major inroads to the mainstream consciousness.

Davej: And it’s good to see the girls back and ripping!

Photo: Spectrum SK8

Keira: Why is being involved in the skateboard culture something you both enjoy?

Davej: For me, the possibilities in skateboarding are endless because it is so challenging. You can always try variations and forever improve stuff. I think skateboarders look at the world in a more creative way, always wondering what more could be done with a particular object beyond its original intent… it’s a real spacial-visual intelligence exercise.

Shawn: I think skateboard culture has always recognized that supporting the next generation of riders is part of the natural flow. I want to see kids continue having fun.

Keira: What do you think is the biggest misconception about skate parks and the culture?

Shawn: A common misconception is that skate parks are too expensive for a small town. Or that they will cause a mess. Some of opponents of skate park development argue they are only for a small demographic, but I think they are for the whole family. In the mornings you often see little kids and parents hanging out; after school and in the evenings the older crowd gathers.

Davej: From a design point of view, building a skate park is more about the small details than the big picture. I have seen too many parks ruined by seemingly minor omissions of a contractor or designer who doesn’t really specialize in creating skate parks.

Photo: BrittneyBush on Flickr

Keira: What should the general public know about skate parks?

Davej: I think there is always the tendency to fall prey to unwarranted “dangerism” and hold the view that a skate park is an extremely risky place, but the statistics are pretty clear that other sports such as basketball and soccer have a much higher level of injury than skateboarding. Having proper skate education, using proper park etiquette and beginning at a young age can make skateboarding one of the most fun and beneficial physical past times for young people. I am proud that the West Coast has always been a leading example in supporting skateboarders.

Shawn: A good skate park is a long term solution for future youth.

Keira: How would you like to see skate park culture evolve in the next few years? Decades?

Davej: I am really stoked about the skatespot style that is getting more press recently. Instead of a monolithic mass of skate-dedicated concrete in one corner of the town, several smaller skate-friendly spots and plazas are built in parks and public locations. When the skaters are not around, the plaza or spot blends in as part of a well-designed and attractive public space. Core companies like Newline are rocking this concept right now.

Davej: As far as the next decade, it is hard to say. In the past the industry has tended to drive one particular style of skating at a time (pool in the ’70s, vert in the ’80s, street in the ’90s) but I think more skaters are beginning to own the idea that any kind of skating is cool and fun.

Photo: Spectrum SK8

Keira: Is there anything else you feel is important and worth mentioning?

Davej: Many of the towns on the Island have supported the development of really great skate parks in the last ten years. The Island is now a great skate destination with a park almost every ten or twenty minutes up the Island Highway! And I can’t stress enough the importance of getting the right people to look after the details when you are pouring a slab of concrete that will be part of your community legacy for the next thirty years.

Shawn: Towns need to realize that when a group of twelve to seventeen year-old kids spend time and effort to raise money and go to public meetings to develop a skate park, they are emerging as future leaders, and we need to encourage rather than discourage them.

Shawn is co-founder of The Crew and has worked with youth skateboard organizations in the U.S.A. and Canada for over a decade. Originally a native of BC, he is currently living and working in Alberta.

Davej is a developer and freelance artist currently residing in Kansai, Japan. As co-owner of Project Skates, he has designed and built ramps for camps and school skate programs in Canada, the USA and Japan.

As co-founder of The Crew, Shawn is graciously offering up a brand new uniquely designed skateboard deck only available from The Crew’s skateboard shop. The winner will get to pick which deck they want and The Crew will ship to any winner worldwide. All decks can be seen online here. All you have to do is either:

and/or

RT and follow @thecrew_ca to win a custom skateboard deck from @keiraanne! http://bit.ly/dljhQo

I will draw one lucky winner on Monday, November 15th!

Treating the environment with respect is something that I have always been very conscious of. I throw away as little as possible, separate my recyclables, return beverage containers and turn off lights when I’m not in a room. There is absolutely nothing that grates on me more than idling vehicles spewing their fumes into the clean air we breathe!

However, living in a metropolitan area, composting is an endeavour that’s not easily accomplished. Food scraps and organic waste account for a large portion of what gets thrown away into landfills each and every day. The fact of the matter is that city recycling programs are, for the most part, not set up to incorporate in-city composting or compost pick-up.

Photo: frankfarm on Flickr

The City of Nanaimo has long been a proud pioneer of green living on Vancouver Island and recently Woodgrove Centre took the initiative to including composting in their waste reduction program. The food court now prominently displays a number of organic composting stations in what they call the “Fishsticks to Chopsticks” part of their waste reduction plan.

In what GM Mark Fenwick calls a “natural next step“, the stations include information for consumers as to what can and cannot be recycled or composted. Fenwick further states: “We expect it might take some time for some to become comfortable with it, but we just started the program on Tuesday and we’ve noticed that most people are already using it. We believe it’s important that we work with the community to ensure we run a sustainable and environmentally friendly operation at Woodgrove.” [quote source]

Being a good steward in our communities begins at home – and apparently in our malls as well! What are some of your best tips on being environmentally friendly?

With the countdown clock officially ticking down to opening day, Mount Washington Alpine Resort is gearing up for what promises to be another amazing season on the slopes. If loads of snow, crisp air and a free season pass appeal to you, the mountain might be your prime spot for a job during the 2010/2011 season. In fact, this is only a handful of perks up for grabs!

With over 800 jobs during the winter season, Mount Washington has a lot of positions to fill and is holding one massive job fair this weekend. Being that Mount Washington is an active-focused resort with a wide range of activities and facilities, there are positions and needs to suit almost anyone. Some of these include food and beverage, snow school, retail, the O-Zone tubing park and mountain operations such as lift attendants. More information on these and other positions can be found online.

Bring your resume and enthusiasm to the Whiskey Jack conference room in the Alpine Lodge this Saturday, November 6th. The hiring fair runs from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and it’s a one-time shot, so don’t miss out!

If you’ve been reading my blog over the years, you know how much of a sucker I am for the winter months, Christmastime and fresh powder at Mount Washington. We’re only two days into November and I’m already contemplating which weekend to set up my mini Christmas tree while planning out Holiday Bake-a-thon 2010 with Rebecca. This weekend I’ll be digging my snowboard out of storage, dusting it off and having it tuned and waxed in anticipation of the massive snowpack that La Niña is promising.

Though only two days ago we were focused on ghosts, goblins and stale candy bars, all of that is history as I am looking forward to the excitement of the rest of 2010. With Starbucks ringing in their peppermint mochas as of this morning and yours truly’s favourite mountain set to open just days after her birthday in December, I can’t help but ask:

What are you most looking forward to during the remainder of 2010?

The Furever After Fall Fiesta Fundraiser is taking place in Qualicum Beach this Saturday, November 6th. A small number of tickets are still available for the event, so stop in at Qualicum Wine Making on West First Avenue or zip off an e-mail to the Furever After gang to snap up tickets before they’re gone. Tickets are $35 each and 100% of proceeds support a very worthy cause.