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Trio Magazine, 407 D 5th Street, Courtenay, BC (2024)

11/21/2023

10 QUESTIONS WITH HOLLY IRELAND

Upon returning from a life-changing year in Germany as an au pair at 18, Holly Ireland embraced her calling and embarked on a remarkable journey – one that led her straight into the captivating world of hairstyling, and makeup artistry. She thrived as a successful hairstylist for more than 13 years, basking in the glory of owning her own salon and tending to a devoted clientele. However, life took a sudden, unforeseen turn when Ireland faced the daunting reality of a breast cancer diagnosis. Seeking answers and solace, she delved into the depths of the internet, only to uncover a heartbreaking betrayal within my beloved industry.

What is something you're really proud of?
Lately I've been reflecting on how far I've come with my body confidence - five years ago I knew I wanted to own my flat chest and my scars after the double mastectomy but I struggled so much with what it looked like, and not seeing any bodies like mine represented didn’t help. I am proud of myself for not caring what other people think or what society says is sexy/feminine. Sexy is a state of mind, and I don't need two fatty mounds upon my chest to feel like a woman. I am proud of my body, and want other women to see it and know they have multiple choices if ever faced with mastectomy.

To read more about Holly Ireland and the rest of her 10 questions 10 , find your latest copy of trio online or in stores today!

10/27/2023

Volunteers gather to sew adaptive clothing for wounded Ukrainians

Sitting at home, alone in her Little River residence in the Comox Valley, Ukrainian mother Alla Bielaia kept asking herself the same recurring question: “how can I help my people back in Ukraine?” Sending money was one option, but often time felt intangible and vaporous. As she pondered, she came across a Facebook post from Shveina Rota - which translates to Sewing Division. The organization, launched by two women from Dnipro, just kilometres away from the frontline, was asking for help. The post mentioned that constant power outages resulting from incessant bombing prevented them from operating to the fullest of
their abilities. After visiting their page, Bielaia realized that this non-profit was sewing adaptive clothing for wounded Ukrainians. Within days, she established a Canadian chapter of Shveina Rota in the Valley and began mobilizing resources needed to realize this endeavour. On February 24, 2022, as Russia launched a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, deafening sirens announcing imminent bombing raids started resounding in the streets of many Ukrainian cities. Looking for shelter, many flocked to the closest underground metro system or basement. For Bielaia, her three boys, and her husband, this impromptu shelter was their apartment’s corridor.

“Went the sirens went off, they were going on four hours and hours,” recalls Bielaia. “Since there were not enough bomb shelters, and we often didn’t have the time to run to the closest one, we were usually sleeping in the corridor of our apartment to avoid the exterior windows and walls.” Within the first few days after the conflict erupted, Bielaia and her husband took the decision to leave their hometown of Khmelnytskyi. “Everyone was scared, but my son took it the hardest,” recalls Bielaia. “He was seven at that time and he stopped speaking for a while. For us, that was the trigger leave.” On March 1, the family crossed the Polish border. “Fortunately, my husband was able to come with us since men with three children are allowed to leave the country with their families,” says Bielaia. “We ended up staying seven months in Poland.” During this time that Bielaia connected with a network of Ukrainian diasporas around the world. Following countless exchanges, the family finally set their eyes on Canada. “Canada is geographically situated far away, from the conflict,” explains Bielaia. “Another thing is that Canada is well known for its respect for human rights and its social support system. And I can’t forget to mention: this country is beautiful too.” In September 2022, the family boarded a plane in Poland and eventually landed in the Comox Valley.

To read more about a Volunteers gather to sew adaptive clothing for wounded Ukrainians, find your latest copy of trio online or in stores today!

10/06/2023

STRENGTH IN THE GYM COMMUNITY

Lataisha Maynard is one of the most powerful women in the Comox Valley. She has her daughter to thank for that. Maynard owns Feral Strength Training in Comox. Had it not been for the birth of her daughter, she may have never reached the successes she now enjoys. “I got into weight training shortly after my kiddo was born,” said Maynard. “About a year went by and I got postpartum depression really bad. So, I ended up just putting her in the basket and going for a walk one day. The next day we went a little farther, and then a little farther again. Then one day we went past a gym, and I took a peek inside and there were a bunch of people having a lot of fun. So, I thought ‘What about joining?’ I just joined. That was around 2015. “I didn’t do any serious weight training for the first two years. I was just doing cardio and working my way through the machines.”

What started as a therapeutic process quickly became more than that. She eventually was hired at the gym - VI Fitness, in Campbell River. She worked there until the time the company went bankrupt. “All the locations on the Island shut down, and I was out of a job, and I really missed fitness, the environment, seeing everyone every day… so I thought ‘Why don’t I become a trainer?’ I decided to become a certified personal trainer, and that way I can work in any gym that I want. I will have job security and I will be able to help people at the same time.” Maynard acquired her personal certified trainer accreditation through ACE, then continued her education by acquiring a sports fitness nutrition certification, as well as an orthopaedic exercise certificate. become a certified personal trainer, and that way I can work in any gym that I want. I will have job security and I will be able to help people at the same time.”

To read more about a strength in the gym, find your latest copy of trio online or in stores today!

09/18/2023

A CLASSIC NOTE

Courtenay man's hobby had led him to collect 36 vintage typewriters

Chris Cottle says that he has an addiction. Last year while recovering from kidney cancer, he decided to start a hobby since he wasn’t allowed to lift anything heavy. This is when he found his long-lost love for typewriters. While searching through his family belongings, he came across a 1952 Royal HH typewriter, which he had since 1967 when he took his grade nine typing class. Before starting his collection, he had to learn how to clean and refurbish typewriters, but he eventually learned to have fun with it. “So, I had this 1952 Royal HH typewriter in my house. And I’ve had that since 1967 and so I decided just to clean it up and get it all working. So, I did that and I could do that just sitting down and not lifting anything,” Cottle said. The first new addition to his collection after this was a 1922 Royal Standard Model 10. The rest is history. “I decided to keep going and then I just got hooked into buying more and more. It’s a disease thereafter,” he said. Cottle now has 36 typewriters, with 10 that are more than 100 years old.

While Cottle wants to continue to increase his collection, his wife believes that he has way too many. “I keep most of the typewriters in the crawl space in the house. That way, my wife doesn’t see them.” Now retired, Cottle spent his working days in the Canadian Navy. He attended the Royal Military College at Saint-Jean and was in the Navy through the 70s into the mid 80s. Later on, Cottle switched over to be a dentist, ultimately returning to be a dentist in the military for a few years until 1992. He then worked as a dentist in private practice until he retired last year, which is when he moved from Salmon Arm to Courtenay. Cottle was the only boy in his 30-student typewriting class. He says that he only took the course because he needed a bird Course.

To read more about a classic note, find your latest copy of trio online or in stores today!

09/15/2023

THE (HAND)WRITTEN MARKS OF LOVE

“Whatever goes on in the brain is actually reflected in the handwriting.” That’s what Dorothea Gordon learned after a career working two completely different jobs. In her first position, the F***y Bay retiree based her work in science. She’d present courtrooms with “exhibit as”. She’d magnify ink globs on signatures; she’d reveal the suspicious pace of a pen stroke. In the end, she’d prove that someone didn’t sign the contract, rather, they were the victim of a forgery. Scientific - not like her second job. When Gordon went to her next position, she analyzed love letters. Women in Victoria would receive a letter from a complete stranger, then they’d bring it to Gordon, and ask for analysis about the man who sent it. What did the loopy “G” say about him? Was he worth meeting for a date? People would put a romance ad in the paper, back when they online dating wasn’t an option. They’d say: “Hi, I’m single! Send me a letter!”

The problem, however, was that it worked. Gordon’s clients didn’t know what to do with their letters. Who’s worth meeting? They needed to narrow it down. Gordon was the answer. As a certified document examiner, she had a keen eye for handwriting. She started studying “graphoanalysis,” which is the process of analyzing someone’s handwriting to learn about their personal life. It was completely different from her role as document examiner, and much less scientific. Gordon and her clients sought to dig the information out of a man’s pen strokes. What business does science have in love? The clients had usually met their partner through the newspaper, but that wasn’t always the case. Some clients came to Gordon about men they were already seeing.

To read more about the (hand) written marks of love, find your latest copy of trio online or in stores today!

08/02/2023

PURSUING HIS DREAMS ONE VIDEO AT A TIME

Local musician Austin Diotte-Turner, who goes by ADT Music, began his music career in 2019 with an online music production course. Today he has an album and posts acapella covers that have even been noticed by a few celebrities. The course Diotte-Turner took was by music producer Andrew Wong, and he said it was a great experience for him. “It was like you got to collaborate with all these other people and feedback with each other. It was a good learning experience, and I've just been working on it,” he said. “I've always loved to just record stuff, and I've always had that drive to just make cool sounding music.”

The acappella work was inspired by the song Take A Picture by Filter when he heard the harmonies. “I just love vocal harmony so much,” he noted. “I was like, what if you just make the whole song vocal harmony and just get rid of the instruments? And I've seen lots of people in the past have done acappella stuff. I just tried it myself and I've just been really loving it.” Not everything Diotte-Turner does is acappella. Videos online show him playing with instruments at times, but the covers are all instrument free - the Acappella Builder Series. Diotte-Turner said he can play a variety of instruments, and loves playing each instrument for a different reason. However, if he had to pick a favourite, it would be piano. He said he’s played music most of his life, but only started taking it seriously within the last five or six years.

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07/28/2023

CREATING A CULINARY LEGACY FOR LOCAL STUDENTS

Tammy Williamson is a home economics teacher in the Comox Valley School District, and a member of the North Vancouver Island Culinary Association. As a member of the association, Williamson just recently won the Member of the Year award for the West Coast, and is now nominated nationally. “[The award] recognizes a non-chef, a member of chefs association, and people like educators who contribute to the culinary world behind the scenes,” said Williamson. “I honestly have no idea this even existed. The president of our association – Leslie Stav - she put my name forward.” This isn’t the first time Williamson has won Member of the Year, having previously won it for the North Island branch. “I got a set of amazing, beautiful knives with my name engraved on every single one of them,” she said. “So that was pretty cool. I do quite a bit of work… and that's why Leslie put my name forward.”

Having worked at multiple schools around the Valley, Williamson has had a hand in developing the district-wide culinary program. She graduated with a home economics degree from the University of Saskatchewan. “When I started university, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do, and I found out we had a home economics program, and I'm like, ‘oh, that's cool.’ Teaching wasn't even on my radar. It wasn't something I was thinking about, and then it kind of fell into my lap.” Aside from teaching culinary arts at Isfeld, Williamson has been involved in the professional culinary program run through the school district. The district offers a Level One E Apprentice program in partnership with Camosun College in Victoria.

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07/24/2023

VALLEY GIRLS

When the pandemic started in 2020, Candice Robillard’s plans to start dance classes got put on hold - like the rest of the world. But in September of that year, Valley Girls Dance was born. “Our style is like commercial heels or commercial sneakers, which is what you see in music videos, concerts,” said Robillard. Robillard has been dancing and cheerleading for most of her life and before Valley Girls, ran a dance studio in Edmonton where she says she fell in love with dancing in heels. In 2017, Robillard said she decided to leave for the Comox Valley, and realized there wasn’t anything like Valley Girls at the time. “I would literally go dance by myself in a gym… with a little speaker,” she said. “And then I would have friends on Facebook, be like, ‘Can I come dance with you?’ ” It was this that sparked Robillard’s idea to start Valley Girls Dance. Valley Girls found a home at another local dance studio after Rollibard had been posting dance videos throughout the first months of the pandemic.

“I had a girl message me and say, ‘hey, we're starting a studio. Do you need somewhere to rent?’ So we ended up starting in September, when they opened, and we've been there ever since at JL Dance Project, just behind Value Village (in Courtenay).” For Robillard, this studio is important because she grew up dancing and cheerleading but not always fitting the stereotype of a dancer. “I always was so scared to go to a new class because I knew people would judge me first and then be like, ‘wow, she's really good,” Robillard said. “But what I learned from that is how it feels and what I wish an instructor would do or say or make me feel.” She said a lot of classes will teach a movement, and offer an “easier” option for those who need it. Robillard’s approach at Valley Girls is the opposite.

Valley Girls Dance

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07/21/2023

The Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club wants to dispel stereotypes surrounding the sport. Legend has it that explorer Sir Francis Drake - the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world - was playing lawn bowling on the shores of England when the Spanish Armada appeared in the distance. Despite the impending assault from the Spanish war fleet, Drake calmly insisted on finishing his game. Tracing its origins back to ancient Egypt, this ‘sport of kings’ is now accessible to the general public, says Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club spokesperson Sandy Tonnelier. Making its first appearance in Cumberland, lawn bowling was brought to the Valley by the Dunsmuir family in the mid-19th century. Proud Scotsmen, they exported this tradition to the Island. In 1926, Cumberland’s aristocracy invited Courtenay Mayor Franck McPherson and his councillors to bowl. Deeply charmed by his experience, McPherson brought the sport to Courtenay and had a bowling green built on his property. He invited members of the community to spectate and play.

By 1935, lawn bowling became so engrained in the city’s identity that the Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club made its appearance in Lewis Park. Nearing its 89th birthday, the club can now be found in Bill Moore Park.

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07/18/2023

10 Q U E S T I O N S W I T H B E RT R A M W I N C H E S T E R O F R A D FARM

Bertram Wi******er is the co-owner/operator of RAD Farm in the Comox Valley where they specialize in microgreens. Wi******er was born in Montreal and grew up in Calgary. “It feels like I have found my true home here in the Comox
Valley,” he says. “I love nature walks with my family and swimming in the ocean, rivers and lakes. " "I really love growing and selling microgreens. They are super foods that contain amazing amounts of nutrition that are so RADiculosly fun to grow and eat.” RAD stands for Really Awesome Day, notes Wi******er. “Everyday eating farm fresh is a really awesome day,” he adds.

1. How did you get started in microgreens and why are they important to you?

We were looking for a change of lifestyle for our growing family. We wanted to reconnect with nature and become more self-sustaining. I was researching foods to grow on the farm and I stumbled across microgreens; at that moment I knew this was for me.

2. What is a random fact about you that few people might know?

I am an introvert by nature, with extrovert tendencies (usually at the farmers markets). The rest of the week I spend in quiet contemplation by myself or with family.

Find the rest of 10 Questions onlineor find your copy today!

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07/15/2023

KELP WANTED

Blake McWilliam and his Back Road Productions crew stopped by the Comox Valley’s 40 Knots Winery recently, but wine tasting was not the main reason for the visit. “The visit was part of a documentary we’ve been making on the Island since last September,” said McWilliam. “We are making a feature-length documentary about kelp and kelp farming and the kelp industry on Vancouver Island. “Kelp is a fascinating organism, and B.C., in particular, is sort of on the cusp of a burgeoning industry using kelp, and we wanted to take a look at the holistic story that discusses not only that new industry in B.C. and what it is facing – the challenges, the pitfalls, whether they should do it, how they can do it responsibly - but also looking at kelp generally in how it may play a role in helping save the planet.” 40 Knots Winery uses kelp as a natural nutrient for the
vines. It is fermented, turned into liquid form, then fed to the grapevines as a natural nutrient. The results have been remarkable. The vines are healthier than ever, and so independent, the need for any additional irrigation on the farm is negligible.

“We dry-land farm here at 40 Knots because the roots go down so deep – 15-20 feet – that we don’t need to irrigate,” said 40 Knots co-owner Layne Craig. “The health of the vines that we have created by using these products… instead of driving a machine around, burning more fuel, we can push it through our irrigation lines, just drip it out onto the plants and make them happy.” “We use it in our disease management spray program, so it adds a bunch of micro-nutrients and secondary macronutrients that the vines need to develop their own defences,” said 40 Knots Winery sustainable solutions analyst Tori Durrett.

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07/13/2023

Humans’ affiliation with animals is universal. Anyone who has a dog, or a cat, or a guinea pig, will tell you they become part of the family. The idea that pets can be therapeutic is also nothing new. Therapy dogs are more and more commonplace, however, a Google search of 'goat yoga' produces nearly 25 million hits. It was only a matter of time before donkey therapy caught on. Cynthia Minden is a visual artist, and classical musician, who has an affinity for donkeys. Approximately 20 years ago, Minden moved to Denman Island, where she discovered her love of the hoofed mammal. Her neighbour had a donkey in his yard, and it took no time at all for its natural affection for humans to "jump the fence" to her place.

“My neighbour had been a director of the Calgary Zoo and I guess they had miniature donkeys there and he just loved them,” said Minden. “He thought when he retired to Denman, he would raise miniature donkeys. But his wife at the time said, like, you know, you've brought home so many animals over the years, let's maybe just have a dog.” And just like that, 'Hedley' became part of the Minden family. “But the thing is, you can't keep a donkey by itself. They're really social animals, and they just suffer with loneliness on their own.” So along came Annie, “... and, you know, everything kind of unfolded from there … I became obsessed with learning everything I could about (donkeys).”

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# localstories

07/10/2023

LIGHTING UP COMOX VALLEY STAGES WITH LAUGHTER

Comox Valley comedian Syd Bosel credits her family, but particularly her friends for her comedy career. Within her friend’s group, she says she listens intently to the stories they share, which, for the most part, are extremely comical. “They are very, very funny. When they say they’re proud of me, I tell them I’m just the one who has the guts to go up on stage,” she notes with a slight laugh. Bosel, who was born and grew up in Vancouver, moved to the Comox Valley about three years ago. While she performed three to four nights a week in the city, she’s already made an impressionable mark for the Island’s comedy scene. In April 2023, she performed on Canada’s Got Talent (CGT), which saw her career - despite it being relatively new - come full circle.

Bosel fell in love with comedy in the early 1980s, during one particular moment watching comedian Howie Mandel perform in Vancouver. “It was like he was talking with friends, and we were all part of the conversation,” she recalls. “I thought ‘I want to be friends with him and I can do that.’” Mandel is the host on CGT - and Bosel was able to have a brief conversation with the comedian who left a memorable impression on her at a young age. Despite the accomplishment, Bosel’s comedy career has had its share of ups and downs. She began in the 1990s when her kids were little, but ultimately decided she couldn’t take on the challenges of the comedy scene with small children.

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04/17/2023

A HEALING TOUCH
From Paris to L.A., Rebecca Halls brings Gyrokinesis to the Comox Valley

Rebecca Halls is a wellness practitioner who likes to help people feel good in their bodies using movement methods that open energy pathways, stimulate the nervous system, and increase range of motion and strength. These holistic methods Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis — employ spiralling, circular movements that offer cross-training for activities such as golf and tennis. “The wonderful part about this work is that it’s gentle,” Halls said. “People can exercise without creating any stress on the cartilage or the joints.” The Comox-raised Halls studied contemporary dance at Concordia University in Montreal, where she started a dance career, though she had been working professionally before starting the program. “I wanted to develop my skills as a choreographer and go a little deeper into different methods,” she said. “The training was incredible. We learned not only dance, but different release methods, and that’s how I discovered the Gyrotonic method and Gyrokinesis, along with many other methods that I plan to bring to the Comox Valley.”

After graduating in 2009, Halls moved to Berlin to focus on a performance/choreography career. She also undertook projects such as music videos, and travelled throughout Europe. From there, she wanted to shift into a career in wellness. While in Germany, she became certified to teach the Gyrotonic method. She then moved to Los Angeles — the “wellness capital of the world” — where she continued to perform, and completed further certifications in Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis, to increase her capacity as a teacher and trainer. She worked with various celebrities in L.A., including actress Natalie Portman, whom Halls helped through her pregnancy.

Full Story online or find your copy of trio today!

04/10/2023

CREATING THE CULT OF COLD
Black Creek barber discovers power of cold water

A swim in the cold water of the Oyster River is how Leisha MacLennan starts her day, and has been for more than 550 days. Her first swim was July 28, 2021. MacLennan is a barber who owns Black Creek Barber, which she operates out of her house, and began the Cold Water Cult, though she said she takes no credit for the organic growth of the group. MacLennan opened Black Creek Barber in summer 2022 on a part-time basis before taking it on full-time in September 2022. Before becoming a barber, MacLennan used to be an industrial climber in Fort McMurray, but when she had her daughter she needed to find something else. “I had to totally retrain and find something that was suitable for mom life,” said MacLennan. “As much as I love the job it just wasn’t feasible to be a full-time mom and work out of town anymore.” She thought about heavy machinery before landing on barbering. She went to London School of Barbering and worked at other barber shops before starting her own.

Taking on her own business full-time, although a bit scary at first, felt better for MacLennan. “It felt so much better, it makes you hustle harder,” said MacLennan. “I find chair rental and self-employment makes you hustle harder, makes you work harder, because if you’re not doing anything… you’re literally not making money.” She also wanted to be home with her daughter and family more, and opening her business allows her to do that. “It’s so nice. My daughter takes the bus in the morning now, she takes the bus home. One time she chose the bus over me picking her up on the Harley.” She also loves working for herself because she has more flexibility in her schedule. “When I have gaps in my schedule I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn, I can go swim down at the [Oyster] river,” said MacLennan. The first time MacLennan decided to go for a dip in the cold water she took her camera and recorded it. She said she wanted to see how long she could stay in, and then something else happened.

Black Creek Barber

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04/04/2023

HELPING THOSE TO HELP THEMSELVES | Humanitarian association assisting with hot showers and clean clothes

Clean clothes and a hot shower can make such a difference for someone, according to Steven Guenther, executive director of the Wiseland Humanitarian Association. iseland has a diverse group of volunteers from all walks of life like persons of colour, First Nations peoples, the elderly and disabled people. Providing laundry vouchers and hot showers to the Valley’s homeless population was an outgrowth of the medieval reenactment society Guenther participated in, the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA). “When we do the SCA we go out and invade a park with a couple hundred people for a weekend,” said Guenther. “When you’re running around in a suit of armour for five or six hours, afterwards you need a shower.” He built portable showers that he drove out to these reenactments, and the idea to provide showers to people in need came about. From there, Guenther said it turned into a not-for-profit and then into a charity. He said the intent was to practise the medieval code of chivalry, which he said refers to the fact that those who can help should help. Guenther said he knows he can’t solve problems, but he can help those who need it get clean and feel a little better. He said the work that Wiseland does provides a hand up, which enables people to essentially help themselves.

“I’m trying to motivate people and help them towards helping themselves,” he said. “If I get you a shower, then you can get clean, you feel better, you can go face your world a bit easier.” The City of Courtenay is taking over the shower program, providing free, hot showers at the Lewis Centre to those in need, instead of vouchers being handed out. Anyone seeking a hot shower will need their own towel and hygiene products, which Wiseland will provide.

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