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Emily

Letter to the Island Tides

Dear Editor,

Thank you to Elizabeth May for her May 3^rd article, “The Ongoing Attack on Charities”. I very much appreciate Elizabeth's representation in parliament and I am continuously impressed at her commitment to staying in touch with her constituents. Thank you Elizabeth!

There is one point in her article with which I disagree: when she suggests that Canadians are losing our sense of outrage in the face of suppression of dissent. This is not what I sense.

In my experience, Canadian democracy has operated on a good faith system: the assumption that politicians would try their best to do what was right for the public interest including those who did not vote for them. All we had to do was to vote, stay informed on the issues and politely speak our views. We always expected neglect from our leaders, but we expected them to at least make a show of trying.

The tables have turned rather abruptly though, with the emergence of tactics such as the willful misleading of voters away from their polling stations, secrecy of committee meetings and foreshortening of parliamentary debate. The threat to charitable organizations is just the next in a line of anti-democratic actions which this government is taking.

This quick shift from good faith to suppression of dissent has, I think, caught us all off guard. It is all too clear that we are talking to people who do not wish to listen. The abundance of online petitions and the opportunity to try and find our poling station every four years is obviously no longer enough for Canadians, the problem is that we don't know what else there is for us to do!

Sincerely,

Emily McIvor

Subjectivity and Alienation through Kony 2012

Walking home earlier today, I saw a Kony 2012 poster. The graphics were catchy, the message, popularized by abundant social media, very clear. What caught my attention the most however, was a catch phrase at the base of the sheet which stated, “(finally!) one thing we can all agree on.” I smiled sadly at the irony.

Kony 2012, the campaign, has in fact been immediately and hotly contested from many sides. The arguments against it include disgust at an effort to bring fame to someone responsible for the horrific recruitment and use of child soldiers in Uganda; impatience with simplistic solutions to remote and complex problems (the main one having been along the lines, “get 'im”) and concerns over political association and the financial background of the producing organization. All of these immediate and impassioned arguments sounded reasonable. But then so did the campaign video.

What I was left with after hearing abbreviated accounts of all this from my sons was an initial anxiety at the ferocity of the argument but also a general sense that there are in fact some important issues that we could all agree about. Among these: that the use of child soldiers is absolutely evil, that response to awful things in foreign countries may be complex and that being really clean and up-front about vested interests in any action is important.

In fact, despite the fact that members of my immediate family have taken opposite positions on this argument, the more I think about it, the more optimistic I feel. The campaign itself is evidence of an urgent awareness of moral right and wrong (something occasionally thought missing from modern life) and the criticism reflects active critical capacity among observers. The key to satisfaction over this popular political debate lies in three ideas: that there may not be one single universal truth; that it's okay if we disagree about really important things and that a creative discussion of the issues is essential.

Shifting the discussion from positions (answers) which are fixed and tend to be linked to identity (“It's right because it's my idea”) to interests which are more often common goals (keeping kids and communities safe) can help us to see the good in what others are saying. This allows us to see what we have in common with others and helps us to take our attention off the conflict and put it toward building unity and common purpose. Kony 2012, in their plea for one thing we can all agree on, voiced an anxiety which is relatively unique to modern thinking. The places we tend to get hung up are identity (a statement's validity depends on who said it) and alienation (feeling unable to join in the discussion).

Discussions like this are what poltics is and we are already doing it. All of our voices are important, all of our truths are a part of what it is to be one of a group which despite all thoughts to the contrary is the reality we live.

Emily's Reading List: February, 2011

So here's what I'm reading right now and for the last little while.

Newspapers:
• The Saturday Globe and Mail- I've been thinking of giving this up lately because of the lack of content and the overabundance of ad space but I'm hanging in there, mainly for Tabitha Southey. Best columnist ever! she is wry and sarcastic, she likes being read aloud (which is what I most like doing with newspapers), and her choice and interpretation of issues are landmarks for me (and, I know, many others) . I also read Doug Saunders (awesome research and interpretation of current sociological issues) and most of Focus, some of Arts, the News and recently I've been very much enjoying interviews of famous actors by Johanna Schneller. Her style is dry and appealing, her insights ring authentic and as she said last week, “if I see one more movie where grown-up, multidimensional women fall like bowling pins for a hapless man-child, I think I truly will hurl.” Me too!
• The Guardian Weekly- this excellent source of journalism from around the world focuses on international development. Here, I can read stories about town planning in Istanbul and about China's surging green economy. Also cultural reviews of stuff beyond my usual gaze and happily way beyond what the Globe would ever print- this week: a review of Eric Hobsbawm's, How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism. Despite the childish title, the book sounds like the one I need to help me wrestle through my questions about communism.

Magazines

• I have a hand-me-down copy of the Economist sitting by my bed but have yet to penetrate further than the first few pages. I find that newspapers work this way though. You have to become familiar with the format and really own it before serious extraction of it's depths (this is why we need more female columnists).
• No new Art Mags this month. Sad to say.

Books

• Just finished the classic, Lady Chatterly's Lover, by D.H. Lawrence for my book club. I got a bit bored about half way through but was encouraged by a friend to skim lightly through (of course stopping for all the really sexy or important parts). In the end, I'm glad I read it. Good old D.H., he really believes in the power of cunts and fucking (and he makes quite a convincing case) .
• The Wind in My Wheels, by Josie Dew? What is with that name? It sounds like cycling shorts. Anyways, it's about a woman who cycles around the world starting from her home in the U.K. . She makes many short trips and describes them briefly, though with acuity. The irritation comes from her awful cycling partner, Ward and Josie's endless whining tolerance of him. I just flipped ahead and somehow she hasn't dumped him and moved on! Arghhh. I'm returning this book to the library today.
• Elizabeth Smart's, By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept. Classic poetic prose -I'm just beginning. It is apparently extremely highly regarded which I respect (when smart people give me advice, I usually try to listen) but it does seem to be rather fraught. She “fell in love” with the author of a book of poetry without having met him and invited him and his wife to come and stay with her in California and then is surprised and when it's uncomfortable? Really! The delivery is not enough, I need content which I can relate to as well and thankfully I learned about those particular boundaries between the ages of 24 and 30 without even having to write a book about it. If you have read this book and can give me a reason to persist, please pass it along.

On the shelf for next month(and actually already begun) are Jane Urquhart's Away, The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts and The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts. I have also bought the February edition of Artnews. Hah!

Sexual Health a Radical Choice

The Opt clinic is a much used but little known resource in Ganges. Run by two nurses, a rotation of female doctors and a handful of volunteers, it provides confidential and non-judgemental care to anyone with a sexual health concern.

Mostly that means dispensing birth control pills to teens who don't want to get pregnant (good idea). Pelvic exams are also available to women of all ages, well-woman exams (including breast self-exam tutorial), STD and pregnancy tests and counseling are also available.

Most of the clients are female and they range in age from teens to seniors. Some people use the clinic because they prefer a female doctor for certain procedures, some like the lower dispensing fees on oral contraceptives and some rely on the privacy afforded by the confidential service.

Everybody who comes to Opt as a client is facing the daunting challenges of physical health and also social and emotional wellness. Young women commonly experience distressing symptoms like headaches, abdominal pain, moodiness, skin problems and weight gain as well as conflicting advice from doctors and friends. Then there are the really scary things like infection, pregnancy and abuse. All this in the middle of growing into adulthood; trying to figure out how to earn a living, how to manage relationships and how to remain true to themselves. It's a lot of work!

Those who work at Opt do so because they want to help where they have been helped. As one volunteer put it, “I have to work here because I'm the poster child for this place; I've tried everything”. The message these women send is this: “There is no shame. Taking care of yourself is a radical thing to do and if you've made it in the front door, you're already doing it.”

Recognizing each person's ability to choose their own sexual activity and is the key to providing these services and providing them is key to individuals' ability to choose their own health.

Statement to the Islands Trust December 2010

My name is Emily McIvor. I am a voter and I live and work in downtown Ganges. I am here today to speak to the Development Permit application of Mr. Leon Aptekman regarding the tear-down and reconstruction of his buildings at 146-150 Fulford-Ganges Rd.. These historic buildings are right in the centre of downtown with some of the best pedestrian exposure in the village. The existing buildings need a lot of work and the landlord wants to tear them down and replace them with another building (phase 3) which would match the neighbouring Phase 1 and 2 in that block.

At this time, the buildings house four small local and independently owned shops. When the reconstruction is complete, the whole space, as well as the one next door (which currently houses Mark's Work Wearhouse) will be made into one single storefront and leased to Mark's. That means a long strip of street frontage, taken away from little unique shops and turned into one large chain store.

I understand that the current land-use bylaws do not govern who can use the land (that would be discriminatory). However the character and diversity of our village is threatened by this change, so I think it must be addressed.

In regard to the specific application of Leon Aptekman and his architect, Johnathan Yardley, I would like to speak to several sections of Bylaw No. 434. Section E.1: Development Permit Area One- Island Villages. Under heading E.1.2- Reasons for the Development Permit Area, the second paragraph states that the requirement for development permits in Island Villages, “will guide the community's most significant concentrated and visible new development so that it is compatible with existing building, with the natural environment and with community objectives for villages.” The proposed development, even if it falls within current regulatory standards, is not compatible with community objectives (as shown by the 669 signatures on a petition opposing it). The proposal and it's ultimate effect on the visual, social and economic environment of Ganges do not reflect community values of diversity, locality and craftsmanship.

In section E.1.3- Objectives of this Development Permit Area, section E.1.3.3 aims to “encourage creative designs that continue to reflect the diversity and richness of Salt Spring Island. To avoid design controls that would make island villages appear architecturally sterile or contrived.” I understand the planners imperative to match new buildings with existing ones however, some existing buildings are not worth matching. I find the current phase 2 to be both architecturally sterile and contrived and since the original plans were drawn up during the 1980s, I do not think there can be any defense of them as modern or progressive.

Section E.1.6.7 under the heading- Scale, Massing and Modulation, requires that “the existing 'rhythm' of buildings along street frontages be respected.” While the new building may match the adjacent Phase 2, the variety, interest and quaint facades of the current buildings will not be matched.

In section E.1.6.14 under the heading- Details, “the use of imaginative, handcrafted products of local craftspeople is encouraged.” No such handcrafted products are part of this proposal.

In section E.1.6.15 “a pleasant pedestrian environment” is advised. Variety and character are the spice of pedestrian experience. A proposal which detracts from the variety and character of the street frontage can only harm the pedestrian environment.

My point is that while I understand that the building may need to be replaced or repaired, I do not think that one big store with multiple door openings is the same thing as several smaller stores and while I understand the idea of matching one building to the next, I do not think that ugly buildings should be matched.

I believe that the character and diversity of not only our built environment but also our social and economic ones are threatened by changes like this and if the current bylaws do not allow the governing body to protect these things, changes should be made.

I would like to participate in the upcoming bylaw review and I request that, in the review, a bylaw be written which restricts the floor size of individual businesses in the core of lower Ganges ( Jackson Ave, to Rainbow Rd. and down to the waterfront). I would also like to see a preservation of heritage facades.

I request that this permit not be granted until it is clear that it fully meets community objectives.

Head Office Distances Itself from Mark's Franchise

Robin Lynas, Vice President of corporate relations for Mark's Work Wearhouse, warns that a franchise buy-out by head office will not necessarily increase in amount with the square footage of an expanded local store. “If they expand the store and their sales do not increase to match, it doesn't look good” said Lynas, in a phone conversation. He went on to explain that while head office does have first right-of-refusal for any franchise operation, the buy-out formula is based on sales as well as a number of other factors.

Ten paper letters as well as numerous phone calls have been received by head office in opposition to the planned expansion of Mark's on Salt Spring. ( The plan would see Mark's expand over 900 square feet and take up the entire block of downtown street-frontage.) Many Salt Springers have stated that while they want to support Mark's, they don't want to lose the unique and charming character of a more varied commercial area. Lynas also stated that Mark's is a destination store, best suited to an area with plenty of convenient parking.

Only around ten percent of over three hundred Mark's stores remain as franchise businesses, the rest have been bought back by the parent company which is a subsidiary of Canadian Tire, making the prospect of another remotely owned, big chain store in downtown Ganges, a remarkably reasonable concern. Lynas suggested that the most important conversation for the community to have is with the land owner, Leon Aptekman. Mr. Aptekman has been unavailable for comment and has ignored the many petition signatures, letters to the editor and personal pleas by community members.

Local Trust committee members will discuss the development permit application for the new Mark's store, on Friday, January 14^th at their monthly meeting, held at Artspring. It remains to be seen whether current bylaws will suffice to prevent the expansion but the meeting is open to the public and polite discussion is welcomed. The townhall portion is scheduled for 12:30, the application will be discussed after that.

Renoviction

There is a little bubble of talk on Canada's screen right now about happiness. UBC's Global Happiness expert, John Helliwell is quoted in this Saturday's Globe and Mail as saying that “happiness is very local. . .things like, 'Do you trust your neighbours or your company? Do you have confidence in the police?'”. In their responses to a survey question about happiness, most respondents quoted in the Globe, talked about common places and mundane family activities. Chantal Kreviazuk, for example, mentions “cooking with fresh produce from the Wednesday market” and other such simple pleasures.

In other news, New Westminster tenants are victims once again, of a crime called renoviction- the neglect of basic maintenance by landlords which eventually leads to tenants' eviction because of the necessity of renovation. This kind of behaviour sounds like exactly the kind of thing which does not foster happiness.

I would like to live in a world in which the people who have the power to make decisions which affect all of our lives do so with humility. I would also like to live in a world in which regular people know that they have a right to a satisfying experience of public space and where they feel empowered to participate in the making of it.

Islands Marketplace article: Dec. 10

Setting the Record Straight

By Emily McIvor

There are a few little known (or misunderstood) facts in play about the situation involving Admirals, Windflower Moon, Salt Spring Soapworks, and Acoustic Planet. The first is the question of leases: many people believe that these four stores were offered leases for the new building and simply refused to sign them. This is not the case. All four of the owners of the four small stores wanted a spot in the new building. None of them were given that choice. Of the four, Salt Spring Soapworks is the only one with a lease with time left on it. That's why they are being re-accomodated in an adjacent space after the reconstruction.

Acoustic Planet had a lease which just ran out. They requested a spot in the new building but were denied. Admirals has a lease with a five year 'option to renew' left on it however the paper copy has been lost so it's not much good. (Coincidentally, the landlord's lawyer has lost his copy as well).Admirals has requested a space in the new building and has been denied. Windflower Moon is the only one which did not sign a lease and that was years ago when they were offered a contract that they didn't like and decided not to sign it. They were not offered a spot in the new building.

The other little known part of the story is that all the appropriate permits are not yet in place. Any new development within Ganges is required to obtain a Development Permit. This process has not yet been completed. It has been started but the permit has not been approved so as far as we know, it could be months before anything can happen in that space.

The real problem with the new development is the loss of character and diversity in our downtown core. This is a pedestrian and tourism hot-spot. We need the interest of lots of quaint little shops. Mark's Work Wearhouse is great but they shouldn't be expanding right downtown. We need development in Ganges but it needs to be smart development. Development which makes Salt Spring more itself and which will serve us well into the future. This is not that development.

Refuting Johnathan

I am writing in response to Johnathan Yardley's Dec. 8 viewpoint article. I have a few problems with his letter and I'd like to point them out.

In response to the first point, a franchise is not simply a matter of “sourcing merchandise”. A franchise store buys the rights to the name, advertising and buying power of a larger corporation. In exchange, the franchise owner (in this case, Brian and Heather Gooding, who now live on Vancouver Island) agree to exclusive loyalty in their merchandising, decor and expression of the parent company's public relations messages. Franchise agreements also contain a “right of first refusal” for the parent company. This means that when the Goodings (now in their sixties) are ready to move on, the store will likely be bought back by Mark's (a subsidiary of Canadian Tire).

As to Johnathan's confusion regarding the objections raised against the proposed expansion of Mark's in Ganges, regardless of whose lease expires when, the opposition to Mark's expansion is two-fold. He is correct that there is sadness over the displacement of the four small businesses. What he has missed is the issue of diversity, pedestrian appeal and character in our downtown core. Even if none of these four small businesses continue in their current locations, there should still be four little storefronts there, not one big one.

In a place known world-wide for it's unique “made or grown on Saltspring” Saturday Market, it is a natural extension to protect the locality and charm of the surrounding area. People love Saltspring because of the forests, the farms and the “unique boutiques”. Development in this area should reflect our local vision and embody our values. It should be more interesting, more unique and more pedestrian friendly. Architects are among those whose vision serves the community through their ideas for our built environment. Six hundred and sixty eight people have signed the petition opposing Mark's expansion in its current location. Our vision serves the community too!

Open Letter to Mark's Franchise Owners

As you may know, I have started a petition opposing the expansion of your store in downtown Ganges. I have two reasons for doing this. The first is that I am extremely upset to see the loss of two of our most unique specialty shops in Ganges. Admirals and Windflower Moon have nowhere else to go and they will both be forced out of business to make room for your business to grow.

The other part is that I feel that Ganges needs the variety and character of lots of little shops. In this busy public space in lower Ganges, the pedestrian experience is enhanced by variety and by unique and charming small shops.

There is another piece of this story which I have not yet given voice but here it is: Saltspring needs you. We need the practical clothes at reasonable prices which you provide. We need to be able to buy t-shirts and workboots and we need to be able to do that on-island. Almost everyone I've talked to has stated their support for your shop.

The distinction I'm trying to make is between support for your business and opposition to your possible expansion in the current location. I realize that you may not have many alternatives but maybe you could expand in the new upstairs portion (like Mouat's) or maybe you do not really need to expand at all.

Please consider the opinions of community members as you think over your options. Part of the charm of Saltspring is its unique character boutiques. Fewer of these in the downtown area will negatively affect tourist experience and fewer tourists will affect all of us.

I would like to ask you, “What do you need?” Is there any way that the concerned citizens of Saltspring Island, wishing to protect the tiny shops next door can also help you achieve your goals? In other words, is there any room for compromise?

Please enter into dialogue with us. We support you and you support us too.

Sincerely,

Emily McIvor

29 Ways to Survive November

29 Ways to Survive November

1. Imagine prostate exams. (note: this may only be entertaining for women).
2. Go to Art Galleries. They are brightly lit, wide open spaces and some of them are free.
3. Cook. You're going to eat anyways and most homes come equipped for this process.
4. Attend Art Openings.(Not to be confused with Craft Fairs. THESE MAY CAUSE EXTREME IRRITABILITY).
5. Go swimming at the pool. It'll be worth it!
6. Play games. It will make you laugh and laughing is good.
7. Read a lot.
8. Make things: Poems, drawings, lists?
9. Go outside EVERY DAY! Just wear more clothes.
10. Have dinner with friends.
11. Get a prostate exam. (This has to do with surviving more than November).
12. Vitamin D drops. 3000 mg. under the tongue.
13. Research things online. (What is the difference between barristers and solicitors?)
14. Think of your own mental health as a worthy project.
15. Look at photos of your friends' friends on Facebook.
16. Vigorous exercise and meditation.
17. Sleep more. You know you want to.
18. Attend modern dance performances.
19. Get to know your neighbour.
20. Watch movies; eat snacks.
21. Do not feel guilty for above. Enjoy it.
22. Write a book. Start with an outline.
23. Sex. Obviously.
24. Tease co-workers about their hideous “mo”vember 'staches.
25. Hang out with a globe or atlas. Likewise dictionary. Wonder things.
26. Phone your old friends.
27. Email your new ones.
28. Give yourself a break. You're bound to feel lousy some of the time.
29. Go for a walk in the dark.

Big Box Store in Ganges

Big Box Store Takes Over a Full City Block of Ganges

by Emily McIvor

Many of you may know about-and feel helpless to prevent-the takeover of an entire city block of downtown Ganges by a big box chain store. No, wait, BIG BOX? That has got to be a mistake!! Not on Saltspring, right?!

Well, unfortunately it is true. Plans are going ahead to displace Admirals Specialty Foods, Windflower Moon, Acoustic Planet and Saltspring Soapworks. They will all be shoved aside by Mark's Work Wearhouse. Talk about a neighbourhood bully! The part that is less widely known is that Mark's is a subsidiary of Canadian (crappy) Tire.

The big chain will take over after January when the building they're in is taken down and rebuilt (presumably to Mark's specifications). Imagine the thrill of the tourists next summer, when they're picking through plastic coffee mugs and made-in-China tube socks. And, when local contractors want to replenish their wardrobes with Carhartts, they will only have to fight their way through the Ganges parking nightmare to get them. It's a win-win situation!

It is a 'little' sad that we won't be able to drop in to Windflower Moon and browse their unique selection of spiritual books, gifts and clothing anymore. I guess we 'might' miss the local, organic and wild meats as well as by-the-piece sushi and imported groceries at Admirals. Soon enough though, it will just fade to a vague memory of a time when Saltspring was different, when local character meant more than million dollar mansions.

Saltspring Soapworks owner, Linda Quiring, says that her store will have a new home in the current Mark's work-clothes section after the renos are done. Acoustic Planet owner, Greg Esposito, plans some kind of amalgamation of the store with his music studio nearby, although the view won't be quite the same. The real tragedy though, is for Paul Boatman and Laura Roveda, the owners of Admirals Specialty Foods and Windflower Moon (respectively) and their employees.

Laura plans to close her store for good in January, after seven successful years of business. Although she says it's time for her to move on, I'm sure it would have been preferable to sell the business rather than just selling off stock but everyone knows you can't sell a store without a storefront.

Admirals owner, Paul Boatman is the only one who remains unresolved to his demise as a business owner on Saltspring. He and his late wife Pamela, started the store 20 years ago in the old Creekside building, where Apple Photo now resides. Twenty years of community service as well as the provision of excellent and unusual groceries and unique, character window display. This is an unceremonious end for Admirals, a store which regularly takes international orders from regular visitors to Saltspring. It is also a step in exactly the wrong direction for Ganges!

If you are interested in helping preserve the unique character of Ganges, please contact me at: mlmcvr9@gmail.com .

Thank you

Censorship and Social Work Strange Bed-fellows

My friend Obi likes to stir things up. He finds things which he thinks are wrong with the world and then he sticks his oar in and stirs. Occasionally, when he pulls the oar up, he finds something even more surprising and disturbing than he'd thought.

Such was the case when, earlier this year, he sent emails to a number of large organizations which operate in his community and asked them what he calls “uncomfortable questions”. The organizations included governmental, corporate and non-profit including one whose main purpose is social service. Their secondary mission is religious and this is where Obi's email churned up some trouble.

In an email interview with my friend, the regional director for Salvation Army Thrift Stores, disclosed their policy of destroying books which promote religions other than Christianity. Destroying. The suggested reason for this is to prevent people being led astray by reading about Judaism, Jainism, Buddhism or perhaps Sufism. The well-meaning hierarchy of Salvation Army are afraid that others are not able to think for themselves. Or perhaps they're afraid that we are. Either way, they don't want to be responsible for our souls eventual burning in hell. It's nice of them to be concerned I guess but I personally have a few problems with it.

The first is the disrespect done to other people's treasures, donations or not. The second is the possibility that sacred texts are being destroyed (not to say burned). The third (and for me, most important) is the presumption of intellectual authority displayed as a matter of course by an entity which is responsible for a large share of basic services for our most needy.

There is a tendency, I think, for us in Canada, to assume that what we see is the real thing and what we experience is freedom. We want to believe that sexism, racism, fundamentalist and intolerant views have long been banished. We want to think that we are emancipated because we want to be. The problem with the actions of the Salvation Army is the suppression of ideas, a behavior which should have been left behind decades ago.

A fundamental respect for each others' ability to think and choose is the basis for democratic thought. It is the foundation of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and it is the reason for the fairly widespread tolerance of other people's beliefs. I'm not questioning the right of the Salvation Army to choose what they sell but I do have an issue with destroying books on an ideological basis. Public institutions are held to an unbiased platform for their work but non-profits are not. I think we are riding a slippery slope when we entrust a religious organization to do the work of the public and we should be wary of their agendas and the invisible ways they impact our culture.

Article for the Driftwood

Emily McIvor

October 17, 2010

Short Term Vacation Rentals

There are a couple of really good things about Short Term Vacation Rentals and a couple of not-so-great things. The good things are a little extra cash for some hard-working islanders and the number of tourists which they draw to the island. These tourists pay for their housing and then buy stuff while they're here and contribute to the local economy. The not-so-great parts are the tendency to rob neighbourhoods of their vitality and the pressure they put on the already short supply of longer-term rental housing.

It is easy to see why homeowners would prefer short-term rentals over longer-term. A residence which draws $1500 per month year-round may instead rent for as much as $5000 per week during the summer and other holidays. Unfortunately, it is common for people who don't even live here to buy a house and rent it out as a short-term vacation rental without contributing much to the local community or economy themselves.

The result of all this fast cash making is entire neighbourhoods in which only one out every five homes is lived in on a long-term basis. This causes a chilling effect: empty windows, little community participation and no familiar faces on your daily walk to the mail box. It also, of course, creates a higher demand for the fewer remaining long-term rentals, leaving us poor island folks to scrabble hard for a decent place to live.

And in case you're thinking that your neighbour's problems are not your own, remember that many local service providers are renters. Firefighters, waitresses, nurses, grocery store clerks, school teachers, actors and especially young families all need rental housing and they don't need to pay an arm and a leg for it. They also don't need to get kicked out in the summer.

Keeping a fair balance between individual rights and freedoms (especially for those who own land) and the overall health of the community is the challenge. Nobody wants to be told what they can and can't do, yet for the good of us all, some really tempting things should not be done, or only done a little. Remember, no 'man' is an island, especially when you live on one. Each of our decisions impacts others and the environment and since quality of life is so much more than having enough money, we all need to take care.

Book Review No. 2

The Matter of Sylvie by Lee Kvern

Reviewed by Emily McIvor

The Matter of Sylvie is warm and vibrating with life. It is a story of family tragedy and learnig to cope with pain. The story is about Lloyd, Jacqueline and their four kids. Told by turns in the voices of Lloyd, Jacqueline and eldest daughter, Lesa, the matter of Sylvie is unraveled with excruciating delicacy.

Sylvie is the second of Lloyd and Jacqueline's loved and longed for children; the one whom they cannot care for. Her needs are overwhelming. We go up against the wall with Jacqueline as she does her best just to keep Sylvie safe in the face of Lloyd's absence. His work for the RCMP, alcohol use and other women steal him away from his family when they need him most. Jacqueline loves him though and as he tells his own story and that of one of his most needy subjects, we come to love him too.

Lesa, now in adulthood, lives out the anguish of both her parents' addictions as well as the confusion of a child whose little sister becomes institutionalized. She is bright and lucid however, and it is through her that we finally resolve the matter of Sylvie as well as her imperfect parents.

This book expanded my mind. I came through it loving each of the characters and having intimately shared an experience which I might otherwise not have the chance to: the pain of giving up a child. The texture of the writing is seductive, the insights shared with patience and good humour and despite the anguish of the characters, its atmosphere is lively and coursing with hope.

Penny Loves Wade; Wade Loves Penny Book Review

Penny Loves Wade; Wade Loves Penny, by Caroline Woodward is a big adventure and a lively story: one of increasingly few these days in which things actually happen. Plot is important to this book, and during the reading of it, I found myself, while busy with other tasks, yearning back to it, wondering about the next fate of Penny and Wade, the protagonists.

This book is highly regional; the Peace Country of Northern B.C. is described beautifully. There was great pleasure for me, in recognizing the highways on which Wade travels with his rig and sharing Penny's joy in canning peaches as well as her challenges, dealing with Evers, the creepy neighbour and a car that won't start. Even more important though, are the earnest attitudes of the characters. Penny's description of singing in the community choir: identifying her own species likeness to the “hub-bub. . .and mixed vocal tones” of the chicken coop and her surge of tears in the release of group singing is achingly honest and beautiful. Wade brings us with him as he passes in and out of consciousness while living on the road and being drugged, beaten, seduced and worse. We follow his ecstasies and horrors as innocent victims, subject to all his experience first-hand and sharing his inmost thoughts and reflections. Both of these folks try so hard to do the right thing and they question their own actions in a way which I found touching as well as uniquely Canadian.

Penny Loves Wade; Wade Loves Penny is a love story as experienced by separate individuals. Their devotion to each other is obvious, even as the characters themselves question it. Caroline Woodward has shared with us her sense of small-town, northern life and she has transmitted it with such delicacy and good humour, the effect is disarming.