When Trees Tell Stories
By Sheena Robinson Photo top: seawolfadventures.ca Walking through the forests of Vancouver Island, it’s easy to become entranced by the density and beauty of the tall trees towering above you. Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, and Western Red Cedar are the most common coniferous giants here. They are a big part of what makes […]
Weed Etiquette
By Zachery Cooper A plume of pungent smoke puffs out of the person walking down the street ahead of me. It makes my nose twitch, my brow furrow, and my mouth say Maui Wowie. It’s a common enough smell on Vancouver Island, which may be weed central in Canada. But with marijuana use set to […]
Watchguards in the Walbran
By Rob Wilson “RESCIND 4424!” reads a hand-painted banner adorning the plywood wall of the camp’s kitchen and main shelter. It’s a crudely constructed building made of 2x4s, tarps, and ropes, standing a few metres from the Walbran River bridge. Inside are cluttered tables and counters piled with power tools, a 3,000 Watt power inverter, pots and […]
Deadly cocktail
By Benjamin Everett Over 40 fentanyl-related overdoses have been reported in Victoria and Nanaimo since December 20, 2015, 12 of them fatal. The victims have come from all walks of life, but Paul Hasselback, Medical Health Officer for Central Vancouver Island, says that “it’s the younger ones that are the most tragic.” Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate […]