****January 2012 Focus - Focus Magazine

contents
January 2012 VOL. 24 NO. 3
STERLING & GASCOIGNE
Certified General Accountants
16 30 32
4 REFLECTIONS OF VICTORIA
Good medicine from local poets and artists.
Leslie Campbell
8 DERAILED
What happened to the plans for commuter rail
Ross Crockford
10 PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MUNICIPALITY IS
On January 31, a panel of local experts will talk about new ways
to ensure your savings, RRSPs, and investment dollars help strengthen
our community sustainability and resilience. We offer a preview.
Rob Wipond
14 LRT = TAIL WAGGING DOG
Two competing visions emerge on how to mitigate
climate change at the regional level.
David Broadland
16 TOTALLY VULNERABLE
Megan Dickie’s sculptures critique the status quo.
Christine Clark
30 LOVE, ART AND TRANSFORMATION
Phyllis Serota often tells stories in her paintings. Now she tells the stories
behind the paintings.
Amy Reiswig
32 AT THE TIPPING POINT
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Ah-in-chut Atleo thinks
the situation at Attawapiskat is one of many signs Canada is at a tipping
point in its relationship with First Nations. The system has failed, says
Atleo: it’s time to “smash the status quo” and start over again.
Katherine Gordon
38 SPRAWL BUSTER
With a vision of environmental and social justice informed by travel and
history, Ben Isitt is keen to shake things up at City Hall and the CRD.
Aaren Madden
40 A NATURAL HISTORY OF CONCRETE
It all starts with ooids. Next thing you know, there’s a parkade.
Gene Miller
44 RE-ENCHANTING OURSELVES WITH THE LOCAL
The story of bees could possibly be the great allegory for our times.
Briony Penn
46 JUST SAY “HELLO”
Confessions from an introvert enroute to a more social 2012.
Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic
January 2012 • www.focusonline.ca
editor’s letter 4
readers’ views 6
talk of the town 8
palette 16
arts in January 18
coastlines 30
focus 32
island interview 38
urbanities 40
natural relations 44
finding balance 46
ON THE COVER
“The Spirit of Lekwammen,” at
Songhees Point (called P’alac’as by
the Songhees). Photographed by
Christian J. Stewart. The original
180-foot pole was created by First
Nations carvers, led by Coast Salish
artist Richard Krentz, in 1994, as
part of the Commonwealth Games
commemoration. In 2001 the pole
was cut down to a height of 40
feet after it was deemed a hazard
to float planes approaching the
Inner Harbour.
Alison Gascoigne, CGA Ruby Popp
Ashley Stanford, CGA Kim Sterling, FCGA
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