****January 2012 Focus - Focus Magazine

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eaders’ views Re: Hunter, Luton and Lucas booted off council, Dec 2011 Thank you for the article by David Broadland writing about Victoria City council electoral changes. Almost all of my friends and acquaintances here in Fairfield were unusually concerned with this last election. Nearly all wanted much more clarity and transparency from the City, particularly with respect to financial issues. Many of us want a Council that knows the difference between needs and wants. Canada’s rough times are far from over, so we must deal only with essential issues for the near future. Ron and Alexandra Stewart One of the major bricks in the City’s platform to sell a new Johnson Street Bridge was that it needed to be seismically safe. But if Victorians were asked to vote tomorrow on which project is more pressing as far as the safety of the city goes, would it be a new bridge, or would it be a seismically safe Number One Fire Hall If the Blue Bridge collapses in a major quake as the City fears, or if the Bay Street Bridge—with its water and gas mains—suffers major damage, what would be the consequence if the fire hall is buried in rubble Unfortunately, the question was not asked leading up to the bridge referendum. I trust that the City will live up to its pledge to move the decommissioned rail bridge to Rock Bay, to become part of the waterfront walkway. Dennis Robinson Re: Breaking news on the yellow brick road to calamity, Dec 2011 What do I think Journalism and activism go well together at a time of community, national, and global crisis. Particularly so when the activism is well considered versus off-the-cuff and for its own sake. I appreciate Rob Wipond for taking the time to send City council six pages of discussions and detailed suggestions for the City of Victoria’s Economic Development Strategy. His writing is always relevant and clear, and—in my opinion—it is always respectful and fair. I read his articles in Focus every issue and I read every issue of Focus cover to cover. I am grateful to the business people who advertise in the magazine and I will go out of my way to be their patron if/when possible. Public conversation in this city would be the poorer without Rob and the other Focus writers. Julie Graham Rob Wipond asks his readers to respond to the question: “Are we satisfied with the news media that we have” That question is easy to answer: No. Using a detached, “objective” style of reporting, readers are led to believe that the truth is being represented without bias. But most readers are sophisticated enough to know that no reporting is without bias when media need corporate sponsorship in order to survive. The most honest reporting is done by publications that openly acknowledge their bias, and like-minded readers seek them out. Rob Wipond is a reporter whose commitment to investigative reporting is at least locally recognized and appreciated. It is refreshing to read about the workings of local policy makers with some insight into the motivations that make them take the decisions they do. Rob has done this at the city council level, school board level, environmental advocacy level…And his voice makes a difference to the decisions that citizens make when choosing whether or not to vote for particular politicians or support particular environmental groups, or to be sceptical about mental illness treatments, or care protocols for the elderly, to name a few of the topics he has covered recently. Rob doesn’t pretend “objectivity” but does a thorough job of interviewing a range of people in the know and researching documents to substantiate his claims. This kind of journalism motivates readers to want to learn more and to do our own investigations to come to our own conclusions. This is the ideal kind of reporting required in a truly functioning democracy and I applaud him for it. It is the kind of journalism that can be found in the Washington Post, the Manchester Guardian, and even occasionally in the Globe and Mail. I just hope we don’t lose Rob to one of these well-financed papers that can afford to print the complexities of truth once in a while. Starla Anderson We moved here from Edmonton 10 years ago. I used to work in the oilsands industry, where I tried to lend my expertise to green the industry from within. The fact that I’m here suggests how successful that initiative was. But you see, in Alberta, “left-necks” act versus talk. Being a long-term supporter of the David Suzuki Foundation, I expected to find the environment, climate crisis and related issues to be the dominant concern or focus in Victoria. How wrong that assumption was! Much of what I’ve heard from politicians at all levels of government sounds like regurgitated Kleinisms which are basically re-hashed Bush/Cheneyisms. Yes, Mr Wipond, we definitely need activist-journalists like you. We also need to “work” from the inside, because standing outside with signs doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Garry Pigeon Re: The poppy and the dove, Nov 2011 Thank you Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic, for your comments about the militaristic aspects of Remembrance Day events in Canada. I haven’t worn a poppy for many years; instead I wear a small button that says, “Honour veterans...no more war.” As each Remembrance Day goes by, the celebrations seem to focus more on military routines and the “heroes” of war, which I find alarming. I usually attend the November 11 assembly at our local school, and although there is some acknowledgement of the importance of peace, most of the event centres around the speeches and marching-in of veterans and people from local military detachments. For the past 15 years, during the week of November 11, I have spent several days reading stories about peace to all of the children in our elementary school. I keep thinking that as the years go by, maybe we will stop worshipping the uniforms, authority, and power of past wars, and instead focus on events that specifically promote peace. So far, that is just a dream—this year saw the biggest assembly yet at the military cairn in my community, with enough medals on uniforms to stock a war museum. Susan Yates LETTERS Send letters to: focusedit@shaw.ca Letters that directly address articles published in Focus will be given preference. 6 January 2012 • FOCUS
Focus presents: All Organized Storage ADVERTISEMENT Resolution #1: Get Organized Many people feel that their life is out of control; they feel stressed and overwhelmed by too much stuff in their homes, and are constantly in “reaction mode,” unable to fully enjoy the present moment. Relationships, family life,and friendships all suffer.Socializing gets postponed indefinitely, since it’s hard to find the confidence to entertain guests in a cluttered home. If you’ve made a resolution to take control of your life,the first step is to take control of the clutter— by organizing and installing storage solutions.Janet Janet Young Young,a Trained Professional Organizer and owner of All Organized Storage, believes adequate and appropriate storage is the key to reducing clutter: “With smaller homes and downsizing, as well as the constant stream of stuff that enters our lives, we need to maximize the storage we have.” Since 1997, Janet has established herself as Victoria’s “organization authority.” Her expertise and comprehensive product lines can help anyone convert a kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, bedroom or garage/workshop into an attractive, high-functioning oasis—providing them with a sense of peace and order, not to mention saving them precious time because things can be found quickly. (Research shows most people spend an average of an hour a day just looking for things.) During the past 15 years, Janet has researched and sourced the best organizing and closet systems available so that she now offers the largest selection in Western Photo:Tony Bounsall Custom made cherry wood storage unit with fudge stain. Just a few of the organizing solutions available at All Organized Storage. Canada, ranging from locally manufactured green wood storage, melamine, slated wood shelving,to a sleek modern,adjustable German-made modular organization system.These come in numerous finishes and can be blended to meet each client’s individual needs, budget and style.While she provides installation, some lines are perfect for do-it-yourselfers. And now,with her new showroom,store and attached warehouse,All Organized Storage has once again expanded its solutions for those of us keen on introducing more order into our lives. She is also launching an online store for organizing tools and accessories in mid-January. Her store is a veritable treasure chest of affordable, small but life-enhancing ideas to keep your belongings in check. Organizing “accessories” include shelving solutions (stacking,rollout,drawer trays) for kitchens,grid boards and tool storage units for workshops, and for the bedroom, belt and tie racks, clear stacking boxes, a valet stand, a compact pant trolley and jewellery inserts. “It may seem small,” says Janet,“but when you open your closet or pantry and see order, it frees up energy for you to make other changes as well.A beautiful and well-organized room can start a chain reaction to begin a process of improvement in all areas of life.What I hear over and over again from my clients is, ‘Why did I wait so long I wish I had done this sooner!’” In fact, many of Janet’s clients have started with one room and quickly become converts, relying on her services for other projects. Designers and builders often get Janet involved in outfitting houses they are renovating or building. Chris Walker, of Christopher Developments, says All Organized Storage is his closet vendor of choice for all his custom homes. “Janet has completed a number of demanding installations for us. Her attention to detail, exceptional planning skills and customer service have been impressive, to say the least.” With her new showroom displaying numerous ways from large to small to transform your home into a well-functioning and beautiful oasis of calm and order,All Organized Storage can help you keep that resolution to get organized this year. All Organized Storage 3370 Tennyson Avenue (near UpTown) Showroom hours:Tues–Fri, 10–5; Sat 10–3 pm 250-590-6328 • www.AllOrganizedStorage.ca www.focusonline.ca • January 2012 7
Page 1 and 2: FOCUS Victoria’s monthly magazine
Page 3 and 4: contents January 2012 VOL. 24 NO. 3
Page 5: Focus presents: Iyengar Yoga ADVERT
Page 9 and 10: “ I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE LRT PR
Page 11 and 12: ourhood through a restaurant servin
Page 13 and 14: Focus presents: Joseph Barry Martin
Page 15 and 16: share of multi-storey housing would
Page 17 and 18: Allow Yourself to Fully Bloom with
Page 19 and 20: Focus presents: Triangle Healing AD
Page 21 and 22: January 18-February 4 THE DROWSY CH
Page 23 and 24: Coastal Celebration January 7 - 28
Page 25 and 26: HARVEST by Ken Cameron January 25 V
Page 27 and 28: “Pots of Flowers” Sylvia Armeni
Page 29 and 30: Throughout January WILDLIFE PHOTOGR
Page 31 and 32: Focus presents: Nirvana Pet Resort
Page 33 and 34: National Chief Ah-in-chut Atleo was
Page 35 and 36: www.focusonline.ca • January 2012
Page 37 and 38: Focus presents: Sterling Financial
Page 39 and 40: “ I DON’T BELIEVE IN THE MAXIM
Page 41 and 42: Focus presents: Victoria Hospice AD
Page 43 and 44: It’s a BBQ, an oven, a smoker and
Page 45 and 46: Focus presents: Stephen Whipp ADVER
Page 47: Leading edge dentistry Down to Eart

****January 2012 Focus - Focus Magazine

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