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eaders’ views an inadvertent cheerleader for the billionaires. I simply didn’t realize it. I feel like such a fool. My friend, life right now is a matrix of rackets run by the cynical and the self-absorbed. Victoria, within my poetics, is the capital of innocence and (relative) social honesty. Do you really want to fault me and tear down my propositions about Victoria’s potential to emerge as a centre for economic and social sharing, as practiced by the Fernwood NRG (Neighbourhood Resources Group), various co-housing projects and a range of other community-scale initiatives? What, too sunny and hopeful for you? Please give me a call (250-514-2525) so we can plan to meet. We have lots to talk about and I’ll buy the coffee.—GM sions, all protected. The message is “What’s left, the rest of you—the ‘crazies’ as one Liberal MLA calls engaged citizens—can have.” Early in 2016 the “government” will hand us a Great Bear Rainforest plan conceived through the same kind of ideological scheme proposed for the Okanagan. Hand-picked enviros, regional Indian bands, commercial interests and the timber industry—annointed by government—have sliced up the Great Bear pie without having ever done an environmental impact assessment, without an open process for incorporating public scrutiny, and “free” of the best conservation science. Citizens who did submit comment saw it disappear into the maw of government who fed it to the insider participants. The Great Bear “plan” capitulates to vested interests like all insider deals do. Scientifically sound conservation measures are disembowelled by pro-business and timber industry bias in legislation and management plans that state habitat protection is acceptable only if it can be implemented “without unduly reducing the supply of timber from British Columbia’s forests.” The Liberal government commissioned a report by MLA Mike Morris— “Improving wildlife habitat management in BC”—that rightly recognizes the timber supply protection clause “significantly lowers the threshold protecting our biodiversity” and “This…has contributed to a degradation of biodiversity.” British Columbians want to be optimistic about 2016. We know we are entitled to a great deal more “democracy” but we’re going to have to battle for it. Dr Brian L. Horejsi, Penticton Missing and murdered indigenous women inquiry An open letter to Minister Bennett, Minister Wilson-Raybould, and Minister Hajdu: We are a group of families from the traditional territories of the Indigenous peoples living in the Province of BC. We are family members of loved ones who have gone missing or who are now passed on to the spirit world after being violently murdered. We are writing after hearing that there is planning ahead for a pre-inquiry process, which will then lead to a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We are writing to advise of our experiences (or lack of experiences) in the Oppal Inquiry, which took place here in BC from 2012-2014. First of all, we are relieved to hear that there is a pre-inquiry process being planned in order Slicing Up The Great Bear Pie I’d like to think that most British Columbians have heard of the Great Bear Rainforest—one of the most biologically productive landscapes in the world, stretching from the Yukon-Alaska- BC corner all the way south to Bute Inlet, from the interior coastal range west to the Pacific. It harbours runs of salmon in the millions, great bears and wolves, birds that nest only in ancient trees, rainfall that can reach four metres annually, and extensive forests hundreds of years old. Remarkably, you and I—and all British Columbians—still own the Great Bear, although we are morally and ethically obligated to hold it in trust for all of Canada and the rest of the world. Its presumed protection and management rests in Victoria with people like Premier Clark, Forests Minister Steve Thompson and an entrenched public service historically steeped in resource exploitation. For 50 years it has been managed almost exclusively for the timber industry; a half century of insider politics have effectively left the people of BC on the outside looking in. Roughly one-tenth of the area was designated Protected Areas in the ’90s, then a series of land-resource management plans carved up the remainder for various forms of “management,” almost all it based on logging and road building. Some of you are familiar with the fraudulent insider committee originally set up to massage public comment on the South Okanagan park plan; you have seen the offensive and absurd conditions Minister of Environment Mary Polak has set for Park designation; hunting, off-roading, grazing, helicopter intrufor our voices to be heard. This did not happen with the Oppal Inquiry. We want to ensure that you are aware of the issues that we, as families, had to deal with as a result of the lack of consultations with the Province of British Columbia. We believe that there are many lessons learned from the Oppal Inquiry that can be addressed in the planning of the National Inquiry. When the Oppal Inquiry began, the Province of BC already had appointed a commissioner and its staff, and had finalized its terms of reference. No one had any opportunity to make recommendations for anything. We believe that commissioners for the National Inquiry must be appointed with consultations with families and advocates of MMIWG to advise regarding who the commissioners should be. We would recommend four commissioners. Families need to be informed about what an Inquiry actually is and what it will do, and be informed about the process at all stages. The terms of reference should not already be set in stone, as they were in the Oppal Inquiry. Consultations with families and advocates must include the discussions of the terms of reference. There must be a family/advocate advisory committee to provide advice to the commissioners at all stages of the inquiry. All families and advocate organizations must be given immediate standing with proper resources provided to legal counsel at the Inquiry. This did not happen at the Oppal Inquiry and we, as families, were totally silenced. Proper support (i.e. mental health counsellors, Elder guidance) should be provided at the pre-inquiry and inquiry process. We feel that we will also require supports for at least a year after the National Inquiry and right now. Families are already being triggered. We wish to reiterate that you must meet with families in northern communities as well as on Vancouver Island. Lorelei Williams, Michele Pineault, Elaine Williams, Harriet Prince, CJ Julian, Bernie Williams, Lillian Howard, Gertie Pierre, Melody Pierre, Lila Purcell, Mona Woodward LETTERS Send letters to focusedit@shaw.ca 10 February 2016 • <strong>FOCUS</strong>
Focus presents: Peninsula Gallery ADVERTISEMENT New owner expands Peninsula Gallery’s horizons Peninsula Gallery in Sidney When Ying Tang heard through a friend that Peninsula Gallery was for sale a couple of years ago, she leapt at the chance to buy it. She had been visiting many galleries in Western Canada, looking for an opportunity to invest in the art business. When she saw Peninsula Gallery, she says, “I fell in love with it right away.” The gallery, originally founded by Larry Hanlon and a partner, is approaching its 30th anniversary. Ying, a filmmaker (TV dramas mostly) for 15 years and former news reporter in China, was impressed by the wellmaintained and established gallery with its high calibre of artists. The gallery’s long-time representation of Robert Bateman was especially attractive. Mr Bateman, at 85, is so busy with various causes he doesn’t have much time to paint, and what he does paint gets snapped up quickly. A new piece brought to the gallery in November was immediately sold. But the gallery is also involved in the “secondary market” for Bateman’s work so always has some of his works, such as “Defensive Stand,” shown in the photo below. Gallery Manager Jonathan Jia, who serves on the board of the Robert Bateman Foundation, says, “He’s a wonderful man; so intelligent on so many topics.” As one of the largest galleries on Vancouver Island, Peninsula hosts about 40 artists. “We carry the whole portfolio of artists from the previous owner,” says Ying. Besides Bateman, artworks at Peninsula include other western Canadian masters such as Alan Wylie, Michael Svob and Carol Evans, as well as some who cite Bateman as an inspiration—Alan Hancock with his wildlife images, and Jim Park. Park, who attended Robert Bateman Secondary School, is one of the new artists the gallery represents. A Koreanborn Vancouver artist in his 30s, he paints full-time and sells everything he produces. His large (60 x 48 inches) painting of a dramatic coastal mountain scene testifies to his impressive gift for capturing water, mountains and light. Much of their first year and a half, says Jonathan, was spent getting to know the artists they had inherited, doing studio visits near and far. Jonathan, a lifetime art lover, known to paint a bit himself, enjoyed it thoroughly. He and his family arrived in Victoria in 2013 after ten years in Calgary where Jonathan worked as an accountant. “We’ve now got to know every one of our artists, which allows us to represent them better,” he says. Besides those already mentioned, the Peninsula Peninsula’s new owner Ying Tang, manager Jonathan Jia, and Robert Bateman’s “Defensive Stand” carries Kathryn Amisson’s paintings of wondrous skies, Clement Kwan’s portraits, Ice Bear’s abstracts, Michael O’Toole’s sea and landscapes, Catherine Moffat’s still lifes, Dennis Magnusson’s large scale flower portraits, and others. There’s also a fine selection of sculptures available from such artists as Lindsay Branson, Douglas Fisher, Jack Kreutzer, and Brent Cooke. Ying and Jonathan, who bring international expertise in art investment to their clientele, are very selective about new artists they take on (besides Jim Park, they now represent Tofino-based artist Mark Hobson) and are devoting some time to cross-cultural art development. They recently created a book on Canadian artist Real Fournier and shipped 49 of his paintings for a twoweek long exhibit at the Today Art Museum, one of the top museums in China. Canadian Ambassador Guy St Jacques attended the opening reception. They have also worked hard to make sure Robert Bateman is wellknown in China. “Many Chinese collectors are now looking at investing in his work,” says Ying. And now they are excited to introduce a Chinese artist to Canada and the local art scene: Hongwei Yang, China’s premiere woodcut artist. Yang was recently a visiting scholar at Columbia University, and earlier studied under teacher Bing Xu who is a member of the Asian Art Council of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and whose works represented China in the 2015 Venice Biennial. Says Ying, “Hongwei’s style is unique, rare. You can find a lot of Chinese oils and calligraphy here but nothing like this.” Indeed, the 38-inch-square woodcuts in the “Island Series” are stunning and unusual. Also helping out Ying and Peninsula’s clients is Elma Tankink who has worked in the gallery for 23 years. People from near and far bring Elma their art for framing. Her experienced eye and technical expertise can make a painting sing. Says Ying, “Many reframe a beloved painting and find it looks immediately different.” Those who wander into Peninsula Gallery are in for a special time. Experience the comfortable, spacious gallery and art that stimulates but also soothes the soul. Peninsula Gallery 2506 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC 250-655-1282 • www.pengal.com 11
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Page 13 and 14: WHEN SENIOR GOVERNMENTS IMPOSE unre
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Page 25 and 26: 1040 MOSS ST | AGGV.CA “The Road
Page 27 and 28: “The Struggle,” by Cameron Kunt
Page 29 and 30: “To Begin Again” by Kimberly Ki
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Page 41 and 42: Focus presents: Triangle Healing AD
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Page 45 and 46: NIGHTINGALE, who ignores the occasi
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