April 2010

• Cover Story Play Golf...
• VIV Cover Story Fly, Fly Away...
• Hadi Abassi By Judy Stephan
• Wally Bartle turns 100 By Judy Stephan
• Long Lake B&B By Judy Stephan

Cover Story

Play Golf...

By Anne Middleton

This premier facility, an 18-hole Championship Par 72-Golf Course, lies right here in central Nanaimo - no long commute necessary! Set amongst giant firs and willow trees, this course also offers unbridled views of the Georgia Strait and Departure Bay waterways twinkle below many of the tee boxes. The immaculate course was designed in early 1960 by the famed A.V. McCann, the designer responsible for many BC courses in the 60's. McCann's creation of challenges, still maintains golf enjoyment for all some 50 years later. Members never tire of this well laid out course and the general public is always welcome to take up a tee time.

The Club House, fully renovated in late 1996, always provides a warm, friendly community to its golfers, with windowed views of the course and surrounding Coastal Mountains.

This is a full service facility to members offering, locker and change rooms, advanced tee time online bookings, BCGA handicap system, clinics and lessons with a very strong junior program promoting the game from within families. The pro shop is a bustling stop offering all manner of golf apparel, accessories, smiling staff certified club fitting, complimentary pull carts and discounts for the 'best driving range around' as it is covered and heated! Members are privy to many club-house services, meeting and banquet hall rentals, a restaurant lounge and bar for apres golf socializing, and a wonderful venue for private events and catered affairs.

Nanaimo Golf Club is a semi private club thus welcoming the public to play 7 days a week. This spring is a wonderful time to try out this course, the driving range or lessons with one of the 4 qualified CPGA pros. From now until May 31st NGC is offering a SPECIAL new membership price to all interested parties. Many Vancouver area and Island clubs offer reciprocal agreements with this club's members. A membership with NGC offers all, social aspects such as T.G.I.F. Fridays, Women's Divisions (Tuesday Thursday and Saturday mornings),Men's Division (Wed mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings), a thorough Junior Program and specialized tournaments throughout the year for charities and in support of Men's or Women's Amateur Golf.

For more information on Golf or Social activities call Ash Chadha, General Manager at 250-758-2451

Vancouver Island Voyager Cover Story

Fly, Fly Away...

By Anne Middleton

We have endured a light coastal winter, yet dreary grey days take a toll on the best of us! The Games are over and a getaway is in order to put spring back into life. Since the bleak 2009 economy, Flight Centre has been hard at work finding you the most economic and exciting flights to and tours of Europe. Take a trip to times past, discover ancient cultures, marvel at the architecture and revel in the Art. Test your knowledge of history and expand your point of view by partaking in European culture.

Has cycling the Tuscany countryside long been a dream? Or haggling over Moroccan rugs in Fez? Possibly watching Flamenco dancers in Spain dazzles you. Or strolling across Charles Bridge in Prague. Ah! The French Canals... a most idyllic avenue to explore Bordeaux while tasting its many fine wines.

The experienced Flight Centre Consultants will build custom flights and tours to suit any dream holiday. Rest assured, whatever your taste or budgets, Europe can be your destination this spring. Worry-free planning with these experts: an escorted tour will offer certainty of getting to the heart of a country in the expert hands of a partner tour operators who combines years of experience with the intimate knowledge of local culture and language. Choose from all comfort levels from hiking and cycling to air-conditioned deluxe coaches - from Camping & Pensions to the deluxe pampering of five star hotels. The friendly consultants at Nanaimo's two Flight Centres (Commercial Street and Woodgrove Mall) will organize the chaos for you - from international flights to inner connectors to transport to tours - you will leave with a smile and a complete in-depth tour dossier.

FLIGHT CENTRE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR APRIL 2010

AIR: Purchase roundtrip airfare to Europe now and receive a $50 discount voucher to use on an escorted tour.

ESCORTED TOUR OFFERS: Purchase an escorted Europe tour now and save up to $550 per person
Representing the best tour companies in Europe: including Globus, Cosmos & Avalon River Cruises, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Back-Roads Tours, Gap Adventures over 48 distinctive countries.
*For 18-30+ Ages - Contiki Holidays and Topdeck Travel.

EXTRAS: Best rates on Europe Rail Passes, superb rates on Europe hotels, Europe cruises and day-tours.

Hadi Abassi

By Judy Stephan

Hadi was voted Citizen of the year in 2009 and is one of the Top 20 most powerful men in Nanaimo and so I ventured over to Atlas Truss to meet this noteworthy man.

Born in Iran, Hadi moved to England in 1975 where he completed his Mechanical Engineering Degree, before he came to Canada in 1982.

Besides running Atlas Truss and Coastal Windows, Hadi is also the president of the VI Raiders and the Senior A La Crosse team, The Nanaimo Timbermen. The VI Raiders Football Team is his passion, and he is not only the president but also a life coach for these young athletes. Venturing from home for the first time, these sportsmen are from differing backgrounds, and learn how to deal with life - working or studying in the day and practising at night. Over 60 scholarships have been made available for them at VIU through fundraising by Hadi and his dedicated team. The Raiders are a successful football team, having won the national championships in 06, 08 and 09, not having lost a home game since 05 and many players graduating to pro leagues.

Because of his ongoing work with the youth, Hadi was nominated to carry the Torch by the Provincial Government, and it came at a critical time when there was pressure to win the BC Champs. He says the Torch Relay experience is hard to explain as he was mesmerised and numb, and slightly embarrassed by his name being chanted, but he is proud to be the first Iranian to carry the Torch. He watched the beginning of the Olympics in England and was proud to be Canadian and part of the process. He found the experience unifying as it has brought Canadians from various cultural backgrounds together. "Live to learn life out of possibilities ... there is a lot of power to do things together."

Hadi is inspired by his father who he looks up to for his steadfast generosity and selfless character, a man who at 77, still works and gives continually back to the community. His other great inspiration is his wife, Fiona, who has stood by him and supported him.

Walking trails, marathons and the gym are how Hadi spends his leisure time and he says he is living his dream as he aspires to slowly retire so he can enjoy the fruits of his labour. Using the analogy of a garden, he says the building and planting has been done, and he can sit back and enjoy the flowers.

Nanaimo Magazine is proud of all that Hadi Abassi has achieved in the community and wishes him every success.

Wally Bartle turns 100

By Judy Stephan

I was fortunate to attend the 100th birthday celebration of a very special man. Major Wally Bartle made his century on 27 February and he had a party fit for such an achievement at the Grand Hotel in Nanaimo.

Born in a small mining community in Derbyshire in 1910, Wally had a photographic memory, was reading newspapers by the age of 3 and can tell you even today what the wallpaper was like in his nursery. A master storyteller, Wally can entertain a crowd with marvellous memories of monarchs and military men and can recount in graphic detail the shooting down of the first Zeppelin. He proclaims to be one of the last people King Edward VIII spoke to the day he left England after his abdication; served as aide-de-camp to Field Marshall Montgomery and even spent an evening as Prince Phillip's drinking partner.

He attended Chesterfield Grammar School and took 3 "A" levels and won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, winning the Professor's prize for Architectural Design. He went back to teach at his old art school, but found that teaching evenings interfered with his social life so was appointed at Portsmouth Grammar School where he remained until his retirement, and still maintains a deep and abiding connection to his past students.

Wally believes that after 32 years he has served longer than any other officer in the Corps. He started out in the Signals Platoon, and Musketry and made a quick promotion to Major. His Corps was praised by King George VI, and was used by Queen Elizabeth II to guard Buckingham Palace's gates. A manuscript which Wally wrote for the Centenary of the Corps in 1960 on vellum, and the Queen noted the beauty thereof, now resides in Windsor Castle Library.

Among family, friends and colleagues, Wally received a coveted birthday card from the Queen; certificates from the Prime Minister and Governor General of Canada, the Premier of BC as well as other important figures. His cake symbolised the many facets of his life: The schoolmaster; the soldier and the artist.

Auric Film Productions Inc. has begun production on a feature length documentary based on the extraordinary life and memories of Major Wally Bartle, under the working title "Bloody Proud: the modest life of Major Wally Bartle". This documentary intends to both celebrate and preserve the legacy of Major Bartle; but to also question why he - like so many other living heroes and fallen soldiers - has been forgotten by society.

Today Wally still religiously volunteers his services at the Nanaimo Military Museum in Nanaimo North Town Centre. Major Wally Bartle - Nanaimo Magazine salutes you!

Long Lake Waterfront Bed & Breakfast

By Judy Stephan

Nestled on the cliffs above Long Lake in Nanaimo with spectacular views of the lake waters and Mt Benson, this luxurious multi-levelled Bed & Breakfast, run superbly by hosts Gordie and Janice Robinson, is the perfect venue for a honeymoon night; an escape from the humdrum of life or a unique getaway on our wonderful Island.

As one guest so aptly put it, it is like being in a wellloved guestroom of beloved friends. The personal touches and attention to detail mean that you have every home comfort and more. With 3 exquisitely furnished and private lakeside luxury suites (The Arbutus, The Madrona and The Lakeside) each serving the needs of different guests, and an amazing and healthy breakfast served every morning, this is a romantic holiday destination for any traveller.

We had the pleasure of staying in the Madrona Honeymoon Suite. This 700sq/ft room, with a large en suite bathroom, has a king-sized four-posted bed, a shower for two and a jacuzzi tub. With every home comfort (coffee, cable television, gas fireplaces, air conditioning, complimentary gowns etc) as well as access to the lake activities, including fishing, swimming, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes, from a private wharf, as well as a hot tub, there is endless opportunity for enjoyment. Five minutes from the Island Highway, shopping restaurants and other activities, it is centrally located although feels like it is out of town.

Long Lake Waterfront Bed & Breakfast
Luxury right here on your doorstep.

240 Ferntree Place, Nanaimo, BC
1-877-758-5010 / frontdesk@lodgingnanaimo.com.