November 2010
- Cover Story Festive Times on the Quay
- VIV Cover Story Holiday Season at Crown Isle!
- Volunteer this Christmas By Anne Middleton
- Celebrity Spotlight By Judy Stephan
- Remembrance Day By Anne Middleton
Cover Story
Festive Times on the Quay
By Anne MiddletonA treat at anytime of year but especially now at
Christmas time, our harbour walkway offers
protection from the weather with ocean views
and fine shopping. Snuggled along the port's
frontage, dotted with resident boats, it is
awash with festive lights from harbour stores. Bring the
family and most certainly any "out of towners" for a slow
meander, and with the comings and goings of seaplanes and
boats in this buzzing hub, this outing is never dull!
Children of all ages, mark your calendar as Santa Claus
will fly in at 10am on Saturday December 4, thanks to the
DNBIA and Lions Club. After the Christmas Parade, meet
Santa at 1pm at the Diana Krall Plaza.
Across the water lies the wondrous Dingy Dock Pub on
Protection Island, best in grub at any time of year. It's such
fun for groups to jump aboard the Dingy Dock ferry which
leaves hourly from the south end of our Harbour.
Newfoundland to Nanaimo has long been the anchor to
waterfront shopping. This is a superb stop for all tourists.
All the many unique gifts are Canadian made, most from
local Island artisans. From pottery to framed coastal prints,
special soaps to silk scarves and even the famous Inukshuk
statues, Karen has it all.
OHH!! Smell - just step into the specialty shop of
SeaSide Soaps and Scents. This is a perfect gift stop!
Handmade, gentle soaps of all shapes and sizes- all
natural - and some organic brands as well as luscious
lotions and fragrances from Vancouver Islander Crafters
and other Canadian made distributors - made naturally in
Canada and free of SLS.
Once everyone has had their fill of gang planks, docks,
fresh wind in the hair, it may be time for a late lunch.
Stop into the iconic Lighthouse Bistro. Downtown
Nanaimo's only Restaurant and Pub on the waterfront
has just launched its exciting new menu featuring fresh
locally sourced produce and the best seafood these waters
have to offer like Qualicum Scallops, Salt Spring Island
Mussels, Fanny Bay oysters and Queen Charlotte Island
Halibut all complemented by a boutique selection of BC
wines and a great choice of locally crafted beers to enjoy
in the restaurant or upstairs in the pub while listening to
Live acoustic music, watching the Canucks or just simply
staring out over our beautiful harbor to Newcastle and
Protection Islands and the Coastal Mountains beyond.
This waterfront is a secure and safe haven thanks to our
Port Authority. Nanaimo Port Authority's mandate is
to administer, control and manage the harbour, waters
and foreshore of the Georgia Strait in an area adjacent
to Nanaimo. It provides a safe harbour for visiting sea
vessels and a welcoming and friendly staff. Nanaimo has
become a clean and desirable port of call and the Port
Authority has a reputation of being warm and efficient.
Vancouver Island Voyager Cover Story
Holiday Season at Crown Isle!
Most of us stay close to home around
Christmas time as we have little
reason to leave our amazing
community. More often than not,
family and friends return from afar to spend the
holiday season with us. As we all know, the repeated
visits to familiar territory can turn entertaining
into work and the holidays become an effort for
anyone. Fortunately we don't have to look too far
to add some serenity to balance out our hectic
and bustling holiday season. Why not let
Crown Isle Resort do some or all of the holiday
hosting for you?
Also known as the "jewel" of the
Comox Valley, Crown Isle can help
make your holiday season more
relaxing whether it's a family vacation
or a romantic getaway. The Villas
are available in several different
configurations including a luxurious
king-sized suite complete with
Jacuzzi, double-sided fireplace, full
kitchen and picturesque fairway facing view.
With downhill skiing at Mt. Washington, located just 30
minutes from the doorstep of your classically luxurious suite,
to great seasonal golf just outside your door, our inviting
and knowledgeable staff are ready to assist you in creating
a memorable experience in offering a package to suit your
needs and budget.
Once you come down from the ski hill and golf is
finished for the day, guests can continue celebrating the
season well into the evening by unwinding in the
rustic Timber Room Pub or breathing in the casual elegance of the Silverado West Coast
Grill. The carefully prepared menus
feature fresh local ingredients all
passionately executed by one of the
best Chefs in town.
Consider Crown Isle for this
season's "holiday home away from
home" where it's truly possible that time can stand still;
where families can unwind after a day of fun and games
in a setting where tradition and elegance meet to offer a
truly relaxing atmosphere and a place where a "tee time
can turn into a lifetime".
The Crown Isle Sales Team is ready to plan your
upcoming "holiday home away form home" for the
upcoming season. Please email sales@crownisle.
com or call toll free 1-888-338-8439 and imagine the
possibilities for your upcoming holiday season.
Volunteer this Christmas
By Anne Middleton
Groups find it easy to collectively
contribute to holiday charities - the
struggle is to maintain such momentum
365 days of the year and not just at
Christmas, this seasonal practice actually
defeats the true sense of charity.
Volunteer Nanaimo has long provided
an umbrella for some 700 local
Not For Profit agencies. Executive Director,
Marjorie Driscoll, is concerned
about the future of funding and sponsorship
for many Nanaimo agencies.
Volunteer Nanaimo has been serving
Nanaimo for 30 years, and the mission,
says Driscoll is "For Every Opportunity
a Volunteer, For Every Volunteer an Opportunity".
Nanaimos' many charities rely
heavily on funding simply to stay afloat,
then are staffed by volunteers. These
community service agencies reach out
to so many: To those suffering illness
or loss - Hospice; for the many hungry
- food hampers; for many single families
needing the influence of another parent -
Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Big Brothers/
Big Sisters in our area has seen a drastic
shortage this year as Big Brothers for boys
ages 7-14 are scarce. It is great way to
influence a young life- to share a couple
of hours a week - for our future generation
and potential leaders of our country!
Become a' Bigs' at www.bigscvi.ca.
There are so many ways to meet so
many needs!
It has been proven that to give is to receive; there is no greater endorphin
boost.
The Gift of Time is the gift that shall
continue to be the most precious gift of
all, it continues giving in many hearts all
year long.
Big Brothers and Big Sister CVI and
Volunteer Nanaimo proudly salutes their
many volunteers making a great difference
to so many!
3-2350 Labieux Rd, Nanaimo V9T 3M6
(250) 758-7121 & BBBS (250) 756-2447
Celebrity Spotlight - Bobbie Buckle
By Judy Stephan
Bobbie was born in Nova Scotia and
moved to Victoria when she was 4. She
started playing poker by accident, when
on Christmas Day in 2004, her brother
taught her the rules on a travelling poker
set. Since then, Bobbie had only one way
to go and that was up. She belongs to the
Winners Poker League which plays at
various pubs in Nanaimo, and the league
winners get to go to Vegas. Bobbie has won
several poker tournaments and has played
in Toronto as well as numerous places on
the Island.
Bobbie won the chance to enter
Event #54, a $1000 buy in No Limit Texas
Hold'em bracelet tournament, with 3844
entrants, held in Las Vegas in July. This
was Bobbie's first trip to the World Series
of Poker and she finished in the top 10%
and made the cash! Besting a field that
included Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey.
Bobbie is in sales in the accounting
field by profession, but has a unique
company called Elite Gaming Entertainment
which she acquired last January. In recognition of this wonderful achievement, Elite Gaming
Entertainment is adding a beginners group and private poker lessons to their catalogue of services
,which already include entertainment casino nights featuring Roulette, Blackjack, Texas Hold'em,
and Chuck a Luck. You can contact Bobbie to show you how to play smart poker. You will learn,
to quote Kenny Rogers, to "... know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em Know when to walk
away and know when to run..." and more importantly, how to win. Bobbie will not be teaching advanced
poker strategy but has designed a way to teach someone with little or no poker knowledge,
how to be comfortable at the felt, play smart and have fun!
Get a group of friends together and have a fun night learning the basics of this game that
has taken the world by storm. This is not gambling, but playing merely for fun... and what
better way of celebrating an end-of-year function than with an event like this for your
staff. She offers discount to all Chamber of Commerce members and rents equipment
for charity poker tournaments.
Remembrance Day
By Anne Middleton
November 11 is a time-honored tradition to Canadians and is
a time when we can show our unique expression of national homage
- not simply 'Lest we Forget' but shall we NEVER allow such
atrocities to happen again! Armistice Day speaks loudly to the free
world, recalling the day troops lay down arms amidst tears and celebrations.
Pride in our Vets still glows at cenotaphs, yet by attrition
fewer Vets each year are left to lay wreaths. This was a romantic
and exciting time for soldiers overseas.
I, for one, was raised, always, with a lapel poppy and pride in my
heart, for my Dad, a Sergeant Major, professed to be one of the
youngest Canadians sent to England, and always reminded us of
the many lives sacrificed for a free world today. Many, as young as
17 to 18, felt duty bound to take basic training then deploy far away
with nothing but a duffle-bag.
Vera Lynn's gentle voice resonating dreams of all those brave young
"there'll be Blue Birds over the White cliffs of Dover" helping love
and hope exist. The Red Ensign flew with pride all over Canada
- the 'Maple Leaf Forever' still tugs at my heart...
I had the great honour of meeting
a Canadian Naval officer at
our Nanaimo Military Museum.
Commander Evan Petley-
Jones, now a mere 90 years
YOUNG, is this year's Honourable
Museum President. Having
enlisted in 1940, and trained in
Nova Scotia, he landed in England
with the Canadian Navy
joining forces with Britain's
HMCS. Petley- Jones was soon
stationed on a battle ship in the
cold Atlantic waters. Here at
sea he received the King Alfred
High Commission.
Proudly our town still hosts one of Canada's few remaining Military Museums, holding its place at the
North Town Centre since 1986. This interesting stop is a treasure of artifacts, memorabilia, full military
kit issue, as well as authentic dress from army, navy and air force. The museum covers wars history
dating back through both World Wars, the Boer and Korean Wars. A library of War books and articles
is available, and more children, research students and the public can actually meet vets, men who lived
and survived the war and are willing to share true stories. These
many gentlemen man the museum; volunteering to greet you
and receive your donation and well deserved respect.
Our Military museum struggles, relying entirely
on public donations.
Wear your Poppy with pride this November 11 - it is not
simply about those who fought in the Great World Wars,
also remember the many involved in all world conflicts
since 1945 - still fighting for Peace and Freedom.
Thank you to Driving Miss Daisy, Nanaimo and
Petley-Jones & Co Law Corporation for their kind
support of Canada's Vets and the Poppy
Campaign
