March/April 2017

March-April 2017 Focus.pdf

4 Leslie Campbell | HOW THE REFUGEE CRISIS IS PLAYING OUT IN VICTORIA
America is slamming its door on refugees. Will Canada open its wider?

14 Ross Crockford | A POOL OF MONEY, OLYMPIC-SIZED
The City of Victoria wants to build a $70-million swimming pool but must
first obtain consent from electors to borrow $60 million.

14 Judith Lavoie | SHAWNIGAN WATER FEARS SPILL INTO ELECTION
Environment Minister Polak cancelled South Island Aggregates’ wastewater discharge permit, but will the bad taste left behind impact the provincial election?  

16 David Broadland | VICTORIA’S ICONIC, WORLD-CLASS BLUNDER
Project promoters are still claiming the new bridge will be “world-class” and “iconic.” Unfortunately, they may be right.

20 Judith Lavoie | BC’S CLIMATE DEBATE HEATS UP
We analyzed the climate action strategies of BC’s political parties
in the lead-up to May’s election.

24 Alan Cassels | LETTER TO VICTORIA’S SOCCER MOMS
The “selling sickness” model is in full display
in pushing grade 6 boys towards a questionable vaccine.

26 Briony Penn | WHALES OF THE SALISH SEA
Despite all the noise, pollution and overfishing, the orca are still here.

30 Ross Crockford | TALES OF TWO BOOKSELLERS
Mel Bolen and Jim Munro built monuments to the written word.

32 Aaren Madden | FULL CIRCLE
Artist Susan Point has pushed boundaries for women and Coast Salish design.

50 Robin J. Miller | ROBB BERESFORD IS BACK IN TOWN
Former Ballet Victoria star returns to Victoria
with renowned Alonzo King LINES Ballet of San Francisco.

52 Amy Reiswig | SILKY SASS AND SECRET LIVES
The Millies give voice to their daring, fun-loving, 
theatrical selves in a benefit for Hospice.

54 Monica Prendergast | ALICE MUNRO, WORD FOR WORD
The Belfry gives us two stories from Canada’s beloved Nobel-winner.

56 Amy Reiswig | SACRED HERB / DEVIL’S WEED
Andrew Struthers takes readers on a long,
strange—and fun—trip through marijuana and human culture.

58 Gene Miller | COMMUNITY IS PERISHABLE
And somebody should definitely do something about this sometime.

60 Maleea Acker | LOUISE GOULET: PLANT SALVAGER AND CONSERVATIONIST
Preserving the flora of the Garry Oak meadow ecosystem in the face of development.

62 Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic | EULOGY VIRTUES
What makes people truly good?