The Comox Valley’s Zone of Abundance

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Pieter Vorster from Project Watershed and Keeping It Living is on site discussing one of our gorgeous attractions – The Courtenay River Estuary. Here he is:
One of, if not the most significant, attractions, and natural features in the Comox Valley is the Courtenay River Estuary. An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal [...]

Sunday Morning Walks – Winter Museum Walking

You have to admit that, some days this time of year, heading outside for an adventure in the perpetual downpour is not on the list of things to do. But, needing to get out of the house is going to be the one thing that keeps everyone from going off of their rockers in the [...]

Holiday Traditions – Where To Check Out the Lights

Editor’s Note: This morning we had a fun post about getting organized and creating some cute projects for 2010 courtesy of crafting goddess Vanessa Falle. You can check it out HERE. Now, time for more holiday traditions. Today, where to find some of the best light displays in the Comox Valley.
If there’s one thing about [...]

Monday Moms – Independent West Coast Fashion

Oh how I love clothes. Really, if there is one thing in life that I know will make a grim day bright it’s a soft, pretty sweater, or that great jacket that makes me feel super confident and collected.
I generally think of myself as a fairly practical woman – rarely extravagant. But, splurging on something [...]

Sunday Morning Walks – Finding Swans

The truest sign of Winter’s onset for our family is the return of the Trumpeter Swans. Right after Halloween we move from salmon and skeletons to full-on ornithologists looking for our friends headed South from Alaska for their balmy vacation from the Northern cold.
They’ve become like the neighbors who only live in town half the [...]

Breaking News – Valley Flooding Forces Closures, Evacuations

Courtenay Mayor Greg Phelps declared a weather-related state of emergency and an evacuation alert was ordered for Cumberland residents living near Comox Lake this afternoon as torrential rains seriously impact the Comox Valley. The RCMP is advising limited or no traffic into Courtenay and schools were closed early today as well. The Fifth Street Bridge [...]

Regional Growth in Your Backyard

Editor’s Note: Good morning and welcome to SHIFT News. Today we have Comox Valley reporter Colleen Dane here with the first of a two-part series on the critical roll that local residents can play in the creation of the Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).
In part one, Dane takes a look at the background of [...]

Need a Night Away? Hit Cliffe Avenue

No, I am not suggesting that you hit the street in an attempt to spend an evening among adults.:) Actually, I’m not even suggesting you hit the road.
It’s a painful reality in our house that leaving said house is generally virtually impossible in a “date night” sort of way. Going out to dinner, that is [...]

Mom-P-Inc. – Kristi Walker of Eco-Centric

Motherhood, it changes you.
While there’s a whole list that involves sagging and wrinkled, exhausted and emotional that can be wrapped in there, for many women becoming a Mom takes life to a whole other level.
It brings out our genuine loves, forces them into places creatively and personally that reveal talents and ingenuity unrealized until that [...]

Nurture Your Inner Diva at Flawless Beauty Bar

Good morning. I’d been ready for the last week or so to do a Monday Morning Mom’s poll about lipstick this morning. Then, lovely OBE mama Kindle left me a little bath-related surprise at the new Flawless Beauty Bar in downtown Courtenay.

Not knowing what to expect, I wandered in with the scent-loving 3.75-year-old and both [...]

Restaurant Review – Benino Gelato

 
There we were, standing at the corner of Fourth and Cliffe a few days ago snacking down in gelato, chatting up Benino Gelato mother-daughter team Ruth and Aline about life in general when it occurred to me that I had yet to chat up our most favourite afternoon treat locale with OBE readers.
Maybe it was [...]

Local Fresh Bread – Wheat- & Gluten-Free

Eating wheat-free or gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to give up foods you love! It seems these days.
Many families have to eliminate wheat products from the household grocery list because of intolerance or allergy. Bread lovers (myself included) find it hard enough to curb this staple from our daily diet (who can resist carbs!), and [...]

Tita’s Warmth is Culinary Sunshine

As we move into the season of cold and darkness – and there may be a few extra bucks slotted for mom/dad dinners found tucked away in holiday cards recently – it’s time for the parents to find someone to watch the young people and head out for an evening on their own in pursuit [...]

Snow Sled Walks in the Comox Valley

Every day, it’s the same question: “Mommy, when is it going to snow? Santa won’t come if it never snows.”
While I’m sure kids in warmer climates would definitely debate the merits of her theory, our daughter could not help but find herself bundled up and ready to hit the hills the last couple of days [...]

A Sustainable Partnership

Last Wednesday, as our daughter and I were headed off to the NeighbourWood Walk out at Lazo Marsh, we drove along the dyke road in the gleaming sunshine and she made an announcement.
“Look at the magic, mommy?”
I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Look, out on the ocean, it’s like magic sunshine out [...]

Wholesome Goodness In A Nutshell

Editor’s Note: A trip to just about any local farm – or as a rainy-season alternative, your local Farmers Market – is a great way to connect kids to food. Putting that together with family reading of a book like This Is The Feast by Diane Z. Shore, illustrated by Megan Lloyd, which we [...]

Hidden Secrets at Finlay Creek Farm

Editor’s Note: Today our intrepid local food writer Robyn Butler is revealing a true diamond in the rough when it comes to local charm and absolutely amazing products.
I had the chance to meet the women who run Finlay Creek Farm on Halloween and, I have to tell you, they are two of the most charming [...]

Announcing The Fall NeighbourWood Walks

Good morning.
I am happy to say that after a couple months of NeighbourWood Walk withdrawl since our fantastic Summer series that saw 60 kiddos and their families out for walks all over the region, the Fall walk series is nearly here.
September is always a nutso month for families, and October has been a bit of [...]

Thanksgiving Family Walks in the Comox Valley

We realized yesterday, at the point when we were still debating what will be on the table at Thanksgiving dinner – including a yet-to-be-purchased(oops) main dish – that we are a bit overworked right now.
We’ve debated the merits of breaking for a few minutes to go remember what the beach looks like or stretch our [...]

It’s Raining – Time to Head Outside

Editor’s Note: OF COURSE the sun is back out today. Ha, ha Mother Nature.
But, do save this post for later reference. The sun is bound to disappear again, soon.:)

Mother Nature, she’s not exactly the subtle type.
No easing us into Fall, giving us a few clouds here and there before commencing with the deluge.
My mental space [...]

Mom-P-Inc. – Teneille Higgins & Chelsea Kennedy of Firefly: New Beginnings

Motherhood, it changes you.
While there’s a whole list that involves sagging and wrinkled, exhausted and emotional that can be wrapped in there, for many women becoming a Mom takes life to a whole other level.
It brings out our genuine loves, forces them into places creatively and personally that reveal talents and ingenuity unrealized until that [...]

Comfy, Urban, Vintage – Freakin’ Coffee Shop

Dining may not be the first thing you think about when it comes to a place to load up on caffeine. But, it’s all about the experience at Tin Town’s Freakin’ Coffee Shop on Rosewall Crescent in Courtenay.

Food is optional.
Since my first job out of school, I have lived quite fondly for the cozy coffee [...]

Valley In Sight – Courtenay Air Park

The Summer is such a huge time for people who drop in on the Valley to soak up the gorgeous beaches, hang out with family and even be tempted to relocate if given enough reasons on the plus side.
The messages pouring into my Inbox lately from folks who want the skinny on Valley life as [...]

Mom-P-Inc. – Kyla and Marussia Nesling

Motherhood, it changes you.
For four weeks now, we’ve been taking a look at moms across the Comox Valley who have taken the ingenuity thrust upon them by parenthood and turned it into businesses.
Today, we get to know two local mamas who took their passion for health, the environment and family and worked together to build [...]

Mom-P-Inc. – Jennifer Barth of Be on Sixth

Motherhood, it changes you.
While there’s a whole list that involves sagging and wrinkled, exhausted and emotional that can be wrapped in there, for many women becoming a Mom takes life to a whole other level.
It brings out our genuine loves, forces them into places creatively and personally that reveal talents and ingenuity unrealized until that [...]

Spring NeighbourWood Walks – Puntledge Greenway

When I woke up yesterday morning to drizzle and chill, I seriously wondered whether we’d hit the trail for our weekly community walk.
Happily, I trusted the weather predictors (dangerous territory) and it turns out that while they were totally wrong about bright sunny skies this morning (where’s my 26 degrees I dreamed about all night?), [...]

Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens & Pressed Flowers

Let me just start by sending out a big, warm hug to all of the wonderful folks who braved the cold to hit the Today Party yesterday! More than 200 kiddos dropped by to decorate cupcakes, colour like crazy and meet some friends over at Karen’s studio.
I loved it – getting to meet so many [...]

Sandwick Park

CVK dad Derek Kwan has dropped by today to give us the skinny on a cool, lesser-known park in the Valley and I just have to say how excited I am to have a dad’s perspective in the mix here.
I’m not going to blab on too much today.

I needed a plane to help me [...]

Courtenay Parks

Lots of parents have been asking me lately for comprehensive lists of local parks with equipment.
Today, I’ll start with the Courtenay City-owned parks. There are several city-maintained nature parks including Lerwick, Millard, Dogwood, Bear James and Huford Hill that are not included here because they offer no park amenities.

* Bill Moore Park: Kilpatrick Avenue and [...]

Cakebread Artisan Bakery

As most of you know by now, we are a wheat-free family.
Each of us have a different reason for staying away from it. But, the reality is that lovely, comfort-food baked goods like breads, cakes and cookies baked by someone other than me have long been off the snack list.
Until lately.

I hadn’t even dared to [...]

Santa’s In The Building

After a crazy week, I have to admit that I am shot and in serious need of a day to myself.
But, before I escape, I leave you with the great fun that was yesterday’s Santa Parade in downtown Courtenay.

Pools, Skating Rinks and Climing Gyms in the Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is home to a wide range of public sports facilities including skating rinks, pools and recreation centres that are in the process of expanding as the Valley continues to grow.
The Comox Strathcona Regional District maintains local public pools and ice rinks in Courtenay, Comox and Campbell River other than Glacier Gardens ice [...]

Family-Friendly Trails in the Comox Valley

Finding the safe, accessible and fun family trails on the North Island is no small task.
With plenty of trails to choose from, it’s the details on what works and what doesn’t that are often missing. Check here for a list of family-friendly trails around the Comox Valley and Campbell River regions.
SAFETY NOTE: Bears, cougars [...]

Ashprington Farm

With berry season in full swing, I have been running around like crazy trying to find a u-pick raspberry spot in the Valley. They are, in the end, not very easy to find.
On our way to and from the beach, other farms and adventures along the Old Island Highway I’d seen a sign for u-pick [...]

Dining Out – Michaels Off Main

My mother-in-law loves Caesar salad.
The love is so intense that she has spent many a day seeking out the perfect Caesar spot.
In the end, it only took her a couple trips to Michaels Off Main in downtown Courtenay to assure her she had found her Caesar soul mate.
She treated us to Caesars a while back [...]

Dining Out – Plates Eatery

One of the best moves Platers Eatery & Catering Co. owner Steve Swing made for his restaurant was to relocate.
While the family-friendly food has always been available along Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay, now that Plates is no longer hidden in a shopping centre and lives at the corner of 26th Street and Cliffe it is [...]

Diaper Gyms In The Comox Valley

Finding the perfect place for your infant or toddler to make friends, play hard and have fun can be tough work.
Here are a few spots to try out:
CFB Comox Parents & Tots 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays out at the CFB Comox Recreation Centre. $2 and parents are encouraged to contribute a [...]

Dining Out – The Park Cafe

I L-O-V-E Sunday morning breakfast.
Actually, that would be any morning breakfast which doesn’t involve me cooking up anything at all.
But, those weekend jaunts to the local greasy spoon for some eggs and sausage have won my enduring adoration since Barry Manilow had a number-one record.
One of our favourite spots in The Valley for a down-home [...]

Comox Valley Water Parks

Summer is on!
You can have that officially confirmed by a drive by Lewis Centre, a look to the North and the sight of a horde of tiny people screeching with complete, total happiness in the middle of giant water fountains. Cruise on through downtown Cumberland and you’ll surely come upon the exact same moment.
Yep, the [...]

Art Galleries in the Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is packed full of small art galleries – in every medium – that are a uniquely British Columbian experience.
Taking a day out to see the work of the hundreds of local artists who live among us will amaze you at the talent around these parts.
Check out:
The Comox Valley Art Gallery
Denman Arts Centre
Pearl [...]

Bill Moore Park

On Mom:
I love the Hindu saying: Ishwar sarvavyapi ho, isliye ishwar ne har parivar mein ek Maa di hai.
…which translates to: God couldn’t be everywhere, so he gave each family a mother.
Now, back to business:
Not every park has a trail running through it. But, here in the Comox Valley, that’s the exception not the rule.
Even [...]

Simms Millenium Park

There are those days when getting outside in the next 10 minutes is absolutely necessary. But, so is a swing set, some major open grass and a chance to check out some serious water.
When all of those things simply must be accounted for per the request of tiny people, I pack up the truck and [...]

Local, Regional and Provincial Park on North Vancouver Island

North Vancouver Island is packed full of family-friendly parks that can turn the gloomiest of days into a full-fledged adventure.
We’re working on gathering comprehensive lists of local parks for you.
LOCAL PARKS THAT WE LOVE:
The Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park: In Comox just off of Comox Avenue. The Filberg is a family fave – filled with [...]