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Coming up in Cowichan: Forest Talk, film festival, Loot in the Boot, and dementia workshop

Let’s Talk Forests comes to Duncan Friday, Nov. 3
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Load up your loot and head to Cowichan Green Community. (submitted)

Let’s Talk Forests comes to Duncan Friday, Nov. 3

In light of the ecological crisis facing old-growth rainforests on Vancouver Island, activists with Sierra Club BC and the Wilderness Committee are kicking off a multi-stop tour called Let’s Talk Forests.

Over 10 days, the organizations will hold six public meetings to present the latest information on the status of old-growth rainforests and to hear from communities about the forest issues facing them.

The tour will be in Duncan on Friday, Nov. 3, from 7-9 p.m. in the Mesachie Room at the Island Savings Centre.

“What happens in forests impacts people in forest communities, so it’s critical we get out and hear from them,” said Torrance Coste, Wilderness Committee Vancouver Island campaigner. “We need to protect rare rainforest ecosystems and make a just transition to second-growth forestry in a way that doesn’t leave these communities and Indigenous nations high and dry.”

The vast majority of original rainforest on Vancouver Island has been logged, and the industry continues to log the equivalent of about 25 rugby fields of old-growth per day. The decline of original forest has serious ecological impacts on water, salmon, endangered species and climate change.

“Ancient rainforests are a frontline of climate change: changes to the climate impact these ecosystems and the destruction of these ecosystems impacts the climate,” said Mark Worthing, conservation and climate campaigner with Sierra Club BC. “Clearcutting these carbon-storing rainforests causes very high emissions, and addressing climate change requires protecting them.”

Mismanagement of Vancouver Island’s rainforests is also taking an economic toll, with several more Island mills closing or shutting down this year, organizers said.

“How do we make forestry work for ecosystems while prioritizing Indigenous rights and title and local, sustainable livelihoods?” Coste asked. “We don’t have all these answers, but we hope to find out.”

These meetings will be held on the territories of the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast Salish peoples.

World Community Film Festival on this weekend

The Cowichan Valley Film Society is excited to bring the World Community Film Festival back to Duncan Nov. 3 to 5.

This is B.C.’s largest environmental and social justice film festival. It has run in Courtenay for more than 20 years and now travels all across Canada.

The Travelling World Community Film Festival is known for the breadth of topics covered as well as the first class quality of the productions screened. The Duncan screening of the festival has a line-up of 17 documentaries which are sure to educate, entertain and inspire, festival organizers said.

The festival takes place at VIU Cowichan Campus, screening all films in the lecture theatre. Volunteers will be preparing and serving baked goods, soup, focaccia, fruit and beverages on site.

Tickets are $20 for a full three-day pass and $10 for the Friday evening screening only. Tickets are available online at http://cowichan2.brownpapertickets.com or at the door throughout the festival.

Descriptions of all the films and other details are at: http://cowichanvalleyfilm.ca

Load up your loot and head to Cowichan Green event

The Cowichan region has plentiful treasures ranging from vintage collectibles to one-of-a-kind riches that often remain hidden from the world.

These hidden gems tend to collect dust in closets, attics, basements, underneath the couch, or end up taking a trip to the landfill. On Sunday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., spare a trip to the dump and get out your dusters to let your treasures shine at Cowichan Green Community’s first annual “Loot in the Boot” fundraiser.

Taking place in The Station’s parking lot, a building owned and managed by CGC, Loot in the Boot gives opportunity for community members to sell their treasures out of their trunk, or donate their treasures for CGC to sell. Local food producers to artisans, collectable specialists to antique extraordinaires are welcome to pop the trunk and rent a stall for $20. Donated loot will be accepted through CGC’s Garden Pantry Store. Please no clothing, linens, or large furniture.

Proceeds from stall rentals and donated items will go directly to supporting CGC’s many engaging and educational programs, such as FruitSave, KinPark Youth Urban Farm, Incubator Seed Farm, and food-focused community workshops and events.

“Not only is this a great fundraising opportunity for the community to be fully engaged in supporting CGC’s dynamic programs, it also presents an opportunity to do something good for the earth at the same time,” says Leslie, Garden Pantry Store manager. “By ‘upcycling’ your treasures for someone else’s enjoyment you are keeping more things out of the landfill, and that is a really good thing! It’s a large part of what we are all about at the Garden Pantry Store. While you are here for Loot in the Boot, please come and visit the store and see what our local vendors are up to.”

To donate your loot, head to the Garden Pantry Store on 360 Duncan St. Donations for Loot in the Boot will be accepted from until Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. If you wish to rent a parking stall to sell your loot, or for more information call Madelaine at 250-748-8506, or email info@cowichangreencommunity.org.

Maximize quality of life when living with dementia

In just a few hours of their time, Cowichan Valley families and caregivers living with dementia can learn strategies that will help maximize their quality of life for years.

The non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C. brings its free educational series Shaping the Journey: living with dementia to the area beginning on Nov. 10. It runs for six Fridays.

The series helps families build the knowledge, skills and confidence to live well with dementia. While meeting others going through similar experiences, participants will learn about the brain and dementia, hearing the diagnosis, maintaining their general health, life after diagnosis, planning ahead, and maintaining their spirit.

Shaping the Journey is designed specifically for people experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, as well as a care partner, family member or friend.

The sessions run Nov. 10 through Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St.

Pre-registration is required by contacting Jane at 1-800-462-2833.

The program is free thanks to partial funding by the Province of B.C., Provincial Employees Community Services Fund, RBC Foundation, NWM Private Giving Foundation, Seacliff Foundation, The Phyliss & Irving Snider Foundation, The 1988 Foundation, Margaret Rothweiler Charitable Foundation, Frank & Yvonne McCracken Foundation, Wheeler Family Foundation, The Belmont Foundation, Paul Lee Family Foundation, Jack Brown & Family Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Dr. Woo Hon Fai Memorial Foundation, Colin & Lois Pritchard Foundation, Don & Lynn Bendickson Foundation, Cadillac Fairview and by the generous contributions of individual donors.

For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias visit www.alzheimerbc.org.