port hardy day one: perfect fish and chips, bad movers, wild wildlife
Coming to you live from my own desk and my own computer, from internet in our own place — after my first full night’s sleep in ten days. Yesterday was…
Vancouver Island
this just keeps getting better: port hardy plus full employment
This. Is. Amazing. After we move, Allan will retain his current job — same salary, benefits, vacation, everything — but work from home. We never expected this and are simply…
question about driving from ontario to bc: how long will it take to cross the rockies?
We’re planning out our road trip to Vancouver Island a bit more carefully, with less spontaneity than we might normally want, because we need a pet-friendly motel for every stop.…
more on the privilege of moving: future tax refunds and the hero of this story
Thanks to several Facebook friends and at least one wmtc commenter, we’ve learned that the hefty cost of moving across Canada will be (eventually) (somewhat) reduced: the move is tax-deductible.…
the trials and tribulations (and incredible privilege) of relocating
Moving from the GTA to the north island is going to cost a lot more than I thought. And I’m struck by my huge privilege in being able to do…
my plans and hopes for our big life change
We are moving west for several reasons. One is a lifestyle change. I’ve adjusted to living in the sprawling suburbs, and while we living in a (rental) house, it was…
in which we take a big gamble and are rewarded, or, we are moving to port hardy
I got a job! We are moving to Port Hardy, BC! Port what now? Yes, we are moving to a tiny, remote town in the “north island” — the northern…
wmtc moves west
We are moving to Vancouver Island! As soon as I find a good library job there — which may be very soon — we are giving notice, packing up, and…
vancouver island day eight: nanaimo, qualicum beach, parksville
Our final full day on the island, we did a little of everything. We drove through different areas of Nanaimo, went into more bookstores, went food shopping to make a…
vancouver island day seven: chemainus, ladysmith, nanaimo
Poor Allan, the only non-morning person in our little group, being faced with three high-octane coffee drinkers every morning! In Chemainus I let him sleep in a bit as we…
vancouver island day six: mill bay, duncan, chemainus
After breakfast, we packed up and said a reluctant goodbye to this cozy spot — mostly the deck with the view — and headed north on the Trans-Canada Highway, towards…
vancouver island day four: downtown victoria and to sooke
After our last lovely hot breakfast at the Beacon Inn, we hit the road to downtown Victoria. It was much closer than we imagined! It’s amazing how quickly you are…
a note about vancouver island
Vancouver Island has several regions, but the first division is between the south island and east coast, as distinct from the north island and west coast. The south island is…
vancouver island day three: sidney and saanich peninsula
The B&B had self-serve coffee starting earlier than breakfast, but for guests whose internal clocks are on eastern time, it was a long and painful wait! I watched the clock…
vancouver island days one and two
Getting from Toronto to Vancouver Island is a long haul. Getting from pretty much anywhere to Vancouver Island — except a few places on the west coast — is a…
retroactive travel blog: vancouver island april 16-24
In April, we spent a week on Vancouver Island — an exploratory trip with an eye towards a possible (probable? definite?) move there. I had already been contacted by the…
Is 2018 Our Year of Reckoning?
People out this way realize that the earthquake called the “Big One” could arrive any day. We’ve heard the seismologists tell us that we’re probably overdue for that once every…
A solemn promise: Indigenous perspectives on the Douglas Treaties
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 West Coast's RELAW Project Lead Maxine Hayman Matilpi shares stories from a recent conference that brought together historians, legal scholars and Indigenous people who are direct…
Chrystia Freeland should not be punished for her grandfather’s sins, but for misleading Canadians about them
PHOTOS: Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland during her visit to Edmonton in the midst of the 2015 federal election. Below: Former Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and Prime Minister Justin…