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Powerful musical tackles subject of human sex trafficking

Arts & Entertainment

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October 4, 2023

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Powerful musical tackles subject of human sex trafficking

By KIRSTEN BOLTON

FOR ARTSPRING

It seems an unlikely combination that a rock concert within a play driven by solving a mystery also takes an intimate and emotionally brave look at human sex trafficking, an issue that impacts lives in Canada and around the world.

That, however, is the exactly the powerful, engaging experience audiences can expect from Love Bomb, the award-winning theatre production hailing from Vancouver showing at ArtSpring on Friday, Oct. 13.

The story follows a mother who, in search of her missing teenaged daughter, comes across a new YouTube singer/songwriter, Justine, whose hit song Missing the Point hits a little too close to home. Convinced the lyrics are about her daughter, she tracks the singer down to the seedy venue where the performer is about to play to confront her. By convincing Justine to play through her whole set, clues are pieced together about what likely happened to her daughter.

While the characters are fictional, a majority of the content is pulled from real life cases. The writer, Meghan Gardener, put in a meticulous research effort, working with police and Crown prosecutors to create the most realistic version of events she could. Many of the circumstances in the play mirror what victims went through in the landmark Regina vs. Moazami case, which resulted in B.C.’s first sex trafficking conviction in 2015. Eleven of the 22 teenage and young women victims bravely came forward to testify, and their testimony is reflected in the play’s dialogue.

Love bombing refers to the controlling and manipulative tactic most often used by predators, pimps and even domestic abusers. They seek to obtain quick affection and attention with their targets, develop intimacy and dependence, before tearing their victims down or trapping them.

This was certainly the situation in the Moazami case, where he often travelled to smaller communities in B.C., including on Vancouver Island, to seduce vulnerable girls away from their families and take them back to Vancouver to perform sex work. According to director Reneé Iaci, he bought them puppies, then threatened to harm the puppies if they did not perform.

Due to the importance of the subject matter in the play, there is always a talk-back session at the end of each show to provide an opportunity for local resources people related to sexual exploitation, abuse and human trafficking to share information and awareness on the topic.

In 2015, Love Bomb producers were approached by RCMP to partner up in bringing the show and talk back to over 60 communities in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan as a unique and innovative crime prevention and awareness tool.

“Anyone who works in outreach or law enforcement understands that getting the message out is one step, but ensuring the message is actually received is a challenge, especially considering the content,” explains Iaci. “The unique, and dare I say, entertaining medium of the play and its 10 original songs has proven its success in touching and emotionally connecting with audiences who have young people in their lives, or are the young people themselves, engaging them to ask questions and better equip themselves against recruitment and grooming.”

According to the United Nations and other sources, human trafficking, including sex trafficking, is now second only to the drug trade worldwide.

Tickets are available online and at the box office, including youth tickets for $5 and ArtSpring’s new Theatre Angel Program, which puts 20 tickets on sale one week prior to a performance for only $15 each, in person or by phone.

SAR team locates missing woman

News

Robb Magley

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October 4, 2023

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Officials say a Salt Spring Island woman who had been missing for several hours was found by a search team in the early morning Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The woman’s whereabouts had been unknown since about 3:30 a.m., according to Salt Spring Island Search and Rescue (SSISAR) search manager Zeke Blazecka, and she may have become disoriented. More than a dozen SSISAR team members, along with RCMP, joined the search near Cranberry Road after a 5 a.m. call out, Blazecka said; the woman was found barefoot, injured and immobilized by fencing, and was taken by a BC Ambulance crew for treatment.

“We had lots of luck on our side this morning,” said Blazecka. “RCMP had already done a road search, so we were in the forest and one of our teams heard her. We could have passed her by quite easily in the darkness.”

This was the first call out for SSISAR since August, and the sixth mobilization of the calendar year, according to Blazecka.

Drivers adjust to lower Ganges speed limit

News

Robb Magley

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October 4, 2023

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Drivers adjust to lower Ganges speed limit

Despite arriving several weeks later than planned, new traffic signs designating lower speeds through Ganges village still managed to catch a few drivers and riders by surprise. The island’s newest 30 km/h zone went into effect Tuesday, Sept. 26, and local police say they plan to keep an eye out for speeders.

Crews on contract with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) erected the new signs at least partly due to a long advocacy process, most recently spearheaded by Salt Spring’s new Local Community Commission (LCC), and were originally set to be in place before the end of August. The slower speeds now begin on Fulford-Ganges Road at Seaview Ave — next to Embe Bakery — and end at the north side of town, approximately 100 metres past the intersection with Rainbow Road.

RCMP have been making their presence known since the new signs went up, although most reports indicate police have been focusing on education rather than immediately penalizing drivers caught by surprise. Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Clive Seabrook said police believe the new lower speed limit will help keep everyone safer, in what he characterized as a “very busy area” in terms of foot and bicycle traffic.

Drivers can expect a continued RCMP presence for some time, he added, particularly in places where drivers — and riders — may not have noticed the change.

“To raise awareness of this reduction in speed, Salt Spring RCMP will be conducting speed enforcement in this area over the next couple of weeks,” said Seabrook, “to monitor how things are going.”

MoTI has said the move to slower speeds through Ganges is just the beginning of work here, all part of a wider public safety and transportation improvement effort on Salt Spring Island.

As the provincial ministry with authority over Fulford-Ganges Road, setting the road’s new slower speed was ultimately MoTI’s decision.

New Fulford Post Office cancel ‘hard at work’

Island Life

Robb Magley

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October 4, 2023

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New Fulford Post Office cancel ‘hard at work’

Salt Spring philatelists had reason to celebrate last week, as a new pictorial cancel stamp for the Fulford Post Office entered service, according to postmaster Andrea LeBorgne.

A “cancel” is an inked stamp, used over postage to indicate the value has been used, and typically will show the date a letter or parcel was mailed and the post office where it was processed. LeBorgne said after several months of working on content and design, Fulford’s new cancel was “hard at work” in the south-end post office next to the Rock Salt Restaurant — and just in time for the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

LeBorgne noticed back in January that “2023” was the last year on the date wheel for the Fulford Post Office’s cancel stamp — meaning there was plenty of time to work on a new one.

“I was thrilled when Robert Bateman agreed to contribute a sketch for the project,” said LeBorgne. “His artful line drawing reflects the natural beauty of the harbour and Mount Maxwell.”

W̱ENÁ¸NEĆ and HWUNE’NUTS, the SENĆOŦEN and Hul’q’umi’num place names for Fulford Harbour, are included on the stamp, as a reminder of the First Nations traditional use of the island.

“This was the perfect time to freshen the look and make a new image specific to the Fulford Post Office,” said LeBorgne. “Creating awareness about the Indigenous place names can hopefully become a conversation starter, and a learning opportunity.”

Locals on Salt Spring can look for the new image on items originating from the Fulford Post Office, and can mail letters and parcels Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m.

To receive a pictorial cancel for collecting, according to Canada Post, anyone can mail envelopes or covers, stamped with return postage, inside a stamped envelope to the Fulford Post Office, 101 Morningside Rd.

Address the envelope to the attention of the postmaster.

Viewpoint: Multisport coalition a positive step

Opinion

Contributed Article

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October 4, 2023

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Viewpoint: Multisport coalition a positive step

By SUSAN GORDON

Re: “Park groups aim to collaborate,” (Driftwood, Sept. 27), I am thrilled about the collaborative multisport group resulting from the initial CRD proposal offering three options for reconfiguring Portlock Park.

I have unofficially dubbed the collective of passionate baseball dads, soccer coaches, runners, walkers and pickleball players the Salt Spring Multisport Coalition. Hopefully, it will become a permanent part of this community.

A huge “thank you” to Local Community Commission (LCC) member Ben Corno, who took the time to confer with a small group of Portlock enthusiasts as we chatted outside the Lions Hall after the LCC town hall held on Aug. 31. After acknowledging the concerns of various sports representatives, Ben offered to help coordinate future meetings among the interested parties and act as a liaison between park users and the Capital Regional District.

As of this week, the newly formed cooperative has created a fourth proposal based on each faction listening and learning from the others. While needing to work with compromises on the 9.5-acre plot that is Portlock Park, it is possible to satisfy each sport involved with its use.

This optimal situation happens when a community pulls together, and we all strive to understand the differences and common denominators that unite a broad-based population.

As it turns out, the mothers and fathers of young team players on this island have many concerns beyond developing successful athletes. Without the offerings of organized sports for kids beyond age 12 on this island, parents are worried about the number of youth gravitating to “alternatives” that include a draw to the drug culture and the pathway of substance abuse addiction that plagues far too many people in the community. As someone who has previously devoted considerable attention to the issue of youth at risk and the prevention of the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, I cannot stress enough that we need to pay much more attention to this subject than is currently expressed anywhere in Canada.

For seniors and those who enjoy a brisk walk without hills, Portlock is the only safe place on Salt Spring to do so. For those who run, an oval track is imperative for safety reasons and distance-specific training. Providing options for all sports at the facility is critical to developing island youth, allowing kids to find their preferred activity. While playing on a team is perfect for some children, others may find their talent in track and field events.

I want to give a big shout-out to the coaches, both current and future, who chose to take the time to become National Canadian Coaching Program trained and certified, devoting endless hours and interest in the delivery of programs via the long-term athlete development protocols that allow kids to discover their likes and talents through play without pressure.

We can do this, Salt Spring!

The writer is coach of the Salt Spring Sneakers running club.

Penhale takes helm of Stagecoach Theatre School

Arts & Entertainment

Contributed Article

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October 4, 2023

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Penhale takes helm of Stagecoach Theatre School

By JEN MACLELLAN

FOR STAGECOACH THEATRE SCHOOL

For 25 years, Stagecoach Theatre School has been offering courses in the performing arts for youth on Salt Spring Island.

Community members have filled ArtSpring to watch the year-end productions in support of their families and friends. The school is an island “institution” that has had the extreme privilege of drawing the best teachers, volunteers and board members anyone could hope for, and this year marks the beginning of a new generation.

In 2017, Christina Penhale joined Stagecoach as a teacher. This year, the board is thrilled to announce that she has accepted the position of artistic director.

Penhale describes returning to Stagecoach as “a full-circle moment.”

“I volunteered at the school as a high school student, doing make-up for many shows in the early 2000s. At the time, I remember wishing there had been a program like it when I was younger.”

Penhale said she is thankful for the dedication and tireless hours that those before her put in to ensure Stagecoach continues to provide opportunities for youth.

For several years Penhale worked side by side with Adina Hildebrandt, who stepped down earlier this year. She recognizes that as she moves into the artistic director position “it is a very different climate and world” than when she first began working with the school.

“Youth need places where they can connect, where they feel belonging, where they feel they have a voice and that their voice is heard, respected and valued. When I think about it we all need this right now in the post-plague-that-shall-not-be-named world. For me the theatre was and is that place. A place like no other, where the audience and performers alike can have a collective lived experience in real time. Where we can live vicariously through the characters on the stage and develop compassion, a new perspective or just consider for a moment what things might be like for someone that maybe doesn’t share the same opinions or priorities that we do.”

As Stagecoach enters its next phase, Penhale has a number of ideas to meet our island’s changing needs and celebrate its future. Sue Newman has also returned, offering dance classes under the Stagecoach umbrella. They will be adding workshops for stage fighting, film acting, audition preparation and more with the assistance of experienced local professionals. She promises an announcement soon regarding the anniversary festivities, to which the entire community will be invited.

Penhale’s passion for theatre is obvious to anyone who knows her. She is already known for exitStageLeft, SOSSI (Shakespeare on SSI) and her launch of the Salt Spring Youth New Creatives Festival this summer. This year she has made a deeper commitment to focus her attention on further education for island youth.

Penhale refers to something said by Bill English of the San Francisco Playhouse: “Theatre is like a gym for empathy. We practise caring,” and adds herself: “Theatre education and theatre literacy for everyone is so important, we can encourage an appreciation and interest from the start. So whether we actively participate on the stage or behind the scenes, we can go and see a piece of theatre and practise caring. We look forward to working with and witnessing the incredibly talented youth on this island. It is a privilege.”

Editorial: Speed change welcomed

Opinion

Driftwood Staff

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October 4, 2023

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Old habits die hard.

We will not claim to be immune from our own time-honed habits, and freely admit to stepping pretty hard on the brakes all week as we came around the corner into Ganges from the south, and — oh, right! — spotted the new 30 km/h signs. It was already a good idea to slow down before the signs were there, but now we’re better reminded.

Long-time island drivers will recall how long it took Salt Spring to get used to the idea of a four-way stop at Central; even today, it might be argued, many of us aren’t quite there yet. But it’s proven to be a solid safety measure, the kind increasingly necessary as there are more drivers, more riders and even more pedestrians on island roads. That’s part of what change looks like; sometimes, like at the four-way stop, it’s a matter of taking a moment to look around before proceeding as usual. And sometimes it just looks like slowing down.

In Ganges, that slowdown means fewer of the seemingly inevitable conflicts between motorists and pedestrians will be fatal; DriveBC estimated pedestrian crash survivability rates at 50 km/h at just 20 per cent, versus 90 per cent at 30 km/h. That’s no small change, and a good one.

But in terms of “things we can do to make Ganges safer,” this feels like the absolute least we can do. Changing a sign should be the low-hanging fruit of safety improvements, and that it took years to get the change approved and implemented signals that perhaps we should make our own changes.

We can reduce traffic by sharing more rides, making fewer vehicle trips and hopping on the bus more often — all without provincial approval. Drivers can improve pedestrian safety by slowing down and keeping their eyes peeled for those on foot, even without a sign mandating it. And those on foot can keep their own heads up as well, and both pedestrians and cyclists can ensure they are visible with lights and reflective clothing at night. No increases to budget proposals are required for those kind of changes.

Slower speed limit signs in Ganges are a welcome addition. But achieving long-lasting transportation safety might not lie with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as much as in changing our own habits.

Kaeshammer passions come to ArtSpring stage

Arts & Entertainment

Contributed Article

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October 4, 2023

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Kaeshammer passions come to ArtSpring stage

BY KIRSTEN BOLTON

FOR ARTSPRING

Popular Victoria-based piano musician, vocalist and songwriter Michael Kaeshammer returns to ArtSpring Wednesday, Oct. 11 with advance singles from his 15th album entitled Turn It Up, to be released in the spring of 2024.

Turn It Up is among four new songs released this year, including his take on Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Never Knew What Love Was and My Valentine.

For this multi-Juno-nominated artist whose career has been highlighted by nine tours of China, three appearances at the Olympics and collaborations with international superstars, German-born Kaeshammer remains attached to the Victoria area where he grew up and got his start.

As a professional performer, Kaeshammer developed a style that weaves threads of classical, jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, stride and even pop into a signature and sought-after sonic tapestry. One of those early threads was co-writing sessions with Salt Spring’s past resident rocker Randy Bachman.

Bachman was also the first guest on Kaeshammer’s Kitchen, a new cooking show venture that premiered this summer. Inspired by being on the road and often getting late-night food that is not the best, Kaeshammer invites musicians he has worked with to share the kitchen, recipes, and conversations about food and music.

In the first episode, Kaeshammer and Bachman rock a recipe for ragu before performing a rendition of Takin’ Care of Business together. Kaeshammer’s Kitchen is broadcast nationwide Saturdays on Yes TV and CHEK.

Tickets for next Wednesday’s concert are available online and at the box office, including youth tickets for $5 and ArtSpring’s new Theatre Angel Program, which puts 20 tickets on sale one week prior to a performance for only $15 each in person or by phone.

CLARKE, Joseph John

Obituaries

Driftwood Obituary

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October 4, 2023

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Aug 20, 1944 – Sept 23, 2023

Joseph John Clarke, a man of profound integrity and wisdom, passed away peacefully on the eve of September 23, 2023, at Cowichan Lodge, where he had been under compassionate care. Born on August 20, 1944, in Vancouver to Jean and Arthur Clarke, he was the eldest of five beloved children.

Joe’s inquisitive mind and love for learning were evident from an early age, a trait he carried throughout his life. He pursued education at Magee High School and later at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the Class of 1967. Athletics and sports played a significant role in his youth, where he excelled in baseball and rugby, igniting a lifelong passion for sports as both a participant and an avid spectator.

In 1963, fate introduced him to Claudia through friends, and their lively and often challenging adventure together began. They exchanged vows in 1968, establishing a lifelong companionship. In 1976, they made a life-changing decision to move to Salt Spring Island, seeking solace in the island’s simplicity and nurturing a close-knit family. Joe wore many hats, embracing various professions, until he founded STONE GATE Hardwood Floors, leaving an indelible mark in countless island homes with his expert craftsmanship alongside his devoted sons.

Joe’s dedication to family was unparalleled. He leaves behind his wife Claudia, four children—Ben, Robin (Phil), Josh, and Anna (Chris)—siblings Betsy, Peter (Kathy), Bert (Ellie), and Andrew (Curtis), and his cherished grandchildren Jordann, Jacob, Osha, Emelia, Lily, Ella, and Chloe. Being a Dubda to his grandchildren brought him immeasurable joy and pride. He was a beacon of unwavering support, wisdom, and love for them.

He will be remembered as a man of unshakable loyalty, precise and thoughtful in his actions, endlessly generous, and a true friend to all. Joe’s legacy will live on in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have known him.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Cowichan Lodge for their compassionate care and support during Joe’s time there. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Society of Canada in Joseph John Clarke’s name, to honor his memory and contribute to the research and care for those facing Parkinson’s disease.

A memorial service to celebrate Joe’s life will be announced at a later date, allowing family and friends to gather and pay their respects to a remarkable man.