Susan Lundy, Don Denton and Lia Crowe/Tweed
From conception to printing, the first issue of Tweed unfolded in a six-week whirlwind. But the result, published in December 2012, was stellar.
Under the direction of then-Black Press Group Publisher Penny Sakamoto, with photographers Don Denton, Arnold Lim and Ken Sakamoto, a host of writers and the Black Press design team, we produced a 56-page glossy that truly captured a moment in Oak Bay history.
The feature stories in that inaugural edition? What a wealth of coverage!
The main feature story documented the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, which had just been re-opened in all its glory by longtime owners the Walker family. Our B次元官网网址淥ak Bay HomesB次元官网网址� section took a peek inside the sleek and artful rooftop home of the late Jim Kirk, who lived in a loft setting on Oak Bay Avenue. The history storyB次元官网网址攖o this date one of my favouritesB次元官网网址攃overed the 1925 Stanley Cup final when the victorious Victoria Cougars hoisted the cup in Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Patrick Arena.
In a section called B次元官网网址淩omancing the Stove,B次元官网网址� then-food writer Pam Grant sat down with Morning Bay Wine Company owners Keith Watt and Barbara Reid, who had recently moved to Oak Bay. A travel piece told the story of the Selas familyB次元官网网址檚 war-history trip to Belgium and France; a gardening section looked at George HeffelfingerB次元官网网址檚 bonsai trees.
Pat Martin BatesB次元官网网址攑ractically Oak Bay royaltyB次元官网网址攚as our featured artist; and writer/theatre personality Prudence Emery held the first tea cup in our Tea With section. As the B次元官网网址淥ak Bay InsiderB次元官网网址� former mayor Christopher Causton wrote about Christmas, Oak Bay style. There were two and a half pages of DonB次元官网网址檚 Dogs on the Avenue images.
In my editorB次元官网网址檚 letter, B次元官网网址淏ack to the future in Oak Bay,B次元官网网址� I wrote about my love for this community:
B次元官网网址淩ediscovering Oak Bay via Tweed has somersaulted me back to my childhood becauseB次元官网网址攅ven though I grew up in the Ten Mile Point areaB次元官网网址擮ak Bay sets the backdrop for so much of my past. ItB次元官网网址檚 been like digging into a treasure box of memories.B次元官网网址�
Ten years later, this holds true. And as I look back on the riches of stories IB次元官网网址檝e written for Tweed, so many stand out, itB次元官网网址檚 hard to name a few favourites. But IB次元官网网址檒l take a stab at it.
In my story B次元官网网址淪chooling historyB次元官网网址� (Spring 2013), I toured Glenlyon Norfolk and took a deep dive into its history as the former home of renowned architect Francis Rattenbury.
One of my favourite Tea With visits occurred in the Fall 2014 issue, when I met and interviewed the delightful Marion Cummings at her beautiful Oak Bay home.
And much more recently, in the Summer 2020 issue, my husband and I emerged from pandemic lockdown, met up with my daughter and her partner and explored a bit of history by following the Oak Bay Walking Trails pamphletB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淪troll Through the Original John Tod PropertyB次元官网网址� route. Walking, talking and revelling in history was the perfect antidote to the stress of the time.
In celebration of TweedB次元官网网址檚 10th anniversary, photographers Don Denton and Lia Crowe have also identified a few highlights of their time with Tweed over the last decade.
DON DENTON: B次元官网网址淲e may know a neighbourhood because a friend lives there, a cafe because we enjoy the style of food it serves, a certain park because we once took our children for a playdate there or a personality because their profile is large enough to intrude on our consciousness.
Journalism, in this case Tweed magazine, has allowed me to explore many neighbourhoods, cafes and parks, as well as meet people and more throughout the municipality of Oak Bay.
IB次元官网网址檝e been privileged to be invited into private homes and business offices and to wander through public spaces. Here are some of my best memories:
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e photographed a pair of mayors over the past 10 yearsB次元官网网址擭ils Jensen and Kevin MurdochB次元官网网址攁nd one former mayor, Christopher Causton.
B次元官网网址� I was shown the mysteries of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 unique alleys, by both Christopher and photographer Kate Seaborne.
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e met and photographed so many amazing local writers, painters, sculptors, chefs and other artists.
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e seen the beauty in local gardens and the decor, decoration and renovations in private homes.
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e watched the sun rise and the sun set from many areas on the Oak Bay waterfront.
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e been to most (maybe not all) restaurants and cafes in the community, some still here, others sadly closed.
B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e photographed manholes, apartment signs and the knots people use when tying up their boats.
B次元官网网址� Last, but not leashed (sorry, a very bad pet pun), IB次元官网网址檝e been so lucky to be jumped on, drooled on, licked and barked at by so many of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 canine residents, shooting for our back of the magazine feature Dogs on the Avenue. Too many breeds to remember and not a single bite in a decade.B次元官网网址�
LIA CROWE: B次元官网网址淚 have had the pleasure of doing the fashion stories for Tweed for a number of years and the best part about it for me is that we use local Oak Bay people as models. Because of that, the feature has become a real celebration of the people who live and work in Oak Bay. It shines a spotlight on the people you may run into at the grocery story or see working in your favourite Oak Bay boutiqueB次元官网网址攂ut elevated to their most gorgeous selves with the help of makeup artist Jen Clark and stylist Jen Evans.
Every single person I have photographed for this feature has been a joy to work with, and so many stick out in my mind. Considering just the realm of Oak Bay Avenue boutiques, IB次元官网网址檝e had the pleasure of photographing Rebecca Burrows and Craig Williams of Hughes Clothing, Kari McLay of Tulipe Noire, Ben Brannen of Bespoke Design, 脡milie Hamel and 沤enija Esmits of House of Savoy, and Kande Whitehouse of Kande Global Hair Couturiere.
However, if I had to pick just one favourite, one shoot that was extra special, one experience that surpasses the rest, thereB次元官网网址檚 no contest. I had the pleasure of photographing Oak Bay resident Nancy Douglas for the Summer 2020 issue on Willows Beach. It was a gorgeous evening, sheB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful woman, the fashion was lovely andB次元官网网址he happens to be my mom.B次元官网网址�
Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
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