It takes a village, and we have a good one.
Elisa Rathje holding her axe. Photo by Stasia Garraway.
slow the folk down
FOLKLIFE is dedicated to celebrating slow living, creativity, and connection.
Capturing whatever the folk our community creates—art, food, music, adventure, and meaningful stories. A window seat to the west coast, no matter where you’re reading from.
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Video by Saman Rezapour.
Alina Cerminara
Founder & Publisher
FOLKLIFE is the vision of Alina Cerminara, an independent publisher who lives and breathes intentional living. Driven by a passion for storytelling, community, and connection, Alina launched FOLKLIFE Magazine in March 2020 (yeah) to create space for stories rarely heard but deeply felt.
FOLKLIFE is shaped by her belief that living slowly isn't about doing less—it's about feeling more deeply, connecting more authentically, and moving intentionally through the world.
She sees magazines as both mirrors and windows—reflecting our communities while offering a glimpse into others’ lives. Alina leads the editorial vision of the magazine, collaborates with contributors, is a writer, and leads the new chapter for FOLKLIFE: online stories.
LIVING THE FOLKLIFE
“I grew up spending slow summers on Gabriola Island, and moved there at 18.
Later I earned a Master’s Degree in Publishing, explored the world through travel, and a few years ago, became a mother.
FOLKLIFE brings these threads together. The people we meet and the stories we tell endlessly inspire me.”
Photo by Stasia Garraway.
Meat the team of FOLKLIFERS and featured contributors
Patrick Belanger, Graphic Designer, FOLKLIFE Magazine
Patrick Belanger has shaped FOLKLIFE Magazines’s visual identity since the beginning, bringing over 30 years of award-winning design experience to each page.
As founder of Drifter Media, he specializes in branding, print, and illustration, and sees every layout as a chance to create something both functional and soulful.
He balances design work with painting, parenting, motorcycles, farming, and a life close to the land.
Claire Majors, Copyeditor
Claire Majors is a writer, teacher, and musician who brings a keen editorial eye and a thoughtful touch to FOLKLIFE’s pages.
She holds a BFA in Creative Writing and a BA in Indigenous Education from the University of Victoria, and her work is deeply rooted in community, learning, and language.
She balances island life with painting, banjo playing, and guiding the next generation in the classroom.
Laura Busheikin, Copyeditor
Laura Busheikin is a creative nonfiction writer with a passion for the poetic and the practical.
A graduate of the Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio program, she brings lyrical clarity and a strong sense of place to her editorial work.
Based on a small Gulf Island, she’s built community through co-ops, council work, yoga, and storytelling—and moves between flamenco rhythms and longform essays, often in the same day.
Charles Hart, Editorial Advisor
A storyteller with many past lives—reporter, editor, musician, and federal communications manager—Charles Hart brings depth, clarity, and curiosity to every issue.
With a BA Honours in Law and a diploma in journalism, Charles has worked across media, government, and the arts. Since FOLKLIFE’s earliest days, he’s served as both mentor and editor, helping to shape the voice of the magazine.
Now based on Gabriola Island, he supports the team with equal parts heart and humour.
Stephanie Artuso, Photographer
Stephanie Artuso, is a mother and photographer that captures intimacy and aliveness through her lens.
A self-taught photographer, she also holds a diploma in professional counselling and draws from experience in event planning and fashion design to bring a relational, intuitive quality to her work.
Based on Gabriola Island, she has contributed her images to FOLKLIFE since 2020, helping to shape its warm and human visual language.
Stasia Garraway, Photographer
For over 15 years, Stasia Garraway’s photography has captured the light, landscapes, and lives of the Salish Sea.
A graduate of Emily Carr University, her work is rooted in poetry and committed to revealing what’s real, raw, and resonant.
Her dramatic portraits and natural light photography bring soul to FOLKLIFE’s visual storytelling—and a sense of place that lingers.
Lena McKenzie, Writer
A performer, mother, and multidisciplinary storyteller, Lena McKenzie writes with both heart and global perspective.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Music, she’s trained in classical performance and has a decade of experience in editorial, copywriting, and scriptwriting.
At FOLKLIFE, Lena’s voice adds depth, curiosity, and cultural connection to every piece she touches.
FOLKLIFE is a gentle reminder to slow the folk down
FOLKLIFE Magazine is an award-winning, semi-annual publication.
Rooted in the rugged, rain-soaked coastlines and the warm, weathered hands of its people, FOLKLIFE celebrates those who live close to the earth, their craft, and what matters most.
Each print volume is built around a theme, woven together with long form interviews, thoughtful essays, stunning photography, and original artwork. We spotlight artists, farmers, adventurers, foragers, entrepreneurs, and everyday folks making their own way—always with depth, beauty, and care.
With its tactile matte pages, poetic editorial, and high-quality production, each FOLKLIFE volume is something to savour for years to come.
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Photo by Finlay Burrage.
Looking for something deeper?
Not just something to read—but something to feel? Online stories that don't make you crazy? A magazine you keep on your nightstand or coffee table because it moves you?
You want stories that linger. Photos that speak. People you haven’t met, but somehow feel like you know.
Support independent journalism, woman-owned or small businesses, and creators who care. You want to slow the folk down.
Welcome to FOLKLIFE.
Made on, and of, the West Coast
FOLKLIFE comes to life thanks to our vibrant network of independent journalists, photographers, editors-at-large, artists, and writers—over 150 storytellers to date.
Our contributors live everywhere from remote coastal towns to urban centres, each bringing unique insights and perspectives that resonate deeply with our readers.
Printed in Canada and based in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, FOLKLIFE tells stories from this region and beyond—about people who are creating lives of meaning, craftsmanship, and connection.
From the moss-covered forest floors to the artist studios tucked off backroads, these are stories told with purpose, and for those who find joy in the handmade, the heartfelt, and the honest.
We honour the voices and lives of the people we feature by working with a wide range of contributors from across the Pacific Northwest.
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Photo by Tyler Cave.
A window seat into the slow life of Canada's West Coast
Through minimalist design, poetic storytelling, and vivid photography, FOLKLIFE explores the spaces where slow living, creativity, and connection intersect.
Here you’ll find authentic narratives about artists, makers, growers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who choose a life shaped by the rhythms of nature rather than the pressures of modern hustle.
In print, we produce two volumes of FOLKLIFE Magazine a year, online we publish a few times a month. Sign up for our email newsletter for stories, photography, and occasional offers from the FOLKLIFE community.
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Photo by Syd Woodward.
Work with us
Contribute to print or digital
We look for honest, poetic, and perspective-shifting work that reveals life as an art form. Learn more about contributing as a Writer or Photographer here.
Advertise in print or digital
Our audience is a loyal and curious bunch. Learn more about advertising opportunities here.
“Every time I hold a print volume in my hands, it’s like seeing a dream made real—one that’s not just mine.
It belongs to all the writers, readers, photographers, and makers who show up in these pages. This magazine reminds me that life itself is an adventure—and one worth telling.” –Alina Cerminara, FOLKLIFE Founder
Patrick, Charles, and Alina on Gabriola Island. Photo by Shannon Kay.
