Westerly News
News updates: westerlynews.ca
FIBER OPTIC ON HOLD
Telus still ‘interested,’ pursuing options; mayors still optimistic
Serving Tofino and Ucluelet
Tuesdays at 8pm July & August Clayoquot Communit y The atre Free Admission
August 13, 2014 Wednesday
$1.25 [INCLUDING TAX]
Death of a Sea Lion
SOUND OF FREEDOM INSIDE THIS WEEK: INSIDETHIS WEEK
Nature Pages PLEASE BE RUDE TO BEARS ... new bumper sticker campaign urges people to HONK at bears. PAGE 9
ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Though a project that would bring fiber optic Internet to the West Coast has stalled, it isn’t being towed away just yet as community leaders continue to tinker with the engine. The arrival of fiber optics would bring an increase to the West Coast’s Internet capacity and speed that would help attract businesses, tourists, and higher learning institutions and would make Long Beach Airport more attractive to major airlines. In March of 2013, representatives from BC Telus and BC Hydro unveiled a joint-project where Hydro would replace over 300 poles along Highway 4 for Telus to coil fiber optic cable from Port Alberni to the junction. Hydro’s stakeholder engagement advisor Stephen Watson told the Westerly that Hydro’s construction work would kickoff in June with the goal of completing the pole installation work by November and for Telus to begin coiling the cable through in December. Now over a year since the project See TELUS page 16
NEW NATURE PAGE debuts with the scoop on Velella velella PAGE 9
Big Beach final resting place for marine mammal that washed up near Black Rock ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Ucluelet’s public works crew recently spent their afternoon burying a dead sea lion that had washed up on Big Beach. The animal is believed to have died well before landing on a far corner of the beach about 20 metres from Black Rock Resort and Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving said its close proximity to humans made the burial necessary.
“Most times they wash up in remote spots or beaches where the public isn’t quite so affected but when it rolls up on one of our local beaches right underneath a resort it creates quite a problem,” Irving said. “It’s too far gone to remove, it would just create a big mess everywhere (so) it would be better to bury it right where it’s at.” The deceased sea lion was a potential source of disease and its smell—which was potent—
could have attracted predators so the district’s public works team joined resort staff to cover the animal in lime before burying it on Thursday. Irving could not recall another time the district buried an animal in the beach and said signage will be installed to keep people away from the makeshift grave. “By putting the lime on and burying it we’ve eliminated a whole lot of potential issues but See DEATH, page 18
NATURE KIDS CAMP PAGE 10
NAMING THE OCTUPUS PAGE 12
Page 2 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
0 84 for
MONTHS
ON EVERY SINGLE 2014 MODEL + (SORRY NOT ON CORVETTE)
HUGE REBATES
+ 2 YEARS NO CHARGE MAINTENANCE
+ THE BEST WARRANTY IN THE BUSINESS.
60,000 KM BETTER THAN OUR COMPETITORS = OUR 2014 ALL OUT CLEAROUT!!
A FULL
In 2013 you helped raise just shy of $30,000!! By purchasing your next new or preowned vehicle from Pacific Chevrolet you are helping to support local charities.
Alberni Charity Golf Classic Ty Watson House AV Search & Rescue
(250) 723-3541 www.PaciямБcChevrolet.com Dealer #31273
Fast.
Fair.
Accurate.
P R O U D C O M M U N I T Y PA R T N E R
%
DEC
NOV
OCT
SEP
AUG
JUL
JUN
MAY
APR
MAR
FEB
JAN
OVER
$46,000 RAISED! THANK YOU!
The Westerly News | Page 3
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Westerly News (1987) Ltd. is a division of VI Newspaper Group Limited Partnership
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Westerly News publishes weekly on Wednesday and regularly posts online at www.westerlynews.ca
ICBC buys Tofino a speed reader
WHO WE ARE
Hugh Nicholson, Division Manager hnicholson@glaciermedia.ca Jackie Carmichael, Publisher jcarmichael@westerlynews.ca Andrew Bailey, reporter reporter@westerlynews.ca Geoff Johnson, advertising gajohnson@westerlynews.ca CONTACT US P.O. Box 317, Ucluelet B.C. V0R 3A0 102-1801 Bay Street, Ucluelet Ph: 250-726-7029 Fax: 250-726-4282 E-mail: office@westerlynews.ca DEADLINES Display ads Monday at noon Call 250-266-2400 office@westerlynews.ca Classified ads Tuesday at 10 a.m. Call 1-866-415-9169 classifieds@westerlynews.ca Online ads Start anytime Call 250-266-2400 office@westerlynews.ca Letters to the editor Monday at noon office@westerlynews.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS Local area: $75.18 Seniors (local): $63.91 Canada: $84.56 U.S.: $155.18 To subscribe call: 1-888-311-7713 or 250-729-4266
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Peri odical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, a division of the VI Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available by calling 250-729-4223. The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, noncommercial purposes.
ADVENTURE SHOPPING at
Const. Jonathan McKinney and auxiliary constable Paul Galloway monitored a speed-reader board purchased by Ucluelet last year. Tofino now has a speed-reader board of its own and hopes it will cut down on speeding along local streets. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
and communication about road safety with ICBC representatives,” she said. “Local residents have expressed concerns with particular sections of Pacific Rim Highway, such as the intersection with Industrial Way and in front of the Gas’n’Go, so District staff felt a speed reader board could help improve road safety.” The mobile board will be placed at various locations throughout town advising drivers of their speed and hope-
ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News A new speed-reducing tool is set to become a familiar sight on the streets of Tofino. Mayor Josie Osborne is thrilled to welcome a new $5,000 speed reader board which, she said, was paid for entirely by ICBC. “This was a District-led initiative, accomplished through regular meetings
Aug. 13 Ucluelet RECYCLES
CARGO
fully slowing down speeders. “Speed reader boards are proven method of calming traffic by reminding drivers how fast they are travelling, and they collect data which can be used to help justify speed limit changes or help determine crosswalk viability,” Osborne said. “District staff plan to move the portable speed reader board around to different locations within the District, with a particular emphasis on locations where pedestrian safety is a concern.”
THRIFT Quality used housewares, clothes, books & music
OPEN 11-5 MON-SAT MAIN ST. UCLUELET (across from CIBC) Supporting local charities Donation items welcome
T H U R S DAY 1 4
F R I DAY 1 5
S AT U R DAY 1 6
S U N DAY 1 7
M O N DAY 1 8
T U E S DAY 1 9
Cloudy 18/14
Some rain 17/13
Some rain 18/13
Partly cloudy 20/12
Cloudy periods 20/12
Partly cloudy 19/15
R E M E M B E R — R e d u c e , R e u s e , R e cy c l e !
Son Bird Refuse & Recycling 250-726-4406 Chris Bird 250-726-8144
Local tides brought to you by:
TIDES Thursday 14 metres
03:46 09:58 16:16 22:39
Friday 15 feet
3.4 11.2 0.6 2.0 3.6 11.8 0.7 2.3
metres
04:40 10:42 17:02 23:35
Saturday 16 feet
3.2 10.5 0.8 2.6 3.5 11.5 0.8 2.6
metres
05:38 11:30 17:52
Sunday 17 feet
2.9 9.5 1.1 3.6 3.4 11.2
metres
00:38 06:45 12:25 18:48
Monday 18 feet
0.9 3.0 2.7 8.9 1.4 4.6 3.2 10.5
metres
01:48 08:04 13:33 19:52
Tuesday 19 feet
1 3.3 2.6 8.5 1.6 5.2 3.1 10.2
metres
03:01 09:24 14:51 20:59
Wednesday 20 feet
1 3.3 2.6 8.5 1.7 5.6 3.1 10.2
metres
04:07 10:32 16:03 22:03
feet
0.9 3.0 2.7 8.9 1.7 5.6 3.1 10.2
Ucluelet / Tofino www.coastrealty.com
250-726-7474
Page 4 | The Westerly News
LETTERS
Opinion
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Thanks for/ from 26th PRSF A Big Thank You goes out to everyone involved in this year’s 26th Pacific Rim Summer Festival. First to the Pacific Rim Arts Society Board members for all their volunteered time: Mark Penney, Delores Baswick, Signy Cohen, Doug Ludwig, Vi Mundy, Leaf Hagar, Donna Fraser, Greg Blanchette and especially Executive Director Jacqueline Chamberland. A special thank you to the SF committee Allison Tremain and Myles Morrison for all their support. Volunteers Katherine Jablonowska, Peter Timmermans, Barbara Schramm, Lindsey Morrison, Marc Garand and John Westwood and Alex Hunt. Shannon McWhinney for her beautiful poster artwork and Rebecca Lim for her fun Canada day mural. Mike Sheperd for sound tech and Nelly Heyduck for great graphics. Solera Performing Arts and the fabulous Flamenco dancers and Barry Coulson for his Stage Truck. We wouldn’t be able to bring all the fabulous talent to our region without the huge support from our Funders: Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, BC Gaming, District of Tofino & Special Events, District of Ucluelet & Parks & Rec. Sponsors and supporters: Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Tin Wis Resort, Bayshore Waterfront Inn, Marina West Motel, Tofino Botanical Gardens, Darwin’s Cafe, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Tourism Tofino, Tourism Ucluelet, The Westerly News, Tofino Time, Ukee Radio, Tofino Radio, CO-OP Ucluelet, CO-OP Tofino, Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce. Archipelago Wildlife Cruises, Jamie’s Whaling Station, Sea Wench Naturals, House of Himwista, Creative Salmon, Schramm Design, The Foggy Bean Company, Postelsia Press, George Walkem, People’s Drug Mart, Westpol Pacific Ent., Pam Frazee, Jennie Bradshaw, Arlene McGinnis, Joy -Lynn Eyford, Rosa Jensen, R. Walkem Danielle Noel, Allison Tremain, Marny Saunders, Lisa Fletcher, the Tofino Public Market, Ukee Night Market, the Crow’s Nest, & Sew West Signs for last minute printing. Wya Point Surf, Ukee Cable, Tofino App, Go Tofino and Harbour Living. Jennifer Kidd, 2014 Summer Festival Director
Not everyone was notified of leak Like Alex McWilliam, I find it odd that the evacuation of Ucluelet in response to the ammonia leak was touted as “pretty slick”. Not 30 metres away, there were two men working at the property adjacent to the fish plant who were never notified. One would think that the properties immediately surrounding UHS would have been notified first! Furthermore, they were running heavy machinery. It wasn’t until they ventured out for lunch that they found out, and only because of the line of people all walking back to their homes. Regards, Caitlin Woodbury Ucluelet, B.C.
LETTERS POLICY: The Westerly News welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, taste, legality and length. We require your hometown and a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters must include your first name (or two initials) and last name. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Email submissions to office@westerlynews.ca
Who is shooting sea otters in Clayoquot Sound? Not geoduck fishers, writer says The article in the Westerly News about the sea otter found shot in Clayoquot Sound implies that geoduck fishermen are shooting sea otters. Sea otters are voracious predators and significantly reduce valuable shellfish resources such as geoduck, sea urchin, dungeness crab, sea cucumber and abalone. A number of areas north of Clayoquot, where sea otter populations have been established longer, no longer have populations to support commercial shellfish fisheries. That said, the Underwater Harvesters Association (UHA), which includes all geoduck fishermen, recognizes that sea otters are protected. The UHA is working with DFO to study and document the influence of sea otters on geoduck populations. Geoduck fishermen did not shoot this or any other sea otters. The geoduck fishery in Clayoquot has not been open since late February, 2014. In addition, the geoduck fishery has 100% observer presence in Clayoquot. An independent observer, funded by the fishermen, is on-site every fishing day visiting the fleet to ensure that DFO rules and protocols are
followed. If anything, geoduck fishermen contribute to sea otter research by reporting sea otter distribution via observations on their mandatory logbooks submitted to DFO. Geoduck fishermen and the UHA are working with DFO in order to coexist with sea otters in the future. The fishery is managed very conservatively and has been recognized as sustainable and a “green” seafood choice by Seafood Watch, the Blue Ocean Institute, The David Suzuki Foundation and Sea Choice. Someone else is shooting sea otters in Clayoquot Sound, not the geoduck fleet. Thank you, Grant Dovey Biologist, West Coast Geoduck Research Corporation Underwater Harvesters Association
Environmental disaster at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine: Could it happen in Clayoquot? An environmental disaster is unfolding at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley copper-gold
mine, located about 100 km northeast of William’s Lake in BC’s interior. On August 4, an earthen dam that enclosed a tailings pond gave way, releasing about 10 million cubic metres of toxic effluent into the Quesnel River system. Effluent from copper-gold mining can contain harmful heavy metals and chemicals such as arsenic, mercury and sulphur. Bans on water consumption, cooking and swimming are still in place for most of the Quesnel and Cariboo River systems, right up to the Fraser River. The toxic spill occurred just as 1.3 million sockeye salmon are returning to spawn in the Quesnel system, one of the richest rearing habitats for salmon in BC. First Nations fishers in the area have recently found sickly salmon, some with their skin peeling off, and have issued a fishing ban. Imperial Metals is the same company that is considering building two mines in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – an openpit copper mine on Catface Mountain and a gold mine at its Fandora claim in Tranquil Valley. A 2003 technical report for
a potential Catface mine proposed a tailings pond in the lowlands that lie between the ocean and salmon-bearing Cypre River. A tailings pond 2 square km in size, encircled by a 50 to 80 metre high earthen dam was envisioned. Clayoquot Sound, being a coastal temperate rainforest, receives much more rain than BC’s interior and is also at risk for earthquakes and tsunamis. The potential for a tailings pond to overflow or a tailings dam to rupture is high here, and would cause huge damage to Clayoquot’s sensitive ecology and tourism economy. The catastrophe at Mount Polley serves to reinforce local opposition to mining, which is already strong. Tlao-qui-aht First Nations are calling for no mining in their territories, and the Tofino Council and Chamber of Commerce have voiced opposition to mines here. Clearly, Clayoquot Sound is no place for mining. It’s time the BC government recognized that and legislated Clayoquot as a mine-free zone. Maryjka Mychajlowycz & Eileen Floody, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Tofino
The Westerly News | Page 5
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Election: Tofino councillors weigh in on running ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News When Tofitians hit the polls to choose their new council this November, they’ll see some familiar names on the ballot. Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne has confirmed she will run for re-election and is excited at the opportunities another term would bring. Osborne was acclaimed as Tofino’s mayor in January 2013, after running unopposed in a byelection stemming from former Mayor Perry Schmunk’s resignation. “When I decided to run in the 2013 by-election, it was with the intention of running for a second term because I think continuity in leadership is something Tofino needs,” Osborne said. “I really enjoy my role in the community and the region, and I think my positive, collaborative style of leadership has been well received by the community, Council, and the District staff.” The province has changed its local elections legislation and added a fourth year to the historically three-year council term and the additional year has caused some Tofino councillors to hesitate in their re-election plans. Coun. Cathy Thicke has not yet decided whether she will run for re-election and said the extra year’s commitment is impacting her decision-making. “There is a huge amount of work to do the job well, just like there is in any job,” she said. “I’m not trying to scare people off, I’m just saying it’s quite a big commitment
JOSIE OSBORNE
DOROTHY BAERT
CATHY THICKE
RAY THOROGOOD
to do the job well.” While she mulls whether to run again, Thicke hopes to see a diverse range of ages on November’s ballot. “It would be nice to have a more diverse age group,” she said. “I really want to encourage people who want to run who are younger because that’s really good; it’s good for the town, it’s good for everyone.” Thicke is coming off her first term on council and was initially surprised by the slow pace of
democracy. “You don’t quite realize how slow everything takes, I’m not saying that in a bad way, but that’s democracy and it’s slow for a reason, it’s slow so you can consider all the possibilities,” she said. Coun. Ray Thorogood is also coming off his first term and said the pace of change has been slower than he expected. He confirmed he will run for reelection in November and plans to be more active in requesting timelines from district staff regarding
DUNCAN McMASTER
when council’s directions will be followed through. “That has been very, very, frustrating to me; timelines and getting things done,” he said. He added that he has sometimes struggled to get issues or concerns on council’s agenda. “I don’t feel a flow happening at our meetings where we can bring issues forward,” he said. “I’m not saying the thumb’s been put on us, I just personally don’t feel I’ve been able to bring up minor issues and, with me, I feel it’s a lack of procedural knowledge.” With the learning curve behind him, Thorogood hopes to be voted into a second term that, he feels, will be more productive due to his increased confidence and understanding. He said the new four-year term initially caused him to pause but he is now locked into November’s election. “I was waffling for a while because of the provincial changes to the election act, in particular to a four-year term from a three-year term,” he said. “That one more year
is a big commitment to a small community.” Councillor Duncan McMaster also confirmed he will run for re-election. McMaster is coming off his first term in office and said he experienced “some ups and downs” but, like Thorogood, is happy to have maneuvered past the initial learning curve. “Everybody wants to change things (but) things don’t change as fast as everybody would like, it’s like trying to turn around a big tanker; it’s done slowly,” he said adding he hopes to bring his increased understanding of district processes into a second term. “It helps in the sense that you know how the system works and how to conduct yourself in meetings, that first year is definitely a learning experience,” he said. Councillor Dorothy Baert noted the election is still several months away but she is currently leaning towards running for re-election. “There are things I’d like to continue to do (and) projects that I don’t feel are quite where I’d like them to be; things move slowly in government and I’d like to continue to work on those things,” she said. Baert is currently serving her second term in office and said she has “very much” enjoyed municipal servitude. “It’s a huge learning experience and I encourage anybody in the municipality who has an interest to seriously consider putting their names forward,” she said. She added she is willing to speak with anyone interested in learning more about the municipal office
REMEMBERING ROBIN WILLIAMS
Mercurial, talented actor made memories in Port Alberni shoot Robin Williams and Port Alberni residents take an early “selfy” during film shoot for ‘Insomnia.’
MICHAEL REID
Times Colonist Long before “selfie” became part of the modern lexicon, Robin Williams proved ahead of his time when he snapped a photo of himself with fans on Vancouver Island. It was in the spring of 2001, when the Oscar-winning actor and comedian, who died on Monday at age 63, was acting in director Christopher Nolan’s gritty crime thriller Insomnia in Port Alberni. The mid-Island milltown was masquerading as Umkumuit, Alaska, during an intense threeday shoot at locations on Argyle Street, including the Somass Hotel and former Arrowview Hotel. Williams frequently turned heads while portraying an elusive murder suspect, as did Al Pacino
as a sleep-deprived Los Angeles homicide detective whom he was blackmailing. “It was a dangerous sequence
to shoot, even for the stunt guys,” Williams said, recalling a climactic action scene shot in the log booming grounds of the former
Pacifica Papers mill, where Pacino chases Williams across slippery logs. While Pacino was affable but
often deep in concentration, Williams was restless and kept security personnel on their toes by wandering off, high-fiving autograph seekers and cracking jokes. He was hard to miss as he moved through town wearing a royal-blue rain jacket. “Ah, the last of the Cabbage Patch Kids!” the funnyman quipped, holding up an infant’s favourite doll at the Bread of Life soup kitchen. Later, Williams cracked up cast and crew by saying “come to me, my little Dim Sim” while motioning to a pot-bellied pig See WILLIAMS page 18
Page 6 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Alberni farmer offers $9K to move historic piece MARTIN WISSMATH
Alberni Valley Times To promote the history of the Alberni Valley’s paper mill industry, a Beaver Creek cucumber farmer is offering $9,000 to help move the grinding stones monument to Victoria Quay. Ivor Rage, owner of Rage’s Farm, which grows cucumbers for grocery stores on the Island, read an article published in the Alberni Valley Times Aug. 1 about the effort to move the monument to a more prominent location. Currently, the 4.5-metre tower made of old mill grinding stones sits on Catalyst Paper property near the Somass River. Rage worked at Port Alberni’s paper mill - then owned by MacMillan Bloedel - from 1957 to 1967. “I saw this piece in the paper and I had heard something about it before,” Rage said about the efforts to move the grinding stones monument. “That woke something up in me.” The old grinding stones were shipped to Port Alberni from as far away as Scotland in 1892 to be used in the Valley’s first paper mill, which opened in 1894. Back
Beaver Creek cucumber farmer Ivor Rage shows the Alberni Valley Times article that prompted his gift.
then, paper was made out of different materials than wood, such as ferns, rags and old rope. Operations at the present paper mill started up in 1947. Uptown business owner Charlene Patterson has been organizing efforts to move the monument to public property where it’s more visible. “It’s a $30,000 project,” Patterson said. So far, she’s collected about $20,000 in donations and grants. The largest donation is from Catalyst Paper, which is gifting the monument itself, worth about $15,000.
Hear what you’ve been missing.
paper mill’s office building during the days he worked there in the ‘50s and ‘60s. “It was a thing you looked at and it became a symbol,” said Rage. “It was a symbol that I somewhat got attached to.” At the age of 25, Rage moved to Port Alberni in 1957 from Saskatchewan to work at the paper mill. He wanted to build up savings so he could return to the prairies and buy a farm. As life turned out, he stayed in the Alberni Valley, buying the Beaver Creek land in 1961 and leaving the mill to work as a farmer full-time
MWissmath@avtimes.net
FUNDRAISER
MONTHLY
DRAW!
Patterson said Victoria Quay is an ideal location for the grinding stones. “It’s on high land, so the tsunami won’t get it. You can sit on the ledge of the [monument] stones and behind you can see the river curve. And behind that is Catalyst - you can see the steam come out of the Catalyst stacks. So it’s picture perfect.” Rage realized he’d been waiting for someone to take the initiative on preserving the monument so he could join them and offer to help. He remembers seeing the old stones sitting outside the
in 1967. The Norwegian immigrant had worked hard and earned a fair wage for those 10 years at the local mill. Labouring for 16 hours a day, he was earning more than $400 on his bi-weekly pay cheque - an equivalent of about $3,000 today. “I always enjoyed the work,” he said, adding he got along with his co-workers and the management. He also learned a number of trades that proved useful when he started his farm. “If it hadn’t been for the paper mill, I wouldn’t be here today. The paper mill gave me the stake I needed to get started farming out here.” But his story is just one among many, Rage said. He would like to get more mill workers involved, anyone who worked at the paper mill - past and present - with a desire to preserve the memory of this industry that is so closely linked to Port Alberni’s heritage. Anyone interested in contributing to the project can contact Charlene Patterson at 250-7301636. Patterson said she will present her plans for moving the monument at the city council meeting today.
John Charley, h l , RHIP/O RHIP/Owner
Hearing Aids valued at
$5000
Wickaninnish Inn Pro-Am golf tourney seeks sponsors, Ucluelet Secondary boosters The Westerly News
Call for Contest rules or see website
STARTING AT
*Product Product not exactly as shown
FREE HEARING TEST Fully Refundable 90 Day Trial period. No Money Down for the first 21 days.
UCLUELET 778.421.0277 (by appointment only) 1566 Peninsula Rd. Working with your Physician for Better Hearing
The Next Generation of Hearing Care
nexgenhearing.com
The Wickaninnish Inn Pro-Am is gearing up to once again raise funds for Ucluelet Secondary School’s extra-curricular student activities. The tournament, set for Friday, September 5, will be attended by 35 club professionals from the Island and the mainland as well as an estimated 100 additional golfers. It frequently sells out quickly due to its popularity, said organizer Keith Gibson of the Long Beach Golf Course. “Each year we look forward to the Wickaninnish Inn Pro-Am as our premier tournament, and as
the venue that gives back the most to our community. As a past supporter or potential new supporter of the Wickaninnish Inn Pro-Am we are again asking for your support,” said Gibson. Proceeds from the Wick Inn ProAm go directly to the local high school in support of their extracurricular activities. The funds allow the sports and academic teams to buy supplies and arrange transportation for competitions and field trips, Gibson said. “Without this money these students would not be able to compete in sporting events or other competitions, as the government funding for these purposes is vir-
tually non-existent.” Last year, the Wick Inn Pro-Am raised over $20,000 in support of the local high school. In the last 10 years, over $110,000 has been raised for this specific cause. “This tournament is by far the single greatest benefactor of the school and its extra-curricular programs, and continues to grow,” he said. The event is seeking $200 dollar “hole” sponsors. “The bottom line is this: the more sponsors we get the more money we can give to the kids at the school,” Gibson said. He can be reached at 250 725 3332.
Thanks for reading the Westerly News! Visit us online at www.westerlynews.ca
The Westerly News | Page 7
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
AROUND B.C.
Delta dogwalker faces charges after animals die in hot car
Teacher union, BCSTA back at table as school days near
Vancouver Sun The dog walker who told police that dogs in her care were stolen from the back of her truck before they were later found dead in a ditch in Abbotsford has been charged with animal cruelty and public mischief. Emma Paulsen, of Delta, faces four charges under the Criminal Code, including killing or injuring an animal and causing unnecessary pain or suffering
VANCOUVER - B.C.’s striking public school teachers and their employer will return to the bargaining table this week after restarting negotiations on Friday, just weeks before the new school year. The two sides met all day Friday and agreed to meet again this week, although no schedule for talks has been established. Teresa Rezansoff, president B.C. School Trustees Association, says she’s optimistic as discussions pro-
to an animal, each carrying a maximum prison term of five years, as well as failing to provide for an animal, punishable by up to two years in prison, and reporting an offence when it was not committed, which carries a five-year maximum sentence. Paulsen also faces two counts of causing an animal to continue to be in distress, charges that carry, on conviction, fines of up to $75,000 and prison
terms of up to two years. The dog walker had six dogs in her care, including one of her own, on May 13, a day that reached temperatures as high as 25 C. Necropsies on the dogs indicated they died of heat stroke, according to the SPCA. The dog walker initially reported the animals were stolen when she left them unattended while using a public washroom in a Langley dog park.
ceed and notes trustees are working on the assumption school will be back in session in September. The government’s chief negotiator, Peter Cameron, declined to comment. The disagreement between the province and its more than 40,000 teachers over pay, class size and classroom composition escalated into a fullscale strike that ended the school year two weeks ahead of schedule. (The Canadian Press, CHNL)
th
30 Annual Legion Fishing Derby OUR THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMPETITORS The Winners CHINOOK
COHO
HALIBUT
Brittney Garland
31.68
Shaun Ingalls
27.32
Traviss Simscher
25.10
Ron Jackson
10.38
Elenor Stryvoke
10.18
Theresa Fritz
9.18
Glen Larkin
38.88
Brice Cashbrook
34.52
Bradley Evans
29.02
The Stryvoke Young Angler Prizes CHINOOK
Brennan Caton
COHO
Braiden Gibson
Ross & Eleanor Stryvoke
Atleo River Air Alberni Veterinary Clinic Beach Petals Flower Design Brendan Morrison Caffe Vincente Carol Schulz Chesterman Beach B&b Coastal Community Credit Union Coastline Art Inc. / Mark Hobson Covet Boutique Crab Apple Floral Crystal Cove Beach Resort Dr. James Jameson, Dentist Gibson Bros Contracting Groovy Movie Gull Cottage House of Himwitsa Ice House Oyster Bar Ltd. James F. Striegel
Jamie's Rainforest Inn on the Inlet Jamie's Whaling Station Lighthouse Inn & Big Daddy's Fish Fry Live to Surf Long Beach Automotive Ltd Long Beach Golf Course Long Beach Lodge Resort Long Beach Radio Group Long Beach Surf Shop Marina West Motel Middle Beach Lodge Ocean Outfitters OCN Garden Centre & Gift Shop Orca Airways Ltd. Pacific Sands Beach Resort Pacific Surf Company Paddle West Kayaking Raincoast Law
Red Can Gourmet Remote Passages Rhino Coffee House Rubio Scandals Hair Art & Aesthetics Schooner Restaurant Sea Wench Naturals Shelter Restaurant Slegg Construction Materials Ltd. Spotted Bear Storm – the Surf Shop Storm Light Outfitters Studio One Sugar Shack Sweet Siren Studio Swell Juice Bar The Fish Shop & Oyster Bar The Tofino App
The Whale Centre Tofino Air Lines Tofino Brewing Company Tofino Consumers Co-op Tofino Fishing & Trading TofinoFishing.com Tofino Motel Tofino Sea Kayaking Tofino Swell Lodge Tofino Tech Tough City Sushi Trilogy Fish Co. Tuff Beans West Coast Aquatic Safaris Westerly News Westside Surf School Wildside Grill Wolf in the Fog
Page 8 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
COMMUNITY ALBUM: SKATE PARK
Ucluelet’s skate park was packed on Saturday as locals gathered to celebrate a Ukee Bowl Jam dubbed The Salmon Slamm. PHOTO ANDREW BAILEY
CALENDAR//EVENTS:
13 WEDNESDAY Lanternmaking workshops,1-6 p.m. Raincoast Education Society, Ecolodge, Tofino Botanical Gardens 2pm – Wild Pacific Trail Shipwrecks & Forests Guided Walk with RES guide. Meet at the Lighthouse Loop Recycling Day in Ucluelet Preschool Play Group, 10am–noon, Tofino Community Hall. Seniors Social Afternoons, 1:30-4pm, Tofino Legion. Free admission & refreshments. Dominos, crib, board games, pool, snooker & darts. Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, 8:35-11:35. Holy Family Church, 9:30am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet.
Ucluelet library, open 1–6pm
14 THURSDAY Tidepool Explore, 10 a.m., Big BeachPark, sponsored by Wild Pacific Trail and Ucluelet Aquarium, Lanternmaking workshops,1-6 p.m. Raincoast Education Society, Ecolodge, Tofino Botanical Gardens Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am. Drop-in for expectant, new parents, Coastal Family Place, Free community lunch, noon–2pm, Coastal Community Services Hub, Ucluelet. Info 250-726-2343. Ucluelet AA weekly Monday and Thursday at 8pm. The location is Holy Family Church at 1663 peninsula rd. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre & Youth Nite at the Edge, Cooking, movies, art projects & more, 6–8pm, $2. Tofino library, 331 Main St., 3–7pm. Pacific Rim Toastmasters, meet every Thursday at 7:30 - 9:00. Guests always welcome. Call 250-726-2766 for info.
West Coast Business directory Mackenzie Alsager, RMT ACCEPTING PATIENTS
Call or email for your appointment today
250-726-7779
Pacificcoastmassagetherapy@gmail.com
11-1636 Peninsula Rd., Ucluelet
KRIS S ROOFING
REPAIRS • REROOFING • NEW CONSTRUCTION
Kris Wieteska
30 years experience
250-726-5107 Free estimates Ucluelet, BC
• • • • • •
RESIDENTIAL ONLY UCLUELET•TOFINO•SALMON BEACH ASPHALT/FIBERGLASS LAM. SHINGLES METAL CLADDING variety of colours & shapes CEMENT AND CLAY ROOF TILES SKYLIGHTS & SUNTUBES
HEY!! NEED A SURF LESSON?!?!
250-266-0338 • Safe, professional, personal instruction (owner operated & always small groups) • Lessons available at Wick, Long Beach + all beaches in Tofino! • Brand new warm suits • Pre-surf homemade healthy snacks and post surf refreshments Included!!
wickedsurfcamps.com
15 FRIDAY See What’s On for Weekend entertainment, Page 13 Friday Ukee Night Market, Village Green. Lanternmaking workshops,1-6 p.m. Raincoast Education Society, Ecolodge, Tofino Botanical Gardens The Edge Youth Room, 2–6pm, Ucluelet community centre
16 SATURDAY Sat. Tofino Public Market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Village Green . See Market
Pages (page 13 ) for more market news. Wild Things Scavenger Hunt for kids at Big Beach Children’s Interpretive Trail section 10 am. on Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet. See What’s On for Weekend entertainment, Page 13 Lanternmaking workshops, 12-3 p.m. Raincoast Education Society, Ecolodge, Tofino Botanical Gardens Tofino library, 331 Main St., open 10am–noon & 1–5pm. 1 – 2 pm “Funny People Crafternoon” – Tofino Library. Become a jester this afternoon with a creative craft. Ages 5 & up. Register by calling 250-725-3691. St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5:30pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.
17 SUNDAY Biologist Barb Beasley at Wild Pacific Trail’s Lighthouse Loop Lot 1 for Life Beside the Sea St Columba Acoustic Jam, 10:30 a.m. acoustic church service, instrumentalists/vocalists welcome.. Tea with scones and jam following service. Call church for details. Learn about traditional carving with respected Tla-o-qui-aht carver Levina Martin. at the Kwisitis Visitor Centre, August 17 between 2 to 4pm. Tofino Lantern Festival, Tofino Botanical Gardens, 7-10:30; children’s parade, 7:30 p.m. Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, Ucluelet Community Ctr., 500 Matterson Holy Family Church, 10 am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. St. Columba Church, 10:30am, 110 Second St. Tofino. Tofino Bible Fellowship at Tofino Legion at 10:30.
18 MONDAY Ucluelet AA weekly Monday and Thursday at 8pm. The location is Holy Family Church at 1663 peninsula rd. Monday Movie Night at Clayoquot Community Theatre Floor hockey, 7–9pm, Ucluelet Seaplane Base Rec Hall. $2 drop-in. Indoor Soccer, 8–10pm, Ucluelet Secondary School gym, $2. Competitive & drop-in darts, doors 7pm, play 8pm, Tofino Legion. Monday night at the Movies, Clayouot Community Theatre,
19 TUESDAY Tuesday—Clayoquot Sound of Freedom, 8pm, Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre. Join master digital storytellers Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck. Free Admission Fish and Loaves free community lunch 11:30 a.m-1:00 p.m at the St Francis church hall (just for July and August.) Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am. Ucluelet library. Ucluelet Community Centre, open 1–6pm. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion. St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. Food Bank on the Edge, pick up 1–3pm, Seaplane Base Rd. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino. To reach us, email office@westerlynews.ca
To reach publisher Jackie Carmichael: 250534-9213 To reach ad representative Geoff Johnson: 250-266-2400.
Waves ‘n’ Shaves
The
The Plaza in Ukee (by Barkley’s)
Westerly
UNISEX HAIR SALON - WALK-INS WELCOME FULL HAIR SERVICES - AESTHETICS Sun-Tues: 10-6 p.m. Wed. CLOSED Thurs-Sat: 10-8 p.m.
250-726-2553
NEWS Is your local
coastrealty.com
Tofino & Ucluelet 250-726-8113 sold@telus.net
TOFINO, UCLUELET PAPER. Dave Christensen
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Westerly News | Page 9
Westerly Nature Pages
Limited edition bumper sticker urges people to ‘be rude to bears’ Westerly News EDITOR’S NOTE: Today the Westerly News kicks off the Westerly Nature Page, a page (pages) devoted to news about the amazing natural world around us on the West Coast. After a Youtube video mocked West Coasters for honking at and hazing bears on Highway 4, a Westerly News editorial asking readers to please honk at bears evoked interest on social media. Inspired by comments like that from Bronwyn Kelleher, who thought signs should be put up to tell people to honk at bears to discourage them from being comfortable close to humans. The Westerly took up the challenge, and we have printed a limited number of bumper stickers that urge people to do that. “(Heart) (bears?) Honk at (bears),” the stickers read in a combination of symbols and words.
At left, a visitor snaps a picture of a West Coast bear. Residents are urged to haze wildlife to keep them uncomfortable about getting to close to humans.
“Keep beautiful West Coast wildlife safe, keep it wild. Avoid bear attractants and please be rude to bears,” it reads – all a bit busy on a backdrop of a curved ocean wave, with a nod on top to “Scenic Tofino & Ucluelet.” “For starters, it’s not rude to honk at bears. It’s not interfering with their dignity, or treating them poorly. It’s not uncivilized. Honk at a bear, save a bear’s life,” said Westerly publisher Jackie Carmichael. “Honking at wildlife means keeping them uncomfortable around humans. The day a bear
is taught they have nothing to fear from humans is the day the bear will think coming around to ask for a bite of hot dog is a good idea.” Those who would like a bumper sticker are asked to make a donation to help fund local programs that raise awareness about barriers needed for wildlife safety. +++ Stickers can be picked up (for a donation) at Gray Whale Deli in Ucluelet, Remote Passages in Tofino, or OCN Garden Centre in Tofino. editor@westerlynews.ca
By-the-Wind-Sailors: Waves of Velella velella crash down on Tofino beaches A wave of Velella velella crashed onto the West Coast’s shores last week as Tofino’s locals and Get your “Honk At Bears” stickers visitors woke at to find local beaches covered Full Service Garden Center in the small and Gift, Garden Shop creatures on Monday. Ucluelet Open Aquarium cur7 days ator Laura Grifa week fith-Cochrane had been out on the water the day before and 250-725-4450 was not sur619 Tibbs Plc Tofino prised when the animals that had surrounded
ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News
OCN Garden Center
strong westerly winds and warm currents as the culprits and said the creatures are washing up along North America’s entire western shoreline. The sight of thousands of washed-up “by-the-wind-sailors” is not uncommon to the West Coast as the phenomena occurs locally at least once every decade, according to Griffith-Cochrane who said the last mass-stranding occurred in 2010. “It’s one of those things that hapVelella velella, or By-the-Wind-Sailors, washed up by the hundreds of pens in a cycle,” she said “It seems thousands on Tofino beaches last week. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO to happen years that are a little bit warmer and it seems to happen her began appearing on shore. water,” she said. “There were secin years when we have more con“I was out fishing on Sunday tions of huge, huge, numbers of sistent winds but it does happen and it almost looked like there them seven miles offshore.” every four to ten years.”.” was a river of Velella velella in the She pointed to consistently She said some Velella velella have been found along Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail but Ucluelet’s coastline is rockier and more violent Ukee’s Sub, Sandwich & Salad Shop than Tofino’s so Fresh Fruit Smoothies & Espresso the creatures 16 FLAVOURS OF often get broken apart rather than accumulate like they have on 51 Wharf Street, Tofino Tofino’s Chesterman Beach. www.remotepassages.com See VELELLA, 1950 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet OPEN 250-726-2113 EARLY Page 18
Get your
“Honk At Bears” stickers at
GET YOUR “HONK AT BEARS” STICKERS AT
GR AY WHALE DELI
ICE CREAM, SOFT SERVE & FROZEN YOGURT
250-725-3330
Page 10 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Westerly Nature Pages Day camp brings kids in touch with natural world around us Westerly News EDITOR’S NOTE: Today the Westerly News kicks off the Westerly Nature Page, a page (pages) devoted to news about the amaz-
ing natural world around us on the West Coast.
Ucluelet’s youth upped their wilderness savvy last week thanks to ANDREW BAILEY a new summer camp designed to Westerly News synch them with their surroundings. Jay and Shawna Roberts run a West Coast Nature Kids program that offers a variety of outdoor-learning opportunities including summer day-camp experiences. Day camps are open to locals and visitors and teach kids how to build fires, create shelters and identify the West Coast’s wide array of animal and JUST WEST OPEN 7 DAYS plant species. OF THE A WEEK JUNCTION! Kids also 11:30am till LATE learn teamwork 250.726.2992 and build their Mouthwatering confidence Goodness made through setting OPEN fresh daily 7:30AM TO 9PM up and running SURF SHOP CAFE 250 726 2122 • 1627 Peninsula Rd. DAILY through a natural obstacle course. The first FRIDAY NIGHT camp was held in Tofino in March and its All Day Dim Sum success caught 250 726 7751 the attention 1648 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet of Ucluelet’s 313 Forbes Rd., TUES-SAT. recreation proUCLUELET 9am - 5pm 250-522-1217 Menu on Facebook grammer KK Hodder who saw it as a natural fit for local youth. OPEN 7 DAYS “Because of A WEEK the environment 11 to 11 that we live in, FREE DELIVERY after 5 pm on it’s absolutely FOR EVERY MOOD orders over $21 important to be NOW SERVING TWO RIVERS MEATS! TOFINO 250-725-2121 aware of your 1576 Imperial Lane, Ucluelet surroundings Menu at www.tonyspizzatofino.ca (250) 726-2103 and aware of your environment and to Bean at the Cove Café is appreciate our located at Crystal Cove Beach Resort. Proudly serving all area in general,” your Starbucks favorites and she said. our line up of Frappuccino’s Call l Geoff Johnson at “We didn’t are here for the summer. 250-266-2400 have anything of that nature OPEN 8:30am - 1pm until June 27th happening this OPEN 8:30am - 3pm from June 28th to Sept 1st year and we feel really lucky WEST CO COAST COFFEE ROASTERY that we’re able s nt Home-Baked Goods se re p to offer someSmoothies Gluten Free Options. thing like that... Big Kahuna’s at Long Beach Golf Club. Food to GO! It really brings Open 8:30am-5pm daily for breakfast and lunch til out a lot of con329 Forbes Rd., June 26th. Summer hours are from 8:30am-7pm daily. UCLUELET fidence in them Huckleberry’s 250-726-4448 and awareCOFFEE SHOP 250-725-8221 • 1850 Pac Rim Highway ness of their
ETHNIC
Participants worked on an obstacle course and building activities during the West Coast Nature Kids camp last week. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTOS
COMFORT FOOD
All-day breakfasts, burgers & wraps
BAKERY/DELI
BUFFET
COMFORT FOOD
PIZZA
COMFORT
FOOD
COFFEE
surroundings.” About 11 kids signed up for Ucluelet’s camp—with ages ranging from 7-12 years old—and had a blast. “We get to do fun stuff,” said 11 year-old Kai Zylberman. “We went down to the beach and got to build shelters...It’s fun and I like doing it.” “We’re having lots of fun,” said 8 year-old Vivian Jones. “When you aren’t at a camp you don’t really do this often so it’s fun because you can actually try to do something new.” The Ucluelet day-camp ran for five days last week and was facilitated by Jay Roberts and Ucluelet’s summer camp leader Nick Holatko “Jay’s got a really good thing going on teaching these kids great West Coast skills and it seems like everybody’s been enjoying it so far; it’s been a really great week,” Holatko said. “This program is really great because it’s teaching kids to live in harmony with nature and to explore their surroundings and create a bond with their surroundings and it brings them back in to their roots...and it’s doing it in a really fun safe environment.” Roberts has a passion for the outdoors and designed the camp to infuse this passion into kids while raising their respect and understanding of their surroundings so they can fall in love with their environment the way he has. “It’s about nature connection, getting kids outside away from their video games and televisions
and into the forest,” Roberts said. “When they’re in the forest it allows them to become more connected to their place (and) to understand where they live and what is here.” Along with the fun adventures found in the forest, Roberts said the camp also offers important survival skills to help kids get into their wilderness. “These kids are right into that stuff, they love the survival skills and learning about wilderness awareness and they can get a real respect for nature and the whole conservation element can come into play,” he said. “You love the place you live in therefore you love to take care of it...They’ll start to develop more respect and reverence for the place that the live.” Hodder was thrilled to see the camp successfully launch in Ucluelet and hopes it becomes an annual staple in summer’s youth calendar. “The feedback I’ve had from parents and kids has been extremely positive,” she said. Roberts plans to launch a longerterm nature program in the fall and is looking for a place to provide the setting. Anyone with extra space to donate towards educating local kids on their environment is encouraged to contact Roberts 250-725-2544. He said anyone who donates land to the cause will have their space taken care of by his young wilderness-savvy campers. For info check out www.westcoastnaturekids.com.
The Westerly News | Page 11
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
EAT/PLAY/LIVE: WEEKEND MARKET GUIDE/UKEE NIGHT MARKET (A BUSINESS FEATURE)
W EST COAST
Summer
Market Guide
Ukee Night Market Fridays 3-7pm ToÅno Public Market Saturdays 10 am-2pm Entertainment – Food - On the Village Greens Photography by David Paul Crombie
1.877.380.4584 PHOTOS BY JOLEEN SOHIER/UKEE
Services: WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY NIGHT MARKET SOCIETY.
Above, fresh produce, fine pickings. Right, hand-knit neckwear, and a wee shopper from the Okanagan, named Bentley. Below, market fun browsing for homemade soaps and jewelry. The Ukee Friday Night Market is from 3-7 pm on the Village Green. The Tofino Public Market is from 10-2 on the Village Green.
St. Columba 7:00 pm
SUNDAY
10:30 am
www.davidpaulcrombie.com
Roasted in the Rainforest Ucluelet B.C. Coffee Roasters & Mobile Espresso Cart
info@thefoggybean.com
250-726-7278
Tofino Tea Bar
www.stcolumbatofino.com
Terra Cotta garden pottery with West Coast wit & whimsy 250-266-1252
m7264689@telus.net
Alison Wertz 250-726-3887 SERVING UCLUELET & TOFINO
Visit us at the ToÅno Public Market and at 381 Main St.
Eyelash Extensions, Biosculpture Gel Nails, Esthetics, Bridal Makeup
www.toÅnoteabar.com
www.longbeachesthetics.com
SATURDAYS 10am-2pm
TOFINO Village Green
Every Friday 3pm til 7pm Live Music, Local Artisans, Hot Food DOWNTOWN VILLAGE GREEN (200 Main St.)
Sustainable Aquaculture
We are proud to support local markets in the Tofino and Ucluelet communities
cermaq.ca
Page 12 | The Westerly News
Westerly Nature Pages
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Pollsters name octopus after Transformer chief ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News West Coasters decided to stave off the Decepticons and name the Ucluelet aquarium’s newest Giant Pacific Octopus ‘Octopus Prime.’ Octopus Prime replaced Polly who was released to much fan fare over the Ukee Days weekend. Polly had been named by Salty Dog Fishing Charters who had brought her to the aquarium and Polly’s predecessor was named Jacqtopus after Jacque Cousteau by aquarium staff. Octopus Prime is the first octopus to be named by a public vote and the aquarium’s communications coordinator Jessie Fletcher was stoked on the public’s response. “The community was super engaged, we were extraordinarily overwhelmed,” she said. “People were coming down specifically
to submit their names for our octopus.” Locals submitted over 300 namenominations and aquarium staff widdled these down to three finalists for online voters to pick from: Octopus Prime, George Stroumbouloctopus, and Mr. Big Head. Octopus Prime beat out George
Stroumbouloctopus—after popular CBC personality and former MuchMusic VJ George Stroumboulopoulos—by just 14 votes with Mr. Big Head finishing a distant third. Octopus Prime weighs in at about 4 kilograms and will likely be released back into the wild in
about four months triple the size. The aquarium hosts three to five octopuses each year as part of its catch and release program as the animals can grow rapidly. Octopus Prime’s predecessor Polly arrived at the aquarium in May weighing about 5 kg and was up to 16 g when she was released about three months later, according to Fletcher. She said Giant Pacific Octopuses can grow as huge as 270 kilograms. The animal is a key feature at Ucluelet’s Aquarium and a “big time” draw for tourists and locals, according to Fletcher. “The octopus is probably our public’s favourite animal,” she said. “Patrons love the octopus.” One reason for the octopuses popularity is its graceful movement, which is made possible by a nine-brained system, according
to the aquarium’s animal care coordinator and senior biologist Carly Janusson. “They have a brain in each arm and one in the head, that’s why they can move their arms around so delicately,” she said. Each arm is equipped with chemoreceptors allowing the animal to taste with its arms. “They literally taste their environment,” Janusson said. She said there are increased measures for taking care on a octopus but the extra effort is well worth the result and added octopuses are a top attractor for larger aquariums as well. She referenced a visitor survey conducted at the Monterey Bay aquarium that revealed the octopus as a key draw. “Even an aquarium where they have huge sharks and tuna and marine mammals the octopus out-
Get your hands wet: Visitor view of aquarium adventure EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s hard to imagine taking a West Coast treasure like the Ucluelet Aquarium for granted. Here’s a first-person account from a visitor from Washinton state. My family and I recently had a great time exploring Vancouver Island. We MIA stayed at UNDERWOOD, my uncle’s float house AGE 13 in Barkley Sound, we swam in tide pools and jumped into the emerald green Kennedy River. One of our favorite
stops though was the Ucluelet Aquarium. My favorite thing at the Ucluelet catch and release aquarium was the Giant Pacific Octopus. This octopus is very young and small (it weighs maybe 4 pounds?!!). When we first arrived the Aquarium workers were introducing the octopus and they didn’t know yet if this young giant was a male or female. I soon learned how to tell the gender of an octopus. By counting three tentacles to the right you look to see if the very end of the tentacle has suction cups all the way down or not. If the end of the tentacle is smooth (with no suction cups) it is a male! We soon discovered that this new octopus is a male. What I really enjoyed about this octopus was that he, unlike most octopi who are
new to an environment, did not do what they would have done. Usually they find a place to hide away as soon as they are put into the aquarium tank, but this new
occupant was very sociable. He suctioned himself to the glass so we could easily see him. We could even see him looking at us! What I think is the most amazing thing about him was how his color and texture could change
to mimic his surroundings. We watched him change from smooth skin all over, to kind of prickly bumpy, even spiky skin. He also changed from a dusky reddish-purple color to more of a pinkish white right before our eyes. Incredible! These octopi have a very short life span for such a large animal – only 3-4 years. As well as having a short life span they are the fastest growing predator on earth! The same day that this young male came into the aquarium, a female octopus that had been there for three months was being released back into the ocean. We were told that she had grown to be 20-25 pounds during her short stay at the aquarium. What a fascinating creature! Mia Underwood, above right, with her brother Aden, as they explore the Ucluelet Aquarium.
Professionally guided day trips and multi day adventures. • Broken Group Islands • Clayoquot Sound
366 CAMPBELL ST. (BOX 381), TOFINO, B.C., V0R 2Z0.
www.oceankayaking.com
E: art@markhobson.com W: markhobson.com
P: 1 800 668 2208 F: 1 250 725 3120
Does your family have a nature adventure to share? Reach us at editor@westerlynews.ca.
The Westerly News | Page 13
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
EAT/PLAY/LIVE: WHAT’S ON
Aisha Belle, Candace Dawn hit the venues with unique sound
CLUES DOWN 1. Irritated state 2. Sea eagle 3. Fish capturing devices 4. An informal photograph 5. Old English 6. Competes 7. Pressed a shirt 8. Averse to others
Aisha Belle, left. Candace Dawn Bastien, right.
Folk. Belle has also been heard sitting in with local groups playing jazz, bluegrass, country, folk and pop tunes without missing a beat. Her roots in traditional violin and fiddle music are deep but it seems Aisha Belle is just as interested in growing out her branches as well. When performing solo Belle employs a high-tech digital looping pedal to create musical landscapes that are difficult to describe. Some of it is reminiscent of the music of Enya or Loreena Mckennitt. Sometimes throbbing and entrancing it’s a combination of percussive knocking on the instrument with her hand and the melodic lines we more readily associate with violin music. Add vocals and an occasional bit of guitar for a final product that’s
HOROSCOPE ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Finances are on your mind this week, Aries. You could be driven now more than ever to get your ducks in a row. Expect such tasks to be a bit stressful but ultimately worth it. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, avoid being sidetracked by some familiar obstacles. Even with the best intentions you can get pushed off target. Pay attention and stick with it. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, it may be tempting to set aside responsibilities in favor of more exciting experiences. But the real opportunities for adventure come from making commitments and goals. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, you may finally be ready to express feelings that you have been keeping to yourself. If you are worried about how others will respond, don’t be. You have accepting friends. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, do not deny yourself some pleasure, especially if you have been putting in a lot of work and effort to attain your goals. Enjoy a little down time when you can. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you cherish your time with friends and family this week, spending as many free moments with them as possible. In the coming days, carve out some alone time for yourself. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, you are no stranger to meeting other people’s demands, but you need to be very firm about what you want right now. Work with others but make your opinions known as well. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, your intensity helps you get through some difficult projects in the weeks ahead. Be sure to make some time for rest and relaxation once your projects are finished. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, there is a lot more going on in your life now than meets the eye. Moves that you make could be crucial to your success, so do your best to make sure you make the right choices. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, expect some initial dissent when you propose an unorthodox solution to a problem. Don’t worry much, as others will come around when the plan starts to work. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Do not allow your emotions to get the better of you this week, Aquarius. Steer clear of confusing issues and do not delve too deeply into things you don’t understand. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, expect to be acknowledged for some special contributions this week. Stand up and take your bow with grace and appreciation.
quite unlike the violin music the Suzuki method prepares you for. This week Aisha Belle will be accompanied by local songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Candace Dawne Bastien at The Wickaninnish Inn’s Driftwood Café in Tofino Thursday night starting at 6:30, The Blackberry Cove Marketplace in Ucluelet Friday night at 8 pm, The Tofino Village Green Market Saturday at noon. Lastly, Sunday evening they will be part of the entertainment at The Tofino Lantern Festival along with local blue-grass and old-timey gals; The Poor Pistols. If you miss all of these shows don’t blame me.
Geoff Johnson is the Westerly News advertising representative. To reach him, call 250-266-2400.
SUDOKU
CLUES ACROSS 9. Mother of Apollo 1. Derived from senses 10. Radio frequency 10. Extemporaneous 11. Have already done 12. Japanese religion 12. Baseball championship 13. Body louse (slang) playoffs World __ 15. Most adroit 14. Snakelike fishes 16. Formatted electronic data 15. Br. slang for sleep 18. An alternative 17. Telegraphic signal 19. 3rd largest whale 22. More scarce 20. 6th tone 23. Step excavation of ore 21. Gentlemen 24. Envision 24. Car mechanics group 25. A gelling agent in foods 27. Breakfast pastry 26. Impatient expectancy 30. Where one sits 28. Civil Rights group 31. Oh, God! 29. 3rd largest Balearic island 33. Scientific workplace 32. Mama’s partner 34. No seats available 36. Head gesture 35. MN 55120 38. Moved to music 37. Assistance 40. N. & S. of the new world 39. Environmental Protection 43. Discern the written word Agency 44. Thigh of a hog 41. Reconstruct 45. Mures river city 42. Russian ruler 46. Crew member 44. Female Muslim quarters 51. Liang weight units 47. Radioactivity unit 54. __ Angeles 48. Window glass 55. Adrenocorticotropin 49. Atomic #18 56. Mend a sock 50. Consume 57. Shallowest Great lake 52. The golden state 58. Gadidae fish 53. Mosquito disease 59. Area floor coverings 60. Point midway between NE 56. Authoritatively ordered and E 61. Yielding 64. “You know” in Canada 62. On all sides 63. Br. romantic poet THIS WEEKS ANSWER 65. Cruel vocal quality
As a guitar player I enjoy a certain freedom with my instrument. I can play classical music on it or modern rock without anyone telling me something like, “That’s not the kind of music you should play on a guitar.” I can plug it into all manner of GEOFF bewildering elecJOHNSON tronic devices to alter its sound WEST beyond recogniCOAST tion, rarely do I SOUNDS have any guilt about the purity of the instrument and never have I caught flack for it from a listener. In my life I’ve noticed that people who play other instruments, mostly ones with deep classical roots, often don’t have it so easy when they decide to fiddle with the limitations of their instruments traditional sound. This week one such fiddler (pun intended) will be plying her trade at a variety of venues on the coast. Aisha Belle, a sometimes resident of Tofino is more than capable of using her violin in a traditional way. She’s demonstrated that recently by playing gigs with Winnipeg based touring act Flat City
Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku THIS WEEKS savvy to the test!
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
SUDOKU ANSWER
Page 14 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
EAT/PLAY/LIVE: LETTER
I
Above, participants enjoy a round of visits to local gardens with the Tofino Community Food Initiative’s Fifth AlmostAnnual Tofino Food Garden Tour. SUBMITTED PHOTO, AND EILEEN
video chatting with my daughter
FLOODY PHOTO.
The Tofino Community Food Initiative owes a huge thanks to local food gardeners who received almost 30 visitors this weekend as part of the TCFI’s Fifth Almost-Annual Tofino Food Garden Tour. Thank you to gardeners Gil and Hilda Sadler, April and Jeremy Robson, Sandi Rideout and Margaret Eady, Sarah and John Platenius, Michelle Hall and Jim Greene. Your gardens are an inspiration and you help us bust the myth that we can’t grow food in Tofino! TCFI also thanks the District of Tofino for renting us their passenger van, Cheryl Graham for driving the van, and Tofino’s Community Gardeners and Tofino Botanical Gardens for a wonderful finale of iced tea and cookies. Leah Austin and Josie Osborne Tofino
Sign up by August 31st Get a Welcome Bonus of FREE DOUBLE DATA
1
LIMITED TIME ONLY! $ 00
ALL PLANS 40month For the first 2 months on a 1 year term!1
Get DOUBLE THE DATA1 for FREE For the first 2 months on a 1 year term!
Low, one-time $99 Activation Fee
Connect to what matters: Bonus data to do more of what you love online.
1.855.837.1676 | xplornet.com
MB-BC SAT 08/2014
Tofino Tech • 1.844.671.3972 1 $40 on all plans applies for the first two months. Regularly applicable pricing resumes in month 3. Offer ends August 31, 2014 and is available to new customers who agree to a 1 year term commitment on any Xplornet 4G Satellite Residential package. Not to be combined with any other offer. Offer of free data is 2.5 times the standard data that is included in the plan and applies to all Satellite residential plans for the first two months. Regularly applicable data allowance for plan resumes in month 3. $99 activation fee applies to Satellite plans on a 1 year term. Taxes apply. Xplornet® is a trade-mark of Xplornet Communications Inc. © 2014 Xplornet Communications Inc.
Send your letters and pictures to the Westerly News at office@westerlynews.ca.
Wickaninnish Inn Pro-Am Friday, September 5th You can help our community’s youth with a $200 dollar hole sponsorship. All proceeds to Ucluelet Secondary School Contact The Long Beach Golf Course today to get your hole sponsor or sign up to play
TCFI thanks gardeners for luscious hospitality
250-725-3332
The Westerly News | Page 15
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
EAT/PLAY/LIVE: EVENTS
Tofino Lantern Festival set for Sunday Westerly News
It’s time for the Tofino Lantern Festival again. This year, the Raincoast Education Society is marking the event’s 14th anniversary. The festival is set for the Tofino Botanical Gardens this Sunday, Aug.17 from 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. The trails open at 8:30 p.m. The event costs $12 admission, kids 12 and under are free. “The Tofino Lantern Festival is our ‘signature’ community event and fundraiser, drawing the young and old with an unbelievable variety of hand made lanterns,” said RES spokesperson Cindy Hutchison. The evening entertainment starts with the Children’s Lantern Parade at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy treats (cash only) by Darwin’s Cafe and Solidarity Snacks, music by the Poor Pistols, Candace Dawne Bastien & Aisha Bell, live artistic dance performances, a laser light show and fire spinning. “Don’t miss out on one of Tofino’s most beloved festivals,” Hutchison said. This is a drug-free, alcohol-free, and car-free event. Catch the free Tofino Beach Bus between Town and Cox Bay with an extended schedule including stops at the Garden at 8:05, 9:05, 10:05 & 11:05 heading towards Cox Bay. Visit tofinobus.com for route
information. There will also be a free shuttle from the Village Green starting at 6:30 p.m. running every 1/2 hr. Last bus leaves the garden at 11 p.m. Daily lantern-making workshops
Williams, continued from Page 5 behind a fence. “I was speaking the secret language,” Williams joked. “The language that says, ‘Please, don’t eat me!’ ” Williams also surprised locals one evening by showing up at Steamers Coffee and Tea, hammed it up on a rooftop for local shutterbugs and drew cheers and whistles from onlookers. “Robin loves people,” producer Paul Junger Witt said. “He’s genuinely comfortable and gets wonderful energy from them, and he also loves to watch people.” Nolan, flitting about the set in a long, black trenchcoat that day, said it didn’t surprise him that Williams endeared himself to locals. “I always found Robin to be pretty relaxed,” Nolan said. “I think in a smaller town he has a little more freedom to go and meet with people. It’s a more friendly and controllable environment.” While there can be pressure to be “on” all the time for someone with his reputation, Williams said he learned to take it in stride. “Guys on the street will come up and say, ‘Hey, you’re not funny! Do five minutes for me, Bob.’ ” When he was clowning around in public, he was doing what comes naturally, he said. “I find it’s funny [being labelled funniest man in the world], but it’s also like wearing fibreglass underwear,” Williams once told me. “It’s a strange sensation, you know?”
will be held through Friday, Aug. 15, from 1-6 p.m., and Saturday from 12-3 p.m. for final touches and coats of glue only. Sessions are held at the Raincoast Education Society Office at
Tofino Botanical Gardens at a cost of $10-$15 to help cover the cost of supplies. “Have you ever wanted to decorate your very own lantern or better yet create one? Bring your
ideas, creative energy & a friend. All supplies are included,” said Hutchison. For additional information contact Cindy (250)-266-4138
RCMP seek suspects in PA armed robbery MARTIN WISSMATH
Alberni Valley Times
a knife whenthey entered the store. No damage was done to the property. Anyone with information pertaining to this crime is asked to call the Port Alberni RCMP detachment at 250-723-2424 or place an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. A cash reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.
Two men are on the run after an armed robbery early Saturday morning. Mounties are searching for two Caucasian males believed to be in their early 20s after they brandished weapons to steal an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes from a local 7-11 store. The clerk at the Uptown store on Third Avenue At right, a photo of two male Caucasian suspects in their 20s wanted for called 9-1-1 at 5:20 a.m. Saturday. He said questioning in connection with a Port two masked males took off on foot after Alberni armed robbery. the robbery. Call the Port Alberni RCMP detachment at The clerk complied with all of the rob250-723-2424 or place an anonymous tip bers’ demands and was not injured in the with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. incident. “Given the violent nature of this incident, we are working fervently to obtain the evidence required to deter2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited mine who these 3.8L 6 cyl., 64,000 kms individuals are,” said staff Sgt. Dave Paddock of the Port Alberni RCMP. Stock# 145248A BRENT LANGE E One man was blange@albernichrysler.com blange@albernichrysler com carrying a metal pipe and the other was brandishing 250-723-5331 www.albernichrysler.com
$
25,000
Page 16 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
LOST AT SEA
Daughter continues search for former Ucluetian JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News A former Ucluelet resident is holding out hope for her father and asking for search-and-rescue volunteers on the north end of Vancouver Island after his capsized boat was found adrift off the Washington coast. Paul Clark’s overturned row/ sail boat, the Adriana, was found by the fishing vessel Tally Ho, 750 miles from Paul’s last point of contact at Aristazabal Island. On righting the vessel, the US Coast Guard reported “all oars and sails secured” with no apparent damage, said Clark’s daughter Marian, who flew back to BC from her home in London, England to help coordinate search efforts. Paul Clark’s GPS is indicating a possible capsize outside of Quatsino Sound on the north end of Vancouver Island, about 20 knots offshore. On his dream trip from Prince Rupert to Victoria, he was last seen in Borrowman Bay, he left there with the tides at 2:30 a.m. His GPS tells some of the details. “It looks like leaving Borrowman Bay he was swept out into Queen Charlotte Sound. From there, he tried to navigate back. He made
it around the Triangle Group of Islands off the northern end of Vancouver Island,” Marian said. “It looks like maybe the sea anchor could have broken and possibly a rogue wave got him July 13 at 6 a.m. in the morning,” she said. Marian has raised funds to continue the Above, Paul Clark in his boat. At right, from his 1971 voyage around Vancouver Island in a kayak. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) search for her missing father, and she’s hoping adventurers,” she said. An alert has been for some search-and-rescue volun“As most of his equipment has issued to local teers to help keep the search up. been accounted for except for his fisherman, loggers and RCMP “The Coast Guard can only do so dry suit and some food bags that detachments. much, and we understand. Since are missing, we are hoping that A veteran sailor, Paul Clark lived there is a chance of survival, we’re he launched out and was possibly in Ucluelet with his family in the continuing to hope,” she said. able to make it to shore,” Marian 1980s and 1990s, when he was “We know how clever my dad said. fishing commercially up and down was, he was a really extraordinary The Canadian Coast Guard gave the BC coast. mariner,” she said, citing his trip the 69-year-old 24-36 hours to get He was the first person to kayak down the St. Lawrence at age 16 to shore in his dry suit, she said. around Vancouver Island in 1971, and a lifetime spent on the ocean. “We hope that he is somewhere and he held a record for the long“If anybody could do it, he could. on the northwest coast of Vancouest at sea from Panama to Victoria He’s not just any typical characver Island, a vast and wild area,” on a solo trip in the early 1970s. ter here, he’s the last of the great she said. The Adriana was a project 10
years in the planning. Paul built the 16-footer himself, and he sailed it up and down Vancouver Island for three years before embarking on the big trip from Prince Rupert to Victoria, Marian said. For information on how to help, contact Marian Clark at marianmaeclark@gmail.com. editor@westerlynews.ca
Telus, continued from Page 1 was set to get underway, Hydro’s shovels still haven’t hit the ground as a higher-than-expected cost estimate caused Telus to take a step back in September 2013 and with Telus reassessing, Hydro put its pole installation work on hold. By calling timeout, Telus sparked local outrage with both Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne and Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving slamming the company for a lack of communication. Tempers have since cooled and, while details remain vague, the parties involved seem optimistic wind will once again hit the pro-
ject’s sails. Mayor Irving told the Westerly last week that communication has been solid since September’s setback and the project is still very much alive. “In the last eight or nine months we have been going systematically through the problems and trying to resolve them,” he said. “There’s still some outstanding issues; we are very optimistic the partnership is working to resolve them.” He declined to give specific reasons for his optimism. “Although I know that we have made significant strides, I can’t
really provide that information because I don’t want to jeopardize any of the internal discussions that are going on,” he said. “We’ve been asked to be very reserved in our comments.. we want to be respectful of the parties; they’re working on a solution.” He acknowledged the project has seemingly moved at a glacial pace but noted large projects traditionally take time to come to fruition. “It has gone slowly in our minds, although projects like this tend to have a 3-5 year planning stage so we’re ahead of the curve there,” he said. “We’d like to have snapped
our fingers and had it happen but as far as big projects like this I think it’s moving very well.” Mayor Osborne expressed a similarly veiled optimism and assured discussions between the West Coast communities, Telus, Hydro and the Province are ongoing. “The project is definitely ‘on the table,’ and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Tofino and Ucluelet have been working hard to lobby the government and companies, who have been communicative and open about their progress,” she said. “While no announcements have been made, we continue to be Vaccine and Appointment Clinic optimistic about the future of the fiber build.” Hydro spokesth person Karla Louwers told the Ucluelet’s Westerly that (located beside the firehall on Peninsula Rd) Hydro remains committed to the project. & “We’re still in Tofino’s Royal Canadian Legion communication with Telus and other stakeholdph 250-723-7341 Visit our ers interested website in moving the www.albernivet.com fiber build
for Dogs & Cats
Wednesday, August 13 , 2014
UAC Hall
9:30 am – noon
Alberni Vet Clinic
1:30 – 4 pm
forward,” she said. “Because we continued talking and continued moving it forward, the funding wasn’t removed from our budget... our commitment to funding is still there.” She noted Hydro’s pole installation work is weather dependant and could take some time to complete once kicked off. Telus spokesperson Liz Sauve was adamant that Telus is still on board to improve the West Coast’s web surfing. “We remain interested in connecting the West Coast of the Island with fiber optic cable to increase Internet speed and capacity, and are pursuing several potential options,” she said. “We have no concrete details to share at this point.” While conversations continue, the West Coast continues champing at the bit to welcome highspeed fiber optic Internet. “It can’t come soon enough,” Osborne said. “Just last week I received an inquiry from a family in Alberta hoping to move to Tofino, but for whom high speed Internet is essential because of the nature of their work.” reporter@westerlynews.ca
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Westerly News | Page 17
Page 18 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
ISLAND NEWS NOTES
New trial ordered in RCMP shooting case referring to the trial judge. Pompeo filed an appeal of the conviction in February of 2013. The appeal, heard by Justice Harvey M. Groberman, Chief Justice Robert James Bauman and Justice Nicole J. Garson, concluded that Judge Wood erred in excluding the evidence of an expert witness who said the use of lethal force was in accordance with police protocols and training and so the shooting was necessary. The appeal court also found that Judge Wood “went beyond his proper role when he made requests that evidence be tendered and when he engaged in lengthy questioning of witnesses.” “The trial judge’s interventions in the case before us were extensive and frequent,” reads the written reasons submitted by Groberman.
ANDREA RONDEAU Citizen
A new trial has been ordered in the 2009 shooting of William Gillespie by RCMP officer Const. David Pompeo. Pompeo was convicted of aggravated assault in the case in February 2013. For shooting the unarmed Gillespie, he was sentenced to two years probation and 240 hours of community service. He was also allowed to keep his firearm. Gillespie was stunned to hear the news Friday. “I don’t know what to say,” he stated. “I think they should have just kept the conviction. I can’t believe they would do that to Judge [Josiah] Wood,” Gillespie added,
“While I do not call into question the impartiality of the judge, his active participation in the trial went well beyond the norm. “Given that both the Crown and defence were well-represented by counsel, there was no need for any departure from usual adversarial practices, and the judge’s active role is, to say the least, curious. “Given that the judge, himself, developed theories that were detrimental to the defence, and that he elicited considerable evidence that he used to support the conviction, the appearance of trial fairness was, in my opinion, compromised. “A new trial must be ordered, in any event, on the basis of the trial judge’s refusal to hear potentially important and admissible expert evidence. It is, therefore, not
necessary to say more on this last issue on appeal.” Gillespie said he doesn’t think the new trial will work out in Pompeo’s favour. “This time he’s going to definitely be found guilty,” he said. “This is a bad thing for him.” However, he dreads the thought of a new trial. “God, that would be absolutely just terrible. I couldn’t imagine. Unbelievable,” Gillespie said.
Cyclist taken to hospital after collision with van door
in her 20s was heading west on Pandora Avenue just past Vancouver Street about 1:15 p.m. when the driver of a white van parked on the side of the road opened his door, said Victoria police traffic investigator Const. Neil Lundin. The woman slammed into the door and fell off the bike. Paramedics arrived and took the woman to Victoria General Hospital with injuries to her head, arms and legs. The driver was given an $81 ticket for opening his door when unsafe. Lundin said it’s a reminder for drivers to do a quick shoulder check for cyclists before opening the doors.
A cyclist was taken to hospital in Victoria this afternoon after colliding with a van door. The woman
Death, continued from Page 1 we are also going to put up a little marker with a caution on it,” he said. “Black Rock is going to check it regularly to make sure that the tide doesn’t diminish the sand cover.” Black Rock staff had spotted the sea lion’s corpse floating in nearby waters around July 14 and were less than stoked when it arrived on their doorstep about two weeks later. “We were really hoping the tide would take him back out and that he wouldn’t end up on the beach,” said the resort’s general manager Adele Larkin. “Unfortunately a higher tide came through and
washed him up onshore.” She said resort staff immediately told guests about the situation. “The hope is people won’t let their dogs go roll in it and people wont go and touch it,” she said. “We’re always on the lookout for all kinds of wildlife around the area and making sure we’re communicating to our guests.” The resort contacted the department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and placed a tarp over the sea lion while local officials determined how to dispose of it. DFO’s marine mammals coordinator Paul Cottrell said burials are not uncommon and DFO provided
the district with information on how to bury the animal properly. “Burying on land is an option we’ve used in the past and if it’s done properly it’s fine,” Cottrell said. “It’s a way of the animal decomposing without attracting a significant amount of wildlife and it makes for good fertilizer.” He said DFO does not get involved with removing marine mammals unless a necropsy is needed or there are a cluster of deaths that need to be investigated. DFO’s preference is for washed up animals to remain untouched and decompose naturally but Cot-
trell understood why Ucluelet buried the sea lion. “We actually prefer that they go back to nature if possible but in certain circumstances municipalities look at removing carcasses and in this case burying them,” he said. “It was in a populated area.” He estimated the remains could be completely decomposed within a year. “If the conditions are good and it’s in a spot where there’s moisture and there’s organic bacteria this animal could basically just be bones in a year; it depends on the sediment and the bacteria that are present,” he said.
He commended Black Rock for reporting the incident and said the resort’s actions represent an ocean conscious West Coast community. “The communities of Ucluelet and Tofino are amazing in that the community members have been great about reporting,” he said. “The community there is aware, a lot of them are connected with the ocean so they’re out there, and it’s just fantastic to get those reports.” He encourages locals to continue reporting sightings of dead, injured, or trapped marine mammals to DFO at 1-800-465-4336.
oceans because of the prevailing winds,” she said. “If you were to look at the ones here and then look at the shape of the sail in Aleutian Islands or close to Japan you would see a different pattern of sail shapes...Their body structure changes throughout the oceans.” Velella velella live in strictly structured colonies with each member playing its part. “It’s a really fascinating system, it’s almost like an aquatic ant colony; there’s some individuals that are intended for reproduction some individ-
uals have been specialized for prey capture some individuals have been specialized for defense,” Griffith-Cochrane said. She said the colonies that have washed up will not survive and while this will not cripple the species it could take a toll. “Whenever there are massstrandings like this it always affects the genetics of the population because there’s a huge amount of adults that wont be able to continue through their life cycle,” she said. “There will be thousands of individuals that won’t be there to share their genetics so you can have a bit of a bottleneck effect where the total genetic population will then be altered...The surviving group will have a smaller arrangement of genetics to pass onto the next individuals...You can cre-
ate evolutionary change in a fast timeline.” While the creatures are small, they play a large role in keeping oceans healthy by rotating nutrients. “If there’s a really big bloom in one area, and they develop really well close to that bloom, they’ll eat all the little phytoplankton or tiny zooplankton and then, as they move to another area and poo, they distribute all of those nutrients from their initial meal to a new area; so they’re really important in nutrient cycling,” GriffithCochrane said. “Sometimes those species that come across as very simple actually provide the world with a huge amount of change.”
reporter@westerlynews.ca
Velella, continued from Page 9
Barefoot beach goers walking through Tofino’s sand were not in any danger as the animals are not harmful to humans according to Griffith-Cochrane. “It would feel like you stepped on some soft plastic,” she said. Velella velella—also known as
by-the-wind-sailors—are part of the hydrozoan family and can be found in oceans throughout the globe traveling by capturing wind in a sail made of flexible tissue, according to Griffith-Cochrane. “The way that their sails are shaped is different throughout the
Providing you with the business solution you need when you need them.
1566 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet
726-7445
reporter@westerlynews.ca
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Westerly News | Page 19
SCAN WITH LAYAR TO BUY NOW
FF
% 5 7
O
Value $1494 6-night stay for two in a studio or one-bedroom villa at Cerritos Surf Colony BAJA PENINSULA, MEXICO
UP
TO
$ 369
FF
% 3 5
O
Two-Night Stay for Two in a Standard Room OR a Kitchen Studio with Daily Breakfast, Wine and More at Chateau Westport, Washington WESTPORT, WA
Get access to exclusive offers and more by scanning with the free Layar app and visit www.socialshopper.com for more local daily deals.
Value $315
$ 149 and up
Download the free Layar App
Scan this page
Discover interactive content
Page 20 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
All Paths Lead To Campbell River & The North Island Ridgerider
A Western Store ...and so Much More
250-286-3554
Discover
CAMPBELL RIVER & AREA
EVENTS CALENDAR
Wild Coho Retention!
LOTS OF PARKING!
Fishing • Camping • Outdoor Clothing Hunting • Bait • Maps • Information 2115 Island Hwy. Campbell River, B.C., Canada V9W 2G6 Ph: 250.286.1017 Fx: 250.286.9767 Toll Free: 1.800.663.7217 www.riversportsman.com
August 8, 9 & 10 47th Annual Campbell River Salmon Festival at Nunns Creek Park, including the 2014 Logger Sports Competition with 7 Canadian and 2 World Championship events. Enjoy the largest Logging Sports Competition in Canada. Live outdoor stage entertainment. Get all the details at www.crsalmonfestival.com
August 16 Rockin’ The Island Concert at 1490 Island Hwy, Campbell River. Headliners These Kids Wear Crowns and 8 other live music performers. Advance tickets are just $70, at www. tidemarktheatre.com For a full line-up of bands, visit www. rockintheisland.ca
46th ANNUAL CAMPBELL RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL
LOGGER SPORTS
Serving the North Island Janet Scotland
Managing Broker/Owner
1-888-771-2111 ext.102 •
www.janetscotland.ca
1100 Shoppers Row, Campbell River
.com
Campbell River, BC | 250-914-2453
August 16
AUGUST 8TH, 9TH, 10TH Largest Loggers Competition in Canada Held at Nunns Creek Park 16th Avenue, Campbell River For full schedule see crsalmonfestival.com
Affordable Accommodations For All! Private Rooms Available Fabulous Facilities
250-285-3198 653 Green Road quadra.hostel@gmail.com www.quadraislandhostel.com
Campbell River, B.C.
Islander Special from $10900+ Tax Includes FREE Hot Breakfast Buffet
DI Restaurant & Lounge NOW OPEN! 1-250-287-7155 www.coasthotels.com Based on double occupancy. Must have proof of residency. Valid until Sept. 30, 2014
26th Annual Howie Meeker Special Olympics Golf Classic at Storey Creek Golf Course. Open to all golfers of all abilities. Fun, 18-hole scramble format. Complete teams are welcome. Includes golf, snack & beverage on the course, awards banquet dinner at the Thunderbird Hall and entertainment. Many prizes including $2,500 cash golfer reverse draw. Only $140, all proceeds to CR Special Olympians. To register call Kyle at the Pro Shop toll free at 1-866-923-3674 or Harvey at 250-286-6453 or email crhmso@gmail.com
Other Don’t Miss Campbell River Summer Experiences From south to north, cool the kids off at the Willow Point Splash Park, visit Sybil Andrews Cottage, check out the chainsaw carvings at Frank James Park, stroll the Rotary Sea Walk from Willow Point to downtown, discover our fishing, logging and First Nations history at the Museum, have an ice cream on Discovery Pier, explore the waterfront aquarium, take the ferries to Quadra and Cortes Islands, take an ocean wildlife adventure cruise, river fish for salmon in the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers or go snorkeling with them, explore the Haig-Brown Heritage Site, visit the Fish Hatchery, hike to Elk Falls where the new canyon suspension bridge is underway, have a beach fire and watch the cruise ships go by… or find more at www. campbellrivertourism.com or www.rivercorp.catake an ocean wildlife adventure cruise, river fish for salmon in the Campbell and Quinsam Rivers or go snorkeling with them, explore the Haig-Brown Heritage Site, visit the Fish Hatchery, hike to Elk Falls where the new canyon suspension bridge is underway, have a beach fire and watch the cruise ships go by… or find more at www.campbellrivertourism.com or www.rivercorp.ca
Ride Campbell River Over 100 kms of amazing trails for all levels Scenic road and cruiser rides bikes | rentals | service | trail maps | group rides
Fall Getawa Offer! y
$149
1 Night’s Accommodation for two • $50 Meal Credit • $149 per night • Available Sept 14 - Oct 12 Prices are based on double occupancy and are before tax.
BOOK NOW 1-800-663-7090 painterslodge.com CAMPBELL RIVER • BC