Westerly News
Ukee council gives ‘nod’ to Aquaculture Week (Tuff’s gives ‘not’)
Wednesday
O, Otalith!
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GOVERNMENT
August 27, 2014
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ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Ucluelet will spend a week in September celebrating the salmon farming industry while Tofino will not. BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) executive director Jeremy Dunn recently sent letters to the municipal councils of Tofino and Ucluelet requesting both towns declare the week of Sept. 21 Aquaculture Awareness Week. “Each year, as a way of recognizing the important work of our companies and their employees in coastal communities and to raise awareness of the importance of the aquaculture industry in this province, the BCSFA holds an Aquaculture Awareness Week,” Dunn wrote.
Festival aims for 3rd year by popular demand ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Sequels rarely outshine their original but the West Coast just watched the Otalith Music Festival hit its second pitch out of the park.
About 1,100 locals and tourists basked in Otalith’s positive vibrations over the weekend and initial feedback strongly suggests the house was rocked. The festival is a local fundraiser run by the Pacific Rim Music
Festival Society and the society’s communications and marketing director Jessie Fletcher said the society had high expectations that last year’s first-ever Otalith could be topped. “I think we nailed the expecta-
See COUNCIL, Page 5
LIFE
The Westerly FREE inside Our Lifestyle publication Pages 9-15
The Whales of August Pages 9 and 10
tions,” she told the Westerly on Monday. “Based on all the social-mediasite-feedback, and the people I saw and talked to, everybody was super stoked. We were called the See FESTIVAL Page 8
Page 2 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
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The Westerly News | Page 3
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
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Law turns firewood, vision into public art ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News A Tofitian street corner is about to receive a publicly artistic Peter Kvarnstrom, President, Community Media, Glacier Media upgrade. Local artist Dan Law received Jackie Carmichael, Publisher permission from the District editor@westerlynews.ca of Tofino’s municipal council last week to temporarily infuse Andrew Bailey, reporter reporter@westerlynews.ca public art into a street corner at the Gibson and Campbell Street Geoff Johnson, advertising intersection. gajohnson@westerlynews.ca Law plans to install several CONTACT US cedar pillars onto the grassy corP.O. Box 317, Ucluelet B.C. V0R 3A0 ner in front of the Tofino Coffee 102-1801 Bay Street, Ucluelet Roasting Company and to perch Ph: 250-726-7029 Fax: 250-726-4282 one to two carved ravens on top of E-mail: office@westerlynews.ca each pillar. “I want to take a mundane space DEADLINES like this street corner and a truckDisplay ads Monday at noon load of firewood and with a little Call 250-266-2400 vision and a little skill and a lot of office@westerlynews.ca hard work I want to transform this Classified ads Tuesday at 10 a.m. place into something meaningful,” Call 1-866-415-9169 Law told the Westerly News. classifieds@westerlynews.ca “Art, especially public art, can Online ads Start anytime bring value to the community, Call 250-266-0557 it can increase dialogue (and) it office@westerlynews.ca creates places for contemplation. Letters to the editor Even just the aesthetic value of Monday at noon office@westerlynews.ca having a piece of art in public is valuable in itself.” SUBSCRIPTIONS Law’s temporary public art perLocal area: $75.18 mit will run from Aug. 31 to Jan. Seniors (local): $63.91 1, 2015. Canada: $84.56 U.S.: $155.18 The controversial return of the To subscribe call: Weeping Cedar Woman last year 1-888-311-7713 or 250-729-4266 sparked Tofino’s district office to start working on a public art policy and, during council’s delibWe acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the erations around Law’s request, Canada Peri odical Fund of the Department Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne said a of Canadian Heritage. draft-policy is nearing completion. The Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, a “Staff is working on that right division of the VI Newspaper Group Limited now with a consultant and an Partnership, respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal advisory group...it will come to information in accordance with our council probably for first conPrivacy Statement which is available by sideration maybe in late Septemcalling 250-729-4223. The contents of this ber,” she said. newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, nonOsborne expressed discomfort over council approving Law’s public art request without a public art policy in place. “My discomfort arises from another political decision about a piece of public art and I really believe that the process of selecting and approving public art should be separated from this WHO WE ARE
Aug. 27 *Ucluelet RECYCLES
Artist Dan Law with the firewood crows that are part of his new public art exhibit.
(council’s) table,” she said. Council unanimously supported Law’s request and, once in place, the new pillars will be an extension of the two already-present raven-affixed pillars standing outside the Tofino Coffee Roasting Company. “It, kind of, creates a dialog. Each structure is interacting with the other structures and then as you walk through the space you’re going to be walking through a couple different interactions between the ravens and the objects,” Law told the Westerly. He said the ravens perched outside the Tofino Coffee Roasting Company were part of a piece he displayed at an art show in Vancouver. “I used the ravens in that piece to explore what it means to be human. You need to eat but there’s
a morality into it, how do you see the animals just trying to survive,” he said. “We need to eat, we need to feed our kids, we do things sometimes that aren’t palatable but that’s part of being human; it’s that sort of paradox.” He noted ravens evoke a variety of responses and their colour and shape allow him to create settings akin to three-dimensional charcoal drawings. “Some people find them sort of sinister and some people find them in the opposite spectrum, but where I intend is somewhere in the middle, ambiguous enough to allow people to contemplate the nature of being,” he said. He said public art is a burgeoning field in North America and hopes Tofino jumps on board the bandwagon.
ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
“It’s been big in Europe and other parts of the world for millennia, but in the West people are just starting to become aware of the value of art, especially in public places,” he said. ADVENTURE “I think Tofino SHOPPING could be into it, at there’s a lot of talent and a lot of awareness of the value of aesthetics Quality used already here... housewares, people come clothes, books here because & music it’s a stunning OPEN 11-5 place, why not add to it?” MON-SAT He noted the MAIN ST. UCLUELET district’s work (across from CIBC) towards estab-
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Page 4 | The Westerly News
COMMENT
Opinion
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Superintendent: Two scenarios for school’s start August 25, 2014 Dear Parents: The purpose of this message is to provide you with an update on the provincial labour dispute. As you are aware, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) reached an impasse with regard to negotiating a new conGREG tract and, as a result, on June 17, SMYTHE 2014 the BCTF escalated to a full/VISITOR scale strike. Unfortunately, the two VOICE parties have not made significant progress over the summer months and the possibility of schools opening following Labour Day is uncertain. We remain hopeful that the two parties will reach a negotiated settlement before schools are scheduled to open. In the meantime, parents are encouraged to consult our district website (www.sd70.bc.ca) and follow media outlets for updates on the status of teacher bargaining. As to when the 2014/15 school year will begin, there are two possible scenarios: 1. If there is a settlement, our expectation is that all public schools in SD70 (Alberni) will open on Tuesday, September 2nd. In this scenario, we anticipate that there may be some delays in regular instruction as course scheduling for students, particularly at the secondary level, may need to be completed. However, it is our intention to return to normal school operations as quickly as possible. Opening day/week schedules vary school by school and are communicated by individual schools to students, parents and staff. Parents should review newsletters distributed last June, check SD70 and school websites and/or Facebook pages for updates and contact their child’s school if they have any questions regarding school opening schedules and procedures. 2. If there is not a settlement, some or all SD70 (Alberni) schools might be behind picket lines. In this scenario, a withdrawal of service due to strike action or a lockout will again impact the school district’s ability to provide educational services for students. While schools will remain open buses will not run and we will not be able to offer our regular instruction as it is unlikely that unionized staff will cross picket lines. As a result, we will again encourage parents not to send their children to school but to seek alternate childcare arrangements. Should any students arrive at school while picket lines are in place, our school administrators will ensure that they are cared for until they can be safely returned to their homes under the supervision of a parent or guardian. I am disappointed that the normally exciting beginning to a new school year is shrouded in uncertainty. It is a frustrating time for everyone but I am particularly concerned about the impact on students caused by a prolonged labour dispute. I hope that the labour impasse is quickly resolved and that our district can return to normal operations and begin the year on a more positive note. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
Greg Smyth is Superintendent of Schools for SD70.
COMMENT
New facilities bring new opportunities at Toquaht In March of 2013, the Ucluelet area was shocked when environmental contamination was discovered at the Toquaht Marina and SARAH Campground, located ROBINSON in Toquaht Bay. Testing discovered /LOCAL unacceptable levels VOICE of arsenic, selenium, cobalt and iron, unfortunate souvenirs from the Brynnor Mine that closed in the late 1960s. As a precaution to protect human health, the area was closed to the public. The site included a popular public boat launch, which many locals used to access remote areas of Barkley Sound. The Toquaht office has received countless phone calls, e-mails and messages from locals expressing support for some manner of access to the boat launch. After further environmental testing and some hard work to find a creative solution, we are happy to announce that the Toquaht Bay marina and boat launch will reopen for access on August
26. The beach and campground section of the site, however, remain closed and have been fenced off to prevent access to the area. The boat launch and marina will likely close again in a couple of years while the site is remediated, after which the whole area will be fully reopened. Contaminated sites remediation is an arduous and complex process, and will be done in phases to keep impact to the boat launch at an absolute minimum. While the boat launch is an important service, the Toquaht Marina and Campground also featured a kayak launch that was popular with locals and tourists alike. With that in mind, last summer the Toquaht Nation moved very quickly and worked very hard to build a new recreation area, the Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch, in only a few months. Financial support was provided by the Province of British Columbia, for which we are very grateful. The Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch is located just a few kilo-
meters away from the former recreation site and boat launch. It features 67 campsites, a beautiful kayak launch, and parking for kayakers who seek adventure for more than a day trip. As the gateway to the world-famous Broken Group Islands, the spot has been extremely popular with kayakers from near and far. Locals have also utilized the area to launch small paddleboats, canoes and paddleboards. With the Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch in full swing and the Toquaht Bay marina and boat launch reopened, all of the services that were formerly provided in the area are now in place again. We hope to see you at the Secret Beach Campground and Kayak Launch or the reopened boat launch one day soon. Come explore Toquaht territory, and see what we have to offer.
Sarah Robinson is director of operations at Toquaht Nation.
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
Closer Look The Westerly News | Page 5
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Councils take opposite official views of aquaculture, surrounding issues Cont. from Page 1 Dunn’s letter touted the West Coast’s two main salmon farming companies—Creative Salmon and Cermaq Canada—as significant contributors to the local economies. “As well as the farm operations, there are offices, processing plants, and service and supplies companies on the West Coast that are reliant on the industry’s ongoing success,” he wrote. Ucluelet’s municipal council approved the declaration without discussion, while Tofino’s council declined to bring aquaculture week to Tofino. Ucluelet councillor Geoff Lyons, who made the motion to support the week in Ucluelet, told the Westerly he was happy to support Creative and Cermaq. “They do a great job and having toured their sites I’m confident that everything they’re doing is ecologically and environmentally sound and given today’s food famine in the world, I think salmon farming is the answer to addressing a lot of food needs,” he said. “I’m all in favour of proving it in the Clayoquot (Sound), which is the most sensitive and most environmentally monitored area in the world to prove if we can do it there we can do it anywhere.” He acknowledged no fish farms currently operate in Ucluelet’s Barkley Sound and said he wished this wasn’t the case. “I just wish there was an opportunity in the Barkley Sound for fish farms,” he said. “I wish we could have them on our doorstep (bringing) employment for our people.” Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving suggested while the farms
operate on Tofino’s “I’m really disside of the peninsula, appointed to hear Ucluelet still sees that,” he said adding benefit. Creative and Cermaq “Quite a few of our are valuable communpeople are employed ity assets. full time there, biolo“Creative Salmon gists, managers and is always the first to workers on the farm, step up to the plate so there is direct beneand donate salmon fit,” Irving said. to any kind of comLyons seemed lessmunity event,” he than-surprised that said. “They pay a huge Tofino voted down the taxation base, both festivities. companies, (and) they “They just seem to employ I don’t know be more opposed to how many people: things than Ucluelet, First Nations and from harvesting trees locals.” to fish farms to minHe suggested declaring,” he said. “I personing a week for the ally see those things as industry may be going employment indicators too far but salmon and offering diverse farming should be economies whereas supported. Tofino seems to have “Maybe not going their eggs in a tourism as far as declaring an basket that may or may aquaculture week, but not always be there.” I’m really disappointDuring Tofino’s regued that we sit with lar council meeting last this kind of attitude week, Coun. Dorothy towards our neighBaert led the charge bours,” he said. to oppose the BCSFA’s Coun. Ray Thororequest. good agreed with She said council does Cameron and not usually get decsupported the laration requests from declaration. private industries and “I don’t know what’s questioned whether happening elsewhere the district should play in the province with a role in what she saw aquaculture farms, as a “public relations but I truly believe that exercise.” the two local companShe said council genies are doing a good erally supports declarjob and they’re a huge ations around broader contributor to this social campaigns like community,” he said. Left, federal Government Leader Peter Van Loan and his son during a 2013 visit to a Cermaq fish farm in National Volunteer Council voted in Week and Community Clayoquot Sound. Right, Cermaq’s James Costello details the site’s operation. favour of Baert’s Social Services Awaremotion to not declare ness Month. the district should be the industry as a whole business operators and this aquaculture awareness “Those are campaigns expressing support for the through very lengthy in industry and the dynamic week despite opposition around raising money and aquaculture industry in depth processes such as the of how those concerns have votes from Cameron and raising awareness for things general. Cohen Commission and the been addressed.” Thorogood. that are largely based on a “I’m very aware of the resulting report,” she said. Coun. Garth Cameron social good,” she said. number of issues in the “Also some of the conflicts spoke against Baert’s reporter@westerlynews.ca She questioned whether broader landscape about that have come up with concern.
Art installation lishing a public art policy and said he is excited to see the community embrace the concept of contemplating and installing public art. “There’s a lot of art going on already but to actually officially embrace it and say we’re going to make space for this and make it an important part of our community and make a plan so that we can
Continued from Page 3 ensure the art that goes in is good, strong, quality art then the whole town benefits,” he said. “It’s great for the artists because they have a venue, it’s great for the people because they can interact with unique West Coast art, and there is a unique West Coast flavour that goes on here that doesn’t happen in very many other places.” reporter@westerlynews.ca
Community Photo Album The Ukee Daycare recently took a field trip to Ucluelet’s Big Beach. ANDREW BAILEY
Page 6 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
HUMAN/NATURE
Apparent Pueblan milk snake shows up in Tofino yard JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News With its resemblance to the venomous coral snake, the Pueblan milk snake that ended up in a Tofino front yard was a shock to residents Deddeda and Sean White. “It was on the neighbour’s front lawn, laying in the grass – my husband thought it was a toy snake and put our 11-month-old daughter on the grass by it,” said Deddeda White. “Then it slithered away – it was very shocking,” she said. The Whites travel internationally for their careers in photography
Unusual sighting: what is suspected to be a harmless Pueblan milk snake.
and film-making, so they had seen coral snakes in other environments, and only after snapping a quick picture of the creature could they be sure it had the stripes in the right places.
“Red touches yellow, kill a fellow – red touches black, friend to Jack” is a variation of the identification rhyme. About 18 inches long and about an inch thick through the middle,
the Pueblan milk snake – assuming that’s what it was – was far from its natural Mexican habitat. “We’ve seen wolves and bears and raccoons (in the yard), but never a snake like this,” said Deddeda. Before the snake was identified as a harmless variety, responses on social media ranged from “kill it with a machete” to “let it go,” she said. A family interested in adopting the creature came out to look for it, but the nocturnally-oriented creature is proving shy in daytime after a morning warm-up. The Whites were hoping someone
would claim what has apparently been a pet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island with cooler fall temperatures around the corner. “Hopefully we can find a good home for it, otherwise it will die of cold,” she said. Tofino’s by-law department came by in an effort to try to find the snake, she said. Almost two weeks after the sighting, White said the snake had not been found. Cougar hors d’oeuvres? A new home? “Who knows where it is? I’m constantly on the look-out for it,” she said. editor@westerlynews.ca
Police: Inside vehicle no place for dog day afternoon ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Some West Coast residents and visitors are failing to appreciate the dangers associated with leaving pets locked in vehicles on hot summer days. Ucluelet police responded to several complaints of animals locked in vehicles over the past two weeks and Const. Marcel Midlane is urging pet owners to take care of
their animals. “The last thing we want to do is be going to a half dead dog in a car who’s been trapped in there in the sunshine for a while,” he said. “Usually people leave their windows down an inch or two which isn’t enough, an animal should be able to get its head out the window and be able to breathe air from outside.” He said leaving your pet at home rather than in a parked vehicle is ideal, but anyone
who must leave their dog in their car must leave windows open to allow air to circulate, park in the shade, and make sure there is plenty of cold drinking water available. He assured police will smash windows to rescue an animal if need be. “If it’s severe we’ll smash a window for sure to get the dog out of there,” he said. “If the circumstances are exigent then we would smash the window if not we would call a tow-truck to open it or try to track
the owners down. If the situation is serious enough then, yes, we will damage the vehicle to get into it.” Anyone who leaves their animal in their car under unsafe conditions could have their animal seized and may wind up facing cruelty to animals charges in court. Police have fortunately not been forced to break into any vehicles to save pets this summer., he said.
At the time this paper went to press the BC Teachers’ Federation and the BC Public School Employers’ Association had not come to an agreement and we are not sure if there will be further Job Action in September. The possibility of schools opening following Labour Day is uncertain. Please check your school’s website or Facebook page prior to the long weekend for updates. UCLUELET SECONDARY SCHOOL 2014-15 START-UP INFORMATION REGISTRATION OF STUDENTS NEW TO THE WEST COAST Students who are new to the area may register at the Ucluelet Secondary School office any time next week. Please phone the school office at 726-7796 to make an appointment.
Wickaninnish Community School 2014-2015 START-UP INFORMATION
COURSE CHANGES Students wishing changes are advised to make an appointment with the school for Aug. 29th or 30th. It is easier to effect changes before school starts. The deadline for course changes is September 12th, after which only staff-generated changes to timetables will be considered. Appointments may be arranged by calling the school office at 726-7796. SCHOOL OPENING School starts at 10:00am on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Grade 9 – 12 students will be dismissed at 10:45am. Grade 8 students will be dismissed at 12:30pm. SECONDARY SCHOOL BUS SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 ☐ Tofino bus leaves the Fire Hall at 9:15am • North Chesterman pickup at 9:20am ☐ Opitsaht bus leaves 1st & Main at 9:15am, • Stops in front of Ty-hi-stanis House #10 at 9:35am and at the entrance to Esowista at 9:40am ☐ Port Albion/Hitacu bus leaves the Hitacu Community Hall at 9:30am • Willowbrae pickup at 9:45am & Millstream pickup at 9:47am Grade 9 – 12 students – buses will leave USS at 10:45am Grade 8 students – buses will leave USS at 12:30pm BUS SCHEDULE FROM SEPTEMBER 3rd ONWARD Morning buses leave ☐ Tofino bus leaves the Fire Hall at 7:40am • North Chesterman pickup at 7:45am ☐ Opitsaht bus leaves 1st & Main at 7:40am • Stops in front of Ty-hi-stanis House #10 at 7:55am and at the entrance to Esowista at 8:00am ☐ Port Albion/Hitacu bus leaves Hitacu Community Hall at 8:00am • Willowbrae pickup at 8:12am & Millstream pickup at 8:15am Afternoon buses leave USS at 3:05pm Fridays, buses leave USS at 2:00pm The late bus program to Hitacu, Port Albion, Ty-hi-stanis, Esowista, Tofino and Opitsaht will start Tuesday, September 9th and operate Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The bus leaves the school at 5:00pm. rd
BELL SCHEDULE FROM SEPTEMBER 3 ONWARD Please note that our first morning bell will be ringing 5 minutes earlier than in the past. 8:25am 8:30-9:40am 9:45-10:50am 10:55-noon Noon-12:40pm 12:45-1:50PM 1:55-3:00pm
First Bell 1st Block 2nd Block 3rd Block Lunch 4th Block 5th Block
Back to School!!!! Tuesday, September 2nd Our irst day of school is for 2 hours from 10am to 12pm (no lunch). Morning bus pick-up will be as follows: Esowista & Ty-Histanis - 9:25 am South Chesterman Beach - 9:35am Boat Pick-up at 9:40am Dismissal time is at 12pm. Class lists will be posted on our front doors at 9:45am. Students will proceed to their classroom at 10am to meet their classroom teacher. At 11:15am we will have a whole school assembly to go through some of our general operating procedures. Students will then be dismissed from the gym at noon. Wednesday, September 3rd NEW SCHEDULE! 8:38 Entrance Bell/ Class begins 10:15 Recess 10:30 Recess Ends 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 12:25 Outdoor Play 12:25 - 12:45 Lunch 12:45 - Afternoon Classes Begin 2:30 - Dismissal
Kindergarten’s gradual entry will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd. The Kindergarten teacher will be contacting each family prior to September 2nd to discuss the details of gradual entry. If there continues to be job action we will send out information regarding its impact as soon as it is made available. Questions? Please call (250)725-3254 or email rtuck@sd70.bc.ca
Westerly News Bulletin for August 2014 UCLUELET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2014-2015 START-UP INFORMATION SCHOOL OPENING School starts on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 10:15 am and students will be dismissed at 12:15pm. Students will return to their last year’s classroom on the first day. Due to possible changes in enrollment, new class lists will not be available until Wednesday morning, Sept. 3rd. Please send school supplies on Wednesday September 3rd. SCHOOL REORGANIZATION MAY OCCUR ANYTIME THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER IN RESPONSE TO ENROLLMENT. BUSES will leave Hitacu Community Hall at 9:30am, Millstream at 9:47am and return from the school at 12:15pm on Tuesday September 2nd only. NEW REGISTRATIONS Students who are new to the area may register at the Ucluelet Elementary School office any time next week. Please phone the school office at 250 726 7793 to make an appointment. KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS Kindergarten students start school on Thursday September 4th and have been mailed “gradual entry” letters. BELL SCHEDULE **PLEASE NOTE NEW BELL TIMES AND EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAYS** The regular schedule of classes begins at 8:33am on Wednesday September 3rd with dismissal at 2:45pm. 8:33am 10:05 – 10:20am 10:20 – 11:45am 11:50 – 12:45pm 12:45 – 2:45pm 12:45 – 1:55pm
First Bell/Class starts Recess Classes Lunch Classes Monday to Thursday only Classes Friday only
BUS SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 3rd ONWARD Morning buses leave as follows: Hitacu Community Hall at 8:00am Sutton Road at 8:05am Millstream at 8:15am Afternoon buses leave UES at 2:50pm Monday to Thursday Friday buses leave UES at 2:00pm Due to extreme allergies, our school is a NUT and SCENT FREE school. Please do not send any nut products in snacks and or lunches.
The Westerly News | Page 7
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Report: Tuff bylaw officers soft on campers, alcohol violators - but issues 118 parking fines ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News At least one Tofino councillor is urging the district’s seasonal bylaw enforcement team to crack that whip. The District of Tofino’s municipal council reviewed the bylaw program’s mid-season report last week and Coun. Ray Thorogood was disappointed to see no fines dished out to illegal campers. The report outlined the seasonal bylaw crew discovered140 camping infractions and gave out 53 verbal warnings and 77 written warnings but no actual fines. Similarly, 590 alcohol contraventions were discovered with 582 verbal warnings and eight written warning issued - but again, no fines. In contrast, 474 parking infractions were discovered and 118 fines were issued. These 118 parking tickets were the only fines given out by bylaw enforcement officers during the report’s May 18-July 12 window. “You’re trying to get compliance so you really are trying to avoid tickets because if you start with a ticket then where do you go,” said the district’s manager of corporate services, Jane Armstrong, who oversees the seasonal bylaw program She said Tofino’s summer tourists are often unaware of local laws and need to be brought up to speed before tickets are issued. Armstrong also noted the numbers council was reviewing only covered May 18-July 12. “Since that time we’ve been giving out more tickets to people that are camping,” she said. “I think we are dealing now, at this point in the season, with some individ-
Report to District of Tofino Council on seasonal bylaw crew: Between May 18-July 12, 140 camping infractions resulted in 53 verbal warnings, 77 written warnings - no fines. 590 alcohol contraventions yielded 582 verbal warnings and 8 written warnings - no fines. 474 parking infractions were discovered, 118 fines were issued. uals that are perhaps a bit more entrenched.” The seasonal bylaw enforcement program runs from May 12 to September 12. Thorogood noted the only tickets issued were for parking violations where “the bylaw officer is not dealing with an individual but dealing with an inanimate object,” and urged stricter enforcement on individuals. “We have not done, in my opinion, an effective enforcement and punishment of the violations for camping...I was disappointed not to see any tickets except for parked vehicles, that just doesn’t cut it,” he said. “I’m not saying everybody has to be ticketed but I was really surprised that we issued tickets to parked cars...but nothing to
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WEEKLY ONLINE POLL: BYLAWS
This week’s Westerly News online poll: Should local municipalities a) crack down on illegal campers and alcohol violators b)provide a place for low-budget youth backpackers to camp c) not issue so many parking Ànes d) live and let live Respond to this poll online at www.westerlynews.ca. Results will be posted in next week’s Westerly News.
the campers and those are the ones I feel that are affecting our community.” He blamed “entrenched campers” staying in forested areas for what he believes has been a rise in thefts this summer. “I can understand somebody wanting to come here and camp on the beach...but if they’re entrenched in the bushes, these are not the people that I want to see in my community and I would like to see more enforcement in that respect,” he said. Coun. Dorothy Baert agreed that entrenched campers are an issue but suggested Tofino must make room for tight-budgeted tourists. “When you want to remove people who are generally youth travelers, trav-
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eling with their backpacks and camping and budgeting and so forth, you need a place for them to go,” she said. “We have, as a community, not addressed that.” Thorogood doubted Tofino’s illegal campers could be converted into pay-to-stayers. “I am confident that most of the people our bylaw staff is encountering with illegal camping are not going to want to pay for anything even if a facility was there,” he said. “We have always (since the) late 60’s and 70’s, always attracted a different breed of individuals and they’re not always healthy for the community.” Armstrong said campers are
being moved out of public areas but some offending tents are being pitched on private property where the municipality has no jurisdiction. “We have very little authority in fact no authority to seize items that are on private property, so we have to work with police to bring it to the property owner’s attention,” she said. She said the safety of bylaw officers is an area of concern and added officers often patrol areas without cell-phone coverage. “They have encountered certainly verbal abuse and also physical abuse,” she said. Thorogood responded, “I would think that verbal abuse comes with the job.” Tofino Mayor Joie Osborne suggested the discussion would continue when the seasonal program’s year-end report comes in after it wraps up in September. Osborne added the Tofino RCMP is set to receive a new detachment commander who should be brought up to speed on the district’s concerns. reporter@westerlyews.ca
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING New Zoning Bylaw
NOTICE is hereby given that a Public Hearing, pursuant to Sections 890 and 892 of the Local Government Act, will be held at the Ucluelet Community Centre, located at 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet B.C., on September 9, 2014, commencing at 7:00pm concerning District of Ucluelet Zoning Bylaw No. 1160, 2013 (the “New Zoning Bylaw”). The purpose of the New Zoning Bylaw is to repeal and replace existing zoning and to alter and implement parking, screening and other development regulations under Part 26 of the Local Government Act for all lands and water within the District of Ucluelet’s jurisdictional boundaries, as noted on the new Zoning Map. Zoning Bylaw No. 800, 1999 has been amended over 80 times but had not been officially consolidated since its original adoption in 1999. The New Zoning Bylaw takes the amendments into consideration and additionally strives to modernize and update the bylaw, reduce overlaps and inconsistencies between provisions, reconcile competing provisions, address gaps in regulation, clarify a number of existing regulations and how they interact with other existing regulations, clarify the distinction between principal uses, secondary uses and accessory uses, consider changes in provincial legislation (e.g. community care facilities) and Court decisions (e.g. use v. user zoning), create greater consistency and clarity in regulations, add a “2014 Update” section to the preamble of Comprehensive Development (“CD”) zones to reflect the allocation of uses for portions that have already been built, thereby clarifying what uses and density remain and where such development may occur, clarify the CD density bonusing provisions including highlighting remaining amenities, and other amendments and revisions, including in furtherance of the District’s Official Community Plan, 2011. All persons will be provided an opportunity to be heard, or present written submissions, regarding the New Zoning Bylaw. Copies of the New Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map and other relevant documents and information may be inspected at the District of Ucluelet office at 200 Main Street from 10:00am to 4:00pm from the date of this notice until 4pm on September 9, 2014 (except weekends and statutory holidays) and at the Public Hearing. Inquiries and comments may be directed to Patricia Abdulla, Manager of Planning by telephone at (250)-726-7744 or email: info@ucluelet.ca. Written submissions may also be mailed to the District of Ucluelet, P.O. Box 999, Ucluelet B.C., V0R 3A0, or faxed to (250)-726-7335, but must be received prior to the commencement of the Public Hearing to be considered by Council. Patricia Abdulla, Manager of Planning
Page 8 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Ucluelet joins Tofino on water restrictions list ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News All sun and no rain makes Ucluelet a dry place. Ucluelet has been hit with stage-one water restrictions, which took effect Aug. 21. It marks the first time in over a decade that Ucluetians have found themselves under water restrictions as stage-one restrictions have not been put in place since the summer of 2002, according to
the district’s superintendent of public works Warren Cannon. Cannon told the Westerly the restrictions kicked in because of dry weather, an Environment Canada forecast that projects continued dry weather, and a low stream advisory on Vancouver Island. “Our ground water table is one meter lower than the normal average this time of year,” he said. “A signifi-
cant amount of rainfall is needed to recharge the two supplies.” While the restrictions are in effect, residents are prohibited from watering their gardens and yards or doing any outdoor washing on consecutive days. Locals with even numbered addresses are permitted to water on even numbered days between 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Locals with odd numbered
addresses may only water on odd numbered days between 6-10 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Cannon said there is currently no timetable for the restrictions to be lifted. “With very little precipitation forecasted in the near future, it is difficult to speculate,” he said. “The monitoring process consists of rainfall data, ground and stream water monitoring and is compared to prior
years and volumes used.” He said the restrictions will be enforced but expressed confidence locals will respect their watering times. “The District hopes the community will conserve as much water as possible, this will help stabilize our supply of potable water for drinking, household use and fire protection,” he said. “Staff will be monitoring the community, however
our community is already very conservative minded when it comes to water conservation and traditionally helpful.” Ucluelet now finds itself in the same boat as its neighbour as Tofino has been under stage-one water restrictions since July 23 and Tofino’s CAO Bob MacPherson recently suggested Tofino’s restrictions would last into September. reporter@westerlynews.ca
Festival dubbed ‘kindest in world’, continued from Page 1 ‘kindest festival in the world,’ which really made me incredibly happy to hear.” The society hand-picked 15 bands to spread musical love across the West Coast on Friday and Saturday and the musicians loved what they saw, according to Fletcher. “The artists were super stoked and really positive with their feedback, and have told us that we’re on the road to being what we want to be,” she said. A key addition to this year’s festival was a Friday night show in Tofino where five bands and a DJ played to a sold out audience at the Tofino Brewing Company.
“It’s been a little bit tough for us to get a lot of buy-in from Tofino and I think this really nailed it for them because we got to bring what we’re all about to their back-
yard and to a venue they’re comfortable with and that turned into a lot of weekend tickets for us,” Fletcher said. She highlighted Austin, Texas-
based Bright Light Social Hour who she said “put on an incredible show,” in Tofino. “We had never been up to Tofino and we got in last night and we’ve been blown away by it. It’s so gorgeous up here,” Bright Light Social Hour member Jack O’Brien told the Westerly prior to hitting the stage. With no other festival of its kind happening on the West Coast, Otalith has quickly become an important draw for traveling music enthusiasts. “We really want to bring world class, beautiful, music to this really beautiful world-class destination,” Fletcher said.
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“It’s a great way to come and really experience the area, we put out a vibe that’s really consistent with what we feel our community is like...We’re a community that’s super positive and stoked.” Fletcher noted local, and visiting, families were welcomed into the stoke as Saturday’s Ucluelet fairgrounds brought a family-friendly vibe that parents enjoyed with their kids. “It’s relaxed, it’s mellow, it’s fun and the music is outstanding,” she said. With 2014 in the books, the society will take a few weeks to recuperate before getting amped on See OTALITH, Page 11
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Westerly Life/The Westerly News | Page 9
The Whale Centre would like to thank the whales and the West Coast for another exciting summer on the water Whale Watching • Bear Watching Bird & Pelagic Tours • Hot Springs Tofino’s whale specialists since 1984
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yes, you read that right: Happy 75th Anniversary! Page 15 Inside this week::More Magic Moments from Otalith (and Orca’s killer role in whale-watching this year)
Page 10 | The Westerly Life/ Westerly News
An advertising feature of the Westerly Life
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
the Whales of August
Cetacean station
Whale watching FAQ 1. When do you see whales and bears?
(without notice), as they are transient Orcas.
We see whales from March right through until the end of October and we see bears from April through October.
3. How close do we get to the whales & bears?
PHOTO SOURCE: JAMIE’S
We are regulated, by the Canadian DFO, to stay at least 100 meters away from the whales. We respect these guidelines and the safety of the whales we view. It is however, possible for the whales to swim towards our boats as they can be curious and
2. What type of whales will we see?
We usually see Gray whales and Humpback whales. We occasionally see Orca whales as well, but only a couple times a month
playful creatures. For bear watching, we aim to keep a safe and respectful distance from the bears as to ensure they feel comfortable with us being there while they feed and play. If they are scared away by boats approaching too closely it can make them search for safer areas that may be out of reach. - Courtesy of Jamie’s
PHOTO SOURCE: OCEAN OUTFITTERS
PHOTO/JOHN FORDE/ THE WHALE CENTRE
Naming the whales: in the name of friendship On April 23, 2010, we lost Earl Thomas to cancer. Known as Bubba, he was the gentleman skipper of the Whale Watching Fleet here in ClayoROD PALM quot and /SCUTTLEBUTT a passionate lover of the whales with a kinship felt particularly for the Kawkawin. An ardent fan of our research,he took every opportunity to help us out (e.g. donating a hand held GPS that works to this day). At a ceremony in the Hupacasath House of Gathering in Port Alberni, past director Wilfred Atleo and myself talked with Bubba’s wife of 31 years, Lilian Thomas, about naming a whale in his memory. In First Nations tradition, a naming should not be given in a hurry; give it time to find itself. Of twelve
>
SL H O
Z
•
sprouting young bulls, we came up with 14 year old T010C. Here’s the connection from our August ’94 newsletter. “In August ’94, Langara’s (T010’s) were travelling with Ted’s gang when an unaware bull Stellar Sea Lion showed up in their line of travel. Oh, oh. The orcas submerged and moments later the one-ton sea lion was thrown through the water by the flick of a powerful tail. “They were unmerciful, as one orca after another smacked the hapless animal around. For an instant, the sea lion was alone on the surface frantically swinging his head as he looked in all directions, both above and below the water. A moment later, one of the bulls burst into the air and came down on top of him in an explo-
)L H YZ • / V[ : WYP
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sive body slam. “A whale watching vessel had just arrived on the scene and skipper Earl Thomas found himself with one battered sea lion trying to drag himself up onto his boat loaded with tourists. “It took several minutes before the sea lion was in a position where Earl could safely throw the vessel into reverse and get clear. Several more minutes of battering ensued and then they were gone, leaving one very bruised and bewildered sea lion behind.” Bubba later confided that if the lion had got aboard, he would have had to start jettisoning some of the tourists in order to compensate for the extra weight. Good on ya Bubba! Note: Back in the early 70s when Michael Bigg realized that Killer
“The Gray whale migration from Baja California, Mexico begins to arrive along the West Coast of Vancouver Island in early February and continues through late April. From April through November, we have over 200 ‘Resident’ Gray whales that stay feeding in our waters. Humpback whales are seen throughout our season, with the heaviest sightings in February and June through September. We also see Orcas (Killer whales) … throughout the year.” – Jamie’s
Whales could be individually identified by unique markings, the animals were catalogued with an ID # and informally though not published, with a name. We use these names in our works as identifiers and occasionally come up with our own names for distinct animals. It has been argued that naming them denotes ownership of some sort and should not be done. I feel naming is more in the line of friendship. In our human culture, the only folks I can think of who are referred to by numbers alone are prison inmates.
Rod Palm is the principle investigator of the Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society.
“They dive, spout, breach, spyhop and lobtail! These are all typical whale maneuvers you may expect to see off British Columbia’s West Coast ... This rich and nutrient filled ocean is filled with a variety of marine wildlife including many different species of whales as well as harbour seals and sealions, sea otters, porpoises and a myriad of birdlife including puffins, blue herons and bald eagles.” - Ocean Outfitters
An Alberta visitor checks out the Gray whale skeleton at the Whale Centre.
“We’re getting a lot more visitations from orcas we don’t usually see … Some are what they call ‘Alaskan transients.’ It’s been really quiet for humpbacks … there are a huge number of anchovies off northern California.” – John Forde, the Whale Centre
Z
368 Main Street PHOTO SOURCE THIS IMAGE AND COVER, PAGE 9: JOHN FORDE/ THE WHALE CENTRE
Westerly Life/The Westerly News | Page 11
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
OTALITH album
West Coasters spent the weekend enjoying the second annual Otalith Music Festival. More photos, Page 12
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Otalith plans 3rd go-round, continued from Page 8 blueprinting next year’s scene. “Hopefully in the next few days all the feedback we get is positive and we’ll regroup in about two weeks and go from there,” Fletcher said noting talks for next year’s festival began before Saturday night’s
headliner wrapped up. “While the Allah-Las were playing we were talking about how we could do it even better next year.” She hinted towards potential changes being stirred into the mix including a possible musical spillover into Sunday.
“I think if we could make it one more day it would be rad,” Fletcher said adding a second stage might also be brought in. “We have a lot of ideas it’s just sitting down and seeing what’s possible.” She is stoked to bring another festival to West
Coasters next year. “It’s something special that theirs and they should own it. We have a music festival. It’s world class. It’s awesome.” reporter@westerlynews.ca
Calendar at WildPacificTrail.com
alks Interpretive W Wild Pacific Guided Walk 2 pm Wednesday August 27 Meet your RES* guide at Lighthouse Loop Lot
Tidepool Explore
10 am Thursday August 28 Big Beach Park
KIDS Scavenger Hunt
10 am Saturday
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August 30 at Big Beach Park
This is our LAST WEEK, be sure to attend!
Thanks to Ariane (Raincoast Education Society), Jess & Laura (Ucluelet Aquarium), Oyster Jim and guests for a summer of great walks. Also thanks to the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, Westerly News & countless supporters. The Wild Pacific Trail Society
Page 12 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
OTALITH album West Coasters spent the weekend enjoying the second annual Otalith Music Festival. More photos, Page 11 PHOTOS: ANDREW BAILEY
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Cops: Festivalers well-behaved ANDREW BAILEY
the fairgrounds, according to Midlane who explained drinking in public is illegal in Ucluelet and associated with a $230 fine. “We poured out lots of booze and there were violation tickets issued to people who were wandering around town with open liquor, but other than that it went really well,” he said. While Ukee’s police detachment calls in reinforcements from other Island detachments during the community’s Ukee Days festivities, no extra cops were brought in to assist with the Otalith crowd, according to Midlane. He said two officers patrolled the fairgrounds and were assisted by the detachment’s volunteer auxiliary constable team. He said last year’s Otalith crowd caused a few problems and he was thrilled to see a more positive vibe this year. “This year was probably even better, there was actually no problems reported at the event. We were there just to oversee that everybody was acting well and they were, they were well behaved, the Professionally guided day trips times were great,” he said. and multi day adventures. Midlane noted two noise com• Broken Group Islands plaints came in from Ucluelet resi• Clayoquot Sound dents during the festival but the music concluded prior to Ucluelet’s noise bylaw kicking in at 11 p.m. “Everything was on schedule, it was well run, it was done the right way,” he said.
Westerly News Local police said they were thrilled with the weekend’s well-behaved Otalith Music Festival crowd. “It went really well,” said Const. Marcel Midlane of the Ucluelet RCMP. “We had no issues with Otalith this year; it was a success from our standpoint.” Midlane commended the festival’s organizers for running shuttles back and forth between Tofino and Ucluelet to get the festival’s beer drinkers home without driving and added the fairground’s un-walled beer garden was handled well. “There was nobody out of control or causing problems on the grounds that we saw and they had lots of security there, which was great,” Midlane said. “It was overall a really successful weekend for Otalith.” Not everyone got on board the good behaviour train as some festivalers were nabbed with open alcohol in public spaces outside
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The Westerly Life/The Westerly News | Page 13
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
WEEKEND Market Guide
Cheryl Graham: Saturday Market’s her cup of tea
an ad feature of the Westerly Life
W EST COAST
Summer
Market Guide
JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News Tofino Tea Bar goes mobile Saturday mornings, when Cheryl Graham walks across the street with leaves and fresh water in hand to Tofino Public Market. One of a small handful of refreshment vendors, she welcomed the chance to take her business to the masses at one of two Entrepreneur Cheryl Graham at her tent at Tofino Public Market popular West Coast weekIn April, Graham and Ucluelet’s Thay Tea end markets. owner Sharryn Modder pulled off the West “As long as you make it, bake it or grow it yourself, you can be here – and the shop is Coast’s first-ever tea festival – and another busy not as much when the market is hapis planned in 2015. pening,” Graham said. “We have lots of new ideas for things to She likes the market ambience, the cashappen here,” Graham said with a smile. ual patron blend of visitors and locals and Tofino Public Market runs summer Satworking with her fellow market vendors. urdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the Village “It’s a really nice mix of people, there’s Green. energy and there’s always good music. The Friday Night Ukee Market runs Fridays visitors are happy, they’re on holidays and from 3-7 p.m. on the Ucluelet Village Green. they’re interested in local small business,” she said. White, green, black, pu-erh, oolong, yerba mate – the list goes on. With 60 blends of loose tea in her little nest of a store perched on the back lane of Main Street , her business is in the downtown core. She has several varieties of ice tea on tap – as well as smoothies, tea delicacies and tea-related gift items like cozies and pots – tea really is Cheryl Graham’s entrepreneurial cup of tea. She also offers tea events and education options to the public, hospitality industry and corporate/ private retreats, like an afternoon tea excursion on Clayoquot Sound.
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Page 14 | Westerly Life/The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
Above, Blackberry Wood; right, Knackers Yard.
WHAT’S ON West Coast Sounds
CLUES DOWN 1. Age discrimination 2. Donkeys 3. Deep narrow valley 4. Cuckoo 5. Newsman Rather 6. Heartbeat test 7. Cooking pot 8. Promotion 9. Ancient barrow 10. Citizens of Riyadh
For now I can tell you what it will sound like, this weekend. Vancouver’s Blackberry Wood are no strangers to our neighborhood. Together since 2004 Blackberry Wood have been bringing their alt-country-gypsy-circus music the Tofino and Ucluelet for a while. Their newest record “Strong Man vs Russian Bears” has helped gain them enough attention to play all across Canada and The United States as well as international bookings including The Glastonbury Festival (twice). With up to 8 members at a time Blackberry Wood’s talented and thoroughly costumed players walk a line the is part vaudeville and part punk, tattoos and saxophones, upright bass and bright red wigs. Not to be missed Blackberry Wood are play Ucluelet’s ANAF hall this Friday, August 29th. If you can’t make it out on Friday or you still want to get some music
HOROSCOPE ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, sometimes you just need to put a different spin on things to get your way. Instead of being too pushy with things, relax a bit and let others come to you. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, ask for further clarification if there is something you don’t understand. Do not make important decisions until you understand all of the pertinent details. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, now is a good time to plan an outing with family members. It’s been awhile since you’ve made some memories together, and your schedule affords you this opportunity. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 How do you know how others will react to your requests if you never drum up the courage to ask, Cancer? Let your feelings be known this week and take a risk. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, enjoy an upcoming reunion with a friend you haven’t seen in some time. Make the most of this opportunity to catch up and recall old times. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you have much-needed rest and relaxation coming your way. Let loose this week and enjoy the freedom. Enlist others to join in the fun. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, an opportunity to jump on the career path you always had in mind for yourself is about to present itself. Do everything in your power to make the job yours. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, distractions are all around you and you find it difficult to stay focused on one thing at a time. Try separating yourself from all external stimulation for a few days. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Something inspires you to give a relationship another chance, Sagittarius. Maybe it was the lyrics to a song or a segment on a television show, but you are moved to action. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Obligations at home could temporarily stall work plans, Capricorn. Fortunately, you have understanding bosses who are willing to give you the time you need. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, your friends are great sources of unconditional support. Lean on them for advice as you make an important decision in the coming weeks. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, try some things that fall outside of your comfort zone. The adventure will recharge your batteries and may prove inspiring.
in you on Saturday night at 8 the ANAF hall will play host to Knacker’s Yard, a six-piece acoustic band from Victoria playing traditional Celtic and English songs, ballads, and instrumentals dating from the 1600s-1960s. Traditional music enthusiasts will appreciate the song-tales of lost love and betrayal, the misdeeds of ramblers and rakes, emigration, hard drinking and hard living, sea shanties and worker’s songs. In addition to these ballads and chorus songs, Knacker’s Yard also adds the explosive musical energy of traditional instrumental, reels and jigs. So you’re covered if you’re just looking to tip a glass and stomp your feet, too.
Geoff Johnson is the sales representative at the Westerly News. He can be reached at 250-266-2400 or gajohnson@westerlynews.ca
SUDOKU
CLUES ACROSS 12. Preoccupy excessively 1. Chafe 13. Crusted dessert 7. Taps 15. Ireland 11. Wild llama 16. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid 13. “Taming of the Shrew” city 17. Downwind 14. Israel Isidore Beilin 21. Issue a challenge 18. 12th Greek letter 24. Brooding ill humor 19. ___ Lanka 26. Makes less intense 20. Obsequious use of title 27. Repletes 21. Failed in function 29. Languages of the Sulu 22. 1st workday (abbr.) islands 23. Sea eagle 31. CNN’s Turner 24. Bamako is the capital 32. 21st Greek letter 25. Mains 35. Merchantable 28. Body of water 36. Dismounted a horse 29. Fern frond sporangia 37. Catchment areas 30. Baseball implements 38. Private subdivision of 32. Peels an apple society 33. Ingested 39. Piglet’s best friend 34. Coverage to cure & prevent 40. Norse goddess of old age 35. Satisfied 42. Yellow-brown pigment 37. Having a slanted direction 43. TV journalist Vanocur 38. Acts of selling 45. More (Spanish) 39. Pod vegetable 47. Openly disparage 41. To lay a tax upon 49. Political funding group 44. Ancient Olympic Site 52. Tiny 45. Gram molecule 53. Greatest common divisor 46. Internet addiction disorder 54. Tobacco smoking residue 48. Feline 55. United 49. 19301 PA 57. 7th state 50. East northeast 51. AKA consumption 52. U.S. capital 56. 1st Mexican civilization 58. Police radio monitors 59. Give advice, explain THIS WEEKS ANSWER 60. Drab
Live music seems to be making something of a comeback. At a time when so much of our entertainment GEOFF comes from far JOHNSON away, is com/WESTERLY pressed into a low-fidelity NEWS digital format then delivered to us through the tiny screens of our laptops and smart phone the larger-than-life impact of a good performance is akin to magic. While the joy and whimsy that comes from live music returns to people’s consciousness other social changes are making the business model for live music venues much more complex. With a “for sale” sign recently posted on the wall of Ucluelet’s ANAF Veteran’s Club, one of only a few live music venues on the coast, I wonder what the future of our local music scene will look like.
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
Westerly Life/The Westerly News | Page 15
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
RELATIONSHIPS True Love Ways
Still going strong: Happy 75th anniversary to George & Ruby Gudbranson (yes, we said 75) JULIE BERTRAND
George and Ruby Gudbranson are marking their 75th anniversary next Tuesday and celebrating it with an open house the following Saturday. Their sons Allan, Roger and Harvey, all of whom live in Ucluelet, will be attending.
Oceanside Star Former Ucluetians George and Ruby Gudbranson have been married as long as many Canadians live. They’ll celebrate their 75th anniversary next Tuesday, Aug. 26. George Gudbranson met Ruby for the first time in Grade 2 at school in Spalding, Sask. “I never thought I would marry her,” George said. “She was eight months older than me and she was so bright.” He started chasing her when he was 18 after she told a mutual friend she would only go out for drinks if George came along. At the time, Ruby was in a band with her brothers. “She played the guitar, the fiddle, the piano and the accordion. She was talented,” George said. “When I started chasing her, I joined the band.” They graduated from high school during the Great Depression. George was lucky to find a job as a farm worker in Borden. He worked from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and was paid 50 cents a day. His days consisted of milking eight cows and walking behind a team of horses in the fields. “I sure as hell would not do it now,” he said. “Back then, it was do this or starve.” Ruby worked in a restaurant in Spalding as a waitress. She was paid $5 a month and got free meals from the restaurant. When she wasn’t working at the restaurant, she milked cows on her family’s farm. The couple realized they didn’t want to go into farming. George left Saskatchewan in search of better work and ended up working in several gold mines in Abitibi, a remote region in northwestern Québec, along the Ontario border. One gold mine was located 1,097 metres (3,600 feet) under the surface of the Earth. The biggest gold nugget he saw was half the size of his thumb. After a time, George started missing Ruby and his friends in Spalding. He took a vacation from the gold mines and came back to Saskatchewan. “I asked Ruby to marry me,” he said. “She joined me in Québec during the 1939 summer and we got married there.” Six days after their wedding, the Second World War broke out in Europe when Germany invaded Poland.
[JULIE BERTRAND/OCEANSIDE STAR]
Because George was married and working in a mine, he wasn’t drafted. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 and was posted to Vancouver. Despite volunteering for missions, he was never sent to Europe. “I was ready to go,” he said. Ruby moved to Vancouver in 1944. Before the war ended, George had postings in Ucluelet and Pat Bay. After the war, the couple moved back to Ucluelet, where they
The couple, now 96 and 97 respectively, still manages to play some 100 concerts a year in the region’s senior residences. “We’ve played at the Coombs Fair and at the Bluegrass Festival,” George said. Their friends and relatives are holding an 75th-anniversary open house on Saturday, Aug. 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Bradley Centre in Coombs. During the event, the Gudbransons will be presented with a letter from Queen Elizabeth II congratulating them on their many years together.
opened an Imperial Oil bulk inlet. agency. They operated it for 10 George and Ruby raised three years before selling it to build an sons in Ucluelet. Their sons Allan, Esso service station. During their Roger and Harvey still live in free time, they played in a band. In Ucluelet. 1965, they both joined the B.C. Old In 1975, George and Ruby retired Time Fiddlers. to Parksville. George worked as Back then, Ucluelet was a hama RCMP detachment guard and let of 150 residents. To reach Port later as a provincial park security Alberni, people either traveled on agent. He retired for good in 1982. a dirt road by the side of the Alberni Inlet or by boat on the Box 9, 121 3rd Street, Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
DISTRICT OF TOFINO PUBLIC NOTICE
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UNISEX HAIR SALON - WALK-INS WELCOME FULL HAIR SERVICES - AESTHETICS Sun-Tues: 10-6 p.m. Wed. CLOSED Thurs-Sat: 10-8 p.m.
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Pursuant to Section 227 of the Community Charter, public notice is hereby given that the District of Tofino Council will consider “District of Tofino 2014-2015 Tax Exemption Amendment Bylaw No. 1188.01, 2014” at its regular Council meeting on September 9, 2014. The following described property is exempt from taxation to the extent of the land value and improvement value situated thereon under the authority of Section 224(2)(a) of the Community Charter for the year 2015: That portion of Lots 6 and 7, Block 7, District Lot 114, Plan 717, Clayoquot District representing a portion of the basement of the building classed as Class 6 Business and Other, shown outlined on Schedule “A” attached hereto, which sketch is declared to be and form part of this bylaw, owned by the Royal Canadian Legion No. 65 Branch. Estimate of the amount of municipal taxes that would be imposed on the property if it were not exempt: $423 (2015); $423 (2016); $423 (2017). The following described property is exempt from taxation to the extent of the land value situated thereon under the authority of Section 224(2)(b) of the Community Charter for the year 2015: A portion of Lot 7, Block 11, District Lot 114, Plan 1615, Clayoquot District, shown outlined on Schedule “A” attached hereto, representing the portion of land value falling within the statutory right of way owned by Telus Communications Inc. Estimate of the amount of municipal taxes that would be imposed on the property if it were not exempt: $3,964 (2015); $3,964 (2016); $3,964 (2017). For more information, please contact: Financial Services Department (T) 250-725-3229 ext 24 • (F) 250-725-3775
•
(E) nattiana@tofino.ca
Page 16 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
HEALTH
Emergency sees slight up-tick in summer months ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News While the Tofino General Hospital’s emergency department sees a slight up-tick in action during the summer, winter is no cakewalk for lifesavers. Island Health communications and public relations manager Valerie Wilson told the Westerly News in an email last week that the
difference in hospital action between summer and winter is not what it used to be. “We are noticing that this trend is flattening with more visitors to the area in winter months for activities such as storm watching,” she said. During the hospitals 2013-2014 fiscal year, the hospital was hit with 1,248 unscheduled visits from
June-September and 1,014 unscheduled visits from December-February. This was a slight increase from the year before where 1,133 unscheduled visitors checked in between June-September and 1,000 between December-February. While there is little change in numbers, Wilson noted the nature of medical needs
varies between the seasons. “In summer the ED sees more patient presentations due (to) injuries as a result of recreational activities such as hiking and water sports, for example, shoulder injuries due to surfing and injuries related to seasonal activities such as campfire burns, resource industry and boating injuries, cycling and motorcycle
injuries,” she said. “In the winter months we would tend to see visits related more so to winter seasonal illnesses such as, influenza and other respiratory illnesses, colds and slips and falls due to road/ weather conditions.” She added motor vehicle accidents and work place injuries occur year round. Tofino’s emergency room
received 3,946 unscheduled patients in fiscal 2013-2014, a slight bump from 3,805 in 2012-2013 and 3,715 in 2011-2012. The combined total number of visits in February and March this year, 543, was nearly identical to that same two-month span last year of 554, according to Wilson. reporter@westerlynews.ca
Visitors report canine injured in dog-on-dog attack JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News After an attack on their dog, Ucluelet visitors are hoping a dog owner will step up to help pay the medical bills. Bob and Lori Atfield were on a casual walk on a trail at Amphitrite Lighthouse with friends and their 20-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Loki on August 15 when the attack came. “Loki has a very friendly demeanor and has not one mean bone in his body… he is a 94-pound ball of love,” said Bob Atfield. They came across a man walking what appeared to be a long-legged Newfoundland cross, a big curly-coat black dog
with a blaze of white on its chest. “The man stepped aside and knelt beside the dog to hold him, seemingly to allow us to pass by. As we approached, the dog lunged, dragging its handler to the ground and grabbing hold of Loki’s body,” Atfield said. “I had Loki on leash and tried to manoeuver myself between the attacking dog and Loki to avoid a fight and in doing so likely saved Loki’s life…the attacking dog had missed his throat and bitten his chest instead, a small mercy but no less severe,” he said. Loki sustained 4 puncture wounds deep into his chest which were mere centimetres from his jugular, Atfield said. “To make matters worse, at no time, did the owner give any verbal warning that his dog was aggressive or dangerous, for if he had, we would have retreated back down the trail from where we had come,
to avoid any conflict. He only stayed beside his pet and held the dog’s collar,” Atfield said. “The man kicked the dog several times, finally subduing it by sitting on its’ back and forcing the head down into the soil,” he said. The Atfields got their dog back to the safety of their car, only to discover the extent of their dog’s wounds. They didn’t get the other dog’s owner’s information, but they called the RCMP, and were told they don’t investigate dog-ondog assaults. They did receive a call from the District of Ucluelet, expressing concern for the dog’s welfare and the need to discuss the matter with authorities. “This is an extremely dangerous canine and it causes us grave concern that other family pets are in danger. Even worse, with such a vile temper, what damage could this dog inflict on a child?” Atfield wondered. So far the family’s vet bills exceed $800. Surgery was required to repair damaged tissues in his chest. They are hoping the dog’s owner will step up and take responsibility for his dog’s actions, Atfield said.
Loki, the visiting Atfields’ chocolate lab, recovers from a Ucluelet attack by a dog whose owner couldn’t control it.
Marriage Commissioner
Vaccine and Appointment Clinic
The Vital Statistics Agency, Ministry of Health, is looking for an individual to serve as a Marriage Commissioner for Ucluelet. The individual will perform civil marriages within the community on behalf of the Agency.
Wednesday, September 10th, 2014
For information and an application form please visit our website at: www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage
for Dogs & Cats Ucluelet’s UAC Hall (located beside the firehall on Peninsula Rd)
9:30 am – noon
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Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Westerly News | Page 17
Page 18 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
CALENDAR//EVENTS: See also Geoff Johnson’s What’s On column Page 14
27 WEDNESDAY
Community Album
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
28 THURSDAY
Sally Mole, right, celebrated her first day on the job at the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce on Monday. Mole has been hired on as the chamber’s new executive director and will spend the coming days being brought up to speed on her new responsibilities by outgoing executive director Sue Payne, left. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
The Edge Youth Room, 2–6pm, Ucluelet community centre Movies at Big Beach Cinema, UCC
30 SATURDAY
Tidepool Explore, 10 a.m. Big BeachPark, sponsored by Wild Pacific Trail and Ucluelet Aquarium, 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.
29 FRIDAY See What’s On for Weekend entertainment, P. 13 Carving on the Edge Festival Opening 7:30-9:30 PM. Free and open to the public Shore Pier Gallery on the water, 368 Main St., Tofino. Traditional welcoming to the Tla-o-qui-aht territory with drumming and singing, meet carving artists, this year’s Art Show, food. Festival runs 2 weeks. Wickaninnish Inn Carving Shed – Carvers in Action @ Wickaninnish Inn 10am – 5:pm Friday Ukee Night Market, 3-7 p.m.
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. Carving on the Edge Family Carving Day 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Several Carvers will share techniques – Family & Children Fun Tofino Village Green. Festival runs 2 weeks. See What’s On for Weekend entertainment, P. 13 Movies at Big Beach Cinema, UCC Tofino library, 331 Main , 10am–noon & 1–5pm. St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5:30pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.
31 SUNDAY Parks Canada is teaming up with the Pacific Rim Arts Society to host local musicians Myles Morrison and Wayne Vliet at family friendly concerts at Green Point Theatre Sunday. a valid park entry pass is required, entrance is by donation. Sand Dune Sunday with Parks Canada! @ Schooner Cove Trail Parking Lot, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. August 31, 2014 @ 9:45 am – 3:00 pm 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.
1 MONDAY Labour Day Stat Holiday! 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,
2 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.
Lack of resident veterinary care a problem on West Coast ERIC PLUMMER
Alberni Valley Times The lack of emergency veterinarian services in Port Alberni made a desperate situation all the more traumatic for a local pet owner who lost her dog this month. Glenda Bertolucci realized the value of overnight pet care when she came home from work on July 31 to find her dog Wendy in a bad state. The Labrador retriever/ cocker spaniel mix breed appeared to be in agony, dragging her back leg and urinating frequently. The 12-year-old animal had previously been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, a condition caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. She had received medication for the condition after a visit to a local veterinarian this summer. “It was an intermittent limp that
she had, so they figured it was related to the Cushing’s, arthritis and her age,” Glenda said, noting that Wendy had a swollen tummy by the end of July. “There had been a dramatic change so that she couldn’t walk at all. As the evening wore on she started to moan and kind of whine, which was something that she never did. She couldn’t seem to lay still.” By midnight Glenda’s concern led her to seek emergency care. All calls to local vets referred the pet owner to the Central Vancouver Island Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Nanaimo. At 1 a.m. she took Wendy in the car with husband Carlo for the hour-plus trip. “All the way down there she was in the back seat moaning and whimpering because she was in so much pain,” recalled Glenda. A vet at the Nanaimo hospital determined Wendy was suffering
from a blood clot blocking passage to her back legs, a medical issue that eventually took the dog’s life the morning after being taken into care. Although Glenda expects her beloved pet would have passed if emergency care were available in Port Alberni, she found the lack of overnight services alarming. “For us to be going through the night distraught, trying to comfort your dog - it’s just like an accident waiting to happen on the highway,” Glenda said. “I would like to have a dog again, but it is a concern if you end up having a situation.” Two weeks later, Port Alberni cat owner Creg Calderwood found himself in a similar situation when he noticed Honey, his 12-year-old Sphynx, continually going into the litter box with very little coming out. “I went for a bike ride for a few
hours, and when I came back she was in her box non-stop, in and out,” recalled Calderwood. “She’s meowing like a wild cat.” Some quick online research led the pet owner to suspect Honey had an infection of the kidney or bladder, a condition that can kill a cat within hours. After calling the Nanaimo hospital early in the evening Calderwood put Honey in the car immediately. “We thought that the cat was being poisoned and we’d have to wait for another hour with the drive,” he said. “We were quite alarmed, it’s our little baby.” The Sphynx was given medication for a bladder infection, and her condition has improved since the Aug. 13 scare. But the thought of the emergency drive on Highway 4 concerns Calderwood. “I love my cat to death, like a lot of people do, like a child,” he said.
Emergency care is even less accessible for pet lovers on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. Ucluelet and Tofino do not have resident certified veterinarians, which led Lee-Ann Unger to form the Coastal Animal Rescue and Education Network in 2011. Since then the group of volunteers have tended to over 1,000 animals, providing spaying, neutering, temporary foster care and transportation in emergency situations. The lack of local care means a three-hour drive to the Nanaimo animal hospital if a pet needs overnight medical attention. “I know many folks out here with dogs and cats or other pets who have at times ended up in a difficult situation, including myself,” said Unger. “We have basic first aid, but outside of that, a veterinarian is needed. It can be very challenging after hours.”
The Westerly News | Page 19
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
HUMAN/NATURE
WildSafeBC: Honk for the bears, honk for the humans EDITOR’S NOTE: A limited run of “Honk at Bears” bumperstickers are available at the Westerly News, Gray Whale Deli, OCN Garden Centre and Remote Passages. Suggested JOHN PLATENIUS donation /LOCAL VOICE is $5, donation proceeds go to West Coast bear-safe education through WildSafeBC. Seeing black bears (Ursus americanus) is always a treat, even if it happens to be by the side of a well traveled road. These animals captivate our attention with their large size, playful ears and thick black or dark brown fur. A bear’s loping gate can bring to mind a sense of prehistoric power and awe. Sightings of black bears alongside highways and roads are common all over British Columbia, and especially common in our Pacific Rim region. In the spring bears frequently feed on new grass shoots and emerging buds from roadside shrubs that are common in the disturbed habitat. In the summer months bears might wander along a roadside to find berry bushes at the edge of the forest, or use the
open area as a corridor to get from one food source to another. Hopefully, when you see a bear at the side of the road it will be a truly wild bear, not a bear that has been habituated to humans. Habituation is a process that happens when animals are in See HONK page 19 regular contact with people without any consequence. Habituated animals aren’t in themselves a bad thing (it’s certainly not the animal’s fault that they don’t mind people!), but habituated animals are more likely to come into conflict with humans because they don’t see people as a threat. Animals that don’t see people as a threat also run the risk of becoming food conditioned; they start to rely on human sources of food to survive. Habituation often leads to food conditioning, because the ani-
mal’s lack of fear towards humans means they are willing to wander into yards, sheds and sometimes homes to find food. If a bear is severely food conditioned, it becomes a serious risk to human safety and is destroyed. Pulling over to the side of the road to get a photo or a video clip of a bear might seem like a harmless act in the moment. With a nice wide shoulder on an empty road, it doesn’t seem like a destructive act. Unfortunately, that photo opportunity is quite See HONK page xxx often the start of a slippery slope towards habituation. And as we learned above, habituation often leads to food conditioning. And food conditioning will eventually lead to the bear’s destruction. This cycle is exacerbated if the bear is having a hard time finding food in the wild (this year’s poor salmonberry fruiting is a good
I
WEST
COAST
example). destruction. Like Hamlet’s soliloSo the next time you see a bear quy, I hope my horn will lead these at the side of the road, I respectgawkers to question the potential fully submit that you keep driving. consequences of their actions. And You may even choose to honk in if the bear is wandering down the an attempt to scare the bear away side of the road with its head in from the roadside. the grass, I simply enjoy the view Biologists refer to this stratand drive right by. egy as (commonly called hazing). Honking to haze a bear will work John Platenius is the Pacific Rim to jolt the bear away from the WildSafeBC Community Coordinroad after the first few instances, ator. WildSafeBC is a program but biologists have noticed that designed to reduce human-wildlife bears will eventually become conconflict through education, innovditioned to honking. After a few ation and cooperation. honks, the noise will have little impact. Which leads us to the age-old dilemma: To honk, or not to honk, that is the question. Like most things in Shakespeare and the natural world, the answer is up for debate. My personal strategy is to use one loud honk if cars are pulled over and beginning the cycle of habitu1950 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet OPEN ation > food 250-726-2113 EARLY conditioning >
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$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.
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By Thursday, August 28th to register Please note Alberni Valley Youth Soccer Assoc. will be having a U-18 – U-16 league 6 vs 6, 8 vs 8 For those born 2008 – 2010 soccer registration will take place in early September.
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Page 20 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
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