Boat House Celebrates 35 years in Alberni Alberni Region, Page 3
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MARS BOMBERS
Busy summer ahead for tankers MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Wayne Coulson has big plans for the Martin Mars water bombers this summer. The CEO of the Coulson Group of Companies, which owns the mighty twin tankers, said one of the planes should be in a U.S. museum later this summer, and the other will be training Chinese government workers to fight forest fires there. Chinese workers will be in the Alberni Valley this summer, Coulson said. They’ll be learning how to operate the Hawaii Mars – the world’s largest flying tanker. But Coulson’s plans to ship the Philippine Mars to the U.S.
National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida caught the attention of the Canadian Department of Heritage. Under federal law, certain items of historical and cultural value require a special permit to be exported. The CBC reported on the weekend that the federal department notified the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency of the issue. The Department of Heritage did not comment on the case but noted in an email to the Times that permanent and temporary export permit applications are submitted to and issued by the Canada Border Services Agency permit issuing offices. Coulson said they may have
been misinformed about the situation, and seemed to be unaware that the Hawaii Mars is still in the Alberni Valley. He received the notification from the department in an email earlier this year, he said. “They hadn’t been told the whole story,” Coulson said. “They didn’t understand that there was two aircraft.” Coulson is confident he can legally export the Philippine bomber, as it was originally built in the U.S. by the Glenn L. Martin Company during the Second World War. Under the Canadian Cultural Property Export Control List, an item must be made, designed or
invented in Canada to require a permit for export. An offer has already been made to the federal government to trade the Hawaii bomber for retired C-130 Hercules aircraft, Coulson said. He’d rather see the retired military planes kept in service rather than “cut up into beer cans,” he said. Coulson Flying Tankers previously purchased C-130 planes and developed them to fight fires south of the border with the U.S. Forest Service. One is currently in Florida, Coulson said. The Philippine Mars should be shipping out to the southern State in August, said Coulson, adding the U.S. aviation museum
is investing in a $10-million hangar to house the large tanker. A steering committee was organized in December with the interest of keeping one of the two water bombers in the Alberni Valley. The committee proposes developing a museum in honour of Dan McIvor, who engineered the Philippine and Hawaii bombers for use as flying tankers in B.C. Martin.wissmath@avtimes.net » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to news@avtimes.net. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
A SURPRISING FIND
Snapping turtle gets a safe home KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
A Bulldogs player headed south of the border The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced that 1994-born forward Eric Therrien has committed to the NCAA Division 3 program of Concordia University Wisconsin. » Sports, 5
Volunteers needed The MS Society is gearing up for the annual MS Walk and organizers are calling on all local residents to participate or volunteer. » Community, 9
Economic questions The recent rebound in oil prices and the exchange rate is adding to uncertainty, » Nation&World, 10
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couple of local children had a surprise when they saw what they thought was a large rock on the road was actually something a lot more interesting. Danielle McCollister was driving to her Sproat Lake home recently with her son, Ezra, and daughter, Levi, when they noticed something near the side of Stirling Arm Crescent. “They thought it was a rock, but it looked different,” said Danielle’s husband Chris. “They stopped and sure enough it was a turtle.” After inspecting the reptile, they realized it wasn’t just an average turtle. “Ezra put it in his lunch box with some grass,” Chris said. “We thought it was just a painted turtle but it is actually a snapping turtle. It is a fascinating creature.” Since then, the family has been learning about the animal. First they determined the sex and believe it is female since the underside is flat, unlike the male’s concave feature. Chris said it eats just about anything, including fruit, vegetables, insects and some raw meat. It also has sharp claws so the family has been keeping it alone for the most part and not picking it up. Snapping turtles are not native to Vancouver Island and this is not the first time in recent years that one has been found. Last summer, a local resident found one near the same vicinity on Faber Road and another was picked up in 2012. Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia, said it was probably released as a pet when it was no longer wanted. “They have a life span of 80 to 90 years so most people can’t handle them that long or their life changes,” Wallin said. Wallin said rather than release it into the wild, the best thing to do with an unwanted invasive reptile is call the conservation officer and they will know the best options. The other alternative is to return it to the pet store from which it was purchased. When let loose, their population will increase, compete with and eventually displace native species, she said. “When people dump an aquarium, they often dump the plants and some of those sold are milfoil,” Wallin said. As a result, not only are the fish and turtles a problem, but plants that do not belong to the native area become an environmental concern.
Ezra, left, and Levi McCollister with the snapping turtle they found recently on Stirling Arm Crescent. The family has found a good home for the animal. KRISTI DOBSON/TIMES
Luckily, the McCollisters have a safe place to keep their found turtle. A friend of the family, and nature enthusiast, has a pond with rocks and plants and has agreed to house it. The pond is a deep man-made swimming hole for it and Chris said it has been the perfect spot for the turtle. “He floats on the different layers and has hiding spots within the plants,” he said.
“The light on it attracts insects for it to catch.” In June, the Invasive Species Council of B.C. will be launching a new initiative called “Don’t Let it Loose” with tips and information on alternatives to letting a pet loose into the wild. Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net
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Port Alberni Folkfest Multicultural Society Prepares for the 38th Annual Canada Day Parade and Folkfest Festivities. July 1, 2015. Located on the traditional territory of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht people, the City of Port Alberni is home to people of many diɈerent cultural traditions. Folkfest is an opportunity to share these cultural traditions with one another and celebrate community.
Do you do have a traditional dance? Cook your traditional foods? Previous performances have included Filipino dance groups, Ukrainian, Nuu-chah-nulth, Scottish, and many more. Want to share your traditions with the community for this cultural celebration? If so, we want to hear from you! Entertainment - Iryna 723-6475 or Food – Marylee 724-2047. In addition, entry forms for the Canada Day Parade are now being accepted. Forms available at Gayles’ Fashions.