Alberni Valley Times, September 10, 2015

Page 1

Boating incident kills two Alberni residents

LOCALLY OWNED &

ALBERNI

Alberni Region, Page 3 CRUISES

TWIN TRAVEL &

OPERATED

TOWING

Competitive Prices comes with Protection

24 HO UR

SERVICE

• ICBC Towing • Flat De ck Service • Lock Outs • Jump Sta rts • Full Service Storag e We buy scrap car s, trucks, heavy trucks

Redeem your RBC Points with us

& machinery

250-724-4050

., Port Alberni

4766 Johnston Rd

250-724-6501

2490 Timberlane Rd.

BCREG 3144

New mobile friendly we

bsite

albernitowing.com !

Serving the Alberni Valley

www.avtimes.net

Thursday, September 10, 2015

ENVIRONMENT

Salmon management debated MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

Fisheries and Oceans Canada increased the estimate for Chinook salmon, forecasting a modest return size for the Alberni Inlet this year. But the Alberni Valley Enhancement Society, an organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of fish habitat, disagrees with the DFO’s numbers. Fisheries and Oceans upgraded their forecast from 33,000 to 54,000 in the Somass River stock assessment update last week. The numbers are based on the recreational creel fishery and escapement. Those numbers are “heavily weighted� to three-year-old Chinook, according to the DFO. “I know that the run was upgraded; I think it was a dire mistake,� said Jake Leyenaar, president of the AVES. “I don’t

ALBERNI INLET

even think the 33 [thousand] are there,� he added. Only about half the number of salmon were caught at this

year’s Salmon Festival compared to last year, Leyenaar noted, down from about 2,000 pieces last year to 1,000. The DFO restrictions for Chinook salmon allowed two pieces, one over 77 centimetres and one under. “That led to a little bit of a demise for the population of adult Chinooks that were in the four and five [year-old] class,� Leyenaar said, adding that the winning catch – weighing just over 40 pounds – was probably the only five-year-old salmon caught. “So that means that the fiveyear class is virtually missing,� said Leyenaar, noting that there’s been a lack of three-yearold Chinook salmon as well. “As the situation goes on, something will have to happen. Hopefully the numbers that are needed at

the Robertson Creek Hatchery will come up.� Mike Spence, resource manager with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said he respects Leyenaar’s opinion, there are “no guarantees� for the Chinook forecast, and the predictability for numbers of three-year-old salmon are not as accurate. The numbers published by the DFO are a statistical estimate based on the catch-per-unit reports from creel sport fishers in the Alberni area. Biologists collect and compile the data to produce a forecast, Spence noted. A return size of 54,000 would be nearly double last year’s Chinook return of 28,000, Spence said. A hopeful sign for the fishery was a significant increase in escapement at the Robertson Creek Hatchery this week. “We had 2,300 Chinook down

through Stamp Falls,� said Spence. “This time last year we had 383. But we had some cooler weather, so that’s positive.� Leyenaar said he has fished in the Alberni Inlet since the 1960s, working with conservation efforts since the 1970s. In that time the Chinook run season has been considerably condensed. “We have gone down immensely,� Leyenaar said. “We used to fish from the second week of July to the second week of October. The fish now show up around August 15 and they’re done by the first week of September. So we have three weeks of infusion of Chinook salmon.� A low streamflow advisory for Vancouver Island from the River Forecast Centre ended on Sept. 3 due to recent rainfall. Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net

COMMUNITY

Volunteering: Community groups need new members as active contributors age KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

Canada geese dumped in Beaver Creek More than a dozen of the birds were discovered outside of Port Alberni. Many farmers consider the birds a pest, but the recent discovery raises legal issues. Âť Alberni Region, 3A

Czech pastor enjoys life in the Alberni Valley Most of David Zvonar’s formative years were spent under the Communist regime, but when he moved to Canada he entered a new world.  Community, 5A  Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.

Attracting young energy is challenge facing community groups throughout the Alberni Valley as many of the most active volunteers age. A couple of dedicated non-profit employees are hoping to streamline the process of securing new volunteers for both individuals and community groups. Barb Stevenson, program coordinator for Better at Home, has seen first-hand what happens when her organization lacks extra help. “We provide services to help keep people living in their homes and out of care longer, so when we can’t provide that, they are put on a wait list,� Stevenson said. “They are waiting for things that will benefit their quality of life.� When Stevenson’s coworker, Linda Vissia first moved to Port Alberni she noticed the Elks Club had disbanded because of its aging membership. “We need younger people to join these (service) groups,� Vissia said. “If they are not tarred with ageism and not viewed as an older person’s organization, I can see opportunities for younger people.� The Kinsmen Club has recently been able to retain its membership by attracting some new people. Jason Ferguson joined just under three years ago and will be stepping up to the president role this year. “We are very concerned about our future,� Ferguson said. “We were built as a young person’s club, but changed long

Angie Bratt, left, regularly volunteers her time and companionship with Shirley Forsyth, who shares her tips and tricks for quiltmaking. [KRISTI DOBSON, TIMES]

“We really need new people to carry the torch. They are the ones who will sell this community and volunteerism is a huge part of that.� Ron Paulson, Port Alberni city councillor

ago when membership was suffering. The biggest hurdle for young people getting into these clubs is the feeling they are going to hang out with “old

people� and not get a say.� To help change that perception, Ferguson hopes to launch the Kin Canada Campus Club. The clubs are run by college students who organize volunteer-led opportunities in the community. “It is great for anyone thinking of a political career, as we follow the Robert’s Rules of Order,� Ferguson said. “The idea is to get young people excited about improving the community they choose for school.� A similar initiative is the Young Professionals Alberni

Valley. City councilor Ron Paulson said the group may be the turning point of getting more local young people involved. “That is the kind of group we really need to hit,� Paulson said. “They can get the message out and network in the community.� Paulson said he is stumped at what other solutions may be. “We just had a meeting with the Youth Advisory Committee and the question of how to get more young people active came up and I really don’t know the answer,� he said. See VOLUNTEERS, Page 3A

Inside today Alberni Region 3A Opinion 4A

Community 5A Sports 6A

Scoreboard 7A West Coast 8A

What’s On 9A Drive 1B

$1.25 newsstand (tax incl.)

ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 171

-ĂŒ>Ă€ĂŒĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠwÂ˜ÂˆĂƒÂ…ĂŠ>ĂŒ

Entertainment 2B Classifieds 7B

¾ 7+,&. ‡ ҋ [ ҋ

EASI-LITETM DRYWALL Easi-Lite™ 30 Gypsum %RDUG KDV D ÀUH UHVLVWLYH gypsum core enclosed in LYRU\ FRORUHG IDFH SDSHU DQG a strong liner back paper. Priced Right!

9

75 SHEET

Prices in effect until September 17th, 2015 or while stock lasts! Cash & Carry only on sale prices!

7ˆ˜`ĂƒÂœĂ€ĂŠ*Â?ĂžĂœÂœÂœ`ĂŠUĂŠ{Ç{äĂŠ/iLÂœĂŠ Ă›iĂŠUĂŠ*ÂœĂ€ĂŒĂŠ Â?LiĂ€Â˜ÂˆĂŠUĂŠ*Â…\ĂŠĂ“xä‡ÇÓ{‡xÇxÂŁĂŠUĂŠ >Ă?\ĂŠĂ“xä‡ÇÓ{‡ÎÎÓx


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Alberni Valley Times, September 10, 2015 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu