Contamination proven Ferry talks page page
Port adjusts tendering QCS lands village contract
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Skidegate’s 15 minutes River Day support
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Masset honours Whooping coughcitizens
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OBservER OBSERVER
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May 1, Friday,Friday, September 4, 2015
Earthquake rattles Eagle deaths beds but fails to spur DFO startle nerves enforcement By Stacey Marple Haida Gwaii Observer
Illegal dumping targeted
The early morning of Friday April 24, Haida Gwaii Marple was hit by an Earthquake of 6.1 By Stacey magnitude. No tsunami warnings were issued Haida Gwaii Observer after the earthquake. The epicentre of the quake was approximately 167and kmOceans south of the Department of Fisheries Village Queenwill Charlotte. (DFO) of officers be stepping up their Some residents of Haida Gwaii reported enforcement of laws prohibiting the objects shaking and windows rattling, but no feeding of eagles serious or injuries were reported. within damage municipal As the islands of Haida Gwaii all have boundaries, as well unique geological qualities, the effects of an as issuing fines to earthquake candumpvary from island to island. those caught Every community ing fish remains reported feeling the quake in different ways. above the lowQueen tide Charlotte Village which has line.a rock base didn’t feel the quake as much as The the residents feeding of of the northern parts of Graham island. Tlell and eagles has beennorth is mostly a sand based area and feels identified as almost the every quake that happens. - Leila Riddall Shirleycause Wilson leading ofof Skidegate reported feeling the earthquake. “I was sitting in my death among the bed I heard the house creak.” After birdswhen on Haida the initial creak she felt her abed start rocking Gwaii. Over many years, significant and noticed her ornaments rocking. number of eagles have flown into“The power ornaments rocked forasa they whilejostle after the quake lines and windows with other stopped,” Ms. Wilson told the Observer. “My eagles for the scraps. son andDFO’s brotherassertive who werestance also incomes the house The after didn’t feel theinearthquake at all.” have either three eagles as many weeks Barry of Masset, director of the by died of Pages their injuries or were destroyed Skeena-Queen DFO officers. Charlotte Regional District said he felt the quake buthad because it wasthe fairly “They admitted they dropped short wasn’t tooRiddall, concerned. However, he ball ahebit,” Leila of Masset, told added, “This is a reminder to every one to be the Haida Gwaii Observer. prepared.” Riddall has seen an adult eagle die are and nothing to Haida ofEarthquakes electrocution, twonew juveniles die Gwaii. The quake comes weeks from avian pox and the just other diedafter in a study identiedarms, Haidaafter Gwaii as ground zero Ms. Riddall’s falling out of a for theit next seismic event the west tree, had major been suffering fromonbreathing coast. problems. However, the recent juvenile Thisdeaths recent earthquake eagle were from doesn’t natural qualify causes.as the one scientists it was smaller Ms.big Riddall has hadpredict, to sendasmore than 20 than even some of the aftershocks after the 7.7 eagles, down to the Orphaned Wildlife magnitude earthquake in(OWL) 2012. centre in Rehabilitation Society The same weekend thatfor Haida Gwaii got Delta, this year alone, various injuries hit by this 6.1 tremor, Nepal was devastated stemming from people throwing fish waste by 7.8 magnitude event. forathem. Earthquakes between a 6.0 and a 6.9 are considered aSee strong on theDEATHS Richter scale. EAGLE on Page 2
“They (DFO) admitted they had dropped the ball a bit.”
Submitted photo Committee members of the Pulling Together Haida Gwaii Event demonstrate their teamwork abilities at the carving shed in the Stacey Marple photo Kay Centre. The group will be holding a fund raiser May 2. See full story on Page 3
A game of tug-of-war was one of the highlights at the grand opening of the Queen Charlotte Community Park on Aug. 29
Search and rescue suspended after Day 3
Online messages to youth concern RCMP
By Quinn Bender Haida Gwaii Observer By Stacey Marple Haida Gwaii The search forObserver Kumdis Ilsand resident, Brent Hendren, was suspended A weekend rise of inappropriate messaging last following one of Haida to Haida Gwaii youth has prompted Gwaii’s largest search and rescue the RCMPin tomore reachthan out 25 to years. the comoperations munity withforInternet “I know a fact safety that if talks. he was The move was prompted by a alive out there we would have found number of incidents reported to him. There’s no chance we would police over the past month. The have missed him. The community safety talks held with the should knoware webeing did everything we hope to teach youth to possibly could to findprotect him,”themsaid selves.Ashurst, SAR manager with Chris “We were approached by a conArchipelago Ground Search and cerned parent,” Constable Rescue and deputy unit leaderRyder with
Prince Rupert’s
“I know for atofact “We have that if he wasnot alive remember out there weonline would everyone have found wants to behim.” our friend.” - Chris Ashurst
- Const. Ryder Birtwhistle
Birtwhistle of the Queen Charlotte Massett Marine Rescue. RCMP, said. “We have had last a number Mr. Hendren, 27, was seen of reports of people sending rowing out to his KumdisinapproIsland priate rental messages to supplies youth.” Sunday cabin with
morning, April 18. He missed dinner plans with friends later that night. Concerned parents, along with The following Tuesday Masset Const. Birtwhistle, worked together RCMP received a missing persons to host which an Internet safety talk Sept. report, led to the discovery 1, geared toward both youth and Mr. Hendren’s boat abandoned and parents. overturned south of Watun River ThePure talk Lake focused on Internet safety near Provincial Park. from a policing “It is strongly point-of-view. believed that Brent “We have to remember everydrowned when his rowboatnot capsized one online wants to be our friend,” west of Kumdis Island,” Mr. Ashurst Const.“This Birtwhistle said. is basedsaid. on “Something information that goes on the Internet from witnesses, the locationstays of thethere capforever.” sized vessel, and the distribution of his personal effects along the shoreline. See SAFETY on Page 2 See SEARCH on Page 2
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