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Friday, May27, 1, 2015 Friday, November
Ferry committee Earthquake rattles bedsback but fails to steps from startle nerves dissolution By Marple By Stacey Stacey Marple Haida Haida Gwaii Gwaii Observer Observer
The earlyBC morning ofAdvisory Friday April 24, A recent Ferries Committee Haida Gwaii was hit by an Earthquake 6.1 meeting almost saw the 13 committeesofquit magnitude. No tsunami warnings were issued out of frustration. after thehad earthquake. The epicentre “We actually talked about usofallthe quake was approximately 167 south of the quitting. They would love that.km Then they Village of Queen Charlotte. wouldn’t have to pretend they have done Some residents of HaidaEllen GwaiiCranston, reported any public consultation,” objects shaking and windows rattling, but no the co-chair for serious damage or injuries were reported. the North and As theCoast islandsBC of Haida Gwaii all have Central unique geological Ferries Advisory qualities, the effects of an earthquake vary from island to island. Committeecan said. Every community The committee reported feeling the quake in different Queen Charlotte Village which however,ways. decided has a rock to stay on,base and didn’t Ms. feel the quake as much as the residents of Cranston is now the northern parts of Graham island. Tlell sand Cranston based focusing onand hownorth she is mostly-aEllen area and feels almost every quake that happens. might push conShirley Wilson of Skidegate reported crete change going feeling the earthquake. “I was sitting in my forward. bed when I heard the house creak.” After “This ferry advithe initial creak she felt her bed rocking sory committee sometimes asksstart itself if there and noticed ornaments rocking. “Theit feels is any point her in us being there, because ornaments rocked for a while after the don’t quake like BC Ferries ignores us. But if we stopped,” Ms. Wilson told the Observer. “My do it who will?” she said. son and brother who were also in the house Haida Gwaii has seen its share of unpopdidn’t feel thetoearthquake at all.” increased ular changes service, including Barry Pages of Masset, director of the At ticket prices and a change of schedules. Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District the recent meeting with the committee, BC said he felt the quake but because it wasnew fairly Ferries said that they are pleased with short wasn’t toothey concerned. However, he sales he figures that believe has stabilized added, “This is a reminder to every one to the situation. They do not expect to raise be prepared.” ticket prices anytime soon. Earthquakes nothing newpublic to Haida Ms. Cranstonare now asks the to conGwaii. The quake comes just weeks a tact her with any problems or issuesafter so she study identi ed Haida Gwaii as ground zero can bring them straight to the attention of BC for the next major seismic event on the west Ferries. coast. “BC Ferries is open to any conversation, recentanything earthquake qualify if This you have youdoesn’t want me to askas the bigonone scientists was smaller them your behalf.predict, I wouldasbeithappy to do than of thesaid, aftershocks afterisn’t the the 7.7 that,”even Ms.some Cranston adding this magnitude earthquake in 2012. only thing she wants to accomplish with this The same weekend that Haida Gwaii got committee. hit“We by this tremor, Nepal was devastated keep6.1 pounding away at them for the by a 7.8 magnitude event. ferry schedule,” she said. Earthquakes between a 6.0 and a 6.9 are on Page 3 considered a strong onSee theFERRIES Richter scale.
“... If we don’t, who will? ”
Guy Kimola photo
Submitted photo Chris Ashurst surfs surfs at the mouth of the Hiellen river during 7th Annual Expression Session. For details see page 4.
Committee members of the Pulling Together Haida Gwaii Event demonstrate their teamwork abilities at the carving shed in the Kay Centre. The group will be holding a fund raiser May 2. See full story on Page 3
Search and rescue suspended after Day 3 Tidal-energy prototype unveiled
morning, April 18. He missed dinner By Quinn Bender Local outfit ready for field trials then full-scale model plans with friends later that night. Haida Gwaii Observer “I know for a fact
By Quinn Bender Haida Gwaii The search forObserver Kumdis Ilsand resident, Brent Hendren, was suspended A weekend team offollowing local entrepreneurs last one of Haida unveiled their of Gwaii’s largestworking search prototype and rescue a tidal energy device they believe can operations in more than 25 years. rid“Ithe north know forofaGraham fact thatIsland if he from was its dependency on diesel power once alive out there we would have found and for all. no chance we would him. There’s Yourbrook Systems held an have missed Energy him. The community open house to show off their invention should know we did everything we in Queen Charlotte walking possibly could to Nov. find 14, him,” said approximately 100 people through the Chris Ashurst, SAR manager with mechanics of the device. Archipelago Ground Search and The system was inspired by awith call Rescue and deputy unit leader
Prince Rupert’s
“Theifreaction was that he was alive overwhelming.” out there we would have found him.” - Lynda Dixon - Chris Ashurst
for expressions of interest from BC Massett Marine Rescue. Hydro in January27, of 2013 for comMr. Hendren, was last seen panies toout supply renewable energy to rowing to his Kumdis Island the area. Although it was determined cabin rental with supplies Sunday
this particular was Masset not far The followingproject Tuesday enough advanced at the time, the RCMP received a missing persons team pressed on, unveiling their report, which led to the discovery vision last week. Mr. Hendren’s boat abandoned and “There’s a lot interest and overturnedbeen south of of Watun River enthusiasm over this for a long time, near Pure Lake Provincial Park. but the first open house “Itthis is was strongly believed that we’ve Brent had,” spokesperson Lynda Dixon said. drowned when his rowboat capsized “The reaction was overwhelming. west of Kumdis Island,” Mr. Ashurst People“This feel it’s a reallyonbig deal to get said. is based information off our reliance of diesel fuel…it’s from witnesses, the location of the been capa thorn in theand sidethe ofdistribution all islandersofwho sized vessel, his want to reduce environmental footpersonal effectsour along the shoreline. print, so we’re a little less hypocritical.” SEARCHon on Page Page 2 SeeSee ENERGY
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