Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, December 23, 2015

December 23, 2015 Wednesday

News updates: westerlynews.ca

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gord Johns fighting for Coast guard ANDREW BAILEY

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Westerly news West coast MP gord Johns is hoping the federal government’s recent decision to reopen Kitsilano’s coast guard station is a sign of things to come. the Kitsilano station was one of three in Bc that Stephen Harper’s conservative government decided to close in a 2012 move to consolidate canada’s 22 Marine communication and traffic Services (MctS) centres into 12. ucluelet’s MctS centre closed earlier this year and the centre in comox is slated to shut down in March 2016.

Johns, the ndP MP for courtenay-comox, told the Westerly news that convincing canada’s liberal government to halt the comox station’s closure is his top priority.

“Even though comox is officially outside the riding, it greatly affects the residents of our riding and coastal British columbians,” he said.

He chastised Harper’s conservatives for not putting in the due diligence needed to know what to hold and what to fold in regards to marine safety. “they didn’t look at safety risks,” he said. “they went on an ideologically driven process that was about saving money and not

INSIDE

THIS WEEK:

“They didn’t look at safety risks.”

‘TIS THE SEASON:

MP gord Johns about saving lives.”

He acknowledged the liberals consolidated Bc’s 10 coast guard stations into five during the 1990’s but said consultations were done back then. “they went through a proper consultation process where they identified the risks associated with consolidation and when they did that process they identified they could go down to five stations,” he said.

“When the conservatives did it, they didn’t do a consultation process and it was inadequate.”

He suggested if today’s liberal government goes through the proper consultations, the closures would be reversed. “if this government puts a halt to the closure of the comox station and applies the adequate consultation and research that wasn’t done in the first place, this station won’t be closed and hopefully they will reopen the station in ucluelet, which is essential to the West coast of Vancouver island and very important in our relationship with americans in marine safety,” he said.

See MCTS pg. 14.

tofino’s St. columba church has filled its pews with christmas Spirit.

PAgE 6

CREATIVE COAST: this week’s Westerly life is all about books and those who love them.

IAN RIDDICK PHOTO

PAgES 7-10

ORCAS IN THE HARBOUR: Ukee local Ian Riddick snapped this breathtaking shot while a pod of orcas made a splash off Ucluelet’s coast on Sunday.

New paramedics coming to Coast ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly news

island Health has partnered with Bc Emergency Health Services to roll out an innovative new program that will bring more paramedics to local communities and give local paramedics more oppor-

tunities to provide patient care. the program will be piloted in tofino, ucluelet, cortes island and Port Hardy early next year and is expected to be launched Bc-wide in the spring of 2016.

See PARAMEDICINE pg. 14.

DEAR SANTA: ucluelet mayor dianne St. Jacques shares her letter to Santa with the Westerly.

PAgE 15

Page 2 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Food Bank triumphant

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TIA TRAVISS

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RE/MAX Mid-Island Realty Tofino ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

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Cris Martin celebrates under good news presented on a sign donated by the Ucluelet Campground.

7249084

CRIS MARTIN

Local Voice

The Food Bank on the Edge is pleased to report that to date, we have our Christmas Hampers covered and then some. This is due primarily to the successful weekend of fundraising on the 12th and 13th.

There are so many people and businesses to thank but let me start with the RCMP Detachment and Constable Jarrett Duncan for having the Stuff The Cruiser event again this year. The amount of food and money donated was unprecedented with over 900 pounds of food and over $1,200 donated for our Christmas Hamper.

Thanks also to the support of our Co-op, Laurie Gehrke, Manager, and all the staff for keeping the hot chocolate going as it was a very cold and wet day. Despite the weather, it was a very festive atmosphere and obviously nothing can keep our community away when we need them the most.

A surprise fundraiser was held at the same time and we have Jamie Osborne from Ukee Radio to thank for the “Hook up an Elf” campaign. Thanks to all the restaurants who worked all day on Saturday to cook up excellent food, available by donation at the Fire Hall: Abbondanza Pizza,

Floathouse Patio and Grill, Howler’s, The Tattooed Beaver and Zoe’s. This super fundraiser generated $2,000 and lots of clothing. If I have left anybody out, I apologize as I only knew about this at the last minute.

The food drives have been ongoing since September and I am happy to report that our shelves are full to the brim. I think more is coming too.

Our September Food Drive brought in over 1,600 pounds of food and thanks to the Ucluelet Elementary School for donating over 200 pounds of food. We received a nice donation of food from the Tofino Co-op as well.

Most of all, THANK YOU to the continuing support from our local residents, businesses from Ucluelet and Tofino and folks just dropping by to donate to us. It seems like the flood gates have opened and we are benefitting more than ever from the generosity of the West Coast communities. I know I say it all the time but our town and neighbouring communities have the most giving people I know. I am proud to live here and the Food Bank on the Edge is fortunate to have so much awesome support.

Cris Martin is the Executive Director of the Food Bank on the Edge Society.

The Westerly News | Page 3

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

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Ukee vessel nearly destroyed in crash

Local man believes boat was purposely untied RICH PARLEE

Local Voice

The sailing vessel Best Days almost came to disaster early morning on Dec. 9.

Several people phoned Coast Guard but since the owner, Jared Fenwick of Ucluelet, was apparently not aboard, they could not respond.

Eventually, a friend, Brent Ader called Rich Parlee and, on board the T Rose, Brent’s floating home, they took the drifting boat in tow and got her to 52 Steps.

“She appeared to have been deliberately untied,” Parlee said.

“The lines were very heavy, quite intact and hanging down into the water. We checked the public dock at Port Albion and found the rails intact. We also found a pair of read-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Local sailing vessel Best Days, pictured here at 52 Steps, was nearly destroyed after becoming untied from the harbour.

ing glasses at the rail where one of the ropes had obviously been untied.”

The boat was recovered in a very strong westerly and on the ebb cycle

of one of the largest tides of the year.

“The current was very strong and we only secured the heavy boat by retrieving her own lines from the water, tying alongside and pow-

ering her to the outside of 52 Steps dock,” Parlee said.

The boat sustained bow damage by crashing bow first into Lyche Island where it broke a rotten tree onto the front deck, as well as sustaining rudder damage.

“She is now unable to move under her own power,” Parlee said adding the vessel had to be towed to an anchorage up the Bay. “Somebody wanted that boat gone” Parlee said. “Without the quick attention and considerable skill of Mr Ader, we’d have seen a lot more damage, if not a disaster. It’s tragic enough as it is; that boat was someone’s home.”

The matter is under investigation by local RCMP officers.

Rich Parlee is a Ucluelet local.

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Dec. 23 Tofino Recycles

T h u r s day 2 4

F r i day 2 5

s aT u r day 2 6

s u n day 2 7

M o n day 2 8

T u e s day 2 9

Sunny 5/4

Rain 8/7

Rain 8/5

Heavy rain 8/6

Snow 7/2

R E M E M B E R — R e d u c e , R e u s e , R e cy c l e !

Son Bird

Refuse & Recycling 250-726-4406 Chris Bird 250-726-8144

Cloudy 6/2

Local tides brought to you by:

TIDES Thursday 24 metres

4:57 AM 11:06 AM 5:53 PM

Friday 25

feet

1.4 4.6 3.8 12.5 0.3 1.0

metres

12:20 AM 5:46 AM 11:51 PM 6:36 PM

Saturday 26 feet

3.2 10.5 1.4 4.6 3.8 12.5 0.3 1.0

metres

1:05 AM 6:32 AM 12:34 PM 7:18 PM

Sunday 27 feet

3.2 10.5 1.4 4.6 3.8 12.5 0.3 1.0

metres

1:47 AM 7:17 AM 1:17 PM 7:57 PM

Monday 28 feet

3.2 10.5 1.5 4.9 3.6 11.8 0.4 1.3

metres

2:29 AM 8:01 AM 1:59 PM 8:36 PM

Tuesday 29 feet

3.2 10.5 1.5 4.9 3.5 11.5 0.6 2.0

metres

3:10 AM 8:48 AM 2:42 PM 9:14 PM

Wednesday 30 feet

3.2 10.5 1.5 4.9 3.3 10.8 0.7 2.3

metres

3:53 AM 9:37 AM 3:26 PM 9:53 PM

feet

3.1 10.2 1.6 5.2 3.0 9.8 1.0 3.3

Ucluelet / Tofino 726-2228 725-2038

midislandrealty.com

Page 4 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Opinion

Closure of MCTS Tofino a travesty JULIUS SMOLDERS

Local Voice

In April of this year, the Marine Communications and Traffic Services center, MCTS Tofino, located at Amphitrite Point, was closed.

Responsibility for service delivery was transferred to MCTS Prince Rupert, at great cost. This closure was one of several Coast Guard closures on the west coast, including Kitsilano CG Station all part of the government’s cost cutting and service reduction plans.

I was greatly encouraged with the results of a recent meeting I had with Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay–Alberni, during his visit to Ucluelet on Dec 14, 2015.

Mr. Johns was equally encouraged with my passion and determination to see this error of governance reversed.

Johns advised the matter of Coast Guard services on the West Coast is a top priority of his mandate for the Courtenay-Alberni riding. At the time of our meeting, Johns had already met with MP Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and minister

responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard. Johns said Minister Tootoo was also concerned with the current state of the Coast Guard and was planning a visit to Vancouver Island later that week.

The recent tragic events of the capsizing of the LEVIATHAN II and subsequent loss of life underscores the need for a local Coast Guard presence with the local knowledge and experience required to effectively serve the west coast of Vancouver Island.

However, equally as important is the strategic location of MCTS Tofino along with the radar and communications equipment located atop Mt. Ozzard. Not only does this location overlook the seaward approaches to Juan de Fuca Straits out to 60NM offshore, it also served as a direct line-ofsight (microwave) link with U.S. Coast Guard radar and communications equipment.

Through the CVTS Agreement with U.S. Coast Guard, MCTS Tofino, MCTS Victoria and Seattle Traffic had both the ability and the opportunity to assume responsibility for each other’s centers in times of equipment

failure and/or center failures. The Aug 2001 ‘Rattle in Seattle’ earthquake was just one example. Both Tofino and Victoria took shared responsibility for Seattle Traffic’s area of responsibility until such time the situation was resolved.

The system worked and it worked very well.

MCTS Tofino was scheduled to shut down in early spring 2014.

However, due to equipment failures, numerous reductions in services and excessive cost overruns, the schedule was pushed back to the fall of 2014, and revised again to the final April 2015 closure.

With this closure, the current system of Coast Guard MCTS services on the west coast is entirely reliant on one Telus data line to send and receive all radar and communications between Mt. Ozzard and Prince Rupert, by way of many remote locations and switching systems.

If that line goes down, and it has and it will yet, the entire West Coast of Vancouver Island is ‘dead in the water’ without service.

The original cost to reduce and relocate these services (reported to be $4.5 million, unconfirmed)

BRAD LARSON PHOTO

Ucluelet local Julius Smolders speaks with his MP Gord Johns about reopening MCTS Tofino.

has ballooned exponentially beyond that, and plans to shut down MCTS Comox in the early spring of 2016 are well underway.

And the costs continue to mount.

The closure of MCTS Tofino was nothing short of a travesty.

It was bad governance at its worst, and a leading example of poor management of Canadian resources and facilities.

My tax dollars and yours continue to fund this madness. Stand with me and say “No more! Bring back our Coast Guard.”

I will continue to sing as loudly as I can: “Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee.”

Julius Smolders MCTS Tofino, Watch Supervisor - Retired

LETTERS

Smoking ban a good idea for Ucluelet Dear Editor, Re: “Ukee butts smokers out,” Westerly News, Nov. 17.

I’m writing in support of Ucluelet’s new anti-smoking bylaw which would ban smoking in parks, trails, fields, and within 8 metres of doorways. I think it is a wise decision for several reasons.

First, fire is always a hazard. I know it’s not much of a hazard this time of year when we are sopped in rain, but let us not

forget the fire bans of this past summer. It doesn’t take much to cause a blaze. Any step taken to minimize that risk is beneficial.

Secondly, the litter associated with smoking is downright gross.

Now, as a smoker of days past I must admit I’ve randomly ‘flicked my share of butts’ into the street over the years. It is something I am not proud of. But it’s also something that I was completely unaware of when I was a smoker.

I doubt Ive been the only smoker

out there who litters cigarette butts but is completely blind to the mess they’re making. These anti-smoking bylaws will make our trails and parks less likely to be the final resting place of the occasional discarded cigarette.

Finally, there is just no need to smoke everywhere! Smoking is becoming less and less trendy. I remember when I was little you could smoke in hospitals, malls, restaurants, greyhound buses, and airplanes. Today, you can’t

even take water through airport security. Times change. I can’t stand it when someone stands right at the front door some place and smokes. It gets in the building and people have asthma and allergies. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that people who smoke are likely trying to be considerate by smoking outside.

Just.....stand a little further away.

Or quit! I used to smoke very regularly. I didn’t stop because I didn’t enjoy it; I quit because it’s

bad for me, and I’m a singer and I’m around children. It’s important to me not to smoke.

This bylaw will help keep our town safer and even lovelier than it already it. Perhaps it will also help the heavy smoker smoke less and the casual smoker quit completely. I’m all for it!

Regards, Courtney Kate Johnson Ucluelet

Survivors of highway crash thank locals Dear Editor, We recently (23rd November) had an accident in the Tofino/Ucluelet area involving a truck and our motorhome.

We would like to convey our thanks through your newspaper

to all who responded to our needs. RCMP (Marcel Midlane), Paramedics, Fire Fighters and those in vehicles close-by.

A special thanks also to the Parks Canada staff who provided immediate assistance and first aid, and especially Jacqueline

who went far beyond her duties to drive my husband and our dog Axel to Crystal Cove Resort, to her husband also for getting special food for Axel in Ucluelet.

Many thanks to the folks at Crystal Cove Resort who provided us with wonderful accommoda-

tion, and went beyond what any would expect—What a great team.

J.J. Belanger, the Manager of Crystal Cove is an amazing person, we will never forget his humanity, kindness and organizing of our transport home.

Thanks to KD Air for flying us

and our dog (Axel) home.

Tofino/Ucluelet, from the bottom of our heart, THANKS. Sincerely, Gloria Howorth Qualicum Beach

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Have an opinion you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you. The Westerly welcomes and encourages letters. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, taste, legality and length. Letters must include your first and last name as well as contact information for verification purposes. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be accepted. Email submissions to Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca.

The Westerly News | Page 5

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Community Calendar

Want to see your event in the Community Calendar?

Email office@westerlynews.ca or call 250-726-7029.

23 WEDNESDAY

26 SATURDAY

31 THURSDAY

Karaoke, Jacks Pub Tofino, 9:30 p.m.

Drop-in Basketball, 7-9 p.m. WCS gym, $3.

Seniors Social Afternoons, 1:30-4 p.m., Tofino Legion.

St. Columba Church, 7 p.m.

Arts Group, 7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 5:30 p.m.

AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis.

27 SUNDAY

NEW YEAR’S EVE!

24 THURSDAY CHRISTMAS EVE! St. Columba Services, Kids service 4:30 p.m., lessons and carols 7:30 p.m. Christmas Communion 9 p.m.

Christ Community Church Service, Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Black Rock Resort, 7 p.m. Everyone Welcome.

Drop-in Soccer, 7-9 p.m. WCS gym. $3.

Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30 a.m, UCC. Ucluelet AA 8 p.m. Holy Family Church, Peninsula Rd. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6p.m., UCC. Bingo, 7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

25 FRIDAY CHRISTMAS DAY! Community Christmas Dinner, 5:30 p.m., UCC. Drop-in Badminton, 7-9 p.m. USS gym. $2.

Bingo, Tofino Legion, 7:30 p.m.

The Edge Youth Room, 2–6p.m.UCC.

Drop-in Badminton, 7-9 p.m. USS gym.

Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd. Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, UCC. Holy Family Church, 10 a.m.

St. Lawrence Church, 11:00 a.m.

Ahousaht.

St. Columba Church, 10:30 a.m United/Anglican Service, 4 p.m. UCC. Tofino Bible Fellowship, 10:30 a.m.

Tofino Legion.

Fireworks, 8 p.m. Cox Bay Fireworks, 10 p.m. MacKenzie Beach.

NYE Party, Jamie’s Rainforest Inn, 7 pm NYE Party, 10 p.m. ANAF NYE Party, Black Rock Float Lounge Bingo, 7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

1 FRIDAY NEW YEAR’S DAY Polar Bear Swim, 1 p.m., North Chesterman Beach Drop-in Badminton, 7-9 p.m. USS gym. $2.

28 MONDAY 2 SATURDAY Ucluelet AA, 8pm. Holy Family.

Darts, 8-10 p.m. Tofino Legion, 29 TUESDAY Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am.

Coastal Family Place, UCC. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, UCC. Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion.

Youth night ANAF Ucluelet.

AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church.

30 WEDNESDAY Pool night, 7-11 p.m. Tofino legion Karaoke, Jacks Pub Tofino, 9:30 p.m.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

On Dec. 31 Bob Purdy will hit Tofino’s waves for the 1,826 consecutive day of paddleboarding. Locals are invited to join him and the paddle will be held at 10 a.m. on low tide at MacKenzie Beach in Tofino.

Tofino Bible Fellowship, 10:30 a.m.

Tofino Legion.

4 MONDAY

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 5:30 p.m.

AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis.

Ucluelet AA, 8pm. Holy Family.

Darts, 8-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

3 SUNDAY

5 TUESDAY

Drop-in Badminton, 7-9 p.m. USS gym.

Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd. Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, UCC. Holy Family Church, 10 a.m.

St. Lawrence Church, 11:00 a.m.

Ahousaht.

St. Columba Church, 10:30 a.m United/Anglican Service, 4 p.m. UCC.

Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am.

Coastal Family Place, UCC. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, UCC. Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion.

Youth night ANAF Ucluelet.

AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church.

Page 6 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Tofino’s St. Columba Church celebrates holiday spirit and tradition with locals

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTOS

Left, Tofino locals Tylan Ryan, Keanna Hasz and Jodi Gibson belt out their favourite Christmas carols at St. Columba on Dec. 16. Right, Dan and Mollie Law present a puppet show at the church on Dec. 18.

ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News

Tofino’s St. Columba Church was chock-full of seasonal merriment last week.

The church welcomed the community to a caroling event on Dec. 16 and a puppet show on Dec. 18.

“We’re a church in the community and a church of the community,” Rev. Will Ferrey told the Westerly News.

“Tofino is such a great community; always enthusiastic and always participating… It’s just nice to know that there’s people out there in the community who

want to do these things.”

He said participation at both events was “fantastic” and he was thrilled to see so many locals pour into the church.

“We have a really lovely building and we want to share that with the community and we want to give people lots of opportunity to engage their spirituality in different ways over Christmas,” he said.

“Christmas is a really spiritual time for a lot of people but not everybody is comfortable with, or interested in, the spirituality expressed in our worship services so we try different things to give people all these different outlets

for their spirituality.”

The puppet show, dubbed ‘The Shoemaker,’ was an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Where Love is, God Is,’ and was put together by Tofino locals Dan and Mollie Law. “It was one of these great things where we could be part of the community and all we had to do was say, ‘Yes,’ and make sure the doors were unlocked and the heat was on,” Ferrey said.

He added the puppet show provided the perfect blend of fun and tradition for the community get-together.

“It was a way to explore some spirituality about Christmas and

about this season in a different way, a more fun way, a more relaxed way and maybe for some people less threatening,” he said.

“It’s a spiritual building, it’s a little piece of sacred space in the middle of Tofino...We want to invite people into that space for different shows and events and things but we want them to have that spiritual or sacred aspect to them that meshes with the whole reason that the building is there.”

St. Columba is getting ready to host three services on Christmas Eve: a 4:30 p.m. kids service, 7:30 p.m. lessons and carols and a 9 p.m. Christmas communion.

“The kids service is a little bit less structured, there’s more room to run them around and use up some of that good Christmas energy they always have and get them home before supper,” Ferrey said.

“Our 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. services are more focused on the spiritual and the sacred, the ancient carols and stories of our faith, which are really deep and really important and I think kids totally can understand but sometimes, especially late at night, have trouble staying awake for.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ukee’s community spirit shines at luncheon MARGARET MORRISON

Local Voice

The Christmas Luncheon held on Dec. 17 in the Ucluelet Community Centre was truly a community event.

An open invitation was issued to attend for holiday food, visiting and celebrating. The unofficial count at the end was 170 attendees! That includes guests, volunteers and staff from the Westcoast Community Resources Society.

On the menu was ham, turkey, vegetables, salads, stuffing, and lots of gravy plus a whole separate table of sweets and cookies.

(You were very lucky if you were one of the guests who got a piece of cheesecake!) Tables were decorated, there was a tree and everyone listened closely to see who’d won a door prize. Guests started arriving before 12 noon, and kept coming even as Santa made a surprise last minute visit and greeted delighted young guests. It was wonderful to see how community

members mingled and chatted while enjoying an opportunity to share in a holiday meal.

Westcoast Community Resources Society staff helped organize the feast and cook the main dishes, but the community really was the “founder” of the feast. So many generous donations of food, desserts, door prizes and assistance were received!

There are so many people to acknowledge and thank, and this is by no means a complete list: WCRS staff Heather McLean, Jill McQuaid, Raylene Tyne, Kathy DeVries who organized and organized us all; Ryan McQuaid who ran the kitchen like a precision drill; volunteers who helped serve; make gravy smooth; clear and clean; Rev. Will Ferrey who said a few words for us; Alan Anderson for clearly announcing door prize winning tickets, Myles Morrison for providing live music from the stage, Santa of course!, and District of Ucluelet staff for

all their support.

We want to thank the following businesses for receiving our requests graciously and responding so generously: Ucluelet Co-op, Solidarity Snacks, Petro-Can, HeyDuck, Raylene Tyne Bookkeeping, Peoples Drug Mart, Mayberry’s

by Monika, Pina, Ukee Dogs, Zoe’s Bakery and Cafe, Gray Whale Deli, Black Rock, Howler’s Family Restaurant, The Blue Room and Tattooed Beaver, Cedar Grill, Harbour Pizza, Thay Tea, Green Soul Organics, Jiggers, Abbondanza Pizza and Image West.

The first Christmas Luncheon put on by the Resource Society was about 18 years ago at the Women’s Centre at the top of Main Street in Ucluelet. It was a natural extension of the Soup Pot lunches that Tina Schoen started at the Centre, and it became a highly anticipated event until the Centre moved. Since 2010, Christmas Luncheon sponsored by the Society has grown steadily; from

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

Locals gathered at a Christmas Luncheon at the UCC on Dec. 17th.

25 plates served to over 150!

We wish everyone a safe and satisfying holiday as we look forward to the new year.

On behalf of everyone at WCRS, best wishes!

The Westcoast Community Resources Society has a 24-hour

contact line at the Transition House, 250-726-2020.

Calls are welcome at any time; if you need support, or someone you care about is in need.

Margaret Morrison is the Executive Director of the Westcoast Community Resources Society.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Westerly

LIFE

The Westerly News | Page 7

Susan Lee’s favourite reads: Fiction 1. To All Appearances a Lady by Marilyn Bowering 2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 3. Sointula by Bill Gaston Non-fiction 1. Chasing Clayoquot: A Wilderness Almanac

by David Pitt-Brooke 2. BC Coastal Recreation Kayaking and Small Boat Atlas: British Columbia’s West Vancouver Island by John Kimantas 3. Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter by Lloyd Kahn

Michael Mullin’s favourite reads: Fiction 1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 2. The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts 3. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee Non-fiction 1. The Sobo Cookbook: Recipes from the Tofino Restaurant at the End of the Canadian Road by Lisa Ahier 2. A Taste of Haida Gwaii: Food Gathering and Feasting at the Edge of the World by Susan Musgrave 3. Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What it Means for Modern Relationships by Christopher Ryan Susan Lee of Ucluelet’s Blackberry Cove, top, and Michael Mullin of Tofino’s Mermaid Tales, above, quench the literary thirst of locals.

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTOS

In the stacks with local booksellers NORA O’MALLEY

Westerly News

Michael Mullin owns Mermaid Tales Bookshop in Tofino and Susan Lee runs Blackberry Cove Marketplace in Ucluelet. They both posted banner book sales this summer, tarnishing the notion that bricks and mortar bookstores are going the way of the dinosaur.

Their customers appreciate a spectrum of quality reads, including: local history, West Coast culinary, spiritual guidance, and First Nations culture.

“As a bookseller, it’s an honour

to get away with what I stock. I don’t have to sell trash to survive.

And I’ve learned with our visitors, the travellers, they’re not afraid of serious. They’re not afraid of deep,” Mullin told the Westerly News as a solid flow of customers bustled through his shop on a Friday afternoon.

Lee, who opened her combination bookshop/health food store a couple years ago, has seen a gradual improvement in her business season after season. The entrepreneur couldn’t stand the idea of living in a town without a bookstore or wholefood store, so

she decided to open one herself.

“There’s something about holding a book... Seeing the cover and feeling it, it’s more than just what are the words on the page,” Lee said.

“And the excitement of buying the book and taking it home.

There’s always going to be people that want that.”

And while online behemoths like Amazon remain the obvious killjoy to independently owned bookshops, Mullin doesn’t necessarily see the digital realm as being a lifelong enemy.

“People are always freaking

out that digital is trashing print books, but that’s not happening at all. In fact, digital is rescuing literacy,” he said.

“If someone is reading, doesn’t matter if it is on a telephone, they’re not playing Angry Birds or watching stupid TV. They’re actually reading, so that’s good.”

Book culture in Ucluelet appears to be on the rise as Lee pointed out that there are already three bookclubs and a fourth in the works for the New Year.

“I think there’s always going to be a place for bookstores. I just think we have to be smart and

specialize in certain areas,” said Lee who catalogues ten different books on mushrooms.

On the other side of the coin, Lee also mentioned that some locals still have their heads in the clouds to the fact that Ucluelet has a bookshop.

“I had a tourist come in this summer that asked someone at the Co-op if there was a bookstore in town and they said no,” she said laughing in disbelief and noting her little bookshop is just around the corner. nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Page 8 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Koreski’s debut book a visual ode to BC’s coast Tofino-born photographer publishes awe NORA O’MALLEY

Westerly News Unless you’ve been living under a rock or exploring foreign waters for the past couple months, you’ve probably seen or maybe even purchased Tofino’s dear homegrown photographer Jeremy Koreski’s new book titled This is Nowhere.

The pages of the black hardback reflect 15 years of Koreski’s work in surf, fly fishing, and nature photography. He tenderly hand plucked each photo for the project, which he said was a time sucking process that included going through old slides from images shot on film.

“I really just wanted to make something that could last; that someone could hold in their hands,” Koreski told the Westerly from his cabin in Cowichan Valley.

“And hopefully, at the end of the day it makes people think, whether you’re a 10-year-old kid or 65 and retired, that what we have here is pretty special and we need to do more to protect it.”

This is Nowhere was printed

on 10 per cent post consumer paper, and as remittance to Mother Nature for being so providing over the years, Koreski has pledged one per cent of his sales to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the Central Westcoast Forest Society.

“It’s about these nowhere places not being considered of value, and for me these out of the way nowhere places should be valued more than the urban setting,” he said.

Malcolm Johnson, Koreski’s good friend and well-published surf writer, was tasked with composing the text debossed on the cover of the photo book.

“I asked him to write about what nowhere meant to him and that’s what he came out with,” said Koreski.

“I didn’t have one photo that summed up my work in a way that the cover text does.”

The title of the book came about in a sort of tongue-incheek manner.

“I do a lot of fly fishing photography and surfing photography and the number

one question from pretty much anyone when I photograph something and post it online is Where is that?”

And of course in surf culture, it’s a widely known faux pas to disclose the whereabouts of a good wave. Koreski created the hashtag ‘thisisnowhere’ as a response in jest to the many inquiries he received on Instagram.

“I want nowhere to be a positive thing for people to go out and find. And it sounds kind of cheesy, but to find their nowhere. Wherever that may be,” he said.

Currently, there are 3,000 copies of This is Nowhere floating around bookstores and surf shops, or making themselves at home on coffee tables and nightstands throughout B.C., Canada, and the world.

Koreski is undecided as to whether or not he will do a second print run. He did however mention the possibility of printing 100 white bound limited edition copies. nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 9

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Chasing Clayoquot author penning sequel ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News

David Pitt-Brooke’s Chasing Clayoquot provides a month-by-month showcase of the vast array of experiences that can be found in Clayoquot Sound.

“In each of the 12 months that Chasing Clayoquot is built around, there’s something amazing to go out and look at; compared to most other places that people live there’s a lot there for a writer to be inspired by,” Pitt-Brooke told the Westerly in an interview last week.

He hopes the almanac-style piece help visitors find the magic they’re after when they come to the West Coast.

“They come in looking to touch something of that ineffable centre of things there trying to get a taste of whatever it is that makes people fall in love with the west coast but they have such a short time and they don’t know where to go looking,” he said.

“I thought that a book is not quite the same as a direct experience but it is a bit of a way of maybe introducing them to the beautiful things on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.”

Pitt-Brooke had been living in Tofino and working at the Pacific Rim National park for about 10 years before he got serious into his book and set out to capture the magic of his surroundings.

“I was in love with it,” he said.

“It’s hard to rationalize why one is in love with anything but I was in love with it and I am in love with it so I wanted to write about it…It’s kind of an anthem of praise really Chasing Clayoquot; it’s a love song.”

He said expressing his love for the area

proved to be no easy task.

“It’s a huge project writing a book and words don’t come particularly easy to me,” he said.

“People fall in love with the landscape by experiencing it firsthand…So, writing is odd because you want to be out there experiencing the countryside that’s where the magic is and yet you shut yourself away in a little dark room in front of your computer.”

He touted the West Coast’s landscape as a picturesque muse.

“You drive for miles and miles and miles through urban blight, heavy traffic and then you come out the other side of Port Alberni and you’re into the wild country and even now it’s not a hundred per cent pristine, we know that, but compared to other landscapes its pretty lovely,” he said.

He added publishers saw the potential of his book based on the interest in the area.

“Publishing is a business and they were aware that there was a large potential readership out there,” he said.

“I set out to write about Clayoquot Sound come hell or high-water but I benefitted of course from the fact that there are literally millions of people around the world who have or feel they have a special persona bond with that piece of landscape.”

Chasing Clayoquot was published in 2004 and Pitt-Brooke is currently working on a sequel set in B.C.’s interior.

“Those arid valleys are my home landscape that’s where I grew up so I’m trying to write again about the bond that I feel with those landscapes and a sort of personal encounter with the wild country,” he said.

“This will be I hope a fitting sequel to

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

David Pitt-Brooke found inspiration in his West Coast surroundings to produce an almanac of Clayoquot Sound adventures.

Chasing Clayoquot something very much in the same vein; a personal encounter with the wild countryside.”

He said writing about place is important.

“I believe there is an essential bond between human beings and their beloved landscapes and beloved places that’s healing for us and that’s important for us and in this modern day and age that bond is so fragile,” he said.

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“Books about place are one way of strengthening that bond so I’m glad for any effort that’s made to make readers aware of these beautiful books that are being published on these lovely landscapes in British Columbia.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Page 10 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Lighthouse keeper’s new book shines light on the view from Lennard Island ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News

Caroline Woodward’s new book gives readers a peek through her lighthouse’s window.

Woodward watches over local and visiting mariners from the Lennard Island Lightstation spending seven-day weeks putting out weather reports and keeping up with maintenance and communications.

“82A is our channel if you need to know what the seas are doing beyond the calm harbour in Tofino or coming in to Templar Channel,” she told the Westerly News.

She recently completed a non-fiction book on her experience entitled Light Years: Memoir of a Modern Lighthouse Keeper.

“It took me all my life, in one sense, to write this book,” she said.

“Or seven ferociously focused months of writing, rewriting swaths of my journal and essays into chapter form, working with a substantive editor, a copy editor and a proofreader as well as a designer and, with my husband, Jeff George, selecting photographs, colour and black and white, to suit the chapters.”

The book was published by Harbour Publishing earlier this year and Woodward was thrilled to see the result of her collaborations.

“I am delighted with the rigorous editing and fact-checking and working with the publishing team, the colour quality of Jeff’s beautiful photographs, the way the designer used my Japanese poems at the beginning of the chapters, and the cover is just a knockout,” she said.

“I’m still at the stage where the

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Caroline Woodward’s recently published non-fiction work offers readers a taste of a lightkeeper’s life.

new book is like a beautiful new baby, very happy with it.”

Woodward has been published in a broad range of genres but this is her first non-fiction work and she suggested Clayoquot Sound requires many mediums to be captured.

“This place inspires all forms of writing and storytelling, fiction and non-fiction. Some content is better shaped as a poem,” she said.

“Other stories need more space, the heft of non-fiction history for example. The beauty of wild animals is conveyed better with photographs than any kind of writing can do justice...and then there are children’s stories, requiring just the right illustrations to carry the intent of the story, reading after reading.”

Woodward first visited the West Coast in 1973 when she and her sister hitchhiked over Sutton Pass after heavy rainfall forced them to abandon their bicycles in Parksville.

“The road hadn’t been open long and I have memories of relentless

rain, a Volkswagen van, a white dog belonging to the driver of the van, a lively pub night in Ucluelet and then camping on a beach, don’t ask me which one,” she said.

“We were woefully, totally, utterly inadequately dressed for the rain. There weren’t any hot showers or clean Parks Canada facilities or anything like that of course. I still can’t believe we thought we could bicycle over that road and back on a long weekend on ordinary ten speeds.”

She has since fallen in love with the area.

“There is something profound, something immensely powerful about being on the edge of British Columbia and looking out on the reefs and rocks and beyond to just the Pacific Ocean,” she said.

“Add to that living on a tiny island with a spruce grove sheltering us from the winds coming from the north and the Coast Guard buildings and lawns, the helipad, and the creative mind goes outward and inward, fed by the storms, the quiet, the noise, the voices of birds, the spouts

of the whales, the boats heading into Tofino Harbour or out to sea, all of it. No distractions, just the beauty and power of Nature, this grand, watery world.”

Woodward had taken a hiatus from writing until recapturing her love of journaling, which brought her back into a daily writing routine that quickly blossomed.

“I started writing Japanese form poems, inspired by Clayoquot Sound, by the world I’m living in,” she said.

Her journey to completing Light Years started with an essay assignment from Adrienne Mason as part of the Clayoquot Writers Group.

“I came up with a short fiction story, except for one true bit about me at the hair salon, about lightkeeping women on Lennard Island over a century, each of them looking at Chesterman Beach for hours,” Woodward said.

She said the essay collection was postponed but her short story found its way to a publisher at BC Bookworld who asked her to contribute to an online maga-

zine in 2014 about her experience living and working as a relief lightkeeper.

“Howard White, the publisher at Harbour, read the completely revised piece I sent in about first meeting a relief lightkeeper on the Alert Bay ferry and the rest is history,” she said.

The daily writing habit she developed through her journal helped her complete the project.

“I have to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair and write something, anything, every single day. That’s where the journal habit rescues me from self-loathing,” she said.

“My schedule changes when I’m working as a lightkeeper and it’s actually very good for me to have shift work as it forces me not to dilly-dally and waste my life, my time. I have to get to work or nothing will get written. Simple as that. I do not intend to waste this precious time, these “light years” I have before me.”

She’s enjoyed touring with her book and hopes it inspires readers to pursue their passions.

“I’ve met some wonderful people like this on my book tours on Vancouver Island especially this fall,” she said.

“I want all sorts of people to read it and relate to it, of course, whether they want to be professional writers or just love reading about making my decision to choose love and adventure and to join my husband on the lights over security and a great job in the publishing world.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

PHOTO FEATURE December Pacific Rim Boardrider’s Meet Fun vibes and friendlies were on deck at Tofino’s North Chesterman Beach last weekend.

The next good times meet is set for Jan. 17.

Visitors and all grommies (in age and in spirit) are welcome.

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTOS

Check us out online: www.westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 11

Page 12 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

Ucluelet’s Image West is selling gift baskets to raise money for Sharon Sanford who is recovering from a heart transplant. Baskets are available for suggested donations of $10$20. Image West started selling the baskets during Midnight Madness and are more than halfway to their fundraising goal of $1,000. Baskets will be sold through Christmas Eve and possibly boxing week, according to Courtney Johnson. “We want to say a big thank you to all the people who have donated so far,” she said. “Ukee is such a wonderful community!”

The Westerly News | Page 13 Wed, Dec 23, 2015 Ucluelet Western News A13

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

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Page 14 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

MCTS closures under fire from MP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

He added valuable local knowledge was lost when the Conservatives consolidated BC’s five centres into two centres located in Victoria and Prince Rupert.

“When it comes to marine safety, local knowledge saves lives,” he said.

“On any given summer day you’ve got 10,000 vessels in the water and you’re trying to pluck out that mayday call and then you’re trying to make sure that your staff have the knowledge of the key points of interests to put out the mayday call to other mariners in local waters to get out and assist in a marine rescue.”

He added marine traffic is rising in BC. “We’ve seen significant growth

understanding of the impact of that station being closed so it’s extremely high on my priority list but first and foremost we have to stop the government from closing another station and we’re getting right out in front of that.”

He said reopening Ucluelet’s MCTS station was a hot topic during his meetings with Ucluelet and Tofino locals earlier this month.

“I heard it loud and clear that they want to see that station reopened,” he said.

“I’m very confident that people on the Coast want to see strong safety and emergency measures in place for confidence in mariners, confidence to build a strong and healthy marine economy and

in the economy in trade with Asia,” he said.

“It’s far outpacing marine safety.

We’re investing less in marine safety and cutting marine safety when, in fact, we should have mechanisms in place to make sure that marine safety keeps pace with economic growth.”

He assured that while his attention is currently focused on Comox, he still plans to fight for Ucluelet’s station to be reopened.

“Everybody clearly knows that, being from the West Coast of Vancouver Island, I have a deep understanding of the impact of the closure of the Ucluelet station and it’s extremely high on my priority list personally,” he said.

“I have a really strong deepened

for what’s really important to all of us as West Coasters in terms of recreation, transportation and our cultural needs.”

Losing the local MCTS centre cost the West Coast about 25 jobs and Johns noted this was a big hit to the West Coast’s economy and population.

“We’re seeing more and more people leaving rural communities to urban centres,” he said.

“Prosperity is not staying in local communities, knowledge isn’t staying now in local communities and even safety isn’t staying in local communities and I’ve got a big problem with that.”

He encourages West Coasters to sign petitions and write to Canada’s Minister of Fisheries,

Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Hunter Tootoo to make their opinions on the Coast Guard closures known.

“Petitions are strong, they give the Member of Parliament an opportunity to stand up in the house of commons and present the petition,” he said.

“I urge people to send letters and emails to the minister’s office urging them to halt the closure of Comox and reopen the Ucluelet marine traffic control station.”

Locals can send letter-mail to any Member of Parliament postage-free. andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

ACRD nixes Thunder Paramedicine in the Valley contract gets local boost SUSAN QUINN

Alberni Valley News The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District has terminated its contract with Thunder in the Valley, which means the drag racing event will not be held at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport in 2016.

However, drag racers take heart: the City of Port Alberni is looking at closing Stamp Avenue for three days in August so the event can be moved into the heart of the city.

“The regional district, because of the expansion at the airport, has terminated our contract with them,” Alberni Valley Drag Racing Association (AVDRA) president Bill Surry said.

“We would be right in the middle of our construction window and wouldn’t be able to accommodate their event on our site,” airport manager Mark Fortune

said.

Thunder in the Valley always takes place the weekend after the BC Day long weekend in August; construction isn’t due to be complete on the runway expansion until September.

Surry is hopeful the change of venue will only be for one year.

The AVDRA will be allowed to re-apply for a contract at the airport for 2017, he added.

In the meantime, there are plans afoot to move the event to Stamp Avenue and change it to a 1/8th-mile drag strip. The street would be closed for three days from Redford to Roger streets.

“We think we can pull it off and put on a good show there,” Surry said.

A lot of work still needs to be done, but Surry is glad the event won’t have to shut down completely. “The city figures it’s going to be a big boon to bring

it into town.”

Stamp Avenue seemed to be the best location, both Mayor Mike Ruttan and Surry agreed.

“It has to be paved, it has to be flat, it has to be safe,” Ruttan said.

“We did look at other places in the Valley” but there was nowhere else the city felt they could have ready in time for the August 2016 event.

Ruttan confirmed Catalyst Paper has been approached about perhaps some of the mill property for the event. “We have had some preliminary discussions with them, yes,” he said.

The drag racing association will meet in early January to talk logistics, and Surry said they will have their safety team from Vancouver come over to check it out. editor@albernivalleynews.com

On Notice to Mr. Charles Ehlers, Mr. Hans Huebner, Ms. Hannelore Huebner, Mr. Dietmar Gritzka, and/or their executors, heirs or next of kin: This is your official notification under s. 414 (1) of the Local Government Act that the following property was sold for taxes on September 28, 2015 pursuant to s. 403 of the Local Government Act: PID: 005-531-926, LOT 12, BLOCK 24, DISTRICT LOT 234, QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT PLAN 1032; and

The redemption period for the Property will expire on September 28, 2016 at 10:00am. You may contact the Village of Masset to determine the amount required to redeem the Property.

7367966

PID: 005-531-888, LOT 11, BLOCK 24, DISTRICT LOT 234, QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT PLAN 1032;

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques was thrilled to see her community selected for the pilot program.

“We’re challenged with not having a hospital here or a seven-day-aweek medical facility so to have these extra medically trained people in our community all the time could be nothing but good,” she said.

“How great would it be to have more people that you could count on close at hand? I think it’s a really positive thing moving forward. I’m very happy that Island Health is going this way and I’m really happy that Tofino and ourselves have come together and been successful on this.”

The initiative will call on paramedics to provide primary and non-emergency health care services through partnerships with local healthcare providers, according to a recent Island Health media release.

“The enhanced role is not intended to replace care provided by health professionals such as nurses, but rather to complement and support the work these important professionals do each day,” the release states.

The program is being launched through collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the province’s health authorities, and the Ambulance Paramedics of BC union.

BC’s Health Minister Terry Lake is excited to see the program unfold.

“With a focus on prevention, health promotion and primary care, community paramedicine will help us tailor services to meet the unique needs of rural patients,” he said.

“This partnership is a great example of how we are working in collaboration with health care providers and stakeholders to improve the delivery of health care in rural

and remote areas of the province.”

Ambulance Paramedics of BC president Bronwyn Barter said BC’s “highly-trained” paramedics are well suited for their new community health role.

“With the community paramedicine program will come enhanced patient care and new full-time career opportunities across the province,” she said.

The province is expected to bring in 80 new full-time paramedicine jobs to support the program over the next four years.

“Community paramedicine is an exciting and innovative program that will help us expand community-based care for our rural and remote communities,” said Island Health CEO Dr. Brendan Carr. “Paramedics are important partners in the health care team and we welcome this new approach.”

BC Emergency Health Services Executive Vice President Linda Lupini noted the program would help deliver effective emergency response to rural communities.

“The Community Paramedic Initiative allows us to strengthen our ability to respond to medical emergencies by helping to keep paramedics engaged in rural and remote communities with low call volumes,” she said “At the same time, community paramedics will be helping to bridge gaps in health services delivery identified by these communities throughout the province.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Westerly News | Page 15

Ukee Mayor’s letter to Santa

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St. Jacques thanks Santa for Orca show in Ukee harbour

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I can’t believe how fast this year has done by! Seems like just yesterday that I was writing to you.

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Bertrand Gauje took this stunning photograph from Ucluelet’s Waters Edge Shoreside Suite. A pod of orcas delighted onlookers in Ukee’s harbour on Sunday and Mayor Dianne St. Jacques thanked Santa for delivering the holiday show.

Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques

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Page 16 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

PHOTO FEATURE Ukee’s 2015 Harbour Lights Sail Past The Ucluelet RCMP’s Auxiliary Spirit, top right, took top honours at this year’s Sail Past.

About 10 vessels decked their halls with holiday spirit for the Dec. 16 event and the popular parade drew a large crowd of spectators to the Whiskey Dock despite cold weather.

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