Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, January 13, 2016

POPULAR PETITION

Michelle Coulter’s anti-MSP petition has reached 60,000 signatures

6

NATURE KIDS

Forest School helps local kids get stoked on their surroundings

10-11

Westerly News

TOFINO-UCLUELET

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

WesterlyNews.ca

Ucluelet gets new top cop

$1.25 (including tax)

Sgt. Jeff Swann to stay in town until house sells

ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet has lost its battle with the RCMP over popular police chief Sgt. Jeff Swann.

Swann, who took command of the local detachment in 2009, had requested a third extension to his limited duration posting in Ucluelet but, despite support from Ucluelet’s municipal council, business community and the community at large, this request was denied by the RCMP. He had previously received two one-year extensions on his threeyear posting.

Sgt. George Jenkins is en route from Salt Spring Island and is expected to take the Ukee detachment’s helm in early February.

Swann told the Westerly News he will stay in town until his house sells.

“Until such time as a valid buyer comes and buys the house then we’re here and I’ll continue to work,” he said.

“My role as detachment commander will come to an end but I will still be a community member and an active and engaged police officer in this town.”

He assured working with his replacement would not be awkward or present a distraction within the detachment.

“It will be a unique situation for sure, having two sergeants, but we’re all professionals,” he said. “[Sgt. Jenkins] will come in here and slide in like a natural and I’m here to lend support to him where I can.”

Once his house has sold, Swann and his family will move to Port Alberni where he will take his new position with the Port Alberni RCMP. See SWANN page 3

TOFINO RCMP PHOTO

SPIN OUT PUTS POWER OUT: Tofino was without power for several hours on Jan. 8 as a man driving into Tofino lost control of his pickup truck and crashed into a hydro pole. The driver escaped relatively unharmed but the crash brought significant damage to both his truck and the pole, according to Cpl. Therese Cochlin of the Tofino RCMP.

Howler’s and Tacofino up for Business Excellence Awards NORA O’MALLEY

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet’s Howler’s Family Restaurant and Tofino’s Tacofino have made the final cut for the 16th Annual Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards.

The popular West Coast eateries are up against 81 other businesses around Vancouver Island, and the winners will be announced in Nanaimo on Thursday, Jan. 21 at a formal gala dinner event.

“I’ll be going there on the 21st with my wife and [son] Khan and hopefully

taking one home for Ucluelet,” said Howler’s owner Kent Furey.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Furey earned his cooking stripes working for a number of establishments and said his three years spent operating the Wya Point food truck was instrumental in giving him the confidence he needed to start his own restaurant.

“I really tried not to buy a bowling alley and an arcade. I really wanted just something nice and small and just the restaurant,” Furey said.

See SUCCESS page 16

Page 2 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

“Here to help you live the dream…”

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250-534-9842 cell | 250-725-2038 office tia@realestatetofino.ca | www.realestatetofino.ca

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Filler ANDREW BAILEY Photo

The USS Warriors will host their inaugural Basketball on the Edge tournament this weekend and hope to see it become an annual event.

SPORTS

Warriors to host B-Ball tourney this weekend Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

The USS Warriors are getting ready to host the West Coast’s inaugural Basketball on the Edge tournament this weekend.

Ucluelet Secondary School’s gym will be packed with competitive action during the two-day tournament from Jan 15-16 as the local team takes on challengers from Gold River, Campbell River, Comox and Ahousaht.

Warriors manager Jason Sam told the Westerly this is the first independent tournament USS has hosted in recent memory.

“Basketball used to be huge out here apparently and it’s kind of fallen off the radar,” Sam said.

“We are trying to get basketball out here again to get the kids healthy and exercising, connected to school and to bring other groups out here to see what

we have to offer.”

He said USS does not boast a large student body to choose players from and noted the senior team has only one senior student.

“Alex (Louie) is our rock-steady senior player and then we have a whole slew of juniors that are keen and have been playing with senior ball since last year,” Sam said.

He hopes to see a large crowd of hometown supporters fill the gym’s bleachers this weekend to support their Warriors.

“It’s proven in sports that if you have people cheering for you it makes you play that much harder, even if it’s just a sliver of an amount, having somebody supporting you lifts you up and props you up and makes you feel better about what you’re out there doing,” he said.

“This tournament is the first big test

for some of our players that haven’t seen a lot of game time…We’re looking to come out of this tournament better than we were going into it.”

He touted the tremendous support the team has received from local businesses like Creative Salmon and Crystal Cove Resort and suggested it’s important for the players to see their community get behind them.

“It’s really important for these young kids to grow up knowing that you’ve got to support your community and support the people in your community,” he said.

“They’re great kids trying to get out there and be healthy and be active and do great things and some of these boys are going to grow up to be the future leaders and participants in our community.”

The Senior Warriors’ first game is set for 1:45 p.m. Friday and the junior team will tip off at 5 p.m. Friday.

2016 CALL

FOR PROJECTS & RESEARCH AWARD NOW OPEN

Deadline March 3, 2016

Ucluelet Elementary School Garden, 2015 CBT Call for Projects Grantee

www.clayoquotbiosphere.org/grants

250.725.2219

The Westerly News | Page 3

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

LAW AND ORDER

Ukee senior sniffs out scam Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet local Flo Henry is warning her fellow West Coast seniors about a scam that a con artist tried to sucker her into last week.

Henry received a call from a person claiming to be her nephew.

“They said they’ve been in a car accident and they’re at the police station, been there all day, and their insurance company wouldn’t pay the damages could I help him out,” Henry told the Westerly News.

She said she did not recognize the man’s voice but she initially believed him.

“He said he had a broken nose,” she said. “He had me going for the first part.”

Fortunately, Henry had heard about these types of scams before and wasn’t about to fall for one herself.

“I had identified him as Garth because he said, ‘It’s your favourite nephew,’ and my nephew Garth always says he’s my favourite nephew,” she said.

“I said, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ And of course the line went blank. He hung up because he couldn’t answer any of my questions.”

She said her cousin in Surrey nearly fell for a similar scam recently but was saved by a savvy bank teller.

“They were at the bank and her husband was taking the money out of the account and was telling the teller about how his granddaughter was in an accident and [the teller] told him it was a scam,” she said.

Henry believes scammers are targeting seniors and she’s disappointed to see dishonest people try-

Jan. 13 Ucluelet Recycles Remember –

RedUce , ReUse , Recycle !

SonBird

Refuse & Recycling

ing to take money from vulnerable targets.

“I think that’s pretty low…they’re targeting elderly people,” she said. “They go after the elderly.”

She immediately let the Ucluelet RCMP detachment know about the call and hopes others don’t become victims to the scam.

“I didn’t get caught; they never got any money from me,” she said. “But I think people should know because this is the second one I’ve heard in this area.”

In 2014 the Westerly News reported on a local woman who came within minutes of being conned out of nearly $1,000 after receiving a phone call

from a scammer claiming to be her granddaughter and using the same “broken nose” excuse for their voice sounding different.

In the 2014 case, the senior had already mailed a $900 money order to the scammer before speaking with her actual granddaughter and realizing she had been conned.

Luckily, her money order was still at the post office when she raced back to cancel it.

Seniors are urged to be wary of anyone calling them asking for money and all West Coasters are encouraged to speak with the seniors in their lives about potential scams.

cops enjoy quiet New year’s Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet’s police are thanking locals for reveling respectfully on New Year’s Eve. Detachment commander Sgt. Jeff Swann told the Westerly News that members of his team conducted roadblocks and checked in on parties at various establishments without incident.

“New Year’s Eve is busy. There’s lots of establishments open for business, lots of alcohol being

sold and consumed, lots of people out and to receive not a single file is pretty unique,” he said.

“There were no reports at all.”

He said Ucluelet police had a solid year in general and the lack of calls freed up his team to spend more time being proactive rather than reactive.

“It’s exciting as a police officer when you can go out and instead of reacting to calls you can be proactive and prevent the calls…If you’re out there being visible, you’re preventing crime and

you’re preventing people from becoming victims,” he said.

“Our goal should be to work ourselves out of a job and we’re effectively doing that.”

He said the crimeless New Year’s Eve illustrates Ucluelet is growing up as a community and locals are making smarter choices.

“They’ve taken responsibility and they’re looking out for each other more,” he said. “It’s a very respectful community.”

Swann song sung for popular sergeant continued from page 1

“We’ve obviously fallen in love with Ucluelet and I was fighting to stay here. I lost the battle but you put your head up high, you do up your boots the next day and you go to work,” Swann said.

“The next chapter for the Swann family will be in Port Alberni.”

Coun. Sally Mole said Ucluelet’s municipal council put a lot of energy into pleading with the RCMP to nix the detachment’s three-year posting label and allow Swann to stay.

She suggested council is still discussing whether to continue pushing for the removal of the limited duration posting label with Swann already on his way out.

“We could get someone that we love and want to keep again, we may get someone we don’t love and I’ve seen that happen before too so I don’t know that council’s actually got consensus on whether the limited duration post is a good thing or not,” she said.

“We definitely have asked questions about how we can be a bit flexible with that depending on the community’s love, or not, of the new person.”

250-726-4406

andreW BaiLeY photo

Telephones provide scam artists with unfortunate access to vulnerable credit card holders and locals are urged to speak to their families about potential scams.

“I think the whole community is disappointed. It’s a pretty big part of our community that we’re about to lose.” Coun. Sally Mole.

Mole is also the executive director of Ucluelet’s chamber of commerce and organized a letter writing campaign to give local businesses an avenue to voice their opinion.

“We had overwhelming support from the business community as well as the community itself,” she said adding that about 62 letters in support of Swann being allowed to stay were compiled and sent.

“That’s just the ones we know about, other people sent their own letters directly,” she said.

She said council hopes to set up a meeting with

the new detachment commander as soon as possible.

“I think the whole community is disappointed. It’s a pretty big part of our community that we’re about to lose…but unfortunately we are where we are,” she said.

“That being said, I feel for the new person coming in. It would be a difficult situation, if it was me in that situation I would find it difficult, so I’m wishing that person the very, very, best and I’m sure the community does too but we will miss Jeff in that role in our community for sure.”

She hopes to see the relationships Swann established through his community policing efforts continue.

“The community is really hopeful that the relationships that have been built and really well established with the RCMP continue, from my point of view, especially with the youth and some of those things that we really made strides in,” she said.

“We’ve got a good base there and I hope it continues to build.”

Tides & WeaTher ThuRsday 14 TIde

3:27 aM 9:19 aM 3:17 PM 9:39 PM

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3.3 1.3 3.3 0.7

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FRIday 15 TIde

4:15 aM 10:19 aM 4:16 PM 10:28 PM

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sunday 17 TIde

6:06 aM 12:45 PM 6:48 PM

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11.2 3.9 8.9

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Monday 18 TIde

12:30 aM 7:08 aM 2:00 PM 8:13 PM

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1.4 3.4 1.0 2.7

4.6 11.2 3.3 8.9

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Tuesday 19 TIde

1:42 aM 8:11 aM 3:08 PM 9:29 PM

Metres

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1.5 3.5 0.8 2.8

4.9 11.5 2.6 9.2

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Wednesday 20 TIde

2:51 aM 9:11 aM 4:06 PM 10:32 PM

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1.6 3.6 0.7 2.9

5.2 11.8 2.3 9.5

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Page 4 | The Westerly News

Westerly Opinion

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Westerly News is published every Wednesday by Black Press Ltd.

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RCMP made wrong call on Swann ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

When Coun. Sally Mole announced Sgt. Jeff Swann as Ucluelet’s 2015 Citizen of the Year she made a point to drop the title from his name to reflect the fact that his impact on the community had far surpassed his role as the local police chief.

A year prior, Swann was the focus of a special ceremony where he was honoured for his dedication to Ucluelet. This ceremony was not part of any annual event. The community simply wanted to show him how much they loved him and appreciated his presence.

Over 200 people attended.

To say he’s a respected and revered member of his community is obvious but add to that the diligence and effectiveness with which he’s helmed the local RCMP detachment and we’re left scratching our heads as to why his bosses would force him out of a community that was quite literally pleading to keep him.

Ucluelet’s crime rate dropped by 60 per cent between Swann’s arrival in 2009 to last year.

Much of this can be attributed to his focus on community policing and his constant presence at the local schools, playing floor hockey or teaching D.A.R.E., which has brought us a generation of youth that respects and appreciates their RCMP. He has exemplified everything the RCMP should want from a detachment commander and the crop of

cops in his charge can be seen at every community event and charitable function in town. Attitude reflects leadership.

Swann has transformed the Ucluelet RCMP detachment into a shining community hub where locals feel comfortable raising concerns to listening ears.

Swann’s bosses have been admirably forthcoming about their reasons for forcing him out, though it’s a struggle to see how these reasons apply.

One reason Chief Superintendent Ray Bernoties gave the Westerly in an interview last spring was to ensure officers stay sharp.

“In many LDP’s [limited duration postings], members cannot maintain their full skill level due to a relatively lighter case load than other provincial or municipal detachments,” he said.

A 60 per cent reduction in crime and a very visible community policing presence makes it a hard sell to apply this reasoning to Swann.

Another reason given is that it would be unfair for one sergeant to spend his career in paradise while another was stuck in a less desirable location.

“It’s important to understand that we also have RCMP members who have completed their time in some LDPs which are very remote and challenging,” Bernoties said.

Are we to consider Salt Spring Island undesirable? That’s where Swann’s replacement is coming from.

The RCMP is a phenomenal organization full of

members who commit their lives to keeping us safe.

It is more likely than not that our new police chief will be outstanding.

It will take some time for him to get localized, some never reach that summit, but he’ll earn the respect and appreciation of the community, perhaps even to the levels Swann achieved.

But then what? Do we go through all this again?

Why is this community left hoping the new guy might one day be as effective as the guy we have now when the guy we have now wants to stay?

And how would you like to be the guy coming in to replace Swann after the town’s council, business community and locals spent over a year fighting to keep him?

Rules change, priorities change, the system is supposed to get smarter and adapt.

The RCMP had an opportunity to adapt and showcase a good news story by backing off their limited duration policy and letting a 20-year veteran of their organization stay in Ucluelet for the additional two years he was asking for.

‘Beloved cop allowed to stay in community he loves,’ is a headline this newspaper should have had the opportunity to write and one the RCMP should have been champing at the bit to tout.

The wrong call was made.

We salute Sgt. Jeff Swann for keeping us safe and improving our paradise.

You will be missed.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you agree with BC’s MSP premium rates?

Vote at: www.westerlynews.ca before MONDAYS at noon

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION Have you made specific goals for 2016?

25% YES

75% NO

The Westerly News | Page 5

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

CARGO THRIFT STORE

Accepting used housewares, clothes, books movies & music

OPEN 11-5

Monday-Saturday 243 Main, Ukee (across from CIBC)

Ucluelet’s Grade 7 class held a bottle drive on Jan. 8 and raised over $2,000.

Supporting local charities

NORA O’MALLEY PhOtO

Discounts for donations

Land Act

Local news online: www.westerlynews.ca

Notice of intention to apply for a disposition of Crown Land The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority from Vancouver, BC, have applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO), West Coast Region for an Application for Crown Grant for the purposes of Heavy Industrial Use in the Clayoquot District.

Advertisement Map

Application Area

DL 446 DL 445

Ucluelet

Clayoquot Dist

The Lands File Number that has been established for this application is Crown Land File 1408319.

Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, at Suite 142, 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6J9, or emailed to: authorizingagency.nanaimo@gov.bc.ca.

Comments will be received by FLNRO up to February 5, 2016. FLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit http://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more information.

Note that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact the Freedom of Information Advisor at the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation’s office in Nanaimo.

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Page 6 | The Westerly News

Michelle Coulter is calling on BC’s government to end its flat-rate MSP premiums.

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

Local fights premiums ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet’s Michelle Coulter is fed up with BC’s MSP premium rates and it turns out a lot of British Columbians are feeling the same way.

BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums vary based on family size with singles paying roughly $75 a month and families of three or more paying about $150 a month, according to the provincial government’s website.

People earning under $30,000 annually pay smaller rates but anyone making $30,000 or more pays the same fee regardless of whether their salary is $30,000 or $300,000.

BC is the only province where rates remain the same for anyone above the $30,000 threshold.

Coulter, who owns Ucluelet’s Playground of the Senses, launched an online petition at change.org on Dec.17 calling for BC’s flat-rate MSP premiums to be eliminated “I had just had enough,” Coulter told the Westerly News.

“I have to be the voice of everybody that feels they don’t have a voice in this province and we have to look after the next generation of taxpayers.”

She hopes her petition starts a province-wide conversation about MSP premiums.

“I just don’t think British Columbians knew the extent of how they’re being robbed in order to balance a budget,” she said.

“We all pay our taxes and we all want to be hard working citizens but when you start to look at what other provinces are doing you realize that we’re just getting screwed.”

Her petition had garnered 59,580 signatures at press time.

“It’s kind of nerve-wracking,” she said.

“We all think that we’re just one of many but it starts with one and then you have someone stand beside you and someone else stands beside them and you realize that we can make a difference and we can hold the government accountable for their bad behaviour.”

At the heart of the

community

CUPE members provide

Have an opinion you’d like to share?

Letters to the Editor: Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca

public library services throughout Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast, and some northern Gulf Islands – at 39 branches in 37 communities. We are frontline staff including library assistants, office workers, circulation supervisors, IT, and drivers. We ensure our library users get the books and information they want – whether at library branches or in remote locations.

We all know how important libraries are to the communities we serve.

As we bargain a collective agreement, we will continue to stand up for fairness and for public services.

We invite all library lovers to visit our website.

www.loveourlibrary.ca

A message from CUPE 401, your Vancouver Island Regional Library workers.

cope 491

The Westerly News | Page 7

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Westerly Life

The West Coast’s News Source Nora O’Malley, Advertising Representative

250-726-7029

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

The Pacific Rim National Park is offering free access to popular gems like Florencia Bay.

Get out and get active in local paradise National Park announces free access while construction underway The Pacific Rim National Park kicked off 2016 with some pretty significant construction projects underway and has nixed Park fees while the work is ongoing.

The Park completed a roughly $10 million repaving project in 2015 and jumped right into another $5 million worth of upgrades in December including a new $4 million water system and a $1 million roadwork project at Radar Hill.

In an email to the Westerly News, the Park’s Acting Superintendent Jackie Godfrey said the new water system would cut down on the amount of trucks the Park relies on to bring water in.

“Parks Canada is really excited to have a number of large infrastructure projects ongoing in the park reserve over the winter because the work is much needed and will make a big difference in the long term for our visitors,” she said.

“However, we also recognize that some of the closures and delays are an inconvenience to our neighbours and visitors.”

The Park is thanking West Coast commuters for their patience by offering free entry until April 30. Anyone who purchased a Family/Group annual pass for 2016 will enjoy free access until April 30, 2017.

The Park’s Long Beach unit remains open although the south parking lot will undergo periodic closures as construction companies use it to store gear.

Wickaninnish Beach remains open but access to it will be periodically closed as a new bridge is being installed on Wick Road.

Florencia Bay remains open through the Willowbrae Trail.

Along with offering free entry, the Park has also opened up online reservations early to help locals and visitors plan ahead for the summer.

“Visitors can now reserve their perfect camping spot in the heart of Parks Canada’s places on the West Coast earlier than ever before,” Godfrey said.

“With more and more families planning their summer vacations well in advance, Parks Canada is launching its online campground reservation system in January 2016, three months earlier than last year, to make it easier for visitors to plan their trips.”

Godfrey noted Green Point Campground’s spots fill up quickly especially during holidays and long-weekends so reservations are key.

“There is more flexibility in the shoulder season but if visitors want a particular camp site, they may still want to reserve,” she said.

She added Green Point has been upgraded to enhance the camping experience it provides.

“In response to visitor demands, Parks Canada has transformed Green Point into a full-service campground, complete with showers and electrical hook-ups,” she said. “We have also enhanced the camping experience by improving the viewscapes and sunlight so visitors can take in the lush rainforest and beautiful coastline.”

She said the Park is making upgrades to increase its popularity as a

vacation destination and keep up with visitor demands.

“As Canada’s largest provider of natural and cultural tourism opportunities, Parks Canada is always looking to welcome more Canadians and visitors with new opportunities to connect with nature so they learn to appreciate these special place,” she said.

“In 2016, Parks Canada will continue to work hard to promote its visitor offer, offer more compelling and unique events and activities, and make significant improvements to its facilities at its places.”

She added attracting Canadians to National Parks helps connect them to their country’s environment.

“By encouraging Canadians to visit their national treasures, and providing them with the information and means to enjoy them, Parks Canada allows more Canadians, including young Canadians and newcomers to Canada, to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and history. By building these connections, we can create a community of stewards—people who know and care about these irreplaceable treasures,” she said.

“Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has something to offer everyone and Parks Canada, in partnership with local communities and businesses, looks forward to welcoming visitors to this popular destination so they may enjoy a unique West Coast experience.”

To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday next year, Parks Canada is reportedly making entry into Canada’s National Parks free in 2017 for anyone who purchases a pass in 2016.

73019925

ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Page 8 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Ukee rec. creating healthier community Recreation guide full of opportunities for all ages

Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Holiday hangovers are wrapping up and Ucluelet’s parks and recreation department is welcoming locals back onto the healthy lifestyle train.

Ucluelet released its first program guide of 2016 last week.

“It’s full of lots of great programs for all ages and abilities,” said the district’s recreation programmer KK Hodder. “There are lots of new things and lots of popular standards.”

She said January is a busy month for her recreation team as locals revive themselves from the holiday season and look to put their best foot forward into the New Year.

“There is a component of people wanting to create better habits in their lives, making those New Year’s resolutions and just coming back from a holiday and feeling like they want to try something new; it’s a really great time for that,” she said.

“It’s easy in the summer to be outdoors and be active and be at the beach and walking the trails all the time but sometimes in the winter, when it’s gray and rainy out, it’s easy to sit by the woodstove and get warm and cozy inside and go a little inward.”

Free Fitness Week will run from Jan 11-16 to give locals a taste of the Ucluelet Community Centre’s offerings and help them figure out what to commit to this season.

“It’s great to get new people on board to give a sample of what you can be doing and what’s a good fit for you personally. It’s going to be different for everybody but I think we have a variety of programs for youth, adults and older adults so that everybody can find a good fit,” Hodder said.

“January allows a lot of people to peel back the outer layers and really start something new and try something fun.”

She said promoting health and wellness is the cornerstone of the recreation department’s mandate.

“Across the board, it’s about having an active and healthy lifestyle whether that has to do with physical fitness, nutrition, or general day to day habits,” she said. “It’s good for your body, it’s good for your brain, and it’s good for your soul.”

She added it’s important to get kids into being active and to help keep older locals engaged.

“It’s great for kids to come out, be active, try new things and start at a young age to form healthy habits,” she said.

“For older adults, it’s really good to be able to, if you’re feeling like you’re leading too much of a sedentary lifestyle, make those changes and everybody will benefit from activity and exercise no matter what.”

She said recreation is an important community service for the district to provide.

“It’s about creating a healthy community and that’s to everybody’s benefit,” she said.

“That’s to the district’s benefit, that’s to the community’s benefit, that’s to the individuals benefit; it benefits everybody in the community.”

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Local yoga instructor Flickerine Stevens is one of many facilitators ready to help you live healthy in 2016.

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The Westerly News | Page 9

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Tofino rec. helps locals be the best they can be Retention key for recreational success ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

The West Coast’s News Source.

Nora O’Malley- Advertising Representative 250-726-7029 nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

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Winter is crawling along and a glimpse of spring has emerged on the horizon so Tofino’s recreation department is luring locals out of the offseason doldrums with a full slate of New Year programming.

The district released its Winter/Spring program guide last week and is thrilled to be offering a packed roster of opportunities.

“This is one of the fullest programming seasons that we’ve had in a while,” recreation programmer Jess Towers told the Westerly News. “What we’re probably most excited about moving into 2016 is just the fullness of the programs that we’ve got going on.”

She attributed the full calendar to a solid roster of consistent instructors.

She said it takes a while for a new program to gain steam and instructors often need to stick around for more than one season to start seeing a strong following.

“Instructors do get followings, particularly with adults,” she said.

“It’s also important to have solid local facilitators because they understand the community’s needs so it’s nice to have people who are in the community who can say ‘Hey, I think this program would work and these are the reasons why.’ They’re coming from the ground level.”

She added popular local instructors help boost attendance and are tuned into the community’s recreational needs.

“The proof is in the pudding, that’s why we have such a full program year right now,” she said.

“It’s not me sitting in a programming role and having to go out there and convince people to do this, that or the other thing.

People are saying, ‘Hey I see a need or I see a market here and this is what I want to do’ and they just go with it and make it their own and people really like that.”

She hopes to see Tofino jump into the many opportunities

available and said it is important for locals, regardless of age, to be active both physically and socially.

“It’s good to get out there and stay healthy and, living where we do, on the West Coast it’s a pretty common thread that a lot of people have. We like to be outdoors and we like to be active and we like to be healthy,” she said.

“It reflects down to our kids too. You can tell your kids to go out and stay healthy and do all this stuff but leading by example is definitely important and in our guide we are trying to cater more to adults than we have in the past.”

She said keeping kids active in an important service for the district to provide.

“It creates a strong thread of community even just going out and being involved in something,” she said.

“It’s neat for kids to be able to meet with other kids outside of the classroom setting, the classroom setting is one thing and going out and meeting with your soccer team or going out and swimming is a totally different experience that the kids are going to have.”

She added youth need healthy avenues to expend their high energy levels.

“I can’t speak for all kids, but I know that when I was a kid I had a lot of extra energy to burn and extra curricular activities were one of the things that was able to keep me even keel,” she said.

“It gave me a place to expend that energy in a healthy way.”

She encourages anyone with an idea for a class they’d like to facilitate to connect with the district office at 250-725-3229.

“We really encourage people if they have an idea for a class or something that they’re passionate about to come and sit down and have a chat with me and we can roll through the options for them,” she said.

“We’re always looking for new instructors and new programs.”

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Page 10 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

NORA O’MALLEy PhOtO

Tofino Nature Kids co-founder and program facilitator Jay Roberts captivates a young audience with a campfire story at a Nature Kids open house event held on Saturday at the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

Tofino Nature Kids brings Forest School teachings to West Coast Nora o’malley

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Roberts said there are Forest School education programs popping up everywhere and some schools are even incorporating the philosophy into their full curriculum.

“There are so many studies that say even teaching our normal subjects outside allows the children to concentrate more fully and provides a better learning environment,” she said The Forest School Canada website cites “creating sustainable and healthy communities” as one of the key benefits of FS programming.

“We are always looking for more community involvement. Part of the concept of Nature School is to build and grow communities, so that’s important to us,” Roberts said.

To stave off wet and dreary West Coast days, Tofino Nature Kids had a tiny shed-like classroom built by volunteer dads in the early fall.

The space is a complete with a wood fireplace, a rain water catchment system for hand-washing, and a rigid polycarbonate roof so the kids can take in the lulling patter of rain.

“We are trying to encourage people with specific skills to come and be guest speakers and guest facilitators,” Roberts said adding one of the parents recently came in and taught the kids about knitting.

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Back in 2013 when Shawna and Jay Roberts first envisioned a learning program to connect Tofino and Ucluelet kids to nature, the couple were naive to the fact that the very pedagogical model they were imagining had already been established.

After doing their homework, the founders of Tofino Nature Kids discovered Forest School (FS) – an internationally recognized approach to education, rooted to Sweden, Denmark, and other European countries.

“Forest School Canada is moving into their second year,” Shawna Roberts told the Westerly News at a Tofino Nature Kids open house on Saturday.

“It’s (FS) is just starting to grow in North America. It’s still pretty new.”

According the Forest School Canada website, “FS differs from other outdoor learning experiences in two ways. First, FS takes place in the same setting on a regular basis over an extended period of time.”

“Second, while there are some structured elements, the FS curriculum is largely emergent, child-directed, and play-based.”

Tofino Nature Kids whole-heartedly embraces the FS philosophy with their home base being ideally situated on the shoreline of the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

“We’re in such an incredible natural environment and the fact that we’re

in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a piece... This particular area of land is so important to draw people’s attention to,” Roberts said.

“So in that way, it’s been great to have people from out-of-town come to our programs so we can educate them about the land and helping to preserve this amazing place.”

One of the biggest challenges Roberts has faced over the course of growing her children’s nature centre is the resistance from parents to value organized outdoor education.

“They think ‘Oh we live in Tofino, our kids are already connected to nature, we don’t need to put them in a program that’s specific for that,’” she said.

“But we focus on deep nature connections. That’s really just remembering that we used to depend on nature for survival, for our medicines, food, and everything.”

For the little ones or ‘Wrens’ and ‘Otters’ as they’re called in the program, that involves finding an outdoor sit spot, storytelling, and a lot of exploration, according to Roberts.

“We play this game called Owl Eyes. It’s like hide and seek in the forest, but what’s it’s teaching them to do is find a spot in the forest and sit and be quiet and then slowly they notice the spider crawling down from the branch,” she said.

& SUNTUBES

7120473

SINCE 1986

Kris Wieteska

250-726-5107 Ucluelet, BC

The Westerly News | Page 11

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

PHOTO FEATURE

Nature Kids NORA O’MALLEY PHOTOS

Tofino Nature Kids co-founders Jay and Shawna Roberts hosted their inaugural Open House event at the Tofino Nature Kids base camp on Jan. 9. Dozens of tiny explorers and their parents made the trek to the outdoor centre at the shoreline of the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

For more event photos check out: www.facebook.com/WesterlyNews.

A young nature-lover plays a game of sense discovery at the Tofino Nature Kids Open House event on Saturday.

Local boys take on a tree at the Tofino Nature Kids base camp, which is nestled at the Botanical Gardens.

Shawna Roberts dished out baked goodies to all her little wanderers.

Tofino kids take turns on a makeshift swing.

Page 12 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

GAMES & PUZZLES

Thanks from USS Band DAVID MCPHERSON

Local Voice

Thanks from the USS Band students and me to The Foggy Bean for helping us raise well over $400.

Thanks also to Dale at Officials, his Turkey Bingo raised $470.

We’ll be using these funds for two different band trips this year.

Subscribe!

The Jazz Band and the Grade 9-11 Band will both be going to Vancouver for performances and to see concerts.

Trips like these would not be possible without help from local businesses and the support of the community.

David McPherson is the USS band teacher.

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Page 14 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

AROUND THE PROVINCE

B.C. opposed to Trans Mountain expansion TOM FLETCHER

Black Press

The B.C. government is close to releasing its plan to provide “world-leading” prevention and response to land-based oil spills, but that progress isn’t enough to change its opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Environment Minister Mary Polak announced Monday the province’s final submission to the federal review of the project confirms it still has not met B.C.’s five conditions for approval of heavy oil pipelines.

Polak said she is preparing to present legislation this spring to establish new standards for land protection, after discussions with Trans Mountain operator Kinder Morgan Canada and other companies. B.C.s final submission to the National Energy Board continues to recommend the pipeline twinning not be approved, but Polak said that is not the final word.

“We have been encouraged by the number of government and industry leaders who have also taken up the challenge and accepted the need to proceed along our five conditions, but we have not at this time seen evidence in the NEB hearing process that those conditions can yet be met,” Polak said.

B.C.’s five conditions, presented in 2012, include NEB approval, “world-leading” land and marine spill prevention and response, meeting legal obligations to aboriginal communities and an unspecified “fair share” of provincial benefits from any new heavy oil pipeline project.

Kinder Morgan issued a statement Monday saying it continues to work with B.C., but requirements for aboriginal consultation, spill prevention and revenue sharing can’t be met by the company alone.

The project already faces 150 draft conditions from the NEB, in what Kinder Morgan Canada president Ian Anderson has called “the most highly

scrutinized pipeline project by the NEB in history.”

The NEB is expected to hear intervenor arguments starting Jan. 19 in Burnaby, including affected municipalities. Vancouver is also opposed, arguing that a seven-fold increase in crude oil tanker traffic on Burrard Inlet represents an unacceptable risk.

The Trans Mountain pipeline has been operating one line for 60 years, running from northern Alberta through the B.C. Interior at Kamloops to its marine terminal in Burnaby. A branch line runs south to supply oil refineries on the coast of Washington state, and the pipeline has already been twinned on the Alberta side.

Kinder Morgan is hoping for an NEB decision to recommend proceeding

by May. Final approval is up to the federal cabinet.

He finished 16th of 150 boats in the Youth Laser Worlds this summer in Kingston, On.; second in youth nationals, losing top spot by only a few points; won B.C.s in Squamish and topped multiple local events in Vancouver. Previously he has competed overseas as well, once racing for a month in Malaysia.

“He’s very in tune with the environment and that’s very critical in this sport,” McBride said.

All his favoured sports incorporate the surf, currents, wind and waves; he’s an avid kiteboarder and surfer which both add to his understanding of the sea.

“All those things are connected. It’s a neat combination of all those sports, he understands stuff is happening before it happens,” McBride said.

“Reece takes risks, but he doesn’t because he understands what’s going on. People think he’s lucky but he’s not – he’s calculating. …

You can’t teach that stuff.”

McBride, who has coached the teen off and on since Myerscough started the program at 10, is among the many who still guide the young Oak Bay man.

Myerscough is a member of both a Victoria and a Vancouver team. He trains with national coach Eric Stibbe, Al Clarke out of Vancouver and local RVYC coaches McBride and Erik Vanderpol.

“I think that’s one of the strengths of his program really,” McBride said.

“We say the same thing but it’s just how a different coach approaches something. He learns from everybody. … It’s like the village of sailing coaches raising the athlete.”

“His support network from his family is phenomenal. Reece is very aware of it and I think he’s very grateful for the stuff his family does to support him,” McBride said, adding the younger sailor also shows appreciation for his extended family of teammates and coaches.

“Reece is one of those guys who’s amiable and friendly, a joker on the dock. That lends a whole bunch to him, people want to sail with him, people want to train with him.”

Myerscough said he’s watching keenly as kiteboarding inches into the Olympic Games.

The International Sailing Association council voted in 2012 to replace windsurfing with kitesurfing for the 2016 Games – that decision was overturned later that year.

“That might be a goal, to qualify,” he said. “I really like surfing a lot, they all contribute to each other.”

Windsurfing, Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 470, and 49er are all slated for this summer’s Olympic Games.

Oak Bay teen receives B.C. Sailing kudos CHRISTINE VAN REEUWYK

Oak Bay News

Sailing coach Steve McBride insists Reece Myerscough has salt water in his veins.

The Oak Bay 18-year-old takes to the waves in myriad ways, including kiteboard, surf board and laser sailboat, where he’s seen major success this season culminating the B.C. Sailing title of Outstanding Youth of the Year.

A mechanical engineering student at Camosun College, Myerscough was surprised but pleased by the award he attributes to a summer season of success.

“I like the racing, I really enjoy racing. It’s been a good summer for racing,” Myerscough said. “You have to really know how to read the wind well and you have to be fit. I’m getting there.”

Fitness for him was the key to success and a focus this season. The teen added a few gym workouts a week and made sure to incorporate core exercises to achieve the goal.

“It’s time and effort, mostly. For me the biggest thing was fitness,” he said. “I can do really well in light wind events, as soon as the wind picked up I wasn’t fit enough to keep up. I worked on that this year and it paid off.”

WE VALUE YOUR PROPERTY AS MUCH AS YOU DO. If you’re among BC’s approximately 2 million property owners, you should receive your 2016 property assessment in the mail early in January. If you haven’t, call us toll-free at 1-866-valueBC. Access property information and compare your assessment to others using our free e-valueBC service at bcassessment.ca, BC’s trusted go-to property information resource.

If you have questions or want more information, contact us at 1-866-valueBC or online at bcassessment.ca. The deadline to file an appeal for your assessment is February 1st, 2016.

Follow us on Twitter:

For more property information, assessment highlights and videos visit

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The Westerly News | Page 15

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

community calendar

to submit your activities; email: office@westerlynews.ca, fax:250-726-4248 or drop by: #102-1801 Bay st, Ucluelet

Featured Event for the Week

WED. Jan 13

thu. Jan 14

jam night at howler’s

the eDge yoUth room

9 p.m.-12 midnight

3–6p.m., UCC.

KaraoKe at jaCKs PUB

Bingo

9:30 p.m.

7-10 p.m. tofino legion.

Pool night

FRI. Jan 15

7-11 p.m. tofino legion

DroP-in BasKetBall 7- 9 p.m. WCS gym

seniors soCial afternoons 1:30-4 p.m., tofino legion.

st. ColUmBa ChUrCh 7 p.m. 110 2nd st.

DroP-in BaDminton

free CommUnity lUnCh

tofino legion, 7:30 p.m.

The Peanuts Movie, 1 p.m., UCC. The Martian Movie, 3 p.m. ,UCC.

7 p.m. 110 2nd st.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tofino Comm. Hall

the eDge yoUth room

aa meeting

UniteD/angliCan serviCe

healthy BaBies Program/ family ties

2–6p.m. UCC.

Big BeaCh Cinema movie night

thu. Jan 14

UClUelet aa 8 p.m. holy family Church, Peninsula rd.

Contact 250.726.2343 for more information.

st. ColUmBa ChUrCh

Sat. Jan 16

10:30 a.m, UCC

robin tagles from the westcoast Community resources society is launching an expressive writing workshops just for the ladies. the creative writing classes are free and run for the next 8 weeks. Participants are encouraged to attend as often as life permits. the tofino class is set for mon., jan.18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. space is limited in the tofino class, so please call in advance to save your spot. the first Ukee class takes place on tues., jan. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Big BeaCh Cinema movie

Bingo at the legion

7-10 p.m. tofino legion.

healthy BaBies Program/ family ties

Jan. 18 & 19 expressive writing workshop for women

Sun. Jan 17

The Peanuts Movie, 6 p.m., UCC. The Martian Movie, 8 p.m. ,UCC.

7-9 p.m. WCS gym. $3.

featured event for the week

Sat. Jan 16

7-9 p.m. Uss gym. $2.

arts groUP

DroP-in soCCer

We accept your, Arts & Entertainment, Service Group, Non Profit Organization, Church, Library, Fundraiser, Open to the Public notices on a first come, first served basis.

tonqUin tUne-UP

surfrider Pacific rim hosts a beach cleaning and graffiti removal.

11 a.m.-1p.m. tonquin Beach.

Bring a reusable bag or bucket and gardening gloves. snacks provided by Common loaf Bake shop.

st. franCis of assisi ChUrCh 5:30 p.m.

7:30pm, st. francis.

Sun. Jan 17 DroP-in BaDminton

4 p.m. UCC.

tofino BiBle fellowshiP 10:30 a.m. tofino legion.

7-9 p.m. Uss gym.

MOn. Jan 18

Christ CommUnity ChUrCh

tofino exPressive writing worKshoP for women

10:30am, 1419 Peninsula rd.

graCe BiBle ChUrCh 10:30 am, UCC.

holy family ChUrCh 10 a.m. , 1663 Peninsula rd. Ucluelet

st. lawrenCe ChUrCh 11:00 a.m. ahousaht.

6:30-8:30 p.m. , Location TBD

UClUelet aa 8pm. holy family.

Darts at the legion 8-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

monDay night movies

tuE. Jan 19

10:30 a.m, UCC

the eDge yoUth room 2–6p.m. UCC.

tofino legion yoUth night 7-9 p.m., tofino legion.

yoUth night at the anaf

6p.m.-8p.m., anaf Ucluelet free dinner. show up and hangout.

aa meeting

7:30pm, st. francis Church.

UClUelet exPressive writing worKshoP for women

Sicario, 8 p.m., Clayoquot Sound Theatre 6:30-8:30 p.m. , The Hub at UCC

Page 16 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Take your first step to the international stage!

Applications now being accepted for Miss Teen BC, Miss BC & Mrs BC! To apply visit your community newspaper website and click on contests.

nora o’maLLey photo

Left, Howler’s owner Kent Furey shows off his brand new neon breakfast sign. The Ucluelet family restaurant and bowling alley will offer grab-n-go breakfast come February. Right, a crowd waits to nosh on delicious mexican cuisine outside Tofino’s Tacofino.

Success comes to local restaurants

continued from page 1

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK PRESS COMMUNITY NEWS MEDIA

“But this is where I was supposed to do it I suppose. After two years of searching the whole Island for a good location, I ended up back at Smiley’s,” Furey said.

After three solid months of construction, Furey was able to turn Smiley’s into Howler’s and his newly minted family dining establishment opened its doors to a lineup of customers on 2015’s May long-weekend.

“Just to have this amount of success in the first season for us, I don’t really need an award to prove that we did good. I know that by waking up and I still want to go to work that that’s good enough for me. That’s a trophy right there, I just can’t display it,” he said.

As for the team behind Tacofino—Jason Sussman, Kaeli Robinsong, Ryan Spong, and Gino Di Domenico—well, they’re just honoured to be a finalist.

“We’ve been growing the business slowly and fairly responsibly,” Spong told the Westerly News from his home in Vancouver.

“We employ over 200 British Columbians with about 40 of them on the Island.

And that’s with pretty humble beginnings. About 5 years ago there was less than a dozen employees.”

Spong, who has been stewarding Tacofino’s business operations since 2010, credits the Mexican food truck’s overwhelming success to a fine balance of pricing and sourcing quality ingredients.

“We have really great quality ingredients and we make everything from scratch.

We charge a reasonable price so people can afford it,” Spong said.