LNG consultations Ferry talks
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Skidegate’s 15 minutes North-end studies
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GMD TV cough Whooping
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OBservER OBSERVER
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Friday, May 1, Friday, February 5, 2015 2016
Name change in Earthquake rattles bedsfor butCo-op fails to store
startle nerves AGM announcement By Staceyamid Marple record profits comes Haida Gwaii Observer The early morning of Friday April 24, By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii was hit by an Earthquake of 6.1 Haida Gwaii Observer magnitude. No tsunami warnings were issued after the earthquake. The epicentre of the Fewwas 70-year-olds mark their quake approximately 167 km birthdays south of the with a name change and a growth spurt, Village of Queen Charlotte. but the residents Delmas Co-op is Gwaii a special case. Some of Haida reported Starting Feb. 24, the co-op will be objects shaking and windows rattling, but no renamed HaidaorGwaii Consumers serious damage injuries were reported. Co-operative Association — all an have all-isAs the islands of Haida Gwaii land name to better reflect the fact that unique geological qualities, the effects of an with a grocery store and building supply earthquake can vary from island to island. in Masset and a second store in in Every community reportedgrocery feeling the quake Skidegate, the co-op serves residents different ways. Queen Charlotte Village which across Haida has a rock base Gwaii. didn’t feel the quake as much Speaking to of thethenearly 100parts people who as the residents northern of Graham packed the Masset legion for Sunday’s island. Tlell and north is mostly a sand based annual meeting, co-op that president area andgeneral feels almost every quake happens. Bob Isaacs said member-owners can look Shirley Wilson of Skidegate reported forwardthetoearthquake. a promising, prosperous feeling “I was sitting in future. my All together, the co-op rang in After a record bed when I heard the house creak.” $13,749,700 sales thestart lastrocking fiscal the initial creakinshe feltover her bed yearnoticed — nearly $1.2 million more“The than the and her ornaments rocking. previous year. ornaments rocked for a while after the quake For member-owners, sales also stopped,” Ms. Wilson toldbetter the Observer. “My mean a boost in equity and cash son and brother who were also in thereturns. house Overfeel thethe current fiscal year, they will see a didn’t earthquake at all.” four per cent return on their co-op purchases, Barry Pages of Masset, director of the which is a full point higher than last year. In Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District total,he$835,786 has been member said felt the quake but allocated because itfor was fairly returns. short he wasn’t too concerned. However, he While“This the bulk of the co-op’s salesone stillto be added, is a reminder to every come from its larger grocery store and buildprepared.” ing supply in Masset, the Skidegate store Earthquakes are nothing new to Haida saw higher — its salesjust were up 56after per acent Gwaii. growth The quake comes weeks over last year, compared with a 32 per study identied Haida Gwaii as groundcent zero boost Masset. for theinnext major seismic event on the west Richard Clarmont, the co-op’s general mancoast. ager, he was also pleased to announce Thissaid recent earthquake doesn’t qualify as thatbig theone co-op is debt-free, having fullysmaller retired the scientists predict, as it was the mortgage on its six-year-old Masset food than even some of the aftershocks after the 7.7 store, nearly two years ahead of schedule. magnitude earthquake in 2012. Thatsame milestone was that marked in Gwaii September The weekend Haida got with a mortgage-burning ceremony at the hit by this 6.1 tremor, Nepal was devastated co-op’s barbecue. by a 7.8 anniversary magnitude event. Earthquakes between a 6.0 and a 6.9 are AGMscale. on Page 2 considered a strong on theSee Richter
Archie Stocker Sr. photo
After a series of powerful storms, this tree came crashing down on the Cemetery Road outside Masset, blocking all traffic to the airport beach. Janet and Robert Baker of Masset, pictured, continued their hike to the beach, leaving their car behind. The Village of Masset soon sent out a crew to cut up the fallen hemlock and piled it Submitted up in firewoodphoto sized blocks for the taking. Committee members of the Pulling Together Haida Gwaii Event demonstrate their teamwork abilities at the carving shed in the Kay Centre. The group will be holding a fund raiser May 2. See full story on Page 3
Searchunveils and rescue suspended after Day 3 YVR Davidson masterworks
By Quinn Bender Haida Gwaii Observer By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii The search forObserver Kumdis Ilsand resident, Brent Hendren, was suspended Reg Davidson enjoysone skyoflight last weekend following Haidaa lot more than spotlights. Gwaii’s largest search and rescue The celebrated carver likes operations in moreHaida than 25 years. to“Iget up and working in his Old know for a fact that if he was Massett studio around 3 a.m., well alive out there we would have found before dawn, no and way before his him. There’s chance we would phone gets a chance to ring. have missed him. The community The studio hasdid noeverything windows, we so should know we Davidson can work without waking possibly could to find him,” said his neighbours. Chris Ashurst, SAR manager with “Nobody’s complained yet, and and Archipelago Ground Search I’ve been here 20 years,” he says, Rescue and deputy unit leader with
Prince Rupert’s
“I know for a fact “I’mifhappy that he waswhere alive at today.” outI’m there we would have found -him.” Reg Davidson - Chris Ashurst
laughing. Massett Marine Rescue. Instead of windows, the studio has Mr. Hendren, 27, was last seen skylights — meaning the only ones rowing out to his Kumdis Island likely to get a peek at Davidson’s cabin rental with supplies Sunday
morning, April 18. He missed dinner plans with friends later that night. latestfollowing work are theTuesday eagles andMasset ravens The that fly overhead. RCMP received a missing persons But after an unveiling lastdiscovery Tuesday, report, which led to the a whole new flock of high-fliers Mr. Hendren’s boat abandoned will and get to see the four of red-cedar overturned south Watun works River that make up Davidson’s public near Pure Lake Provincialfirst Park. art“Itoutside Old Massett. is strongly believed that Brent Standing in the domesticcapsized termidrowned when his rowboat nal of the Vancouver International west of Kumdis Island,” Mr. Ashurst Airport, Davidson’s 24-foot cedar said. “This is based on information pole, two sculptures and monumenfrom witnesses, the location of the captal bentwood box be seen by up sized vessel, and thewill distribution of his to 100,000 air travellers a day. personal effects along the shoreline. See YVR on Page 8 See SEARCH on Page 2
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