Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, March 16, 2016

a Whale’s BesT fRienD

Whale fesT conTinues

10-year-old mainlander meets whale’s rescuers.

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Westerly News

TOFINO-UCLUELET

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Fresh start for stalled safety plan

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$800,000 signage project stumbled out of the gate Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

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A public safety project is hoping to find traction after spending the past several years spinning its tires. The Coast Smart project, which began as CoastSafe in 2013, was armed with $800,000 worth of federal funding to increase coastal safety in the region but it limped out of the gate, according to the project’s manager Tim Webb.

“The money came in a couple of years ago but got off to a very slow start and there were some different directions it took,” Webb told Ucluelet’s council during last week’s regular meeting.

“I was brought on at the end of last year, in November, to help manage the project and to make some things happen, so the project is basically starting out now.”

He said plans are being worked out and contractors are being sought to complete the project by next year’s deadline. “The project has to be completed by the end of March 2017 so that’s a lot of work; we’re a little bit late in getting this started. It’s unfortunate but that’s where we are,” he said “This is a pilot project on the West Coast…It’s been funded by the federal government; they’re interested in seeing ultimately something that’s national with the West Coast here being the start.”

He said the project’s budget allows for the design, creation and installation of new educational safety signage and the first task would be to secure a contractor to complete a risks assessment of local beaches, shorelines and access points so that a signage plan can start coming together.

See NEW page 3

ANDREW bAILEY Photo

IcINg oN thE cAKE: Locals helped MP Gord Johns cut the Pacific Rim Whale Festival’s 30th anniversary cake on Saturday.

Wheels for Wellness picked up

Communities continue to tackle regional transportation issues Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A successful pilot program has driven local leaders to pick up the Wheels for Wellness program full time.

The program, which began in Comox in 1997, helps medical patients living in rural communities get to their non-emergency medical appointments out of town.

Patients are picked up at their door and returned home in a Wheels for Wellness van helmed by volunteer drivers. The service is free though donations are encouraged.

All operational costs, including gas, are paid for through grants secured by the Wheels for Wellness society but the West Coast must pay a one-time $34,000 tab to buy the van that will be used.

See boost page 11

Page 2 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

MID ISLAND REALTY

Mieke Dusseldorp Happily serving T & Ucluelet Cell: 250-726-3888 s Fax: 888-885-0005 s

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NORA O’MALLEY PhOtO

Tour de Rock rider-in-training Gaylene Thorogood proudly poses with a new-to-her Trek road bike.

Ukee rider ready to rock Nora o’malley

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

She has the Trek road bike, she has the blessing from her family, now all she needs to do is get used to those darn clip-in pedals.

Ucluelet’s Gaylene Thorogood is training for the 2016 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team.

“Road biking is new to me. This is going to be a new challenge and I’m ready for it,” said Thorogood, who describes herself as a recreational mountain biker. “I don’t go downhilling or anything extreme, but I do love mountain biking on the logging road.”

The Tour de Rock ride involves a two-week, 1,000km bicycle journey from the north end of Vancouver Island to the south to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

“I personally don’t have anyone in the family that has been touched by cancer at this time, but I’ve had my best friend, I’ve had my in-laws’ family die from brain cancer. We know how devastating cancer can be and with a child it’s even that much harder,” Thorogood said.

To qualify for the team, riders must be RCMP or RCMP Auxiliary and complete the required training.

At the beginning of May, there will be a team trial and if Thorogood is officially named a team rider, she can launch her fundraising campaign.

“I have to complete my auxiliary training and I have to complete the team training in order to qualify in May. I’m doing this because it’s a worthy cause. It helps paediatric childhood cancer and their families,” she said. “It not only goes to the research but it also goes to their camp called Camp Good Times. It allows the families and teenagers to go to camp for free.”

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To be a member of the Tour de Rock team, Thorogood will need to learn how to group ride.

“A lot of the training videos I watched encourage you to learn to actually touch each other while you are riding so you have that spatial awareness,” she said. “Put your arms out, hang on to each other, and ride for a bit. We’re not racing, but you have a certain speed that you have to maintain.”

Thorogood has a long standing relationship with West Coast RCMP. Her Dad is a retired Tofino RCMP and she spent nine years working in the Ucluelet RCMP detachment before transferring to the Tofino detachment.

She’s no stranger to fundraising either. In 2011, she helped Sgt. Jeff Swann organize the Regimental Ball, which raised $23,000 in Ucluelet alone.

While the mother of three university age children has many miles of gruelling road work in the months ahead, including a ride up Mount Washington and a mock three-day tour in August, she said she’s inspired and feels hugely supported by her husband and both the Tofino and Ucluelet RCMP detachments.

“Failure is not an option,” she said. “I have too many people behind me, supporting me.”

Thorogood will get her touring legs in shape by speed riding each Tuesday and taking on hills each Thursday.

When traffic picks up in the busy summer months, she’ll veer off down the Port Albion road to fill her weekly kilometre quota.

“Watch out for me on the road. If people honk or wave that would be great too,” she said.

The Westerly News | Page 3

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

March 16 Tofino Recycles Remember –

Reduce , Reuse , Recycle !

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Tides & WeaTher ThuRsday 17 TIde

2:18 aM 8:29 aM 3:26 PM 10:01PM

andreW BaiLeY photo

The Pacific Rim National Park’s surf towers were torn down in 2012 increasing the need for educational safety signage.

COASTAL SAFETY

New life breathed into signage project continued from page 1 “We don’t want to have clutter, we want to have appropriate signage,” Webb said. “There’s quite a mish mash of signs right now across the region, in some places there’s little or no signage in other places there’s perhaps too much signage it’s cluttered and it’s hard to see what’s going on.”

He suggested the Pacific Rim National Park’s wave hazard signs need an upgrade.

“It’s kind of a limited use right now. It tends to be quite high all the time and people aren’t quite sure how to interpret that so the idea is to make a slightly richer hazard rating,” he said.

He said coordinated safety signage would help locals and visitors make safe decisions.

“The intent here isn’t to scare people. The intent here is to give people alternatives so that when the weather is particularly bad, and people want to go storm watching, they’re given alternatives, safe places they can go,” he said.

“We’re attracting people to this region to come surfing to go storm watching, to walk on the beaches and to travel on rocky shores, even if we don’t necessarily recommend some of these things, people are traveling on rocky shores.”

He suggested evolving amenities are providing tourists with increased access to shorelines.

“The Wild Pacific Trail is a fabulous amenity for the community and for tourists but it does provide people with access to some fairly scary places when the weather is bad,” he said.

He said the project’s new signage would bring visitors up to speed on dangers locals already know about.

“The problem we have is that many of our visitors don’t really understand the very dynamic nature of the Coast,” he said.

“As locals we’re all aware of the way the waves can surge up, both on the beaches and on rocky shores, and how it can be very unexpected when larger sets come in and how, when the tides are high, the waves run all the way to the top of the shore and can float logs and things like that and cause injury.”

He said incidents are occurring regularly along the Coast.

“We don’t really have a very good estimate of exactly how many incidents are happening because there scattered amongst different agencies. Our estimate is that in the last 20 years there’s been about 20 fatalities along the Coast…Incidents are happening and we want to educate people,” he said.

“We want to reduce the calls for emergency services, reduce the number of incidents, identify gaps in response capabilities and support future initiatives to fill those gaps…We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here, where there are existing things going along we want to support and enhance those.”

He added educational materials will also be looked at and could be used elsewhere.

“The idea here is to be as flexible as possible and developing materials that can be used in different ways, we want to have materials that can be used in schools for example,” he said.

“The ideal is that people that are involved in the tourism industry have this information and have this knowledge so that when they’re approached by tourists or other people interested in learning about safely recreating on the coast they have that information to pass on.”

He said response capabilities were originally included in the project’s scope but would likely be pushed off the desk.

“This project initially had quite a lot of focus on developing some new response capabilities. That’s really been cut back in the current version of this project,” he said adding the risk assessments done could help identify training or resource gaps.

“Do we have the right training, the right equipment, the right people to deal with the types of incidents that we are likely to see in the coming years?”

He noted the Pacific Rim National Park’s surf guard program was nixed in 2012.

“In days gone by when there was the surf guard program some of the rental shops and so on would send people to the Park where they knew they were being supervised if they were novices, but that’s not there anymore so the question we’re addressing is how do we inform people and educate them to make safe decisions,” he said.

He said a steering committee was struck to help guide the Coast Smart project and three meetings have been held since November. The committee’s key players are Tofino’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers, Ucluelet’s emergency and environmental services manager Karla Robison and Randy Mercer of Parks Canada.

Webb said local chambers of commerce are also involved as are businesses like Long Beach Surf Shop and Surf Sister.

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Page 4 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

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Bring back the surf guard tower Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Serenity; it’s what surrounds us.

What we see outside our windows is plastered on brochures and billboards Classified Advertising to entice city-dwellers to take some time Tuesday 10am away from what they see when they look classifieds@westerlynews.ca outside their windows.

Serenity is why they come. They want to capture what we have and bask in it for as many moments as they can score.

Right now, they’re coming to celebrate Letters to the Editor our whales with us. But they never stop Sunday 5pm coming because our serenity isn’t bound to Andrew.Bailey@westerlynews.ca any season.

Whenever a friend asks us why we live Letters to the editor must be signed and here we can try to describe what we see include your full name, home town and contact out our windows but photos and words phone number. Those without these requirements have limits; the West Coast’s serenity does will not be published. Letters must be 300 words not. or less and are subject to editing. The NeWS Tourists tend to describe their experiretains the right not to publish submissions. ences in verbose essays of first hand acMail: P.O. Box 317, Ucluelet B.C. V0R 3A0 counts that have made Tofino and Ucluelet Fax: 250-726-4282 Trip Advisor darlings. e-mail: Andrew.Bailey@westerlynews.ca We like that because it’s fun to be reminded how well we’ve done to plant ourthe westerLy is a member of the nationselves in paradise. aL newsmedia counciL which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptTo paraphrase a worn out saying though, able journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. this isn’t your parents’ paradise. Times have If you have concerns about editorial content, changed and time always picks a side. please contact: editor@westerlynews.ca or Those who discovered the Coast before 250-726-7029. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the Pacific Rim National Park was estabthe web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free lished in the 1970’s can remember a time 1-844-877-1163 for additional information. when cars and tents covered Long Beach each summer.

Some may lament over the rules that We acknowledge the financial support of the Governcame in when Parks Canada decided to

Letters:

ment of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, a division of Black Press, respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available by calling 250-729-4223. The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, non-commercial purposes.

protect that piece of serenity. Those born too late to know the 1960’s though have the Park to thank for the serenity they bask in. The Park kept serenity safe when tourists discovered the Coast.

Long Beach remains, the rain forest remains. Make no mistake, were it not for the Park that area would be crowded with development and not of the affordable housing variety.

But just as there was a time when cars covered the beach, there was a time when heroes watched over it. Lifeguards, called surf guards because we are where we are, stood watch from atop their surf guard tower at Long Beach.

Serenity breathes safety and the surf guards emitted that oxygen.

In 2012, Canada’s federal government cut Parks Canada’s budget by $29 million, laid off 638 Park employees and killed the Pacific Rim National Park’s surf guard service. The cuts were reported in May of that year, and just in case hope remained that the decision would be reversed, the tower was torn down in August.

Surf guards had stood watch at that tower for roughly 40 years and were reportedly credited with an average of eight water rescues per season. Their presence reminded visitors of our serenity’s dangerous side.

There was modest outcry when the surf guards were sent home but time picked a side. In any other year the surf tower’s murder would have been the talk of our towns but in 2012 the spotlight was taken.

The West Coast was reeling over the announced closure of our Coast Guard and any outcry for Parks Canada was dwarfed.

Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving—who fought harder for this Coast than he ever got credit for—held a public meeting in June, 2012, to discuss the cuts to the Park and the Coast Guard. The Park was barely brought up.

Some locals threw rocks. Tofino Mayor Perry Schmunk was loud in his opposition and came at it from an economic standpoint. Losing the surf guard, he argued, risked losing serenity and losing serenity risked losing tourists. Oregon, a key competitor, has lifeguards on its beaches.

Schmunk’s time though picked a side, he resigned later that year.

We’re still fighting for the Coast Guard, which is the right thing to do, but when will we share the spotlight? every few months we hear of expensive new safety signage or new smart phone apps that will keep our visitors safe.

Surf guards made human contact with beach goers. They could spot a noviceheading to the water, board in tow, and take time to interact and bring that novice up to speed on our surf.

Nobody goes to the beach to read signs and no one should bring their phone to stare at apps in the sand. There is no sign as attention-attracting as the surf guard tower was and signs can’t dive in.

We hardly raised a fuss when it happened, do we have time to raise a fuss now?

Question of the week

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

Do you feel your town needs more safety signage?

Last week’s Question

Should Ucluelet move residents onto water meters?

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40% NO

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Fun Fair raises $14,000 DENA BRUNO AND SAMANTHA FYLERIS

Local Voices

We want to share our gratitude for everyone who contributed to the success of the annual Wickaninnish Elementary School Fun Fair, held on a rainy March 4.

We netted a record $14,000 which will benefit all students of this growing school by supporting programs including outdoor education and more.

The superhero theme brought out a number of community members in disguise, including Dan Law as Lava Man, winning brunch at the Wickaninnish Inn for his best adult costume, and MacKenzie Moore as Super Muffin, who won her height in fair tickets! A high five to Mayor Josie Osborne in scouting the winning costumes.

Thank you to everyone - you know who you are who bid on the generously donated silent auctions, and to the superhero businesses who donated their goods to help our school: Bean at the Cove Coffee Bar, Best Little Hair House, Board Medic, Co-op Hardware, Chocolate Tofino, Coastal Bliss Studio, Epic Pharmacy, Gibson Brothers, Jamie’s Rainforest Inn, Jeff Hale, Jeremy Koreski, Habit, House of Himwitsa, KD Air, Jan McDougall, Kuma, L.A. Grocery, Live to Surf, Long Beach Auto, Long Beach Lodge Resort, Long Beach Surf Shop, Mark Hobson, Mermaid Tales, Method Marine, Mike White’s Browning Passage, Ocean Village Resort, Otalith (Ashley Adams), Pacific Sands, Pacific Surf Co., Pete Devries, Picnic Charcuterie, Red Can Gourmet, RPM, Rubio, Sacred Stone Spa, Schooner Restaurant, Sea Wench Naturals, Shelter Restaurant, SoBo, Sol Maya, Storm, Storm Light Outfitters, Studio One, Surf Sister, Tofino Brewing Co., Tofino Fishing & Trading, the Tofino Food and Wine Festival (Kira Rogers), The Whale Centre, Tofino Pharmacy, Tofino Soap Company, Tofino Water Taxi, Tuff Beans, Ucluelet Rent-It Centre, Wickaninnish Inn, Wildside Grill, Wolf in the Fog (for an amazing gift pack plus a surfboard!)

It wouldn’t be a fun fair without Jeff and Suzanne

WICKanInnIsh PaC Photo

Tofino local April Froment baked this cake for March 12’s Fun Fair festivities at Wick. School.

Mikus running the 50/50 table, Grace George selling game tickets, Marnie manning the food concession table, Chef Rick Moore feeding us well and Rebecca Tuck organizing so many of the details! A special shout-out to Kimi Henderson and the kids at the Children’s Centre for creating posters we saw around town.

Finally… the Cake Walk. This is easily the most popular game and we upped the ante by awarding the top 3 superhero-themed cakes, decorated by Ella Gilbert (for her colourful fondant work) , April Froment (who baked 4 cakes but blew us away with Wonder Woman) and Craig Hounsell (who crafted a BatMobile). Thank you to all who stayed up late or woke up early to bake some very coveted cakes - and to those who played, again and again. Fundraisers like these are only possible through the efforts of volunteering - Please consider giving your time to support efforts in future years.

Until next year, dear kids, parents, community members at large and valued volunteers.

Dena Bruno and Samantha Fyleris are the Wickaninnish PAC Co-Chairs.

The Westerly News | Page 5

Page 6 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

PHOTO FEATURE

Tofino locals met at Wickaninnish Community School before filling the streets with joy as the Parade of Whales and Wonders kicked off the 30th annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival.

Whale Fest Parade Andrew bAiley PHOTOS

Local businesses and organizations put their best floats forward on Saturday to ring in the 30th annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival. The Parade of Whales and Wonders spread smiles through town and the weather was uncharacteristally dry for much of the event. The festival is now in full swing with two solid weeks packed with activities to help locals and tourists celebrate the migration of 20,000 grey whales from Mexico to the Arctic.

See more photos on our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/WesterlyNews

Local volunteers helped manage the traffic to keep the paraders and spectators safe.

Tofino’s Remote Passages’ float was a bubbly good time.

The Jamie’s Whaling Station crew had a blast on their float.

Tofino mayor Josie Osborne sang in Tofino’s choir, which kept the tunes going throughout the parade.

Excited spectators scored their spots early to get a solid view and first dibs on the candy being dished out.

Local search and rescue volunteers were all smiles as they paraded through Tofino’s streets.

The Westerly News | Page 7

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Westerly Life

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

250-726-7029

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Lucas Nielsen, centre, chilled at Chesterman Beach with his mother Claire and the Parks Canada and DFO team that courageously rescued his friend Chester the false killer whale in 2014. The trip was organized by Tourism Tofino who joined Lucas at the beach along with Mayor Josie Osborne.

Whale’s best friend thanks rescue team Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Lucas Nielsen traveled to Tofino last week to meet the heroes who rescued his best friend two years ago.

Nielsen, a ten-year-old Vanderhoof local, visits Vancouver’s Children’s Hospital regularly to receive eye treatments and during one of these visits he met Chester the false killer whale at the Vancouver Aquarium Chester was just a baby when he was rescued near Tofino in 2014 and has since made a home at the aquarium.

“He has a great personality, he’s really funny and I just think he’s pretty awesome,” Lucas told the Westerly. “He’s my friend and I’m his friend.”

Lucas’ mother Claire was delighted to see him meet the Parks Canada and DFO team that helped rescue Chester.

“Being so involved in Chester’s story now for the last year, there was just a real piece missing and that was meeting his

rescuers and seeing where he was actually found,” Claire said. “It’s really important I think for us to wrap the full circle of the story and see where it first began.”

The Nielsen’s Tofitian experience was organized by Tourism Tofino and Claire said they were treated like “royalty.”

“This has been the most generous and gracious experience,” she said. “It’s everything that I had dreamed it would be, including the incredible weather, so we’re really grateful.

It just feels right and every part of it feels like a completion of the story.”

She added Tofino’s landscape provided the perfect backdrop for the emotional experience.

“This rivals anything I’ve ever seen; it’s absolutely stunning here,” she said. “Lucas has said it’s his favourite place in the world that he’s ever been and he’s quite a well traveled little boy so that’s pretty neat.”

She said Lucas’ friendship with Chester was a very spe-

cial gift from the start. “[Chester] was smiling at him and following him around and sharing food with him and chirping at him; it was very obvious that Chester recognized Lucas and Lucas said to me ‘Chester’s my best friend here in Vancouver,” she said.

“That was a really big thing for me to see. My son really needed a friend…and to make friends with this marine mammal, who is like a big dog, was really very special. It’s sweet and every mom wants their child to be able to have friends.”

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne was thrilled to meet Lucas and learn about his connection with Chester.

“This is something that makes Tofino really special and unique amongst tourism destinations. It’s more than just a place to be entertained or have a good time; it’s somewhere you can really feel connected to nature,” she said.

Page 8 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Cpl. Therese Cochlin of the Tofino RCMP helped Ryan Rogers of Paddle West pull his land-kayaking family up a hill during Saturday’s Parade of Whales and Wonders in Tofino.

Stellar start for Pacific Rim Whale Festival

West Coast,” he said.

“Seeing everybody come together to celebrate the return of the grey whales is an exciting time of year. It’s a great way to kick off the tourist season and a great way to bring people together: celebrating nature and celebrating what’s important to each and every one of us.”

The festival’s coordinator Susan Payne was stoked on the successful kick off and said having so many smiling faces out of the gate set the festival up for success.

“Having all that high energy is so important at the beginning because it sets the festival off for the next two weeks of fun. People are excited; they get going, they get ramped up and it’s great,” she said.

“We’re very excited; it’s going to be a great two weeks.”

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The smiles that filled Tofino on Saturday were as big as the animal being celebrated.

The Parade of Whales and Wonders rocked through Tofino on March 12 to celebrate the start of the 30th annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival.

“This is my favourite small town parade,” said Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne who sang with the Tofino Choir throughout the event.

“There’s more people in the parade than watching the parade and it was fantastic…It’s great to see all the support from the whale watching companies and have their floats and boats out and about and we’re all very excited.”

She said the parade provides the perfect vibe to spring into spring.

“This is the official start to spring on the West Coast, I think. It’s a celebration of coastal culture and the return of the grey whales and the parade is one of the best ways to get it going,” she said.

“It’s a very happy fun event; there’s lots of candy and sirens and fun. I had a great time.”

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns hasn’t missed a Whale Festival in 22 years and was thrilled to hoist the parade-leading baton for the 30th anniversary event.

“The energy was great. I always say the parade gets better every year and this was the best parade ever…The energy and community spirit is second to none here on the

•

Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Westerly News | Page 9

Page 10 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

provincial competition

Ukee to skip Communities in Bloom Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

1-877-248-4664

Ucluelet doesn’t need to compare itself to other communities to feel beautiful.

The district will not enter next year’s BC Communities in Bloom contest, which sees towns compete over who has the best-looking streetscapes, neighborhoods and public spaces.

“BC Communities in Bloom is an organization of dedicated volunteer judges who provide their expertise through an evaluation process that is conducted every summer to help participants measure their community’s liveability,” according to the organization’s website.

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Ukee won’t participate in BC’s beauty contest.

During last week’s regular meeting, Ucluelet’s council reviewed an invitation for 2017’s contest and, while Coun. Marilyn McEwen seemed warm to the idea, council quickly shot it down.

“Having been involved in this program before, I would recommend against it,” said Coun. Sally Mole.

“It’s a little time consuming, it’s hard for them to judge us compared to somewhere like Parksville or Qualicum and it does come at a cost to the district.”

Mayor Dianne St. Jacques said Ucluelet was successful when it competed in 2008’s contest but she agreed with Mole that the work involved to participate was higher than the fruits were worth.

“It was a lot of energy, a lot of time, a lot of volunteers and I think we’re pretty blooming beautiful right now so we’ll just continue working on that.”

“By accessing world markets for Canadian oil, we’ll enjoy increased tax dollars and years of employment.”

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For more information, go to TransMountain.com/benefits Email: info@transmountain.com · Phone: 1-866-514-6700

Committed to safety since 1953.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Boost for local transportation coNtINuED fRom PAgE 1 The districts of Ucluelet and Tofino have each agreed to put $5,000 towards the cause and Electoral Area C will pitch in another $2,000.

Possible grants are being sniffed out and local businesses are mulling over sponsorship opportunities to make up the remaining $22,000 needed for the program to be offered locally.

“It looks like there are enough potential funding sources that this can move forward,” said Ucluelet Coun. Marilyn McEwen.

Wheels for Wellness society member Don Buchner brought the program to the West Coast for a three-month pilot program that kicked off in January.

The program saw 24 participants in January and 41 in February and McEwen expects these numbers to continue rising.

“There hasn’t been a lot of advertising for this because they didn’t want to advertise something that was not going to continue here on the West Coast but now that the parties have agreed to continue the program there will be a lot more advertising and information,” she said.

Tofino’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers told the Westerly News the program would provide a valuable service to West Coasters.

“The Wheels for Wellness program allows us to address medical travel at no cost to the residents other than this initial seed money,” he said.

“We think this is a valuable program to maintain and increase health outcomes in Tofino; we know that transportation is a problem for a lot of people.”

He noted the program has proven successful in other communities and said the West Coast’s participation will connect locals to a larger network of care providers.

“This will be the first brick in the wall for solving some of our regional transportation problems and we’re looking forward to getting this done,” he said.

“We see it as a piece of the regional transportation puzzle and one that is an achievable first step for us.”

He said the “shelf-ready” program carried a relatively low cost and he agreed with McEwen that the participant numbers would likely rise as more people become aware of the service.

“As we publicize this it’s going to, most likely,

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Don Buchner drove the West Coast’s new Wheels for Wellness van in Saturday’s Whale Fest parade.

The van carries a $34,000 price-tag and local leaders are confident this amount can be raised.

continue to increase,” he said.

He said the West Coast would continue tackling transportation issues and noted Tofino has invested $2,000 of this year’s budget into exploring a regional transit system between Tofino and Ucluelet.

Don Buchner was thrilled to see the West Coast pick up the program and told the Westerly he was “amazed” by the local support.

“The community spirit is just awesome,” he said.

“They’ve stepped up to the plate. Other places that we’ve gone to do the same kind of pilot project haven’t done that; they expected it all to be given to them, but here they were willing to do something for it so we’re really tickled with that.”

He said the program’s three-month pilot project proved the service is needed on the Coast.

“From our perspective, if we get 10 per cent of the total population over a 12-month period we’re doing good,” he said.

“Costs are not as high as I anticipated and, as far as the overall picture is concerned, I would expect it to go over the 10 per cent. If we can go 600-700 passengers a year it’ll be great.”

He said volunteer drivers are needed and anyone willing to lend a hand is encouraged to contact him at jdbuchner@shaw.ca or 250-897-6359.

The Westerly News | Page 11

Page 12 | The Westerly News

GAMES & PUZZLES

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Peter MCCULLY Photo

FUNDrAISING CheerS: The Wickaninnish Inn’s 20th Annual Gala & Silent Auction in aid of the Pacific Rim Whale Festival was held last Thursday evening. Enjoying Chef Warren Barr and the kitchen brigade’s creations were: from left, Todd Byrnes of Chesterman Beach Bed and Breakfast, Charles McDiarmid of the Wickaninnish Inn and Chesterman Beach resident Ralph Bishop. Wine pairings and generous silent auction items complemented the evening raising $14,500 to support the Whale Festival.

The Westerly News | Page 13 Wed, Mar 16, 2016 Ucluelet Western News A13

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

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HELP WANTED DOCK WORKERS. Hiring for all positions: Fish Graders, Forklift & Crane Operators, Tally Person & Icers. Competitive wages, lots of work & over-time hours. Join the Neptune Ice Team in Ucluelet. Experience an asset but not necessary. Must be dependable, willing to learn & hardworking.

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEATHS

DEATHS

December 1, 1933 ~ March 11, 2016 Shizuyo (Suzie) passed away peacefully at Tofino General Hospital early Friday, March 11, 2016 Born December 1, 1933 in Steveston, BC, she grew up in Wakayama, Japan and moved back to Canada, living in Ucluelet BC, since 1960.

She is pre-deceased by her parents Yoshikazu and Toshiye Ikebata, and partners George Kimoto, then Nobuo Hamazaki.

She is survived by her sisters Hideyo Kurada (Hiroshi) and Yoshimi Takada (the late Koji), brothers Toyokazu Ikebata (Kiyoko) and Katsumi Ikebata (Kikuko), her children Caroline (Steve Musson), Daniel (Terry), and Linda Kimoto, and grand-children Jason and Alex Kimoto.

Well-known for her kindness and generosity, she was loved by all and will be missed.

Many thanks to Dr. O’Brien and the loving caregivers at Tofino General Hospital.

At her request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to The Tofino General Hospital Foundation.

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Processing ON-CALL PROCESSING TECHNICIAN Tofino, BC

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On-call processing technicians have the opportunity to work in various areas of the plant including cleaning fish, managing the boxing line, and operating fork-lifts. The processing plant is a physically demanding environment that operates at a high pace The processing plant operates Monday to Friday, with 8 hour days.

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Page 14 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

A bull Roosevelt elk wanders along the highway near Youbou. Vancouver Island’s elk population has more than doubled in less than 30 years.

MALCOLM CHALMERS PHOtO

Vancouver Island elk making a comeback New conservation and co-operation approach has Island’s elk population on the rise JOHN MCKINLEY

john.mckinley@blackpress.ca

Every autumn, seasoned members of Kwakwak’awakw nation gather their young hunters.

They melt into the forests near Campbell River and Sayward to track and kill the resident Roosevelt elk — at more than 1,000 pounds, the world’s second-largest deer. They carefully record their catch and any other observations, then arrange for the butchering.

Around Christmas time the young hunters reconvene, load up the meat and hand-deliver packages to the community’s elders.

It is a lesson in self-sustenance and providing for the community that was not possible a few decades ago when the north Island tribe was restricted to hunting only six elk a year.

Last fall, tribe members took 101 because the resurgent elk population allowed for it.

That population is a testament to a new approach to conservation and co-operation that has seen elk herds growing across Vancouver Island. Some are pointing to it as what should become a template for other British Columbia wildlife management practices.

“The state of the herds is fantastic. They are doing very, very well,” John Henderson said. “We have developed a management plan where everybody benefits.”

“The numbers have gone up. It’s a positive in a province where wildlife numbers are suffering,” Glenn Venus agreed.

“I believe the government is doing a good job on our elk. It’s a real win/win. We’ve got a real good relationship with the First Nations and it’s all managed very well.”

Henderson is First Nations, the vice-chairman of, and wildlife officer for, the Kwakiutl District Council. Venus is not First Nations. He operates a hunting lodge and guiding operation called TrophyWest from his acreage near Sayward.

Historically, such men have butted heads in competition over hunting access. Today, they work together as president and secretary, respectively, of the Wildlife Stewardship Council, a coalition of hunting guides and First Nations that takes great pride in the elk success story.

Henderson said the first step in the relationship was the recognition that the health of the animal comes first. That means growing, self-sustainable herds take precedence over any harvest.

“Back then we were at odds with each other, arguing over rights and title and formulas,” he said. “Nobody was speaking for the animal. We speak for the animal.”

Then came rough agreement that any harvest should be split equally between First Nations and non-First Nations hunters. And to avoid the jealously and finger-pointing that had previously jaundiced such accords, the hunters pledged to keep a thorough and scrupulous accounting of how many elk there are and how many are actually taken.

“The only way we can establish a trust relationship is having the numbers,” Henderson said. “Our people have managed it in a way that respects the animal and so we had sustenance. Our people have established themselves as responsible hunters.”

The numbers seem to bear that out.

You may mostly hear about Roosevelt elk in the news because of the too-frequent poaching incidents that shake Vancouver Island herds from time to time. But the fact of the matter is Island population trends for this majestic beast are clearly positive. According to a Ministry of Forests management plan released in July of 2014, the number of Vancouver Island elk has more than doubled in less than 30 years — from 2,500 animals in 1986 to 5,300 in 2014. Ministry officials say that number has reached 5,500 today.

Ranging throughout most of Vancouver Island, and most plentiful in the areas west of Campbell River, Cowichan and Nanaimo, herds are stable or increasing in all but three of the more than 150 subregions in the area, including the Sunshine Coast.

The elk are native to the Island, but saw their numbers decimated during a century of colonial practices. Populations are secure enough now in some areas that they are being transplanted to re-establish herds in habitat areas where they had disappeared.

Despite these gains, the animal remains on the provincial Blue List, meaning it is considered at-risk because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities and natural events.

“Elk can be highly susceptible to harsh winters and high levels of predation and/or unregulated hunting. This is especially true of small populations that are less resilient, which can be very slow to recover,” Ministry of Forests Public Affairs officer Greig Bethel said in an email.

The two dead cows — one pregnant — discovered

poached west of Sooke in February is an example of that.

They were part of a fledgling herd that had recently established a foothold in that area. Conservation officers say that herd is small enough that the loss of even two cows could render it unsustainable.

Conservation officer Scott Norris said elk poaching is a problem that comes and goes in spurts. He said his office depends on hunters and other wilderness users to monitor what they see and do their part to help keep poachers in check. He said most are highly motivated to see herds grow and poaching stop.

“Most hunters are never going to get a chance to get an elk,” he said. “Of course (poaching) gets them upset.”

According to the government, it receives about 15,000 applications annually from resident hunters for approximately 300 opportunities to shoot an elk. Those opportunities are awarded by giving out tags for limited entry hunts using a lottery system.

First Nations hunters are given about the same number of opportunities, but they are distributed to a variety of bands, which redistribute them using a variety of different systems.

Henderson is urging other bands to adopt the same principles and scrupulous reporting practices used by the Kwakiutl District Council. He said they promote conservation attitudes within band memberships and the transparency encourages better relationships with the non-Native hunting community.

He said everybody needs to be part of the process.

“Right now I am going around the province sharing my knowledge and my beliefs,” he said. “It’s the responsible thing to do at the end of the day. If I can educate the young people then I have done my part.

The goal for the species — as stated in the provincial management plan — is to maintain self-sustaining populations, expand its traditional range and to get it off the Blue List by 2024. Clear progress has been made on the first and second goals, while the third also appears to be in sight.

Venus preaches continued slow and steady progress along the path that has already been established.

“We are doing well, the numbers are growing, but I don’t want to do anything silly. It happens in other parts of the province and we don’t want that,” he said.

“As long as the health of the herds is there, I think that is the most important thing.

“The elk is a very special animal.”

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

community calendar

To submit your activities; e-mail: office@westerlynews.ca, fax:250-726-4248 or drop by: #102-1801 Bay St, Ucluelet

WED. MARCH 16 TUFF CITY IDOL FINAL Jack’s Pub, 9:30 p.m.

PICKLEBALL 5-7 pm, WCS, all ages welcome.

POOL NIGHT 7-11 p.m. Tofino Legion

DROP-IN BASKETBALL

Featured Event for the Week MARCH 20 - CHOWDER CHOWDOWN Sample some of the best chowder on the West Coast at the Ucluelet Community Centre from 11:30 am - 2 p.m. Gourmet secrets, mom & pop specials and traditional family recipes tempt your pallet. You have a chance to vote on your favourite. This is a sustainable event, bring your own chowder bowl and spoon.

This year’s Chowdown is a fundraiser for the Food Bank on the Edge which supports the communities on the West Coast so please bring a non-perishable item to donate. $10 adults, $5 children and seniors.

tHu. MARCH 17

Sun. MARCH 20

MOn. MARCH 21

CHAIRmAKING ÉCONOmUSÉE

DROP-IN BADmINTON

UCLUELET AA

2-4 p.m. 671 Industrial Way, Tofino.

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

8p.m., Holy Family.

CHRIST COmmUNITY CHURCH

TOFINO ExPRESSIVE WRITING WORKSHOP FOR WOmEN

7- 9 p.m. WCS gym

DROP-IN SOCCER

SENIORS SOCIAL AFTERNOONS

YOUTH BASKETBALL

1:30-4 p.m., Tofino Legion.

5-7 pm, WCS.

10:30 a.m., UCC.

ST. COLUmBA CHURCH

FRI. MARCH 18

ST. COLUmBA CHURCH

7 p.m. 110 2nd St.

YOUTH GAmES NIGHT

10:30 a.m. 110 2nd St.

ARTS GROUP

7-9 pm. Ages 10+, WCS.

UNITED/ANGLICAN SERVICE

7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

DROP-IN VOLLEYBALL 7-9 p.m. USS. $2.

tHu. MARCH 17 HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! BINGO 7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

DROP-IN BADmINTON 7-9 p.m. USS gym. $2.

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

KARAOKE 10 p.m., Officials Sports Lounge

AA mEETING 7:30p.m., St. Francis.

SAt. MARCH 19 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

10:30a.m., 1419 Peninsula Rd.

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH

4 p.m. UCC.

ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH 11:00 a.m. Ahousaht.

TOFINO BIBLE FELLOWSHIP 10:30 a.m. Tofino Legion.

HOLY FAmILY CHURCH

5:30 p.m.

10 a.m. , 1663 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet

OPEN SKATE

MOn. MARCH 21

4-5:30 p.m. Seaplane Base, $5

DROP-IN SOCCER 7-9 p.m. USS. $2.

6:30-8:30 p.m. , 250-726-2343

DARTS AT THE LEGION 8-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

tuE. MARCH 22 FOOD BANK ON THE EDGE Distribution day, 1-3 p.m.

YOUTH BADmINTON 6-7 p.m., WCS.

SURFRIDER BEACH CLEAN-UP ON WORLD WATER DAY

4:30-6:30 p.m., South Chesterman.

TOFINO LEGION YOUTH NIGHT 7-9 p.m., Tofino Legion.

YOUTH NIGHT AT THE ANAF 6-8p.m., ANAF Ucluelet

The Westerly News | Page 15

Page 16 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Women’s Day celebrated Nora o’malley

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A spirited group of West Coast women convened at the Friends of Clayoquot Sound Community Space in Tofino last week to celebrate International Women’s Day. Hosted by the team from the Westcoast Community Resources Society (WCCRS), the event included massages by Su Casa Wellness Co. followed by a delightful lunch catered by Earth Mama Love Kitchen.

After enjoying the complimentary community lunch, the ladies gathered to listen to a presentation on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Inquiry.

“In meeting with the Minister John Rustad who is the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, the recommendations we brought forward as Nuu-chah-nulth people was that they support family gathering in our territory,” said Carol Martin Young, the aunt of Lisa Marie Young who went missing from Nanaimo 14 years ago.

“With a lot of families that came from Nuu-chahnulth they wanted more family members to go, but they only allowed four members to attend. We needed the support of more of our family and where they could speak too.”

“We asked that cultural sensitivity training be mandated and required for people working with the ministers,” said Young. “The minister also agreed the creation of specialized groups was being discussed in the government. We spoke about better communications with the RCMP and a task force specially trained to work on missing and murdered cases and stronger penalties for violent crimes.”

“It was good. We had seven Nuu-chah-nulth that came together as a group and spoke the Minister about these recommendations. We’re hoping that it’s going to keep going forward,” she said.

To keep Lisa’s memory alive alongside all the missing or murdered women in Canada, Young also

NORA O’MALLEY PhOtO

This paper doll display pays tribute to the women who have been murdered or remain missing in Canada. recommended that the Minister support the creation of a commemorative pole or memorial wall.

The Women’s Day event wrapped up with a screening of the film Fury For the Sound, which portrays the important role women had in fighting to protect clearcut logging in Clayoquot Sound.

In addition to hosting community building events, WCCRS provides free and confidential services for residents of Ucluelet, Tofino and the nations of Toquaht, Ucluelet First Nation, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ahousaht and Hesquiaht.

Some of the services WCCRS offer include: women’s, youth, and child counselling, a 24-hour transition house, and a free hot soup lunch every Thursday in Ucluelet.

Anyone seeking more information about services or to book an appointment is welcome to call 250726-2343 or visit http://wccrs.ca.