Haida Gwaii Observer, March 25, 2016

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Friday, May25, 1, 2015 Friday, March 2016

New Skidegate Earthquake rattles beds but to council tofails build nerves onstartle momentum By Stacey Marple By Andrew Hudson Haida Haida Gwaii Gwaii Observer Observer

The early morning Friday after Aprilthey 24, were Before 9 a.m. on theof morning Haida Gwaii was hit by an Earthquake of 6.1 elected, Skidegate’s new band council was magnitude. No tsunami warnings were issued already at work. after the earthquake. The epicentre of the “We had to do things right away,” said returnquake wasCouncillor approximately 167 km south of ran the ing Chief Billy Yovanovich, who Village of Queen Charlotte. unopposed. Some of Haida Gwaii reported At theirresidents first objects shaking and windows rattling, but no meeting after serious damage or injuries were reported. the March As the islands of Haida Gwaii all have 15 election, unique geological qualities, the effects of an Duane Alsop earthquake can vary from island to island. was named Every community reported feeling the quake in Skidegate’s different ways. Queen Charlotte Village which deputy chief has a rock base councillor, and didn’t feel the quake as much as the residents everyone on theof the northern parts of Graham island. Tlell and north is mostly a sand based eight-member area and feels almost every quake that happens. council talked Shirley reported Yovanovich about whatWilson port- of Skidegate- Billy feeling the earthquake. “I was sitting in my folios to take on. bed when I heard the house creak.” After Even with the initial three new creak she felt her bed start rocking and noticed her ornaments rocking. “The members ornaments rocked for a while after the quake — Trent Moraes, stopped,” Ms. Wilson told the Observer. “My Michelle son and brother Pineault, and who were also in the house didn’t all.”this council Robertfeel Russthe —earthquake Yovanovichatsaid Barry Pages of Masset, director of the brings a lot of experience. Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District Returning councillors include Duane Alsop, said he felt the quake but because it was fairly David Crosby, Lyndale George, and Michelle short he wasn’t too concerned. However, he McDonald. added, “This is a reminder one to be “I don’t anticipate much oftoa every transition prepared.” period,” said Yovanovich. Earthquakes nothing to Haida “I think we’reare going to be new pounding the paveGwaii. The quake comes just weeks after a ment right away.” study identi ed first Haida Gwaii ground zero When he was elected as as a councillor in for the next major seismic event on thea west 2010, Yovanovich said Skidegate faced tough coast. financial picture. This recent earthquake doesn’t qualifywe’re as “We’ve turned it right around to where the big one scientists in good financial shapepredict, now.” as it was smaller than even some of the aftershocks after the 7.7 Last term, the council oversaw a spending magnitude earthquake in 2012. review, secured funding from Gwaii Trust, and The collecting same weekend Haida Gwaii got began some that revenue from Skidegate’s hit by this 6.1 tremor, Nepal was devastated pole plant — a joint venture with Taan Forest by 7.8 magnitude thatastarted in 2012. event. Earthquakes between a 6.0 and a 6.9 are on Page 2 considered a strongSee onELECTION the Richter scale.

“We’re going to be pounding the pavement right away.”

Andrew Hudson photo

Bree, 10, takes aim at a 50-yard target at the Port Clements Rod and Gun Club’s Easter Turkey Shoot with help from her dad, Larry Collinson, on Sunday. It was Bree’s first time shooting, but she proved a sharp eye — three of her shots were so close together that judges had to get a magnifier out for a closer look at her target. Held for over 30 years, the event sees the day’s best shooters go home with an Easter turkey, and sometimes two. For anyone looking for invites to a good Easter dinner, this year’s winners were Terry Genns, Don Hancock, Eli Beachy, Ron Haralson and, after a Submitted photo tying round that went to a dramatic one-on-one, Jacquie Lanthier. “My God, you’d have trouble poking a pencil closer Committee members of the Pulling Together Haida Gwaii Event demonstrate their teamwork abilities at the carving shed in the to centre,” organizer Ron Haralson Lanthier’s which put competitor Craig Beachy one behind. “Craig Kay Centre.said The group will be holding a fundofraiser May 2.last Seeshot, full story on Page 3 is kind of famous for making a very good shot and then having someone else beat him,” Haralson added, laughing.

Search and rescue suspended after Day 3

Algae toxins spreading to top of food chain

By Quinn Bender Haida Gwaii Observer By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii The search forObserver Kumdis Ilsand resident, Brent Hendren, was suspended A weekend U.S. studyfollowing suggests climate last one ofchange Haida is putting marine mammals Haida Gwaii’s largest search andinrescue Gwaii waters at greater risk from algae operations in more than 25 years. toxins. “I know for a fact that if he was Researchers Alaska showed the alive out thereinwe would have for found first time that two of the most common him. There’s no chance we would neurotoxins harmful have missedassociated him. Thewith community algal blooms — demoic acid and should know we did everythingsaxiwe toxin — are spreading to the top ofsaid the possibly could to find him,” marine food chain. Chris Ashurst, SAR manager with Kathi Lefebre, a biologist withand the Archipelago Ground Search U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Rescue and deputy unit leader with

Prince Rupert’s

“I know for a fact that if he was alive “Warming water out there we would temperatures and... have found him.” loss of sea ice are likely to support more - Chris Ashurst blooms.”

- Kathi Lefebvre et al

Massett Marine Rescue. Mr. Hendren, 27, was last seen Administration the study, has rowing out to who his led Kumdis Island said the same risk applies to marine cabin rental with supplies Sunday

morning, April 18. He missed dinner plans with friends later that night. mammals along theTuesday B.C. coast. The following Masset Lefebre and others found detectable RCMP received a missing persons levels ofwhich algae led toxins in 13 species, report, to the discovery including whales, walruses, sea Mr. Hendren’s boat abandonedlions, and seals, porpoises and of seaWatun otters. River overturned south AllPure the Lake concentrations near Provincialwere Park.well below guidelinesthat for people “It isfood-safety strongly believed Brent who eat meat from animals. drowned when his the rowboat capsized Demoic acid and saxitoxin more west of Kumdis Island,” Mr.are Ashurst common in temperate and tropical said. “This is based on information regions, where the thelocation algae that create from witnesses, of the capthem bloom more often and in greater sized vessel, and the distribution of his numbers.effects along the shoreline. personal See CLIMATE on Page 3 See SEARCH on Page 2

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