Haida Gwaii Observer, May 13, 2016

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Islands breast cancer rates too high: study

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer

North or south, aboriginal or not, cancer patients on Haida Gwaii have similar survival rates—and they have improved steadily since 1970.

But a new study does find some differences in who tends to get cancer in the first place, and who needs - Dr. Rob Olson faster treatment.

Dr. Rob Olson is a radiation oncologist and cancer researcher based in Prince George.

Last week, Dr. Olson and a local family physician, Dr. Tracy Morton, presented findings from a study that reviewed the medical records of all 570 Haida Gwaii cancer patients between 1970 and 2014.

One of the major findings is that women living on Haida Gwaii had a significantly higher incidence of breast cancer in that time, aboriginal women in particular.

“I didn’t expect that at all,” said Olson, speaking at a May 3 presentation in Old Massett that was followed the next day by another at the Kay Centre.

On Haida Gwaii and across Canada generally, non-aboriginal people tend to have a higher incidence of cancer than aboriginal people do—a trend associated with life expectancy.

So it was surprising to see that for breast cancer specifically, the incidence was actually higher for aboriginal women.

‘‘

“It’s worth looking into.”

See STUDY on Page 2

Andrew Hudson photo

Dave ‘Tiny’ Reynolds, left, was crowned Chili King over Andrew ‘Whispers’ Finnie in a 24 to 7 taste-test takedown at the Masset Legion last Thursday. Finnie was gracious in defeat, but Reynolds said to take that with a grain of salt.

Japan adds final round of clean-up funding

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer Haida Gwaii got a final $115,000 boost from Japan last week to help clear tsunami debris off the coast.

Since it was hit five years ago by a shattering 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, Japan has given Haida Gwaii just over $250,000 to help clean up the tsunami debris that washed up here—everything from a drifting skiff and crated motorcycle to loads of disintegrating plastic, foam, fibreglass, and wood.

“Haida Gwaii is lucky to receive it because we’re burdened by a lot of debris,” says Trent Moraes, a Skidegate band councillor and ship captain who is also a member of the Haida Gwaii Tsunami Debris Committee.

Prince Rupert’s

Last Friday, Moraes joined teachers and students from Tahayghen Elementary who picked debris off a hard-to-reach beach at T’aalan Stl’ang (Lepas Bay).

The approach was so difficult that organizers had to charter a helicopter to fly over and lift big cargo nets full of debris onto a waiting boat for transport.

The clean-up at T’aalan Stl’ang was the - Trent Moraes first of the season, but Moraes said several more are planned for the west and east “A big concern for us is what damage coast this spring and summer.

A debris map with aerial photos shows all these plastics are doing to the environmost of the remaining tsunami debris ment, and the animals.” lines the west coast of Graham Island and Moraes said some new tsunami debris is still washing up, but most of what’s the southwest coast of Moresby, but there are also clean-ups planned throughout left is old.

The longer it lines rocky coast and Gwaii Haanas. beaches, the more it breaks into smaller See DEBRIS on Page 4 and smaller pieces that are hard to collect.

“A big concern for us is what damage all these plastics are doing.”

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“It’s worth looking into,” said Olson.

Women on Haida Gwaii tend to have fewer mammograms compared with women elsewhere in northern B.C. In recent years, about twothirds of eligible Haida Gwaii women had not had a mammogram or were overdue.

At the meeting in Old Massett, one woman asked Olson if the findings meant he would push for the mammogram screening bus that visits Haida Gwaii to come every year, instead of once every two years.

“Totally,” he said.

While he does not expect it to change the overall findings on breast cancer, Olson cautioned that the study results still need to be age-adjusted.

Haida Gwaii has an older population than other parts j6

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of northern B.C., and cancer tends to occur in older people.

Among all the cancer patients in the study, the average age at diagnosis was 57.

Another adjustment that has already changed the study results came after the presentation in Old Massett, when Olson learned from local health-care providers that what appeared to be an usually high rate of cervical cancer among aboriginal women on Haida Gwaii was actually due to several cases of a pre-cancerous lesion.

As it turns out, the incidence of cervical cancer for women on the islands is similar to the B.C. average.

When he and Dr. Tracy Morton first conceived of the study in 2010, Olson said the focus was on finding out how many off-island trips Haida Gwaii cancer patients had to make to get treatment, and what wait times they faced.

The study found Haida Gwaii cancer patients had to take an average of two off-island trips before their first treatment, but nearly a quarter made three or more.

“I don’t think almost a quarter of patients should take three or more trips for first treatment,” said Olson, noting

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“I don’t think almost a quarter of patients should take three or more trips for first treatment.”

that especially before the Prince George cancer centre opened, it was not uncommon for clerks in Vancouver to book islands patients for several specialist visits that could have been bundled together.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I think everyone should be able to do it in two.”

Finally, when looking at wait times, the study found there was a slight delay in getting treatment for islands patients with cancers of the head and neck.

Except for thyroid cancer, head and neck cancers tend to be quite aggressive, said Olson, but also curable if treated quickly.

They are rare cancers that a family doctor will likely only see once or twice in a career, but Olson specializes in treating them, and knows how important it is to do so quickly.

“As a head-and-neck cancer doctor, I want to improve that time to treatment,” he said.

“I think you should be getting it within a month.”

Olson said the Haida Gwaii cancer study is not yet scheduled for publication, but the team behind it is already starting to look at what steps can be taken to further improve cancer care on the islands.

Asked why the study looked at ethnicity at all, Olson said the decision was approved by the Council of the Haida Nation and was at the request of people who hoped it might reveal some population-specific issues that could then be resolved.

“People wanted to know— is there something we can target?” he said.

Another person said she appreciated the attention islands cancer care is getting, noting that she hasn’t always felt it was a priority.

“I just want to thank you for caring enough to come,” she said.

818-3rd Avenue West Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 1M6 1-866-624-7734 fax: 250-624-7737 jennifer.rice.mla@leg.bc.ca www.jenniferrice.ca

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Council Briefs Queen Charlotte

Slight rise in parcel tax Queen Charlotte councillors approved a five per cent increase of the parcel tax at its regular meeting last week. Earmarked for community parks and recreation services, the modest rise of $1.21 will bring the tax to $25.45 per year for property owners who qualify. Of the $11,424 the village expects to raise from the tax, $10,000 is budgeted for the Community Club. The remainder will go to the youth centre, raising its annual funding from $880 to $1,424 toward its $30,000 annual budget.

Call for crude-oil ban With the approval of council, Mayor Greg Martin sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to thank him for a promise to formalize a crude-oil tanker moratorium along the North Coast. Trudeau included the pledge in the mandate letter for Transportation Minister Marc Garneau shortly after taking office last fall. Mayor Martin’s letter comes at a time when Enbridge is seeking a three year extension on its proposal for the Northern Gateway export pipeline. The Calgary company is also considering Prince Rupert as an alternative end-point to Kitimat.

“On behalf of my constituents I would like to thank you for promising that your government will not allow Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline to be constructed through British Columbia,” Martin wrote.

“We understand that it will take time to craft an effective legal instrument, and we hope that your government will provide Minister Garneau with sufficient resources and support to produce the appropriate legislation.”

Trudeau has since stated the Great Bear Rainforest is no place for a crude-oil pipeline, and that any plan to get Alberta oil to market must be done in a responsible, sustainable and thoughtful manner.

Clean-up proves costly Council has scaled back its ambitions for a 2016 spring cleanup. Previously, councillors were supportive of a pick-up program for residents without the means of taking accumulated or large items to the dump themselves.

However, after researching the logistics, village staff reported the cost will total about $4,500—a figure far above the cost-neutral target the village was aiming for.

Council has opted instead for “Beach and Street Clean Up,” where the village will provide garbage bags and gloves for a community-wide, volunteer event with a barbecue and kids’ raffle challenge at Spirit Square.

It’s expected the clean-up will cost at least $400. The original plan to remove larger household items was scrapped because the village lacks the appropriate equipment. Liability concerns and overtime pay for employees were also factors.

One of three private contractors who responded to village queries offered to donate up to three of the estimated ten bins required for the program, but that put only a small dent in the total cost, which included an estimated 30 hours of work at a rate of $110 per hour, and a tipping fee at the landfill of about $1,200.

The village expects to host the Street and Beach Cleanup sometime in late May. Staff will research the matter further for next year and propose a solution for the 2017 budget.

Observer

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Islands may be spared from bat-killing fungus

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer Everyone on Haida Gwaii can play a role in keeping the islands free of a fungus that has killed millions of hibernating bats in North America.

Since February 2006, when some cave-dwelling bats in rural New York were found with a fuzzy white fungus growing on their muzzles, ears and wings, “white-nose syndrome” has spread rapidly, killing over six million bats in Canada and the US. One New Brunswick cave held 7,000 bats the winter before the fungus hit.

A year later, there were 22.

The fungus kills hibernating bats by disrupting their sleep, making them spend U.S. National Park Service photo the fat reserves and water they need to A deadly fungus has killed over seven million hibernating bats in North America. survive until spring.

Given that the fungus thrives in humid nose fungus, Schwantje said it will be Like bees, bats pollinate fruits, and they air, Brigham also hopes the dry badlands weeks yet before researchers confirm eat so many insects—from mosquitos to of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan whether it is the same strain has been forest- and crop-killing bugs—that one will be spared. spreading west from New York State. study in Science magazine valued the Of the four bat species on Haida Gwaii, “It’s possible—again, just a possibilinsect eating of North American bats at $3.7 billion a year for the forestry and only the silver-haired bat is known to fly ity—that a bat infected with that fungus over large bodies of water—meaning it may have moved to the West Coast in a agriculture sectors.

That is one reason why bat research- could potentially migrate to the mainland container ship or something like that,” she said, adding that it may have come from ers were so alarmed in March, when for winter.

But silver-haired bats are relatively Asia or Europe. hikers found a bat dying of white-nose uncommon here, and Haida Gwaii may “I’m crossing my finger,” she said. syndrome in the foothills east of Seattle. be remote enough that few, if any bats Otherwise, Schwantje said if the Until then, no infected bats had been migrate off island. fungus is not in B.C. already, it will found west of Manitoba or Kansas.

“It’s highly unlikely there’s going to be be soon.

“We thought we had at least a five-year To report a roost with multiple bats, grace period before the fungus moved much travel by the species that are most here naturally,” says Helen Schwantje, affected between the mainland and the or any bat sightings from November islands,” said Brigham, although it’s hard to March, islanders are asked to call B.C’s wildlife veterinarian.

Carita Bergman of Parks Canada (250“This discovery in Washington State to know for sure.

It is also not impossible that bats could 559-6313). has really taken us by surprise.” arrive here by boat, as Brigham recently To report a dead bat for disease testThe news prompted a group of Haida Gwaii researchers to notify islanders of learned from a “bizarre” case where a ing, residents can call Berry Wijdeven, four things they can do to lower the risk flock of bats boarded a lobster boat 100 Species at Risk Biologist (250-559km off the Maritime coast.

6245); Lucy Stefanyk, BC Parks (250of the fungus spreading here.

Many questions remain unanswered 557-4390), or Stu Crawford, CHN In a notice posted last week by the Council of the Haida Nation, the local about bats on Haida Gwaii, and in B.C. (250-626-3302).

Research Group on Introduced Species generally.

“We have no idea for sure recommends the following: where most bats that live either Do not enter caves on Haida Gwaii for on the mainland or on Haida any reason.

Report bat roosts (natural or in build- Gwaii actually hibernate,” said Brigham. ings) with multiple bats.

Unlike the eastern U.S. and Report any sightings of bats during Canada where the outbreak winter months. started, no one in B.C. has found Collect any dead bats (wear gloves and a cave or mine with tens to bag the carcass) for disease testing. hundreds of thousands of bats As the researchers point out, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome poses inside—here, bats seem to roost no health risk to humans, but bats can in tree and rock crevices, and in carry rabies and other diseases, so people much lower numbers.

Again, Brigham said, that is are advised not to touch bats with bare only an educated guess. hands, and to keep pets away.

But if true, it could mean the Biologist Mark Brigham said it is quite fungus will be less devastating possible that Haida Gwaii, and maybe in the west. even Vancouver Island, could act as a “In my view, it’s not going kind of refuge for bats threatened by to eradicate species in North white-nose.

The author of Bats of British Columbia America,” said Brigham, noting and a professor at the University of that the fungus has been in Europe Regina, Brigham has studied how bats and Asia for a long time, where over-winter on Haida Gwaii, including bats survive.

“But we’re also not going to on Ramsay and Hotspring Islands. stop it,” he added.

“It’s the nicest place I’ve ever been to “We’re doing a giant expericatch bats,” he said.

Brigham said that so far, Newfoundland ment that’s going to take decades, seems to be acting as a bat refuge, and it is maybe even centuries to play much closer to the mainland than Haida out.”

While tests show the bat found Gwaii is. east of Seattle did have the white-

Funk It!

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Observer

Debris clean up an ongoing challenge DEBRIS from Page 1 For now, all the collected debris gets buried at the landfill north of Port Clements.

“That’s something we want to discourage because of all the tonnes of garbage that we’re pulling off,” said Moraes, noting the islands have a limited capacity to recycle plastics beyond what people can re-use—like the dragger balls islanders have re-made as rope swings or garden planters.

Later this month, a member of the Ocean Legacy Foundation will visit Haida Gwaii to demonstrate recycling equipment that can convert beachcombed plastics into fuel—a solution Moraes welcomes.

“We don’t want it to be buried in a landfill,” he said.

“We want to be able to do something with it.”

Together with Ucluelet, Moraes said Haida Gwaii was a leader in tsunami debris response— the all-islands clean-up committee worked with the Vancouver Aquarium and Japanese Environment Action Network to develop better clean-up protocols that should serve Haida Gwaii well.

Whether from a one-time tsunami across the Pacific or from everyday pollution, Moraes said debris clean-up is a continuing challenge for Haida Gwaii, and it needs a long-term answer.

“What we’ve done with the tsunami debris clean-ups is create a massive amount of awareness,” he said.

“I think there’s a big push for the government to put more funds towards it.”

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Roadshow showcases health care professions

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer It was mainly for show, but Wen-Bin was glad he brought a textbook to George M. Dawson last week.

That’s because a Grade 10 student threw him a tough question: “Once a virus is killed in a cell, how does the cell get rid of it?”

Wen-Bin is also a student, but one with extra experience—now studying to be a medical lab technologist in Prince George, he already did the same job for years back in China.

Surrounded by brightly coloured bacteria test plates and a microscope with sample slides, Wen-Bin flipped through his textbook and found an exact answer for the high school student.

It’s the sort of exchange that was going on all over the GMD gym last week, when the Healthcare Travelling Roadshow stopped by.

Along with a future lab tech, this year’s Roadshow included 13 college and university students from across B.C. who are bound to become doctors, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, medical radiographers, audiologists, and speech language pathologists.

Before going to GMD, the group spoke with elementary kids at Chief Matthews

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in Old Massett, then headed south to meet more highschoolers at Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay in Queen Charlotte.

Now in its sixth year, the Roadshow has two big goals: first, to introduce younger students to health careers they may not have seen before; and second, to give the older healthcare students a peek at what life might be like in a smaller place like Haida Gwaii.

“One of the sayings in rural medicine is, ‘If you’ve seen one small town, you’ve seen one small town,’” says Dr. Sean Maurice, a senior lab instructor with the northern medical school at UNBC. “They’re all different,” he said.

“We just need to put these places on the map.”

To that end, Wen-Bin and the other healthcare students stayed at the Hiellen Longhouse Village between giving demos at schools in Old Massett and Masset. Their Hiellen dinner was a gifted salmon roasted on an open fire.

Along with touring both the north- and south-end hospital, the healthcare students also got to spend time with a Haida carver, and get a peek of Skidegate Inlet.

Dr. Maurice said it can be a challenge for high school students from smaller, rural communities to enter healthcare careers—the courses are far from home and often costly.

But those who do choose healthcare

are more likely to return to work in their hometown, or a place of a similar size.

“They may decide, ‘You know what, I don’t really want to be taking care of my friends’ parents in Masset, but actually I really like Fort Nelson,” said Dr. Maurice.

At the UNBC medical program, for example, Dr. Maurice said about a third of graduates return to northern B.C., while the rest go on to other rural communities.

“To me that’s a huge success,” he said, noting the ongoing need in small towns for family doctors and many other healthcare workers.

Simran Lehal, a first-year medical student at UNBC, said that sounds like a great plan to her.

Born and raised in Williams Lake, she said she had nothing like the Roadshow to give her a hands-on sense of the many different careers in healthcare.

Fielding high school students’ questions beside Wen Bin at GMD, Lehal said she enjoyed the chance to give younger students a heads-up on all the career options out there, but that’s not all.

“I’m also learning what he does,” she said, noting that sharing a demo station with Wen-Bin has given her a better sense of what lab techs do — and the same goes for all the other professionals on the Roadshow.

“It’s very multi-disciplinary,” she said.

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Observer

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A truly made in Haida Gwaii solution

By Stacey Marple Haida Gwaii Observer Facing a $500,000 budget shortfall at the Haida Gwaii school district, trustees are hoping to save on bussing rather than cut education programs.

Elizabeth Condrotte, chair of the school board, is speaking to islands communities and hoping to find a made-in-Haida Gwaii solution to the big cut.

“As you know, the school district is facing a half a million dollars less in its budget as it did last year,” Condrotte told Port Clements village councillors at their May 2 meeting.

“And we are also looking at the cost of our school busses, which is also half a million dollars,” she added.

Port Clements Mayor Ian Gould was aware of the situation, being on the Skeena Regional District which SD 50 superintendent Angus Wilson had asked the board for solutions.

In Port Clements, where students have to go out of town for high school, councillors said any cuts to school transportation are concerning.

Kim Mushynsky, the village’s chief administrative officer, was at an early May 2 meeting in Tlell that brought together several municipalities and other governing bodies to talk about the new BC Rural Dividend program. Mushynsky championed the idea of accessing the fund for a study of public transportation on Haida Gwaii, asking councillors to make a motion directing her to apply for $10,000 towards an islands transit study.

“This is 100 per cent funding so there would be monetary commitment required from the village for

‘‘

“... I really hope the communities will find some way to get our kids to school.”

-Elizabeth Condrotte

this,” she explained.

Besides school buses, Haida Gwaii already has a Northern Health patient bus that travels north and south, plus laundry freight that regularly travels between Queen Charlotte and Masset.

Condrotte said school board trustees in Prince Rupert recently found themselves facing the same school bussing issue as Haida Gwaii.

At the Prince Rupert school district, the budget shortfall was $1.9 million—four per cent of the budget—and trustees voted to cancel its bussing program altogether, saving $130,000 a year.

“We are not responsible for transportation through the School Act, and they just quit,” Condrotte explained.

“I don’t want to do that, but I really hope the communities will find some way to get our kids to school,” she said.

“We can contribute a reasonable amount.”

In Port Clements, councillors discussed the social, economic and environmental benefits of having some type of islands transit.The only concerns raised were about the needs of other islands communities, and worries about having children and strangers on the same bus.

Quinn Bender photo

These are not the droids you are looking for. GMD’s Damek Racette (sitting) Cole Aitken learn to program and operate small robots at Queen Charlotte Secondary.

Strong Action For Safer Communities A three-year, $23-million commitment by the Government of B.C. builds on the Guns and Gangs Strategy with the B.C. Anti-Gang Unit, RCMP and Crime Stoppers to support B.C. communities to prevent gang and gun violence. Key elements include: $450,000 to support Crime Stoppers’ proven Cash for Tips on Illegal Firearms and to promote awareness of the Gang Tip Line Enhancement of the End Gang Life Program More outreach to youth More police, with the addition of two 10-person teams New Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach Illegal Firearms Task Force

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OPINIONS

Published by Black Press Ltd. 623 7th Street, Queen Charlotte BC V0T 1S0

5

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Years Ago

Years Ago

Years Ago

Years Ago

May 19, 2011 About 250 people and a dozen dogs turned out in Masset for a protest rally against Enbridge.

The group marched through Masset several times, chanting “Keep the oil in the ground,” and “Enbridge sucks.”

Enbridge proposes to build a $5.5 billion pipeline that would stretch 1,100 km from the Alberta oilsands to an export terminal at Kitimat. Many islanders voiced concerns over tanker traffic.

May 11, 2006 About 56,000 hectares of forest land scattered through out Graham and Moresby Islands were listed as protected areas.

The areas were first protected by a temporary measure called Government Action Regulation as part of an agreement between the Haida Nation and the B.C. government after the Islands Spirit Rising action earlier in the year.

May 9, 1996 The Forest Practices Board was on island for close to two weeks investigating a complaint about how forest development plans are submitted in the district. It was the first ever special investigation for the board, which started enforcing the Forest Practices Code in 1995. The complainant was concerned about cutting permits and changes to a five-year plan that were issued after the plan was published.

May 8, 1986 B.C.’s lands, parks and housing ministry gave the village of Masset the green light to build an airport. Environment Minister Austin Pelton withdrew his previous objections to the airport being near a bird sanctuary.

The land being handed over to the village was considered a birthday gift to then Mayor Dave Penna. The village was looking at rezoning the property and securing funds.

Editorial

Haida Gwaii - home to the best small newspaper in B.C.

T

he Haida Gwaii Observer was named the Best Small Circulation Newspaper in British Columbia and Yukon for 2016 at the Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards in Vancouver on Saturday.

A panel of judges chose the Observer as the winner of the British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspapers Assocation’s (BCYCNA) highest award for general excellence for papers with less than 1,500 circulation.

Also nominated in the category were the Bowen Island Undercurrent and Valemount’s Rocky Mountain Goat.

“Haida Gwaii Observer rose to the top of this category for its comprehensive coverage of the community, strong photography, engaging opinion pages and effective

and attractive ads,” the judging panel wrote in its decision.

“The Observer is filled with staff-written news and feature stories and photographs and demonstrates a strong commitment to coverage of its community.

“The op-ed pages have strong editorials ... features such as a question of the day and a history which all combine to spark discussion and engage readers.

Seemingly able to appeal to a wide age range. Well done!”

Observer associate publisher/editor Quinn Bender and reporter Stacey Marple were also singled out for the other top award of year.

Associate Publisher/Editor - Quinn Bender Reporters - Stacey Marple, Andrew Hudson Contributors - Archie Stocker Sr., Rhonda McIsaac, Margo Hearne, Kris Leach, Elaine Nyeholt, Evelyn von Almassy, Elizabeth Condrotte, Gaetano Houston Phone: 250-559-4680 • 1-888-529-4747 observer@haidagwaii.ca www.haidagwaiiobserver.com Black Press • 623 7th St., Box 205 Queen Charlotte, BC V0T 1S0 SUBSCRIPTIONS • on island $110/year • $100 seniors • Off-island (Can) $185/year We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the CANADA PERIODICAL FUND (CPF) for our publishing activities.

financial benefit to the newspaper.

Mr. Bender and Ms. Marple were awarded a bronze for going well above and beyond both in the reporting and work behind the scenes to bring to the attention of the government and the public an apparently ignorant and insensitive decision by Consumer Protection B.C. to serve a ceaseand-desist order on Queen Charlottes’ volunteer funeral aide George Westwood.

After breaking the story and through their continued reporting, the decision was ultimately reversed.

“The Observer (Quinn Bender and Stacey Marple) was tireless in its efforts to see its community served,” the judges wrote in their decision.

“Top marks for diligence and ultimately a good result.”

Tides and weather

Haida Gwaii

Observer

Outside of the general excellence awards, the Ma Murray Award for Community Service is one of the highest honours presented at the ceremony.

Named after the legendary maverick newspaper publisher and writer Ma Murray, the category is open to all 108 BCYCNA newspapers both weekly and daily in the province and territory regardless of circulation.

The award recognizes newspapers and its staff that have demonstrated a leadership role that goes well beyond reporting the news and the newspaper’s normal community service mission. This service must be non-political and provide no obvious

TIDES May 13-19

Time 01:24 07:26 13:56 20:33

FRIDAY M (ft) 2.7 8.9 5.4 17.7 1.8 5.9 5.4 17.7

MONDAY Time M (ft) 05:01 2.3 7.5 11:02 5.1 16.7 17:05 2.2 7.2 23:26 5.7 18.7 TUESDAY Time M (ft) 05:51 2 6.6 11:58 5.2 17.1 17:54 2.2 7.2

SATURDAY Time M (ft) 02:42 2.8 9.2 08:40 5.1 16.7 15:01 2 6.6 21:39 5.4 17.7

WEDNESDAY Time M (ft) 00:07 5.9 19.4 06:33 1.7 5.6 12:45 5.4 17.7 18:35 2.1 6.9

SUNDAY Time M 03:58 2.6 09:55 5 16:07 2.2 22:38 5.5

THURSDAY Time M (ft) 00:43 6.1 20.0 07:11 1.4 4.6 13:26 5.6 18.4 19:12 2.1 6.9

(ft) 8.5 16.4 7.2 18.0

Friday A mix of sun and cloud.

High 16 Low 10.

Saturday A mix of sun and cloud with 30 per cent chance of showers. High 15 Low 10.

Sunday A mix of sun and cloud. High 14.

May Average Temperature 15 C Record High: 20.4 C (2005) • Record Low 8.0 (2007)

Friday, May 13, 2016

Haida Gwaii

www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Q

Observer

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Youth assembly inspires future leaders

Question of the Week How did you spend Mothers’ Day?

By Carla lutner Chief Operating OffiCer

G Cameron Phair Tlell

Kelleen Rose Vancouver

Kaj Clarke Masset

Meg Valouche Masset

“I called my Mom.”

“I enjoyed Haida Gwaii for the first time with my daughters.”

“We went beach combing all day, got a couple razor clams, and made a seafood dinner.”

“My mom was in Kaslo, so we called her and my sister sent flowers.”

Letters to the Editor More discussion needed over Legion building Dear Editor, It would be wonderful indeed to know what is the line of reasoning behind this decision to tear down the A-frame building on Second Street, Queen Charlotte.

To me it feels like it could be a misunderstanding.

Nice for me to say, getting on the ferry tonight, but a town meeting might reveal what is going on, and maybe open some new ways of thinking about this opportunity.

To replace this building with a utilitarian box, however important that box might be for town safety, is hard to justify. All over the world, communities are struggling to find ways to preserve their historical gems.

It is a federal, provincial, municipal, and personal issue.

This building would be missed by a lot of people, and many of those people might like to at least express an opinion on the subject before it is too late.

I practised architecture for many years with a firm that worked hard to preserve our architectural heritage, and to find ways to make a chosen solution work for everyone.

Mostly I worked on schools, but I had a chance at some other building types as well.

This ex-church, ex-Legion gathering place is special, mostly for its value as a community collective space, but also as an important part of island history—which I do understand can be viewed in a range of ways.

In the course of my practice, I watched as several unconvinced communities gradually came to an understanding of the value of their built heritage, and I shared their joy when a heritage restoration project, rather

than a demolition, was successfully completed.

I hope this is not the end of this discussion.

Sincerely, Jane Kinegal Haida Gwaii

Climate inaction a violation of our rights and freedoms Dear Editor, Climate change is the greatest national security threat to every country on this choking planet. The problems we have created today will be inherited by our youth. Along with these truths, let’s look at the most important lawsuit on the planet right now.

Plaintiffs are Dr. James Hansen, retired from NASA and now a professor at Columbia University in the U.S. and best known for his research in climatology, along with 21 youths, aged 8-19 years of age, are suing the American government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property and their right to essential public trust resources, by permitting, encouraging and otherwise enabling continued exploitation, production, and combustion of fossil fuels.

Judge Coffin of the U.S. federal court in Eugene, Oregon decided in favour of the youth and Dr. James Hansen’s lawsuit on behalf of future generations.

Our time for climate action is long past due. It seems to me that this court case could be just as pertinent to the Canadian Constitution and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Sincerely, Mary Ann Shannon Terrace

Please send your letters to the editor to editor@haidagwaiiobserver.com. We will always give preference to letters submitted by islands residents.

ratitude was the theme at this year’s Haida Gwaii Youth Assembly, and the Skidegate recreation centre was filled with energy and passion as about 130 young people gathered there May 5-7 for this unique event.

Is there anywhere else in the world where you can bring together the majority of young people in one place for three days of learning, sharing and working together alongside elected leaders, community members, and mentors? It’s an amazing experience, and this year our young people were joined by visiting youth from Moose Factory Cree First Nations, who wanted to learn how the assembly gets organized and bring the idea back to their community.

Every year, the assembly starts off with a mock election. The Youth Council government – in place for the three days of the assembly - is modelled on the Council of the Haida Nation, with positions for president, vice-president, four south representatives, four north representatives, and representatives for Prince Rupert and Vancouver. Candidates submit nomination papers ahead of time, then go through an all-candidates process with campaigns, speeches, and an election during the first day. The newly-elected youth then take part in a swearing-in ceremony, and get the chance to meet their real-life counterparts at the CHN. It’s a hands-on learning experience about how a democratic government works, and it also allows the leadership to hear directly from young people about their issues and concerns. This year, the youth elected Kobe Adams as president and Cole Sankey as vice-president.

Cole, who is the Gwaii Trust youth director for Skidegate, told us that he has attended every Youth Assembly for the past four years, and this year’s event was outstanding. The youth were divided into teams that competed in challenges. Cole really enjoyed the bartering challenge, which saw his team barter a t-shirt for an argillite piece from the Longhouse Gift Shop, which they gifted to MC Stan Wesley. Youth president Kobe Adams told us that his favourite part was the food challenge, which really got everyone working together. Teams had to create a meal using Haida Gwaii ingredients, and present it as attractively as possible. Photos were sent to the executive chef of Toronto restaurant Canoe, which is currently offering a “Taste Haida Gwaii” menu, for his feedback and help in judging. The results were spectacular!

Kiefer Collison, one of the organizers, said this year’s group knew what to expect because most of them had attended previous assemblies. This allowed the organizers to give more direction to the youth and resulted in a very successful event. He’s already thinking that next year’s assembly might have to be extended by a day or two.

The Gwaii Trust’s Youth Board approved a grant of $10,000 for the Youth Assembly to help pay for transportation and food. Our youth grants provide funding to organizations on Haida Gwaii for educational and/or recreational services aimed at youth. An event like this one, which promotes youth leadership, has a huge participation rate, and gives youth the opportunity to explore ideas and careers, aligns perfectly with our goals and objectives. The next deadline to submit an application for a youth grant is June 1.

Check out our website at gwaiitrust.com for full details.

The Gwaii Trust update is a collaborative promotional venture by the Gwaii Trust Society and the Haida Gwaii Observer.

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Haida Gwaii

Observer

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Ex-CFL player tackles violence FUNDRAISER Thank you to Everyone who made this a very successful event. I know I may accidentally miss some important people so I wont try to name everyone.

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Our Museum belongs to all of us who are fortunate enough to live on Haida Gwaii. Most of our funding is project based so if we receive funding for a project, that is where all the money will be spent. From time to time opportunities come along to procure items for our collection, or we receive donations that need appraisals. This is where your fundraising dollars will be used.

Thank you, Haawa, to all who supported the event by attending, and a special thank you to Bonnie Olson Kathy Pick President of Sahlinda Naay

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer

Grey Cup winner J.R. LaRose is bringing strong words to Haida Gwaii.

Built like a B.C. Lion, the ex-CFL player and member of the One Arrow First Nation carries more than physical power— LaRose has a hard-hitting story about rising above violence.

As a young boy in Edmonton, LaRose saw his mom abused by men and watched her struggle with substance abuse.

Today, when he could tackle anyone, LaRose is focused on helping young men and boys stand up to violence and avoid being bystanders—something he didn’t always know how to do.

Bonnie Olson, co-ordinator of Victim Services and Outreach in Queen Charlotte, said she is glad LaRose is coming now, at a time when his positive message can do a lot of good in the community.

“I love the campaign because it really speaks from what is typically a very strong warrior male,

featuring locally designed “green” garments Cheesecake for sale, cash bar

FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016 7:00PM Admission Advance ticket - $10; at door - $15 !

Headliner/Murray McLauchlan Poet Laureate/comedian Charlie Demers with performances by local musicians

SATURDAY MAY 28, 2016 Dinner at 6:00PM Concert at 7:30PM

football star role,” said Olson.

“He’s really lived it, which I hope speaks to any of the youth—or adults—who get to see somebody who is pretty empowered and coming from that background.”

Along with talks for students at George M. Dawson and Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay/ QCSS, LaRose will also give community talks at Old Massett Village Hall starting at 7 p.m. on May 30, and at the Kay Centre Performing House starting at 7 p.m. on May 31.

Organized by Ending Violence B.C., LaRose’s visit comes during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, which this year has the theme ‘Power of Our Voices.’

But a visit from a CFL football star is not the only thing going on for Haida Gwaii youth that week.

On June 4, the Skidegate Small Hall and Skidegate Youth Centre will co-host an event Olson says is just as powerful, in part because it comes from local youth themselves— the Honouring Our Youth

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Dinner & Benefit Concert Advance ticket - $35; at door - $40 Benefit Concert only Advance ticket - $15; at door - $20 Learner award ceremony @ 7PM, concert @7:30PM

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Celebration.

With live music and performances by the islands’ own Manik 1derful and dancer Hltaaxuulang Guud Ad K’aajuu, not to mention DJ Shub and hoop dancer James Jones, who have both performed by Tribe Called Red, the day-long event will give north- and south-end youth a chance to have fun together.

“All-island gatherings—that was their number-one desire,” said Olson, who is also part of the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative (CYMSHUC).

Olson said there is always a lot of talk about the problems youth are facing, but what she and others at CYMSHU heard from youth themselves is that Haida Gwaii also needs to shine a light on all the good things coming from its next generation.

“Why don’t we make it one of the big things we do to honour our youth?” she said.

For more info, visit the Youth Celebration event page hosted on Facebook by CYMSHUC South Island.

Copper River fisheries closed

Fisheries that rely on Copper River sockeye will remain closed until monitoring staff see a stronger return.

Haida Fisheries reported on May 3 that an estimated 1,152 sockeye have cleared the Copper River monitoring fence since April 11.

Unless the return grows stronger, all fisheries that target Copper River sockeye will remain closed, including those along Skidegate Inlet, the village of Skidegate, and Church Creek.

CORRECTION A story in the May 6 edition of the Observer mistook the number of community paramedics who will be hired for work on Haida Gwaii in October. In fact, Haida Gwaii will have a total of two part-time community paramedics, whose combined hours will be equivalent to one full-time position. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Haida Gwaii

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

In Brief No damage from 4.1 quake An earthquake off the west coast of Moresby Island was lightly felt in Queen Charlotte, Skidegate, Tlell and Sandspit just before 7 p.m. on Sunday.

No damage and no tsunami were reported.

Earthquakes Canada reports that the 4.1-magnitude quake struck about 70 km south and west of Sandspit.

Late on Friday afternoon, a smaller 3.4 magnitude quake was recorded southwest of Tofino.

Shooting alien invaders May is B.C. Invasive Species Action month, and islanders can take part by snapping photos of invasive

Observer

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plants or animals on Haida Gwaii, or photos showing how best to handle them. Tag the photo #bcinvasivescontest on Instagram or Twitter by May 29 and you could win a prize, including a GoPro camera. Visit bcinvasives.ca for more info.

Everyone involved in monitoring for shellfish biotoxins along the B.C. coast is taking extra precautions this season given several red-tide alerts off Vancouver Island.

Haida Fisheries is reminding razor-clam diggers that tides must be 1.6 metres (5.5 feet) or less to dig commercially.

Clam diggers double down

Bear them in mind

Clam diggers enjoyed extra-low tides and double digs on the beaches between Wiah and Rose Points last weekend after a precautionary shellfish closure was mostly lifted on Wednesday afternoon.

The area is now open to harvesters of razor clams, butter clams, cockles and scallops, but remains closed to all other bivalve shellfish.

Haida Fisheries says the April 29 to May 4 closure was actually triggered by a misread number— no biotoxins were found in the weekly samples sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Be bear aware. That is the message Masset residents are hearing from village staff after bears were seen last week near Sanctuary Road and Telephone Hill.

According to Wild Safe B.C., bears that move through towns without lingering are likely heading toward natural food sources—most in-town conflicts only arise when people provide bears with human food. Poorly stored garbage accounts for over half of bear calls in B.C., and homeowners are advised to quickly pick their fruit trees and berry bushes, as well as minding their bird feeders, compost, and pet food to better share the landscape with bears.

The continued surprises of life Tlellagraph

by Elizabeth Condrotte

represents the passing of the last hundred years this house has been alive. I loved mine but the big surprise was breakfast. It was three delicious courses during which Colleen, does a brief performance perfected by her years as an entertainer. She and I shared our admiration for our own Tlellian, Joelle Rabu because they are both disciples of Edith Piaf who is also one of my favorite singers. Then Colleen sang my favorite Piaf songs as well as sharing jokes from her own French Canadian background. I feel as if I have had my whole summer vacation in one weekend topped off with a movie of one of my favorite stories, The Jungle Book; four stars from me.

There was another big surprise in Tlell just before I left.

Su-san came home to find that her house had been broken

Life continues to surprise me and last weekend contained quite a few surprises. The first was the longest line in the ferry ticket office I have ever seen which meant no room for the night and no rooms in Prince Rupert for the weekend.

That is until I went on Google and discovered the Pillsbury House B&B, which did have a room for me.

However, my mission was to pick up a car in Terrace and my plan was to take the most convenient form of transportation, the train, which leaves from the ferry terminal only one hour after the ferry lands. I like the train but it was not a surprise that it was two hours late Here’s your chance to win the... as that has been my experience with VIA every time. That meant that the car transaction was under pressure. I had two carefully researched choices, a Mazda or a Ford, and had informed OF THE the respective dealers about my plan.

I didn’t like the Mazda so much but then Ron the dealer surprised me A BLACK PRESS again with a Subaru, just to try. So I AWARD-WINNING CONTEST did and loved it as much as the Ford I had already decided on. Back I went We are seeking B.C.'s best amateur to Kyle at Ford to surprise him, and photographers to send in their myself, by flipping a coin to solve my favourite photos of an event, a dilemma. The Ford won and I had just sport, a family image, and/or action enough time to complete the transac- shot within the last 12 months. tion and leave, resisting temptation to spend any more money in Terrace Submit up to 5 (five) of your (except for dog-proof seat covers). favourite shots between now The big surprise that awaited me and July 4th, then all photos was Pillsbury House. I had noticed it will be reviewed and a select before as it is next to the casino and number of photographers overlooks the old train station and will be chosen for f the h ultimate e the harbor but I knew nothing about prize of up to t $1500 in prizes it. It was the first real house in Prince 2015 WINNE a and full VIP access to the R Rupert and was considered to be a (BEST CROW D SHOT) Abbotsford I International t at al KE N M cC ALLISTER mansion when it was built in 1908.

Aug 12-14, 2 2 2016. .

It now belongs to the City of Prince Airshow,, August Rupert and is open for tours and other special events but it is also a B&B. ENTER Colleen McLaren rents it and runs it, helps to organize events, guide tours TODAY! and even operates a beauty parlor in TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS VISIT the glassed-in front porch of the house YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER’S where clients have the best view of WEBSITE, THEN CLICK ON THE any salon in the city. There are four CONTEST LINK (TOP RIGHT CORNER) guest rooms, which are quaint and POWERED charming with beautiful views and BY: eclectic décor in each room, which

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into as well as the freezer, which is just inside the door. The intruder had left behind a bit of a mess and took the ice cream as well as the cookies she had just put in the freezer.

She looked out the window and saw the intruder was on the way back for more. It was a juvenile bear, which she shooed away and then borrowed an electric fence from Kim to keep it away.

Other sightings have confirmed that there really is a young, dumb bear bumbling around Tlell but before bearanoia sets in, just make sure your garbage and small livestock are secure and you’ll be fine. Listen to your dogs as they will be telling the little delinquent where to go. Su-san has a nice picture if you need to identify it but stupidity should not be a capital offence.

Fraser Ellis Celebrates

Haida Gwaii PGI

The Fraser Ellis Literary Foundation is partnering with Literacy Haida Gwaii to celebrate the Fourth Annual

Haida Gwaii Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) for Literacy Here are two different contests to wet your appetite. Take on one or both tasks… the choice is yours!

Contest #1 Show Off your Cheesecake Enter your home made special cheesecake at our Trashion Show with Wine and Cheesecake event on May 27th and get a chance to win some cash! $50 cash for each winning cake (total of 3 cash prizes).

Confirm your desire to enter by May 20 via info@literacyhaidagwaii.ca or call 250-637-1344 Contest #2 Write About Cheesecake Your desired genre for this literary contest could be nonfiction, fiction, poem, song, video, animation, graphic story or even some other inspiring art form that MUST include the word “Cheesecake”. There is no age limit for this contest.

Criteria: Maximum 250 words for all written formats (poems, fiction/non-fiction, graphic story etc) or one minute for visual and audio formats (song, video, animation etc).

Cash prizes for the three top entries: $200, $100, $50 Email your submission to info@literacyhaidagwaii.ca by May 20th.

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Haida Gwaii

Observer

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Musn’t take our rainforest for granted Charlotte Communiqués

by Evelyn von Almassy

There is so much happening, with the Fort McMurray fires spreading, and thousands of people evacuating from their homes and work places. We can hope and pray, and donate money to the Red Cross.

With any luck, rains will come and help stop the fires. I haven’t heard what caused the fires, but statistically half of wildfires are human-caused. Dry weather, little rain, high winds and global warming do not help the fire situation. There are also wildfires in B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

It is a good reminder for all of us if we go camping, to be diligent with campfires, cigarettes and matches. It only takes a couple of days of no rain here before the forests become dry. We must not take our moist-temperate rainforest’s for granted as protection against fires.

The Bow Meow Fundraiser saw 60 people in atten-

dance last Saturday at the Dixon Entrance Maritime Museum in Masset, and everyone had a fun time, with bidding contests, something for everyone, incredible appetizers (I ate too many of them), and the smooth enthusiasm of Andrew Merilees as the official auctioneer.

Anne-Marie Mol is the overall organizer of this annual event, and thanks all individuals who donated items, and helped with the set-up and the running of the evening.

Sadly, a powerhouse of a woman, Fran Redick, who was one of the original organizers of the Animal Helpline in the mid-seventies, passed away the same day.

Fran was involved with many organizations, working in public health care, the RCMP, and was a member of many boards, including Gwaii Trust and the Animal Helpline.

She came to Masset with her husband Cliff Redick who moved here with the Canadian Forces.They stayed in Masset after retirement, with Cliff passing away a couple of years ago. Their son Scott will be on-island soon.

Special kudos go out to Andrew and Anne-Marie who bravely carried on with the knowledge of Fran’s death.

The Bow Meow went on, which is what Fran would have wanted. She will be missed.

This is a reminder that tomorrow, May 14th at Spirit Square in the Village of Charlotte is the Third Annual Remembering Event, from 2

Gwaii Trust Youth Program Call for Proposals | June 1st Deadline

related to youth on Haida Gwaii and expanding their opportunities to access youth gathering places as well as new and existing educational, recreto see these activities reach as many participants as possible on Haida Gwaii. for applications have now been increased to four times a year. Deadlines are March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, and December 1st.

• Remaining Budget for 2016: $50,900 • Youth program: $10,000 maximum application, 25% equity requirement, including a minimum of 10% sweat equity • 30 under 30 program: $5,000 maximum application, recreation focused. Applicants must be under 30.

Please see www.gwaiitrust.com for full criteria and to apply online

p.m. to 10 p.m. It will be fun, there will be lots of food to eat, and some of the best musicians on the island will be entertaining the crowds.

Tomorrow as well, in Masset, is the Masset Rollergirls and Masset Razor Clams roller derby team Dance Party. The dance starts at 9 p.m. and rocks until 2 a.m. The theme is “Jam with Your Clam Out” Retro Dance, and they invite you to come dressed as in the 80s.

This is a fundraiser for this great group of girls and women who role-model female empowerment through the sport of roller derby with style and spunk! Last year the dance was sold out; so check out Facebook for ticket details.

I see that the island school board is laying off teaching staff (nearly four full-time teachers) and other staff (three full-time support workers), based on declining enrollment.

The people on the front lines with students, the teachers, and teaching assistants should be the last staff to be laid off.

Not charging market prices for management living in the district’s rental housing is taking money away from the students. The morality of subsidizing rent for a staff person who is paid over $110,000 a year lacks integrity. The formula of declining enrolment and increasing management would be fodder for the French Revolution. Letting the students “eat cake” doesn’t cut it in today’s environment. Raise your voice at the next school board meeting for their budget tweaking.

Please send your news to almassy@qcislands.net

by Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

Power outage notice: planned maintenance Masset, Old Massett, and Port Clements

We need to switch off power in your area for approximately eight hours while we conduct system maintenance. To keep our crews and the public safe, power must be switched off while we complete this important work.

Where: When: Time:

Masset, Old Massett, and Port Clements Sunday May 15, 2016 Starting at Midnight, 12:00 a.m. to 8 a.m.

To protect your equipment from damage during the outage, please turn off all lights, electrical heaters, major appliances and unplug all electronics. We’ll restore power as soon as we can.

Visit bchydro.com/outages or call 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) for more information.

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Haida Gwaii

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Observer

11

Love Haida Gwaii Trade show was a blast Masset Tidings

by Margo Hearne

I

t was a blast! The Love Haida Gwaii Spring Tradeshow held at the Howard Phillips Community Hall in Masset was packed to the doors and was a super success for island businesses. They came from all over the islands and put on a great display.

Fresh bread, sandwiches, homemade soaps and perfumes, local carvers, weavers, photographers, arts, crafts and massage services all had tables and everyone was interested in what was happening. One table had a bird display from the Nature Centre and beside it was a bow and arrow display, which reminded this writer of the little song “who killed cock robin, I, said

the sparrow, with my little arrow”. Across the way was Nanaai’s Bakery, and nearby was Islandwise Essentials who make handcrafted soaps and perfumes, all natural and made in town. Also in the room were the ‘secret shoppers’ who visited each table to find the most professional and creative booth display. Each table was (secretly) interviewed as to the provenance of their wares, and the big prize of $500 went to Islandwise Essentials! Most tables also had draws, so it was an exciting time and people seemed most enthusiastic about the whole event. The Love Haida Gwaii website was launched in 2014 and its part of a growing movement supporting independent, local businesses throughout Northern BC. Their website lovehaidagwaii.com has lots of information on interesting places to eat, shop, stay and play in the north.

Susan Musgrave has been on the road

a lot since her book “A Taste of Haida Gwaii” was published last year. It’s a fun, informative publication and she not only gives us island food recipes, but also tells stories of her childhood, her neighbours (including their dogs) and just about anything you need to know about making wild yeast leaven bread. “I approach the task of bread-making the way I approach writing,” Susan writes. “with excruciating attention to detail, because the end result (in the case of the former) is a formidable loaf of bread and to do it any other way would be to disappoint the gazillion people who have claimed they will buy my book “just to have that sourdough bread recipe”….I am hooked on (this) European bread-making technique, so much so that I have become a slave to it.” Her technique is, as promised, very detailed, but the result is worth it.

Lovely photographs accompany the recipe

and the rest is up to us. Susan is now off to Ireland; to the Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Wine and Food, which sounds like the perfect place to be. And, her cookbook is going into second printing, which is quite something. Any spelling, or other, mistakes are promised to be put right.

The folks can go clam digging again. A news flash on May 4 2016 from the CHN Haida Fisheries Program noted, “The beaches from Wiah Point to Rose Spit are now open to the harvesting of Razor Clams, cockles, butter clams and scallops. The most recent marine biotoxin results were acceptable”. Haida Fisheries will continue to send weekly samples to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to monitor for toxins and reminds everyone that tides must be 5.5 or less to dig Razor Clams commercially.

Today we have the big new moon tides, it’s only a few weeks until the full flower moon.

Swiss chard may grow like a weed but it is a delight Deer Gardener

by Elaine Nyeholt

Those delightful little Calypso Orchids are up around the Islands. They have a surprisingly long blooming period… there is about a month that we can see them. Hidden amongst the thick moss and twigs of the forest, each corm sends up one leaf and one flower to assuage our need for beauty, and thrill our sense of hide and seek.

Do NOT pick them, they seed sparingly and need to be protected for another years growth.

Another delight in the early spring is the Swiss Chard that gives us colourful stems and deep green leaves, providing essential nutrients for our bodies. The term phytonutrients is used, and upon researching it the simplest of explanations comes out… phyto (plant) & nutrient well, we know what that is. Anyway, Chard is useful as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifier, recommended for our nervous system and eye health. It contains a flavonoid called ‘Syringic’ acid which helps to regulate blood sugar, by inhibiting the enzyme alphaglucosidase from breaking carbs down into simple sugars, thus enabling our blood sugar to remain more steady. Phew! So, not only

is it a beautiful, easy to grow and delicious vegetable that provides food for a second year… but it is one of the most nutritious around. Thanks to Wikipedia for those big names and explanations. Do plant some this spring also, for a continuous supply.

Chard grows almost like a weed here in good garden soil. Its cut-and-come again aspect is highly agreeable. I prefer to trim the outside leaves and use them instead of cutting the whole plant off an inch above its root, but I know others who just whack it off and it comes back fine. A short row of chard will provide plenty to share with your neighbours. The second year it sends up a seed stalk, which you can cut off to keep it producing.

Beets, spinach, kale, broccoli and strawberries also provide the antioxidant and nervous system/eye health benefits.

My Rhubarb is threatening to seed already! Do cut off the seed stalks to keep the plant producing, and take out the little plants that will have started in your patch if it has been in the same place for a long time. The small plants will grow into full size plants if moved to a new location to start a new bed. Rhubarb likes part sun and deep, moist, manure enhanced soil. I have noticed that my bed needs to be moved, it is getting less sun than it used to, and I choose not to remove the shading shrubs that have

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gotten rather large. New is not a bad thing!

The bugs are out unless it’s windy, creating a deterrent to gardening, but do remember to use Skin so Soft as an after shower bug repellant if you have some. It works very well for me, and isn’t so harmful to my body as some

other repellants.

Begin feeding your flowering bulbs weekly now to ensure a good blooming session next year. A liquid 20-20-20 works well, but the middle number large is even better... 6-8-6 if you can find it in a mix for watering in.

12

Haida Gwaii

Observer

Observer

Haida Gwaii

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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toll free from Masset: 1-888-529-4747 email: observer@haidagwaii.ca tel: 250-559-4680 fax: 250-559-8433 Advertise here!

Observer

Friday, May 13, 2016 www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Susan Musgrave wins BC Book Prize

By Andrew Hudson Haida Gwaii Observer

When poet Susan Musgrave got the call saying her Haida Gwaii cookbook had won a BC Book Prize, it came right out of the blue.

“I forgot I was even nominated,” says Musgrave, laughing.

“I never go to these things because I always figure I won’t win, and who wants to sit there and be gracious if you don’t win?”

In A Taste of Haida Gwaii: Food Gathering and Feasting at the Edge of the World readers can find Musgrave’s notes on elderflower cordial, a recipe for Steller Sea Lion Lasagne (with a trigger warning), plus photos of a wet-suited cook jigging a halibut from his surfboard.

Seasoned with Haida Gwaii humour, Musgrave has heard plenty of readers say they laughed the whole way through.

Other home cooks, even chefs have are also inspired by her many wild-food ideas—as he prepared seven courses from the book at a Vancouver workshop, chef Cosmo Meens spun candied ‘rose’ petals from brown butter to stand in for the real ones Musgrave uses at home on Tow Hill Road or at the Copper Beech

House Inn. “It was great to see what a chef will do with a recipe,” said Musgrave.

“They don’t follow it—they do a third thing you haven’t thought of.”

That kind of food daring is something Musgrave brings to her own kitchen. As a cook, and as a poet and fiction writer, she is not in the habit of nailing things down.

“Why do I have to measure a pinch of gold flake?” she asked her long-suffering editor, Jordie Yow. “How can you possibly measure that?”

Speaking from Vancouver, Yow said the book was “super fun” to work on, even the sometimes flexible measures.

“One thing I really love about the book is that it promotes that spirit,” said Yow, who especially likes the ‘wash-up’ chapter with its stories about tide-borne beer from Russia as well as cockles and scallops.

“It’s like, ‘This is what I’d do, unless it wasn’t in season, in which case I would make up something along these lines.”

At the BC Book Prize gala in Victoria, A Taste of Haida Gwaii won the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award, the only prize chosen by popular choice rather than a jury.

Shared by her publisher, Whitecap

Books, it recognizes the book’s overall look and design, which Musgrave said is tribute to the many islands illustrators and photographers whose images pepper its pages—from the beach cows captured by Guy Kimola to the washups and Agate Beach campers photographed by Chris Ashurst and Archie Stocker Sr. As for the $2,000 that comes with the prize, Musgrave said it should help with some of her book-related travels.

In fact, when she got a call from the Observer about the award, Musgrave was waiting by the Prince Rupert ferry dock, where a bunch of islanders turned the parking lot into a going-home party.

Of all the things people have said about the book, Musgrave’s favourite came from fellow Tow Hiller Meredith Adams, who said, “I can give this to everybody who wonders why I live here.”

“I feel really good about that,” said Musgrave.

“It’s not just a coffee table book with beautiful pictures—it’s about the people, and that’s what the islands are all about.”

“Walking in the woods and on the beach is great, but people are what make it interesting.”

considering bird beauty, yet they are lovely. The mixed flocks of Teal, Mallard, Wigeon and Pintail all flash in the sun as they sweep by and close inspection reveals the iridescent flashes of their fine feathering. Over the centuries they have only been considered “food on the wing” or something to hunt for pleasure, but there is nothing heroic about hiding in a swamp with a gun and blasting a shotgun at random into a migrant flock. Many birds fall into the water, dead, and are never recovered. It is an unequal game, and Ogden Nash captured it well in his poem “The Hunter” who “crouches in his blind; ‘neath camouflage of every kind; and conjures up a quacking noise; to lend allure to his decoys; this grown-up man, with pluck and luck; is hoping to outwit a duck!” Ducks are not the smartest little critters in the world but it would be a sad place without them A Rufous Hummingbird has been coming to our feeder for the past week or so. It is really shy and the only way we know it’s there is when the feeder gets low. Some feeders in the south of the island have up to ten birds flickering around them; some even wait around while the feeder is being replenished. It

may be because we live in the forest and the tiny birds have many natural foods so they are not so reliant on our sugar/water mix. With their super-fast metabolism and a heartbeat of over 520 beats a minute they need to eat almost constantly to stay alive. They have come from as far south as southern Mexico and they like an open vista with flowers.

So the Sandhill Cranes continue to stalk the Sanctuary, the White-fronted Geese have hidden themselves away in the long grass beside the creek and the smaller Cackling Geese are feeding with a rather unusual, very pale Canada Goose.

Apparently, the pale one is the “nominate” race, or the real McCoy. “White-cheeked Geese” as they used to be known, have been split into two separate species; Canada, the large ones and Cackling, the smaller ones; from there have sprung at least twelve (12) subspecies, five of which have occurred on Haida Gwaii. The island one is the Dusky Canada (occidentalis).

If you’re spotting geese see if you can separate the subspecies as they are more than ‘just geese.’

Wings over the water, hummingbirds in the trees On the Wing

by Margo Hearne

T

he birds keep moving through. This was the week for migratory ducks.

Thousands of them; whipping so low over the water that they were barely visible. Occasionally, on approach to land, they rose higher and kept on going.

They, like the geese that went through earlier, are on a mission to get to their nesting grounds. The majority of ducks were Northern Shovelers, a little smaller than mallards. They are handsome birds, the males are a rich rufous red with white fronts and the females are small and speckled with green wing patches. They nest throughout northern North America in open, shallow wetlands and in winter move to freshwater and saline marshes.

Since the birds are moving along the outer coast here, they are possibly heading for the Yukon-Kuskwokim Delta and points north and east. Recent Alaska-Yukon waterfowl breeding population surveys estimated some 442,900 Northern Shovelers there.

Ducks are not always top of mind when

Haida Gwaii

Dave’s

Backhoe Services

Booking of all display advertising and classified advertising, including help wanted, legal notifications, word ads — the deadline is one week prior to the publication date by 12 noon

Deadlines for editorial submissions and letters to the editor are Friday at 5 pm.

Email Margo Hearne at hecatebird@gmail.com

Toll Free:

1-888-624-2577 WWW.WIREDBEACH.CA

www.inlandair.bc.ca

Redi-Mix Concrete Gravel and Sand Sales TRUCKING - EXCAVATING Dave Ellis

250-559-4747 drellis@qcislands.net www.davesbackhoeservices.ca

To advertise in print:

Browse more at:

Call: 250-559-4680 Email: quinn.bender@haidagwaiiobserver.ca Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

A division of

INDEX IN BRIEF

Information

Obituaries

Obituaries

Obituaries

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Opportunities

Business Opportunities

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS TRAVEL EMPLOYMENT

REMEMBERING

BUSINESS SERVICES

Kaiya Nungkoyas Williams

PETS & LIVESTOCK MERCHANDISE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE RENTALS AUTOMOTIVE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT LEGAL NOTICES

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ON THE WEB:

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Employment Business Opportunities BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Transit and Charter Bus Company Established Passenger and Freight business serving Haida Gwaii for over two decades.

Further information: David Xie, Pacific Pacific Business Brokers 604-696-6111 or www.pacificbusiness brokers.com Listing ID N400 CANADA BENEFIT GROUP - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government.

Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenet.ca/free-assessment

For sale A Mobile Office Furniture Maintenance & Repair Company. Est 1993.

Located in the N. Okanagan Valley. Large loyal customer base annually. Basic training included in repairs of chairs, desks & file cabinets. Ideal for self motivated mechanically minded person-542-3423 Email officedo@telus.net HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dressing?

Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply today For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

HIGH PROFIT HIGH CASH PRODUCING LOONIE VENDING MACHINES. All on Locations Turnkey Operation, Perfect Home Based Business. Full Details CALL NOW! 1-866-668-6629, WEBSITE WWW.TCVEND.COM.

Career Opportunities DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

District of Kitimat, exempt staff position with generous compensation. Reporting to the Operations Manager, is responsible for repair and maint. of the municipality’s infrastructure including roads, signage, sidewalks, general clean-up, common services, buildings & fleet equipment, and assists with municipal water and sewer operations.

Candidates will have a Civil Technologist Diploma and 5 years’ senior management experience in a municipal or similar work environment; an Applied Science Tech. Cert. is an asset.

Submit resumes by May 29, 2016, 4:30 p.m., to Personnel, District of Kitimat, 270 City Centre, Kitimat, B.C. V8C 2H7, Fax: 250-632-4995 E-mail dok@kitimat.ca

Dec. 14, 2002 - May 11, 2013

Memories come without warning, broken hearts that can't be fixed Three years ago we lost you...forever loved and constantly missed.

Everything changes when a loved one is lost...

You have to learn how to live…you have to learn how to walk…

Often I feel you near me, wonderful moments of time that flew, I hear your voice and remember…

"HURRY GRANDMA…WE HAVE LOTS TO DO." When your little body became too frail, when you couldn't endure much more, A cloud of angels carried you, to that place beyond the shore.

Where pain will never touch you, where sorrow does not exist, Only eternal happiness and sunshine, Where no one is lost or no one is missed.

The wound of your loss never closes, It aches no matter what I do, It'll only heal when again I see you…

When my life on earth is through…

The Board of Education of School District No. 50 (Haida Gwaii)

Invitation to Tender Custodial Contract for: Agnes L. Mathers Elementary Jr Secondary School, Sandspit, BC The Board of Education of School District No. 50 (Haida Gwaii) invites qualified bidders to submit tenders for the custodial contract for the Agnes L. Mathers Elementary Jr. Secondary School, to the School District Administration Office attention Ms. Shelley Sansome, Secretary Treasurer, 107-3rd Avenue, PO Box 69, Queen Charlotte, BC, V0T 1S0, up to 2:00 p.m. on June 3, 2016. Alternatively, tenders may be delivered to the School District Administration Office by fax at 250-559-8849, up to the stipulated time. Late tenders will not be accepted.

Tender documents, including Instructions to Bidders and the Bid Form, can be picked up at the School District Administration Office. By submitting a bid, the bidder agrees to comply with and be bound by all the terms of the tender, as described in this invitation and the tender documents.

Always in my Heart The Board of Education of School District No. 50 (Haida Gwaii)

Your Grandma Kalina Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Secretariat of the Haida Nation

Job Posting: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT – MARINE PLANNING DEPARTMENT The Secretariat of the Haida Nation is seeking an individual experienced in office and financial management and administration to join the Haida Oceans Technical Team, a small group of professionals, located in both Skidegate and Massett, Haida Gwaii, BC. Under the authority of the SHN Administrator and reporting to the Marine Planning Manager, the Executive Assistant will be responsible for office administration and provide support for processes, projects and initiatives related to marine and oceans management and planning. Key duties and responsibilities include: • Providing direct support for the Marine Planning Manager including assistance with scheduling and organization of meetings • Assisting with all aspects of planning and delivery of the Marine Planning Department, • Interacting with the public and responding to information requests • Assisting with management of contracts, review of financial reports, and preparation of internal and external reports and proposals, and A detailed job description is available upon request. To qualify for this position, you will have a minimum of two year’s experience working for a First Nation’s organization with similar administrative duties and responsibilities. You will have very good written and verbal communication skills, an understanding of sound financial and personnel management practices and knowledge of Haida governance. At minimum you will have a Grade 12 diploma. An understanding of the local community and familiarity with marine processes and initiatives would be an asset. Preference will be given to persons of Haida Ancestry.

HOW TO APPLY: Organization Name: Attention: Mailing Address: Telephone Number: Fax Number: E-mail Address: Website Address: Application Deadline:

Submit Formal Written Cover Letter & Resume Secretariat of the Haida Nation (SHN) Russ Jones – Manager, Marine Planning Box 98 – Queen Charlotte, Haida Gwaii, BC V0T 1S0 (250) 559-4468 (250) 559-8951 russ.jones@haidanation.com http://www.haidanation.ca May 20, 2016 at 4:00 pm

Invitation to Tender Custodial Contract for: Port Clements Elementary School, Port Clements, BC The Board of Education of School District No. 50 (Haida Gwaii) invites qualified bidders to submit tenders for the custodial contract for the Port Clements School, to the School District Administration Office attention Ms. Shelley Sansome, Secretary Treasurer, 107-3rd Avenue, PO Box 69, Queen Charlotte, BC, V0T 1S0, up to 2:00 p.m. on June 3, 2016. Alternatively, tenders may be delivered to the School District Administration Office by fax at 250-559-8849, up to the stipulated time.

Late tenders will not be accepted.

Tender documents, including Instructions to Bidders and the Bid Form, can be picked up at the School District Administration Office. By submitting a bid, the bidder agrees to comply with and be bound by all the terms of the tender, as described in this invitation and the tender documents.

Employment

Services

Education/Trade Schools

Financial Services

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Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

START A NEW CAREER in Graphic Arts, Healthcare, Business, Education or Information Tech. If you have a GED, Call: 855-670-9765

Help Wanted • Dockside Monitors • At-Sea Observers

J.O. Thomas & Associates Now accepting resumes for the upcoming Salmon season in both Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii.

Knowledge of Salmon Fishery & Salmon identification preferred.

Please fax Resume to Attn: Mike Mitchell 250-624-4029 or email: jothomas@citywest.ca

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WHERE DO YOU TURN

Community Newspapers We’re at the heart of things™

Business/Office Service Have you been denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefits?

The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help you appeal.

Call 1-877-793-3222 Website: www.dcac.ca Email: info@dcac.ca

Moving & Storage STEEL STORAGE CONTAINERS

FOR SALE OR RENT

jentonstorage@gmail.com

604-534-2775 Merchandise for Sale

Misc. for Sale 60 hp Merc. Low hours. Smart Set with remote. $3,500 OBO. Phone 250-637-1576 REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free Shipping.

Replacement guarantee.

1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca SAWMILLS from only $4,397 MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

Transportation

Trucks & Vans For Sale: 2002 Ford f-150 4x4 Call 250-559-2362

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

VILLAGE OF MASSET • Public Works Crew • Visitor Info Centre

dŚĞ sŝůůĂŐĞ ŽĨ DĂƐƐĞƚ ŝƐ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ ŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚ͕ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůŝĂďůĞ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ͗ WƵďůŝĐ tŽƌŬƐ ƌĞǁ͕ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƐĂĨĞůLJ ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞ ŵĂĐŚŝŶĞƌLJ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŐĂƐ ƉŽǁĞƌĞĚ ƚƌŝŵŵĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ůĂǁŶŵŽǁĞƌƐ͕ ďĞ ƉŚLJƐŝĐĂůůLJ Įƚ͕ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ĨŽůůŽǁ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĞŶũŽLJ ŽƵƚĚŽŽƌ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ƐŚŝŌƐ DŽŶĚĂLJͲ&ƌŝĚĂLJ ϴ ŚƌƐͬĚĂLJ͘ sŝƐŝƚŽƌ /ŶĨŽ ĞŶƚƌĞ͕ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ͕ ďĞ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂ͕ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ƐŚŝŌƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐ͘ Send resumes to: Village of Masset, PO Box 68, Masset, BC V0T 1M0 Fax: 250-626-3968 or Email: vom@mhtv.ca ĞĂĚůŝŶĞ͗ May 16, 2016 4:00 PM

www.massetbc.com

Friday, May 13, 2016

Haida Gwaii

www.haidagwaiiobserver.com

Observer Haida Gwaii

Coming Events

Old Massett

Health Fair. Saturday, May 14, 3 to 6 p.m. Old Massett Community Hall. Learn about youth and maternal health, diabetes, traditional foods and more.

Chief Matthews fundraiser. Friday, May 20, 5:30 p.m. Old Massett Community Hall. Enjoy a cultural performance by Chief Matthews students, plus a live loonie auction and bake sale. All proceeds help send students to T’aalan Stl’ang.

After-school sports. Mon., Wed., and Frid. from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Old Massett Village Hall. For children ages 9-12. Call 250-626-3573.

and Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Call 250-557-9362.

Farmers’ market. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beside the Tlell Fire Hall.

Skidegate Book sale. Saturday, May 21, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Skidegate Band Council office. Find hardcovers and paperbacks from your favourite authors.

Strong Start. Wed., 12 to 3 p.m. and Fri., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sk’aadgaa Naay Elementary School. Call 250559-8889.

AA meeting. Fri., 8 p.m. Skidegate Firehall. Call 250-559-4568.

Masset

Queen Charlotte

Gale York Memorial Pool Tournament. Saturday, June 14, 6:30 p.m.

Masset Legion. Place first, second, or third and go home with a trophy.

For more info, call 250-626-5011.

Kaiya Nungkoyas Williams: Remembering Our Lost Loved Ones.

Sat. May 14, 3 to 10 p.m. Spirit Square. Support the Sk’aagaa Naay greenhouse,

Alternate Fitness. Tues. and Thurs.s, 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Masset Legion. A free, modified fitness class for middle-age to older folks. Call 250-626-5652.

All-ages Water Balloon Fight.

Saturday, May 14, 5 p.m. QC Youth Centre.

Record Thursdays. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Masset Legion. Enjoy B.C. beer, pool, shuffleboard, and spin some vinyl—choose from a box of records or bring your own.

Adult drop-in sports. Mondays: Volleyball, Tuesdays: Badminton & ping gong, Wednesdays: Masters basketball, Fridays: Chinni basketball. 7 to 9 p.m., except for chinni basketball, 4 to 6 p.m. GMD Secondary gym. $2 drop-in.

Heartfulness meditation. Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., Sun. at 11 a.m.

Call 250-626-5400.

Farmers’ market. Fri., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Main Street.

Port Clements Adult badminton. Wed., 7:30 to 9 p.m. Multiplex gym. Bring a racquet, $2 drop-in. Call 250-557-4295.

Seniors social. Mon, 1 to 4 p.m.

Seniors room. Enjoy a game of cards or board games. Call 250-557-4336.

Volunteer Fire Dept. Training.

Wed. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Port Clements Fire Hall. New members welcome.

Call 250-557-4421.

Cedarview Community Church.

Services start 11 a.m. Sundays.

Tlell Taoist Tai Chi. Tues., 7 to 9 p.m.

Haida Gwaii Adult Drop-in Soccer. Tuesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay/QCSS field. Confirm time/place on the group Facebook page.

Bethel Assembly. Services start 10:30 a.m. Sundays.

Pickle ball. Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay/QCSS gym.

Table tennis. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m. QC Community Hall.

Taoist Tai Chi. Mondays, 12 p.m.; Wednesdays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.. Call 250-559-8252 Ukulele Jam. Wednesdays, 5 to 7p.m. QC Community Hall seniors room. All levels welcome. Informal instruction and extra ukuleles available.

Farmers’ market. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Beside the QC Community Hall.

Sandspit

Farmers’ market. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Outside ALM Elementary on clear days, inside on blustery ones.

15

READ ON... WRITE ON!

Literacy Haida Gwaii - Promoting Lifelong Learning on the Islands

559-8398 (QCC) or 1-866-559-9065 (island-wide), email: bfavreau@literacyhaidagwaii.ca Read On … Write On promotes literacy. People who are improving their English reading and writing skills will find this section useful. Parents can use this section to help their children learn to read. Watch out for puzzles, recommended reading, simplified news stories, writing tips and upcoming literacy events.

Fort McMurray On Fire

The forest around Fort McMurray is on fire. The fire first started on May 1, Sunday. Fort McMurray is The forest around Fort McMurray is on fire. The fire first started on May 1, Sunday.

Alberta’s fifth largest city. This is the largest wild fire in Alberta history. This is the largest evacuation in Alberta history. This out-of-control wildfire has burnt over 10,000 hectares of land as of May 5.

Fort McMurray is cut off from the rest of Alberta as the massive wildfire burned on both sides of the critical highway that links the city with the rest of province. The fire has destroyed more than 1,600 homes and buildings. About 250 firefighters, aided by 12 helicopters and 17 air tankers, fought flames on several fronts in and around the city. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated. Alberta declared a province-wide state of emergency and there is a water ban across Alberta.

Ft. McMurray’s fire superimposed on Vancouver area Day 1 - May 1, Sunday Several small forest fires start in the area.

Fire crews start to work.

Day 2 - May 2, Monday The wildfire grows to 12.8 sq. km or 1280 hectares.

Day 3 - May 3, Tuesday The wildfire crosses the Athabaska River and highway.

The fire gets bigger and moves closer to the city.

The weather is hot, dry and windy.

The Alberta Premier, Rachel Notley, declares a State of Emergency.

Everyone in the city of Fort McMurray is ordered to leave the city.

88,000 people evacuated. People left town in cars, trucks and buses. They rode bicycles and horses.

There is only one highway in and out of the city. The road is full of vehicles trying to get out.

Day 4 – May 4, Wednesday The winds are stronger, up to 70 km an hour.

The fire crosses Clearwater River.

The fire is burning in the city and suburbs.

1600 buildings are burned.

100 sq. km or 10,000 hectares are on fire.

Day 5 - May 5, Thursday The fire is still out of control.

850 sq, km or 85,000 hectares are on fire.

Prime Minister Trudeau announces the federal government will match private donations to the Red Cross emergency fund.

Fire officials in Alberta do not yet know what started a massive wildfire that chased the entire population out of Fort McMurray, but they now know the only force that can stop it will be a significant change in the weather.

How to help People across the country are helping Fort McMurray by donating through the Red Cross.

You can call Red Cross’ toll free number 1-800-418-1111 to make a donation.

You can also text “REDCROSS” to 30333, which results in an immediate $5 donation to the fund.

The Alberta and federal governments will match your donations to the agency.

What is a State of Emergency?

A government can decide a situation is very serious and it needs help to handle it. A State of Emergency allows the government to make people to do things like evacuate and to help. It allows the government to spend money on emergency service spend money on emergency services.

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