Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, January 31, 2018

MULTIPLEX DEBATE

HOOP ACTION

Tofino and Ucluelet disagree on ice rink

USS hosts Ahousaht in basketball showdown

6

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Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 Valentines Happy Hour!

3-6pm

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One dozen oysters and two glasses of bubbles for $30 Live music with Geoff Johnson and Tara Halil

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Great Room With Love Dessert Special For Two $18

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Evacuation a wake-up call for Coast Officials urge residents to prepare themselves

ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A Tsunami Warning evacuated the West Coast from their homes and hotel rooms last week and local leaders hope the event spurs an increased interest in emergency preparedness.

The evacuation occurred around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning and the warning was cancelled at roughly 4:45 a.m.

Tofino’s municipal council met at 10 a.m. that morning and mayor Josie Osborne said she was “really proud” of the way Tofino’s first responders handled the event, but locals must prepare themselves.

“Today. Not tomorrow. Not next week and not next month.

Today is the day to go home Josie Osborne and have the conversation with your family and with your friends about what took place this morning and what you learned from it,” she said. “What you felt you would do different next time and what you could take away to be even more prepared for the next event that will happen. It’s not “if ” it happens; it will happen.”

Tofino’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers told the Westerly News the district has highlighted several key areas to improve.

Continued on A9

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

WEDDING PLANNING 101: Nanaimo couple Mike Chmielewski and Jamie Johnson playfully taste a sampling of salted caramel wedding cake from Zoë’s Bakery during Saturday’s Tofino Wedding Fair at The Shore. From florists and photographers to adventure tours and caterers, there were 36 local businesses on hand to help couples envision their dream West Coast wedding. See more photos on page 11.

Local governments grapple with weed ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Neither Tofino nor Ucluelet is entirely sure how to handle the federal government’s legalization of marijuana this summer.

Tofino’s municipal council is considering a restriction on the retail sale of marijuana and will host a public hearing on Feb. 13 to discuss it with the community.

“It’s not that we’re not in support of this and don’t understand that it will be a right of Canadians, but we’re a small

municipality and don’t have a lot of resources to manage this type of change to our laws,” the district’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers told the Westerly News.

“We don’t have the resources to be able to manage it if it was open season and we started getting complaints about dispensaries opening up right next to schools and other places.”

Rodgers said the proposed restriction would only apply to the retail sale of marijuana, not its use.

Continued on A3

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Board of Directors and its Managers of Ma Mook will be available to answer questions and Lunch will be provided. Written comments can be addressed to Ma Mook on forms provided at the meeting.

For further information please contact Zoltan Schafer, RPF Ma Mook Forestry Manager at 250-720-1177 or email zolie_schafer@telus.net

Every Ad You Place Runs in Print and Online Call 250.726.7029 or email westerlynews.ca nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

Ocean Village Resort employee Eli McDonell displays the megaphone he used to notify guests of the Tsunami Warning.

Tofino resorts evacuate Managers look into getting emergency kits for guests and posting tsunami evacuation routes NORA O’MALLEY nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

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Tofino resort managers are calling last week’s Tsunami Warning the “perfect drill.”

Dena Bruno, general manager at Ocean Village Resort, supervised the evacuation of 12 rooms in-house, plus about 15 people living in staff accommodation.

Ocean Village is only 4.5 metres from the high tide line on Mackenzie Beach.

“For me, it felt smooth. As chaotic as it was in my head and my heart, it felt like it actually went smoothly at the resort,” Bruno said. “All staff were together and everyone was helping each other get things going.”

Ocean Village staff member, Eli McDonell, used a megaphone they had stashed in the office to notify their guests about the Tsunami Warning.

“He walked around calmly, letting our guests know that this is emergency and they need to evacuate,” Bruno said, adding that a neighbouring resort heard the voice on the megaphone, too.

It took Ocean Village about 30 minutes to evacuate their guests and staff, according to Bruno.

“It’s not my first rodeo,” said the Tofino resident of 18 years.

“I like to say it gets easier with each one, and the day ones definitely easier but, when you’re woken up at 2 a.m., it’s just a lot different of a feel.”

Ross Mckenzie is one of the new managers at Mackenzie Beach Resort. At high tide, he said some of their cabins might only be two-metres above sea level. This was his first ever tsunami evacuation.

“Luckily we only had two guests staying in one cabin. On the way out, we just banged on their door pretty unapologetically,” he said.

“It was kind of the perfect drill. The fact that it was 2 a.m. was kind of good because that’s almost the worst time of the day for it

“It’s better to be informed than ignorant.”

– Ross McKenzie to happen.”

Since taking on the management role in May 2017, Mckenzie said they have been talking about putting together a tsunami evacuation plan, but hadn’t quite got around to it.

“It almost takes something like that for you to put something together,” he said. “We’re in the process now of putting together [emergency] packs. For every two people there will be a pack in each cabin.”

He is also looking at investing in a megaphone.

Both Bruno and Mckenzie want to post tsunami evacuation routes on the back of doors, adjacent to the fire evacuation route.

“We have to,” said Bruno. “It’s just a reality.

It’s not about scaring the guests anymore, it’s about making everyone aware of what they have to do at that moment.”

“It can panic some people, but the vast majority would appreciate the fact that you have informed them. It’s better to be informed than ignorant,” reiterated Mckenzie.

District of Tofino’s emergency program co-ordinator Keith Orchiston said via email that in order to build community resilience, employers should begin by ensuring their staff are personally prepared at home then at work.

“When it comes to making our community, safer, more resilient, and better prepared, we are all in it together. No one person, organization, accommodation provider or business can do it alone. Having accommodation providers prepared with emergency supplies for their guests in the event of an emergency would only help to build on the exceptional community resilience displayed during last week’s tsunami warning,” Orchiston said.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A3

Townhouse project for Ucluelet

mid island realty

ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A new townhouse complex took a step towards reality in Ucluelet last week.

During their Jan. 23 regular meeting, Ucluelet’s municipal council reviewed, and advanced to a public hearing, a zoning amendment for a currently empty Marine Drive site between Black Rock Resort and Big Beach that would allow for seven two-storey townhomes and a 750 sq. ft. commercial space to be built.

The amendment is needed for the project to go ahead because the land was originally zoned for a maximum of three residential units with the primary use being a business, according to a report submitted by Ucluelet’s Planner 1 John Towgood.

“This mixed use lists the commercial component as the primary use, meaning that it must be there, with the dwelling units only allowed on the second storey or higher,” he wrote.

He suggested allowing the applicant to increase the land’s residential capacity was supported by district staff because, “The seven units of Multi-Family residential are a needed element in Ucluelet’s housing inventory.”

“With this proposal being out of the commercial core (where commercial density and continuity are important), the reduction of ground floor commercial has less impact and is not only supported but encouraged,” Towgood wrote. “With the shortage of residential housing stock especially in the smaller multi-family unit form the increase in density is sup-

Ucluelet / Tofino midislandrealty.com

JAN 31 • TOFINO RECYCLES Remember –

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

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Refuse & Recycling

250-726-4406 UCLUELET COUNCIL AGENDA JAN. 23

This drawing shows what a proposed townhouse development near Big Beach would look like. ported.”

He added that the applicant is willing to satisfy the site’s mandated commercial component by including a 760 sq. ft. commercial space with a mezzanine on the south-side of the building.

Towgood’s report noted the land is relatively clear with the only significant environmental feature being a large cedar on the north side of the property, which the applicant has assured will remain in place.

“A paved sidewalk will run along the frontage connecting the existing sidewalk to the south to the Wild Pacific Trail connection that runs along the northern property line,” he wrote. “The frontage should be fully landscaped in keeping with the surrounding native species.”

The project includes 12 parking spaces.

Towgood likened the proposed building’s design, which includes a “wave roof effect,” to the Ucluelet Aquarium and said it would fit in well with the community’s aesthetic.

“This spattering of strong architectural forms, such as the Whiskey Landing, the Moorage, Black Rock, the Aquarium, and this proposed building can help further define our community’s architectural identity,” he wrote.

“The southern commercial element with its large overhang and outdoor seating creates a visual connection from the forest surroundings to the commercial space underneath.”

A date for the public hearing was not immediately set.

Legalization vexes districts From A1 “The intent behind it is to give us some time, as a community, to sort out what this means for us,” he said.

“One way to look at it is that it’s a substance not unlike liquor. They are different, but they are restricted to certain people being able to purchase them by age. You have to be 19 years old. In our zoning, we only allow beer and wine stores in certain zones and it would be the same for retail of marijuana…We just want to make sure that we’re ready to understand it Aaron Rodgers and ready to be able to accept it into the community.”

He added Tofino has not received any applications for a marijuana retailer yet and that locals would likely be able to buy marijuana in neighbouring communities.

“We are a small town. How many marijuana stores are you going to want to allow and how many will be successful?

This kind of sale may be restricted in Tofino, but it’s not necessarily restricted in Port Alberni or Ucluelet or Nanaimo,” he said.

“People will buy marijuana pretty much anywhere they want after this, so I don’t know if it’ll end up being that big of a deal for us.”

On the other side of the peninsula, Ucluelet’s municipal council reviewed

250-726-2228 250-725-2038

a letter during their Jan. 23 regular meeting from local liquor store owner Andrew Hanson who outlined his plans to submit an application to the district to sell marijuana.

“I would like to be a part of it and help to take cannabis from the parking lots and alleys to a respected retail profession,” he wrote. “I have the ability, the expertise and the available location for a cannabis retail operation.”

He added that, if he does become a cannabis retailer, he would either renovate his current liquor store at 1786 Peninsula Road to create a separate entrance and area for cannabis sales, or use a spot within his Ucluelet Lodge building at 250 Main Street.

“Both options would provide a professional and safe place for people to shop,” he wrote. “I take the safety of my staff, customers and community very seriously and I hope to help Ucluelet be ready for this new industry.”

Council expressed appreciation for Hanson making his intent known, though both Coun. Mayco Noel and Coun. Sally Mole suggested the letter was a reminder that Ucluelet is not ready to tackle such applications.

“It does bring up a discussion we had, probably a year or so ago, about this coming down the wire and hoping that we’re ready; and, we’re not ready,” Mole said.

Earlier in the meeting, Ucluelet had reviewed a letter from the City of West

“We just want to make sure that we’re ready to understand it and ready to be able to accept it into the community.”

– Aaron Rodgers Kelowna’s council requesting help in lobbying the provincial government to allocate 50 per cent of B.C.’s share of the cannabis tax to local governments.

“This is an adequate and equitable share to help support costs and services incurred by local governments,” the letter read adding legalization could increase local government costs around planning, licensing, public health, social services and communications.

“Current discussions regarding revenue sharing involve the Federal and Provincial governments with no inclusion of local governments,” the letter states.

Ucluelet agreed to support West Kelowna’s efforts, but hesitated over the 50 per cent figure.

“I think there should be some sort of kick back to local government, because there will be increased costs for us,” Mole said. “What that figure is I don’t know, because there is so many unknowns out there.”

She suggested Ucluelet lobby for a “significant” portion of the taxes, rather than specifically 50 per cent, and council agreed.

TIDES & WEATHER

THURSDAY FEB. 1, 2018 TIDE

02:03 07:39 13:44 20:20

Metres

Feet

3.4 1.2 3.9 0.1

11.2 3.9 12.8 0.3

9°/8° Rain becoming heavy; breezy

FRIDAY FEB. 2, 2018 TIDE

02:46 08:28 14:32 21:01

Metres

Feet

3.4 1.1 3.7 0.3

11.2 3.6 12.1 1.0

10°/8° Morning rain; cloudy

SATURDAY FEB. 3, 2018 TIDE

03:28 09:18 15:20 21:42

Metres

Feet

3.4 1.1 3.5 0.5

11.2 3.6 11.5 1.6

10°/8° Morning showers; cloudy

SUNDAY FEB. 4, 2018 TIDE

04:10 10:09 16:10 22:24

Metres

Feet

3.4 1.1 3.3 0.8

11.2 3.6 10.8 2.6

10°/8° Rain

MONDAY FEB. 5, 2018 TIDE

04:54 11:03 17:03 23:07

Metres

Feet

3.4 1.2 3 1.1

11.2 3.9 9.8 3.6

9°/9° Occasionally rainy

TUESDAY FEB. 6, 2018 TIDE

05:40 12:04 18:02 23:53

Metres

Feet

3.3 1.3 2.7 1.4

10.8 4.3 8.9 4.6

10°/3° Rain

WEDNESDAY FEB. 7, 2018 TIDE

06:30 13:12 19:14

Metres

Feet

3.2 1.3 2.5

10.5 4.3 8.2

8°/3° Rain

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NEWS TIP? Call the Westerly Newsroom at 250.726.7089 andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

OPINION

A4 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

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Behest of the West

Engage with us so we can keep you engaged Hey West Coast, happy anniversary.

Our relationship turned six years old on Jan. 26 and your stormy eyes are every bit as seductive as the day I arrived. Though, to be honest, I’m looking forward to your soothing springtime sunshine settling in because it’s safe to say this rainforest dweller is feeling pretty well saturated.

I celebrated the birthday of my move to paradise in style: a Nanaimo bar affixed with a sparkler and an ABBA CD to unwrap. Jan. 26 is my New Year’s celebration and my kids Crimson, Clover and Jr. were there to help me ring it in. They’re aged two, two and and four, respectively, and will give three cheers to anything if there’s cake.

You’ve heard this one, but you’ll hear it as often as this time of year comes around:

my arrival here was prophesied by an earSix years and a gluttony of memories ly-teens-year-old me in a mundane writing later, that glorious sentence brings an even assignment I’m shocked I didn’t blow off. bigger smile than it did when I first read The question was, ‘What do you want it because this Graceland of nature has to be when you grow up?’ fully evolved from immacuMy answer, with apologies late perception to a pinch-into Tofino, was, ‘A reporter in ducing reality I’d never dream Ucluelet.’ I guess I assumed of waking up from. You are the world had enough astrophenomenal communities and infinitely good-heartnauts at the time.

I can prize-fight my way ed locals who deserve every around a keyboard and wax ounce of your breathtaking it on thicker than a bottle of surroundings.

Kelp Stout but, while workBefore we get bogged down Andrew Bailey ing at a paper in Saskatcheby sweet nothings though, wan, I received an email with let’s get down to brass tacks. a sentence sweeter than anything I could Anniversaries mean presents and the ever coo that proclaimed there was a spot exchange I’m pining for is beautifully for me at this newspaper. symbiotic.

We’ve been together long enough to start hinting at getting engaged to be engaged.

This is your newspaper. Your feedback is needed to help us make it what you want it to be. Engage with us so we can keep you engaged.

Tell us what you want to see in our pages so we can put it there for you. Our emails are always open and your angst is as welcome as your kudos.

Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca will reach me. So will 250-534-9213. I’ve got three toddlers and another baby on the way in May. I assure you the odds of me being awake when you want to reach out are in your favour.

We’re one year off from our seven-yearitch; lets spice things up with some enhanced communication.

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Box 317, Ucluelet, B.C. V0R 3A0 editor@westerlynews.ca Sunday at 2pm

Martin Michael captured this shot of a pod of orcas near Sechelt on Jan. 27. Do you have a photo of your local surroundings that you’d like to share? Email it to us at Office@WesterlyNews.ca or reach out through our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WesterlyNews.

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Question of the week Would you support a marijuana dispensary on the West Coast?

Vote at the Westerly News Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WesterlyNews or on our Twitter feed @WesterlyNews

Last week’s question Did you evacuate during Jan. 23’s Tsunami Warning?

YES 56%

NO 44%

LETTERS

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Letters to the Editor Deadline: Sundays 2:00pm Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca

Letters to the Editor must be signed and include your full name, home town and contact phone number. Those without these requirements will not be published. Letters must be 300 words or less and are subject to editing. The News retains the right not to publish submissions.

SAY NO TO ICE RINK

TRENDING ONLINE

The multiplex ice rink is an incredibly poor choice for the West Coast: Only a very few will play hockey.

Ice sports do not fit with the West Coast vibe.

It is not a tourist draw.

It is unbelievably expensive.

And $14 million! Think of how many subsidized housing units you could build with that figure!

Yes, a multiplex is sorely need on the West Coast, but an ice rink - definitely no.

Indoor pool, fitness facilities, dryland training, meeting spaces, tsunami refuge - yes.

No ice!

Larry Burr Tofino

TIME TO QUIT BLAMING OTHERS The recent tsunami warning in Tofino once again clearly highlighted how dependent some individuals have become.

What was once a necessity for our ancestors survival, personal accountability has withered on the vine.

Due to our newly acquired social and emotional dependence on cellphones and other articles of instant gratification to make life “easier,” we are losing a vital survival component of our existence.

This was just highlighted by a small group of people in our district whom I heard were complaining about the lack of cellphone coverage, not knowing where to go and even careless driving in the panic to escape.

Each adult is accountable for their own safety and that of their dependent family members and no one else.

You live in a tsunami zone. Plan your assembly point; store enough water and food and other essentials for at least a week.

Don’t question the emergency; move to high ground and then ask your questions.

Plan on no one to help you.

Visitors, be cognizant or where you are visiting and the signs clearly posted.

Quit blaming others for your lack of emergency preparedness.

The District did its part and provided an exceptional job of warning.

If you did not subscribe to the warning alert, blame yourself.

If you did not know where to go, blame yourself. If you don’t know how to drive safely in an emergency, don’t drive.

If your cellphone was off or you don’t have coverage, don’t rely on it. Get a land line. Mine woke me up and notified me in plenty of time.

I repeat, for those complainants out there, take responsibility and be accountable for your own lack of planning. No one really wants to listen to your shortfalls.

Peter Boulton Tofino Letters to the editor must be signed and include your full name, home town and contact number. Those without these requirements will not be published. Letters must be 300 words or less and are subject to editing. Deadline for letters is Sunday at 2 p.m. The Westerly news retains the right not to publish submissions.

The Westerly News is a member of the national newsmedia council which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour.

If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact: editor@ westerlynews.ca or 250-726-7029. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil. ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A5

GOFUNDME LAUNCHED TO FIGHT OIL-TANKER MORATORIUM:

What do you expect? These people have nothing, living in poverty and are desperate for any real opportunities.

Shawn Hillier What do you expect when coastal fishery stocks are at the lowest level ever and Federal gov’t DFO are allowing the remainder to crash.

Rick Steen

Read the full story online at:

westerlynews.ca

GRIEVING PARENTS OF DEAD B.C. BASEBALL PLAYER WANT ANSWERS:

Very sad and feel for the parents.

Maybe post-traumatic subdermal bleed, stroke, seizure from nicotine inflammation and vasoconstriction, aneurysm, congenital or autonomic vascular anomaly triggered by a vape? I hope the coroner can provide an insight at the autopsy for the parents’ mind and heart.

Pacific Rim Chiropractic

Read the full story online at:

westerlynews.ca

GETTING INFLUENZA RAISES HEART ATTACK RISK, ESPECIALLY IN SENIORS: I am on immune-suppressing medications and get my flu shot every year as advised by my cardiac team. This year most everyone in my circles has come down with some form of a flu, seriously ill for weeks, and I have only had minimal symptoms. The one big difference between myself and those around me that were bedridden? I had a flu shot. Go with your gut and follow doctor’s orders if you have one that you trust but as for the flu shot this year the proof is in the pudding for me and I’m glad I got mine.

Sharon Sanford

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A6 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

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Tofino and Ucluelet at odds over ice rink Society vows to keep fundraising ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

The ongoing West Coast Multiplex saga didn’t achieve much clarity last week as Ucluelet’s municipal council voted to support the project as laid out and Tofino’s voted to pull out of the current plan and pursue a new one, prompting Electoral Area C to follow suit.

The proposed project, which outlines an ice rink and swimming pool facility being built near Long Beach Airport in two phases with the ice rink coming first, has brought rigorous debate since the results of a West Coast Multiplex Survey distributed by the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District were released in December. The results showed 51 per cent of the survey’s 1,472 respondents oppose an ice rink facility as the first phase of a multiplex facility. A stark contrast to a 2012 referendum that saw 62 per cent of 1,094 ballots cast support covering a Multiplex facility’s operating costs, up to $450,000 annually, through property taxation.

About 40 per cent of the filled out surveys came from Tofino, which voted 59.8 against pursuing an ice rink.

As reported by the Westerly News, Tofino’s council was unable to agree on a path forward during their Jan. 9 meeting, but they reached a majority consensus at their Jan. 23 regular meeting approving a motion that states: “Tofino council does not wish to move ahead with a stand-alone ice rink, but wishes to engage with the ACRD and neighbouring communities to

“Without either one of them, any project at the airport is not going to succeed.”

– Tony Bennet determine the willingness and feasibility of a combined rink and pool facility or a stand alone pool facility.”

Coun. Greg Blanchette loudly opposed the motion.

“That basically rewinds the clock [five to eight] years, back to where we started when the multiplex took on the design of a combined facility,” he said. “I’m just afraid that if we take it back to the ACRD and do more studies, they’ll be the same studies we’ve done already and they’ll come to the same conclusion we’re at now.”

Mayor Josie Osborne said she “disagreed profoundly,” with Blanchette, but added that Tofino would need to talk to its neighbouring West Coast communities before carving a path forward.

“The key part of a motion like this, to me, is taking it back and advancing the conversation with the other communities,” she said.

Ucluelet handed in the most surveys at 46.9 per cent and the community was relatively split with 45 per cent in favour of pursuing an ice rink and 43.4 per cent opposed.

During their Jan. 23 meeting, Ucluelet’s council unanimously agreed to support the West Coast Multiplex Society’s fundraising efforts along with an ice rink as the first phase.

DISTRICT OF TOFINO Box 9, 121 Third Street Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

IMAGE FROM ACRD’S WEST COAST MULTIPLEX SURVEY

The future of a proposed West Coast Multiplex remains in flux as local governments sort out whether to move the facility forward.

Coun. Randy Oliwa said he has long been opposed to the project, but recently came around to it.

“In looking at it over the last couple weeks, I’m more in support now than I’ve ever been for the project,” he said.

West Coast Multiplex Society president Samantha Hackett told the Westerly News after the meeting that the society will continue fundraising as planned for the estimated $18 million needed to build the initial ice rink phase of the facility.

“Nothing changes. Even though Tofino has not supported a stand-alone rink, the project is not a stand alone rink. Nor has it ever been. We’ve never called it that,” she said. “We’re not fundraising for a stand-alone rink. Our fundraising plan still stands.”

She said the society feels supported to move ahead by Ucluelet and local First Nations communities, but said she has

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING (Rezoning) District wide

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing pursuant to Section 464 of the Local Government Act will be held in the Council Chambers of the Tofino Municipal Hall, 380 Campbell St., Tofino, B.C., on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 9:30 AM to hear representations from members of the public who deem their interest in property affected by the following bylaw: BYLAW No. 1238: “District of Tofino Zoning Map Amendment Bylaw No.1238, 2018 (amending Tofino Zoning Bylaw No. 770)”; a bylaw to prohibit the use of any land, building, or structure for the sale, production, or distribution of cannabis.

The proposed zoning amendment would cover the whole of the District of Tofino.

APPLICANT: District of Tofino All persons who deem their interest in property affected by the proposed bylaw will be given an opportunity to be heard on matters contained in the bylaw. The application and further information may be inspected at the Tofino Municipal Office, 121 Third St., Tofino, B.C., during regular business hours (9:00 am - 4:00 pm) between January 29, 2018 and February 12, 2018 except weekends and statutory holidays. Written submissions may be mailed to the District of Tofino, P.O. Box 9, Tofino, B.C., V0R 2Z0, or emailed to arodgers@tofino.ca. Please submit any comments or concerns you may have regarding this application before 4:00 PM, February 9, 2018.

For more information, please contact: Aaron Rodgers Manager of Community Sustainability (T) 250.725.3229 (F) 250.725.3775 (E) arodgers@tofino.ca

been frustrated by Tofino’s opposition.

“What’s really frustrating too is just how much weight potentially could be given to Tofino when it is only one community….

Whether it’s a rink or a hospital or a high school, to only be making decisions based on one community, I feel, hurts everybody in the process,” she said.

“If one community can actually dictate the outcome of this, it just doesn’t sit right.”

The regional district’s West Coast Committee was expected to discuss the project on Feb. 16.

While Tofino and Ucluelet made up a significant majority of the survey’s respondents, 602 and 690 respectively, 88 surveys came from Electoral Area C Director Tony Bennet’s constituents, 57 per cent of whom opposed the ice rink pursuit.

Bennet told the Westerly that Electoral Area C was not keen on the project during 2012’s ref-

erendum, so he was not surprised to see the majority oppose the project again through the survey.

“My initial support has always been for the need of communities to come together on a regional project, but that needed the support of the broad base of the communities. If Tofino has made the decision that they are going to pull out, then there’s no place for Area C to be involved either,” he said.

He said the Regional District land near Long Beach Airport should be considered, but Tofino and Ucluelet would have to agree on a gameplan.

“I still believe that there are opportunities at the airport lands for regional and community initiatives in recreation, education and health,” he said. “You need both of the larger communities, meaning Ucluelet and Tofino, that has that tax base. Without either one of them, any project at the airport is not going to succeed.”

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PROFILE

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A7

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Andrew Bailey, Editor 250-726-7029 • andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

Warriors senior boys basketball squad salute Maaqtusiis after a hard-fought exhibition game at Ucluelet Secondary School. The Warriors defeated Maaqtusiis 53-46.

USS Warriors defeat Maaqtusiis

Ucluelet Secondary School’s basketball squad gearing up to host Island championships “We could have had the game, but we weren’t working on defence.”

NORA O’MALLEY nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet saw plenty of basketball over the weekend.

In preparation to host the Vancouver Island championships on Feb. 22, 23, and 24, the Warriors girls and boys basketball teams crammed in nine practice games in two days against away teams Maaqtusiis and Chemainus.

On the senior boys side, the Warriors crushed the Chemainus Cougars 72-35 in a friendly lunchtime match up on Friday.

Saturday night, the senior boys Warriors went on to win a close rivalry game against

– Vincent Frank Maaqtusiis 53-46.

“This is what we’ve been working for all year. It just feels good,” said number 22 Isiah David right after the win.

“It shows we are going to go far. This is the same stuff we’ve been working on since Grade 8,” said the Grade 12 student.

The score went neck-and-neck for most of the game. After the first quarter buzzer it was 15-14 for USS. At halftime it was

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hitched NORTH ISLAND

30-29 for Maaqtusiis.

It wasn’t until the tail end of the fourth quarter that the Warriors broke away with four unanswered points to seal the victory.

“It slipped away,” said Maaqtusiis player Vincent Frank. “We weren’t being good on defence. We had a few missed plays. We could have had the game but we weren’t working on defence.”

Regardless of the loss, Frank said the last-minute tournament was a good experience, and is ready for the Island championships at the end of February.

“We’re just going to go play our game like how we play at home. Every court is just another court,” said Frank.

WEDDING & EVENTS AFFAIR 2018

David said to watch for the Warriors at the Island championships.

“This [win] puts me in the highest mindset I could have. It gives us a huge boost of confidence,” he said. “We’ve had like I’d 10 games in a row were we are all just playing great. We are still improving. I just want to go far this year.”

On the senior girls side, Maaqtusiis and USS took one game a piece during the friendly tourney with Maaqtusiis defeating USS 67-37 on Friday and USS claiming the win 42-38 on Saturday.

In the junior division, Maaqtusiis junior boys defeated the USS junior boys in both exhibition games.

hitched

TREAT YOUR GUESTS TO A TASTE OF PERFECTION

NORTH ISLAND

ORGANIC, LOCAL AND HAND MADE FALL IN LOVE WITH IVAN’S TRUFFLES

BY ERIN HALUSCHAK PHOTOS BY KAREN MCKINNON

I

van Loubier knew that chocolate struck a chord with him.

WEDDING & EVENT

S AFFAIR 2018

The Comox Valley chocolatier and owner of Ivan’s Truffles spent time as a chef in Toronto prior to devoting much of his time now to the decadent treats.

Loubier worked with a chocolatier and noticed people’s reaction to chocolate.

“Full-bodied chocolate – there’s a neurological love.

The texture, flavour and feeling of eating truffles are so perfect. They’re so small, but have so much happiness in one bite.”

Loubier saw the simplicity in the product, and realized that he wanted to dedicate his business to making handmade, high quality, fresh truffles.

VIEWS TO TAKE YOUR BREATH

Following an entrepreneurial course in Vancouver, Loubier started Ivan’s Truffles, specializing in natural, GMO-free, handmade, ethical truffles.

He uses a rich flavoured ganache which is hand-piped, individually enrobed in tempered dark chocolate, and dusted with premium cocoa power. Additionally, he uses only Valrhona chocolate, organic cream, local honey, organic teas, edible organic flowers and organic fruit.

While he uses regular flavours such as lavender, Loubier also experiments with other local delicacies such as Cumberland Brewing Company beer and, in the summer, orange and basil, and grapefruit and rosemary.

When it comes to weddings, Loubier works with a client both in terms of flavours and portion size. On average, he makes around three batches a week (around 300 pieces) in order to maintain the integrity of the product.

For wedding options, the truffles can be used as part of the dessert or as favours for the guests. Generally, Loubier suggests one jar per person, but there are many options in which he can work with the client.

Through his website, ivanstruffles.com, Loubier creates his delicacies not only for those in the Comox Valley (he is a frequent vendor at the Comox Farmers’ Market) but can ship across the country.

He is hoping to expand to find vendors in Victoria, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

Call 778-922-4826 or email Ivanstruffles.CV@gmail.com.

W I N T E R 2 01 8 | H I T C H E D M A G A Z I N E

BOOK A LOCAL DESTINATION

W

WEDDING WITH 49 NORTH

AWAY

HELICOPTERS

BY JOCELYN DOLL PHOTOS COURTESY OF 49 NORTH HELICOPTERS

hat would the perfect back “The drop for your wedding most popular one is the Comox be?

Glacier tour, it’s 45 minutes,” Fleury said. three helicopters at the same time.

Next to a pristine alpine lake? The On a mountaintop “The best one I’ve intimate rides and overlooking both had was a First Nation romantic views the ocean and Strathcona quickly attracted wedding, a really a different kind nice Park? On an of isolated beach with “…They had this really one,” said Fleury. client, people planning nothing but the cultural wedding an epic that was orcas and eagles proposal. really interesting.” to break the silence?

Make the epic scenery “It’s always fun,” For those with a Fleury said. “I’ve smaller budget of the North lots had still dream Island the backdrop of different reactions, of the dramatic photos,that of your big day but always North with 49 North Helicopters. tears and happy.

49 has also picked It’s nice to see.” up after the ceremony the newly weds The company started That has grown in 2007 with into planning them to mountaintopand and taken training helicopter destination s for photos weddings of sorts. pilots. Owners JeanWhere before returning them to Marc Messmer and the destination their guests. is a Sheena Ell have both been in the with a spectacular nearby location, “It doesn’t really industry for 25 years. get any better to view, that is only be on accessible by helicopter. a mountain top for “They were just a wedding,” Fleury working everywhere said. in Canada then finally “We’ve done quite came here,” said a few now and Bastian Fleury people have been From the Coastal pilot Mountains across manager for 49 North. and marketing Fleury said. “It’s really happy so far,” Strait to the the hidden gems not pretty easy for us fifteen to minutes away organize now.”

From training, from the Campbell 49 North expanded River Airport, the pilots into fighting fires, The largest wedding at 49 North know forestry work and all the company of the best views, heliskiing before all you need to know branching off into has done so far is 14. They used two is what backdrop you want tourism. Which ensures helicopters and made for your big they are busy a couple of trips. day and they will year round.

But the size of the find a way to make party really depends happen. it on the budget as 49 North can do up 28 HITCHED MA GAZINE | WI to NT E R 2 01 8

21

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FINDING THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

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BY TAMARA e can peruse new to to get Brides-to-b which go from $250 pastime, like gowns, “It’s my favourite by myself used and buy off the rack. a girlfriend or said $1,300, with together with nt shopping,” are impressed and go consignmestarted consigning “A lot of people Wang can get a Vera her two that because you Ryan, who also for $1,200,” ago, including worth $4,000, everything years dress in here, dresses are very “Some of my wedding dresses. use and re-love. to buy she said. worth what they’re worth.” in chance the and given White Bridal Boutique, When Ryan was took it, and has been simple each month Ryan bought of Lantzville, she cent of the stock making an the business, on the boutique, Thirty per the seaside community Ryan, who's her own stamp says bridal new, putting nt is last August. consignme industry, considered the only into the bridal and central Island. nt.

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R 2 01 8 E | WINTE

ZACK AND DEX MADE AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES THAT USE GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE

WILL TAKE CARE YOUR GUESTS OF NEEDS

PHOTOS AND STORY BY KAREN MCKINNON

I

t was Halloween in Victoria, and Indiana Jones and a surfer dude with a fake tan caught each other’s eye.

The story almost ended there, with these two shy costumed students never going past bashful hellos. But three years later, after they both had gone abroad separately for their studies, their similar experiences brought them together in conversation.

On their first date date at the astronomy tower in Victoria, they knew it was love.

Although living in Vancouver at the 10

time of planning their wedding, it was indisputable that they would get married on Vancouver Island.

Both Zack and Dex were raised on the Island and it was where they both discovered themselves and each other.

No detail was left unattended to on their wedding day, thanks to the tireless planning of the grooms and their families.

However, planning wasn’t without its challenges.

The lack of gender-neutral or same-

sex language used by vendors was frustrating. Most people would ask the name of the bride, bride's parents and bride's wedding party.

From a lack of same-sex wedding cards to people being confused on why a man was going dress shopping with his wedding party, they noticed strong gender norms still in place that they had hoped had relaxed since marriage equality had passed in July 2005.

Zack and Dex ultimately found the right vendors for them and were able

H I T C H E D M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R 2 01 8

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A REFLECTION OF FEELINGS AND COMMITME NT

A8 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Vaccine & Appointment Clinic

for Dogs & Cats WEDNESDAY

Feb. 21st & Mar. 28th, 2018 

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

Ucluelet’s UAC Hall (located beside the firehall on Peninsula Road)

9:30am – Noon

 Tofino’s

AND

Royal Canadian Legion 1:30 – 4pm

Alberni Vet Clinic 250-723-7341

www.albernivet.com

Visit our website

TAKE OUT @ THE HATCH 11AM - 11PM ALL SPECIALS available plus Beer & Wine off-sales

Visit tofinoresortandmarina.com to view the menu & CALL 250.726.6122 to order!

TOFINO LEGION MEMBERS & GUESTS - Info: Call 250-725-3361 All Canadian Citizens and Many Others are Welcome to Join – No Military History Needed

SPECIAL EVENT

Bout The Music Saturday, February 17th • 9pm to 1am Bringing music back again for the start of the new year 2018, come out and dance, because its all about the music! Ask your valentine onto the dance floor. Lasers and local DJ’s Scotian and Sliceoginger with special guests, stay tuned! Playing, bass music, Trap, R&B, D&B, World, Hip Hop.

REGULAR EVENTS GAMES & SOCIAL FRIDAYS 4-11pm • Drop in Pool, Ping Pong, Foosball, Darts DART LEAGUE MONDAYS 7pm BINGO! WEDNESDAYS 7-9pm THE OUT TO LUNCH BUNCH • Monthly seniors’ lunch and socializing at the Legion.

• All seniors welcome. For details: 250-726-6655.

Ucluelet’s Suzanne Ryles hears about the upcoming Highway 4 upgrades from Senior Project Manager Darren Englund during a Jan. 24 open house hosted by B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at the Ucluelet Community Centre.

Closures coming to Highway 4 $30-million project to upgrade treacherous 1.5-kilometre stretch ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

B.C.’s Ministry of Highways arrived on the West Coast last week to talk to locals about the upcoming Highway 4 upgrade that will begin March 1 andbring daily delays and nightly closures for the next two years.

Provincial staffers hosted public information sessions in Tofino on Jan. 23 and in Ucluelet on Jan. 24 to explain the closures and collect feedback on any possible Nancy Cameron changes that would make the schedule more palatable for local commuters and businesses.

“If there’s something we haven’t thought of, be it around a long weekend or be it around a certain time there’s a significant commuter population or volume that’s coming through, then, absolutely, we do still have an ability to adjust that in the contract,” B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Regional Director Janelle Erwin told the Westerly News during Jan. 24’s presentation.

The $30-million project is aimed at a particularly narrow and winding 1.5-kilometre stretch of the highway near Kennedy Lake and will include blasting a hazardous and overhanging rock wall.

“You won’t have that rock that’s right there in your face as you’re driving by,” Erwin said. “When you’re driving along there, you feel like the rock’s coming through your window.”

The ministry estimates it will take two years to complete the work, which includes the removal of roughly 300,000 cubic metres of material, mostly rock.

“It will look vastly different than it does today, that’s for sure,” Erwin said adding the blasted material will be recycled into a new viewpoint overlooking Kennedy Lake. “It’s more efficient, less costly and less greenhouse gases by

“In an ideal world, we would have had a lot more lead time to plan ahead for the summer.

But, we don’t.”

– Josie Osborne doing that and now we’ll have this great viewpoint.”

She added barriers will be installed between the road and Kennedy Lake and that currently consistent ‘waterfalls’ descending from the rock-face onto the roadway will be gone.

Beginning March 1, commuters can expect 30-minute delays between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. as the road will be open to single-lane alternating traffic as well as two, one-hour, full-closures from noon1 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. each day.

The road will be shut down in both directions from 9 p.m.-midnight, 1-4 a.m. and 5-7 a.m. every day.

Erwin said the ministry came up with the closure schedule by researching the highway’s traffic volumes over the past few years as well as BC Ferries schedules.

“It was a very, very, intensive traffic analysis combined with an understanding of the commuter population and understanding that we needed to keep industry moving,” she said.

She added the work can be halted immediately to make room for emergency vehicles.

“There was a lot of comfort from folks when we said we certainly have contingency plans in place to get the road open right away if there is an emergency,” she said.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne attended Jan. 23’s meeting and told the Westerly News that she believes her constituents are “resigned” to accept the closures because of the highway’s current condition.

“I think this is a project that’s going to test our patience for certain,” she said. “I feel most people are absolutely behind the project and the reasoning for

it, but there is a little bit of struggling, I think, with the suddenness of it and the fact that it’s here and we have a lot of work to do to contact our guests and let them know.”

She added possible impacts could hit the West Coast’s tourism economy as well as local businesses that rely on trucks bringing goods over the highway.

“But, you know what? In three years, we’ll look back and we’ll probably hardly remember,” she said. “In an ideal world, we would have had a lot more lead time to plan ahead for the summer.

But, we don’t…This is now and we’ve got to deal with what we’ve got.”

Tourism Tofino Executive Director Nancy Cameron told the Westerly News that she does not believe the highway’s delays will convince travellers to spend their vacation budgets elsewhere as long as local businesses, particularly accommodation providers, provide clear communication to incoming guests.

“As long as we’re prepared, we’re doing the most we can to make sure that people are aware and we’re doing everything we can to make sure that they’re not inconvenienced, then we’re not expecting significant impacts because of the construction,” she said.

She said Tourism Tofino and Tourism Ucluelet are developing a coordinated communications plan to help tourists schedule their travels.

“This plan is one that will convey that we’re accessible and open for business still here on the West Coast of the Island and also one that encourages all businesses to proactively educate their customers so that they can avoid delays and inconvenience,” she said.

“We care about our visitors and making sure that they have good journeys here.”

The project’s $30-million bill is being split between the federal government and the province.

More information about the project can be found at the Ministry’s Kennedy Hill safety improvements website through www.gov.bc.ca.

www.westerlynews.ca

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A9

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Exclusive local specials and promotions in your community

Ucluelet mayor Dianne St. Jacques speaks to evacuated residents inside Ucluelet Secondary School’s gym.

Better communication sought From A1 “In the end we think we did a good job, probably a B or B-plus. But, I think, there is a lot of room for improvement and we’ve had a number of debriefings internally,” he said.

“We’ve already turned in some recommendations for where the gaps are for us and what we can do better.”

Tofino activated its three tsunami sirens around 2:20 a.m but, many locals took to social media to state they had not heard them.

Rodgers said the sirens depend on the weather to be heard and added they are intended to warn people on beaches.

“They are intended to get people off the beach. That is their primary purpose,” he said.

“If you’re a resident downtown, you shouldn’t be relying Dianne St. Jacques on the sirens.”

Tofino’s first two sirens cost $80,000 each, but the third came in under budget at $62,000 thanks, in part, to a wooden pole instead of an engineered steel one.

Rodgers said a fourth siren would likely be installed at Mackenzie Beach or in the downtown area within the next three years.

He said locals should sign up for the district’s One-Call emergency notification system and added that district is looking at improving that system and will begin testing it monthly.

“The district is talking about developing a better protocol for house to house notification,” he said.

Tofino police and firefighters were set up to direct traffic and keep the community hall orderly, but Rodgers said Tofino is also looking into setting up an agreement with first responders to go door-to-door in an emergency, similar to what happened in Ucluelet.

“One of our takeaways is just to explore that a little bit further and hopefully develop another method of reaching people in the middle of the night,” he said.

Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques said the door-to-door notifications were crucial and effective.

“I was just amazed at the speed and the efficiency of the whole thing,” she said.

“Those guys were awesome. “ She said Ucluelet is soliciting feedback from community members about what they feel needs improvement and anyone who wants to share their story is encouraged to reach out to info@ ucluelet.ca.

“We’re looking for input from community members. Constructive criticism or things that worked for them and things that didn’t from the household perspective,” she said. “It helps us fill in the gaps and do a better job.”

St. Jacques said some key takeaways for Ucluelet were the need for a new, louder, tsunami siren and better communication protocols.

“We definitely need to work at the communication. The more we can get out there faster to people, the more property and lives we can save in the event of a catastrophic quake or tsunami,” she said. “We need to set aside some funding or raise funding somehow definitely for a new siren…We need to get a louder siren that can be heard more clearly throughout the community.”

She added she was disappointed by the lack of communication coming from the province during the event.

“We need to look into that and see what happened there because that really helps us with informing the public and the steps that we take,” she said. “We definitely want to work with the province on these things. We’re all in it together when this kind of stuff happens.”

She added cell phone alerts would only work if cell towers are still standing after an event and encourages neighbourhoods to get together and organize a plan.

“There’s strength in numbers when a big event happens. If we were to have a really big one, the people around you are the ones you’re going to be counting on in the very short term,” she said. “Have a meeting place on your block and account for each other.”

She added locals are also welcoming anyone interested in joining the local emergency social services team to sign up by emailing.

“If people are willing to volunteer, this would be a great time to assist the folks that have been at it for quite some time,” she said. “We need some new and more energy in that group because everybody works hard all the time and we always need backup.”

Visit your local community Black Press Media newspaper website & click on the E-EDITIONS button at the top of the page.

A10 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

MP says Liberals must ‘act locally’ on ocean plastics Gord Johns sees local efforts being ignored ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS editor@albernivalleynews.com

Courtenay-Alberni Member of Parliament Gord Johns last week called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to act locally in regards to ocean plastics.

While the federal government announced on Jan. 24 that it will ask all G7 nations to sign a “no plastics” pledge to save the world’s oceans, Johns said this government has still not helped with clean-up efforts on Gord Johns Vancouver Island.

“While it is gratifying that the Prime Minister seems to be answering the call of so many environmental groups and advocates to address this crisis internationally, the job has yet to be done on our own Canadian beaches and coastal waters,” he said.

“The government’s so-called world-class Ocean Protection Plan does not mention plastics at all and, in particular, makes no mention of the response required when marine debris are spilled into the ocean and wash up on our precious coasts”.

On the first anniversary of the Hanjin Seattle cargo ship spill — an accident that created a massive debris field along the west coast of Vancouver Island — Johns tabled a motion (M-151) that called on the government to combat plastic pollution in aquatic environments. The motion included the ask for a dedicated annual fund to help local first responders restore the environment.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns believes local volunteers committed to their oceans, like Surfrider Pacific Rim, deserve more support.

Johns has repeatedly brought the issue to the House of Commons, rising over 20 times since being elected in 2015 to demand government action on ocean plastics and other marine debris. In addition, he has sponsored a petition that has been signed by hundreds of coastal residents on this issue.

“A pledge by G7 nations is all well and

good but the reality is that when large spills like Hanjin occur, the Liberal government expects local citizens living on our coasts and remote First Nations to respond without the support they need to ensure that the job can be done efficiently and with a minimum of risk,” said Johns.

“Yes it is time to think globally, but we must first act locally on this critical issue.”

New Patients and Families Welcome!

Dr. Kenneth McCracken

is accepting New Patients at Alberni Valley Dental Centre ( formerly Dr. Harry Sperber). Dr. McCracken is a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland 1989 and has practiced in Canada ever since. He has continued his education at the Misch Institute in Detroit and the Kois Institute in Seattle. He has also attended the Canadian Institute of Implants and e Las Vegas Institute for cosmetic dentistry. In addition, Dr. McCracken has training in orthodontics, conscience sedation, and IV sedation. He enjoys coastal living, golf, boating and fishing.

Our mission here at Alberni Valley Dental is to provide friendly, professional and complete dental services that encourage our patients to take an active role in caring for their teeth and gums. In our warm environment, you will find that our staff are extremely approachable and helpful throughout your entire visit. We offer our patients a wide range of preventative and restorative dental care services including One-Appointment Crowns and Bridges.

Call us today or visit our website to find out more about our dental care services or to book your New Patient Consultation!

OPEN 8am - 4:3pm • Mon - Thurs 250-724-3381 • www.albernivalleydental.com 101 - 4115 Sixth Ave, Port Alberni, B.C.

WESTERLY FILE PHOTO

Local community groups have cleaned up the beaches without any adequate help from the current government, says Johns.

Government officials have admitted there is a near complete legislative and regulatory void for marine debris cleanup and there is no dedicated fund available to support response efforts.

Support your

Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade Take your sweetheart out for

Valentine’s Dinner Wednesday, February 14 Join us at

Matterson House Restaurant

First Seating at 5pm 1682 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet Reservations Required • Please Call 250.726.2200 Enjoy a wonderful evening while the volunteer firefighters serve dinner and help in the kitchen to raise funds for the brigade.

Thanks once again to Jennifer & Sandy at Matterson House for supporting this fundraiser.

NEWS TIP? Call the Westerly Newsroom at 250.726.7089 andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

IN FOCUS

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A11

Candice Mckenzie and Graydon Shevchenko from Nanaimo have set a date for Nov. 3. They spent the best part of Saturday morning chatting with local wedding industry folks to help get ideas for their big day.

Wedding Fair

More than 30 local businesses filled The Shore building on Saturday, Jan. 27 to showcase their wedding inspired goods and services. From cake and florals to yoga lessons and hair artistry, the third annual Tofino Wedding Fair brought the very best of the West Coast wedding industry under one roof.

For more photos of community events, check out our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WesterlyNews.

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTOS

Dawson introduced couples to wedding surf packages.

Jenny and Amy showed off products from Shoreline Body Co.

Crab Apple Floral set up a flowery booth.

Rhonda from Studio one demonstrated make-up artistry.

Megan and Sam shared info about Long Beach Lodge.

Rhino Coffee came up with this tasty welcome sign.

A12 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

GAMES & PUZZLES WEEKLY CROSSWORD

PUZZLE #181510

Wave warning in effect ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Anyone who missed the West Coast’s recent massive storms had another opportunity to witness the ocean’s awesome power this week.

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve announced an Extreme Wave Hazard Advisory from Jan. 29-31 and is urging visitors to use extra caution on beaches and shorelines.

“During this time period, large ocean swells reaching up to four metres are predicted during the two day period. Very high tides of up to 4.1 metres and moderate storm surge occurring mid-day are predicted to compound the wave hazard,” the advisory states.

“These conditions could result in flooded beaches, floating logs, large waves breaking high up on shore and extremely hazardous surf conditions. The most dangerous period of the day is likely to be at high tide from mid-morning to mid- afternoon.”

CLUES DOWN 1. Wiped up 2. Opposed to 3. Macon, GA, university 4. Wife 5. Small viper

– Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Some areas of the Park Reserve may be closed depending on the severity of the conditions, according to the advisory, which adds that any visitors wanting to watch the waves should do so from the Kwisitis Visitor Centre’s Observation Deck at Wickanninish Beach or the Florencia Bay Lookout.

Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail Society is still assessing the damage the recent storms brought to its popular attraction from Jan. 18-19 and is seeking donations to help repair what was destroyed. Anyone wanting to hit the trail to witness Wednesday’s weather is urged to stay off the rocks and out of closed areas.

HOROSCOPE ARIES Positive thinking can help you overcome obstacles, and so can taking some action. You’re not one for sitting idly by watching things go on around you.

TAURUS Now is a good time for self-analysis. Address something that has been on your mind. You will have the complete support of family and friends.

GEMINI With so many changes going on in your life, you may want to share every detail with others, But it could be better to keep information to yourself until things are more stable.

CANCER Sometimes the best way to help someone is to let him or her learn a lesson the hard way. Offer support, but resist the urge to take over.

LEO Make an effort to reorganize your priorities, Leo. If you focus too much on a relatively insignificant issue, this may find you dealing with more things than you can presently handle.

VIRGO A third party might help you and your significant other see things from a different perspective. This point of view may be just what you both need.

SUDOKU

6. Polynesia garland of flowers 7. Saw-like 8. Maltese-Italian composer Girolamo 9. Moved faster than walking 10. Commercial 11. Covered with mud 12. Marksmen 16. Buenos __ 17. Tailless amphibian 18. Belonging to a thing 22. Mars crater 25. Most fair 27. Citrus fruit 28. Awkward 29. Brews 30. Beloved late broadcaster Craig 32. All alone 34. Copies 35. Poster 36. Symmetrical 37. Grew older 38. Makes tractors 40. Not the front 41. State as fact 42. Long, narrow cut 43. Worked hard for 45. Indicates position in a box score 48. Tax 51. “Lookout Weekend” singer Debbie 52. Unhealthy 53. Imam name __ Khan 54. A woolen cap of Scottish origin (abbr.)

56. The Golden State

THIS WEEKS ANSWER

CLUES ACROSS 1. Warm-blooded vertebrates 8. Semitic peoples 13. Supervise 14. Historical German territory 15. Sweat 19. The Wolverine State 20. China 21. Violent disturbances 22. A way to commemorate the dead 23. Midway between east and southeast 24. Bird genus 25. Trim 26. Disparaged 30. More coherent 31. Abnormal rattling sounds 32. Healthy appetizers 33. Partner to “shocked” 34. French pianist Pascal 35. Jokes 38. Marks to omit print 39. Tall 40. Coverage 44. “A Death in the Family” author 45. Role of highlights 46. Fixed-radio access 47. Partly digested food 48. “Lamb Chop” puppeteer Lewis 49. In support of 50. Aluminum 51. Reduction in value over time 55. Running events 57. Portuguese region 58. Slovenly women 59. Strongly criticized

“The most dangerous period of the day is likely to be at high tide from midmorning to mid- afternoon.”

LIBRA Don’t hesitate to pursue a career opportunity that your intuition is telling you is the right move. Trust your instincts in regard to your professional life.

SCORPIO This week you may need some time to recuperate out of the spotlight. Others may have been asking a lot of you, and some down time will enable you to relax.

SAGITTARIUS Accept help when it is offered, Sagittarius. Express your thanks to the one who has extended the hand. Assistance can reduce any stress that may have been building.

CAPRICORN It may be time for a change of scenery, Capricorn. Consult with others if you think this change is something you need and will benefit from in the long-term.

AQUARIUS Aquarius, your spirits are soaring and you want to share your good fortune with others. Connect with friends or family members and enjoy the good times ahead.

PISCES Once your mind is set on something, it will take a monumental effort to shift it in another direction. Try to look at things from various angles.

SU18105A

THIS WEEKS SUDOKU ANSWER

Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Wednesday, January News 31, 2018 A13 A13 Wed, Jan 31, 2018 Ucluelet Western

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

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Denied Long-Term Disability, CPP or other Insurance? If, YES. Call: 604.937.6354 or e-mail: jfisher@dbmlaw.ca

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

PIONEER BOATWORKS General Shipyard Labourer Wanted General Labourer wanted for Pioneer Boatworks. Applicant must be friendly and well groomed.

Duties include: t 1SFTTVSF XBTIJOH BOE QBJOUJOH CPBUT t .BJOUBJOJOH B DMFBO XPSLJOH FOWJSPONFOU t )FMQJOH TIJQXSJHIUT JO UIF QFSGPSNBODF PG UIFJS EVUJFT t #BTJD VTF PG IBOE UPPMT SFRVJSFE t #BTJD SFBEJOH BOE XSJUJOH TLJMMT OFFEFE t 8PSL IPVST NBZ WBSZ BU UJNFT " LOPXMFEHF PG UIF mTIJOH JOEVTUSZ BOE CPBUT an asset. .VTU CF DBQBCMF PG XPSL JOEFQFOEFOUMZ BOE BWBJMBCMF UP XPSL XFFLFOET Apply with resume to: Pioneer Boatworks Store 166 Fraser Lane, Ucluelet, on the waterfront

HELP WANTED

Compliance and Security OďŹƒcer (Security Guard) -Seasonal - PaciďŹ c Rim National Park Reserve, Ucluelet/ToďŹ no, BC

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

PIONEER BOATWORKS Sales Clerk Wanted Part time seasonal front counter sales clerk position available. Applicant must be friendly and well groomed.

General sales clerk duties including: t8SJUJOH PVU JOWPJDFT BOE UBLJOH QBZNFOUT t3FTQPOTJCMF GPS TFSWJDJOH DVTUPNFST XIFO TIPQQJOH GPS NBSJOF HPPET t6OQBDLJOH TUPDL QSJDJOH BOE EJTQMBZJOH marine goods. " LOPXMFEHF PG UIF mTIJOH JOEVTUSZ BOE boats an asset.

Must be capable of work independently and available to work weekends Apply with resume to: Pioneer Boatworks Store 166 Fraser Lane, Ucluelet, on the waterfront

SALTWATER HUSBANDRY TECHNICIANS

Duties: Providing security and compliance services in Green Point Campground and the day-use areas at the Long Beach Unit of PaciďŹ c Rim National Park Reserve of Canada. This shall be done by informing and educating the public of the regulations and policies that govern user activities in the Park and requesting voluntary compliance with such direction. Non-compliance will be reported to the appropriate authority.

Must Have: Must have a valid BST, OFA1 and Class 5 driver’s license; *Note: Personnel assigned to this location must have accommodations close by (i.e. in Ucluelet or ToďŹ no) OR have access to a trailer or Recreational Vehicle (RV) and a RV site will be provided for no charge.

Please submit your cover letter and resume job to: job.openings@cviy.ca

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES with Black Press (Vancouver Island) Black Press is Canada’s leading private independent newspaper company with more than 170 community, daily and urban newspapers in Canada, Washington State, Hawaii, California and Ohio and has extensive digital and printing operations.

Multi Media Journalist (Victoria) The Victoria News has an opening for a full-time, digital-first, permanent Multi Media Journalist.

The successful candidate will possess an attention to detail as well as the ability to work under pressure in a deadlinedriven, goal-oriented environment.

Temporary Multi Media Journalist (Campbell River) The Campbell River Mirror, an award-winning newspaper on central Vancouver Island, is looking for a journalist to help us produce dynamic and creative content for our print, web and social media platforms, on a 10 month contract basis.

We are looking for a combination of education and experience in writing, reporting, photography and video skills. Experience with InDesign is also an asset.

Multi Media Sales Consultant (Campbell River) The Campbell River Mirror has an exciting opportunity for a Community Media Sales Consultant that will be focused on digital and print sales. The successful candidate will be comfortable with both digital and print media and will be responsible for selling mobile, run of site, SEO, programmatic, websites, print campaigns and special sections within our paper.

Production Worker (Ladysmith): Ladysmith Press is hiring Production Workers for their continually expanding collating department.

This is a general labour position that requires frequent lifting up to 10 kg and involves the handling of newspapers and advertising supplements.

For more information on these vacancies and other regions throughout B.C. visit:

blackpress.ca/careers

Hoping to start or further develop your aquaculture career? Cermaq Canada is currently looking for multiple full-time permanent Saltwater Husbandry Technicians to join our saltwater production team. We have opportunities at our sea sites located across Vancouver Island with company provided transportation from various Island communities.

As a Husbandry Technician you’ll play a critical role in growing healthy salmon in a sustainable manner. You’ll spend the majority of your day outside on the water caring for the ďŹ sh. This role is the perfect opportunity to satisfy your love of the outdoors, expand your husbandry skills, and contribute to local communities through sustainable aquaculture.

Preference will be given to candidates with a diploma or degree in aquaculture.

If you are a team player who is physically ďŹ t, enjoy being outside in all weather conditions, and have a passion for sustainable aquaculture, then we want to hear from you!

For more information about this opportunity please visit our careers page at www.cermaq.ca.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to careers.canada@ cermaq.com and state “Saltwater Husbandry Technician� in the subject line before before 5:00 PM February 28, 2018.

If a suitable candidate is identiďŹ ed, this position may be ďŹ lled prior to the closing date.

Cermaq Canada is an equal opportunities employer who provides a workplace that is free of discrimination.

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CLEANING & SANITATION TECHNICIANS Full Time with Benefits

Hoping to start or further develope your aquaculture career? Cermaq Canada is currently looking for multiple full-time permanent Cleaning & Sanitation Technicians to join our ToďŹ no Fish Processing Plant. There is company provided bus transportation available from Port Alberni.

As a Cleaning & Sanitation Technician you’ll have the opportunity to put your keen sense of attention to detail to use doing physical work and playing an important role in helping our high-quality Atlantic salmon get to market.

Your primary responsibility is to ensure that the plant is properly sanitized and meets hygiene regulations by using a pressure washer to clean our equipment and materials.

If you have an exceptional eye for detail and are a team player who is physically ďŹ t, then we want to hear from you!

For more information about this opportunity please visit our careers page at www.cermaq.ca.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to careers.canada@ cermaq.com and state “Cleaning & Sanitation Technician� in the subject line before 5:00 PM February 28, 2018.

If a suitable candidate is identiďŹ ed, this position may be ďŹ lled prior to the closing date.

Cermaq Canada is an equal opportunities employer who provides a workplace that is free of discrimination.

A14 Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Wed, Jan 31, 2018 A14 Ucluelet Western News EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION

HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

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J.R. RARDON/PARKVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS

Martindale Road was closed between Stanford and Despard avenues in Parksville early Monday morning after the Englishman River topped its banks and flooded the road late Sunday night.

Island’s heavy rain wreaks havoc Persistent heavy rain expected to dump more than 100 millimetres of water on the east coast of the Island wreaked its heaviest damage in the Oceanside area.

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue helped to evacuate 22 people and eight pets Sunday night into Monday morning from a property in Parkvsille.

Arrowsmith SAR president Nick Rivers said evacuations with help from Comox and Alberni search and rescue started at Parry’s RV Park on Martindale Road around 11 p.m. Sunday and finished at about 6:45 a.m. Monday after the Englishman River topped its banks and flooded an approximately 200-metre stretch of the road.

“At the deepest point, it was about eight feet deep at the worst time,” Rivers said.

Martindale Road, Melrose Road in Whiskey Creek, Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay and Rumming Road in Lanztville were all closed. At the same time, the RDN activated its Level 2 Emergency Operations Centre.

The impact wasn’t limited to Oceanside.

Canada Avenue, just north of downtown Duncan, was shut down, as well as sections of the nearby Philip and Mary streets largely due to Holmes Creek overflowing its banks.

As well, the intersection of Crofton and Chemainus roads, known as Pinson’s Corner, was also closed due to flooding, as well as Tzouhalem Road west of Briar.

Making the traffic worse was the fact the Crofton/Chemainus Roads flood blocked the only alternate Chemainus River crossing to the Island Highway.

That was driven home when accident on the highway’s Chemainus River bridge Monday afternoon closed southbound lanes for more than hour.

Meanwhile, hikers heading out for their morning walk on the Canyon View trail near Campbell River were

ISLAND IN BRIEF greeted with an estimated 20-foot wide swath cut through the trail by a mudslide.

– www.vifreedaily.com

Nanaimo woman dies after being struck by vehicle The Nanaimo woman who was struck by a vehicle on the highway Thursday has died.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, the 43-year-old woman who was critically injured in the collision died at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital later that day.

Police are not releasing the woman’s identity.

The investigation into the collision is continuing, but charges are not expected to be laid against the driver.

The accident happened at about 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 25 on the northbound lanes of Highway 1 between the Duke Point overpass and the Nanaimo Parkway and Cedar Road interchange.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, upwards of six 911 calls were received moments before the collision from motorists reporting a woman, dressed in dark clothing, running into traffic and that motorists had to take evasive action to avoid hitting her.

— www.nanaimobulletin.com

Drugs, weapons stolen from Port Alberni apartment A call for a medical emergency that ended with one person dead also led to the execution of a search warrant for

drug trafficking in Port Alberni.

In the late evening on Sunday, Port Alberni RCMP were called to provide assistance to the Port Alberni Fire Department and the BC Ambulance Service as they attended to an apartment complex in the Harbourview Apartments on 3rd Avenue for a medical emergency.

First responders attended to a 45-yearold Port Alberni resident, who was found to be in medical distress. The resident has since died.

During the course of their investigation, police observed evidence of drug trafficking activity in the apartment and subsequently executed a search warrant on the residence.

Police seized quantities of cocaine, heroin and several weapons, as well as recovering some stolen property.

No arrests were made in this investigation. The police and the coroner investigations are ongoing..

– www.albernivalleynews.com

Suspect rides away after Courtenay gas station robbed The Courtenay Shell gas station on the old Island Highway was robbed Sunday afternoon.

On Jan. 27, at approximately 3:10 p.m., the Comox Valley RCMP responded to an armed robbery at the Shell gas station, located on the 150 block of Island Highway North, in Courtenay BC. A male, described as being approximately five foot 11, entered the business stating he had a weapon. The male fled on a bicycle, with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The investigation into this robbery is being led by the Comox Valley RCMP Major Crime section with the assistance of the Integrated Forensic Identification Section.

– www.comoxvalleyrecord.com

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

C O M M U N I T Y

events

CALENDAR

CLAYOQUOT CAFE: SPOTLIGHT ON FISH FARMS, Wednesday, Jan. 31. Doors at 7pm, event starts at 7:30pm sharp.

Darwin’s Cafe. Please come early for tea & chummus— Suggested donation $5 (includes coffee, tea and yummy cookies.)

UCLUELET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AGM, Wednesday, Jan. 31.

7-9pm @ Black Rock Ballroom. RSVP by January 25th to chamberoffice@ uclueletinfo.com. Food and beverages provided.

SIREN TESTING, Friday, Feb. 2. 11am. Monthly test of Cox Bay, MidChesterman, and North Chesterman Beach outdoor warning sirens.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL @ THE HATCH, Sunday, Feb. 4. Doors open @ 11am.

Are you ready for some football? The Philadelphia Eagles play the New England Patriots in the big game.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, Sunday, Feb. 4, Officials Sports Lounge, Ucluelet.

MOVIE NIGHT Monday, Feb. 5, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.

With 4 Golden Globe wins and 6 Oscar nominations, this film is a must-see!

Doors @ 7:30pm, show @8. Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre.

Tofino.

ongoing

UCLUELET ALANON GROUP Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Catholic Church (use side entrance below), 1663 Peninsula Rd.

FEATURED EVENT OF THE WEEK

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 A15

New Business?

Let Westerly readers know all about it.

PILATES Mondays and ednesdays, 6-7pm. Tofino Community Hall. $10 drop-in.

LIVE MUSIC Wednesdays, 3-6pm The Great Room at Long Beach Lodge.

PICKLEBALL Mon., Wed., Sat., 8am-12pm, Tofino Community Hall. Free.

CHI GONG Wednesdays, 10:3011:30am, UCC Main Hall. $2 drop SOUP LUNCH Thursdays, Noon1:30pm. the Hub, UCC. All welcome! Free.

BINGO Wednesdays, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion.

DANCE FIT 55+ Thursdays 9-10am, UCC Fitness Studio. $6 drop-in.

BADMINTON Sundays, 7-9pm. USS Gym. $2 drop-in DARTS Mondays, 7pm. Tofino Legion

RAINCOAST SPEAKER SERIES: ANATOMY OF A STORM Thursday, Feb. 1st 7:30-9pm at the Ecolodge Classroom in the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

Storms and their associated hazards impact both the physical and human landscapes of a region. To better understand these meteorological features, we need to learn what is going on inside them.

Through a combination of in-situ and remote sensing technology, we can better dissect the anatomy of a storm. This presentation will show how new (and old) technologies are helping us better characterize storms in hopes of improving our ability to predict them.

Suggested donation $5.

ongoing

service

FOOD BANK Tuesdays, 1-3pm. 160 Seaplane Base Rd., Ucluelet.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH Saturday, 5pm. 441 Main St., Tofino

service

TOFINO BIBLE FELLOWSHIP Sundays, 10:30am. Tofino Legion.

ST. COLUMBA CHURCH Sundays, 10:30am.

To submit your activities, e-mail: office@westerlynews.ca, fax: 250-726-4248 or drop by: #102-1801 Bay St, Ucluelet. We accept your Arts & Entertainment, Service Group, Non-Profit Organization, Church, Library, Fundraiser, Open to the Public Notices on a first come, first served basis.

Place your ad today!

New Business?

Call 250.726.7029

or email nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Let Westerly Readers Know All About It

westerlynews.ca

Place Your Ad Today!

TOFINO Call 250.726.7029 or email nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

s r u o H r e t Win : FOOD STPOMRDEAILY 0

8:30AM - 7:0

GAS BAR: DAILY 0 PM

6:30AM - 11:0

H I N G: T O L C E F I L O TOFIN M DAILY - 5:0AY0APND MONDAY) 0AMN SU 10:0 ND LOSED O (C

O R E: T S E R A W D R HA ON-FRI

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is nearly ready to unveil its new washrooms in time for the busy summer season. Construction crews were hammering this facility together at Wickaninnish Beach’s Lot E on Friday.

0 PM M 8:30AM - 5:3 SAT & HOLIDAYS 0 PM 8:30AM - 5:0(CLOSED SUNDAYS)

A16 Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

Black Press holds career fair

TOFINO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

FOLLOW @TofinoEmergency

IMPORTANT NOTICE MONTHLY OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN TESTING

Annual education event comes to Comox BLACK PRESS office@westerlynews.ca

Get your cover letter and resume ready.

Please be advised that the District of Tofino conducts monthly testing of the Black Press Community News Media is once Cox Bay, Mid-Chesterman and North Chesterman outdoor warning sirens again hosting its annual education and career (a.k.a. tsunami sirens) on the first Friday of each month at 11:00 am. fair in the Comox Valley.

The purpose of monthly testing is to ensure that the sirens are functioning The Black Press Extreme Education and Caeffectively and to increase awareness of the importance of personal reer Fair will be at 19 Wing Air Force Base on emergency preparedness.

Thursday, Feb. 8. The event will take place at the Siren testing will sound like this: CFB Comox Military Family Resource Centre • “This is a test of the emergency warning system. This is only a test.” from 12–6 p.m.

• Westminster Chime (10 sec) Roughly 50 employers and educational institu• “Test of the emergency warning system is complete. tions will be on hand, looking to fill a plethora This has only been a test.” of part-time and full-time positions.

For testing purposes, the Westminster Chime is used because it is the allSome positions will be entry-level, while othclear tone used in emergency warning systems around the world. ers will require some level of prior training or In the event of a real emergency such as a tsunami warning, the sirens will post-secondary education. emit a wailing tone and a voice message will indicate the level of alert and Companies that attendees will be able to conadvise that listeners tune into an official source of information, such as the nect with at the fair include BC Corrections, local radio station at 90.1 FM for details.

Home Depot, Canadian Tire, CIBC, KalTire, To learn more about Tofino’s emergency preparedness plan and to subscribe and Sun Life Financial. to emergency notifications from the District of Tofino, please visit: “It’s a great opportunity for exhibitors to showhttp://tofino.ca/emergencypreparedness We accept your case their organizations and the opportunities For more information, please contact: Arts & Entertainment, Servicethey have available, how they contribute to the Keith Orchiston, Group, Non-Profit Emergency Program Coordinator, District of TofinoOrganization, Church, Library,community, and why we want to keep employEmail: korchiston@tofino.ca, Phone: 250.725.3229 Fundraiser, ext. 708 Open to the ment in the Valley,” said Brittney Prentice, events

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CALENDAR To submit your activities, email Office@westerlynews.ca or drop by #102-1801 Bay St, Ucluelet

Public notices on a first come,and marketing co-ordinator with Black Press.

“It’s also a great opportunity for job seekers to first served basis. see what’s out there, see what’s available and see what opportunities they have in their backyard.”

On the education and training side of things, North Island College, Excel Community College, To submit your activities, email westerlynews.ca Discovery Community College and Vancouver office@westerlynews.ca or drop by: Island University will be on hand to connect #102-1801 Bay St, Ucluelet with and recruit potential students.

“Students will be able to see the career paths they can take and see the education paths they have available locally,” said Prentice.

Pacific Rim Whale Festival

West Coast Photo Showdown

Pacific Rim

Whale Festival

– CATEGORIES –

1. Wildlife 2. Landscape 3. People + Nature

Photo

John Fo

rde

HOW TO ENTER ~There is a $10 charge per photo

(maximum 5 photos per photographer).

Deadline for photo entries to be February 21st, 2018. ~ Please submit your DIGITAL entries to adventures@hellonature.ca Must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and 11 X 14. Please keep file size to under 10mb.

Please include: ~ NAME of photographer ~ DATE of photo taken ~ PLACE of photo taken ~ PHOTOGRAPHER contact info – phone number and email This contest is sponsored by

Subtidal Adventures Ltd. & Hello Nature Adventure Tours

www.westerlynews.ca

CONTEST DETAILS ~ Photos must be taken on the West Coast Peninsula in 2017-2018 from Tofino (can include Ahousaht, Opisaht, Hesquiaht and Hot Springs Cove) to Ucluelet (can include the Broken Group Islands) ~ Entry period is January 31, 2018 at 12:01am to February 21, 2018 at 11:59pm. ~ Our panel of Judges will pick the 10 top finalists for each category. The 30 top photos will be printed and displayed at the Gray Whale Deli during Whale Fest, March 10-23, 2018! ~ Auction and viewing will take place at the Gray Whale Deli throughout the Pacific Rim Whale Festival.

This is a Whalefest partnered event with 25% of net proceeds going back to the Pacific Rim Whale Festival.

BLACK PRESS PHOTO

Black Press will host its annual career and education fair in Comox on Feb. 8.

Last year, nearly 5,000 people attended the Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair from throughout North Vancouver Island.

A similar number is expected this time around.

A shuttle service will operate throughout the day to help transport people to and from the event.

The shuttle will circulate a route that includes stops at Driftwood Mall, North Island College, Comox Mall, and the Comox Recreation Centre.

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Leaky guts break hearts Would you believe that an unhealthy gut is a leaky gut? Toxins circulate in the blood and often the root cause of diabetes and heart dis- therefore can produce signs and symptoms anyease? where in the body such as pain in the joints and The function of the gut wall is to conserve muscles, digestive issues such as irritable bowel, water and electrolytes, absorb nutrients and gas, food intolerances or indigestion, emotional prevent harmful bacteria, viruses and yeast from instability such as fatigue, anxiety, mood swings crossing over into the blood steam. Damage to or confusion and chronic infections. the gut caused by chronic stress, candiThe gut can be repaired by avoiding da, alcohol, medications, environmental alcohol and processed or fast foods, chemicals and additives and preservaconsuming a whole food diet with emtives from processed foods can damage phasis on organic fruits and vegetables, the gut wall creating a leaky gut. The non-GMO high fiber grains, cabbage leaky gut allows harmful substances, juice, bone broths as well as Aloe Vera toxic to the body, to cross over into the juice, bitters and camomile tea, manblood stream. aging stress, limiting medications and The body defends itself by releasing environmental chemicals and engaging Tracy Lister antibodies, cytokines and white blood in daily physical activity that makes you cells. If the defense mechanism is trigsweat. Sweating is another mechanism gered too much or for too long the result is of excreting toxins. Also, essential to the repair total body inflammation which will initiate a process are probiotics. A few tips to selecting disease in any area of the body depending on a probiotic is choosing a brand that must be your predisposition but commonly diabetes and refrigerated, contains a prebiotic such as inulin heart disease. or fructooligosaacharide and has a good variety Toxins need to be filtered by the liver to pre- of cells in large numbers (millions). pare them for excretion but if there are excess Healing the gut may be the key to preventing amounts the liver becomes overburden and the diseases and a major contributor to managing toxins are stored in body fat. To store the excess diabetes or heart disease.

Tracy Lister is currently a doctoral student in toxins the body produces fat cells resulting in weight gain around the waist. clinical nutrition at Maryland University of InteThe weight gain will accelerate diabetes and grative Health and is a clinical dietician residing heart disease initiated by the inflammation cre- in Ucluelet, with 25 years experience covering ated by toxins. How do you know if you have most areas of dietetics.